Wireless communication device

Abstract

To make it possible to grasp that reception on another channel is started in a partner device during transmission on a certain channel.SOLUTION: A wireless communication device having a first wireless apparatus and a second wireless apparatus is provided. The first wireless apparatus transmits a user's voice to another wireless communication device on a first channel in response to operation to start speaking to the other wireless communication device. When another wireless communication device detects radio waves on a second channel that performs reception with priority over the first channel, the second wireless apparatus outputs information indicating that the radio waves on the second channel have been detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a wireless communication device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in business wireless such as police wireless, a technique of transmitting voice to one or more wireless terminals by radio waves of a specific channel (channel, frequency) is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the prior art, for example, when transmitting voice from the own device to the other device, if voice is transmitted from another device with a higher priority to the other device, the other device may receive only the voice from the other device. In this case, the user of the own device may not be able to grasp that the utterance to the other party is not received by the other device.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a wireless communication device that can grasp that reception on another channel has been started at the other device during transmission on a certain channel.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a wireless communication device is provided having a first wireless device and a second wireless device, wherein the first wireless device transmits the user's voice on a first channel to the other wireless communication device in response to an operation to initiate speaking to the other wireless communication device, and the second wireless device outputs information indicating that it has detected radio waves of a second channel, which the other wireless communication device receives with priority over the first channel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] From one perspective, it is possible to detect when a receiving device has started receiving on another channel while a transmission is being made on one channel. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example configuration of a wireless communication system according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example configuration of a wireless communication device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of the hardware configuration of the control device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of the configuration of a control device according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a sequence diagram showing an example of the processing of the wireless communication system according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a sequence diagram showing an example of the processing of the wireless communication system according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of a communication partner database according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The principles of this disclosure will be described with reference to several exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are described for illustrative purposes only and should be understood as helping those skilled in the art to understand and implement this disclosure without implying any limitation on the scope of this disclosure. The disclosures described herein may be implemented in various ways other than those described below. In the following description and claims, unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as those generally understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] <System Configuration> Referring to Figure 1, the configuration of the wireless communication system 1 according to the embodiment will be described. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the wireless communication system 1 according to the embodiment. In the example of Figure 1, the wireless communication system 1 has wireless communication devices 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, ... (hereinafter, unless there is a need to distinguish them, they will simply be referred to as "wireless communication devices 10"). Note that the number of wireless communication devices 10 is not limited to the example in Figure 1.

[0011] The wireless communication device 10 is a terminal that performs communication using dedicated radio (business radio) for business information transmission, such as police radio, fire department radio, disaster prevention radio, railway radio, ship radio, and defense radio. Each wireless communication device 10 may perform simplex or semiduplex wireless communication on a predetermined channel (frequency), either directly or via a relay station.

[0012] The wireless communication device 10 may be used, for example, by police, fire departments, ambulance services, government agencies, disaster relief, mountain rescue, coast guard, taxi operators, truck operators, etc. The wireless communication device 10 may be mounted on a mobile device such as a vehicle or ship, or it may be carried by the user.

[0013] The wireless communication device 10 may intermittently receive (scan) each of a plurality of predetermined channels, receive an audio signal transmitted from another wireless communication device 10 on one of the plurality of channels, and output the audio signal from a speaker. Further, the wireless communication device 10 may modulate and transmit a sound signal such as the voice of the user picked up by the microphone on one of the plurality of channels designated (selected) by the user.

[0014] Also, for example, the wireless communication device 10 may modulate and transmit a sound signal such as the voice of the user picked up by the microphone on one of the plurality of predetermined channels according to the number of the other party input by the user.

[0015] <Configuration of Wireless Communication Device 10> Next, referring to FIG. 2, the configuration of the wireless communication device 10 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the wireless communication device 10 according to the embodiment. In the example of FIG. 2, the wireless communication device 10 includes a control device 11, a radio 12A, a radio 12B, an operation unit 13, and a microphone 15. When there is no need to distinguish between the radio 12A and the radio 12B, it is simply referred to as "radio 12". The number of radios 12 is not limited to the example of FIG. 2.

