Communication device, communication control method, and program

Abstract

A communication device (2) comprises a peripheral detection unit (200), a contention determination unit (202), and a communication timing change request unit (203). The peripheral detection unit (200) detects advertisements from one or more sensor terminals and estimates the reception timing of each advertisement. The contention determination unit (202) determines whether there is contention between communication with a central apparatus and reception of advertisements from each sensor terminal. The communication timing change request unit (203) requests the central apparatus to change a communication timing when it is determined by the contention determination unit (202) that there is contention between reception of advertisements from any of the sensor terminals and communication with the central apparatus.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication device, a communication control method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, in a communication device that operates as either a master or a slave, when wirelessly connected to an electronic device, a technique for controlling the period during which the device operates as a slave according to the communication status with electronic devices other than the said electronic device is known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, a communication system is known in which a communication device receives advertisements from a plurality of peripheral devices such as sensor terminals in a central role via an advertisement channel method and communicates with a central device in a peripheral role via a data channel method.

[0005] In the advertisement channel method, the communication device communicates without grasping the communication status with each peripheral device, that is, the reception timing of advertisements from each peripheral device. Therefore, in the conventional communication system with the above configuration, there is a problem that it is difficult for the communication device to appropriately adjust the timing of operating as a peripheral, that is, the communication timing with the central device.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a communication device, a communication control method, and a program capable of appropriately adjusting the communication timing with a central device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the communication device relating to this disclosure is A reception timing estimation means for detecting one or more peripheral devices and estimating the reception timing of advertisements from each detected peripheral device, A conflict determination means for determining whether there is a conflict between communication with the central device and the reception of advertisements from each peripheral device, The system includes a communication timing change request means that, if the conflict determination means determines that there is a conflict between the reception of an advertisement from any peripheral device and communication with the central device, requests the central device to change the communication timing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this disclosure, it becomes possible to appropriately adjust the communication timing with the central equipment. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Diagram showing the overall configuration of the communication system in the embodiment. [Figure 2] Block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the communication device in the embodiment. [Figure 3] Block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the central device in the embodiment. [Figure 4] Block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the sensor terminal in the embodiment. [Figure 5] Block diagram showing the functional configuration of the communication device in the embodiment. [Figure 6] A diagram showing an example of a peripheral management table in the embodiment. [Figure 7] In this embodiment, a diagram illustrating the communication timing with the central device. [Figure 8] A diagram showing an example of communication timing information in the embodiment. [Figure 9] Flowchart showing the procedure for peripheral detection processing in the embodiment [Figure 10] A flowchart illustrating the procedure for establishing a connection in the embodiment. [Figure 11] Flowchart showing the procedure for the conflict determination process in the embodiment [Figure 12] A diagram showing an example of a communication priority table in a modified embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0011] Figure 1 shows the overall configuration of the communication system 1 in the embodiment. The communication system 1 comprises a communication device 2, a central device 3, and one or more sensor terminals 4.

[0012] <Communication device 2> Communication device 2 is an example of a communication device related to this disclosure. Communication device 2 collects data (hereinafter referred to as "sensor data") from each sensor terminal, indicating the values ​​measured by the sensor terminal 4, and transmits the collected data to the central device 3. Communication device 2 also accepts various settings and operations from the central device 3 and updates programs based on data received from the central device 3. Furthermore, if communication device 2 is a communication adapter connected to equipment such as air conditioners and lighting equipment, communication device 2 relays data exchanged between the equipment and the central device 3.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, as a hardware configuration, the communication device 2 includes a communication interface 20, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 22, a RAM (Random-Access Memory) 23, and an auxiliary storage device 24. These components are interconnected via a bus 25. The communication interface 20 is hardware for performing wireless communication with other devices using a predetermined short-range wireless communication method. In this embodiment, it is hardware for performing Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication.

[0014] The CPU 21 comprehensively controls the communication device 2. Details of the functions of the communication device 2 realized by the CPU 21 will be described later. The ROM 22 stores read-only programs such as BIOS. The RAM 23 is used as a work area for the CPU 21. The auxiliary storage device 24 is composed of a readable and writable non-volatile semiconductor memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), etc. The readable and writable non-volatile semiconductor memory is, for example, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), a flash memory, etc. The auxiliary storage device 24 stores a communication control program, which is a program for realizing each of the functions of the communication device 2 described later, and data used when the communication control program is executed.

