Wireless communication network system and wireless communication terminal

Abstract

To provide a system that allows quick switching between group formation / partial integration / full integration states from each wireless communication terminal in a simplex wireless communication network (NW). [Solution] In a network where there are N groups that perform wireless communication using different channels, terminals in each group are equipped with a modulation / transmission unit that can be switched to group channel chX / common channel chZ, a main reception / demodulation unit (set to chX), a sub-reception / modulation unit (set to chZ), each MUTING unit for the output of each reception / demodulation unit, and a signal synthesis unit that synthesizes the output of each MUTING unit, and reproduces the synthesized signal as audio. One of the terminals transmits a command signal related to organization / partial integration / full integration (in partial integration, the ID of the target group is added) on chZ, while the other terminal receives it with its sub-reception / modulation unit and switches the group state of the network by controlling the channel of the modulation / transmission unit and the on / off of each MUTING unit.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a network system and its wireless communication device that can be configured in a simplex wireless communication network composed of commercial wireless communication devices such as those of a specific low-power standard, and can be switched between a group organization state in which there are N or more groups (N≧3) in which simplex communication is performed between multiple wireless communication terminals, a partially integrated group state in which some of the groups are integrated and perform simplex communication with non-integrated groups, and a fully integrated group state in which simplex communication is performed between wireless communication terminals in all groups. [Background technology]

[0002] Wireless communication devices that comply with the specified low-power standard (see Non-Patent Document 1 below) are used for voice communication over relatively short distances using the 400 MHz band, and are also license-free radio stations. As such, they are widely used for business-related communication between employees outdoors at various work sites such as construction sites, and indoors at relatively large restaurants and home improvement stores with ample space.

[0003] Furthermore, radio communication devices conforming to the digital simplex radio standard (see Non-Patent Document 2 below) are radio stations that can be established with a relatively simple application, and while the specified low-power standard allows for a maximum radio wave output of 10 mW, these devices are permitted for a maximum radio wave output of 5 W, which significantly increases the communication distance, making them suitable for use in large event venues and for communication between floors of high-rise buildings.

[0004] Generally, simplex communication is often adopted for wireless communication for business communication, and communication is maintained within a business group by repeating transmission and reception using a single channel. However, for example, at a construction site, it may be better to separate communication channels between the site supervisor and responsible person and communication channels between workers.Also, when guarding an exhibition venue, it is often more effective to divide the area and maintain close communication within each divided area, rather than using a single channel for overall communication throughout the entire area.

[0005] Therefore, the basic issue is how large the scope of group communication should be. Naturally, it is desirable to be able to switch between an operational state of multiple small communication groups (group organization state) and an operational state of a large communication group that integrates these groups (all-group integration state) as appropriate. Such network operation is particularly required in preparation for situations where information needs to be shared through an emergency integrated communication network, such as in the event of an accident or disaster.

[0006] On the other hand, in the network using the simplex communication method for business communication mentioned above, as shown in Figure 13, if wireless communication terminals (101, 102, 103), (201, 202, 203), and (301, 302, 303) belonging to groups G1, G2, and G3 are performing simplex communication on channels A, B, and C, respectively, communication between the groups is not possible unless one group matches the channel it is using to the channel of the other group, and there is no way for the two groups to communicate with each other. Furthermore, changing channels requires a complex communication sequence, which takes time, and even if, for example, one terminal 101 in group G1 changes the transmission and reception channel to channel B and becomes able to communicate with each terminal (201, 202, 203) in group G2, the other terminals (102, 103) in group G1 remain in the same state as before and have no way of knowing the situation.

[0007] In response to this, in a previous patent application (Patent Application No. 2024-065037), the applicant of the present application has proposed a network system and its wireless communication terminal that are capable of switching between a group formation state in which there are multiple groups in which multiple wireless communication terminals carry out simplex communication between each other, and a fully integrated group state (referred to as the "group integrated state" in Patent Application No. 2024-065037) in which all of these groups are integrated, enabling simplex communication even between wireless communication terminals in different groups, in a simplex wireless communication network composed of wireless terminals of a specific low-power standard, etc.

[0008] In the proposal, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, wireless communication terminals (31, 32, 33), (41, 42, 43), (51, 52, 53) applied to the wireless communication network have a modulation transmission unit TX selectively set to the group channel (chA / chB / chC) of the group (G1, G2, G3) to which the terminal belongs or a common channel chZ, a main reception demodulation unit RX1 set to the group channel (chA / chB / chC) of the group (G1, G2, G3) to which the terminal belongs, and a first muting unit 11 that is controlled to mute or not mute the output signal of the main receiving demodulation unit RX1; a second muting unit 12 that is controlled to mute or not mute the output signal of the sub receiving demodulation unit RX2; a signal synthesis unit 13 that synthesizes the output signals of the first and second muting units 11 and 12 and outputs the synthesized signal to an audio reproducing unit 15; and system control means (software) for, when the command transmitting means causes the radio equipment to transmit a group formation signal or a group total unified signal, setting the modulation transmitting unit TX to the common channel chZ and transmitting the generated signal, and for, when the command transmitting means causes the radio equipment to transmit a group formation signal or the sub-receiving demodulation unit RX2 receives a group formation signal, setting the modulation transmitting unit TX to the group channel (chA / chB / chC) of the group (G1, G2, G3) to which the radio equipment belongs and setting the radio equipment to a first control state in which the first muting unit 11 is in a non-muted state and the second muting unit 12 is in a muted state, and for, when the command transmitting means causes the radio equipment to transmit a group total unified signal or the sub-receiving demodulation unit RX2 receives a group total unified signal, setting the modulation transmitting unit TX to the common channel chZ and setting the radio equipment to a second control state in which the first muting unit 11 is in a muted state and the second muting unit 12 is in a non-muted state. In the wireless communication network, when a group formation signal is sent by inputting an instruction from an operating means of any of the wireless communication terminals (31 / 32 / 33 / 41 / 42 / 43 / 51 / 52 / 53), all wireless communication terminals (31 to 33, 41 to 43, 51 to 53) in the network enter the first control state and a group formation state (Figure 14) is formed, and when a group total integration signal is sent, all wireless communication terminals (31 to 33, 41 to 43, 51 to 53) in the network enter the second control state and a group total integration state (Figure 15) is formed. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0009] [Non-Patent Document 1] Association of Radio Industries and Businesses, "Specific Low-Power Radio Stations / Radio Equipment for Radio Telephones / Standard Specifications," RCR STD-20 Version 5.1, revised October 29, 2021 [Non-patent document 2] Association of Radio Industries and Businesses, "Radio Equipment for Digital Simple Radio Stations," ARIB STD-T98 Version 2.0, revised October 4, 2023 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] Incidentally, the invention in the above application is a system for switching a wireless communication network between two states: a group-organized state and a group-integrated state. However, depending on the business to which the group communication network is applied, simply switching between the two states may not be sufficient.

[0011] For example, hotel operations are divided into various job types such as front desk, restaurant, cleaning, and parking, and according to the invention in the above application, each of these departments becomes a unit of group communication to form a group organization state, and communication between departments forms an integrated group state and communication is carried out on a common channel chZ. However, when the group-wide integration state is set and the front desk and the restaurant are holding detailed meetings, when an inquiry comes to the front desk from the parking lot or when cleaning staff hold meetings to coordinate work progress, the communication is simplex, which causes inconvenience and trouble as the communication for the meeting between the front desk and the restaurant cannot be carried out continuously.

