Information Processing Apparatus, Information Processing Method, and Information Processing Program

Abstract

To provide a technique that contributes to easily grasping a radio wave frequency band being used for communication.SOLUTION: An information processing device comprising a wireless communication unit for communicating with a terminal by using a radio wave in one of a plurality of frequency bands, is configured to display information showing a radio wave frequency band being used upon receipt of a request for displaying information on the radio wave frequency band being used.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing program. In particular, it relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing program as a wireless router.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wireless router that functions as an access point for terminals such as a PC (personal computer), a smartphone, and a tablet. In recent years, wireless routers are equipped with a function of communicating with terminals using radio waves in a plurality of frequency bands (2.4 GHz band, 5 GHz band, 6 GHz band). In particular, a wireless router having a band steering function automatically selects a frequency band with a good communication state and communicates with a terminal.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The following analysis is made from the perspective of the present invention. Each disclosure of the above prior art documents is incorporated herein by reference.

[0005] Each frequency band of the radio waves used by a wireless router has its own advantages and disadvantages, and sometimes the user of a terminal may want to know the frequency band of the radio waves being used. However, the prior art has the problem that it takes time to conduct such an investigation. That is, in a general terminal, although it is possible to know the access point being connected based on the SSID (Service Set Identifier), it is not possible to know which frequency band of radio waves is being used between the terminal and the access point. Although it is possible to investigate the frequency band of the radio waves being used by installing a dedicated application on the terminal, it takes time to install the application.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing program that contribute to easily knowing the frequency band of radio waves being used for communication.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a wireless communication unit that communicates with a terminal using radio waves in any one of a plurality of frequency bands; a used frequency band display unit that, when receiving an information display request regarding the frequency band of the radio waves currently being used, displays information indicating the frequency band of the radio waves currently being used; An information processing apparatus including the above is provided.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the present invention, An information processing method including, when an information display request regarding the frequency band of the radio waves currently being used is received by an information processing apparatus including a wireless communication unit that communicates with a terminal using radio waves in any one of a plurality of frequency bands, a used frequency band display step of displaying information indicating the frequency band of the radio waves currently being used; is provided.

[0009] According to a third aspect of the present invention, A computer, as an information processing apparatus having a wireless communication unit that communicates with a terminal using radio waves in any of a plurality of frequency bands, When receiving an information display request for the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use, a used frequency band display process for displaying information indicating the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use, An information processing program including is provided.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to each aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing program that contribute to easily knowing the frequency band of the radio wave used for communication are provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the reference numerals attached to the elements in the following description are for convenience and are not intended to limit the present invention to the illustrated embodiments. Also, the connection lines between the blocks in each figure include both bidirectional and unidirectional ones. Furthermore, in the circuit diagrams, block diagrams, internal configuration diagrams, connection diagrams, etc. shown in the present application disclosure, although not explicitly shown, input ports and output ports exist at the input ends and output ends of each connection line, respectively. The same applies to input / output interfaces.

[0013] First, a general overview of the present invention will be described. The information processing apparatus of the present invention is configured as a wireless router 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless router 100 includes a wireless communication unit 10 and a used frequency band display unit 20.

[0014] The wireless communication unit 10 communicates with a terminal using radio waves in any one of a plurality of frequency bands. When the used frequency band display unit 20 receives a request for information display about the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use, it displays information indicating the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use.

[0015] For example, the wireless router 100 communicates with a terminal using radio waves in any one of the three frequency bands of the 2.4 GHz band, 5 GHz band, and 6 GHz band, and includes lamps corresponding to each of the three frequency bands. Here, when the user of the terminal requests the wireless router 100 to display information about the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use, the wireless router 100 turns on the lamp corresponding to the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use for a predetermined period. For the user of the terminal, the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use can be known only by visually recognizing the lamp of the wireless router 100. That is, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to easily know the frequency band of the radio wave used for communication.

