Wireless communication system and wireless communication method for wireless communication in a communication shadow environment

Abstract

To disclose a wireless communication system and a wireless communication method for wireless communication in a communication shadow environment.SOLUTION: A wireless communication system includes a first communication relay device that wirelessly communicates with a first wireless device via a first communication channel, and a second communication relay device that wirelessly communicates with a second wireless device via a second communication channel different from the first communication channel. The first communication relay device and the second communication relay device communicate with each other using a metal object as a communication medium, and broadcast a pilot signal including communication channel information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless communication system and a wireless communication method for wireless communication in a communication shadow environment.

Background Art

[0002] In general, when a general communication antenna is placed on or contacts a metal surface such as iron, its resonance characteristics and radiation characteristics tend to deteriorate. Therefore, in a communication shadow environment such as an environment shadowed by metal (e.g., a container box or a ship), it is technically difficult to establish communication between an antenna disposed inside and an antenna disposed outside. Therefore, there is a need for new research on devices and methods for overcoming an environment shadowed by metal and propagating electromagnetic waves for data communication.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0003] A wireless communication method according to an embodiment includes an operation in which a first communication relay device receives voice data from a first wireless device via a first communication channel, an operation in which the first communication relay device transmits the voice data to a second communication relay device using a metal body as a communication medium, an operation in which the first communication relay device broadcasts a first pilot signal including communication channel information regarding the first communication channel, an operation in which the second communication relay device receives the voice data from the first communication relay device using a metal body as a communication medium, an operation in which the second communication relay device transmits the voice data to a second wireless device via a second communication channel, and an operation in which the second communication relay device broadcasts a second pilot signal including communication channel information regarding the second communication channel. Furthermore, the first communication relay device broadcasts a first pilot signal with a signal strength lower than the signal strength of the transmitted or received signal during the communication process with the first wireless device, and the second communication relay device broadcasts a second pilot signal with a signal strength lower than the signal strength of the transmitted or received signal during the communication process with the second wireless device.

[0004] The operation of broadcasting the first pilot signal may include the operation of periodically broadcasting the first pilot signal during the standby time of the first communication relay device.

[0005] The operation of broadcasting the second pilot signal may include the operation of periodically broadcasting the second pilot signal during the standby time of the second communication relay device.

[0006] Each of the first and second communication relay devices can broadcast a pilot signal with a preset signal strength.

[0009] The first communication relay device and the second communication relay device may be located on a ship.

[0010] When the first wireless device receives the second pilot signal, it can change the current communication channel to which it intends to communicate to the second communication channel based on the communication channel information relating to the second communication channel contained in the received second pilot signal.

[0011] When the second wireless device receives the first pilot signal, it can change the current communication channel to the first communication channel based on the communication channel information relating to the first communication channel included in the received first pilot signal.

[0012] A computer-readable recording medium according to one embodiment can store a computer program that, in conjunction with hardware, causes the wireless communication method to be executed.

[0013] A wireless communication system according to one embodiment includes a first communication relay device that communicates wirelessly with a first wireless device via a first communication channel, and a second communication relay device that communicates wirelessly with a second wireless device via a second communication channel different from the first communication channel, wherein the first and second communication relay devices communicate with each other using a metal body as a communication medium and can broadcast a pilot signal including communication channel information. The first communication relay device may broadcast a first pilot signal with a signal strength lower than the signal strength of the signal transmitted or received during the communication process with the first wireless device, and the second communication relay device may broadcast a second pilot signal with a signal strength lower than the signal strength of the signal transmitted or received during the communication process with the second wireless device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, a wireless communication system and wireless communication method for wireless communication in a communication shadow environment can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of data transmission through a metallic medium according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This diagram illustrates the antenna unit and data processing unit included in a communication relay device according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a diagram illustrating a wireless communication system according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a wireless communication method according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication relay device according to one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] The specific structural or functional descriptions of the embodiments are disclosed for illustrative purposes only and can be modified in various ways. Therefore, embodiments are not limited to any particular form of disclosure, and the scope of this specification includes modifications, equivalents, or substitutions of the technical ideas described in the embodiments.