[0012] The present invention was created in consideration of the above-mentioned inconveniences and drawbacks, and aims to realize a wireless communication network system with higher convenience by making it possible to select not only a fully integrated state but also a partially integrated state as the group integration mode in a wireless communication network, and by making it possible to freely configure the partial integration state appropriately according to the situation, such as the priority of communication between departments in the above-mentioned example, and to provide a wireless communication terminal for this purpose. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The wireless communication network system of the present invention is a network capable of assuming a group formation state in which there are N (N≧3) groups in which a plurality of wireless communication terminals communicate in a simplex manner using one channel (hereinafter referred to as "group channel"), with the N groups having different channels; a fully integrated group state in which wireless communication terminals belonging to all of the groups communicate in a simplex manner using a common channel; and a partially integrated group state in which wireless communication terminals belonging to some of the groups use a common channel and wireless communication terminals belonging to other groups communicate in a simplex manner using each of the group channels, and the wireless communication terminals are selectively set to the group channel of the group to which they belong (hereinafter referred to as "own group channel") or the common channel. a modulation transmission unit, a main reception demodulation unit set to its own group channel, a secondary reception demodulation unit set to the common channel, first muting means controlled to mute or unmute the output signal of the main reception demodulation unit, second muting means controlled to mute or unmute the output signal of the secondary reception demodulation unit, signal synthesis means for synthesizing the output signals of the first and second muting means and outputting the synthesized signal to audio reproduction means, and in a transmission mode, generating a group formation signal, a group total integration signal, and a group partial integration signal to which selected group information including the group to which the own unit belongs is added in response to an instruction input from an operation means relating to group formation, an instruction input relating to total group integration, or an instruction input relating to partial group integration involving selection of some groups, The group organization signal, the group total integration signal, or the group partial integration signal generated by each of the instruction inputs.a first control state in which the modulation transmission unit is set to the own group channel and the first muting means is set to a non-muted state and the second muting means is set to a muted state when the command transmission means causes the transmission of the group organization signal or the sub-reception demodulation unit receives the group organization signal from another device, and a second control state in which the modulation transmission unit is set to the common channel and the first muting means is set to a muted state and the second muting means is set to a non-muted state when the command transmission means causes the transmission of the group total integrated signal or the sub-reception demodulation unit receives the group total integrated signal, and a second control state in which the modulation transmission unit is set to the common channel and the first muting means is set to a muted state and the second muting means is set to a non-muted state when the command transmission means causes the transmission of the group partial integrated signal or the sub-reception demodulation unit receives the group partial integrated signal from another device to which selection group information including the own device is added, and a second control state is set and a system control means for setting the control state to the first control state when the secondary receiving demodulation unit receives the group partial integration signal from another device to which selected group information not including the own device is added, and when any of the wireless communication terminals in the network transmits the group formation signal in response to an instruction input from the operation means, all of the wireless communication terminals in the network enter the first control state and form the group formation state, when the group total integration signal is transmitted, all of the wireless communication terminals in the network enter the second control state and form the group total integration state, and when the group partial integration signal is transmitted, the wireless communication terminals of the group included in the selected group information enter the second control state, and the wireless communication terminals of the group not included in the selected group information enter the first control state and form the group partial integration state.

[0014] The wireless communication network system of the present invention allows the network configuration to be quickly switched between a group formation state, a fully integrated group state, and a partially integrated group state simply by operating one of the wireless communication terminals belonging to the network. Each wireless communication terminal in the network has a transmission / reception function section characterized in that the modulation / transmission section can be switched between a group channel and a common channel, and the main reception / demodulation section is set to the group channel and the sub reception / demodulation section is set to the common channel. Unless the device itself is in transmission mode, the main receiving demodulation unit and the sub receiving demodulation unit are always in the ON state, and first and second muting means are provided for their output signals, respectively.Furthermore, the outputs of each muting means are combined by a signal combining means and input to an audio playback means, and the audio signal is played back as audio. As will be described later, the muting means are controlled so that the muting and non-muting states are mutually reversed, and the signal combining means may be configured as a simple electrical connection section.

[0015] A signal transmitted from each wireless communication terminal on a common channel is always received and demodulated by the sub-receiving and demodulating section in wireless communication terminals other than the transmitting terminal of that signal, regardless of the control state of each muting means. Furthermore, by controlling the states of the two muting means so that they have an inverse relationship of mute / non-mute, it is possible to switch between playing back the audio of the group channel and the common channel.

[0016] Based on the above premise, when a selective instruction is input from the operation means at any one of the wireless communication terminals in the network, the command transmission means causes the modulation transmission unit to transmit a group organization signal, a group total integrated signal or a group partial integrated signal on a common channel, and all other wireless communication terminals can receive and demodulate these signals at their sub-reception demodulation units, and the system control means controls the modulation transmission unit and the first and second muting means according to the signal as follows (1) to (4).

[0017] (1) When a group organization signal is transmitted / received, the modulation transmitter is set to the group channel of the group to which it belongs, and the first control state is established in which the first muting means is set to the non-muted state and the second muting means is set to the muted state. (2) When a group integrated signal is transmitted / received, the modulation transmitter is set to a common channel, and a second control state is established in which the first muting means is set to a muted state and the second muting means is set to a non-muted state. (3) If a group partial integration signal (with selection group information including the own device added) is transmitted or received, the second control state is entered, as in (2). (4) If a group partial integration signal is received (with selection group information not including the own device attached), the first control state is set as in (1).

[0018] Therefore, looking at the entire network, (1) constitutes a group-organized state, (2) constitutes a group-integrated state, and (3) and (4) constitute group-partially integrated states. In other words, it is possible to switch between group formation state, full group integration state, and partial group integration state from any wireless communication terminal within the network, and for the partial group integration state, the integration conditions can be changed using selected group information.

[0019] The wireless communication terminal of the present invention is a wireless communication terminal adapted to a network capable of assuming a group formation state in which there are N groups (where N≧3) in which a plurality of wireless communication terminals communicate in a simplex manner using one channel (hereinafter referred to as "group channel"), with the N groups having different channels; a fully integrated group state in which wireless communication terminals belonging to all of the groups communicate in a simplex manner using a common channel; and a partially integrated group state in which wireless communication terminals belonging to some of the groups use a common channel and wireless communication terminals belonging to other groups communicate in a simplex manner using each of the group channels, and the wireless communication terminal is selectively set to the group channel of the group to which the terminal belongs (hereinafter referred to as "own group channel") or the common channel. a modulation transmission unit set to the common channel, a main reception demodulation unit set to its own group channel, a secondary reception demodulation unit set to the common channel, first muting means controlled to mute or not mute the output signal of the main reception demodulation unit, second muting means controlled to mute or not mute the output signal of the secondary reception demodulation unit, signal synthesis means for synthesizing the output signals of the first and second muting means and outputting the synthesized signal to audio reproduction means, and in a transmission mode, generating a group formation signal, a group total integration signal and a group partial integration signal to which selected group information is added in response to an instruction input from an operation means relating to group formation, an instruction input relating to total group integration or an instruction input relating to partial group integration involving selection of some groups, and setting the modulation transmission unit to the common channel The group organization signal, the group total integration signal, or the group partial integration signal generated by each of the instruction inputs.and system control means for, when the command transmitting means causes the group formation signal to be transmitted or the secondary receiving and demodulating unit receives the group formation signal from another device, setting the modulation transmitting unit to the own group channel and setting the first muting means to a non-muted state and the second muting means to a muted state, a first control state in which the first muting means is set to a non-muted state and the second muting means to a muted state, when the command transmitting means causes the group total integrated signal to be transmitted or the secondary receiving and demodulating unit receives the group total integrated signal, setting the modulation transmitting unit to the common channel and setting the first muting means to a muted state and the second muting means to a non-muted state, when the command transmitting means causes the group partial integrated signal to be transmitted or the secondary receiving and demodulating unit receives the group partial integrated signal from another device to which selection group information including the own device is added, the second control state is set, and when the secondary receiving and demodulating unit receives the group partial integrated signal from another device to which selection group information not including the own device is added, the first control state is set.

