JP2019062445A - Wireless communication device, electronic watch, transmission power setting method and wireless communication program - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce the power required for wireless communication. According to a short-distance wireless communication IC 265 for transmitting and receiving information to and from a smartphone via a Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy wireless communication channel, and an type of connection for wireless connection with the smartphone (purpose of connection). And CPU 261 for setting advertisement transmission power for the short distance wireless communication IC 265. In the case of the first connection type (manual connection), it is assumed that the user changes the setting of the electronic watch by operating the smartphone and the electronic watch side by side. Therefore, since the distance between the electronic timepiece and the smartphone is short, the advertisement transmission power is set to be smaller than other connection types (key time setting / automatic time setting / mobile phone search). [Selected figure] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication device, an electronic watch, a transmission power setting method, and a wireless communication program.

  With the spread of smartphones in recent years, electronic watches have been increasingly equipped with Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy communication function. The electronic watch can operate in cooperation with a smartphone by the Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy communication function.

  The conventional electronic watch uniformly performs power setting of Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy communication, and the current loss is large. In addition, while devices that communicate with Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy are increasing, there is a case where it becomes difficult to find each device when advertising with unnecessarily strong power.

  In the solution means of the abstract of Patent Document 1, “the communication device according to the present invention is a second wireless communication means for communicating with an external device in a first communication method and a second communication method different from the first communication method. The first wireless communication unit communicating with the communication system, the proximity wireless communication unit communicating with the proximity wireless communication, and the proximity wireless communication performed with the external device using the proximity wireless communication unit And an enabling means for enabling communication with the external device by enabling communication by the wireless communication means or the second wireless communication means, the enabling means having a predetermined transfer target operation mode of the communication device. In the case of the predetermined operation mode for transferring data, the communication by the first wireless communication unit is enabled, and when the operation mode of the communication apparatus is not the predetermined operation mode, the communication by the second wireless communication unit is enabled. It is described as ".

JP 2017-46231 A

The invention described in Patent Document 1 communicates by wireless LAN (Local Area Network) at the time of transmission of image data, and communicates by Bluetooth (registered trademark) at other times. However, since this configuration requires a plurality of communication means, it can not be applied to, for example, an apparatus having a large restriction on power supply capacity and mounting volume like an electronic watch. Moreover, the invention described in Patent Document 1 does not mention at all about the reduction of power.
Then, this invention makes it a subject to reduce the electric power which radio | wireless communication requires.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a wireless communication device according to a first aspect of the present invention, which wirelessly communicates with an external device via an wireless communication channel, and wirelessly connects with the external device. A control unit configured to determine a connection type and to set a transmission power of the wireless communication unit according to a connection type for wireless connection with the external device.

  According to the present invention, the power required for wireless communication can be reduced.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the smart phone in 1st Embodiment. It is a general | schematic block diagram which shows an electronic timepiece. It is an external view of an electronic watch. It is a sequence diagram which shows from an advertisement of an electronic timepiece and a smart phone to a connection. It is a sequence diagram showing to profile and configuration after connection. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of manual connection. It is a flowchart which shows the communication processing of the electronic timepiece at the time of manual connection. It is a figure which shows the connection waiting screen on a smart phone. It is a figure which shows the screen in connection on a smart phone. It is a figure which shows the connection completion screen on a smart phone. It is a figure which shows the world time display screen on a smart phone. It is a figure which shows the city search screen on a smart phone. It is a figure which shows the time setting completion screen on a smart phone. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation | movement of key time alignment and automatic time alignment. It is a flowchart of a key time setting process. It is a flowchart of automatic time setting processing. It is a sequence diagram which shows a mobile search operation. It is a flowchart of a mobile search process. It is a flowchart when it sees from a near field communication part. It is a flowchart when it sees from the near field communication part in a modification. It is a general | schematic block diagram which shows the environmental monitoring apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flow chart which shows communication processing of an environmental monitoring device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, when there are a plurality of connection types (purposes of connection) of wireless communication, the wireless communication apparatus sets communication power according to the connection type.

First Embodiment
In the first embodiment, an electronic watch equipped with a Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy communication function is a slave, and a smartphone is a master and performs connection. Hereinafter, Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy may be described as "BLE". At the time of communication connection, the electronic timepiece can set three types of parameters: advertisement transmission power, connection transmission power, and reception sensitivity.

  The settable width varies depending on the wireless communication device. The advertisement transmission power and connection transmission power of the wireless communication apparatus may be set in three levels of High Power / Middle Power / Low Power, or may be set in 1 dBm or 0.1 dBm increments.

  Among wireless communication devices, there are devices whose reception sensitivity can be set as High Sensitivity / Middle Sensitivity / Low Sensitivity. Further, there is a device in which the reception sensitivity can be set for each signal strength such as a received signal strength indication (RSSI) value. In addition, there are also wireless communication devices that collectively set transmission power and reception sensitivity and set as High Performance Mode / Middle Performance Mode / Low Performance Mode.

  The wireless communication apparatus reduces the power required for wireless communication by setting parameters related to advertisement transmission power and connection transmission power according to the connection type of wireless communication, and the other wireless communication apparatus that is not the communication partner. You can reduce the concern of taking resources unnecessarily.

  Further, the wireless communication device may be deprived of resources unnecessarily by interpreting the communication of another wireless communication device other than the communication counterpart by setting the parameter related to the reception sensitivity according to the connection type of the wireless communication. It disappears.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a system in the first embodiment.
In this system, a smartphone 1 and an electronic timepiece 2 are communicably connected via a short distance wireless communication path. The electronic clock 2 of the first embodiment is a side that transmits advertisements, and the smartphone 1 is a side that receives advertisements.

  In the non-connected state of Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy, the electronic watch 2 is called an advertiser, and the smartphone 1 is called a scanner. In the connected state, the electronic timepiece 2 is called a slave, and the smartphone 1 is called a master. In the advertising state, the electronic watch 2 is called a slave, and the smartphone 1 is called a scanner.