[0016] In the example of FIG. 2, the operation unit 13 includes one or more buttons 13A, a display (display unit) 13B, and a speaker 13C.

[0017] The control device 11 controls the entire wireless communication device 10. In the example of FIG. 2, at least a part of the operation unit 13 is built into the housing of the control device 11. Also, at least a part of the operation unit 13 may be built into the housing of the microphone 15. In the example of FIG. 2, the control device 11 and the radio 12 are connected by a cable 17. Also, the control device 11 and the microphone 15 are connected by a cable 18.

[0018] The wireless device 12 has one or more antennas, an analog-digital conversion circuit, etc. The wireless device 12 sequentially scans (intermittently receives) radio waves of a plurality of preset channels. Then, when the wireless device 12 detects radio waves of one of the plurality of channels, it outputs an audio signal demodulated from the signal received on that channel to the control device 11 and causes the audio signal to be output from the speaker 13C.

[0019] Note that priorities are set for each channel by a user or the like. Even when the wireless device 12 is receiving radio waves of one channel, it sequentially scans radio waves of other channels with higher priorities than that one channel. Then, when the wireless device 12 detects radio waves of another channel while receiving radio waves of one channel, it stops receiving the radio waves of that one channel and starts receiving the radio waves of that other channel. Thereby, for example, audio from a party with a higher priority can be received.

[0020] When the wireless device 12 is transmitting radio waves of one channel, it may stop scanning radio waves of each channel. Thereby, for example, transmission can be performed without interrupting the audio.

[0021] <Hardware Configuration> FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the control device 11 according to the embodiment. In the example of FIG. 3, the control device 11 (computer 100) includes a processor 101, a memory 102, and a communication interface 103. These components may be connected by a bus or the like. The memory 102 stores at least a part of the program 104. The communication interface 103 includes an interface necessary for communication with other network elements.

[0022] When program 104 is executed in cooperation with the processor 101 and memory 102, etc., the computer 100 performs at least some of the processing of embodiments of this disclosure. Memory 102 may be any type suitable for a local technology network. Memory 102 may, in non-limiting examples, be a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium. Memory 102 may also be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor-based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. Although only one memory 102 is shown for computer 100, computer 100 may have several physically different memory modules. Processor 101 may be any type. Processor 101 may include one or more general-purpose computers, dedicated computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), and, in non-limiting examples, processors based on multicore processor architectures. Computer 100 may have multiple processors, such as application-specific integrated circuit chips that are time-dependent to a clock that synchronizes the main processor.

[0023] Embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or in dedicated circuitry, software, logic, or any combination thereof. Some embodiments may be implemented in hardware, while others may be implemented in firmware or software that can be executed by a controller, microprocessor, or other computing device.

[0024] This disclosure also provides at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as instructions contained in a program module, and is executed on a device on a target real or virtual processor to perform the processes or methods of this disclosure. The program module includes routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, etc., that perform a specific task or implement a specific abstract data type. The functionality of the program module may be combined or divided among the program module as desired in various embodiments. The machine-executable instructions of the program module can be executed on a local or distributed device. On a distributed device, the program module can reside on both local and remote storage media.

[0025] Program code for performing the methods of this disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These program codes are provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, a dedicated computer, or other programmable data processing device. When the program code is executed by the processor or controller, the functions / operations in the flowchart and / or block diagrams it implements are performed. The program code may run entirely on a machine, partially on a machine, partially as a standalone software package, partially on a machine, partially on a remote machine, or entirely on a remote machine or server.

