JP5773432B2 - Power supply control system, router device, power supply control method, and power supply control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply control system that supplies power from a mobile wireless router to a mobile device wirelessly connected to the mobile wireless router.

  In mobile devices such as smartphones that are considered to be always carried, the size of the battery that can be mounted as a size suitable for carrying is limited to a small size, so a large capacity battery is mounted in the mobile device Inconvenience that the operation time is shortened.

  On the other hand, in recent years, mobile wireless routers have a large battery capacity and are equipped with large-sized secondary batteries, and those having a longer operating time than conventional mobile wireless routers have come to be used.

  For this reason, it is possible to use a mobile wireless router with a large battery capacity as a power supply device (mobile power supply) when the battery level of a mobile device such as a smartphone drops when the power supply is difficult to go out. The mobile device can be charged, thereby extending the operating time of the mobile device.

  On the other hand, if the mobile wireless router supplies all power to the mobile device, there is a disadvantage that it cannot operate as a wireless router. In other words, when power is supplied to a mobile device to which the mobile wireless router is connected, even if either the mobile wireless router or the mobile device becomes inoperable due to insufficient battery power, it is inconvenient to use. End up.

  As a related technology for this, the remaining operation time of the PDA is transmitted from the PDA in the PDA (slave side) and the computer (master side) connected to each other by a USB cable to the computer, and the power control unit of the computer determines the remaining operation time. Accordingly, a system is disclosed in which power is supplied (charged) to the rechargeable battery of the PDA or power supply (charge) to the rechargeable battery is stopped (Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-287278 A

  However, in the related art described in Patent Document 1, the voltage level of the charging battery is compared with a preset threshold value, and if the voltage level of the battery is equal to or lower than the threshold value, the computer (cell phone) cannot be charged as a slave. This is to notify and control the charging operation based on this, and since the operation content in the slave is not accurately notified to the master side, the remaining operation time (that is, the remaining battery power) in the slave cannot be accurately predicted. For this reason, there is a disadvantage that the power feeding operation cannot be controlled in a form adapted to the required power on each of the master side and the slave side.

[Object of invention]
The present invention improves the inconvenience of the related technology, and provides a power supply control system and a router for supplying power from a mobile wireless router device to a mobile device connected to the mobile wireless router device by wireless LAN and effectively controlling the power supply operation. An object is to provide a device, a power supply control method, and a power supply control program.

  In order to achieve the above object, a power supply control system according to the present invention includes a router device that performs wireless communication connection to an external network, the wireless network connection to the router device, and the external network via the router device. A power supply control system including a wireless communication terminal that performs communication connection to the router, wherein the router device is charged in advance in the router device with respect to the wireless communication terminal that is wirelessly connected to the router device. A power supply unit that supplies power to the wireless communication terminal from a battery for use, and a remaining amount information acquisition unit that acquires terminal battery remaining amount information indicating a remaining battery amount of a terminal battery of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal Self battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the charging battery, the terminal battery remaining amount information, the router in the wireless communication terminal The remaining amount of battery to be estimated for each of the router device and the wireless communication terminal based on the wireless communication utilization state for the device and the wireless communication utilization state for the external network via the router device of the wireless communication terminal Power supply suppression that suppresses power supply operation to the wireless communication terminal by the power supply unit when information on the estimated remaining battery power in each of the information estimation unit and the router device and the wireless communication terminal approximates within a certain value And a control unit.

  The router device according to the present invention is a router device that provides a radio communication radio wave as a communication base unit to a radio communication terminal and performs radio communication connection to an external network. A power feeding unit that feeds power from a charging battery provided in advance to the wireless communication terminal wirelessly connected using the wireless communication radio wave, and an in-terminal battery included in the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal A remaining battery information acquisition unit for acquiring terminal battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount, self battery remaining information indicating the remaining battery amount of the charging battery, and a terminal battery provided in the wireless communication terminal device The terminal battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount, the wireless communication usage state for the router device in the wireless communication terminal, and the router device of the wireless communication terminal A remaining amount information estimation unit for estimating the remaining battery level of each of the router device and the wireless communication terminal based on a wireless communication usage state performed on the external network, and information indicating the estimated remaining battery level is a constant value. A power supply suppression control unit that suppresses a power supply operation to the wireless communication terminal by the power supply unit when the power supply unit approximates the power supply unit.