  Further, in the GAP (Generic Access Profile) of the protocol stack of BLE, the electronic watch 2 is called a peripheral, and the smartphone 1 is called a central. In GATT (Generic ATtribute profile) of the protocol stack of BLE, there are cases where the electronic clock 2 is called a server and the smart phone 1 is called a client, and the electronic clock 2 is called a client and the smart phone 1 is called a server.

  The smartphone 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 11, a random access memory (RAM) 12, a read only memory (ROM) 13, a touch panel display 14, a flash memory 15, a clock unit 16, a wireless LAN communication unit 17, and a carrier communication unit 18. And the near field communication part 19 and the speaker 10 are comprised.

The CPU 11 executes a software program to centrally control the smartphone 1. The touch panel display 14 displays information and receives an operation by the user. The RAM 12 is a storage unit configured of volatile memory. The ROM 13 is a storage unit configured of a non-volatile memory. The flash memory 15 is a storage unit configured of a rewritable non-volatile memory. The flash memory 15 stores a time display program 151, a city database 152, a key time setting program 153, an automatic time setting program 154, and a mobile search program 155, respectively.
The time display program 151 is one of the applications operated by the smartphone 1. The time display program 151 causes the CPU 11 to display and control the time, and sets the time displayed on the electronic timepiece 2. The city database 152 stores the name and position of each city, and the time difference information with respect to the coordinated universal time of this city.
When the user operates the clock, the key time setting program 153 causes the CPU 11 to communicate with the electronic clock 2 and automatically disconnects the time of the electronic clock 2 after setting the time of the electronic clock 2 to the time of the smartphone 1.
The automatic time setting program 154 causes the CPU 11 to be communicably connected to the electronic timepiece 2 and automatically disconnects the time of the electronic timepiece 2 after the time of the electronic timepiece 2 is adjusted to the time of the smartphone 1.
The mobile phone search program 155 causes the CPU 11 to make a communication connection with the electronic watch 2 when the user operates the electronic watch 2 and causes the smartphone 1 to emit a sound by a communication command of the electronic watch 2.
The clock unit 16 clocks time. The wireless LAN communication unit 17 performs wireless communication of, for example, the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard. The carrier communication unit 18 performs wireless communication with the base station via the network. The short distance wireless communication unit 19 performs short distance wireless communication according to Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy standard, for example.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the electronic timepiece 2.
The electronic timepiece 2 is capable of driving the pointer 21a which is the hour and minute hand of the main dial, the pointer 21b which is the second hand, and the pointer 21c which is the hour and minute hand of the sub dial by independent motors. For example, although it is not limited, it is a wristwatch-type electronic watch provided with a band for attaching to an arm. The electronic timepiece 2 includes, for example, a pointer 21a, a stepping motor 23a that rotationally drives the pointer 21a via a gear train mechanism 22a, and a drive circuit 24. Here, the pointer 21 b and the pointer 21 c are similarly configured.

  A pointer 21a which is the hour and minute hand of the main dial, a pointer 21b which is the second hand, and a pointer 21c which is the hour and minute hand of the sub dial are each independently rotatable. Hereinafter, the pointers 21a to 21c will be simply referred to as the pointer 21 unless otherwise specified. When the wheel train mechanisms 22a to 22c are not particularly distinguished from one another, they are simply referred to as a train wheel mechanism 22. When the stepping motors 23a to 23c are not particularly distinguished from one another, they are simply referred to as stepping motors 23.

  The electronic timepiece 2 further includes a microcomputer 26 including a CPU 261, a vibrator 25, a power supply unit 27, and a short distance wireless communication IC (Integrated Circuit) 265. The CPU 261 is configured to include an oscillating circuit 262, a frequency dividing circuit 263, and a timing circuit 264.

  The pointer 21a and the pointer 21b are provided rotatably about the rotation axis on the main dial. The pointer 21c is provided rotatably about the rotation axis on the sub dial. The wheel train mechanisms 22a to 22c rotate the hands 21a to 21c, respectively.

  The drive circuit 24 outputs drive voltage signals for driving the stepping motors 23 a to 23 c at appropriate timing based on the control signal input from the CPU 261. The drive circuit 24 can adjust and output a drive voltage and a drive voltage pulse width of the stepping motor 23 based on a setting signal from the CPU 261. The drive circuit 24 according to the first embodiment can output a drive voltage signal to the stepping motor 23 in the forward or reverse direction.

  The CPU 261 performs various arithmetic processing to integrally control the overall operation of the electronic timepiece 2. The CPU 261 reads out and executes a control program (not shown) and causes each part to continuously perform an operation related to time display. The CPU 261 is a control unit that sets a target position at which the pointer 21 moves and controls the drive of the stepping motor 23 via the drive circuit 24.

The vibrator 25 and the oscillation circuit 262 generate a unique frequency signal and output the signal to the divider circuit 263. For example, a crystal oscillation circuit is used as the vibrator 25.
The dividing circuit 263 divides the signal input from the oscillating circuit 262 into signals of various frequencies used by the CPU 261 and the timer circuit 264 and outputs the signals.

  The time counting circuit 264 is a counter circuit that counts the number of times of the predetermined frequency signal input from the frequency dividing circuit 263 and adds it to the initial time to count the current time. The current time counted by the clock circuit 264 is read by the CPU 261 and used for time display. This counting of time may be controlled by software.

  The power supply unit 27 is configured to be able to operate the electronic timepiece 2 continuously and stably for a long period of time, and is, for example, a combination of a battery and a DC-DC converter. Thereby, the output voltage of the power supply unit 27 in operation maintains a predetermined value.

  The short distance wireless communication IC 265 is a wireless communication unit that transmits and receives information to and from the short distance wireless communication unit 19 of the smartphone 1 by communication of Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy standard, for example.

FIG. 3 is an external view of the electronic timepiece 2.
The electronic timepiece 2 includes a main dial 281 for displaying the current time, a sub dial 282 for displaying the local time of a specific city, buttons 291, 292, 294, and a crown 293. On the central axis of the main dial 281, a pointer 21a indicating the time of the home time and a pointer 21b indicating the second are rotatably provided. On the central axis of the secondary dial 282, a pointer 21c indicating the time of the world time is rotatably provided.
The buttons 291, 292, 294 and the crown 293 are operation means for operating the electronic timepiece 2. Buttons 291 and 292 are buttons related to communication connection with the smartphone 1.
The connection between the electronic watch 2 and the smartphone 1 causes the virtual analog watch displayed on the smartphone 1 to synchronize with the actual electronic watch 2.