[0015] The communication device 2 can obtain the above communication control program or an update program for updating the communication control program from the central device 3 or other devices not shown through communication. Also, these programs can be stored and distributed on computer-readable recording media such as CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), magneto-optical disk, USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, HDD, SSD (Solid-State Drive), memory card, etc. When such a recording media is directly or indirectly attached to the communication device 2, the communication device 2 can also read out the communication control program or the update program from the recording media and install it on itself.

[0016] <Central device 3> The central device 3 is an example of the central device according to the present disclosure. The central device 3 is, for example, a smart device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal, a notebook PC (Personal Computer), an air conditioner remote control, a lighting remote control, etc. The central device 3 establishes a connection with the communication device 2 and conducts data communication on its own initiative. That is, the central device 3 communicates with the communication device 2 in a so-called data channel method.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, the central device 3 includes a display 30, an operation reception unit 31, a communication interface 32, a CPU 33, a ROM 34, a RAM 35, and an auxiliary storage device 36. These components are interconnected via a bus 37. The display 30 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display. The display 30 displays, under the control of the CPU 33, an operation screen for the communication device 2, a screen for displaying sensor data acquired from the communication device 2, etc.

[0018] The operation reception unit 31 is composed of one or more input devices such as push buttons, touch panels, touchpads, keyboards, and mice, and receives operation input from the user and outputs signals related to the received operation to the CPU 33. The communication interface 32 is hardware for wireless communication with other devices using a predetermined short-range wireless communication method, and in this embodiment, it is hardware for Bluetooth® communication. The CPU 33 comprehensively controls the central device 3.

[0019] ROM34 stores read-only programs such as the BIOS. RAM35 is used as a workspace for the CPU33. The auxiliary storage device 36 consists of read-write non-volatile semiconductor memory, an HDD, etc. Examples of read-write non-volatile semiconductor memory include EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory. The auxiliary storage device 36 stores various programs, including programs for operating the communication device 2, and data used when these programs are executed.

[0020] <Sensor terminal 4> Sensor terminal 4 is an example of peripheral equipment according to this disclosure. As shown in Figure 4, sensor terminal 4 comprises a sensor unit 40, a communication interface 41, a CPU 42, a ROM 43, a RAM 44, and an auxiliary storage device 45. These components are interconnected via a bus 46.

[0021] The sensor unit 40 is a circuit for measuring environmental information in the surrounding area where it is installed. Environmental information includes, for example, air temperature, humidity, CO2 concentration, odor, PM (Particulate Matter), thermal image, illuminance, etc. The communication interface 41 is hardware for wireless communication with other devices using a predetermined short-range wireless communication method, and in this embodiment, it is hardware for Bluetooth® communication.

[0022] The CPU 42 provides comprehensive control of the sensor terminal 4. The ROM 43 stores read-only programs such as the BIOS. The RAM 44 is used as the CPU 42's workspace. The auxiliary storage device 45 consists of, for example, a read / write non-volatile semiconductor memory such as an EPROM, EEPROM, or flash memory. The auxiliary storage device 45 stores a program for measuring environmental information and wirelessly transmitting the measurement results, as well as data used when the program is executed.

[0023] The sensor terminal 4, configured as described above, measures environmental information in the surrounding area where it is installed and broadcasts an advertisement (i.e., sensor data) containing its own identifier, a UUID (Universally Unigue Identifier), and the measured value at a predetermined time interval (i.e., advertisement interval).

[0024] <Functional configuration of communication device 2> As shown in Figure 5, the communication device 2 includes, as characteristic functions, a peripheral detection unit 200, a connection management unit 201, a conflict determination unit 202, and a communication timing change request unit 203. These functions are realized when the CPU 21 executes the above-mentioned communication control program stored in the auxiliary storage device 24.

[0025] The peripheral detection unit 200 is an example of a reception timing estimation means according to this disclosure. When predetermined conditions are met, the peripheral detection unit 200 detects a peripheral device, i.e., a sensor terminal 4, and executes a process to estimate the reception timing of advertisements from the detected sensor terminal 4. The above conditions are met when any of the following (1) to (3) are met. (1) When the short-range wireless communication of communication device 2 is enabled and the power is turned ON (2) When the short-range wireless communication of communication device 2 is switched from disabled to enabled (3) When the user initiates an operation to perform peripheral detection.