  The power supply control method according to the present invention includes a router device that performs wireless communication connection to an external network, and wireless communication connection to the router device and connection to the external network via the router device. A power supply control system including a wireless communication terminal, the power supply control method for supplying power to the wireless communication terminal wirelessly connected to the router device, the wireless connection to the router device Power is supplied from a charging battery provided in advance to the wireless communication terminal, and terminal battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the battery in the terminal of the wireless communication terminal is obtained from the wireless communication terminal, Self-battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the charging battery, the terminal battery remaining amount information, for the router device in the wireless communication terminal Estimating the remaining battery level of each of the router device and the wireless communication terminal based on the wireless communication use state and the wireless communication use state performed with respect to the external network via the router device of the wireless communication terminal. When the information indicating the remaining battery level is approximated within a certain value, the power supply unit suppresses the power supply operation to the wireless communication terminal, and the operation process is executed by the router device.

  The communication device connection program according to the present invention includes a router device that performs wireless communication connection to an external network, and wireless communication connection to the router device and connection to the external network via the router device. A power supply control system comprising a wireless communication terminal for performing a power supply control program for supplying power to the wireless communication terminal wirelessly connected to the router device, wherein the wireless communication terminal is wirelessly connected to the router device A power supply function for supplying power from a charging battery provided in advance to the wireless communication terminal, and terminal battery remaining amount information indicating a remaining battery amount of the in-terminal battery of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal A remaining battery level information acquisition function, self battery level information indicating the remaining battery level of the charging battery, and the terminal battery level information Based on the wireless communication usage state for the router device in the wireless communication terminal, and the wireless communication usage state for the external network via the router device of the wireless communication terminal, the respective batteries of the router device and the wireless communication terminal A remaining amount information estimation function for estimating a remaining amount, and a power supply suppression control function for suppressing a power supply operation to the wireless communication terminal by the power supply unit when information indicating the estimated battery remaining amount approximates within a certain value; Is realized by a computer provided in the router device.

  In the present invention, as described above, the mobile router device has its own battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the charging battery, and the remaining battery amount information in the wireless communication terminal (mobile device) wirelessly connected to the mobile router device. And a remaining power estimation unit (main control unit) for estimating the remaining battery level of the mobile router device and the mobile device based on the wireless communication connection status of the mobile device to the mobile router device and the connection status to the external network (WAN) With this configuration, interactive communication control enables power to be supplied from a mobile wireless router to a mobile device connected to the mobile wireless router (mobile router device) via a wireless LAN and this power supply operation can be controlled effectively. System, interactive communication control method, and interactive communication control program It is possible to provide.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the electric power feeding control system which is this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the internal structure of the mobile wireless router apparatus in the electric power feeding control system shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of a mobile wireless router device in the power supply control system illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of a mobile device in the power supply control system illustrated in FIG. 5. It is a schematic block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the electric power feeding control system which is this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the whole operation | movement content in the electric power feeding control system shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement content of the remaining operation time comparison process in the electric power feeding control system shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement content in the modification of the electric power feeding control system shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement content of the remaining operation time comparison process in the electric power feeding control system shown in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of an internal structure of the mobile wireless router apparatus in the modification of the electric power feeding control system shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a mobile wireless router device in another modification of the power supply control system shown in FIG. 5. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the internal structure of the mobile wireless router apparatus in the electric power feeding control system shown in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the electric power feeding control system which is this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the electric power feeding control system which is this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the whole operation | movement content in the electric power feeding control system shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the table information which shows the charge completion time corresponding to the magnitude | size of the battery remaining amount and charging current in the electric power feeding control system shown in FIG.

[Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 1, a power supply control system that is an embodiment for carrying out the present invention includes a notebook computer, a smartphone, and a mobile information terminal (wireless LAN compatible device) that perform wireless LAN communication such as Wi-Fi. A device 200, a mobile router device 201 that supplies power to the mobile device 200, a wireless LAN communication device that relays wireless WAN communication such as a 3G line of a mobile phone, and power supply to the mobile device 200 And a wireless WAN base station 202 as a mobile phone line base station that is a wireless WAN communication connection destination of the mobile router device 201.