The BLE connection of the electronic timepiece 2 of the first embodiment has the following four connection types.
The first connection type is manual connection. Here, the manual connection is that the user operates the electronic timepiece 2 to connect to the smartphone 1 and then the user operates the smartphone 1 to change the setting of the electronic timepiece 2.

  The second connection type is key time synchronization. The key time setting is that when the user operates the electronic timepiece 2 to connect with the smartphone 1 and automatically adjusts the time of the electronic timepiece 2 to the time of the smartphone 1.

  The third connection type is automatic time synchronization. The automatic time setting is to automatically connect to the smartphone 1 at the timing when the electronic timepiece 2 is determined, and to automatically disconnect when the time of the electronic timepiece 2 is synchronized with the time of the smartphone 1.

  The fourth connection type is a mobile search function. In the mobile search function, the user operates the electronic timepiece 2 to connect with the smartphone 1 and sounds the sound of the smartphone 1 to search for the smartphone 1.

  The first embodiment is to change the advertisement transmission power setting in accordance with the connection type (the purpose of connection). In the case of the first connection type (manual connection), it is assumed that the user changes the setting of the electronic clock 2 by operating the smartphone 1 and the electronic clock 2 side by side. Therefore, the distance between the electronic timepiece 2 and the smartphone 1 is short. Therefore, the advertisement transmission power may be set smaller than the second to fourth connection types.

  On the other hand, in the case of the second to fourth connection types, it is assumed that the distance between the smartphone 1 and the electronic timepiece 2 is large. Therefore, the advertisement transmission power may be set larger than the first connection type.

Hereinafter, the connection operation of the electronic timepiece 2 and the smartphone 1 will be described with reference to the sequence diagrams of FIG. 4 and FIG. This sequence diagram is common to the first to fourth connection types.
FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing advertising and connection of the electronic timepiece 2 and the smartphone 1.
When the user performs a predetermined connection operation on the electronic timepiece 2 (step S80), the CPU 261 interprets this operation input as an on-request (BLE ON) for short-distance wireless communication (step S81). In the case of manual connection, the user long-presses the button 291 on the lower left of the electronic timepiece 2 for 3 seconds. In the case of key time adjustment, the user presses the lower left button 291 of the electronic timepiece 2 only once. In the case of the mobile search function, the user long-presses the lower right button 292 for 2 seconds. In the case of automatic time synchronization, near-field wireless communication is automatically turned on when the electronic timepiece 2 comes to a fixed time.

  The CPU 261 instructs the pointer 21 to display the connection start (step S82), and the pointer 21b (second hand) of the electronic timepiece 2 indicates a predetermined position to display the connection start (step S83). For example, in the case of manual connection, the second hand points to the position of C (2 o'clock). In the case of key time alignment, the second hand points to the position of F (5 o'clock). In the case of a digital watch, a predetermined mark is blinked on an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

  The CPU 261 instructs the near field communication IC 265 to perform power on (step S84), and instructs setup (step S85). The near field communication IC 265 executes setup and returns a response (step S86). The CPU 261 repeats this setup a plurality of times, and initializes the short distance wireless communication IC 265. At this time, the CPU 261 sets advertisement transmission power and connection transmission power to the short distance wireless communication IC 265.

  The CPU 261 instructs the near field communication IC 265 to perform the final setup (step S90). The near field communication IC 265 executes this setup and returns a response (step S91). Next, the CPU 261 instructs start of advertisement (Step S92). Thereby, the near field communication IC 265 repeatedly transmits the advertisement to the outside through the near field communication channel (steps S93 to S100).

  The electronic watch 2 (slave) keeps sending this advertisement periodically in order to let the smartphone 1 (scanner) know the presence of the electronic watch 2. Note that ADV_IND, ADV_DIRECT_IND, ADV_NONCONN_IND, ADV_SCAN_IND, ADV_EXT_IND, AUX_ADV_IND, AUX_SYNC_IND, AUX_CHAIN_IND, etc. are defined as advertisements in Core Spec 5 of Bluetooth (registered trademark), but other advertisements may be used.

  Here, when the smart phone 1 (scanner) receives the advertisement via the short distance wireless communication path, it knows the existence of the electronic clock 2 (slave), and transmits a connection request (Connection Req) to this (step S101). When the near field communication IC 265 receives the connection request, the CPU 261 responds with “Connection complete” (Step S102). The CPU 261 controls a pointer or the like as necessary (step S103), and displays that the connection is completed. In the case of a digital watch, a predetermined mark is lighted on the LCD to indicate connection completion.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing up to profile and configuration after connection.
The smartphone 1 performs a series of control related to service discovery on the electronic timepiece 2 via the short distance wireless communication path (step S105). When the service discovery is input from the near field communication IC 265, the CPU 261 responds to this (step S106). Thereby, the smartphone 1 determines the service class of the electronic timepiece 2 (slave), and detects what kind of communication the electronic timepiece 2 performs.
Next, the CPU 261 instructs the near field communication IC 265 to transmit its own configuration profile (step S107). The electronic timepiece 2 transmits the configuration profile (Profile Config) to the smartphone 1 (step S108). As a result, the smartphone 1 can determine whether the electronic timepiece 2 (slave) is a device that provides what kind of service by which data format communication.

The smartphone 1 transmits a connection type read request (Read Request) to the electronic timepiece 2 via the short distance wireless communication path (step S109). The near field communication IC 265 outputs a read request of the connection type to the CPU 261 (step S110).
The CPU 261 instructs the short distance wireless communication IC 265 to make a read response of the connection type (step S111). The near field communication IC 265 sends a read response (Read Response) of the connection type to the smartphone 1 via the near field communication channel (step S112). Thereby, the smartphone 1 can detect the connection type of the electronic timepiece 2.

