JPH08204604A - Communications system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To extend the drive time of a communication device or terminal device driven by a built-in battery and reduce the normal transmission / reception performance by reducing the power consumed by the circuit of the receiving system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication system that does not have the [Composition] Based on the first receivable time information stored in the first receivable time information storage means 12, each communication device sets the receiving means 17 of the own communication device to the receivable state. It has a reception state switching means 18 for switching to a reception suspension state. Also, based on the second receivable time information stored in the second receivable time information storage means 13 of the own communication device, the transmission means 14 can perform transmission only when the communication time of the other party is the receivable time. The transmission control means 16 for controlling the transmission means is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication system including a plurality of communication devices driven by a built-in battery, and a communication system including a plurality of terminal devices and a relay device, and more particularly to a communication capable of storing e-mail and the like. It relates to those that send and receive data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The following two technologies are being developed as a communication system which is driven by a built-in battery and wirelessly transmits and receives storable data such as electronic mail. The first is a pair of communicators, such as a transceiver powered by a built-in battery. However, unlike a transceiver, even when communication data is being transmitted, the transmitting system and the receiving system are configured to operate independently because they need to be able to receive when there is a transmission from the other party. Therefore, there are two communication channels. Further, in such a communication device, the receiving system circuit is always in a receivable state.

The second is a communication system composed of a plurality of terminal devices driven by a built-in battery and a single relay device, and a pager currently in use has a transmission function. It is a thing. In this communication system, as a channel to be used, a control channel is used in addition to the communication channel. Since the transmission and reception are synchronized using the control channel, the receiving circuit does not have to be in the receivable state at all times. By controlling the control channel so that transmission is performed when the enabled state is reached, an effect almost equal to that in the always receivable state can be obtained, thereby reducing power consumption in the receiving system circuit.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned first technique, the circuit of the receiving system is always in the receivable state. Although the power for maintaining this receivable state is small, it is always consumed by the circuit of the receiving system, so the power consumption cannot be ignored. Therefore, there is a problem that the power consumption in the circuit of the receiving system is large, and eventually the drivable time of the communication device itself driven by the built-in battery is shortened.

Further, in the second technique, although there is a technique for reducing the power consumed in the circuit of the receiving system, it is necessary to always maintain a state equivalent to the receivable state, and therefore the receiving system is required. The power consumed by the circuit is so large that it cannot be ignored. Therefore, as in the case of the first technique, there is a problem that the drivable time of the terminal device itself driven by the built-in battery is shortened.

In view of the above point, the present invention reduces the power consumed by the circuit of the receiving system, thereby extending the driving time of the communication device or the terminal device driven by the built-in battery and improving the normal transmission / reception performance. An object is to provide a communication system that does not drop.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, in the invention according to claim 1, each of the communication devices is a first reception which is timing information of when the communication device is in a receivable state. A first receivable time information storage unit that stores possible time information, and a second receivable time information that is time information when another communication device is in a receivable state. No. 2 receivable time information storage means, transmission time decision means for deciding the time to transmit based on the second receivable time information, and the communication time of the communication data of the own communication device to the other communication device. Transmitting means for transmitting at a time determined in step 1, receiving means for receiving communication data transmitted by another communication device, and first receivable time information stored in the first receivable time information storage means. According to the reception status of the receiving means Characterized in that a reception state switching means for switching to a receivable state and receives hibernation.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the communication device further includes a receivable time for updating the first receivable time information stored in the first receivable time information storage means according to a user's instruction. Updating means, second transmitting means for transmitting the first receivable time information of the own communication apparatus to the other communication apparatus at the time determined by the transmission time determining means, and first transmitting section for the other communication apparatus. The second to receive information on the receivable time
Second receivable time information stored in the second receivable time information storage means based on the first receivable time information of the other communication device received by the second receiving means and the second receiving means. And a second receivable information updating / updating means for updating.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the communication data relay device stores the terminal receivable time information, which is time information of when the terminal device is in a receivable state, for each terminal device. Possible time information storage means, relay device receiving means for receiving communication data transmitted by the terminal device, the communication data including destination information specifying the destination terminal device, and communication for storing the received communication data Based on the terminal receivable time information stored in the data storage means and the terminal receivable time information storage means,
Transmission timing determining means for determining the timing for transmitting the communication data for each terminal device, and relay device transmitting means for transmitting the communication data stored in the communication data storage means at the timing determined by the transmission timing determining means. The terminal device stores terminal device transmitting means for transmitting communication data including destination information specifying a destination terminal device to the communication data relay device, and terminal receivable time information of the own terminal device. A self-terminal receivable time information storage means, a terminal device receiving means for receiving communication data including destination information addressed to the self-terminal device from the communication data relay device, and a self-terminal receivable time information storage means are stored. A reception state switching means for switching the reception state of the terminal device reception means between the reception possible state and the reception suspension state according to the terminal reception possible time information. To.