[0020] In the wireless communication terminal of the present invention, when the command transmitting means generates and transmits the group partial integrated signal to which selected group information has been added, it is desirable that selected group information specifying the group to be selected is registered in advance in a storage means, and that with a single operation from the operating means, the selected group information is read out from the storage means, added to the group partial integrated signal, and transmitted.

[0021] When switching a network from a group organization state or a group total integration state to a group partial integration state, the groups to be partially integrated are often fixed in a business network, and it is troublesome to input selected group information point by point at the time of the switching, and therefore, the operation can be simplified.

[0022] Furthermore, in the wireless communication terminal of the present invention, it is desirable to provide a display means, and when the system control means sets the first control state based on the transmission or reception of the group formation signal, display that the network is in the group formation state, and when the system control means sets the second control state based on the transmission or reception of the group total integration signal, display that the network is in the group total integration state, and when the second control state is set based on the transmission of the group partial integration signal or the reception of the group partial integration signal to which selected group information including the own device has been added, and when the first control state is set based on the reception of the group partial integration signal to which selected group information not including the own device has been added, display that the network is in the group partial integration state and also display the selected group information.

[0023] This is to enable each wireless communication terminal in the network to always check whether the current network state is a group formation state, a group total integration state or a group partial integration state, and also to check which group is currently the target of partial integration in the group partial integration state. Possible ways to display these states include indicator lamps turning on / off, LCD displays, or a combination of these. However, to display the composition of the integrated group in the group partial integration state, an LCD display that can use letters or symbols is convenient. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to the present invention, in addition to a network state (group organization state) in which multiple groups communicate using simplex, and a network state (fully integrated group state) in which groups are integrated and wireless communication terminals within the network can communicate using simplex, it is possible to easily set from each wireless communication terminal within the network a state (partially integrated group state) in which wireless communication terminals belonging to some groups use a common channel and wireless communication terminals belonging to other groups use each group channel to communicate using simplex, thereby providing a wireless communication network system and wireless communication terminal that are adapted to the need for responsive construction of a variety of wireless communication networks depending on the business field. In terms of hardware, each wireless communication terminal that makes up the network differs from the usual configuration in that it has one sub-receiver demodulator in addition to a pair of modulator / transmitter units and a main receiver / demodulator unit, and is provided with muting means and a signal synthesis unit for the output signals of each receiver / demodulator unit.However, the same specifications can be applied, and in terms of software, the only difference is the group channel, and the control sequence can be standardized, so it has the advantage of being relatively easy to build as a network system. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 2 is a functional block diagram of a wireless communication terminal (common to groups G1, G2, G3, and G4) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication frame format used in a wireless communication network. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the correspondence between switching of network states and signals for that purpose, and the setting state of a wireless communication terminal in each network state. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure when a wireless communication terminal actively switches a network state as a terminal transmitting a command signal. [Figure 5A]10 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure related to switching of the network state when the wireless communication terminal passively maintains or switches its setting as a receiving terminal of a command signal. [Figure 5B] 10 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure related to switching of the network state when the wireless communication terminal passively maintains or switches its setting as a receiving terminal of a command signal. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network in a group formation state. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a network in a state where a group partial integrated signal (GPIS) / group total integrated signal (GIS) is transmitted from a wireless communication terminal 31 (group G1) in a group formation state. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a network in a partially integrated group state (groups G1 and G2 are integrated). [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a network in a partially integrated group state (groups G1, G2, and G4 are integrated). [Figure 10] This is a network schematic diagram when a group partial integration signal (GPIS), group formation signal (GFS), and group total integration signal (GIS) are transmitted from wireless communication terminal 41 (group G2) in a group partial integration state (groups G1, G2, and G4 are integrated). [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a network in a state where all groups are integrated. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a network when a partial integration signal (GPIS) / group formation signal (GFS) is transmitted from the wireless communication terminal 33 (group G1) in a group full integration state. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network showing a conventional simplex communication state for each group. [Figure 14] This is a network schematic diagram showing the group organization state in the wireless communication network system of the prior application (Patent Application No. 2024-065037). [Figure 15]This is a network schematic diagram showing the group integration state in the wireless communication network system of the prior application (Patent Application No. 2024-065037). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Hereinafter, a wireless communication network system and a wireless communication terminal according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, as an example of a network, as shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that there are four groups of three wireless communication terminals using one channel to communicate in a simplex manner, each group using a different channel. This embodiment relates to a wireless communication network system and wireless communication terminals that can switch between the assumed network state of Figure 6, which is a group organization state (hereinafter referred to as "Grp organization state") in which wireless communication terminals belonging to each group use a group channel (hereinafter referred to as "Grp channel") to communicate in simplex mode, a fully integrated group state (hereinafter referred to as "fully integrated Grp state") in which four groups are integrated and all wireless communication terminals in the network communicate in simplex mode using a common channel, and a partially integrated group state (hereinafter referred to as "partially integrated Grp state") in which wireless communication terminals belonging to some groups (two or three groups) use a common channel and wireless communication terminals belonging to other groups (two or one group) communicate in simplex mode using their respective Grp channels.

[0027] Figure 1 is a functional block diagram showing the hardware configuration of each wireless communication terminal in the network, where 10 is an antenna, RX1 is a main receiving and demodulating unit, RX2 is a sub-receiving and demodulating unit, 11 and 12 are muting units, 13 is a signal combining unit, 14 is an amplifier, 15 is a speaker (or earphone), 16 is a microphone, 17 is an amplifier, TX is a modulation transmitting unit, 20 is a system control unit, 21 is an operation unit, 22 is an LCD display unit, and 23 is an indicator lamp.

[0028] In the same figure, looking at the receiving system, the received signal at antenna 10 is input to main receiving demodulation unit RX1 and sub receiving demodulation unit RX2, and the output demodulated signals of each receiving demodulation unit RX1, RX2 are input to signal synthesis unit 13 via each muting unit 11, 12, and the output signal of signal synthesis unit 13 is amplified by amplifier 14 and reproduced as sound by speaker (or earphone) 15. In addition, in the transmission system, an input signal from a microphone 16 is input to a modulation transmission unit TX via an amplifier 17, and the modulation transmission unit TX modulates the carrier signal of the set channel with the input signal, and the modulated signal is power-amplified and transmitted from an antenna (shared with the receiving system) 10.

[0029] The entire system of the radio communication terminal equipped with the transmission and reception system is controlled by a system control unit 20, which receives various instruction input signals from an operation unit 21 and signals from each module, controls the modulation transmission unit TX, each reception demodulation unit RX1, RX2, each muting unit 11, 12, each amplifier 14, 17, etc., and displays various information related to the communication status on a liquid crystal display unit 22. It also notifies each of the group's formation / partial integration / full integration statuses by turning on or off two or three indicator lamps 23.