Manual connection
The manual connection will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6 to 13.
FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of manual connection. The sequence of FIG. 6 shows the operation after the sequence of FIG.
The smartphone 1 transmits a request for clock setting information and the like to the electronic timepiece 2 via the short distance wireless communication path (step S120). The short distance wireless communication IC 265 outputs a request for clock setting information and the like to the CPU 261 (step S121).

  The CPU 261 instructs the short distance wireless communication IC 265 to respond with the clock setting information and the like (step S122). The short distance wireless communication IC 265 responds to the smartphone 1 with the clock setting information and the like via the short distance wireless communication path (step S123). The smartphone 1 and the electronic timepiece 2 repeat the operations of these steps S120 to S123, and transfer necessary setting information from the electronic timepiece 2 to the smartphone 1.

When the reception of the setting information is completed in steps S130 to S133, the smartphone 1 displays the clock setting information on the touch panel display 14 on the connection completion screen 43 shown in FIG. 10 described later (step S134).
The user taps the city setting on the city search screen 45 shown in FIG. 12 described later (step S135). The smartphone 1 transmits a write request (Write Request) of the home time and the world time via the short distance wireless communication path (step S136). The near field communication IC 265 outputs a request for writing home time and world time to the CPU 261 (step S137).

  The CPU 261 instructs the near field communication IC 265 to respond to the write request (step S138). The near field communication IC 265 responds to the smartphone 1 via the near field communication channel (step S139). Thereby, the smartphone 1 displays a city setting completion screen 46 shown in FIG. 13 described later on the touch panel display 14 (step S140).

  The CPU 261 further controls each pointer 21 so as to update the position of the pointer (step S141), and each pointer 21 updates the position so as to indicate the newly set home time and world time (step S142). . Thereby, the time of the electronic timepiece 2 can be updated. When the electronic timepiece 2 is a digital timepiece, the liquid crystal display unit updates the digital time display in step S142.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing communication processing of the electronic timepiece 2 at the time of manual connection.
When the user long-presses the lower left button 291 of the electronic timepiece 2 for 3 seconds (step S10), the communication process of the manual connection starts. As a result, the second hand points to the position C (the position at 2 o'clock) on the main dial 281 (step S11).

  The CPU 261 sets the advertisement transmission power to -20 dBm by the short distance wireless communication IC 265 and performs the connection operation with the smartphone 1 (step S12). In the case of manual connection, it is assumed that the user has to operate both the electronic clock 2 and the smartphone 1 and thus operates in close proximity. Therefore, even if the advertisement transmission power is set to -20 dBm, there is no trouble in communication, and the power required for communication can be reduced.

Next, the CPU 261 determines whether or not the connection with the smartphone 1 is successful (step S13). In step S13, if the connection is unsuccessful (No), the CPU 261 abnormally ends, and if the connection is successful (Yes), the process proceeds to step S14.
In step S14, the CPU 261 sets the connection transmission power to 0 dBm to communicate with the smartphone 1, and interprets the command transmitted by the smartphone 1 (step S15).

In step S15, if the command transmitted by the smartphone 1 is not the communication disconnection (other than that), the CPU 261 executes the command and returns to the process of step S15.
In step S15, if the command transmitted by the smartphone 1 is communication disconnection or communication timeout occurs, the CPU 261 controls the second hand to indicate the current time (step S17). Thereafter, the CPU 261 disconnects the communication (step S18), and ends the processing of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the connection waiting screen 41 on the smartphone 1.
When the time display program 151 on the smartphone 1 is executed for manual connection, the connection waiting screen 41 is first displayed on the touch panel display 14 (see FIG. 1) of the smartphone 1. The connection waiting screen 41 has an image showing the button 291 of the electronic clock 2 and a guidance 411 of "Please press and hold until the 3 second-second hand points to 'C'" and "View the guide" 412 is displayed. Note that 'C' refers to the 2 o'clock position. When the user long-presses the lower left button 291 of the electronic timepiece 2 in accordance with the connection waiting screen 41 and the smartphone 1 establishes communication with the electronic timepiece 2, the transition to the in-connection screen 42 shown in FIG. 9 is made.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the in-connection screen 42 on the smartphone 1.
On the in-connection screen 42, an icon indicating the appearance of the smartphone 1 and characters of "CONNECT" are displayed. When the predetermined time passes while the connection screen 42 remains, the screen is shifted to a connection completion screen 43 shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the connection completion screen 43 on the smartphone 1.
In the connection completion screen 43, an image indicating that an analog clock is displayed is arranged on the left, and SELF ADJUST 431, SELF CHARGE 432, and SELF UPDATE 433 are displayed on the right. When SELF ADJUST 431 is swiped from left to right, Bluetooth (registered trademark) key time alignment is performed. When the SELF CHARGE 432 is swiped from the left to the right, it is set whether to perform charging by the solar battery. When the SELF UPDATE 433 is swiped from left to right, the time is acquired from the time server, and daylight saving time information, time zone information, etc. are automatically updated.

  In the tab bar at the bottom of the connection completion screen 43, GUIDE 434, STATUS 435, and WORLD TIME 436 are displayed. When GUIDE 434 is tapped, a transition is made to a guidance screen (not shown). When the STATUS 435 is tapped, a transition is made to a status setting screen (not shown). When WORLD TIME 436 is tapped, a transition is made to a world time display screen 44 shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a view showing the world time display screen 44 on the smartphone 1.
In this world time display screen 44, New York is selected as the world time city, and Tokyo is selected as the home time city. The local time of the specific city is displayed as a world time as a pointer on the sub dial 444 of the clock image, and here, the local time of New York is displayed as 5:18. The world time 441 shows the local time of New York. In the main dial 443 of the clock image, the local time of a specific city is displayed as a home time as a pointer, and here, the local time of Tokyo is displayed as 18:18. The home time 442 shows the local time in Tokyo.

  In the tab bar at the bottom of the world time display screen 44, STATUS 445 and WORLD TIME 446 are displayed. When STATUS 445 is tapped, a transition is made to a guidance screen (not shown). When WORLD TIME 446 is tapped, the screen changes to a city search screen 45 shown in FIG. 15 described later.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the city search screen 45 on the smartphone 1.
The city search screen 45 is a screen for searching for a city related to world time. In the city search screen 45, "search for a city" is displayed in the navigation bar.