In the invention according to claim 4, the terminal device further updates the terminal receivable time updating means for updating the terminal receivable time information stored in the own terminal receivable time information storage means by a user's instruction. And a second terminal device transmitting means for transmitting the terminal receivable time information of the own terminal device to the communication data relay device, wherein the communication data relay device further includes the terminal of the terminal device transmitted by the terminal device. Second relay device receiving means for receiving receivable time information, and terminal receivable time for updating the terminal receivable time information stored in the terminal receivable time information storage means by the received terminal receivable time information. An information updating means is provided.

According to another aspect of the invention, the terminal device further includes a battery detecting means for detecting a decrease in the capacity of the battery of the terminal device itself and the completion of charging of the battery, and a detection of a decrease in the battery capacity by the battery detecting means. If the battery capacity is low, a low battery signal indicating low battery capacity
Similarly, when it is detected that the charging of the battery is completed, the battery charging completion signal indicating the completion of charging of the battery is provided to the communication data relay device, and the third terminal device transmitting means is provided, and the reception state switching means is provided. Further, when the battery detection means detects that the battery capacity has decreased, the terminal device reception means is controlled to be in a reception suspension state until the battery detection means detects that the battery has been charged, The communication data relay device further comprises a third relay device receiving means for receiving a battery capacity decrease signal and a battery charging completion signal transmitted from the terminal device, and the transmission time determining means further comprises the third relay device. Communication data is transmitted to the terminal device until the device receiving means receives the battery capacity low signal and receives the battery charge completion signal. Characterized in that it does not determine the time.

[0012]

According to the structure of the above claim 1, each communication device has its own communication device based on the first receivable time information stored in the first receivable time information storage means of the self communication device. The receiving means of (1) is switched between the receivable state and the reception inactive state. On the other hand, each communication device, based on the second receivable time information stored in the second receivable time information storage means of its own communication device,
The transmission means is controlled so that the transmission means can perform transmission only when the communication device of the other party is in the reception-ready period.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first receivable time information stored in the first receivable time storage means is updated by the receivable time updating means according to a user's instruction. The updated first receivable time information is
It is transmitted to another communication device by the second transmitting means. On the other hand, when the other communication device transmits the first receivable time information to the own communication device, the second receiving means of the own communication device receives this. Further, the second receivable information updating means of the own communication device is the first receivable information of the other communication device received by the second receiving means.
The second receivable time information stored in the second receivable time information storage means of the own communication device is updated by using the receivable time information of 1.

According to the structure of claim 3, each terminal device comprises:
On the basis of the terminal receivable time information of the own terminal device stored in the own terminal receivable time information storage means of the own terminal device,
The terminal device receiving means of the own terminal device is switched between the receivable state and the reception inactive state. On the other hand, in the communication data relay device, based on the terminal receivable time information stored in the terminal receivable time information storage means, the relay device transmission means can perform transmission only when the destination terminal device is in the receivable time. To control the transmission means.

According to the configuration of claim 4, the terminal receivable time information stored in the own terminal receivable time storage means is updated by the terminal receivable time updating means according to a user's instruction. The updated device receivable time information is
The data is transmitted to the communication data relay device by the second terminal device transmitting means. On the other hand, the communication data relay device receives the transmitted terminal receivable time information and updates the terminal receivable time information stored in the terminal receivable time information storage means by using this.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in the terminal device, the battery detection means detects the battery capacity decrease and the battery charging completion, and transmits the contents to the communication data relay device and the battery capacity decrease. The reception unit of the terminal device is set in the reception suspending state from the time when the battery charge is detected to the time when the battery is completely charged. On the other hand, in the communication data relay device, the content transmitted from the terminal device is received by the third relay device receiving means. Then, the transmission time determining means does not determine the time to transmit the communication data to the terminal device, based on the received content, until the battery of the terminal device has decreased in capacity and has been charged.

[0017]

1 is a diagram showing an outline of a communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The communication system is composed of two portable communication devices 1 and 2 which are driven by a built-in battery. Storable communication data such as electronic mail is transmitted and received between the communication device 1 and the communication device 2. The communication device 1 and the communication device 2 have the same configuration.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the communication device 1 in the communication system. The communication device 1 includes a communication data storage unit 11, a receivable time information reception storage unit 12, a partner side receivable time information storage unit 13, a transmission unit 14, a clock 15, a transmission control unit 16, a reception unit 17, and a reception state control. It is composed of a unit 18 and a receiving side receivable time information updating unit 19. In addition,
The communication device 2 has the same configuration as the communication device 1, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

The communication data storage unit 11 stores communication data to be transmitted and received communication data. The receivable time information reception / storage unit 12 receives and stores receivable time information, which is the time information of when the reception unit 17 of its own communication device is in the receivable state and when it is in the reception suspension state, from the user. The receivable time information received from the user is time information at an arbitrary time designated by the user. As an example, the cycle such as repeating the following cycle from 13:00 to 5 minutes of receivable state, and from 14:00 to 1 minute of receivable state and 9 minutes of resting state. There is information. Acceptable time information in the form of actual data showing this content is as follows.