[0017] Terms such as "first" or "second" may be used to describe multiple components, but such terms should be interpreted solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from others. For example, the first component can be named the second component, and similarly, the second component can also be named the first component.

[0018] When it is mentioned that one component is "connected" to another, it should be understood that it is directly linked to or connected to the other component, but that other components may be present in between.

[0019] A singular expression can include multiple expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as “includes” or “having” indicate the presence of features, figures, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood not to preemptively exclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0020] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those with ordinary skill in the relevant technical field. Commonly used, predefined terms should be interpreted as having meanings consistent with their meanings in the context of the relevant technology, and not as ideal or overly formal unless expressly defined herein.

[0021] As used herein, the term “module” includes units embodied in hardware, software, or firmware, and can be used interchangeably with terms such as logic, logic block, component, or circuit. A module may be an integrated component, or the smallest unit or a part of the component that executes one or more functions. For example, according to one embodiment, the module is embodied in the form of an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit).

[0022] As used herein, the term "component" means a software or a hardware component such as an FPGA or an ASIC, and the "component" plays a certain role. However, the "component" is not meant to be limited to software or hardware. The "component" may be configured to be in an addressable storage medium, or may be configured to reproduce one or more processors. For example, the "component" may include components such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components and task components, processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuits, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. The functions provided within the component and the "component" may be combined with fewer components and the "component", or may be further divided into additional components and the "component". In addition, the component and the "component" may be embodied to reproduce one or more CPUs within a device or a secure multimedia card. Also, the "component" may include one or more processors.

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. When describing with reference to the drawings, the same components are given the same reference numerals regardless of the drawing symbols, and duplicate descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0024] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of data transmission through a metallic medium according to one embodiment.

[0025] A communication relay device according to one embodiment (for example, the first communication relay device 310 and the second communication relay device 340 shown in Figure 3) can perform communication using a metal body as the medium. A communication relay device receives voice data from a wireless device and transmits the received voice data to another communication relay device using a metal medium. Communication relay devices can efficiently perform wireless communication using metal bodies as a medium in communication shadow environments where radio wave communication is difficult, such as in ships, containers, and trailers. The communication relay device may include an antenna unit that is attached to the metal hull of a ship, creates an electromagnetic field on the hull, and propagates audio data received from a data processing unit (e.g., a processor) by carrying it over the electromagnetic field and transmitting it through the metal body. The antenna section of the communication relay device receives voice data transmitted to the electromagnetic field via a metal body, and the communication relay device can transmit the received voice data to a wireless device via its own communication channel.

[0026] Therefore, the principle of how audio data is transmitted through a metal body will be explained with reference to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of transmitting voice data through a metal body (e.g., a metal ship hull) according to one embodiment. Here, the metallic medium 101 may be the steel plates or frame structure of the ship's hull. The explanation will be divided into two cases: when the metallic medium 101 is magnetic and when it is diamagnetic.

[0027] When the metallic medium 101 is a magnetic material

[0028] The conductive layer of the first antenna 110 causes an electromagnetic field to form in the dielectric layer. Therefore, this electromagnetic field creates a dominant electromagnetic field in the metal medium 101, which is the radio wave medium. Of the generated electromagnetic fields, electromagnetic field E1 propagates perpendicularly to the metallic medium 101 through the aperture of the first antenna 110. The propagated electromagnetic field E1 causes a dominant electromagnetic field B to form within the metallic medium 101.

[0029] Therefore, according to the theory of reversibility, the second antenna 120 on the receiving side receives energy from the electromagnetic field formed within the metallic medium 101 using a similar structure and principle. In this process, a change in the dominant electromagnetic field B is transmitted from the dielectric layer through the aperture of the second antenna 120 to the dominant electromagnetic field E2.