In the background of the city search screen 45, a map of the southern United States indicating Dallas is displayed, and in the foreground, a city name display 451, date and time 452, and summer time setting 453 are displayed. In the city name display 451, the name of the currently selected city is displayed, and "Dallas" is displayed here. The date 452 displays the time of the currently selected city. In the daylight saving time setting 453, either AUTO / forced ON / forced OFF is displayed. Here, the time displayed on the date 452 reflects the summer time setting.
In the tab bar of the city search screen 45, a city setting 454 is displayed. When this city setting 454 is tapped, the time of the city being selected is set in the electronic clock 2.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the city setting completion screen 46 on the smartphone 1.
On the city setting completion screen 46, a map of the southern part of the United States indicating Dallas is displayed, and in the foreground thereof, a date and time display 461 and a message of "The world time has been set" are displayed. The date and time display 461 displays the world time set in the electronic clock 2.

"Key time alignment and automatic time alignment"
Hereinafter, key time alignment and automatic time alignment will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 16.
The user can operate the electronic watch 2 to connect with the smartphone 1 and correct the home time. This function is key time alignment. The electronic timepiece 2 is further connected to the smartphone 1 at a preset time of the day to correct the home time. This function is automatic time alignment.

That is, the smartphone 1 can transmit the home time to the electronic timepiece 2 by the short distance wireless communication unit 19.
When the user performs a predetermined operation on the electronic timepiece 2 or a time set in advance, the electronic timepiece 2 transmits an advertisement to the smartphone 1. The smartphone 1 establishes communication with the electronic watch 2 (see FIG. 4). Thereafter, the smartphone 1 performs service discovery on the electronic clock 2, sets a configuration profile, and reads a connection type (see FIG. 5). Thereafter, the smartphone 1 and the electronic timepiece 2 execute the sequence of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram showing operations of key time alignment and automatic time alignment. The sequence of FIG. 14 shows the operation after the sequence of FIGS. 4 and 5.
The smartphone 1 transmits a request for clock setting information and the like to the electronic timepiece 2 via the short distance wireless communication path (step S150). The short distance wireless communication IC 265 outputs a request for clock setting information and the like to the CPU 261 (step S151).

  The CPU 261 instructs the short distance wireless communication IC 265 to respond with the clock setting information and the like (step S152). The near field communication IC 265 responds to the smartphone 1 with the clock setting information etc. via the near field communication channel (step S153). The smartphone 1 repeats the operations of these steps S150 to S153 to acquire necessary setting information from the electronic timepiece 2.

  When the reception of the setting information is completed in steps S160 to S163, the smartphone 1 transmits a home time write request (Write Request) via the short distance wireless communication path (step S164). The near field communication IC 265 outputs a write request for the home time to the CPU 261 (step S165).

  The CPU 261 instructs the near field communication IC 265 to respond to the write request (step S166). The near field communication IC 265 responds to the smartphone 1 via the near field communication channel (step S167). Thereby, the smartphone 1 displays a view of "the time of the clock has been adjusted" on the touch panel display 14 (step S168).

  The CPU 261 further controls each pointer 21 so as to update the position of the pointer (step S169), and each pointer 21 updates the position so as to indicate the newly set home time (step S170). Thereby, the time of the electronic timepiece 2 can be updated.

  The smartphone 1 performs a series of control on the communication disconnection with respect to the electronic timepiece 2 via the short distance wireless communication path (step S171). When the communication disconnection instruction is input from the near field communication IC 265, the CPU 261 responds to this (step S172). Thereby, the smartphone 1 can cut off the communication with the electronic timepiece 2.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of key time adjustment processing.
When the user presses the lower right button 292 of the electronic timepiece 2 once (step S20), the key time adjustment process starts. As a result, the electronic timepiece 2 causes the second hand to point to the position of 'C' (the position at 2 o'clock) on the main dial 281 (step S21), and indicates to the user that key time adjustment is in progress.

  The CPU 261 sets the advertisement transmission power to 0 dBm by the short distance wireless communication IC 265 and performs the connection operation with the smartphone 1 (step S22). In the case of key time adjustment, the user only needs to operate the electronic clock 2, and therefore the user may be operating without being arranged close to one another. Therefore, the CPU 261 sets the advertisement transmission power to 0 dBm so as not to disturb the communication.

Next, the CPU 261 determines whether the connection with the smartphone 1 is successful (step S23). In step S23, if the connection is unsuccessful (No), the CPU 261 abnormally ends, and if the connection is successful (Yes), the process proceeds to step S24.
In step S24, the CPU 261 sets the connection transmission power to 0 dBm to connect with the smartphone 1 and performs time alignment with the smartphone 1.

  In step S25, the CPU 261 automatically disconnects communication with the smartphone 1. Thereafter, the CPU 261 controls the second hand to indicate the current time (step S26), and ends the processing of FIG.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the automatic time setting process.
The electronic timepiece 2 determines whether the current time is a predetermined timing (step S30). If the current time is not the predetermined timing (No), the electronic timepiece 2 repeats the determination of step S30, and if the current time is the predetermined timing (Yes), the process proceeds to step S31.

  The CPU 261 sets the advertisement transmission power to 0 dBm for the short distance wireless communication IC 265, and performs a connection operation with the smartphone 1 (step S31). In the case of automatic time alignment, the electronic clock 2 and the smartphone 1 may not be located near each other. Therefore, the CPU 261 sets the advertisement transmission power to 0 dBm so as not to disturb the communication.

Next, the CPU 261 determines whether the connection with the smartphone 1 has succeeded (step S32). In step S32, if the connection is unsuccessful (No), the CPU 261 returns to step S30, and if the connection is successful (Yes), the process proceeds to step S33.
In step S33, the CPU 261 sets the connection transmission power to 0 dBm to connect with the smartphone 1 and performs time alignment with the smartphone 1.

  In step S34, the CPU 261 automatically disconnects communication with the smartphone 1 and returns to the process of step S30.