[0026] Programs can be stored and supplied to a computer using various types of non-temporary computer-readable media. Non-temporary computer-readable media include various types of tangible recording media. Examples of non-temporary computer-readable media include magnetic recording media, magneto-optical recording media, optical disc media, and semiconductor memory. Magnetic recording media include, for example, flexible disks, magnetic tapes, and hard disk drives. Magneto-optical recording media include, for example, magneto-optical disks. Optical disc media include, for example, Blu-ray discs, CD (Compact Disc)-ROM (Read Only Memory), CD-R (Recordable), and CD-RW (ReWritable). Semiconductor memory includes, for example, solid-state drives, mask ROMs, PROMs (Programmable ROMs), EPROMs (Erasable PROMs), flash ROMs, and RAMs (random access memory). Programs may also be supplied to a computer using various types of temporary computer-readable media. Examples of temporary computer-readable media include electrical signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. Temporary computer-readable media can supply programs to a computer via wired communication channels such as electric wires and optical fibers, or via wireless communication channels.

[0027] <Structure> Referring to Figure 4, the configuration of the control device 11 according to the embodiment will be described. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control device 11 according to the embodiment. In the example of Figure 4, the control device 11 has an acquisition unit 111, a control unit 112, and an output unit 113. Each of these units may be realized through the cooperation of one or more programs installed in the control device 11 and hardware such as the processor 101 and memory 102 of the control device 11.

[0028] The acquisition unit 111 acquires various types of information from the internal storage unit, operation unit 13, or external devices such as the radio 12 within the control device 11. The control unit 112 controls each part of the wireless communication device 10. The output unit 113 outputs various types of information to external devices such as the radio 12 according to the instructions of the control unit 112.

[0029] <Processing> Next, an example of the processing of the wireless communication system 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 7. Figures 5 and 6 are sequence diagrams showing an example of the processing of the wireless communication system 1 according to the embodiment. Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of the communication partner DB (database) 701 according to the embodiment.

[0030] The order of the following processes may be changed as appropriate. Also, at least some of the following processes may be omitted. The following explanation will use the example of a case where user A of wireless communication device 10A speaks to user B of wireless communication device 10B (an example of "other wireless communication device"). Note that wireless communication device 10B, which is the receiving end of the voice, only needs to have one or more radio units 12.

[0031] In step S1, the acquisition unit 111 of the wireless communication device 10A receives an operation from user A via the operation unit 13 to initiate a call to user B. Here, the operation unit 13 may accept, for example, an operation to specify a number of a predetermined number of digits (for example, 3 digits) corresponding to user B, and an operation to instruct the start of transmission. The operation to instruct the start of transmission may be, for example, a long press of a button located on the housing of the microphone 15. The control device 11 may, while the button is pressed, perform transmission on the channel corresponding to the specified number, and stop transmission on that channel when the button is released.

[0032] Next, the acquisition unit 111 of the wireless communication device 10A acquires information indicating the second channel, which is the priority channel of the wireless communication device 10B (step S2). The priority channel of the wireless communication device 10B is, for example, a channel that the wireless communication device 10B scans for and receives with priority over the first channel, which receives voice from user A. When the wireless communication device 10B is receiving voice from user A on the first channel and detects a radio wave from the second channel, it stops receiving from the first channel and starts receiving from the second channel. The second channel may be, for example, a channel for receiving voice that is relatively important to user B, such as voice from the command center.

[0033] The acquisition unit 111 of the wireless communication device 10A may, for example, acquire information indicating the priority channel from the wireless communication device 10B via the radio 12A using the first channel on which user A's voice is transmitted to the wireless communication device 10B.

[0034] Furthermore, the acquisition unit 111 of the wireless communication device 10A may, for example, acquire information indicating the priority channel from the communication partner DB 701 in Figure 6. The communication partner DB 701 may, for example, be stored in an internal or external storage device of the wireless communication device 10A. In the example in Figure 6, the communication partner DB 701 stores (sets, registers) the channel for voice transmission and reception, and the priority channel of the communication partner, associated with the communication partner's number. The data in the communication partner DB 701 may be set in advance by the user or the like. Furthermore, if, for example, a priority channel for user B's number is not set in the communication partner DB 701, the acquisition unit 111 of the wireless communication device 10A may acquire information indicating the priority channel from the wireless communication device 10B and record it in the communication partner DB 701.

