Mobile Router, Communication System, and Program

Abstract

To provide a mobile router, a communication system, and a program that can automatically switch the connection of a slave device to an access point side without requiring a user to perform an operation to turn off the power of the mobile router.SOLUTION: A mobile router 100 includes a first wireless communication unit 101 capable of communicating with an external network 10 and an access point 11, a second wireless communication unit 102 capable of communicating with a slave device 12, and a control unit 103 that controls the first wireless communication unit 101 and the second wireless communication unit 102. When the second wireless communication unit 102 detects a transmission frame of the access point 11, the control unit 103 instructs the second wireless communication unit 102 to transmit a scan request to the slave device 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a mobile router, a communication system, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, as a form of using smartphones, in order to keep communication costs from increasing within the contracted data traffic range, there has been an increasing number of cases where communication is performed via a separate network such as connecting to a mobile router outdoors and connecting to an in-house access point indoors. (For example, Patent Document 1)

[0003] For example, outdoors, by using a mobile router with a large contracted data traffic and low communication costs, it is often possible to achieve lower costs than when communicating with a smartphone alone.

[0004] However, depending on the contract conditions, if there are communication restrictions or the communication costs become higher than expected due to the data traffic, the advantages of using a mobile router may be lost.

[0005] On the other hand, indoors, when an Internet line is introduced by optical communication or the like and the access point of a wireless router is used, a contract without data traffic restrictions is common, and there is no need to worry about the traffic like a mobile router.

[0006] Therefore, when returning home and the in-house access point can be used, the user wants to switch the connection destination of the slave device from the mobile router to the access point as soon as possible.

[0007] However, since the connected slave device maintains the connection even after returning home, the user needs to turn off the power of the mobile router to switch the connection destination.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-119682 [Summary of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0009] However, since the slave unit during connection maintains the connection even when returning home, there is a problem that an operation such as turning off the power of the user's mobile router is required to switch the connection destination.

[0010] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a mobile router, a communication system, and a program for a user who communicates via an Internet line at home and communicates via a mobile router when away from home, and can automatically switch the connection to the access point side without the user performing an operation of turning off the power of the mobile router for the slave unit. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0011] A mobile router according to an embodiment includes a first wireless communication unit capable of communicating with an external network, a second wireless communication unit capable of communicating with a slave unit and an access point, and a control unit that controls the first wireless communication unit and the second wireless communication unit. When the second wireless communication unit detects a transmission frame of the access point, the control unit instructs the second wireless communication unit to transmit a scan request to the slave unit.

[0012] A communication system according to an embodiment includes a mobile router and a slave unit. The mobile router includes a first wireless communication unit capable of communicating with an external network, a second wireless communication unit capable of communicating with the slave unit and an access point, and a control unit that controls the first wireless communication unit and the second wireless communication unit. When the second wireless communication unit detects a transmission frame of the access point, the control unit instructs the second wireless communication unit to transmit a scan request to the slave unit.

[0013] The program of one embodiment causes a computer to execute, in a mobile router including a first wireless communication unit capable of communicating with an external network and a second wireless communication unit capable of communicating with a slave device and an access point, a step of monitoring whether the second wireless communication unit receives a transmission frame of the access point, and a step of instructing the second wireless communication unit to transmit a scan request to the slave device when the second wireless communication unit detects a transmission frame of the access point.

Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the mobile router, communication system, and program of the present disclosure, the connection of the slave device can be automatically switched to the access point side without the user of the slave device performing an operation to turn off the power of the mobile router.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a mobile router according to Embodiment 1. In FIG. 1, the mobile router 100 includes a first wireless communication unit 101, a second wireless communication unit 102, and a control unit 103.

[0017] The first wireless communication unit 101 is configured to be capable of wireless communication with the external network 10.

[0018] The second wireless communication unit 102 is configured to be capable of wireless communication with the slave unit 12. Further, when the second wireless communication unit 102 detects a transmission frame of the access point 11, the second wireless communication unit 102 outputs the detection content to the control unit 103. Also, the second wireless communication unit 102 transmits a scan request to the slave unit 12 according to an instruction from the control unit 103.