Mobile search operation
The mobile search operation will be described below with reference to FIGS. 17 to 18.
FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram showing a mobile search operation. The sequence of FIG. 17 shows the operation after the sequence of FIGS. 4 and 5.

  The CPU 261 of the electronic timepiece 2 instructs the short distance wireless communication IC 265 to transmit a ringing command (step S180). The near field communication IC 265 transmits a ringing command to the smartphone 1 through Handle Value Notification via the near field communication channel (step S181). When the ringing command is received, the smartphone 1 starts ringing by the speaker 10 (step S182). Thereby, the user can know where the smartphone 1 is located.

  Next, the user operates the electronic timepiece 2 to instruct to stop the sound (step S183). When the sound stopping instruction is input (step S184), the CPU 261 of the electronic timepiece 2 instructs the short distance wireless communication IC 265 to transmit a ringing stop command (step S185). The near field communication IC 265 transmits a ringing stop command to the smartphone 1 by Handle Value Notification via the near field communication channel (step S186). When the ringing stop command is received, the smartphone 1 stops the ringing (step S187).

  The CPU 261 further controls each pointer 21 to update the position of the pointer (step S188), and each pointer 21 updates the position so as to indicate the newly set home time (step S189). Thereby, the electronic timepiece 2 can display the time again.

  The smartphone 1 performs a series of control on communication disconnection with respect to the electronic timepiece 2 via the short distance wireless communication path (step S190). When the communication disconnection instruction is input from the near field communication IC 265, the CPU 261 responds to this (step S191). Thereby, the smartphone 1 can cut off the communication with the electronic timepiece 2.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the mobile search process.
When the user long-presses the button 292 on the lower right of the electronic timepiece 2 for 2 seconds (step S40), the mobile search operation starts. The electronic timepiece 2 causes the second hand to point to the position of F (the position at 5 o'clock) on the main dial 281 (step S41), and indicates to the user that a mobile search is in progress.

  The CPU 261 sets the advertisement transmission power to 0 dBm by the short distance wireless communication IC 265 and performs the connection operation with the smartphone 1 (step S42). In the case of the mobile phone search function, the whereabouts of the smartphone 1 is unknown and may be located apart from the electronic watch 2. Therefore, the CPU 261 sets the advertisement transmission power to 0 dBm so as not to disturb the communication.

Next, the CPU 261 determines whether the connection with the smartphone 1 is successful (step S43). In step S43, if the connection is unsuccessful (No), the CPU 261 abnormally ends, and if the connection is successful (Yes), the process proceeds to step S44.
In step S44, the CPU 261 sets the connection transmission power to 0 dBm to connect with the smartphone 1, and makes the smartphone 1 sound.

  When the user long-presses the button 292 on the lower right of the electronic timepiece 2 for 3 seconds (step S45), the operation of stopping the sound of the smartphone 1 is performed. In step S46, the CPU 261 sets the connection transmission power to 0 dBm to connect with the smartphone 1 and stops the sound of the smartphone 1.

  In step S47, the CPU 261 controls the second hand to indicate the current time. Thereafter, the smartphone 1 automatically disconnects the communication with the electronic timepiece 2 (step S48), and ends the process of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart when viewed from the short distance wireless communication IC.
The CPU 261 determines the connection type (step S50). In step S50, if the connection type is manual connection, the CPU 261 proceeds to step S52, sets the advertisement transmission power to -20 dBm, and performs a connection operation with the smartphone 1. If the connection type is other than the manual connection, the CPU 261 proceeds to step S51, sets the advertisement transmission power to 0 dBm, and performs the connection operation with the smartphone 1.
When the processes of steps S51 and S52 are completed, it is determined whether the connection with the smartphone 1 is successful (step S53). In step S53, if the connection is unsuccessful (No), the CPU 261 abnormally ends, and if the connection is successful (Yes), the process proceeds to step S54, sets connection transmission power to 0 dBm, and communicates with the smartphone 1. The process of FIG. 19 ends.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart when viewed from the near field communication IC in the modification.
The CPU 261 determines the connection type (step S60). In step S60, if the connection type is manual connection, the CPU 261 proceeds to step S64 to set the advertisement transmission power to -20 dBm and perform the connection operation with the smartphone 1.
When the process of step S64 ends, the CPU 261 determines whether the connection with the smartphone 1 is successful (step S65). In step S65, if the connection is unsuccessful (No), the CPU 261 abnormally ends, and if the connection is successful (Yes), the process proceeds to step S66 to set the connection transmission power to -20 dBm and communicate with the smartphone 1. , End the process of FIG.

In step S60, if the connection type is other than manual connection, the CPU 261 proceeds to step S61, sets the advertisement transmission power to 0 dBm, and performs the connection operation with the smartphone 1.
When the process of step S61 is completed, the CPU 261 determines whether or not the connection with the smartphone 1 is successful (step S62). In step S62, if the connection is unsuccessful (No), the CPU 261 abnormally ends, and if the connection is successful (Yes), the process proceeds to step S63, sets connection transmission power to 0 dBm, and communicates with the smartphone 1. The process of FIG. 20 ends.

  In this modification, the CPU 261 changes the settings of both the advertisement transmission power and the connection transmission power according to the connection type.

  In the case of the first connection type (manual connection), it is assumed that the user operates the smartphone 1 to change the setting of the electronic timepiece 2. Therefore, it is assumed that the electronic timepiece 2 and the smartphone 1 are located near each other. Therefore, the electronic timepiece 2 sets advertisement transmission power and connection transmission power small in the first connection type (manual connection), and sets advertisement transmission power and connection transmission power large in the second to fourth connection types. In the manual connection, since the electronic timepiece 2 and the smartphone 1 are assumed to be located near each other, there is no problem in communication even if the advertisement transmission power and the connection transmission power are reduced.

  Further, in the automatic time alignment and key time alignment, since the electronic timepiece 2 completes communication in a short time, power consumption is not affected even if the connection transmission power is large.

<< Effect of the First Embodiment >>
Power of wireless communication can be reduced. By setting the optimal transmission power for each wireless communication device, it is possible to reduce the concern of depriving the resources of other wireless communication devices. Furthermore, by setting the parameter related to the reception sensitivity according to the connection type of the wireless communication, the wireless communication device can not unnecessarily deprive the resource of interpreting the communication of the other wireless communication device not related to itself. .