13: 00.00 [1 (5.00,55,00)], 14: 00.00 [(1.00,9.00)] This acceptable time information has a format of start time [repetition count (receivable time, reception pause time) ], Start time [repetition number (receivable time, reception pause time)], ... If the number of repetitions is omitted, the cycle is repeated. Therefore, "13: 00.00" is 13
"1" means that the number of repetitions is only once, and "(5.00,55,00)" means 5
This means that the reception state is set for only one minute and the reception pause state is set for 55 minutes thereafter. Similarly, "14: 00.00" means from 14:00, "(1.00,9.00)" is in the receivable state for only 1 minute, and the resting state is for 9 minutes, and the following repeats this cycle. Means

The receivable time information stored in the receivable time information receiving / storing unit 12 is updated each time the receivable time information is received from the user. The other party receivable time information storage unit 13 stores the other party receivable time information when the other party communication device 2 is in a receivable state and when it is in a reception suspended state. Therefore, the other party receivable time information has the same content as the receivable time information stored in the receivable time information reception storage unit 12 of the communication device 2 having the same configuration as the communication device 1.

The transmission unit 14 forms transmission data by using the communication data to be transmitted stored in the communication data storage unit 11 and the receivable time information stored in the receivable time information reception storage unit 12. , Send to the other party's communication device. The structure of this transmission data is composed of a receivable time information section 31 and a communication data section 32 as shown in FIG. A specific example of this transmission data is shown in FIG. The receivable time information section 31 includes an identifier 411 and receivable time information 412. The communication data section 32 is made up of the communication data 42 shown in the other "~ 1F large conference room in the following schedule".

The transmission of this transmission data is performed by the transmission control unit 16
Under the control of, the communication is performed only when the other communication device is ready for reception. The clock 15 is a clock that manages the current time. The transmission control unit 16 uses the other party receivable time information stored in the other party receivable time information storage unit 13 and the clock 15
And are used to control the transmitting unit 14 so that the communication data and the like can be transmitted to the communication device on the partner side only when the communication device on the partner side can receive the signal. Specifically, when the communication device of the other party is in the reception possible time, the transmission unit 14 is controlled to perform transmission, and when the communication device of the other party is not the reception possible time, that is, when the reception suspension time is reached. Performs control to postpone the transmission until the other communication device can receive the signal.

The receiving unit 17 receives the transmission data composed of the communication data transmitted from the partner communication device and the receivable time information of the partner communication device. This has the same data structure as the transmission data transmitted by the transmitter 14 of the communication device. Therefore, the structure of the received transmission data is a structure including the receivable time information section 31 and the communication data section 32 as shown in FIG. After the reception, the communication data section 32 and the receivable time information section 31 are separated to extract the communication data and the receivable time information. Then, the communication data is stored in the communication data storage unit 11, and the receivable time information is passed to the other party receivable time information updating unit 19. Also, the receiving unit 1
As described above, 7 can be received only in the receivable state, and cannot be received in the reception inactive state. This receivable state means that the power of the receiving unit 17 is ON,
The power is off in the reception halt state. Receiver 17
Under the control of the reception state control unit 18, the reception state of is switched between the receivable state and the reception pause state.

The reception state control unit 18 determines, based on the receivable time information of the own communication device stored in the receivable time information reception storage unit 12 and the current time managed by the clock 15.
The receiving unit 17 is switched between a receivable state and a reception inactive state. In other words, the receiving unit 17 is put into the receiving state at the present reception time, and the receiving unit 17 is put into the reception suspension state at the reception suspension time.
Therefore, as mentioned above, 13: 00.00 [1 (5.00,55,00)], 14:00.
When it has the receivable time information of 00 [(1.00,9.00)], the control is performed so that the receivable state is only for 5 minutes from 13:00, and the control is for the resting state for 55 minutes thereafter. From time to time, the control cycle in which the reception is possible only for 1 minute and the reception is suspended for 9 minutes is repeated.

The other party receivable time information updating unit 19 updates the other party receivable time information stored in the other party receivable time information storage unit 13 based on the receivable time information received by the receiving unit 17. . Next, the operation at the time of reception of the communication device in this embodiment will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the receivable time information stored in the receivable time information reception storage unit 12 is checked (step S1).
1) If it is not the current receivable time, that is, if it is the reception suspension time, after the reception unit 17 is set to the reception suspension state (step S
12, step S13) and the process returns to step S11. In step S12, if the reception time is currently reached, the reception unit 17 is set to the reception enabled state. If there is reception, the communication data and the other party's receivable time information are separated from the received data and extracted (steps S15, S16). The communication data storage unit 11 stores the extracted communication data.
(Step S17), and the content of the other party receivable time information storage unit 13 is updated using the extracted other party receivable information (step S18). If it is determined in step S15 that there is no reception, the process returns to step S11.