  With the above configuration, the mobile device 200 that is a wireless LAN compatible device (for example, a notebook personal computer) allows the mobile router device 201 to communicate with the wireless WAN base station via wireless WAN communication (for example, WiMAX, 3G wireless communication line, etc.). If it is a place where connection is possible, it is possible to connect to the Internet. For this reason, the Internet environment can be constructed outdoors.

A mobile wireless router device with power supply function (hereinafter referred to as “mobile router device”) 201, as shown in FIG. 2, manages operation in the mobile router device 201, and controls a routing operation and each communication module. 100, a storage unit 105 that stores setting items necessary for operation control in the main control unit 100, a wireless WAN antenna 102 that is an antenna for communication connection to a wireless WAN communication line, and wireless such as Wi-Fi A wireless WAN antenna 104 is provided for communication connection to a LAN communication line.
The main control unit 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs execution processing based on a preset OS (Operating System).

  The mobile router device 201 includes a wireless WAN communication module 101 that connects to a wireless WAN line (WiMAX network) via the wireless WAN antenna 102 and a wireless LAN that connects to the wireless LAN line via the wireless LAN antenna 104. The communication module 103, the battery 107 as a secondary battery in the mobile router device 201, the battery remaining amount monitoring unit 112 that constantly monitors the remaining amount of charge in the battery 107, the voltage of the battery 107 is appropriately converted, The power supply circuit unit 106 that supplies the block is provided.

  Furthermore, the mobile router device 201 controls the operation of charging the battery 107 with the power acquired through the power receiving interface 108, and the power of the battery 107 to the mobile device 200 through the power supply interface 111. The power supply control unit 110 performs operation control (power supply control) for supplying power to the power supply. Here, specifically, the power supply control unit 110 performs voltage conversion, current limitation, power supply start / stop, and the like as the power supply control operation.

[Embodiment 1]
Here, as a specific embodiment of the power supply control system, as shown in FIG. 5, a mobile router device 501 and a mobile device 500 are connected to each other with a USB cable, and the mobile router device 201 is connected via the USB cable. A configuration (power supply control system 10) that supplies power to the mobile device 200 will be described.

  In FIG. 5, the mobile router device 501 corresponds to the mobile router device 201, the mobile device 500 corresponds to the mobile device 200, and the WiMAX base station 502 corresponds to the wireless WAN base station 202.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the mobile router device 501 is connected to a WiMAX communication module 301 for connecting to a WiMAX network, which is a wireless WAN line, via a wireless WAN antenna 302, and to a wireless LAN line via a wireless LAN antenna 304. A wireless LAN communication module 303 that performs charging, a Li-ion battery 307 as a secondary battery in the mobile router 501, a battery remaining amount monitoring unit 312 that constantly monitors the remaining charge amount in the battery 307, and a Li− The power supply circuit unit 306 appropriately converts the voltage of the ion battery 307 and supplies power to each block.

  In addition, the mobile router device 501 includes a charging control unit 309 that controls the operation of charging the Li-ion battery 307 with the power acquired via the Micro-B USB interface (corresponding to the power receiving interface 108) 308, and the Li-ion. A power supply control unit 310 that controls an operation of supplying power to the mobile device 500 via the Micro-A USB interface (corresponding to the power supply interface 111) 311 is provided.

  As a result, the mobile router device 501 functions as a wireless access point in the mobile device 500. Therefore, the mobile device 500 can connect to the Internet using WiMAX communication via the mobile router device 501.

  Note that, as described above, the mobile router device 501 in the present embodiment uses the Micro-USB terminal (311) as a power supply terminal for supplying power to the mobile device 500, and further, as shown in FIG. Assume that a WiMAX communication line is used as a wireless WAN communication line.

Next, an internal configuration of the mobile device 500 that is a power supply target by the mobile router device 501 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, the mobile device 500 includes a Li-ion battery 404 as a secondary battery and a Micro-B USB that is a power receiving interface for charging the Li-ion battery 404 by connecting an external AC adapter or the like. The charge control unit 405 that controls the operation of charging the Li-ion battery 404 with the power obtained via the interface (connector) 406, the Micro-B USB connector 406, and the remaining charge in the Li-ion battery 404 A battery remaining amount monitoring unit 401 to be monitored and a main control unit 400 that performs wireless connection control for establishing a wireless LAN connection with the mobile router device 501 via the wireless LAN communication unit 402 are included.