<< Other modifications >>
The first embodiment can be modified, for example, the following (a) to (e).
(A) In the transmission power setting, the advertisement transmission power may be common to all connection types, and the connection transmission power may be changed for each connection type. (B) In combination with the above embodiment, the reception sensitivity for each connection type May be changed.
(C) With the increase of the function of the electronic watch other than the first to fourth connection types, the connection types increase. In that case, advertisement transmission power, connection transmission power, and sensitivity are set for each connection type. As a function of the new electronic watch, for example, a function of controlling the music of the smartphone from the electronic watch, a function of the user operating the electronic watch for each activity and transmitting to the smartphone are assumed.
(D) In the above embodiment, the electronic watch is a slave and the smartphone is a master. However, the electronic watch may be a master and the smartphone may be a slave.
(E) The master device may change the connection transmission power or the reception sensitivity according to the connection type after the connection type of the slave device is known.

Second Embodiment
Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy has a usage called Beacon that performs only advertisement transmission. The present invention may be applied to the transmission power setting of advertisement in this Beacon. For example, it is conceivable that the environment monitoring device sets the advertising transmission power small when there is no abnormality, and sets the advertising transmission power large when an abnormality occurs.

FIG. 21 is a schematic block diagram showing an environmental monitoring device 8 in the second embodiment.
The environment monitoring apparatus 8 includes a CPU 81, a RAM 82, a ROM 83, a temperature sensor 84, a humidity sensor 85, an atmospheric pressure sensor 86, a flash memory 87, a short distance wireless communication unit 88, and a clocking unit 89.

  The RAM 82 is a storage unit configured of volatile memory. The ROM 83 is a storage unit configured of a non-volatile memory. The flash memory 87 is a storage unit configured of a rewritable non-volatile memory. The flash memory 87 stores an environment monitor program 871.

The environment monitoring program 871 is firmware that operates on the environment monitoring device 8. The environment monitor program 871 causes the CPU 81 to periodically measure the environment with the temperature sensor 84, the humidity sensor 85, and the barometric pressure sensor 86, and transmits the measurement result to the data collection device 9. The short distance wireless communication unit 88 performs short distance wireless communication according to Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy standard, for example.
The timer unit 89 measures the date and time.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing communication processing of the environment monitoring device 8. This communication process is performed by causing the CPU 81 shown in FIG. 21 to execute the environment monitor program 871.
The CPU 81 causes the timer unit 89 to determine whether or not it is a predetermined measurement timing (step S70). If it is not the measurement timing (No), the CPU 81 repeats the process of step S70. If the measurement timing is (Yes), the CPU 81 proceeds to step S71 and performs measurement by each sensor. Here, the CPU 81 measures the environment by the temperature sensor 84, the humidity sensor 85, and the air pressure sensor 86, but is not limited thereto.

The CPU 81 determines whether an abnormality in the environment has been detected by each sensor (step S72). If an abnormality in the environment is detected (Yes), the CPU 81 sets the advertisement transmission power to 0 dBm and performs the connection operation with the outside (step S73). If no abnormality in the environment is detected (No), the advertisement transmission power is set to -20 dBm to perform connection operation with the outside (step S74). Here, environmental abnormalities include low temperature and high temperature, low humidity and high humidity, low pressure and high pressure, etc. outside the normal range. Although the CPU 81 increases the advertisement transmission power only at the timing at which an abnormality is detected, the CPU 81 may continue to increase the advertisement transmission power until a stop operation is performed once an abnormality is detected.
When the processes of steps S73 and S74 end, the CPU 81 returns to the process of step S70, and waits until the next measurement timing.

  In the case of the operation of advertising only when the environmental monitoring device detects an abnormality, the external device can not determine that there is no abnormality and the failure of the environmental monitoring device. However, in the environment monitoring device 8 according to the second embodiment, a failure occurs in the device if the advertisement is not transmitted, there is no abnormality if the transmission power of the advertisement is small, and a failure is detected if the transmission power of the advertisement is strong. It is done. Thereby, the external device can determine that there is no abnormality and the failure of the environmental monitoring device.

  The CPU 81 according to the second embodiment sets the advertisement transmission power larger than in the other cases when communicating with the outside in the connection type (the purpose of connection) for notifying an abnormality. Thereby, the power of wireless communication when no abnormality occurs can be reduced. Furthermore, by setting the optimal transmission power for each wireless communication device, it is possible to reduce the concern of depriving other wireless communication devices of resources.

(Modification)
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and there are, for example, the following (a) to (e).

(A) Not limited to the abnormality of the environment, the advertisement transmission power or the connection transmission power may be set large when notifying the outside of the occurrence of an equipment abnormality.
(B) The Beacon apparatus may change the advertisement transmission power in accordance with a period in which an abnormality is detected, as well as a simple abnormality detection. For example, the advertisement transmission power is increased by +1 dBm each time the abnormality detection period increases by one hour. Thus, the data collection device can easily detect a device that has detected an abnormality over a long period of time.
(C) The Beacon apparatus may change the advertisement transmission power according to the degree of abnormality as well as simple abnormality detection. For example, when the temperature exceeds 30 degrees, the advertisement transmission power may be increased by +1 dBm per degree. Thus, the data collection device can easily detect a device (environment) with a high degree of abnormality.
(D) Applies to Beacon devices that monitor consumable parts such as water purifier cartridges and filters for air purifiers, and after the recommended replacement period for consumable parts is set, advertising transmission power is set large, and the replacement time has passed. You may notify the outside (abnormal state) to the outside.
(E) It is not limited to Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy standard, but may be applied to devices of any wireless communication standard such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Zigbee (registered trademark), IrDA (registered trademark), etc. .