[0019] The control unit 103 controls the first wireless communication unit 101 and the second wireless communication unit 102. When the second wireless communication unit 102 detects a transmission frame of the access point 11, the control unit 103 instructs the second wireless communication unit 102 to transmit a scan request to the slave unit 12.

[0020] According to the mobile router of Embodiment 1 in this way, the connection of the slave unit can be automatically switched to the access point side without the user of the slave unit performing a power-off operation on the mobile router.

[0021] Embodiment 2 In Embodiment 2, a communication system including a mobile router will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a communication system according to Embodiment 2. In FIG. 2, the communication system 20 includes a mobile router 200, an external network 10, an access point 11, and a slave unit 12.

[0022] The mobile router 200 includes a first wireless communication unit 101, a second wireless communication unit 102, a control unit 203, a cooperation terminal management unit 204, and a power supply unit 205. In FIG. 2, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

[0023] The mobile router 200 is connected to the network of a communication carrier using a communication method such as LTE / 5G (Long Term Evolution / 5th Generation Mobile Communication System), and can communicate with an external network outdoors. The connection method to the external network is not particularly limited. The mobile router 200 simultaneously operates as an access point and wirelessly connects to the slave unit 12. Then, even when the slave unit 12 is outdoors, it can be connected to the network via the mobile router 200. In Embodiment 2, the mobile router 200 operates as an access point.

[0024] The second wireless communication unit 102 transmits and receives wireless frames and scans each channel.

[0025] The control unit 203 checks, based on the BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier) information notified from the cooperation terminal management unit 204, whether there is a frame having the BSSID registered as a cooperation terminal in the frame received by the second wireless communication unit 102.

[0026] When detected, the control unit 203 instructs the second wireless communication unit 102 to transmit a scan request to obtain the BSSID of a peripheral terminal such as a Beacon Request to the connected slave unit 12.

[0027] The mobile router 200 checks whether the BSSID of the cooperation terminal exists in the information of the Beacon Report received as a response from the slave unit 12. If the BSSID exists, the power supply unit 205 of the mobile router 200 is turned off.

[0028] The cooperation terminal management unit 204 manages the BSSID information, which is the wireless MAC (Media Access Control address) address of the cooperation target terminal set by the user, and notifies the control unit 203 of the information.

[0029] The power supply unit 205 is a power supply that supplies power to each component of the mobile router 200.

[0030] The slave unit 12 connects to the mobile router 200 for communication outdoors. Also, the slave unit 12 connects to the in-house access point 11 for communication indoors. Each slave unit 12 stores a connection profile that can be connected to each, and when it detects the presence when not connected, it automatically makes a wireless connection.

[0031] The access point 11 is used by connecting the slave unit 12 for in-house communication use. As a cooperation terminal of the mobile router 200, the user registers the BSSID information of the access point 11 with the mobile router 200. The BSSID information is to be registered and deleted by the user through a setting screen such as a WebGUI (World Wide Web Graphical User Interface), but other methods may be used. Also, the number of BSSIDs to be registered is not limited to one, and multiple entries can be registered.

[0032] Next, the connection switching of the slave unit 12 will be described. In FIG. 2, the BSSID, which is the wireless MAC address of the access point 11 as a cooperation terminal, is registered with the mobile router 200 from a setting screen such as a WebGUI by the user, and the information is managed by the cooperation terminal management unit 204.

[0033] The control unit 203 checks whether there is a frame having the corresponding BSSID in the wireless frame received by the second wireless communication unit 102 based on the BSSID information of the cooperation terminal notified from the cooperation terminal management unit 204.

[0034] When a user who has been communicating by connecting the slave unit 12 to the mobile router 200 outdoors returns home, the second wireless communication unit 102 receives a transmission frame such as a Beacon transmitted by the access point 11. Then, the control unit 203 detects the BSSID of the cooperation terminal from the received transmission frames.

[0035] The control unit 203 checks whether the connected slave device 12 can detect the access point 11. Specifically, the cooperation terminal management unit 204 notifies the control unit 203 of the BSSID information of the registered cooperation terminal. The control unit 203 performs a monitoring operation to check whether there is a frame with the corresponding BSSID in the wireless frames received by the slave device 12 based on this information.