[0016] [Embodiment 1] Next, as Embodiment 1, the wireless router 100 of the above general overview will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless router 100 of Embodiment 1 includes a wireless communication unit 10, a used frequency band display unit 20, a radio wave intensity monitoring unit 30, and a plurality of lamps 40. In addition, the wireless router 100 has a configuration and functions as a general router, but their descriptions are omitted.

[0017] The wireless communication unit 10 has a wireless antenna and communicates with a terminal using radio waves in any one of the 2.4 GHz band, 5 GHz band, and 6 GHz bands.

[0018] The configuration of the used frequency band display unit 20 will be described in detail later.

[0019] The radio wave intensity monitoring unit 30 monitors the radio wave intensity of the radio waves from the terminal. Since the monitoring of the radio wave intensity is a general technique as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the description thereof is omitted.

[0020] The lamp 40 corresponds to each of a plurality of frequency bands and performs lighting, extinguishing, blinking, etc. under the control of the used frequency band display unit 20. In the example shown in FIG. 2, lamp A corresponds to the 2.4 GHz band, lamp B corresponds to the 5 GHz band, and lamp C corresponds to the 6 GHz band. Also, each lamp 40 is configured to be capable of emitting light of a plurality of types of colors.

[0021] The terminal is, for example, a smartphone and communicates with the wireless router 100 using radio waves in any one of the 2.4 GHz band, 5 GHz band, and 6 GHz band.

[0022] An example of the processing flow by the wireless router 100 will be described. It is assumed that terminal A is communicating using radio waves in the 2.4 GHz band, terminal B is communicating using radio waves in the 5 GHz band, and terminal C is communicating using radio waves in the 6 GHz band between the wireless router 100.

[0023] For example, assume that the user of terminal B wants to know the frequency band of the radio waves being used. At this time, the user of terminal B performs a predetermined action such as shaking terminal B three times to the left and right as an information display request for the frequency band of the radio waves currently being used.

[0024] The radio wave intensity monitoring unit 30 of the wireless router 100 monitors the radio wave intensity of the radio waves from terminal B, and the action by the user of terminal B is detected as a characteristic change pattern of the radio wave intensity. Here, the used frequency band display unit 20 collates with the information stored in a storage unit (not shown) and determines whether the change pattern of the radio wave intensity detected by the radio wave intensity monitoring unit 30 corresponds to an information display request for the frequency band of the radio waves currently being used. In other words, the used frequency band display unit 20 determines whether it has received an information display request for the frequency band of the radio waves currently being used (step S01).

[0025] When it is determined that an information display request has been received (step S01, Yes), the operating frequency band display unit 20 turns on the lamp B corresponding to the 5 GHz band, which is the frequency band of the radio wave being used for communication with terminal B, for a predetermined period (for example, 3 seconds). In other words, the operating frequency band display unit 20 displays information indicating the frequency band of the radio wave in use by turning on the lamp B for a predetermined period (step S02).

[0026] The user of terminal B can know that terminal B is communicating with the wireless router 100 using the radio wave in the 5 GHz band by visually recognizing that the lamp B of the wireless router 100 is lit.

[0027] Here, the configuration of the operating frequency band display unit 20 will be described. The operating frequency band display unit 20 collates with the information stored in a storage unit (not shown) and determines whether the change pattern of the radio wave intensity detected by the radio wave intensity monitoring unit 30 corresponds to an information display request regarding the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use. When it is determined that an information display request regarding the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use has been received, the operating frequency band display unit 20 displays information indicating the frequency band of the radio wave in use. Specifically, the operating frequency band display unit 20 displays information indicating the frequency band of the radio wave in use by controlling the lamp 40.

[0028] As described above, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to easily know the frequency band of the radio wave being used for communication with the terminal. In particular, in Embodiment 1, the user only needs to visually recognize the wireless router 100 after performing a simple action of shaking the terminal left and right three times, and there is no need to install an application on the terminal. In other words, since the wireless router 100 has the technical features of the present invention, it is applicable to a terminal on which an application cannot be installed.