[0030] In this type of communication using a metallic medium (also called metallic communication), the magnetic field is dominant, so even if the shape and size of the metallic medium 101 change, the change in impedance is small. Furthermore, since the magnetic permeability of the metallic medium 101 is greater than that of air, the transmission efficiency of radio waves is superior to that of communication systems that propagate through air. Therefore, the communication distance is even greater when communicating through a magnetic medium, such as a metallic body 101, than when communicating through a magnetic field in the air. For a magnetic field to form a dominant electromagnetic field, the resonant and circuit sections of the communication relay device must be designed so that an electric field of a certain magnitude is formed inside the metal body within those sections.

[0031] The electromagnetic field formed in the metallic medium 101 allows energy to be transferred to a resonator located at a certain distance from the metallic medium 101. Because the magnetic field is dominant in the electromagnetic field formed in the metallic medium 101, an electric field is radiated from the metallic medium 101. Therefore, when an antenna resonating at the operating frequency is within a certain distance from the metallic medium 101, energy reception is possible.

[0032] The dielectric of the dielectric layer of the first antenna 110 or the second antenna 120 has a reduced thickness and size of the resonant portion, and can transmit sufficient energy by forming an electromagnetic field B in which the magnetic field is dominant in the metallic medium 101.

[0033] When the metallic medium 101 is a paramagnetic or diamagnetic material

[0034] The current supplied to the conductive layer forms a dominant electromagnetic field E1 in the metallic medium 101. Here, the electric field radiated from the opening surface cannot form a magnetically dominant electromagnetic field B within the metal medium 101. In this regard, because paramagnetic and diamagnetic materials have permeability similar to that of air, the magnetic field in a paramagnetic or diamagnetic metallic medium 101 does not propagate as strongly as in the case of a ferromagnetic material, but rather propagates at a similar magnitude. In other words, the distance over which signals propagate through air or within a metal body is similar.

[0035] While pure iron, a ferromagnetic material, has a magnetic permeability of 4000-5000, aluminum, a paramagnetic material, and silver (Ag), a diamagnetic material, have a magnetic permeability of approximately 1.0, indicating a difference in the intensity of magnetic fields and radio waves within the metal. Therefore, in this case, the signal is propagated to the receiver by a current induced in the metal medium 101 from the conductive layer of the antenna that is in contact with the metal medium 101. Here, an electric field radiated from the aperture surface is induced in the metal body, thereby transmitting a signal or power.

[0036] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the antenna section and data processing section included in a communication relay device according to one embodiment.

[0037] Figure 2 shows an antenna unit 210 and a data processing unit 220 according to one embodiment. Here, the antenna 210 includes an aperture surface and comprises a first layer of conductive material that is not subject to a metallic medium, a second layer of conductive material located on the opposite side of the first layer, and a third layer of dielectric material contained between the first and second layers. The number of aperture surfaces may be determined differently depending on the application and the communication environment. The first and second layers may have one or more openings, but may not have any openings depending on the circumstances. The shape of the opening surface may be circular or polygonal, and its size is determined so that a magnetic field dominant in the metal medium is formed, thereby transferring sufficient energy.

[0038] The thickness of each layer is determined considering the wavelength and skin depth, so that a dominant electromagnetic field is formed in the metallic medium, allowing sufficient energy to be transferred. Further layers with different electrical properties may be added to the first or second layer in the opposite direction to the third layer. For example, by adding another dielectric layer above the first layer, the formation of a strong electromagnetic field can be induced. As another example, adding an insulator above the first layer can prevent electrical connection with the metallic medium.

[0039] The third layer, which is an intermediate layer between the first and second layers, may be made of a dielectric or an insulator. Herein, the third layer may include at least one material from carbon fiber, acrylic, and polycarbonate, without limitation. However, it may also include other materials such as paint, paper, and polymer resin films. Furthermore, the third layer may include various layers with different properties, multiple dielectrics, or insulators.

