Wireless device

Abstract

A terminal device 100 comprises a first communication unit 110, a second communication unit 112, a state value acquisition unit 114, and a control unit 120. The first communication unit 110 performs wireless communication. The second communication unit 112 performs wireless communication by a communication method which is different from that of the first communication unit 110. The state value acquisition unit 114 acquires a first state value which indicates a state of the terminal device 100. The control unit 120 determines whether or not to put the first communication unit 110 into a sleep state on the basis of the first state value and a second state value which indicates a state of another terminal device 100 and which is received by the second communication unit 112.

Description

Wireless device

[0001] The present invention relates to communication technology, and particularly to a wireless device capable of transitioning to a sleep state.

[0002] In Bluetooth Low Energy wireless communication, a peripheral enters sleep mode at timings other than during transmission. On the other hand, a central, which is the communication partner of the peripheral, maintains a standby state to receive data irregularly transmitted from the peripheral, so its power consumption is higher than that of the peripheral. In order to reduce power consumption on the central side, reception sensitivity is adjusted by receiving a specific packet (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-220907

[0004] Even in portable commercial radios, in order to extend the battery driving time, a sleep mode is implemented in which the power of an RF (Radio Frequency) circuit is periodically turned off to extend the standby time. However, while turning off the RF circuit has the advantage of increasing continuous standby time, it also has the disadvantage of causing cut-off at the beginning of calls or even making it impossible to join calls at all.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for appropriately executing transition to a sleep state.

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, a wireless device according to an aspect of the present embodiment includes: a first communication unit that performs wireless communication; a second communication unit that performs wireless communication using a communication scheme different from that of the first communication unit; a state value acquisition unit that acquires a first state value indicating a state of the wireless device; and a control unit that controls functions of the wireless device. The control unit determines whether to place the first communication unit in the sleep state based on the first state value and a second state value, received by the second communication unit, indicating a state of another wireless device.

[0007] Note that any combination of the above components, and conversions of the expressions of the present embodiment between methods, apparatuses, systems, recording media, computer programs, and the like, are also effective as aspects of the present embodiment.

[0008] According to this embodiment, the transition to sleep mode can be performed appropriately.

[0009] This figure shows the configuration of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment. This figure shows the configuration of the terminal device in Figure 1. Figures 3(a)-3(d) show the processing overview of the second communication unit in Figure 2. Figures 4(a)-4(b) show the processing overview of the second communication unit in Figure 2. This figure shows the processing overview of the second communication unit in Figure 2. This figure shows the data structure of a table stored in the storage unit in Figure 2. This figure shows the data structure of another table stored in the storage unit in Figure 2. This is a sequence diagram showing the procedure for starting a sleep state by the wireless communication system in Figure 1. This is a sequence diagram showing the procedure for waking up by the wireless communication system in Figure 1. This is a sequence diagram showing the procedure for waking up by the wireless communication system in Figure 1.

[0010] Before describing this embodiment in detail, let's first outline it. This embodiment relates to a wireless communication system including multiple terminal devices and a base station device. Each of the multiple terminal devices is, for example, a battery-powered portable professional radio. The multiple terminal devices communicate via professional radio through the base station device. Since the terminal devices constantly monitor (receive) whether radio waves destined for them are arriving from the base station device, they consume battery power even when not making calls. Therefore, they are equipped with a function (sleep mode) that intermittently stops the receiving operation in order to suppress power consumption. However, during sleep mode, the intermittent stopping of the receiving operation can cause reception loss of radio waves destined for the device. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent reception loss while reducing power consumption in sleep mode.

[0011] The terminal device according to this embodiment can communicate directly with other terminal devices via short-range radio in addition to the aforementioned business radio (long-range radio). When another terminal device configured to receive radio waves on the same long-range radio frequency as itself is within range of short-range radio communication, the terminal device determines which terminal device will go into sleep mode via short-range radio. For example, suppose the first terminal device goes into sleep mode and the second terminal device does not. When the second terminal device receives an incoming call addressed to the first terminal device, it transmits the notification of the incoming call to the first terminal device via short-range radio. When the terminal device is notified of the incoming call via short-range radio, it activates the long-range radio and resumes communication.