[0036] Therefore, the control unit 203 instructs the second wireless communication unit 102 to send a scan command that can request the BSSID information of the access points existing in the vicinity, such as the Beacon Request defined in the wireless standard 802.11k. Although the Beacon Request is a means used as a type of wireless measurement, other frames can be used as long as the BSSID information can be obtained from the slave device 12.

[0037] The second wireless communication unit 102 sends a Beacon Request to the slave device 12. The slave device 12 sends a scan response as a Beacon Report with the information it has to the mobile router 200.

[0038] When the BSSID of the cooperation terminal exists in the response from the slave device 12, the mobile router 200 can confirm that the slave device 12 can also detect the access point 11 and is in a state where connection switching is possible. The registered cooperation terminal information is not limited to one, and if there are multiple registrations, it is possible to cooperate with any one of the terminals and switch the connection of the slave device 12 to the cooperation terminal.

[0039] The control unit 203 turns off the power unit 205 of the mobile router 200. Then, the slave device 12 whose connection to the mobile router 200 has been disconnected automatically connects to the in-house access point 11 according to the stored connection profile and performs communication. By returning home, the unnecessary traffic of the mobile router 200 can be suppressed and the battery consumption can be reduced, and the slave device 12 can also automatically connect to the in-house access point 11.

[0040] Next, the operation of the mobile router 200 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Table 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4. Table 1 is cooperation terminal management information. [Table 1] As shown in Table 1, the cooperation terminal No. (Number) and the BSSID are managed in association with each other. The cooperation terminal management unit 204 manages the BSSID information of the cooperation terminals registered as shown in Table 1.

[0041] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the mobile router according to Embodiment 2. First, in step S301, the monitoring operation of the control unit 203 first determines whether there is a registration of a cooperation terminal.

[0042] If the BSSID of the cooperation terminal has not been registered by the user, that is, if the BSSID information has not been notified from the cooperation terminal management unit 204, the control unit 203 does not perform the monitoring operation. Then the process ends. If the BSSID information of the cooperation terminal has been notified, the process proceeds to step S302.

[0043] In step S302, it is determined whether the slave unit 12 is connected to the mobile router 200. If the slave unit 12 is not connected, the monitoring operation is not performed. Then the process ends. If the slave unit 12 is connected, the process proceeds to step S303.

[0044] In step S303, in order to determine whether the connection between the slave unit 12 and the access point 11 can be switched from the mobile router 200, monitoring is started to check whether there is a frame having the BSSID of the cooperation terminal in the wireless frame received by the second wireless communication unit 102.

[0045] Next, the operation of monitoring the frame of the cooperation terminal in step S303 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the mobile router according to Embodiment 2.

[0046] First, in step S401, when the user connects the slave device 12 to the mobile router 200 outdoors for communication and returns home, the user enters the range where the radio wave of the access point 11 of the linked terminal can reach. The frame having the BSSID of the linked terminal is being monitored. Then, the process proceeds to step S402.

[0047] In step S402, the control unit 203 determines whether a frame is detected. If a frame having the BSSID of the access point 11 is detected by a Beacon frame or the like that is constantly transmitted, it can be understood that the mobile router 200 and the access point 11 are within the communicable range. Then, the process proceeds to step S403. At this point, it is unknown whether the slave device 12 connected to the mobile router 200 can detect the access point 11.

[0048] If a frame having the BSSID of the access point 11 is not detected, step S402 is repeated.

[0049] In step S403, in order for the control unit 203 to confirm whether the slave device 12 can detect the access point, the control unit 203 issues an instruction to the second wireless communication unit 102 to transmit a Beacon Request for acquiring the BSSID scan information of the access points existing in the vicinity to the slave device 12. Specifically, the second wireless communication unit 102 transmits a Beacon Request, that is, a scan request, to the slave device 12. Then, the process proceeds to step S404.

