CN103457743A - network connection device - Google Patents

Abstract

A network connection device, comprising: a wired network module for connecting an electronic device to a wired network; and a wireless network module, which is used as a wireless network receiving end in a receiving end mode to connect the electronic device to a wireless network. The network connection device can operate in a router mode, a base station mode or a repeater mode and automatically switch between the modes.

Description

network connection device

technical field

The present invention relates to a network connection device, in particular to a network connection device which can be selectively connected to a wired network or a wireless network and selectively enables a wireless network module to provide different functions.

Background technique

The network connection method includes wired network and wireless network. These two methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. The wired network is limited by hardware and lines, but usually has better network quality. The wireless network is more convenient to use, but its network quality is unstable and susceptible to interference.

In addition, the current network connection device is usually used as a receiving end (client), that is, it has to rely on another network providing device (such as a base station) to provide network connection to the electronic device. However, users may also wish the network connection device to have other types of functions. For example, if there is a corner of the home with poor signal reception or there are multiple electronic devices that need to use the network, you may want to use a repeater to increase the coverage of the network signal. Alternatively, you may also want to use the network connection device as a router to convert a wired network into a wireless network. Alternatively, you may also want to use the network connection device as a wireless base station (AP) to connect electronic devices to each other.

However, the current network connection devices usually can only provide one of the network forms or functions. Therefore, if the user needs multiple network forms or multiple functions, it is necessary to purchase quite a lot of equipment. Not only is it costly, but it also requires quite cumbersome steps to set up each device for normal use.

Contents of the invention

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a network connection device, which can selectively connect to a wired network or a wireless network, and selectively provide different functions.

An embodiment of the present invention discloses a network connection device, including: a wired network module, used to connect an electronic device to a wired network; and a wireless network module, used as a wireless network module in a receiver mode The network receiving end connects the electronic device to a wireless network.

Another embodiment of the present invention discloses a network connection device, including: a wired network module for connecting an electronic device to a wired network; and a wireless network module; wherein the network connection device has the following four modes At least two of them: a receiver mode, the wireless network module connects the electronic device to the wireless network; a router mode, the wired network module is connected to a wired network and the wireless network module acts as a wireless network router; a base station mode, As a wireless base station, the wireless network module can receive at least one change instruction to change the relevant parameters of the wireless network module as the wireless base station, so that the electronic device can be directly connected to other electronic devices through the wireless network module; and In repeater mode, the network connection device is connected to the wireless network, and the wireless network module is used as a wireless network receiving end to connect the electronic device to a wireless network, and at the same time serves as a wireless network base station.

According to the aforementioned embodiments, the network connection device provided by the present invention can selectively use a wired network or a wireless network, and can selectively provide various functions, and can automatically switch between different modes according to various parameters. Provides considerable convenience.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a connection between a network connection device and a notebook computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 and 3 are schematic diagrams of a network connection device operating in a router mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a network connection device operating in a receiver mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a network connection device operating in a repeater mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a network connection device operating in a base station mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a state machine of a network connection device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Wherein, the reference signs are explained as follows:

101 network connection device

103 Ethernet module

102 USB interface

105 Wifi module

107 network interface

109 laptops

111 USB cable

113 network cable

201 DHCP router

203 Internet

205, 207, 501, 503, 601, 603 Wifi receiver

401 Wifi base station

Detailed ways

Certain terms are used in the specification and following claims to refer to particular elements. Those skilled in the art should understand that hardware manufacturers may use different terms to refer to the same component. This description and the subsequent claims do not use the difference in name as the way to distinguish components, but use the difference in function of the components as the criterion for distinguishing. The "comprising" mentioned throughout the specification and subsequent claims is an open term, so it should be interpreted as "including but not limited to". Otherwise, the term "coupled" includes any direct and indirect means of electrical connection. Therefore, if it is described that a first device is coupled to a second device, it means that the first device may be directly electrically connected to the second device, or indirectly electrically connected to the second device through other devices or connection means.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of connection between a network connection device 101 and a notebook computer 109 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the network connection device 101 includes an Ethernet module 103 and a wireless fidelity (Wifi) module 105 . In addition, the network connection device 101 also includes a USB (Universal Serial Bus, Universal Serial Bus) interface 102 and a network interface 107. The network connection device 101 can be connected to the notebook computer 109 through the USB interface 102 and the USB cable 111 . The Ethernet module 103 can be connected to other network devices through the network cable 113 to be connected to the Internet (Internet), so that the notebook computer 109 can be connected to the Internet. The Wifi module 105 can be used as a receiving terminal, a repeater, a router or a base station. It should be noted that the network connection device 101 in FIG. 1 is connected to the notebook computer 109 through a USB interface, but it can also be connected to the notebook computer 109 through other connection methods, and can also be built in a notebook computer or other electronic devices. device. In addition, the Ethernet module 103 can be a wired network module conforming to other protocols, and the Wifi module 105 can be a wireless network module conforming to other protocols.

2 and 3 are schematic diagrams of a network connection device operating in a router mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this mode, the Ethernet module 103 is connected to an Internet 203 . The processing unit 106 in the network connection device 101 detects the network environment and configures the Ethernet module 103 accordingly, so that the Ethernet module 103 can be connected to the Internet 203 in various network environments. For example, the Ethernet module 103 can be connected to the Internet 203 through a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) router as shown in Figure 2, or can be connected to the Internet 203 through a PPPOE (Point-to-Point Protocol) , Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet) modem to connect to the Internet 203. Once the Ethernet module 103 is connected to an Internet 203 , the Wifi module 105 can be used as a Wifi router to provide network to other Wifi receivers 205 , 207 . In this way, the network connection device 101 can not only provide a network to the electronic device connected to the USB interface 102 through the USB interface 102, but also provide a wireless network to other electronic devices.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the network connection device 101 operating in a receiver mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4 , the Wifi module 105 is connected to the network through the Wifi base station 401 as a receiving end. In this case, the Ethernet module 103 may be in a state not connected to the Internet, or connected to the Internet but idle. In one embodiment, the processing unit 106 will detect whether the Ethernet module 103 is connected to the Internet when it is turned on (initial state), and if so, use the wired network first, and if not, detect whether there is a wireless network that the Wifi module 105 can use. A network base station, so that the Wifi module 105 can connect to the network through a wireless network base station.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the network connection device 101 operating in a repeater mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this mode, the Wifi module 105 acts as a receiving end and connects to the wireless network through the Wifi base station 401 . At the same time, the Wifi module 105 also serves as a wireless network base station, providing the network to other Wifi receiving ends 501 and 503 . In this mode, the network connection device 101 can search for a USB signal to determine that the network connection device 101 is connected to a USB power source before using this mode.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a network connection device operating in a base station mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this mode, the Wifi module 105 is used as a wireless base station. The difference between this wireless base station and the Wifi base station 105 shown in FIG. 4 is that the Wifi module 105 in FIG. 4 can be connected to a wireless network after being connected to the Wifi base station 401 . However, the wireless base station referred to in FIG. 6 can only connect the electronic device connected to the USB interface 102 with other electronic devices such as Wifi receiving terminals 601 and 603, but the electronic device connected to the USB interface 102 and the Wifi receiving terminals 601 and 603 are both Not connected to the Internet or wireless network. In this embodiment, the Wifi module 105 can receive a modification command CS to modify its parameters as a wireless base station. In addition, in this mode, the Ethernet module 103 may be not connected to the Internet, or connected but idle.

The network connection device provided by the present invention may have at least one of the various modes mentioned above. When the network connection device has multiple modes, the user can choose the required mode by himself, or according to the status of the Ethernet module connected to the wired network, or the status of the Wifi network module connected to the wireless network, it can automatically switch between different modes. switch. FIG. 7 is a state machine of a network connection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 7, after the network connection device is turned on or woken up, it will go to DHCP router mode (Figure 2), PPPoE router mode (Figure 3), and receiver mode according to which one of the network connection device meets the status 1-5. (Figure 4 mode), repeater mode (Figure 5) and base station mode (Figure 6). Each mode can also be automatically switched according to which one of the network connection device meets the status 6-10. "Connected" in FIG. 7 and its related descriptions means that the Ethernet module is wired, and "unconnected" means that the Ethernet module is not wired.