Next, the operation at the time of transmission of the communication device in this embodiment will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.
If the communication data to be transmitted is not stored in the communication data storage unit 11, the step is repeated (step S2).
1). If the communication data to be transmitted is stored, the other party receivable time information stored in the other party receivable time information storage unit 13 is checked (step S22). If it is determined that the communication device of the other party is in the receivable state (step S2)
3), the transmission data is created using the communication data stored in the communication data storage unit 11 and the receivable time information stored in the receivable time information reception storage unit 12, and this is transmitted (step S24). ). After transmission, step S2
Return to 1.

The communication data storage unit 11 may be connected to an external device and received from the outside of the communication data to be transmitted. Further, although the present embodiment describes the communication system using two communication devices, the present invention is not limited to this, and a communication system using three or more communication devices may be used. It is realized by preventing the transmission from a plurality of communication devices from overlapping at the same time.
In other words, one communication device can transmit at the same time and one communication device can receive at the same time. Specifically, it has the following configuration. A channel use determination unit that determines whether or not a communication channel is currently used is provided. Further, the other party receivable time information storage unit 13 stores the other party receivable time information for each of the plurality of communication devices. Further, the transmission control unit 16 only transmits the transmission unit 1 only when the condition that it is determined that the communication channel is not currently used is satisfied.
4 is configured to control the transmission.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the power consumption can be reduced because the receiving unit enters the reception suspension state on the basis of the receivable time information, while the reception of the communication device is performed. Since the communication information of the other party is stored as the receivable time information of the other party in the other party, communication is performed only when the other communication apparatus is in the receivable state, so there is an effect that normal transmission and reception performance is not degraded. is there.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an outline of a communication system as a second embodiment of the present invention. The communication system includes a communication data relay device 71 and a plurality of portable terminal devices 721, 722, ... Storable communication data such as electronic mail is transmitted and received between the terminal devices via the communication data relay device 71. The terminal devices 721, 722, ... Have the same configuration. In this communication system, as the types of channels used, there are two types having different properties: a communication channel used for transmitting and receiving data and a control channel used for controlling data transmission performed by a terminal device to a communication data relay device. Use channels. Regarding communication channels, there are a channel for transmitting data from the terminal device to the communication data relay device and a channel for transmitting data from the communication data relay device to the terminal device.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the communication data relay device 71 in the communication system. This communication data relay device 71 includes a communication data storage unit 81, a terminal receivable time information storage unit 83, a transmission unit 84, a clock 15, and a transmission control unit 8.
6, a receiving unit 87, a reception control unit 88, and a terminal receivable time information updating unit 89. Where the clock 15
Are the same as those denoted by the same reference numerals in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The communication data storage unit 81 stores communication data, and therefore, the communication data storage unit 1 in the first embodiment.
Although the same as that of 1, the communication data storage unit 81 is different in that the communication data is stored as transmission / reception data in association with the destination address and the sender address. The specific data structure of the transmission / reception data stored is as shown in FIG.
A sender address section 102 and a communication data section 103
It is a structure consisting of. Here, the destination address part 101 stores the destination address that identifies the destination terminal, the sending address part 102 stores the sending address that identifies the source terminal, and the communication data part 103 stores the communication data. Is stored. A specific example of the stored transmission / reception data is shown in FIG. In this transmission / reception data, the destination address portion 101 is the portion indicated by 111, and it can be seen that "satoh" is the destination. The sending-out address part 102 is the part indicated by 112, and it can be seen that “suzuki” is the sending-out source. Further, the communication data section 103 is a section indicated by 113.

The terminal receivable time information storage unit 83 stores the terminal receivable time information, which is the time information when the terminal device is in the receivable state and when it is in the reception suspended state, for all the terminal devices. I remember. This terminal receivable time information is similar to the other party receivable time information stored in the other party receivable time information storage unit 13 of the first embodiment.

The transmitting unit 84 transmits the transmission / reception data, which is stored in the communication data storage unit 81 and includes the destination address, the sending address, and the communication data, to the terminal device. This transmission / reception of data is performed under the control of the transmission controller 86 only when the destination terminal device is ready to receive. Further, in response to an instruction from the reception control unit 88, an acknowledge (ACK) signal, which is a confirmation signal, is transmitted to the terminal device using the control channel. The acknowledge (ACK) signal is a confirmation signal issued to the terminal device. This confirmation signal is a signal to the effect that transmission can be performed from now on to the communication data relay device since the call channel has been secured.

The transmission control unit 86 uses the terminal receivable time information storage unit 83 and the clock 15 so that the transmission / reception data can be transmitted to the terminal device only when the other terminal device is in the receivable time. Control 84. Further, if there is an instruction to transmit an acknowledge (ACK) signal from the reception controller 88, the transmitter 84 receives an acknowledge (AC) signal.
K) Instruct to transmit a signal.