[0030] The wireless communication terminal according to this embodiment executes communication using a communication frame having a configuration as shown in FIG. 2 as an example. The transmitting terminal transmits a modulated wave modulated by MSK (Minimum Shift Keying) or the like using the baseband signal of the audio signal section incorporated in the frame format, while the receiving terminal demodulates the received signal related to the modulated wave to reproduce the audio signal. However, each information signal of the data payload received prior to the audio signal is separated and detected and used as operation control information by the system control unit 20.

[0031] In this embodiment, the data payload of the communication frame includes, as code information, a group formation signal (hereinafter referred to as "GFS"), a group partial integration signal (hereinafter referred to as "GPIS"), or a group total integration signal (hereinafter referred to as "GIS"), along with general information such as the device's own identification information (ID), the identification information of the group to which the device belongs (hereinafter referred to as "G-ID"), and transmission / reception channel information. In addition, selection group information consisting of the G-IDs of the groups to be integrated is added to the GPIS, and the G-ID group is either input from the operation unit 21 before transmitting the GPIS and saved in the built-in memory, or is pre-registered in the built-in memory in a fixed manner and is read out and added when transmitting the GPIS.

[0032] Figure 3 is an overview diagram showing the three states (Grp organization state / Grp partial integration state / Grp full integration state) that the network takes in this embodiment and the command signals (GFS / GPIS / GIS) for switching between each state, along with the setting state of the wireless communication terminal in each state. Therefore, in the following, using Figure 3 as the basic diagram, we will explain the operating procedure when a wireless communication terminal sends a command signal to actively switch the network state (Figure 4), the operating procedure when a wireless communication terminal receives a command signal and the setting state is passively switched to correspond to the network state (Figures 5A and 5B), and the correspondence between the network state and the settings of each wireless communication terminal (Figures 6 to 12).

[0033] Figures 4, 5A and 5B define the operation of a single wireless communication terminal, and are applied to all communication terminals in the network, so that switching of the network state is performed by sending an instruction signal. However, on the network, the wireless communication terminal whose operation is defined in Figure 4 and the wireless communication terminal whose operation is defined in Figures 5A and 5B are different wireless communication terminals in a transmission and reception relationship, so in the following, the former will be distinguished as wireless communication terminal [s] and the latter as wireless communication terminal [r], and when referring to both, they will be expressed as wireless communication terminal [s] / [r].

[0034] 1. Switching from Group formation state to Group partial integration state [Figure 3-(a)] First, the network is initially in the Grp formation state (FIG. 6), with four groups G1, G2, G3, and G4, and the group channels used in each group chA, chB, chC, and chD, respectively. However, in the following, unless a specific wireless communication terminal is indicated, the reference numerals 31 to 33, 41 to 43, 51 to 53, and 61 to 63 are not used, and unless a specific group and Grp channel are indicated, they are represented as group Gi and Grp channel chX, respectively, where i is 1, 2, 3, or 4, and X is A, B, C, or D.

[0035] As shown in Figure 6, in the Grp organization state, each wireless communication terminal [s] / [r] belonging to each group Gi has its modulation transmitter TX set to the Grp channel chX, its main receiver / demodulator RX1 fixed to the Grp channel chX, and its sub receiver / demodulator RX2 fixed to the common channel chZ. This common channel chZ is a channel that is used in common by the integrated group when some or all of the groups Gi are integrated.

[0036] In a network in the Grp configuration state, any wireless communication terminal [s] can switch to the Grp partial integration state under partial integration conditions based on the selected Grp information by transmitting a GIPS with the selected Grp information attached. The operation of the wireless communication terminal [s] related to the switching of the network state in FIG. 3-(a) corresponds to steps S1 to S3: Y → S4 to S9 in FIG. The wireless communication terminals [s] / [r] in the network display on the liquid crystal display 22 and / or indicator lamp 23 (hereinafter referred to as "liquid crystal display units, etc. 22, 23") that they are in a Group formation state, and are conducting simplex group communication on the Grp channel chX of the group Gi to which they belong (S1, S2). Therefore, in the wireless communication terminal [s], the Grp partial integration mode is set from the operation unit 21, and after selecting and inputting the group information to be integrated, an instruction operation for Grp partial integration is performed. After that, the modulation transmission unit TX is switched from the Grp channel chX to the common channel chZ, and then the GPIS and the selected Grp information (G-ID of the selected group) are set in the communication frame and transmitted (S3 to S6). After the transmission, the muting section 11 associated with the main receiving and demodulating section RX1 is switched from the non-muted state to the muted state, and the muting section 12 associated with the sub receiving and demodulating section RX2 is switched from the muted state to the non-muted state (S7).

[0037] Then, with the setting of the wireless communication terminal [s] having been switched, the display of the network status on the liquid crystal display units 22, 23 is switched from the Group organization state to the Group partial integration state (S8), and as will be described later, the wireless communication terminal [s] receives the GPIS and the selected Group information, and an integrated group is formed with each wireless communication terminal [r] whose G-ID is included in the selected Group information, so that the terminal becomes able to carry out communication using the common channel chZ (S9).

[0038] The GPIS and selected Grp information transmitted by the wireless communication terminal [s] will be received and demodulated by the secondary receiving and demodulating unit RX2 (common channel chZ) of all other wireless communication terminals [r], and the operation of these wireless communication terminals [r] corresponds to steps S50:Y → S51:Y → S52 to S54 in Figure 5A. At this stage, the modulation transmitter TX of each radio communication terminal [r] is set to correspond to the Group formation state (Group channel chX). Therefore, if the selected Grp information includes the G-ID of the group to which the wireless communication terminal [r] belongs, it switches the setting channel of the modulation transmission unit TX from the Grp channel chX to the common channel chZ, and switches the muting unit 11 from the non-muted state to the muted state and the muting unit 12 from the muted state to the non-muted state, thereby entering the setting state of the integrated group (S51: Y → S52: Y → S53, S54). On the other hand, if the selected Grp information does not include the G-ID of the group to which the device belongs, the settings will remain unchanged and correspond to the Grp organization state, making the original group communication possible.

[0039] Therefore, the wireless communication terminal [s] and each wireless communication terminal [r] that has been set up in an integrated group are all configured for communication on the common channel chZ, and each wireless communication terminal [r] in the non-integrated group remains configured for communication on the Grp channel chX of the group Gi to which it belongs, so the network is configured in a Grp partially integrated state.

[0040] An example of the switching of the network state due to the operation of the wireless communication terminals [s] / [r] in FIG. 3-(a) above is shown in FIGS. In Figure 7, in the Group organization state, a wireless communication terminal [s] 31 belonging to group G1 switches the modulation transmitter TX to the common channel chZ and transmits a GPIS, and the GPIS is accompanied by the G-ID of each of the groups (G1, G2) or (G1, G2, G4) to be integrated as selected Group information. In this case, the secondary receiving and demodulating unit RX2 of the wireless communication terminal [s] 31 is turned OFF when transmitting GPIS, but the secondary receiving and demodulating unit RX2 of the other wireless communication terminals [r] is turned ON, and GPIS and selected Grp information can always be received regardless of the group.