[0026] In detail, the peripheral detection unit 200 performs a scan (specifically, a passive scan) to receive advertisements transmitted from surrounding sensor terminals 4. The peripheral detection unit 200 then extracts and obtains an identifier (UUID in this embodiment) from the received advertisement. The peripheral detection unit 200 registers the obtained UUID in the peripheral management table (see Figure 6). The peripheral management table is a data table for managing the reception timing of peripheral devices, i.e., sensor terminals 4, that are the targets of sensor data acquisition, and is stored in the auxiliary storage device 24. Reception timing information is registered in the peripheral management table for each UUID. The reception timing information includes the start time and the reception cycle.

[0027] The peripheral detection unit 200 estimates the reception period of advertisements corresponding to each UUID, i.e., advertisements transmitted from each sensor terminal 4, i.e., the advertisement interval, by repeating the scan until a predetermined time (hereinafter referred to as the "peripheral detection time") has elapsed. The peripheral detection unit 200 estimates the reception period of advertisements from each sensor terminal 4 by calculating the average of the reception periods (Tn) of advertisements with the same source (i.e., advertisements with the same UUID) detected within the peripheral detection time.

[0028] However, since the advertisement interval includes a random time (advertisement delay of 0 to 10 ms) to avoid collisions with other advertisements, the peripheral detection unit 200 estimates the reception period of advertisements from each sensor terminal 4 by subtracting the average advertisement delay (i.e., 5 ms) from the average reception period (Tn), as shown in the following formula.

[0029]

number

[0030] The peripheral detection unit 200 registers the estimated reception period in the peripheral management table. The peripheral detection unit 200 also registers the time when it most recently received an advertisement from the sensor terminal 4 as the starting time in the peripheral management table. After the peripheral detection time has elapsed, the peripheral detection unit 200 periodically receives advertisements (i.e., sensor data) of the UUIDs registered in the peripheral management table, sorts the received sensor data chronologically by UUID, and stores it in a sensor data table (not shown). The sensor data table is a data table stored in the auxiliary storage device 24.

[0031] The connection management unit 201 establishes a connection with the central device 3. During connection establishment, the connection management unit 201 extracts and obtains the connection interval and offset from the connection request received from the central device 3. As shown in Figure 7, the connection interval indicates the communication interval with the central device 3. The offset indicates the interval from receiving the connection request from the central device 3 until receiving the first data; in other words, the interval from receiving the connection request until communication with the central device 3 begins.

[0032] The connection management unit 201 calculates the time when communication with the central device 3 will begin (hereinafter referred to as the "communication start time") based on the time the connection request was received and the acquired offset. The connection management unit 201 stores the communication timing information (see Figure 8), including the calculated communication start time and the acquired connection interval, in the auxiliary storage device 24.

[0033] The conflict determination unit 202 is an example of a conflict determination means related to this disclosure. The conflict determination unit 202 determines whether there is a conflict between communication with the central device 3 and the reception of advertisements from each sensor terminal 4. Specifically, the conflict determination unit 202 determines, for each sensor terminal 4, whether there is a conflict between the communication timing with the central device 3 (specifically, the timing for receiving data from the central device 3) and the timing for receiving advertisements, based on the communication timing information stored in the auxiliary storage device 24 and the reception timing information corresponding to each sensor terminal 4 stored in the peripheral management table.

[0034] Specifically, the conflict determination unit 202 estimates whether, within a predetermined determination time from the present moment, future advertisements received from the sensor terminal 4 and future data received from the central device 3 will overlap (in other words, collide). If it estimates that there will be overlaps, it counts the number of times this occurs. The above determination time is sufficiently longer than the connection interval and the reception cycle of each sensor terminal 4.

[0035] In the above estimation, the conflict determination unit 202 does not directly compare the estimated reception time of each advertisement from the sensor terminal 4 with the estimated reception time of each data from the central device 3 within the above determination time, but rather determines whether there is an overlap with the reception of data from the central device 3 within a certain time range (for example, 5ms, which is the average of the advertisement delays) from the reception time of each advertisement. If the number of times the above count is greater than or equal to a certain number, the conflict determination unit 202 determines that there is a conflict between the reception of advertisements from the sensor terminal 4 and communication with the central device 3.