  In addition, the main control unit 400 includes dedicated application means 4001 that estimates the remaining operation time during wireless LAN operation in the mobile device 500 from the remaining battery level of the Li-ion battery 404 detected by the remaining battery level monitoring unit 401. Yes.

  The dedicated application unit 4001 has a function of transferring information indicating the remaining operation time of the mobile device 500 to the mobile router 501.

Note that the wireless LAN communication unit 402 performs wireless communication for establishing wireless LAN communication (Wi-Fi connection) with the wireless LAN communication module 303 of the mobile router device 501, thereby the mobile device 500 and the mobile router device 501. Are connected to each other via wireless LAN communication.
As a result, the wireless LAN communication unit 402 can notify information indicating the remaining operation time measured in the mobile device 500 using wireless LAN communication.

  In the present embodiment, by having the configuration described above, power can be supplied from the mobile router device when the remaining battery level of the mobile device falls below a certain value, thereby extending the operation time of the mobile device. Is possible.

Note that the mobile device 500 according to the present embodiment may have a configuration in which a dedicated power connector is provided instead of the Micro-USB.
In addition, the WiMAX communication module 301 in the mobile router device 501 may include a communication module that uses, for example, a 3G, LTE, or PHS network that is a mobile phone communication network as another WAN communication module.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the mobile router device 501 in this embodiment is a Micro-B as a single interface that functions as a Micro-B USB interface that is a power receiving interface or a Micro-A USB interface that is a power supply interface. An AB USB connector 1111 may be provided.

  At this time, the mobile router device 501 is assumed to include a power reception / power supply switch 108 that switches and specifies whether the Micro-AB USB interface 1111 is used as a power reception interface or a power supply interface.

  This makes it possible to use the same USB interface as a power receiving interface or a power feeding interface, thereby reducing the area occupied by the USB interface on the outer surface of the mobile router device.

[Variation a of Embodiment 1]
Next, modification a of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In the mobile router device 501a in the modified example a, power is supplied to the microcomputer means that operates with a minute electric power and stores and holds a threshold value (indicating a constant value of the remaining battery level in the mobile router device) for stopping power supply to the mobile device. The point provided in the control unit is different from the case of the first embodiment (mobile router device 501).

  Thereby, in this modification a, when the remaining operation time cannot be estimated on the mobile device side, or when the power of the mobile router device is OFF (that is, the main control unit of the mobile router device is not operating) However, it is possible to control the power feeding operation from the mobile router device to the mobile device.

  In the first embodiment described above, the power supply stop timing is determined based on the remaining operation time of the mobile device 500 and the mobile router device 501, but in this modification a, a preset battery in the mobile router device 501a is used. The remaining amount threshold is set as the stop timing.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the mobile router device 501a is connected to a WiMAX communication module 1001 for connecting to a WiMAX network, which is a wireless WAN line, via a wireless WAN antenna 1002, and to a wireless LAN line via a wireless LAN antenna 304. A wireless LAN communication module 1003 that performs charging, a Li-ion battery 1007 as a secondary battery in the mobile router device 501a, a battery remaining amount monitoring unit 1012 that constantly monitors the remaining charge amount in the battery 1007, and a Li- The power supply circuit unit 1006 that appropriately converts the voltage of the ion battery 1007 and supplies power to each block is provided.

  In addition, the mobile router device 501a includes a charging control unit 1009 that controls the operation of charging the Li-ion battery 1007 with power acquired via the Micro-B USB interface (corresponding to the power receiving interface 108) 1008, and a Li-ion. A power supply control unit 1010 that controls an operation of supplying power to the mobile device 500a via the Micro-A USB interface (corresponding to the power supply interface 111) 1011 is provided.

In addition, the power supply control unit 1010 includes a microcomputer unit 1010a that operates with minute power and stores and holds a threshold value (indicating a preset value of a remaining battery level) for stopping power supply.
Further, the microcomputer unit 1010a has a communication function with the battery remaining amount monitoring unit 1012, and can acquire (recognize) the remaining battery amount without passing through the main control unit 1000. .