[0041] Each wireless communication terminal [r] will then detect the G-ID group that has been jointly designated as the selected Grp information, and when the G-ID group of group (G1, G2) or (G1, G2, G4) is detected, in the wireless communication terminals [r] belonging to those groups, the modulation transmission unit TX is switched to the common channel chZ, the muting unit 11 on the main receiving demodulation unit RX1 side is switched to a muted state, and the muting unit 12 on the secondary receiving demodulation unit RX2 side is switched to a non-muted state. Therefore, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the groups (G1, G2) or (G1, G2, G4) are integrated into one group, while the other groups (G3, G4) or (G3) remain configured in the Grp organization state, resulting in the network being configured in a Grp partial integration state.

[0042] Here, Figures 8 and 9 show the state in which wireless communication terminal [s] 31 becomes the calling / transmitting terminal after each integrated group is formed, and the radio wave (common channel chZ) of the call signal transmitted from wireless communication terminal [s] 31 is received and demodulated in the sub-receiving / demodulating unit RX2 (common channel chZ) of all wireless communication terminals [r] other than wireless communication terminal [s] 31, regardless of whether they are wireless communication terminals [r] belonging to the integrated group or not. However, only the wireless communication terminals [r] (32, 33, 41-43 in FIG. 8, 32, 33, 41-43, 61-63 in FIG. 9) of the integrated group, group (G1, G2) in FIG. 8 or group (G1, G2, G4) in FIG. 9, are set with muting unit 11 in a muted state and muting unit 12 in a non-muted state, and the audio signal transmitted by wireless communication terminal [s] 31 is played back and output only by the wireless communication terminals of that integrated group. On the other hand, in the non-integrated groups G3 and G4 in Figure 8 and in each wireless communication terminal [r] of group G3 in Figure 9, the channel settings in the Grp organization state are maintained as they are, and the wireless communication terminals [r] of these groups (51-53, 61-63 in Figure 8, 51-53 in Figure 9) carry out independent group communications on their respective Grp channels (chC, chD in Figure 8, chC in Figure 9).

[0043] 2. Change of integration conditions in the Grp partial integration state [Figure 3-(b)] In a network in a Grp partial integration state, any wireless communication terminal [s] belonging to an integration group can switch to a new Grp partial integration state under partial integration conditions based on the selected Grp information by sending a GIPS with new selected Grp information attached. The switching of the network state in FIG. 3-(b) corresponds to steps S8, S9, S10:Y→S11, S12→S8, S9 in FIG. At this stage, the wireless communication terminal [s] displays on the LCD display unit 22, 23 that it is in the Grp partial integration state, and is in a state where communication is possible using the common channel chZ. However, if the Grp partial integration mode is reset from the operation unit 21 and the group information to be integrated is selected and input, the modulation transmission unit TX will transmit GPIS and the selected Grp information (S10 to S12).

[0044] In this case, the wireless communication device [s] is already set in the integrated group (modulation transmitting unit TX: common channel chZ, muting unit 11: muted state, muting unit 12: non-muted state), so unlike the case of Figure 3-(b), the transmission operation continues as is and there is no switching of the muting units 11 and 12.

[0045] Then, upon transmission of the GPIS and the selected Grp information, the wireless communication terminal [s] switches the display of the network status on the LCD display unit etc. 22, 23 to a display corresponding to the new Grp partial integration state based on the selected Grp information (S8), and as will be described later, it becomes part of a new integration group formed with the wireless communication terminal [r] that has received the GPIS and the selected Grp information and become the integration target, and therefore becomes able to carry out group communication using the common channel chZ (S9).

[0046] The GPIS and selected Grp information transmitted by the wireless communication terminal [s] on the common channel chZ will be received and demodulated by another wireless communication terminal [r] at the sub-receiving and demodulating unit RX2 (common channel chZ), and the operation of that wireless communication terminal [r] corresponds to steps S55:Y → S56 to S59 / S60 to S63 in Figure 5A. In this case, the operation of the radio communication terminal [r] differs depending on whether it is a terminal on the non-integrated Grp formation side in a Grp partially integrated network, or a terminal on the integrated Grp integration side, as follows:

[0047] In the case of a wireless communication terminal [r] set to Grp organization, if the selected Grp information includes the G-ID of the group to which the terminal belongs, the setting channel of the modulation transmitter TX is switched from Grp channel chX to common channel chZ, and the muting unit 11 is switched from the non-muted state to the muted state, and the muting unit 12 is switched from the muted state to the non-muted state, to set an integrated group (S55: Y → S56, S57: Y → S58, S59). However, if the selected Grp information does not include the G-ID of the group to which the terminal belongs, no setting change is made and the setting corresponding to the Grp organization state is left as it is (S55: Y → S56, S57: N → S59).

[0048] On the other hand, in the case of a wireless communication terminal [r] with a Group integrated setting, if the selected Group information includes the G-ID of the group to which the terminal belongs, the setting remains the same as the integrated group setting without any setting changes (S55: Y → S60, S61: Y → S63), but if the selected Group information does not include the G-ID of the group to which the terminal belongs, the setting channel of the modulation transmitting unit TX is switched from the common channel chZ to the Group channel chX, and the muting unit 11 is switched from the muted state to the non-muted state and the muting unit 12 is switched from the non-muted state to the muted state to set it according to the Group formation state (S55: Y → S60, S61: N → S62, S63).

[0049] Therefore, all wireless communication terminals [r] belonging to the group commanded to be integrated by the wireless communication terminal [s] and the GPIS and the selected Grp information will be set to communicate on the common channel chZ, while all wireless communication terminals [r] that are not included in the integration command because their selected Grp information does not include a G-ID will be set to communicate on the Grp channel chX, and the network will be reconfigured to a Grp partial integration state based on the new selected Grp information.

[0050] An example of the switching of the network state due to the operation of the wireless communication terminals [s] / [r] in Figure 3-(b) above is shown in Figures 10 and 8. Here, for example, in the Grp partial integration state (groups G1, G2, and G3 are integrated), as shown in Figure 10, a wireless communication terminal [s] 41 belonging to the integrated group resets the Grp partial integration mode and transmits a GPIS with the G-IDs of groups G1 and G2 added as selected Grp information.

[0051] In this case, the wireless communication terminal [s] 41 maintains the communication settings as an integrated group as described above, but the other wireless communication terminals [r] in the network receive and demodulate the GPIS and selected Grp information using the sub-receiving and demodulating unit RX2 and execute the operation procedure of steps S55:Y→S56 to S59 / S60 to S63 in Figure 5A, thereby switching the Grp partial integration state from integration of groups G1, G2, and G3 to integration of only groups G1 and G2, and each wireless communication terminal [r] in group G3 is returned to the setting in the group formation state. As a result, the network switches to the Grp partial integration state as shown in Figure 8, and the wireless communication terminals [r] of groups G1 and G2 communicate using the common channel chZ as a new integrated group excluding group G3, and the wireless communication terminals [r] of groups G3 and G4 communicate using Grp channels chC and chD, respectively.