[0036] If the conflict determination unit 202 determines that there is a conflict between the reception of an advertisement from any of the sensor terminals 4 and communication with the central device 3, it notifies the communication timing change request unit 203 of this fact. The communication timing change request unit 203 is an example of the communication timing change request means relating to this disclosure. If the conflict determination unit 202 determines that there is a conflict between the reception of an advertisement from any of the sensor terminals 4 and communication with the central device 3, the communication timing change request unit 203 requests the central device 3 to change the communication timing. Specifically, the communication timing change request unit 203 sends a prescribed message (hereinafter referred to as the "change request message") to the central device 3 to request a change in the communication timing.

[0037] Upon receiving the above change request message, the central device 3 changes at least one of the offset and connection interval and sends a change completion message to the communication device 2. The connection management unit 201 extracts and obtains the connection interval and offset from the received change completion notification. The connection management unit 201 then updates the communication timing information stored in the auxiliary storage device 24 based on the obtained connection interval and offset. When the communication timing information is updated, the conflict determination unit 202 performs a conflict determination again. If the conflict determination unit 202 determines that there is a conflict, the communication timing change request unit 203 requests the central device 3 to change the communication timing again. Thereafter, the above series of processes is repeated until the conflict determination unit 202 determines that there is no conflict.

[0038] <Peripheral detection process> Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure for peripheral detection processing performed by communication device 2. Communication device 2 performs the following peripheral detection processing when its short-range wireless communication is enabled and the power is turned ON, when its short-range wireless communication is switched from disabled to enabled, or when the user performs an operation to instruct peripheral detection to be performed.

[0039] (Step S100) Communication device 2 performs a scan. After that, the processing of communication device 2 proceeds to step S101.

[0040] (Step S101) The communication device 2 determines whether or not it has received an advertisement from any of the sensor terminals 4. If an advertisement is received (step S101; YES), the communication device 2 proceeds to step S102. If no advertisement is received (step S101; NO), the communication device 2 returns to step S100.

[0041] (Step S102) Communication device 2 obtains an identifier (i.e., a UUID) from the received advertisement and determines whether the obtained identifier is already registered in the peripheral management table. If the obtained identifier is not already registered in the peripheral management table (step S102; NO), communication device 2 proceeds to step S103. If the obtained identifier is already registered in the peripheral management table (step S102; YES), communication device 2 proceeds to step S104.

[0042] (Step S103) Communication device 2 registers the acquired identifier in the peripheral management table (see Figure 6). Subsequently, the communication device 2 proceeds to step S106.

[0043] (Step S104) The communication device 2 estimates the reception cycle of the advice from the sensor terminal 4. Subsequently, the communication device 2 proceeds to step S105.

[0044] (Step S105) Communication device 2 registers the estimated reception period and start time in the peripheral management table. Subsequently, the processing of communication device 2 proceeds to step S106.

[0045] (Step S106) Communication device 2 determines whether the elapsed time since the start of peripheral detection processing has reached the peripheral detection time. If the peripheral detection time has not elapsed (step S106; NO), communication device 2 returns to step S100. If the peripheral detection time has elapsed (step S106; YES), communication device 2 terminates the peripheral detection processing.

[0046] <Connection establishment process> Figure 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the connection establishment process performed by the communication device 2 to establish a connection with the central device 3.

[0047] (Step S200) Communication device 2 broadcasts an advertisement containing its own UUID. Subsequently, the processing of communication device 2 proceeds to step S201.

[0048] (Step S201) Communication device 2 determines whether or not it has received a connection request from central device 3. If a connection request is received (step S201; YES), communication device 2 proceeds to step S202. If a connection request is not received (step S201; NO), communication device 2 returns to step S200.

[0049] (Step S202) Communication device 2 extracts and obtains the connection interval and offset from the received connection request. Subsequently, the processing of communication device 2 proceeds to step S203.

[0050] (Step S203) Communication device 2 establishes a connection with central device 3. Subsequently, the processing of communication device 2 proceeds to step S204.

[0051] (Step S204) Communication device 2 calculates the communication start time from the time the connection request was received and the acquired offset. After that, the processing of communication device 2 proceeds to step S205.

[0052] (Step S205) Communication device 2 stores communication timing information (see Figure 8), including the communication start time and the acquired connection interval, in the auxiliary storage device 24. After that, communication device 2 terminates the connection establishment process.

[0053] <Conflict detection process> Figure 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the conflict detection process performed by the communication device 2. The communication device 2 performs the following conflict detection process when establishing a connection with the central device 3 and whenever the communication timing information (see Figure 8) is changed.