The receiving unit 87 receives the transmission data and the transmission request transmitted from the terminal communication device under the control of the reception control unit 88. As shown in FIG. 10A, the structure of the transmission data is a structure including a destination address section 101, an outbound address section 101, a terminal receivable time information section 104, and a communication data section 103. The terminal receivable time information section 104 includes the terminal receivable time information of the transmission source terminal. This terminal receivable time information is the time information of when the terminal is in the receivable state and when it is in the reception inactive state, and is stored in the receivable time information reception storage unit 12 in the first embodiment. This is the same information as the receivable time information. That is, the transmission data has a structure in which the terminal receivable information section 104 is added to the transmission / reception data shown in FIG. A specific example of the transmission data is shown in FIG.
Shown in 2. In this transmission data, the destination address part 101 is the part indicated by 111 and is "satoh".
It is understood that is the destination. Sending address section 10
2 is the part indicated by 112, and it can be seen that "suzuki" is the sender. Terminal receivable time information section 1
Reference numeral 04 is a portion indicated by 114, and communication data portion 103 is a portion indicated by 113. Next, the transmission request received by the receiving unit 87 is a signal for securing a communication channel when the terminal device transmits to the communication data relay device. The terminal device can transmit the transmission data to the communication data relay device only when the terminal device receives an acknowledge (ACK) to the terminal device within a predetermined time after transmitting the transmission request.

The reception controller 88 controls the receiver 87. Specifically, the following control is performed. The receiving unit 87 is caused to receive only the transmission request, and when there is the transmission request, it is determined whether or not the transmission request is received in duplicate. If not duplicately received, the transmission control unit 86 is instructed to transmit an acknowledge (ACK) signal, and the reception unit 87 is made to receive the transmission data transmitted from the terminal device. Further, only when the reception of the transmission data is within a predetermined time, the terminal receivable time information is obtained by extracting only the terminal receivable time information section 104 shown in FIG. 10A from the transmission data. The terminal receivable time information is extracted and passed to the terminal receivable time information updating unit 89. On the other hand, the transmission data shown in FIG. 10B is constructed from the transmission data after the terminal receivable time information unit 104 is taken out and stored in the communication data storage unit 81.

The terminal receivable time information updating section 89 uses the terminal receivable time information passed from the reception control section 88,
The terminal receivable time information in the terminal receivable time information storage unit 83 is updated. Next, the terminal devices 721, 722, ... In the communication system will be described.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the terminal devices 721, 722 ... In the communication system. Since all of these terminal devices 721, 722, ... Have the same configuration, only the terminal device 721 will be described. The terminal device 721 includes a communication data storage unit 81, a receivable time information reception storage unit 12, a transmission unit 94, a clock 15, a transmission control unit 96, a reception unit 97, and a reception state control unit 98. Here, the communication data storage unit 81 is the same as the one with the same reference numeral in the second embodiment, and the receivable time information reception storage unit 12 and the clock 15 are given the same reference numeral in the first embodiment. Since it is the same as what was done, the description is omitted.

Under the control of the transmission control unit 96, the transmission unit 94 transmits the transmission data and the transmission request to the communication data relay device. Here, the transmission data includes the transmission / reception data stored in the communication data storage unit 81 by the transmission unit 94, and the receivable time information stored in the receivable time information reception storage unit 12 (however, in the present embodiment. Hereinafter, this will be referred to as terminal receivable time information). The structure of this transmission data is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), it comprises a destination address part 101, a sender address part 102, a terminal receivable time information part 103, and a communication data part 103.

The transmission control unit 96 controls the transmission unit 94. The control contents are specifically as follows. If there is transmission / reception data to be transmitted, the reception state control unit 9
8 is instructed to check the communication channel, and if the communication channel is not in use, the transmission unit 94 is instructed to transmit a transmission request. After that, the receiving unit 97 acknowledges the terminal device (AC
K) When receiving the signal, the transmission unit 94 is instructed to transmit the transmission data.

Under the control of the reception state control unit 98, the reception unit 97 is switched between a reception ready state and a reception suspension state,
Received transmission / reception data and an acknowledge (ACK) signal transmitted from the communication data relay device in the receivable state. Further, under the control of the reception state control unit 98, a communication channel check is performed to determine whether or not the communication channel is currently used.

The reception state control unit 98 controls the reception unit 97, and mainly switches the reception unit 97 between the receivable state and the reception suspension state. The details of the control are as follows. Looking at the terminal receivable time information stored in the receivable time information reception storage unit 12, the current receivable state is not scheduled, the communication channel check instruction is not given from the transmission control unit 96, and the current acknowledge (ACK) is received. ) When not waiting for a signal, the receiving unit 97 is set in the reception suspension state.
When there is an instruction to check the communication channel, the receiving unit 97 is caused to check the communication channel. In other cases, the receiving unit 97 is switched to the receivable state, and when the receiving unit 97 receives the transmission / reception data, the received transmission / reception data is stored in the communication data storage unit 81. Also,
When the acknowledge (ACK) signal is received, the acknowledge (ACK) reception signal is generated.