In the following, the invention described in the claims initially attached to the request for this application is appended. The item numbers of the claims described in the appendix are as in the claims attached at the beginning of the application for this application.
[Supplementary Note]

<< Claim 1 >>
Wireless communication means for transmitting and receiving information to and from an external device via a wireless communication channel;
A control unit configured to determine a connection type for wireless connection with the external device, and set a transmission power of the wireless communication unit according to the connection type for wireless connection with the external device;
A wireless communication device comprising:
<< Claim 2 >>
In the case of the connection type in which the user operates the external device to control the wireless communication device, the control means performs advertisement transmission of the wireless communication means in comparison with the connection type in which the wireless communication device controls the external device Set the power small,
The wireless communication device according to claim 1,
<< Claim 3 >>
In the case of the connection type in which the user operates the external device to control the wireless communication device, the control means transmits the connection of the wireless communication means in comparison with the connection type in which the wireless communication device controls the external device. Set the power small,
The wireless communication device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:
<< Claim 4 >>
The control means advertises the wireless communication means in the case of the connection type in which the wireless communication device reports an abnormal state to the external device, rather than in the case of the connection type in which the wireless communication device notifies the external device of a normal state. Set the transmit power high,
The wireless communication device according to claim 1,
<< Claim 5 >>
The control means is a connection type in which the wireless communication device reports an abnormal state to the external device, a connection of the wireless communication means in comparison with the connection type in which the wireless communication device reports a normal state to the external device. Set the transmit power high,
The wireless communication device according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that:
<< Claim 6 >>
In the case of the connection type in which the user operates the external device to control the wireless communication device, the control means performs advertisement transmission of the wireless communication means in comparison with the connection type in which the wireless communication device controls the external device The power is set small, and the transmission power after connection with the external device is set to the same as in the case of the connection type in which the external device is controlled by the wireless communication device.
The wireless communication device according to claim 2, characterized in that:
<< Claim 7 >>
A wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 6;
Time counting section which counts time,
A display unit for displaying the time counted by the clock unit;
An electronic watch comprising:
<< Claim 8 >>
A transmission power setting method executed by a wireless communication apparatus including a wireless communication unit that transmits and receives information to and from an external apparatus via a wireless communication path,
Determine the type of connection for wireless connection with the external device;
Setting the transmission power of the wireless communication unit according to the determined connection type;
A transmission power setting method characterized in that.
<< Claim 9 >>
A computer comprising wireless communication means for transmitting and receiving information to and from an external device via a wireless communication path;
A determination unit that determines a type of connection for wireless connection with the external device;
A setting unit configured to set the transmission power of the wireless communication unit according to the connection type determined by the determination unit;
Wireless communication program to function as.

1 smartphone 11 CPU
12 RAM
13 ROM
14 touch panel display 15 flash memory 151 time display program 152 city database 153 key time setting program 154 automatic time setting program 155 mobile search program 16 clocking unit 17 wireless LAN communication unit 18 carrier communication unit 10 speaker 19 speaker 19 short distance wireless communication unit 2 electronic watch (Wireless communication device)
21a to 21c pointer 22a to 22c gear train mechanism 23a to 23c stepping motor 24 drive circuit 25 vibrator 26 microcomputer 261 CPU (control means)
262 oscillator circuit 263 divider circuit 264 clock circuit 265 near field communication IC (wireless communication means)
27 power supply unit 281 main dial 282 secondary dial 291, 292, 294 button 293 crown 41 connection standby screen 411 guidance 412 "view guide"
42 Connecting screen 43 Connection complete screen 431 SELF ADJUST
432 SELF CHARGE
433 SELF UPDATE
434 GUIDE
435 STATUS
436 WORLD TIME
44 World Time Display Screen 441 World Time 442 Home Time 445 STATUS
446 WORLD TIME
45 city search screen 451 city name display 452 date and time 453 summer time setting 454 city setting 46 city setting complete screen 461 date and time display 8 environment monitoring device 81 CPU
82 RAM
83 ROM
84 Temperature sensor 85 Humidity sensor 86 Barometric pressure sensor 87 Flash memory 871 Environment monitor program 88 Short-range wireless communication unit 89 Clocking unit 9 Data acquisition device

Claims (9)

Wireless communication means for transmitting and receiving information to and from an external device via a wireless communication channel;
A control unit configured to determine a connection type for wireless connection with the external device, and set a transmission power of the wireless communication unit according to the connection type for wireless connection with the external device;
A wireless communication device comprising: In the case of the connection type in which the user operates the external device to control the wireless communication device, the control means performs advertisement transmission of the wireless communication means in comparison with the connection type in which the wireless communication device controls the external device Set the power small,
The wireless communication device according to claim 1, In the case of the connection type in which the user operates the external device to control the wireless communication device, the control means transmits the connection of the wireless communication means in comparison with the connection type in which the wireless communication device controls the external device. Set the power small,
The wireless communication device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The control means advertises the wireless communication means in the case of the connection type in which the wireless communication device reports an abnormal state to the external device, rather than in the case of the connection type in which the wireless communication device notifies the external device of a normal state. Set the transmit power high,
The wireless communication device according to claim 1, The control means is a connection type in which the wireless communication device reports an abnormal state to the external device, a connection of the wireless communication means in comparison with the connection type in which the wireless communication device reports a normal state to the external device. Set the transmit power high,
The wireless communication device according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that: In the case of the connection type in which the user operates the external device to control the wireless communication device, the control means performs advertisement transmission of the wireless communication means in comparison with the connection type in which the wireless communication device controls the external device The power is set small, and the transmission power after connection with the external device is set to the same as in the case of the connection type in which the external device is controlled by the wireless communication device.
The wireless communication device according to claim 2, characterized in that: A wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 6;
Time counting section which counts time,
A display unit for displaying the time counted by the clock unit;
An electronic watch comprising: A transmission power setting method executed by a wireless communication apparatus including a wireless communication unit that transmits and receives information to and from an external apparatus via a wireless communication path,
Determine the type of connection for wireless connection with the external device;
Setting the transmission power of the wireless communication unit according to the determined connection type;
A transmission power setting method characterized in that. A computer comprising wireless communication means for transmitting and receiving information to and from an external device via a wireless communication path;
A determination unit that determines a type of connection for wireless connection with the external device;
A setting unit configured to set the transmission power of the wireless communication unit according to the connection type determined by the determination unit;
Wireless communication program to function as.

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