[0040] Alternatively, a ferromagnetic material can be pre-attached to the metal medium 101 to induce a strong magnetic field in the metal. For example, a dielectric or insulator may be attached to the first layer, and a ferromagnetic material may be attached on top of that. Then, this is placed on the metallic medium 101. Therefore, a strong magnetic field is formed by the attached ferromagnetic material, which induces a magnetic field in the metal medium, thus creating an even stronger magnetic field than would be possible by directly inducing a magnetic field within the metal.

[0041] The data processing unit 220 is a circuit device that converts data and / or signals transmitted and received by the antenna unit 210, which is the resonant section, into meaningful data and / or signals. The data processing unit 220 includes circuits for transmission and circuits for reception, and includes circuit configurations for processing (or converting) data and / or signals.

[0042] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a wireless communication system according to one embodiment.

[0043] Referring to Figure 3, one embodiment of the wireless communication system is a wireless communication system for communication between wireless devices 340 and 360 on a ship 300. However, the scope of the embodiments is not limited thereto, and the proposed wireless communication system may be used in other communication shadow environments. For example, if there is a metallic medium other than the metal hull of the ship 300, and metallic communication is possible between the communication relay devices 310 and 340 via that metallic medium, then the contents described herein may apply. In this specification, the term "wireless device" may be replaced with "wireless radio."

[0044] The wireless communication system includes a first communication relay device 310 that communicates wirelessly with a first wireless device 330 via a first communication channel, and a second communication relay device 340 that communicates wirelessly with a second wireless device 360 ​​via a second communication channel different from the first communication channel. The first communication relay device 310 and the second communication relay device 340 may be located on the ship 300. The first communication relay device 310 and the second communication relay device 340 communicate with each other using a metal body as the communication medium. For example, the first communication relay device 310 and the second communication relay device 340 may communicate with each other using the metal hull of the ship 300 as a metal medium, according to the communication principle described with reference to Figure 1. In one embodiment, the first communication relay device 310 may be located at the stern of the vessel 300, and the second communication relay device 340 may be located at the bow of the vessel 300.

[0045] In one embodiment, the first communication relay device 310 causes an electromagnetic field to form on the metal hull of the ship 300 via a first antenna 110 attached to the metal hull, and propagates the voice data received from the first radio device 330 in the form of a signal within the electromagnetic field. The second communication relay device 340 receives signals transmitted through an electromagnetic field via the second antenna 120 attached to the metal hull of the ship 300, and extracts voice data from the received signals. The second communication relay device 340 transmits the extracted voice data via the second communication channel, and the second wireless device 360 ​​receives the voice data generated by the first wireless device 330 via the second communication channel.

[0046] In one embodiment, the second communication relay device 340 causes an electromagnetic field to form on the metal hull of the ship 300 via a second antenna 120 attached to the metal hull, and propagates the voice data received from the second radio device 360 ​​in the form of a signal within the electromagnetic field. The first communication relay device 310 receives signals transmitted via an electromagnetic field through the first antenna 110 attached to the metal hull of the ship 300, and extracts voice data from the received signals. The first communication relay device 310 transmits the extracted voice data via the first communication channel, and the first wireless device 330 receives the voice data generated by the second wireless device 360 ​​via the first communication channel.

[0047] In one embodiment, the first communication relay device 310 and the second communication relay device 340 may broadcast (or transmit) a pilot signal containing their own communication channel information. For example, the first communication relay device 310 may broadcast a first pilot signal that includes communication channel information relating to the first communication channel. The second communication relay device 340 may broadcast a second pilot signal containing communication channel information relating to the second communication channel. For example, the first communication relay device 310 and the second communication relay device 340 may each periodically broadcast a pilot signal during the standby period. Here, the standby time refers to the time during which the communication relay device is not communicating with the wireless device or other communication relay devices (or the time during which it is not processing wireless transmission or reception).