[0052] 3. Switching from the Grp partial integration state to the Grp formation state [Figure 3-(c)] In a network in the Grp partial integration state, any wireless communication terminal [s] belonging to the integration group can switch the network to the Grp organization state by transmitting a GFS. The switching of the network state in Figure 3-(c) corresponds to steps S8, S9, S10:N → S13:Y → S14, S15 → S1, S2 in Figure 4. At this stage, the wireless communication terminal [s] belonging to the integrated group displays on the LCD display unit 22, 23 that it is in the Grp partial integration state, and is in a state where communication is possible using the common channel chZ, but when the Grp formation mode is set from the operation unit 21, the modulation transmission unit TX transmits GFS (S13: Y → S14). After the transmission, the muting section 11 associated with the main receiving and demodulating section RX1 is switched from the muted state to the non-muted state, and the muting section 12 associated with the sub receiving and demodulating section RX2 is switched from the non-muted state to the muted state (S15).

[0053] Then, the wireless communication terminal [s] that sent this GFS switches the display of the network status on the liquid crystal display units 22, 23 from the Grp partial integration state to the Grp organization state (S1) as a result of the change in its own setting, and as will be described later, the wireless communication terminal [r] that received the GFS returns to the original setting state of each Grp channel, and is therefore able to carry out group communication using the Grp channel chX (S2).

[0054] The GFS transmitted by the wireless communication terminal [s] on the common channel chZ is received and demodulated by another wireless communication terminal [r] at the secondary receiving and demodulating unit RX2 (common channel chZ), and the operation of that wireless communication terminal [r] corresponds to steps S71:Y→S72, S73 / S74 to S76 in Figure 5B. In this case, the operation of the wireless communication terminal [r] differs depending on whether it is a terminal with a non-integrated Grp configuration in a network with Grp partial integration, or a terminal with an integrated Grp integration configuration, as follows:

[0055] If the wireless communication terminal [r] is in Grp configuration, no setting changes are made and the settings are left as they are, corresponding to the Grp configuration state (S71: Y → S72, S73). If the wireless communication terminal [r] is in Grp integrated configuration, the setting channel of the modulation transmitting unit TX is switched from the common channel chZ to the Grp channel chX, and the muting unit 11 is switched from the muted state to the non-muted state, and the muting unit 12 is switched from the non-muted state to the muted state, thereby setting the terminal to correspond to the Grp configuration state (S71: Y → S74 to S76).

[0056] Therefore, the radio communication terminal [s] and all other wired communication terminals [r] are set to communicate on the Grp channel chX, and the network is switched to the Grp configuration state.

[0057] An example of the switching of the network state due to the operation of the wireless communication terminals [s] / [r] in FIG. 3-(c) above is shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. Here, in the Grp partial integration state shown in Figure 10 (groups G1, G2, and G4 are integrated), when a wireless communication terminal [s] 41 belonging to the integrated group sets the Grp formation mode, it transmits a GFS from the modulation transmission unit TX (common channel chZ) and then switches its own setting to the Grp formation state (steps S13 to S15 in Figure 4), and the transmitted GFS is received and demodulated by the secondary reception and demodulation units RX2 of all other wireless communication terminals [r]. Then, the wireless communication terminal [r] executes the operation procedure of steps S71:Y→S72, S73 / S74 to S76 in Figure 5B, and the wireless communication terminals [r] 31 to 33, 42, 43, 61 to 63 of the integrated group are switched to a Grp formation state setting, while the wireless communication terminals [r] 51 to 53 remain in the Grp formation state. As a result, as shown in Figure 6, the entire network switches to the Grp organization state, and the wireless communication terminals [s] / [r] of each group G1, G2, G3, and G4 communicate using Grp channels chA, chB, chC, and chD, respectively.

[0058] 4. Switching from the Grp partial integration state to the Grp full integration state [Figure 3-(d)] In a network in the Grp partial integration state, any wireless communication terminal [s] belonging to the integration group can switch the network to the Grp full integration state by transmitting a GIS. The switching of the network state in FIG. 3-(d) corresponds to steps S8, S9, S10:N → S13:N → S18 to S21 in FIG. In the Grp partial integration state, the wireless communication terminal [s] of the integrated group displays on the LCD display unit 22, 23 that it is in the Grp partial integration state, and is in a state where communication is possible using the common channel chZ, but when the Grp full integration mode is set from the operation unit 21, GIS is transmitted from the modulation transmission unit TX (S8, S9, S10:N → S13:N → S18, S19).

[0059] Then, the wireless communication terminal [s] that sent this GIS switches the display of the network status on the liquid crystal display units 22, 23 from the Grp partial integration state to the Grp full integration state (S20), and as will be described later, all other wireless communication terminals [r] that received the GIS are set to the common channel chZ, so that communication can be performed with all of those wireless communication terminals [r] using the common channel chZ (S21).

[0060] On the other hand, the GIS transmitted by the wireless communication terminal [s] on the common channel chZ is received and demodulated by another wireless communication terminal [r] at the secondary receiving and demodulating unit RX2 (common channel chZ), and the operation of that wireless communication terminal [r] corresponds to steps S77:Y → S78 to S80 / S81, S82 in Figure 5B. In this case, the operation of the wireless communication terminal [r] differs depending on whether it is a terminal with a non-integrated Grp configuration in a network with Grp partial integration, or a terminal with an integrated Grp integration configuration, as follows:

[0061] If the wireless communication terminal [r] is set to Grp configuration, the setting channel of the modulation transmitting unit TX is switched from Grp channel chX to common channel chZ, and the muting unit 11 is switched from the non-muted state to the muted state, and the muting unit 12 is switched from the muted state to the non-muted state, to set it to correspond to the Grp integrated state (S77: Y → S78 to S80), and if the wireless communication terminal [r] is set to Grp integrated configuration, no setting changes are made and it remains set to correspond to the Grp integrated state (S77: Y → S81, S82).

[0062] Therefore, the wireless communication terminal [s] and all other wireless communication terminals [r] are set to communicate on the common channel chZ, and the network is switched to the Grp all-integrated state.

[0063] An example of the switching of the network state due to the operation of the wireless communication terminals [s] / [r] in FIG. 3-(d) above is shown in FIGS. Here, in the Grp partial integration state shown in Figure 10 (groups G1, G2, and G4 are integrated), when the Grp full integration mode is set in the wireless communication terminal [s] 41 belonging to the integrated group, the GIS is transmitted on the common channel chZ (steps S18 and S19 in Figure 4), and the transmitted GIS is received and demodulated by the secondary receiving and demodulating units RX2 of all other wireless communication terminals [r]. Then, the wireless communication terminal [r] executes the operation procedure of steps S77:Y → S78 to S80 / S81, S82 in Figure 5B, and the wireless communication terminals [r] 31 to 33, 41 to 43, 61 to 63 of the integrated group maintain the Grp integrated state setting, while the wireless communication terminals [r] 51 to 53 are switched to the Grp integrated state setting. As a result, as shown in Figure 11, the network switches to the Grp full integration state, and each wireless communication terminal [s] / [r] in each group G1, G2, G3, and G4 will communicate using the common channel chZ.

[0064] 5. Switching from Grp full integration state to Grp partial integration state [Figure 3-(e)] In the Grp full integration state, any wireless communication terminal [s] can switch to a Grp partial integration state under partial integration conditions based on the selected Grp information by transmitting a GIPS with the selected Grp information attached. The operation of the wireless communication terminal [s] relating to the switching of the network state in FIG. 3-(e) corresponds to steps S20, S21, S22:Y→S23 to S25→S8, S9 in FIG. In the Grp fully integrated state, all wireless communication terminals [s] / [r] in the network display on the LCD display units 22, 23 that they are in the Grp fully integrated state, and are in a state where they can perform group communication using simplex mode on the shared channel chZ (S20, S21). In this state, at the wireless communication terminal [s], the Grp partial integration mode is set from the operation unit 21, and after selecting and inputting the group information to be integrated, an instruction operation for Grp partial integration is performed, and the modulation transmission unit TX sets GPIS and the selected Grp information (G-ID of the selected group) in the communication frame and transmits it (S22: Y → S23 to S25).