The descriptions of the aforementioned states 1-10 are as follows:

State 1: Not connected and connected to a USB power source (or connected to any power source).

Status 2: Connected, DHCP related information is found, and the Internet is in a connectable state.

Status 3: Connected, the DHCP related information is found but cannot be connected to the Internet, or there is a connection but no DHCP and PPoE information is found, that is, the wired network is unavailable.

State 4: Not connected and electrically connected to a computer or laptop.

Status 5: Connected, DHCP related information is not found, but PPoE information is found.

State 6: The connection lasts for more than two seconds, DHCP related information is found, and the Internet is available for connection.

State 7, the connection lasts for more than two seconds, no DHCP related information is found, but PPoE information is found.

Status 8: The connection lasts for more than two seconds, and DHCP related information is found, but the Internet is not connected, that is, the wired network is not available.

State 9: Not connected for more than two seconds, and connected to USB power.

State 10: Not connected for more than two seconds and connected to a computer or laptop.

According to the contents of the above states, it can be understood that the network connection device provided by the present invention can automatically switch between different modes according to the state of the wired network module connected to the wired network, or the state of the wireless network module connected to the wireless network . And it can also automatically switch between different modes according to whether it is connected to the electronic device or a power source. Please note that the basis for mode switching in FIG. 7 is just an example, those skilled in the art can change the conditions of mode switching in any way, and these changes should also be within the scope of the present invention.

According to the aforementioned embodiments, the network connection device provided by the present invention can selectively use a wired network or a wireless network, and can selectively provide various functions, and can automatically switch between different modes according to various parameters. Provides considerable convenience.

The above descriptions are only examples of the present invention, and all equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims of the present invention shall fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (12)

1. a network connection device comprises:

One cable network module, with so that an electronic installation is connected to a cable network; And

One wireless network module, in order under a receiving terminal pattern as a wireless network receiving terminal, make this electronic installation be connected to a wireless network.

2. network connection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein this cable network module is an Ethernet module.

3. network connection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein this wireless network module is a Wifi module.

4. network connection device as claimed in claim 1, when this network connection device is connected to this cable network and this wireless network module and operates on a router pattern, this wireless network module is as a radio network router.

5. network connection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein this wireless network module under a base station mode as a wireless base station, relevant parameter in the time of can receiving at least one change directive and change this wireless network module as this wireless base station, make this electronic installation to be connected directly to his electronic installation by this wireless network module.

6. network connection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein this wireless network module, under a Repeater-mode, as a wireless network receiving terminal, makes this electronic installation be connected to a wireless network, and simultaneously as a wireless network base station.

7. a network connection device comprises:

One cable network module, with so that an electronic installation is connected to a cable network; And

One wireless network module;

Wherein this network connection device has at least wherein two kinds of following four kinds of patterns:

One receiving terminal pattern, this wireless network module makes this electronic installation be connected to this wireless network;

One router pattern, this cable network module is connected to cable network and this wireless network module as a radio network router;

One base station mode, this wireless network module is as a wireless base station, relevant parameter when at least one change directive of energy reception is changed this wireless network module as this wireless base station, make this electronic installation to be connected directly to other electronic installations by this wireless network module; And

One Repeater-mode, this network connection device is connected to this wireless network, and this wireless network module, as a wireless network receiving terminal, makes this electronic installation be connected to a wireless network, and simultaneously as a wireless network base station.

8. network connection device as claimed in claim 7, wherein this cable network module is an Ethernet module.

9. network connection device as claimed in claim 7, wherein this wireless network module is a Wifi module.

10. network connection device as claimed in claim 7, if this network connection device can be connected to cable network by this cable network module, preferentially used this cable network.

11. network connection device as claimed in claim 7, wherein this network connection device more is connected to the state of this cable network according to this cable network module, or this wireless network module is connected to the state of this wireless network, between different mode, automatically switches.

12. network connection device as claimed in claim 11, wherein this network connection device more, according to whether being connected to this electronic installation or a power supply, automatically switches between different mode.

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