[0048] In one embodiment, the first communication relay device 310 and the second communication relay device 340 each broadcast a pilot signal with a preset signal strength. For example, the first communication relay device 310 may broadcast a pilot signal with a signal strength lower than the signal strength of the signal transmitted or received during the communication process with the first radio device 330, and the second communication relay device 340 may broadcast a pilot signal with a signal strength lower than the signal strength of the signal transmitted or received during the communication process with the second radio device 360. In one embodiment, the pilot signal is a signal with low signal strength that is transmitted sporadically at specific points in time or time intervals. A pilot signal is used to inform a radio device that receives the pilot signal of the available communication channels at the location where the radio device is situated.

[0049] The first wireless device 330 communicates with the first communication relay device 310, leaves the communication range 320 of the first communication relay device 310, and moves into the communication range 350 of the second communication relay device 340. In this case, the first radio device 330 receives the second pilot signal transmitted from the second communication relay device 340. When the first radio device 330 receives a second pilot signal transmitted from the second communication relay device 340, the first radio device 330 changes the current communication channel it intends to communicate on to the second communication channel based on the communication channel information relating to the second communication channel included in the received second pilot signal. Such changes to communication channels may be performed automatically. Alternatively, the first wireless device 330 may notify the user of the first wireless device 330 that a second communication channel has been detected, or provide a notification requesting conversion to the second communication channel.

[0050] The second wireless device 360 ​​communicates with the second communication relay device 340, leaves the communication range 350 of the second communication relay device 340, and moves into the communication range 320 of the first communication relay device 310. In this case, the second wireless device 360 ​​receives the first pilot signal transmitted from the first communication relay device 310. When the second radio device 360 ​​receives a first pilot signal transmitted from the first communication relay device 310, the second radio device 360 ​​changes the current communication channel it intends to communicate on to the first communication channel based on the communication channel information relating to the first communication channel included in the received first pilot signal. Such changes to communication channels may be performed automatically. Alternatively, the second wireless device 360 ​​may notify the user of the second wireless device 360 ​​that the first communication channel has been detected, or provide a notification requesting conversion on the first communication channel.

[0051] The communication range 320, which is the range within which communication is possible with the first communication relay device 310, and the communication range 350, which is the range within which communication is possible with the second communication relay device 340, may or may not overlap with each other. Furthermore, depending on the embodiment, there may be three or more communication relay devices.

[0052] If a particular wireless device receives both the first pilot signal and the second pilot signal, the wireless device can set its communication channel to the communication channel with the better communication environment (or communication quality). For example, if the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) when receiving the first pilot signal is greater than the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) when receiving the second pilot signal, the radio device can estimate that the first communication channel through which the first pilot signal was transmitted has a better communication environment than the second communication channel through which the second pilot signal was transmitted, and can set the communication channel as the first communication channel.

[0053] The first wireless device 330 and the second wireless device 360 ​​can perform channel scanning for communication channels for communication purposes. For example, the first wireless device 330 and the second wireless device 360 ​​can search for a communication channel while changing the communication channel in the order of first communication channel, second communication channel, third communication channel, and so on. Furthermore, the first wireless device 330 and the second wireless device 360 ​​can attempt to communicate on the communication channel through which the voice data (or signal) was transmitted or the last activated communication channel. In conventional communication systems, if a wireless device is set to the first communication channel but is not currently communicating, and then moves to a communication area where communication is conducted on the second communication channel, the wireless device will first attempt to communicate on the first communication channel, which may result in communication failure. Furthermore, in conventional communication systems, for wireless devices to be linked with communication relay devices, users had to manually change the communication channel of their wireless devices to a communication channel that was available, which was inconvenient. If users were still unable to properly change the communication channel, they could not be linked with the communication relay device, resulting in situations where communication was impossible.