[0050] In step S404, reception of a Beacon Report, which is a response from the slave device 12, is performed. Then, the control unit 203 checks whether the second wireless communication unit 102 has received the Beacon Report. If no response is obtained, the process returns to step S403, and a transmission request for the Beacon Request is made to the second wireless communication unit 102 again. If a response is obtained, the process proceeds to step S405.

[0051] In step S405, it is checked whether there is a BSSID registered as an associated terminal in the Beacon Report containing the BSSID information of the peripheral terminal acquired by the slave unit 12. If there is no BSSID information of the associated terminal, the process returns to step S402. And since the slave unit 12 cannot detect the access point 11 and cannot switch the connection to the access point 11, the power supply unit 205 of the mobile router 200 is not turned off, and the frame monitoring operation is continued.

[0052] If there is BSSID information of the associated terminal, that is, if the slave unit 12 can detect the access point 11, the process proceeds to step S406.

[0053] In step S406, since the slave unit 12 can detect the access point 11 and it can be determined that the connection destination can be switched, the control unit 203 turns off the power supply unit 205 of the mobile router 200. The slave unit 12 is disconnected from the mobile router 200 and can automatically switch the connection to the access point 11 side according to the held connection profile and communicate.

[0054] The mobile router 200 can automatically turn off the power supply unit 205 by detecting the access point 11, so it is possible to suppress the unnecessary traffic after returning home and achieve power saving such as reducing battery consumption. And the user can switch the connection of the slave unit 12 to the access point 11 side and communicate as it is without operating to turn off the power supply unit 205 of the mobile router 200.

[0055] As described above, according to the mobile router of Embodiment 2, the connection of the slave unit can be automatically switched to the access point side without the user turning off the power. Also, according to the mobile router of Embodiment 2, it is possible to suppress the unnecessary traffic of the mobile router after returning home and reduce the battery consumption of the mobile router.

[0056] Embodiment 3 In Embodiment 3, an example will be described in which the slave unit 12 is automatically connected to the mobile router 200 by determining the absence of the linked terminal by monitoring frames having the BSSID information of the registered linked terminal.

[0057] The operations different from those in Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operations of the mobile router according to Embodiment 3.

[0058] First, in step S501, when the BSSID of the linked terminal information is received from the slave unit 12, the control unit 203 does not turn off the power unit 205 of the mobile router 200 as in Embodiment 2, but proceeds to step S502 to shift to the standby operation.

[0059] In step S502, a standby operation is performed in which only the presence or absence of frames having the BSSID information of the linked terminal is monitored. Then, the process proceeds to step S503.

[0060] In step S503, the monitoring timer is initialized. The control unit 203 continues to monitor the radio frames received by the second radio communication unit 102 and includes a monitoring timer for determining whether the BSSID of the linked terminal can be detected. In Embodiment 3, it is set to 1 minute as an example, but it may be freely set. Then, the process proceeds to step S504.

[0061] In step S504, monitoring is started to determine whether there is a radio frame of the linked terminal. Then, the process proceeds to step S505.

[0062] In step S505, it is determined whether there is a frame having the BSSID of the linked terminal among the radio frames received from the second radio communication unit 102. If there is a frame having the BSSID of the linked terminal among the radio frames received from the second radio communication unit 102, the process returns to step S503. If there is no frame having the BSSID of the linked terminal among the radio frames received from the second radio communication unit 102, the process proceeds to step S506.

[0063] In step S506, the control unit 203 determines whether the monitoring timer has expired. For example, it checks whether one minute, which is the monitoring timer, has elapsed. If the monitoring timer has expired, the control unit 203 proceeds to step S507. If the monitoring timer has not expired, the control unit 203 returns to step S504.

[0064] In step S507, the control unit 203 causes the mobile router 200 to start its transmission operation. By this operation, the mobile router 200 returns to its normal operation. The slave unit 12, for which the access point 11 of the associated terminal has become unavailable and cannot be connected, switches its connection to the mobile router 200 that has shifted to the normal operation and can communicate.

[0065] As described above, in the mobile router of Embodiment 3, when the user goes out and the access point of the in-house associated terminal cannot be detected, the mobile router automatically starts its normal operation, and the slave unit becomes connectable. As a result, when the user returns home and the access point of the associated terminal is detected, the mobile router automatically enters the standby operation, and the slave unit can switch its connection to the access point side.