[0029] [Embodiment 2] In the wireless router 100 of Embodiment 1, it can be said that the switching of the lamp 40 on and off corresponds to the display of information indicating the frequency band of the radio wave in use. Here, the wireless router 100 may further present information indicating the radio wave intensity of the radio wave from the terminal.

[0030] For example, when the used frequency band display unit 20 lights the lamp 40 for a predetermined period (for example, 3 seconds), the lamp 40 may be controlled to emit light of a color corresponding to the radio wave intensity of the radio wave from the terminal. For example, if the radio wave intensity of the radio wave from the terminal is high, the used frequency band display unit 20 controls the lamp B to emit green light. Also, if the radio wave intensity of the radio wave from the terminal is medium, the used frequency band display unit 20 controls the lamp B to emit orange light, and if the radio wave intensity of the radio wave from the terminal is low, the used frequency band display unit 20 controls the lamp B to emit red light. The user of the terminal B can know, for example, that communication is being performed using the radio wave in the 5 GHz band and that communication is being performed at a high radio wave intensity by visually recognizing that the lamp B of the wireless router 100 is emitting green light.

[0031] In other words, the used frequency band display unit 20 displays information indicating the frequency band of the radio wave in use by controlling the on and off of the lamp corresponding to the frequency band of the radio wave in use. Moreover, the used frequency band display unit 20 displays information indicating the radio wave intensity of the radio wave from the terminal by changing the color of the lamp corresponding to the frequency band of the radio wave in use.

[0032] [Other Embodiments] In Embodiment 1, the information display request is a user action (such as shaking the terminal left and right three times) detected by the radio wave intensity monitoring unit 30 as a change pattern of the radio wave intensity. However, various forms can be adopted as long as it can be determined that the wireless router 100 has received the information display request. For example, the used frequency band display unit 20 may determine that the information display request has been received when a terminal approaches within a predetermined distance (for example, 50 cm) from the wireless router 100. Also, it is not limited to detection based on the radio wave intensity. For example, the used frequency band display unit 20 may detect a user action corresponding to the information display request from an image captured by a camera or the like. In addition, the information display request may be, for example, a command received from the terminal.

[0033] The display form of the information indicating the frequency band of the radio wave in use is not limited to the lighting of the lamp 40 for a predetermined period as in Embodiment 1, and may be, for example, the blinking of the lamp 40. Instead of the lamp 40, for example, the numerical value of the frequency band of the radio wave in use may be displayed on a display. Also, instead of display, for example, it may be a notification by voice. In other words, it is sufficient that the user can know the frequency band of the radio wave in use, and various forms can be adopted.

[0034] Further, the present invention can be realized as an information processing program executed by a computer as an information processing apparatus (wireless router 100). For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the computer includes components mounted on a general computer such as a memory, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and an interface. Then, the computer as the information processing apparatus (wireless router 100) includes a wireless communication unit 10 that communicates with a terminal using radio waves in any of a plurality of frequency bands. Here, when the CPU reads and executes the information processing program of the present invention from the memory, a module corresponding to the used frequency band display unit 20 is realized.

[0035] Some or all of the above embodiments may be described as follows in the appended claims, but are not limited thereto.

[0036] (Appendix 1) A wireless communication unit that communicates with a terminal using radio waves in any of a plurality of frequency bands, A used frequency band display unit that displays information indicating the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use when a request for information display regarding the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use is received, An information processing apparatus comprising the above.

[0037] (Appendix 2) Further comprising a radio wave intensity monitoring unit that monitors the radio wave intensity of the radio wave from the terminal, When a change in a predetermined pattern is found in the radio wave intensity monitored by the radio wave intensity monitoring unit, the used frequency band display unit determines that the request for information display has been received, The information processing apparatus according to Appendix 1.

[0038] (Appendix 3) Further comprising a plurality of lamps corresponding to each of the plurality of frequency bands, The information processing apparatus according to Appendix 1 or 2, wherein the used frequency band display unit controls the lamp to display information indicating the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use.