[0054] However, as proposed in this invention, by having the first communication relay device 310 and the second communication relay device 340 each continuously transmit pilot signals to indicate their respective communication channels, the wireless device can efficiently identify the communication channels available at its location. The wireless device can reduce the possibility of communication failure due to incorrect communication channel settings by automatically changing the currently set communication channel based on the communication channel identified via a pilot signal. The wireless device can automatically search for the optimal communication channel, regardless of its own position, via a pilot signal, and automatically set and operate the communication channel. Furthermore, while wireless devices should be configured to receive better signals, according to one or more embodiments, by setting the output power of the pilot signals transmitted from the communication relay devices 310 and 340 to a low level, the discriminative power of the signals that wireless devices 330 and 360 can receive is maximized, allowing wireless devices 330 and 360 to set the optimal communication channel.

[0055] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a wireless communication method according to one embodiment.

[0056] Referring to Figure 4, in operation 410, the first communication relay device 310 receives voice data from the first wireless device (for example, the first wireless device 330 shown in Figure 3) via the first communication channel.

[0057] In operation 415, the first communication relay device 310 transmits voice data to the second communication relay device 340 using a metal body as the communication medium. Audio data can be transmitted by being carried on an electromagnetic field formed in a metal body.

[0058] In operation 420, the first communication relay device 310 broadcasts a first pilot signal containing communication channel information relating to the first communication channel. In one embodiment, the first communication relay device 310 may periodically broadcast the first pilot signal during the standby time of the first communication relay device 310. The first communication relay device 310 broadcasts a first pilot signal with a signal strength lower than the signal strength of the signal transmitted or received during the communication process with the first radio device.

[0059] In operation 425, the second communication relay device 340 receives voice data from the first communication relay device 310 using a metal body as the communication medium.

[0060] In operation 430, the second communication relay device 340 transmits voice data to the second wireless device (for example, the second wireless device 360 ​​shown in Figure 3) via the second communication channel.

[0061] In operation 435, the second communication relay device 340 broadcasts a second pilot signal containing communication channel information relating to the second communication channel. In one embodiment, the second communication relay device 340 may periodically broadcast the second pilot signal during the standby time of the second communication relay device 340. The second communication relay device 340 broadcasts a second pilot signal with a signal strength lower than the signal strength of the signal transmitted or received during the communication process with the second radio device.

[0062] In operation 440, the second communication relay device 340 receives voice data from the second wireless device via the second communication channel.

[0063] In operation 445, the second communication relay device 340 transmits voice data to the first communication relay device 310 using a metal body as the communication medium. Audio data may be transmitted by being carried on an electromagnetic field formed on a metal body.

[0064] In operation 450, the second communication relay device 340 broadcasts a second pilot signal containing communication channel information relating to the second communication channel.

[0065] In operation 455, the first communication relay device 310 receives voice data from the second communication relay device 340 using a metal body as the communication medium.

[0066] In operation 460, the first communication relay device 360 ​​transmits voice data to the first wireless device via the first communication channel.

[0067] In operation 465, the first communication relay device 310 broadcasts a first pilot signal containing communication channel information relating to the first communication channel.

[0068] In one embodiment, when the first wireless device communicates with the first communication relay device 310 and moves within the communication range of the second communication relay device 340, the first wireless device can receive a second pilot signal via the second communication channel. When the first radio device receives a second pilot signal, it may change the current communication channel it intends to communicate on to the second communication channel based on the communication channel information relating to the second communication channel included in the received second pilot signal.

[0069] In one embodiment, when the second wireless device communicates with the second communication relay device 340 and moves within the communication range of the first communication relay device 310, the second wireless device receives a first pilot signal via the first communication channel. When the second radio device receives the first pilot signal, it may change the current communication channel it intends to communicate on to the first communication channel based on the communication channel information relating to the first communication channel included in the received first pilot signal.

[0070] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication relay device according to one embodiment.