[0054] (Step S300) The communication device 2 reads out the reception timing information corresponding to each sensor terminal 4 (i.e., each UUID) one by one from the peripheral management table (see Figure 6). After that, the communication device 2 proceeds to step S301.

[0055] (Step S301) Based on the read reception timing information and the communication timing information stored in the auxiliary storage device 24, the communication device 2 determines whether the reception of the advertisement from the sensor terminal 4 corresponding to the reception timing information conflicts with communication with the central device 3. If the reception of the advertisement does not conflict with communication with the central device 3 (step S301; NO), the communication device 2 proceeds to step S302. If the reception of the advertisement conflicts with communication with the central device 3 (step S301; YES), the communication device 2 proceeds to step S303.

[0056] (Step S302) Communication device 2 determines whether it has read all reception timing information from the peripheral management table. If it has not read all reception timing information (step S302; NO), communication device 2 returns to step S300. If it has read all reception timing information (step S302; YES), communication device 2 terminates the conflict determination process.

[0057] (Step S303) Communication device 2 requests a change in communication timing from central device 3. After that, communication device 2 terminates the conflict detection process.

[0058] As described above, in the communication system 1 of this embodiment, the communication device 2 estimates the timing of receiving advertisements from each sensor terminal 4 and determines whether there is a conflict between communication with the central device 3 and the reception of advertisements from each sensor terminal 4. If it is determined that there is a conflict between the reception of advertisements from any of the sensor terminals 4 and communication with the central device 3, it requests the central device 3 to change the communication timing. This makes it possible to appropriately adjust the communication timing with the central device 3 and prevent the loss of sensor data from the sensor terminals 4.

[0059] (Variation 1) The communication device 2 may be configured to estimate the reception timing only for advertisements from a specific sensor terminal 4. Specifically, in the peripheral detection process (see Figure 9), if the identifier (i.e., UUID) of the received advertisement does not match the identifier of the sensor data to be acquired, the communication device 2 may discard the advertisement and not register the identifier in the peripheral management table.

[0060] (Modification 2) If, for the purpose of utilizing the sensor data, it is sufficient for the communication device 2 to acquire sensor data at a longer period than the reception period of advertisements from the sensor terminal 4 (reception period of advertisements × n (n>1)), then the communication device 2 may receive sensor data (i.e., advertisements) at that period and determine whether or not there is a conflict based on that period.

[0061] For example, even if a sensor terminal 4 that measures air temperature transmits sensor data as an advertisement every 10 seconds, if it is sufficient for the communication system 1 to acquire sensor data from the sensor terminal 4 every minute, the communication device 2 will receive the advertisement from the sensor terminal 4 every minute. Furthermore, in step S301 of the conflict determination process (see Figure 11), the communication device 2 determines whether receiving advertisements from the sensor terminal 4 at a 1-minute interval conflicts with communication with the central device 3.

[0062] (Variation 3) If, in step S301 of the conflict determination process (see Figure 11), the communication device 2 determines that receiving an advertisement from a sensor terminal 4 conflicts with communication with the central device 3 (step S301; YES), it may calculate the communication timing (i.e., connection interval and offset) to ensure that receiving advertisements from any of the sensor terminals 4 does not conflict with communication with the central device 3, and send a change request message containing the calculated communication timing to the central device 3. Note that the communication device 2 may calculate only one of the connection interval and offset.

[0063] Upon receiving the above change request message, the central device 3 takes into account the communication timing included in the change request message, modifies at least one of the offset and connection interval, and sends a change completion message to the communication device 2. This configuration makes it possible to reduce the number of change request messages sent from the communication device 2 to the central device 3.

[0064] (Modification 4) The communication device 2 may periodically perform peripheral detection processing (see Figure 9). In this case, when it detects a new UUID (i.e., a new sensor terminal 4) that is not registered in the previous peripheral management table (see Figure 6), the communication device 2 performs conflict determination processing (see Figure 11). With this configuration, the communication device 2 can automatically respond to the addition of new peripheral devices after operation has started.

[0065] (Variation 5) The communication device 2 manages the most recent reception time of advertisements from each sensor terminal 4 using a peripheral management table or other table. If it has not received an advertisement from the sensor terminal 4 for a predetermined time (for example, the reception cycle of the advertisement × n) since the last reception, it may assume that the sensor terminal 4 has disconnected and delete the record corresponding to the sensor terminal 4 from the peripheral management table.