[0012] Figure 1 shows the configuration of the wireless communication system 1000. The wireless communication system 1000 includes a first terminal device 100a, a second terminal device 100b, and a base station device 200, collectively referred to as terminal devices 100. Here, the number of terminal devices 100 is not limited to "2". One terminal device 100 communicates with another terminal device 100 via the base station device 200 using professional wireless communication. In addition, terminal devices 100 communicate directly with each other using Bluetooth Low Energy. When professional wireless communication is called "long-range wireless," Bluetooth Low Energy is called "short-range wireless." Long-range wireless and short-range wireless are different communication methods, and the maximum communication range of the short-range wireless communication method is shorter than the maximum communication range of the long-range wireless communication method. When the first terminal device 100a and the second terminal device 100b are located closer together than the maximum communication range of the short-range wireless communication method, the first terminal device 100a and the second terminal device 100b can communicate via short-range wireless communication.

[0013] Figure 2 shows the configuration of the terminal device 100. The terminal device 100 includes a first communication unit 110, a second communication unit 112, a status value acquisition unit 114, a control unit 120, a storage unit 130, an operation unit 140, a microphone 142, a speaker 144, and a battery 150.

[0014] The first communication unit 110 communicates with the base station device 200 via long-range wireless communication (wireless communication). The second communication unit 112 communicates with other terminal devices 100 via short-range wireless communication (wireless communication). The first communication unit 110 uses, for example, a long-range wireless method called DMR (Digital Mobile Radio). The second communication unit 112 uses, for example, a short-range wireless method called Bluetooth®. Generally, the transmission power of the first communication unit 110, which performs long-range wireless communication, is greater than the transmission power of the second communication unit 112, which performs short-range wireless communication. Therefore, the power consumption of the RF circuit of the first communication unit 110 is greater than the power consumption of the RF circuit of the second communication unit 112. The status value acquisition unit 114 acquires a status value indicating the state of the terminal device 100. The status value will be described later. The status value acquisition unit 114 outputs the first status value to the control unit 120.

[0015] The control unit 120 controls the functions of the terminal device 100. For example, the control unit 120 controls the sleep mode in the first communication unit 110. Also, when the control unit 120 receives a first state value from the state value acquisition unit 114, it stores the first state value in the storage unit 130. The storage unit 130 stores a table used for control in the control unit 120. The storage unit 130 also stores the first state value acquired by the state value acquisition unit 114. The storage unit 130 is a storage device such as RAM (Random Access Memory). The control unit 120 and the state value acquisition unit 114 have, for example, an information processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) and a storage device such as RAM or ROM (Read Only Memory). The control unit 120 executes a program that controls the operation of the terminal device 100 according to this embodiment. The control unit 120 and the state value acquisition unit 114 may be implemented by integrated circuits such as ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The control unit 120 and the state value acquisition unit 114 may be implemented by a combination of hardware and software.

[0016] The operation unit 140 is an interface operated by the user of the terminal device 100, and is, for example, a button or a switch. The operation unit 140 outputs the received operation to the control unit 120. When the terminal device 100 performs voice communication using PTT (Push to Talk), the operation unit 140 is a PTT button. In PTT, when the PTT button is pressed down, the first communication unit 110 can transmit a communication signal. On the other hand, when the PTT button is not pressed down, the first communication unit 110 can receive a communication signal.

[0017] Microphone 142 acquires voice generated by the user when the user is pressing down the PTT button. Microphone 142 converts the acquired voice into an electrical signal and outputs the converted voice (hereinafter referred to as "voice signal") to the control unit 120. Speaker 144 receives the voice signal from the control unit 120 when the user is not pressing down the PTT button, converts the voice signal into voice, and then outputs the voice. This voice signal is the voice signal included in the communication signal received by the first communication unit 110 from another terminal device 100 via the base station device 200.

[0018] The battery 150 supplies power to the terminal device 100. In order to extend the operating time of the terminal device 100, it is necessary to reduce the power consumption of the terminal device 100, especially the power consumption of the first communication unit 110. To reduce the power consumption of the first communication unit 110, a sleep mode is implemented in the first communication unit 110. However, since the first communication unit 110 in sleep mode operates only intermittently, it can only receive incoming calls addressed to the terminal device 100 when it is operating intermittently. As a result, as described above, the beginning of a call may be cut off, or the user may not even be able to participate in a call. To avoid this, the terminal device 100 according to this embodiment utilizes a second communication unit 112.