[0065] Then, upon transmitting the GPIS and the selected Grp information, the wireless communication terminal [s] switches the display of the network status on the LCD display units 22, 23 from the fully integrated Grp state to the partially integrated Grp state (S8), and as will be described later, an integrated group is formed between the GPIS and the wireless communication terminal [r] that received the selected Grp information (the selected Grp information includes its own G-ID), so that group communication using the common channel chZ can be performed (S9).

[0066] On the other hand, the GPIS and selected Grp information transmitted by the wireless communication terminal [s] are received and demodulated by the secondary receiving and demodulating unit RX2 (common channel chZ) of all other wireless communication terminals [r], and the operation of these wireless communication terminals [r] corresponds to steps S50:Y → S51:N → S55:N → S64 to S67 in Figure 5A. At this stage, each wireless communication terminal [r] is set to correspond to the Grp integration state (modulation transmission unit TX: common channel chZ, muting unit 11: muted state, muting unit 12: non-muted state) (S64). If the selected Grp information includes the G-ID of the group to which the wireless communication terminal [r] belongs, the wireless communication terminal [r] maintains the settings corresponding to the Grp integrated state without making any setting changes and becomes a terminal of the integrated group (S64, S65: Y → S67). However, if the selected Grp information does not include the G-ID of the group to which the wireless communication terminal [r] belongs, the setting channel of the modulation transmitting unit TX is switched from the common channel chZ to the Grp channel chX, and the muting unit 11 is switched from the muted state to the non-muted state and the muting unit 12 is switched from the non-muted state to the muted state, thereby becoming a terminal of the original group Gi (S64, S65: N → S66, S67).

[0067] Therefore, the wireless communication terminal [s] and each wireless communication terminal [r] that has been set up in an integrated group configuration will all be set up for communication on the common channel chZ, and each wireless communication terminal [r] in the non-integrated group will be set up for communication on the Grp channel chX in the Grp organization state, so the network will be configured in a Grp partially integrated state.

[0068] An example of the switching of the network state due to the operation of the wireless communication terminals [s] / [r] in FIG. 3-(e) above is shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. In Figure 12, the network is in a Grp full integration state, and the wireless communication terminal [s] 33 transmits a GPIS from the modulation transmitter TX (common channel chZ), but the selected Grp information attached to the GPIS is the G-ID group of the groups G1 and G2 to be integrated. In this case, the secondary receiving and demodulating unit RX2 of the wireless communication terminal [s] 33 is turned off, but the other wireless communication terminals [r] are in the on state and can always receive GPIS and selected Group information.

[0069] Then, the wireless communication terminal [r] that received the GPIS and the selected group information will execute steps S64 to S67 of Figure 5A. In this case, since the selected group information added to the GPIS is the G-ID of groups G1 and G2, the wireless communication terminals 31 to 33 and 41 to 43 that belonged to groups G1 and G2, including the wireless communication terminal [s] that sent the GPIS, will form an integrated group with the settings corresponding to the Grp integrated state (S65:Y → S67). On the other hand, the wireless communication terminals 51 to 53 and 61 to 63 that belonged to the other groups G3 and G4 will be switched from the settings corresponding to the Grp integrated state to the settings corresponding to the Grp organization state, and group communication (Grp channels chC and chD) in groups G3 and G4 will be possible (S65:N → S66, S67). As a result, the network enters the Grp partial integration state shown in FIG. 8, where groups G1 and G2 are integrated and their wireless communication terminals 31 to 33 and 41 to 43 communicate in simplex mode using common channel chZ, while wireless communication terminals 51 to 53 of group G3 and wireless communication terminals 61 to 63 of group G4 communicate in simplex mode using Grp channels chC and chD, respectively.

[0070] 6. Switching between the Grp full integration state and the Grp organization state [Figure 3-(f), (g)] In the Grp fully integrated state, any one of the wireless communication terminals [s] can switch to the Grp formation state by sending a GFS, and in the Grp formation state, any one of the wireless communication terminals [s] can switch to the Grp integrated state by sending a GIS. This switching of network states has already been introduced and explained in the above-mentioned [Background Art] section in a previous patent application (Patent Application No. 2024-065037) filed by the applicant of the present application.

[0071] Figure 3-(f), i.e., the operation on the wireless communication terminal [s] side regarding switching of the network state from Grp total integration state to Grp organization state, corresponds to steps S20, S21, S22:N → S26:Y → S27, S28 → S1, S2 in Figure 4. Moreover, the operation on the wireless communication terminal [r] side that receives the GFS transmitted by the wireless communication terminal [s] in step S27 of FIG. 4 corresponds to step S71: Y → S74 to S76 in FIG. 5B. In this case, the wireless communication terminal [r] corresponds to all terminals in the network other than the wireless communication terminal [s].

[0072] Therefore, both the wireless communication terminal [s] and the wireless communication terminal [r] are switched to settings corresponding to the Group formation state (step S28 in FIG. 4 and step S75 in FIG. 5B), and the network enters the Group formation state. An example of switching of the network state due to the operation of the wireless communication terminals [s] / [r] in Figure 3-(f) is shown in Figures 12 and 6, and based on the wireless communication terminal [s] 33 sending a GFS in the Grp total integration state of Figure 12, the network switches to the Grp organization state of Figure 6.

[0073] On the other hand, the operation of the wireless communication terminal [s] in Figure 3-(g), i.e., the switching of the network state from the Grp organization state to the Grp total integration state, corresponds to steps S1, S2, S3:N → S16:Y → S17 → S19 to S20 in Figure 4. Moreover, the operation on the wireless communication terminal [r] side that receives the GIS transmitted by the wireless communication terminal [s] in step S19 in FIG. 4 corresponds to steps S77 → S78 to S80 in FIG. 5B. In this case, the wireless communication terminal [r] corresponds to all terminals in the network other than the wireless communication terminal [s].

[0074] Therefore, both the wireless communication terminal [s] and the wireless communication terminal [r] are switched to the setting corresponding to the Group integration state (step S17 in FIG. 4 and step S79 in FIG. 5B), and the network enters the Group integration state. An example of switching of the network state due to the operation of the wireless communication terminals [s] / [r] in Figure 3-(g) is shown in Figures 7 and 11. When the wireless communication terminal [s] 31 of group G1 transmits a GIS in the Grp organization state of Figure 7, the network switches to the Grp total integration state of Figure 11. [Industrial Applicability]

[0075] The present invention can be applied to a network system that switches between a group formation state, a partial group integration state, and a full group integration state in a network of business wireless communication terminals and the like, and to a wireless communication terminal that realizes this. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 10...antenna, 11, 12...muting section, 13...signal synthesis section, 14...amplifier, 15...speaker (or earphone), 16...microphone, 17...amplifier, 20...system control section, 21...operation section, 22...liquid crystal display section, 23...indicator lamp, TX...modulation transmission section, RX1...main receiving demodulation section, RX2...sub-receiving demodulation section, 31-33, 41-43, 51-53, 61-63...wireless communication terminal, GIS...group total integrated signal, GFS...group formation signal, GPIS...group partial integrated signal, 101-103, 201-203, 301-303...wireless communication terminal.