[0066] (Experimental variation 6) Priorities are pre-set for each communication type, and if the priority of the communication type in communication with the central device 3 is higher than the priority in communication with each sensor terminal 4 (i.e., the priority of sensor data), the communication device 2 may prioritize communication with the central device 3. Specifically, in this case, the communication device 2 does not request the central device 3 to change the communication timing. The priorities for each communication type are pre-registered in a communication priority table (see Figure 12) stored in the auxiliary storage device 24. In communication with the central device 3, information indicating the communication type is included in the data from the central device 3.

[0067] For example, if the communication type in communication with the central device 3 is setting or updating the program of communication device 2, communication device 2 will not request a change in communication timing from the central device 3, even if it conflicts with receiving advertisements from the sensor terminal 4. Alternatively, if the communication type in communication with the central device 3 is setting or updating the program of the communication device, communication device 2 may avoid executing the conflict detection process (see Figure 11).

[0068] (Example 7) All or part of the functional components of the communication device 2 (see Figure 5) may be implemented using dedicated hardware. Dedicated hardware may include, for example, a single circuit, a complex circuit, a programmed processor, an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof.

[0069] The technical concepts related to each of the above-described modifications may be implemented individually or in combination as appropriate.

[0070] This disclosure can be implemented in various forms and variations without departing from its broad spirit and scope. Furthermore, the embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of this disclosure. In other words, the scope of this disclosure is indicated by the claims, not by the embodiments. Various variations implemented within the scope of the claims and the equivalent significance of the disclosure are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure. [Industrial applicability]

[0071] This disclosure can be suitably adopted in devices that perform short-range wireless communication with a central device and a plurality of peripheral devices. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1 Communication system, 2 Communication device, 3 Central equipment, 4 Sensor terminal, 20, 32, 41 Communication interface, 21, 33, 42 CPU, 22, 34, 43 ROM, 23, 35, 44 RAM, 24, 36, 45 Auxiliary storage device, 25, 37, 46 Bus, 30 Display, 31 Operation reception unit, 40 Sensor unit, 200 Peripheral detection unit, 201 Connection management unit, 202 Conflict determination unit, 203 Communication timing change request unit

Claims

1. A reception timing estimation means for detecting one or more peripheral devices and estimating the reception timing of advertisements from each detected peripheral device, A conflict determination means for determining whether there is a conflict between communication with the central device and the reception of advertisements from each peripheral device, The system includes, if the conflict determination means determines that there is a conflict between the reception of an advertisement from any peripheral device and communication with the central device, a communication timing change request means that requests the central device to change the communication timing. Communication device.

2. If the conflict determination means determines that a conflict exists, the communication timing change request means calculates a communication timing such that communication with the central device and reception of advertisements from each peripheral device do not conflict. When requesting a change in the communication timing from the central device, the calculated communication timing is notified to the central device. The communication device according to claim 1.

3. The reception timing estimation means periodically detects peripheral devices and estimates the reception timing of advertisements from the detected peripheral devices. The conflict determination means, when a new peripheral device is detected by the reception timing estimation means, determines whether there is a conflict between communication with the central device and the reception of advertisements from each of the peripheral devices. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. Priorities are predetermined for each type of communication, and if the priority of the communication type in communication with the central device is higher than the priority of the communication type in communication with each peripheral device, the communication device prioritizes communication with the central device. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The reception timing estimation means estimates the reception timing of advertisements from a specific peripheral device. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The reception timing estimation means detects one or more peripheral devices and estimates the reception timing of advertisements from each detected peripheral device. The conflict detection means determines whether there is a conflict between communication with the central device and the reception of advertisements from each peripheral device. If the conflict determination means determines that there is a conflict between receiving an advertisement from any peripheral device and communicating with the central device, the communication timing change request means requests the central device to change the communication timing. Communication control method.

7. Computers, A reception timing estimation means for detecting one or more peripheral devices and estimating the reception timing of advertisements from each detected peripheral device. A conflict determination means for determining whether there is a conflict between communication with a central device and the reception of advertisements from each peripheral device. If the conflict determination means determines that there is a conflict between the reception of an advertisement from any peripheral device and communication with the central device, it functions as a communication timing change request means that requests the central device to change the communication timing. program.

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