[0019] Figures 3(a)-(d) show an overview of the processing of the second communication unit 112. As shown in Figure 3(a), the second communication unit 112 of the terminal device 100 notifies other surrounding terminal devices 100 of the presence of the terminal device 100 by broadcasting (advertising) a message. Figure 3(b) shows the format of the message packet. The packet includes a preamble, access address, protocol data unit (PDU), and cyclic redundancy check data (CRC). Figure 3(c) shows the format of the PDU in Figure 3(b), in particular the advertising PDU. The advertising PDU includes a header, the address of the terminal device 100 (advertiser), and data of the terminal device 100.

[0020] Figure 3(d) shows the data for the terminal device 100 in Figure 3(c), particularly the format of the standby and sleep operation parameters. The standby and sleep operation parameters include the unit ID, RX frequency, color code, group ID, battery level, emergency status, and transmit power setting. Here, the frequency and color code correspond to the standby parameters for long-range wireless communication, and the battery level corresponds to the sleep operation parameter. The standby and sleep operation parameters correspond to the status values ​​mentioned above.

[0021] Figures 4(a) and 4(b) show an overview of the processing of the second communication unit 112. In Figure 4(a), the first terminal device 100a performs advertising, and the second terminal device 100b performs scanning. Here, performing advertising means broadcasting the message shown in Figures 3(a) to 3(d), and performing scanning means receiving the message shown in Figures 3(a) to 3(d).

[0022] Figure 4(b) shows the time evolution of the operation of the first terminal device 100a and the second terminal device 100b. The horizontal axis represents time. The first terminal device 100a and the second terminal device 100b are in an equal relationship and perform advertising at different timings. In addition, the first terminal device 100a and the second terminal device 100b perform scanning at timings other than when they perform advertising.

[0023] The following describes the sleep operation in the wireless communication system 1000. (1) Figure 5 shows an overview of the processing of the second communication unit 112. At the timing when the second terminal device 100b performs advertising in Figure 4(b), the second terminal device 100b broadcasts (advertises) a message via short-range wireless communication. The message is as shown in Figures 3(b)-(d). Meanwhile, the first terminal device 100a performs a message scan to find nearby terminal devices 100.

[0024] (2) The second communication unit 112 (Figure 2) of the first terminal device 100a receives a message via short-range wireless communication. The second communication unit 112 outputs the message to the control unit 120. The control unit 120 receives the message from the second communication unit 112. The received message includes the status value of the second terminal device 100b (hereinafter referred to as the "second status value"). The storage unit 130 also stores the status value of the first terminal device 100a (hereinafter referred to as the "first status value"), and the control unit 120 obtains the first status value from the storage unit 130.

[0025] The control unit 120 terminates processing if the RX frequency and color code included in the first state value do not match the RX frequency and color code included in the second state value. On the other hand, if the RX frequency and color code included in the first state value match the RX frequency and color code included in the second state value, the control unit 120 decides whether to put either the first communication unit 110 of the first terminal device 100a or the first communication unit 110 of the second terminal device 100b into sleep mode, based on the first and second state values. This is equivalent to deciding whether or not to put the first communication unit 110 of the first terminal device 100a into sleep mode.

[0026] In this case, the control unit 120 uses a table stored in the storage unit 130. Figure 6 shows the data structure of the table stored in the storage unit 130. The table shows the battery level, transmission output setting, unit ID, group ID, and the value and importance of each element included in the first and second state values, as well as the emergency state.

[0027] The control unit 120 calculates a weighted average value (hereinafter referred to as the "first value") that takes into account the value of each element and the importance of each element in the first state value, and also calculates a weighted average value (hereinafter referred to as the "second value") that takes into account the value of each element and the importance of each element in the second state value. For example, if the battery level of the first terminal device 100a is 40%, the transmission output setting is LowPower, the unit ID is General User, the group ID is General Group, and it is not in an emergency state, the first value is calculated as follows: ((4 × 10) + (2 × 3) + (1 × 2) + (1 × 2) + (1 × 5)) / 5 = 11.00 (first value)

[0028] Furthermore, if the battery level of the second terminal device 100b is 90%, the transmission power setting is LowPower, the unit ID is General User, the group ID is General Group, and it is not in an emergency state, the second value is calculated as follows: ((2 × 10) + (2 × 3) + (1 × 2) + (1 × 2) + (1 × 5)) / 5 = 7.00 (second value)

[0029] The control unit 120 compares the first value and the second value and decides to put the first communication unit 110 of the terminal device 100 with the larger value into sleep mode. In the example above, the first value is larger than the second value, so it decides to put the first communication unit 110 of the first terminal device 100a into sleep mode. The control unit 120 also calculates the absolute value of the difference between the first value and the second value. Using another table stored in the storage unit 130, it determines the sleep time.