[0035] Next, the radio 12B of the wireless communication device 10A starts scanning for the second channel (step S3). Here, the radio 12B may start scanning based on a command to start scanning for the second channel, for example, received from the output unit 113 of the wireless communication device 10A.

[0036] Next, the radio 12A of the wireless communication device 10A starts transmitting on the first channel (step S4). Here, the radio 12A may start transmitting based on a command to start transmitting on the first channel, for example, received from the output unit 113 of the wireless communication device 10A.

[0037] The radio 12A, for example, transmits the sound picked up by the microphone 15 using radio waves on the first channel. This allows, for example, a user of the wireless communication device 10 to transmit voice to another user of the wireless communication device 10 using a simple signal channel.

[0038] The wireless communication device 10A may perform the process in step S3 and the process in step S4 in parallel. Alternatively, the wireless communication device 10 may perform the process in step S4 before the process in step S3.

[0039] The following describes the process that occurs after the processing up to step S4 has been completed, when, while the radio 12A of the wireless communication device 10A is transmitting on the first channel, another wireless communication device 10 (for example, wireless communication device 10C) transmits on the second channel.

[0040] Next, the radio unit 12B of the wireless communication device 10A detects the radio waves of the second channel (step S5). Subsequently, the radio unit 12B of the wireless communication device 10A outputs information to the control device 11 indicating that it has detected the radio waves of the second channel (step S6).

[0041] Next, the radio 12A of the wireless communication device 10A stops (terminates) the transmission of radio waves on the first channel (step S7). At this point, the radio 12A may terminate transmission on the first channel based on a command received from the output unit 113 of the control device 11. This allows, for example, users other than user A to use the first channel.

[0042] Next, the control device 11 of the wireless communication device 10A notifies user A of a message indicating that speaking to user B is invalid (step S8). At this point, the output unit 113 of the control device 11 may notify at least one of the following messages via the display 13B and speaker 13C: that it has detected radio waves on user B's priority channel, that it has finished transmitting on the first channel, and that speaking to user B is invalid.

[0043] Furthermore, if the long press by user A on the button located on the housing of microphone 15 is released, a command may be sent to the radio 12B of the wireless communication device 10A to stop scanning the second channel. This will return the wireless communication device 10A to the state prior to the processing in step S1 (initial state).

[0044] Next, the radio unit 12B of the wireless communication device 10A detects that the transmission of radio waves on the second channel has stopped (step S9). Here, the radio unit 12B of the wireless communication device 10A may determine that the transmission of radio waves on the second channel has stopped if it does not detect radio waves on the second channel for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds).

[0045] Next, the radio 12B of the wireless communication device 10A outputs information to the control device 11 indicating that transmission of radio waves on the second channel has been stopped (step S10). Subsequently, the control device 11 of the wireless communication device 10A notifies user A of a message indicating that speaking to user B is valid (step S11). Here, the output unit 113 of the control device 11 may notify at least one of the following messages via the display 13B and speaker 13C: that it has detected the cessation of transmission of radio waves on user B's priority channel, that transmission on the first channel has become possible, and that speaking to user B is valid.

[0046] Next, the radio unit 12A of the wireless communication device 10A resumes transmission on the first channel (step S12). Here, the radio unit 12A of the wireless communication device 10A may resume transmission if it receives an operation from user A similar to the operation in step S1, or if a predetermined button such as a redial button is pressed.

[0047] Furthermore, the output unit 113 of the control device 11 may send a command to the radio 12A of the wireless communication device 10A to instruct it to resume transmission when it receives information from the radio 12B indicating that transmission of radio waves on the second channel has stopped. The output unit 113 may also send this command only when the button located on the housing of the microphone 15 is pressed and held down. The radio 12A of the wireless communication device 10A may then resume transmission on the first channel based on the received command.