Next, the operation of the communication system of the second embodiment will be described. In the schematic diagram of the communication system shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that transmission data is transmitted from the terminal device 721 to the terminal device 723 via the communication data relay device 71. First, a case where the terminal device 721 transmits transmission data to the communication data relay device 71 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 16 is a control flow of the transmission unit in the terminal device. Since there is communication data to be transmitted (step S61), the communication channel is checked by the receiving unit of the terminal device 721 for transmission (step S62). If the communication channel is available (step S63), a transmission request is transmitted to the communication data relay device 71 for transmission (step S6).
4). When the communication data relay device 71 receives the acknowledge (ACK) signal transmitted to the terminal device 721 within a predetermined time after transmitting the transmission request, it is determined that the transmission is possible (steps S65 to S67). . When it is determined that the data can be transmitted, the terminal device 721 transmits the transmission data including the terminal receivable time information of the terminal device to the communication data relay device 71 (step S68).

The case where the terminal device 721 transmits the transmission data to the communication data relay device 71 in this way and the communication data relay device 71 receives the transmission data will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 13 is a control flow diagram of the receiving unit in the communication data relay device. It waits until it receives a transmission request from the terminal device 721 (steps S31 and S32). When the transmission request is received, and when the transmission request is not received in duplicate, the terminal device 721 that has transmitted the transmission request is acknowledged (AC
K) The communication data relay device 71 is instructed to transmit a signal.
(Step S34). After that, when the transmission data transmitted from the terminal device 721 is received, it is determined whether the reception is within a predetermined time after transmitting the acknowledge (ACK) signal (step S35, step S36). ). When it is received within a predetermined time, the terminal receivable time information is extracted from the transmission data, the terminal receivable time information updating unit 89 of the communication data relay device 71 is updated, and the remaining data is used as the transmission / reception data. It is stored in the storage unit 81 (step S37 to step S39).

Next, a case where the communication data relay device 71 transmits the transmission data from the terminal device 721 to the terminal device 723 as transmission / reception data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 14 is a control flow diagram when the communication data relay device transmits the transmission / reception data to the terminal device. If there is an instruction to transmit an acknowledge (ACK) signal at present, the acknowledge (ACK) signal is transmitted (steps S41 and S42). Next, since there is data to be transmitted to the terminal device 721 at present, the transmission / reception data is determined as transmission / reception data to be transmitted (steps S43 and S44), and the receivable time information of the terminal device 723 corresponding to the transmission / reception data. Is checked (step S45). As a result of the examination, if the terminal device 723 is currently in the reception state (step S46), the transmission / reception data including the destination address is transmitted to the terminal device 723 (step S47).

In this way, the communication data relay device 71
A case where the terminal device 723 receives the transmission / reception data when the transmission / reception data is transmitted to the terminal device 723 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a control flow diagram of a receiving unit in the terminal device. There is no instruction to check the communication channel for the current transmission (step S51), and the current acknowledge (ACK)
When not waiting for a signal (step S52), the receivable time information of the own terminal device 723 is checked (step S53),
If it is currently in the receivable state (step S5)
3), the terminal device 723 is put into a receivable state (step S56). The communication channel is checked (step S57). If the transmission / reception data is received from the communication data relay device 71 during this time (step S58, step S59), the transmission / reception data is stored only if the destination address of the transmission / reception data is the terminal 723 (step S58). S61, step S62). On the other hand, if the signal received in step S58 is the acknowledge (ACK) signal, the acknowledge (ACK)
The transmitter is notified by generating a reception signal (step S60).

The transmission data and the transmission / reception data include the destination address, the sending address, the receivable time information, and the communication data, but may naturally have other information. As described above, in the second embodiment, there is an effect that the power consumption can be reduced because the receiving unit in the terminal device enters the reception suspension state based on the terminal receivable time information. On the other hand, when the communication data relay device transmits to the terminal device, the communication data relay device stores the receivable time of the terminal device as the terminal receivable time information, and is transmitted only when the terminal device is in the receivable state. Therefore, there is an effect that normal transmission / reception performance is not deteriorated. Next, a communication system of the third embodiment will be described. The communication system is the second one shown in FIG.
Similar to the communication system of the above embodiment, it is composed of a communication data relay device and a plurality of terminal devices.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the configuration of one of a plurality of terminal devices in the communication system in the third embodiment. The terminal device includes a communication data storage unit 81, a receivable time information reception storage unit 12, a transmission unit 174, and a clock 1.
5, transmission control unit 176, reception unit 97, reception state control unit 1
78 and a battery monitoring unit 179. Since the other terminal devices have the same configuration as the terminal device, the description thereof will be omitted. The communication data storage unit 81 and the reception unit 97 are the same as those denoted by the same reference numerals in the second embodiment, and the receivable time information reception storage unit 12 and the clock 1 are the same.
Since 5 is the same as the one given the same reference numeral in the first embodiment, its explanation is omitted.

The battery monitoring unit 179 monitors the capacity of the battery of the terminal communication device, and notifies the transmission control unit 176 and the reception state control unit 178 of the decrease in the battery capacity before communication is disabled. After that, when the battery is charged, the transmission control unit 176 and the reception state control unit 178 are notified of the completion of charging. The decrease in the capacity of the battery and the completion of charging are performed, for example, by detecting the voltage of the battery.