[0071] Referring to Figure 5, the communication relay device 500 corresponds to the communication relay devices described in this disclosure (for example, the first communication relay device 310 and the second communication relay device 340 shown in Figure 3). The communication relay device 500 includes a processor 510, memory 520, and a communication module 530. The communication relay device 500 includes a processor 510, a memory 520, and a communication module 530, and each component of the communication relay device 500 can communicate with each other via a communication bus 540. In one embodiment, the communication relay device 500 may omit some of these components or add other components.

[0072] The processor 510 can control other components of the communication relay device 500 (e.g., hardware or software components) and perform various data processing or calculations. According to one embodiment, as part of data processing or calculation, the processor 510 stores instructions or data received from other components in the memory 520, processes the instructions or data stored in the memory 520, and stores the resulting data in the memory 520.

[0073] The processor 510 may include a main processor (e.g., a central processing unit or application processor) or auxiliary processors that can operate independently or together with it (e.g., a graphics processing unit, a neural network processing unit (NPU), an image signal processing unit, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor).

[0074] The memory 520 stores various data used by the components of the communication relay device 500 (for example, the processor 510 or the communication module 530). The data may include, for example, a program (e.g., an application), input and / or output data for related instructions, and audio data received from a wireless device. Memory 520 may store instruction words that can be executed by the processor 510. Memory 520 may include volatile memory or non-volatile memory. In one embodiment, the processor 510 and memory 520 may be included in and operate as a data processing unit 220 shown in Figure 2.

[0075] The communication module 530 supports the establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the communication relay device 500 and other devices (e.g., other communication relay devices, wireless devices), and the execution of communication through the established communication channel. The communication module 530 includes a communication circuit for performing communication functions. The communication module 530 operates independently of the processor 510 and may include a communication processor that supports direct (e.g., wired) communication or wireless communication. The communication module 530 may include a wireless communication module and / or a wired communication module for wireless communication. The communication module 530 may include, for example, the antenna section 210 shown in Figure 2.

[0076] The processor 510 can control the communication relay device 500 to perform one or more operations of the communication relay device described in the present invention by executing instruction words stored in the memory 520.

[0077] The embodiments described above can be embodied in hardware components, software components, and / or combinations of hardware components and software components. For example, the apparatus, methods, and components described in the embodiments can be embodied using a general-purpose computer or a special-purpose computer, such as a processor, controller, ALU (arithmetic logic unit), digital signal processor, microcomputer, FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), PLU (Programmable Logic Unit), microprocessor, or other adaptive supersampling device capable of executing commands and responding. The processing unit can execute an operating system (OS) and software applications that run on the OS. Furthermore, the processing device may access, store, manipulate, process, and generate data in response to the execution of software. For the sake of understanding, it has sometimes been stated that only one processing unit is used; however, a person with ordinary skill in the relevant art will know that a processing unit may include multiple processing elements and / or multiple types of processing elements. For example, the processing unit may include multiple processors or one processor and one controller. Furthermore, other processing configurations, such as parallel processors, are also possible.

[0078] Software may include computer programs, code, instructions, or any combination thereof, and can configure or instruct a processing unit independently or collectively as desired. Software and / or data may be permanently embodied in any type of machine, component, physical device, virtual device, computer storage medium, or device, or transmitted signal wave, for the purpose of being interpreted by a processing device or providing instructions or data to a processing device. The software may be distributed across networked computer systems and stored or executed in a distributed manner. Software and data can be stored on computer-readable recording media.

[0079] The method according to this embodiment is embodied in the form of program instructions that are implemented via various computer means and recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The recording medium includes program instructions, data files, data structures, etc., either individually or in combination. The recording medium and program instructions may be specially designed and configured for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be known and usable by those skilled in the art who have expertise in the field of computer software. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes; optical recording media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs; magneto-optical media such as floppy disks; and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, and flash memory. Examples of program instructions include not only machine code generated by compilers, but also high-level language code executed by computers using interpreters and the like.

[0080] The hardware adaptive supersampling device described above may be configured to operate as one or more software models to perform the operations shown in the present invention, and vice versa.