[0030] Figure 7 shows the data structure of another table stored in the memory unit 130. This other table shows the sleep time for the absolute value of the difference. Long, Medium, and Short are defined as sleep times, with Long being the longest, Short being the shortest, and Medium being between Long and Short. In the example above, the absolute value of the difference between the first and second values ​​is 4.00, so the sleep time is set to Medium.

[0031] (3) When the control unit 120 of the first terminal device 100a decides to put the first terminal device 100a into sleep mode in cooperation with the second terminal device 100b, the control unit 120 executes the procedure for starting sleep mode. Figure 8 is a sequence diagram showing the procedure for starting sleep mode by the wireless communication system 1000. The second communication unit 112 of the first terminal device 100a transmits a message notifying the start of the coordinated sleep operation (hereinafter referred to as the "sleep coordinated operation start notification") to the second terminal device 100b via short-range wireless communication (S10). The sleep coordinated operation start notification can also be said to be a notification to inform the first terminal device 100a of the start of sleep mode. The sleep coordinated operation start notification includes the unit ID of the first terminal device 100a and the sleep time. The sleep coordinated operation start notification also includes information indicating that the first terminal device 100a is entering sleep mode.

[0032] When the second terminal device 100b receives a notification of the start of sleep coordination operation and permits the first terminal device 100a to enter sleep mode, the second communication unit 112 of the second terminal device 100b transmits a message permitting the start of the coordinated sleep operation (hereinafter referred to as the "sleep coordination operation start response") to the first terminal device 100a via short-range wireless communication (S12). The sleep coordination operation start response includes the unit ID of the second terminal device 100b, the response content, and the sleep time. The response content indicates that permission is granted for the first terminal device 100a to enter sleep mode.

[0033] The second communication unit 112 of the first terminal device 100a receives a sleep linkage operation start response from the second terminal device 100b. The control unit 120 turns off the RF circuit of the first communication unit 110 within the sleep time range (S14).

[0034] (4) When the first terminal device 100a is in sleep mode, if an incoming call is received addressed to the first terminal device 100a, the wireless communication system 1000 performs the following processing. Figure 9 is a sequence diagram showing the wake-up procedure by the wireless communication system 1000. When the first terminal device 100a is in sleep mode (S50) and an incoming call is received addressed to the first terminal device 100a via long-range wireless communication, the first communication unit 110 of the second terminal device 100b receives the incoming call addressed to the first terminal device 100a via long-range wireless communication (S52). When the control unit 120 receives the incoming call addressed to the first terminal device 100a from the first communication unit 110, it generates a message (reception information notification) to notify the first terminal device 100a of the incoming call. The reception information notification includes the unit ID of the second terminal device 100b, the source unit ID, the destination unit / group ID, the call type, and the color code. The source unit ID indicates the terminal device 100 that is the source of the incoming transmission, and the destination unit / group ID indicates the first terminal device 100a. The second communication unit 112 transmits the reception information notification to the first terminal device 100a via short-range wireless communication (S54).

[0035] The second communication unit 112 of the first terminal device 100a receives a reception information notification from the second terminal device 100b via short-range wireless communication. The control unit 120 performs a wake-up determination based on the content of the information contained in the reception information notification (S56). For example, the control unit 120 decides to wake up if the content of the information contained in the reception information notification is correct. The control unit 120 turns on the RF circuit of the first communication unit 110 to wake up the first communication unit 110 (S58). In other words, the control unit 120 wakes the first communication unit 110 from sleep state when the second communication unit 112 receives information addressed to the first terminal device 100a from the second terminal device 100b.

[0036] (5) When the first terminal device 100a is in a sleep state, the wireless communication system 1000 executes the following process when the sleep time expires. Figure 10 is a sequence diagram showing the wake-up procedure by the wireless communication system 1000. The first terminal device 100a is in a sleep state (S100). When the control unit 120 detects the expiration of the sleep time (S102), the control unit 120 turns on the RF circuit of the first communication unit 110 to wake up the first communication unit 110 (S104). When the control unit 120 wakes up the first communication unit 110, the second communication unit 112 transmits a message indicating that the first communication unit 110 is awake (hereinafter referred to as "wake-up notification") to the second terminal device 100b via short-range wireless communication (S106).