Claims

1. A network capable of assuming a group formation state in which there are N groups (where N≧3) in which a plurality of wireless communication terminals communicate in a simplex manner using one channel (hereinafter referred to as "group channel"), with the N groups having different channels (hereinafter referred to as "group channels"), a fully integrated group state in which wireless communication terminals belonging to all of the groups communicate in a simplex manner using a common channel, and a partially integrated group state in which wireless communication terminals belonging to some of the groups use a common channel, and wireless communication terminals belonging to other groups communicate in a simplex manner using each of the group channels, the wireless communication terminal comprises a modulation transmission unit selectively set to the group channel of the group to which the terminal belongs (hereinafter referred to as "own group channel") or the common channel, a main reception demodulation unit set to the own group channel, a secondary reception demodulation unit set to the common channel, first muting means controlled to mute or unmute an output signal of the main reception demodulation unit, second muting means controlled to mute or unmute an output signal of the secondary reception demodulation unit, signal synthesis means for synthesizing the output signals of the first and second muting means and outputting the synthesized signal to audio reproduction means, and a modulation transmission unit which, in a transmission mode, generates a group formation signal, a total group integration signal, and a group partial integration signal to which selected group information including the group to which the terminal belongs, in response to an instruction input from an operation unit relating to group formation, an instruction input relating to total group integration, or an instruction input relating to partial group integration involving selection of some groups, and sets the modulation transmission unit to the common channel and outputs the group formation signal, the total group integration signal, or the group partial integration signal generated in response to each of the instruction inputs. and system control means for, when the command transmitting means causes the group organization signal to be transmitted or the secondary receiving and demodulating unit receives the group organization signal from another device, setting the modulation transmitting unit to the own group channel and setting the first muting means to a non-muted state and the second muting means to a muted state, a first control state in which the first muting means is set to a non-muted state and the second muting means to a muted state, when the command transmitting means causes the group total integrated signal to be transmitted or the secondary receiving and demodulating unit receives the group total integrated signal, setting the modulation transmitting unit to the common channel and setting the first muting means to a muted state and the second muting means to a non-muted state, when the command transmitting means causes the group partial integrated signal to be transmitted or the secondary receiving and demodulating unit receives the group partial integrated signal from another device to which selection group information including the own device is added, the second control state is set, and when the secondary receiving and demodulating unit receives the group partial integrated signal from another device to which selection group information not including the own device is added, the first control state is set. When any of the wireless communication terminals in the network transmits the group formation signal in response to an instruction input from the operation means, all of the wireless communication terminals in the network enter the first control state and form the group formation state; when any of the wireless communication terminals in the network transmits the group total integration signal, all of the wireless communication terminals in the network enter the second control state and form the group total integration state; when any of the wireless communication terminals in the network transmits the group partial integration signal, the wireless communication terminals of the group included in the selected group information enter the second control state, and the wireless communication terminals of the group not included in the selected group information enter the first control state and form the group partial integration state. A wireless communication network system comprising:

2. In the case where the command sending means of the wireless communication terminal generates and sends the group partial integrated signal with selected group information added, selected group information specifying the group to be selected is registered in advance in a storage means, and with a single operation from the operation means, the selected group information is read from the storage means, added to the group partial integrated signal, and sent. This is the wireless communication network system described in claim 1.

3. the wireless communication terminal is provided with a display means, The system control means if the first control state is set based on the transmission or reception of the group formation signal, indicating that the network is in the group formation state; when the second control state is set based on the transmission or reception of the group total integration signal, displaying that the network is in the group total integration state; When the second control state is set based on transmission of the group partial integration signal or reception of the group partial integration signal to which selected group information including the own device is added, and when the first control state is set based on reception of the group partial integration signal to which selected group information not including the own device is added, the fact that the group partial integration state is in place is displayed, and the selected group information is also displayed.

3. The wireless communication network system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A wireless communication terminal applied to a network capable of assuming a group formation state in which there are N groups (where N≧3) in which a plurality of wireless communication terminals communicate in a simplex manner using one channel (hereinafter referred to as "group channel"), with the N groups having different channels (hereinafter referred to as "group channels"), a fully integrated group state in which wireless communication terminals belonging to all of the groups communicate in a simplex manner using a common channel, and a partially integrated group state in which wireless communication terminals belonging to some of the groups use a common channel and wireless communication terminals belonging to other groups communicate in a simplex manner using each of the group channels, a modulation transmission unit selectively set to the group channel of the group to which the own device belongs (hereinafter referred to as "own group channel") or the common channel; a main receiving and demodulating unit set to its own group channel; a secondary receiving and demodulating unit set to the common channel; a first muting means controlled to mute or not mute the output signal of the main receiving and demodulating section; a second muting means that is controlled to mute or not mute the output signal of the secondary receiving and demodulating unit; a signal synthesis means for synthesizing the output signals of the first and second muting means and outputting the synthesized signal to an audio reproduction means; command transmission means for generating, in a transmission mode, a group formation signal, a group total integration signal, and a group partial integration signal to which selected group information is added, in response to an instruction input from an operation means relating to group formation, an instruction input relating to total group integration, or an instruction input relating to partial group integration accompanied by selection of some groups, and setting the modulation transmission unit to the common channel to transmit the group formation signal, the group total integration signal, or the group partial integration signal generated in response to each instruction input; system control means for, when the command transmitting means causes the group formation signal to be transmitted or the secondary receiving and demodulating unit receives the group formation signal from another device, setting the modulation transmitting unit to the own group channel and setting the first muting means to a non-muted state and the second muting means to a muted state, a first control state in which the command transmitting means causes the group total integrated signal to be transmitted or the secondary receiving and demodulating unit receives the group total integrated signal, setting the modulation transmitting unit to the common channel and setting the first muting means to a muted state and the second muting means to a non-muted state, a second control state in which the command transmitting means causes the group partial integrated signal to be transmitted or the secondary receiving and demodulating unit receives the group partial integrated signal from another device to which selection group information including the own device is added, a second control state in which the command transmitting means causes the group partial integrated signal to be transmitted or the secondary receiving and demodulating unit receives the group partial integrated signal from another device to which selection group information not including the own device is added, a first control state in which the command transmitting means causes the group partial integrated signal to be transmitted or the secondary receiving and demodulating unit receives the group partial integrated signal from another device to which selection group information not including the own device is added, a A wireless communication terminal comprising:

5. 5. The wireless communication terminal of claim 4, wherein when the command transmitting means generates and transmits the group partial integrated signal to which selected group information is added, selected group information specifying the group to be selected is registered in advance in a storage means, and with a single operation from the operating means, the selected group information is read from the storage means, added to the group partial integrated signal, and transmitted.

6. It has a display means, The system control means if the first control state is set based on the transmission or reception of the group formation signal, indicating that the network is in the group formation state; when the second control state is set based on the transmission or reception of the group total integration signal, displaying that the network is in the group total integration state; When the second control state is set based on transmission of the group partial integration signal or reception of the group partial integration signal to which selected group information including the own device is added, and when the first control state is set based on reception of the group partial integration signal to which selected group information not including the own device is added, the fact that the group partial integration state is in place is displayed, and the selected group information is also displayed.

6. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 4 or 5.

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