[0039] (Appendix 4) The used frequency band display unit controls the on / off of the lamp corresponding to the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use to display information indicating the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use, and changes the color of the lamp corresponding to the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use to display information indicating the radio wave intensity of the radio wave from the terminal. The information processing apparatus according to any one of Appendices 1 to 3.

[0040] (Appendix 5) By an information processing apparatus comprising a wireless communication unit that communicates with a terminal using radio waves in any of a plurality of frequency bands, A used frequency band display step of displaying information indicating the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use when a request for information display regarding the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use is received, An information processing method comprising the above.

[0041] (Appendix 6) Executed by a computer as an information processing apparatus including a wireless communication unit that communicates with a terminal using radio waves in any of a plurality of frequency bands, When a request for information display regarding the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use is received, a used frequency band display process for displaying information indicating the frequency band of the radio wave currently in use, An information processing program including

[0042] Note that each disclosure of the above-cited patent documents and the like is incorporated herein by reference and can be used as the basis or a part of the present invention as necessary. Within the scope of the entire disclosure of the present invention (including the claims), further modifications and adjustments of the embodiments or examples can be made based on the basic technical idea. Also, within the scope of the entire disclosure of the present invention, various combinations or selections (including partial deletion) of various disclosure elements (including each element of each claim, each element of each embodiment or example, each element of each drawing, etc.) are possible. That is, the present invention naturally includes all various modifications and corrections that those skilled in the art could make in accordance with the entire disclosure including the claims and the technical idea. In particular, for the numerical ranges described in this document, any numerical value or small range included within the range should be construed as specifically described even without separate description. Furthermore, each disclosure item of the above-cited documents can be used in combination with the description items of this document as a part or the whole of a part of the disclosure of the present invention in accordance with the spirit of the present invention as necessary, and is considered to be included in the disclosure items of this application.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0043] 10: Wireless communication unit 20: Used frequency band display unit 30: Radio wave intensity monitoring unit 40: Lamp 100: Wireless router

Claims

1. A wireless communication unit that communicates with a terminal using radio waves in any one of a plurality of frequency bands; A used frequency band display unit that displays information indicating the frequency band of the radio wave in use when a request for information display about the frequency band of the radio wave in use is received; A radio wave intensity monitoring unit that monitors the radio wave intensity of the radio wave from the terminal, and When a change in a predetermined pattern is found in the radio wave intensity monitored by the radio wave intensity monitoring unit, the used frequency band display unit determines that the request for information display has been received. An information processing apparatus.

2. Further comprising a plurality of lamps corresponding to each of the plurality of frequency bands, The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the used frequency band display unit displays information indicating the frequency band of the radio wave in use by controlling the lamp.

3. The used frequency band display unit displays information indicating the frequency band of the radio wave in use by controlling the on / off of the lamp corresponding to the frequency band of the radio wave in use, and displays information indicating the radio wave intensity of the radio wave from the terminal by changing the color of the lamp corresponding to the frequency band of the radio wave in use. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2.

4. By an information processing apparatus including a wireless communication unit that communicates with a terminal using radio waves in any one of a plurality of frequency bands, A used frequency band display step of displaying information indicating the frequency band of the radio wave in use when a request for information display about the frequency band of the radio wave in use is received, An information processing method including: The information processing apparatus monitors the radio wave intensity of the radio wave from the terminal, and when a change in a predetermined pattern is found in the monitored radio wave intensity, determines that the request for information display has been received. Information processing method.

5. Executed by a computer as an information processing apparatus including a wireless communication unit that communicates with a terminal using radio waves in any of a plurality of frequency bands, a used frequency band display process that displays information indicating the frequency band of the radio waves currently in use when a request for information display regarding the frequency band of the radio waves currently in use is received, An information processing program including: the computer as the information processing apparatus monitors the radio wave intensity from the terminal, and when a change in a predetermined pattern is found in the monitored radio wave intensity, determines that the information display request has been received, Information processing program.

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