[0066] Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the gist. For example, the first wireless communication unit 101 and the second wireless communication unit 102 may be configured with a single communication circuit.

[0067] Each element described in the drawings as a functional block that performs various processes can be configured, in terms of hardware, by a CPU, a memory, and other circuits, and can be realized, in terms of software, by a program loaded into the memory or the like. Therefore, it is understood by those skilled in the art that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by hardware only, software only, or a combination thereof, and are not limited to any one of them.

[0068] Also, the above-described program can be stored using various types of non-transitory computer-readable media and supplied to a computer. Non-transitory computer-readable media include various types of tangible recording media. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include magnetic recording media (e.g., flexible disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives), magneto-optical recording media (e.g., magneto-optical disks), CD-ROM (Read Only Memory), CD-R, CD-R / W, semiconductor memories (e.g., mask ROM, PROM (Programmable ROM), EPROM (Erasable PROM), flash ROM, RAM (Random Access Memory)). Also, the program may be supplied to a computer by various types of transitory computer-readable media. Examples of transitory computer-readable media include electrical signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. The transitory computer-readable media can supply the program to a computer via wired communication paths such as electric wires and optical fibers, or wireless communication paths.

Explanation of Signs

[0069] 10 External network 11 Access point 12 Sub-unit 20 Communication system 100, 200 Mobile router 101 First wireless communication unit 102 Second wireless communication unit 103, 203 Control unit 204 Cooperative terminal management unit 205 Power supply unit

Claims

1. a first wireless communication unit capable of communicating with an external network; a second wireless communication unit capable of communicating with a slave device and an access point; a control unit for controlling the first wireless communication unit and the second wireless communication unit; and when the second wireless communication unit detects a wireless frame having the BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier) of the access point, the control unit instructs the second wireless communication unit to transmit a scan request to the slave device. A mobile router.

2. comprising a power supply unit for supplying power to the mobile router; when the second wireless communication unit confirms that access point information exists in a scan response from the slave device, the control unit instructs the power supply unit to stop supplying power to the mobile router. The mobile router according to claim 1.

3. a linked terminal management unit for managing BSSID information, which is the wireless MAC (Media Access Control address) address of a linked target terminal set by a user; the linked terminal management unit notifies the control unit of the BSSID information; the control unit monitors whether there is a frame having the BSSID in the wireless frame received by the second wireless communication unit; when the control unit detects a frame having the BSSID in the wireless frame received by the second wireless communication unit, the control unit instructs the second wireless communication unit to transmit a scan request to the slave device. The mobile router according to claim 1.

4. the linked terminal management unit manages by associating a linked terminal No. (Number) with a BSSID. The mobile router according to claim 3.

5. the second wireless communication unit transmits a Beacon Request as a scan request to the slave device and receives a Beacon Report from the slave device. The mobile router according to claim 3.

6. comprising a mobile router and a slave device; the mobile router a first wireless communication unit capable of communicating with an external network; a second wireless communication unit capable of communicating with the slave device and an access point; a control unit for controlling the first wireless communication unit and the second wireless communication unit; When the second wireless communication unit detects a wireless frame having the BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier) of the access point, the control unit instructs the second wireless communication unit to transmit a scan request to the slave unit. When the slave unit receives the scan request, it searches for an access point. Communication system. **Claim 7** In a mobile router including a first wireless communication unit capable of communicating with an external network and a second wireless communication unit capable of communicating with a slave unit and an access point, monitoring whether the second wireless communication unit receives a wireless frame having the BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier) of the access point; A program that causes a computer to execute a step of instructing the second wireless communication unit to transmit a scan request to the slave unit when the second wireless communication unit detects a wireless frame having the BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier) of the access point. **Claim 8** The mobile router includes a power supply unit that supplies power to the mobile router. The program according to claim 7, which causes a computer to execute a step of instructing the power supply unit to stop supplying power to the mobile router when the second wireless communication unit confirms that access point information exists in a scan response from the slave unit.

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