[0081] Although embodiments have been described above with limited drawings, a person with ordinary skill in the art can apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above description. For example, the described techniques may be performed in a different order than described, and / or the components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, etc. may be combined or assembled in a different manner than described, and may be replaced or substituted by other components or equivalents, yet still satisfactory results may be achieved.

[0082] Therefore, other embodiments, other embodiments, and claims equivalent to those described below also fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A wireless communication method, The operation of the first communication relay device to receive voice data from the first wireless device via the first communication channel, The operation of the first communication relay device to transmit the voice data to the second communication relay device using a metal body as the communication medium, The operation of the first communication relay device broadcasting a first pilot signal including communication channel information relating to the first communication channel, The second communication relay device performs the operation of receiving the voice data from the first communication relay device using a metal body as a communication medium, The operation of the second communication relay device transmitting the voice data to the second wireless device via the second communication channel, The operation includes the second communication relay device broadcasting a second pilot signal containing communication channel information relating to the second communication channel, The first communication relay device broadcasts a first pilot signal with a signal strength lower than the signal strength of the signal being transmitted or received during the communication process with the first wireless device. A wireless communication method comprising: the second communication relay device broadcasting a second pilot signal having a signal strength lower than the signal strength of the signal being transmitted or received during the communication process with the second wireless device.

2. The operation of broadcasting the first pilot signal includes the operation of periodically broadcasting the first pilot signal during the standby time of the first communication relay device. The wireless communication method according to claim 1, wherein the operation of broadcasting the second pilot signal includes the operation of periodically broadcasting the second pilot signal during the standby time of the second communication relay device.

3. The wireless communication method according to claim 1, wherein each of the first communication relay device and the second communication relay device broadcasts a pilot signal of a preset signal strength.

4. The wireless communication method according to claim 1, wherein the first communication relay device and the second communication relay device are located on a ship.

5. The wireless communication method according to claim 1, wherein when the first wireless device receives the second pilot signal, it changes the current communication channel to which it intends to communicate to the second communication channel based on the communication channel information relating to the second communication channel contained in the received second pilot signal.

6. The wireless communication method according to claim 1, wherein when the second wireless device receives the first pilot signal, it changes the current communication channel to the first communication channel based on the communication channel information relating to the first communication channel included in the received first pilot signal.

7. A computer program stored on a computer-readable recording medium for use in conjunction with hardware to perform the method described in claim 1.

8. A wireless communication system, A first communication relay device that communicates wirelessly with a first wireless device via a first communication channel, Includes a second communication relay device that wirelessly communicates with a second wireless device via a second communication channel different from the first communication channel, The first communication relay device and the second communication relay device communicate with each other using a metal body as a communication medium, and broadcast a pilot signal including communication channel information. The first communication relay device broadcasts a first pilot signal with a signal strength lower than the signal strength of the signal transmitted or received during the communication process with the first wireless device. A wireless communication system in which the second communication relay device broadcasts a second pilot signal having a signal strength lower than the signal strength of the signal transmitted or received during the communication process with the second wireless device.

9. The wireless communication system according to claim 8, wherein each of the first communication relay device and the second communication relay device periodically broadcasts the pilot signal during the standby state time.

10. The wireless communication system according to claim 8, wherein each of the first communication relay device and the second communication relay device broadcasts a pilot signal of a preset signal strength.

11. The wireless communication system according to claim 8, wherein the first communication relay device and the second communication relay device are located inside a ship.

12. The wireless communication system according to claim 8, wherein when the first wireless device receives the second pilot signal, it changes the current communication channel to which it intends to communicate to the second communication channel based on the communication channel information relating to the second communication channel contained in the received second pilot signal.

13. The wireless communication system according to claim 8, wherein when the second wireless device receives the first pilot signal, it changes the current communication channel to the first communication channel based on the communication channel information relating to the first communication channel included in the received first pilot signal.

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