[0048] The priority relationship between the first and second channels is just one example; the relative priority of any of the multiple channels scanned by the wireless communication device 10B will vary from channel to channel transmitted by the wireless communication device 10A. For example, if the wireless communication device 10A transmits on the higher-priority third channel, the wireless communication device 10B will acquire information on the even higher-priority fourth channel among the multiple channels scanned by the wireless communication device 10B, and the wireless transceiver 12B of the wireless communication device 10A will begin scanning the fourth channel.

[0049] Conventionally, in wireless communication devices that transmit and receive audio on multiple channels in semi-duplex mode using the FDMA (Frequency-Division Multiple Access) communication method, while receiving audio on one channel (channel 1), the device may intermittently scan one or more other channels (for example, channels with a higher priority than the channel currently receiving audio). If the wireless communication device receives a signal from another channel with a higher priority (channel 2) while receiving audio on the first channel, it may stop receiving on the first channel and start receiving on the other channel. As a result, the user can hear audio from a higher priority channel while receiving on a particular channel. In this case, the speaker on the first channel (user A) is unaware that the listener (user B) is not hearing their voice.

[0050] Furthermore, in conventional wireless communication devices that transmit and receive audio on multiple channels in semi-duplex mode, scanning of each channel is stopped while transmission is in progress on a particular channel. This reduces the number of components, such as antennas. However, if audio is transmitted on another channel while transmission is occurring on a particular channel, the radio waves on the other channel cannot be detected. On the other hand, according to this disclosure, the speaker's wireless communication device 10 has multiple radios 12A, 12B, and for example, the speaker can recognize that the receiver is listening to audio on another channel with a higher priority while transmission is occurring on a particular channel. Therefore, the speaker can, for example, stop speaking on that particular channel. This reduces the likelihood of the speaker mistakenly believing that they have communicated with the receiver on that particular channel.

[0051] In the example described above, when radio 12B detected a radio wave on the priority channel of radio communication device 10B, radio 12A stopped transmitting. However, radio 12A's transmission may be kept active. This eliminates the need, for example, to restart transmission on the first channel by radio 12A.

[0052] <Variation> The control device 11 may be a device contained in a single enclosure, but the control device 11 of this disclosure is not limited to this. Each part of the control device 11 may be implemented by cloud computing, for example, consisting of one or more computers. Such control devices are also included as examples of "control devices" in this disclosure. Furthermore, at least a portion of the processing of the control device 11 may be executed by the wireless device 12.

[0053] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1. Wireless communication system 10 Wireless communication devices 11 Control device 111 Acquisition Department 112 Control Unit 113 Output section 100 Computers 101 Processors 102 memory 103 Communication Interface 104 Programs 12A radio 12B Radio 13 Control section 13A button 13B Display 13C Speaker 13 15 Mike 17 Cables 18 Cables

Claims

1. A wireless communication device having a first radio, a second radio, and a control device, The first radio, in response to an operation to initiate a speech to another wireless communication device, transmits the user's voice to the other wireless communication device on the first channel. When the second radio device detects a radio wave of the second channel, which the other wireless communication device receives with priority over the first channel, it outputs information to the control device indicating that it has detected the radio wave of the second channel. When the control device receives the information from the second radio, it notifies the user of the wireless communication device of a message indicating that the communication to the other wireless communication device is invalid. Wireless communication device.

2. The first radio unit stops transmitting the first channel radio signal when the second radio unit detects the second channel radio signal. The wireless communication device according to claim 1.

3. The second radio scans the second channel set in the other wireless communication device in correspondence with the other wireless communication device. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The first radio acquires information indicating the second channel from the other wireless communication device. A wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. After detecting the radio waves of the second channel, if the second radio device detects that the transmission of radio waves on the second channel has stopped, it outputs information to the control device indicating that the transmission of radio waves on the second channel has stopped. When the control device receives the information from the second radio, it notifies the user of the wireless communication device of a message indicating that speaking to the other wireless communication device is valid. A wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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