The transmitting unit 174 is almost the same as the transmitting unit 94 in the second embodiment, but is different in that it further informs the communication data relay device that the battery capacity has decreased and that the battery charging has been completed. . The transmission control unit 176 uses the second
It is almost the same as the transmission control unit 96 in the embodiment of
Further, it is different in that, in response to an instruction from the battery monitoring unit 179, the transmission unit 174 controls the communication data relay device to transmit a notification that the battery capacity has decreased and a notification that the battery charge has been completed.

The reception state control unit 178 is the current reception unit 97.
Is available for reception, the battery monitoring unit 179
When it is notified that the battery capacity is low, the receiver 97 is controlled to be in the reception suspension state until the battery monitoring unit 179 notifies that the battery charging is completed. Next, the communication data relay device is almost the same as the communication data relay device in the second embodiment, except that the reception unit 87 receives a notification from the terminal device that the battery capacity is low and that the battery has been charged. The difference is that when the battery capacity reduction is received, the transmission to the terminal device is stopped until the battery power reception completion is received. Specifically, the transmission control unit 86 further performs the following control. Even when the terminal device of the other party can receive,
If it is between the reception of the battery capacity reduction of the terminal device by the receiving unit 87 and the reception of the battery power reception completion, the control for canceling the transmission to the terminal device is performed.

As described above, the third embodiment has an effect that the power consumption can be reduced because the receiving unit in the terminal device enters the reception suspension state based on the terminal receivable time information. On the other hand, when the communication data relay device transmits to the terminal device, the communication data relay device stores the receivable time of the terminal device as the terminal receivable time information, and is transmitted only when the terminal device is in the receivable state. Therefore, there is an effect that normal transmission / reception performance is not deteriorated. In addition, when the battery capacity of the terminal device is low, the terminal device notifies the communication data relay device to that effect, so that there is an effect that the normal transmission / reception performance is not deteriorated.

[0055]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, each of the communication devices performs its own operation based on the first receivable time information stored in the first receivable time information storage means. Since the receiving means of the communication device is switched between the receivable state and the reception inactive state, it is possible to reduce the power consumed by the circuit of the reception system and, consequently, extend the driving time of the communication device driven by the built-in battery. On the other hand, each of the communication devices transmits the transmitting means only when the communication time of the other party is the receivable time, based on the second receivable time information stored in the second receivable time information storage means of the own communication device. Since it performs transmission, there is an effect that normal transmission / reception performance is not deteriorated.

According to the invention of claim 2, the receivable time updating means for updating the first receivable time information, and the second transmitting means for transmitting the updated first receivable time information, Using the second receiving means for receiving the first receivable time information transmitted from the other communication device and the first receivable time information of the other communication device received by the second receiving means,
Since the second receivable time information updating means for updating the second receivable time information stored in the second receivable time information storage means of the own communication device is provided, the first receivable time information updating means updates the first receivable time information. The receivable time information can be updated, and even if the first receivable time information is updated, there is an effect that the normal transmission / reception performance is not deteriorated.

According to the invention of claim 3, each terminal device
On the basis of the terminal receivable time information of the own terminal device stored in the own terminal receivable time information storage means of the own terminal device,
Since the terminal device receiving means of the own terminal device is switched between the receivable state and the reception inactive state, it is possible to reduce the power consumed by the circuit of the receiving system and, in turn, extend the drive time of the terminal device driven by the built-in battery. I can. On the other hand, since the communication data relay device performs transmission only when the destination terminal device is in the receivable time based on the terminal receivable time information stored in the terminal receivable time information storage means, normal transmission / reception is performed. It has the effect of not lowering the performance of.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the terminal device updates the stored terminal receivable time information and the second terminal receivable time information which is updated. A communication data relay device, the communication data relay device including a second relay device receiving device for receiving the terminal receivable time information transmitted from the terminal device, and the terminal stored by the received terminal receivable time information. Since the receivable time information updating means is provided, the terminal receivable time information can be updated, and even when the terminal receivable time information is updated, normal transmission / reception performance is not deteriorated. There is an effect.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal device, the battery detection means detects the battery capacity decrease and the battery charge completion, and detects the battery capacity decrease before detecting the battery charge completion. Until then, since the receiving unit of the terminal device is put into the reception suspension state, it is possible to reduce the power consumed by the circuit of the receiving system, and to extend the driving time of the terminal device driven by the built-in battery. On the other hand, since the content detected by the battery detecting means is transmitted to the communication data relay device, the communication data relay device receives the content transmitted from the terminal device, and based on the received content, the terminal Since communication data is not transmitted to the terminal device after the battery capacity of the device is reduced until the charging is completed, there is an effect that normal transmission / reception performance is not deteriorated even when the battery capacity is reduced. is there.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a communication system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a communication device 1 in the communication system according to the first embodiment.
FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure of transmission data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of transmission data.

FIG. 5 is a control flow chart at the time of reception by the communication device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a control flow chart at the time of transmission of the communication device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an outline of a communication system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a communication data relay device 71 in the communication system of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a terminal device 721 in the communication system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a data structure of transmission data and transmission / reception data.