[0037] Up until now, in (2), it has been decided that the first terminal device 100a will enter a sleep state, but it may also be decided that the second terminal device 100b will enter a sleep state. In that case, if the control unit 120 of the first terminal device 100a decides not to put the first communication unit 110 into a sleep state, it will send a sleep linkage operation start notification to the second terminal device 100b via short-range wireless communication using the second communication unit 112 as a notification to initiate the sleep state of the second terminal device 100b. In the following process, the roles of the first terminal device 100a and the second terminal device 100b described above are reversed. Therefore, when the first communication unit 110 of the first terminal device 100a receives an incoming call addressed to the second terminal device 100b, the second communication unit 112 will send a reception information notification to the second terminal device 100b via short-range wireless communication.

[0038] This configuration can be implemented in hardware terms using the CPU, memory, and other LSIs of any computer, and in software terms using programs loaded into memory, but here we are depicting functional blocks that are realized through the cooperation of these components. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these functional blocks can be implemented in various ways using hardware alone, software alone, or a combination of both.

[0039] In this embodiment, based on the first state value of the first terminal device 100a and the second state value of the second terminal device 100b, it is decided to put the first communication unit 110 of the first terminal device 100a or the first communication unit 110 of the second terminal device 100b into sleep mode, so that the transition to sleep mode can be executed appropriately. Also, since the maximum communication range of the communication method of the second communication unit 112 is shorter than the maximum communication range of the communication method of the first communication unit 110, power consumption can be reduced by putting it into sleep mode. Furthermore, because power consumption is reduced, the operating time of the terminal device 100 can be extended. In addition, if it is decided not to put the first communication unit 110 into sleep mode, when an incoming call addressed to the second terminal device 100b is received, the second communication unit 112 sends a notification of receipt information to the second terminal device 100b, so that the second terminal device 100b can be woken up immediately. Furthermore, if it is decided to put the first communication unit 110 into sleep mode, the second communication unit 112 receives a notification of received information from the second terminal device 100b, allowing it to wake up immediately.

[0040] The present invention has been described above based on examples. In the examples, audio signals were described, but the invention is not limited thereto and may also be information signals such as data signals. These examples are illustrative, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in combination with each component and each processing process, and that such modifications also fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0041] According to the present invention, the transition to a sleep state can be performed appropriately.

[0042] 100 Terminal device, 110 First communication unit, 112 Second communication unit, 114 Status value acquisition unit, 120 Control unit, 130 Storage unit, 140 Operation unit, 142 Microphone, 144 Speaker, 150 Battery, 200 Base station device, 1000 Wireless communication system.

Claims

1. A wireless device comprising: a first communication unit for wireless communication; a second communication unit for wireless communication using a different communication method than the first communication unit; a status value acquisition unit for acquiring a first status value indicating the state of the wireless device; and a control unit for controlling the functions of the wireless device, wherein the control unit determines whether or not to put the first communication unit into a sleep state based on the first status value and a second status value indicating the state of another wireless device received by the second communication unit.

2. The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines whether or not to put the first communication unit into a sleep state based on the second elements included in the first state value and the second state value, respectively, when the first elements included in the first state value and the second state value match.

3. The wireless device according to claim 2, wherein the second element includes a plurality of elements, and the control unit calculates a weighted average value considering the value and importance of each of the plurality of elements in the first state value, and a weighted average value considering the value and importance of each of the plurality of elements in the second state value, and determines whether or not to put the first communication unit into a sleep state based on the comparison result of the weighted average value in the first state value and the weighted average value in the second state value.

4. The wireless device according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of elements are battery level, transmission power setting, unit ID, group ID, and emergency status.

5. The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the maximum communication range of the communication method of the second communication unit is shorter than the maximum communication range of the communication method of the first communication unit.

6. The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein if the control unit decides not to put the first communication unit into sleep mode, the second communication unit transmits a notification to the other wireless device to initiate sleep mode for the other wireless device, and if the first communication unit receives information addressed to the other wireless device, the second communication unit notifies the other wireless device of the receipt of the information.

7. The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit decides to put the first communication unit into sleep mode, the second communication unit transmits a notification to the other wireless device to indicate the start of sleep mode for this wireless device, and when the second communication unit receives information addressed to this wireless device from the other wireless device, it releases the sleep mode for the first communication unit.

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