FIG. 11 is a specific example of transmission / reception data.

FIG. 12 is a specific example of transmission data.

FIG. 13 is a control flow diagram of a receiving unit of the communication data relay device in the communication system of the second example.

FIG. 14 is a control flow diagram of a transmission unit of a communication data relay device in the communication system of the second example.

FIG. 15 is a control flow diagram of a receiving unit of the terminal device in the communication system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a control flow diagram of a transmission unit of a terminal device in the communication system of the second example.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration of a terminal device in the communication system in the third example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 communication data storage unit 12 receivable time information reception storage unit 13 other party receivable time information storage unit 14 transmission unit 15 clock 16 transmission control unit 17 reception unit 18 reception state control unit 19 other party receivable time information update unit 81 communication Data storage unit 83 Terminal receivable time information storage unit 84 Transmission unit 86 Transmission control unit 87 Reception unit 88 Reception control unit 89 Terminal receivable time information update unit 94 Transmission unit 96 Transmission control unit 97 Reception unit 98 Reception state control unit 174 Transmission Unit 176 Transmission Control Unit 178 Reception State Control Unit 179 Battery Monitoring Unit

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display area H04L 12/28

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A communication system comprising a plurality of portable communication devices using a built-in battery as a power source, wherein each of the communication devices determines when its own communication device is ready to receive. A first receivable time information storage unit that stores first receivable time information that is information, and a second receivable time that is time information when another communication device is in a receivable state. Second receivable time information storage means that stores information, transmission time determination means that determines the time to transmit based on the second receivable time information, and communication of the own communication device with other communication devices. Transmission means for transmitting data at the time determined by the transmission time determination means, reception means for receiving communication data transmitted by another communication device, and storage of the first receivable time information storage means According to the first receivable time information Communication system is characterized in that a switching means receiving state to switch to a receivable state and receives hibernation reception state of the receiving means. 2. The communication device further includes a receivable time updating means for updating the first receivable time information stored in the first receivable time information storage means by a user's instruction. Second transmitting means for transmitting to the communication device the first receivable time information of the own communication device at the time determined by the transmission time determining means, and first receivable time information transmitted by another communication device. The second receiving means for receiving and the second receivable time information storage means for storing the second receivable time information stored in the second receivable time information storage means based on the first receivable time information of the other communication device received by the second receiving means. The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a second receivable information update updating unit that updates the receivable time information. 3. A communication system comprising a communication data relay device and a plurality of portable terminal devices each having a built-in battery as a power source, wherein the communication data relay device is in a state in which the terminal device can receive data. The terminal receivable time information storage means that stores the terminal receivable time information, which is the time information for each terminal device, and the communication data transmitted by the terminal device. A relay device receiving means for receiving communication data including the specified destination information, a communication data storing means for storing the received communication data, and a terminal receivable time information stored by the terminal receivable time information storing means. A transmission time determining means for determining a time to transmit the communication data for each terminal device, and the communication data stored in the communication data storing means for determining the transmission time. A relay device transmitting means for transmitting at a time determined by the determining means, wherein the terminal device transmits communication data including destination information specifying a destination terminal device to the communication data relay device; A self-terminal receivable time information storage unit that stores the terminal receivable time information of the self-terminal device; and a terminal device receiving unit that receives communication data including destination information addressed to the self-terminal device from the communication data relay device. A reception state switching means for switching the reception state of the previous terminal device reception means between the reception possible state and the reception suspension state according to the terminal reception possible time information stored in the own terminal reception possible time information storage means. A communication system characterized by the above. 4. The terminal device further includes a terminal receivable time updating means for updating the terminal receivable time information stored in the own terminal receivable time information storage means according to a user's instruction, and A second terminal device transmitting means for transmitting terminal receivable time information to the communication data relay device, wherein the communication data relay device further receives the terminal receivable time information of the terminal device transmitted by the terminal device. A second relay device receiving means and a terminal receivable time information updating means for updating the terminal receivable time information stored in the terminal receivable time information storage means with the received terminal receivable time information. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein: 5. The terminal device further includes a battery detection unit that detects a decrease in the capacity of the battery of the terminal device itself and the completion of charging of the battery, and a battery detection unit that detects that the capacity of the battery has decreased in the battery detection unit. A third terminal device transmission for transmitting to the communication data relay device a battery capacity decrease signal indicating a decrease in capacity and a battery charge completion signal indicating a battery charge completion when it is similarly detected that battery charging is completed. Means, the reception state switching means, when it is further detected by the battery detection means that the battery capacity has decreased, until the battery detection means detects that the battery has been charged,
The communication data relay device is further provided with a third relay device receiving means for receiving the battery capacity decrease signal and the battery charging completion signal transmitted from the terminal device, and controlling the terminal device receiving means to be in a reception suspension state. The transmission timing determining means further transmits communication data to the terminal device until the third relay device receiving means receives the battery capacity decrease signal and receives the battery charge completion signal. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein the time is not determined.