Note that the microcomputer unit 1010a operates using the power of the Li-ion battery of the mobile router device 501a.
As a result, the mobile router device 501a (FIG. 10) allows the battery (Li) of the mobile router device 501a to be used even when the mobile router device 501a is in a power-off state or when the main control unit 1000 is in an inoperable state. -Battery of the battery 1007) When the remaining amount reaches a certain value, the power supply control unit 1010 can stop power supply to the mobile device 500a.

[Description of Operation of First Embodiment]
Next, the overall operation of the first embodiment (FIG. 5) will be described.
First, the power supply control unit 310 of the mobile router device 501 uses a charging device provided in advance in the mobile router device 501 for the mobile device (wireless communication terminal) 500 wirelessly connected to itself (the mobile router device 501). Power is supplied from the Li-ion battery 307 that is a battery (power supply process).

Next, the main control unit 300 acquires information (terminal battery remaining amount information) indicating the remaining battery amount of the battery (Li-ion battery 404) in the mobile device 500 from the mobile device (wireless communication terminal) 500 (remaining battery amount). Information acquisition step), the remaining battery amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the Li-ion battery 307 of the mobile router device 501, the remaining battery amount of the mobile device 500 (terminal battery remaining amount information), and the mobile router device of the mobile device 500 Based on the wireless communication connection status with respect to 501 and the communication connection status with respect to the WiMAX network, the remaining battery levels of the mobile router device 501 and the mobile device 500 are estimated (remaining capacity estimation step).
Finally, the power supply control unit 310 suppresses the power supply operation to the wireless communication terminal by the power supply unit when the information indicating the estimated remaining battery level approximates within a certain value (power supply suppression control step).

Here, the power supply step, the remaining amount information acquisition step, the remaining amount estimation step, and the power supply suppression control step may be configured such that the execution contents are programmed and executed by a computer.
In addition, the program may be recorded on a non-transitory storage medium such as a DVD, a CD, or a flash memory. In this case, the program is read from the recording medium by a computer and executed.

  Next, the operation content of the first embodiment will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

First, the mobile device 500 establishes a wireless LAN communication connection with the mobile router device 501 functioning as a wireless access point (step S601).
Next, the mobile router device 501 and the mobile device 500 are connected to each other via a power supply cable (USB cable) (step S601).
As a result, power supply from the mobile router device 501 to the mobile device 500 is started, and the mobile device 200 is charged.

Next, the remaining operation time of each of the mobile router device 501 and the mobile device 500 is calculated, and the power supply control unit 310 compares this operation time (remaining operation time comparison step: step S603).
Here, when the remaining operation time of each of the mobile router device 501 and the mobile device 200 reaches the same time, the power supply control unit 310 stops the power supply to the mobile device 200 (step S604).

  Here, the remaining operation time comparison step of step S603 will be described in detail based on the flowchart of FIG.

  In the remaining operation time comparison step, first, the dedicated application unit 4001 of the mobile device 500 acquires battery remaining amount information from the battery remaining amount monitoring unit 401, and the remaining operation time during the wireless LAN operation in the mobile device 500 is determined as the remaining battery operation time. Estimate based on the remaining amount information (operation time estimation calculation step: step S700).

  Next, the main control unit (dedicated application unit 4001) 400 transmits data indicating the estimated remaining operation time to the mobile router device 501 using the wireless LAN communication unit 402 and the antenna 403 (step S701). : Remaining operation time data transfer step).

  Next, the main control unit 300 of the mobile router device 501 estimates the remaining operation time of the mobile router device 501 (that is, the remaining battery amount of the Li-ion battery 307) based on the value obtained from the battery remaining amount monitoring unit 312. Perform the calculation.

  At this time, the main control unit 300 uses the WiMAX communication module 301 and the wireless LAN communication module 303 to acquire the wireless communication connection status (for example, communication packet amount) of the mobile device 500 to the mobile router device 501 and the WiMAX network (external The remaining operation time of each of the mobile router device 501 and the mobile device 500 is estimated based on the communication status (for example, communication packet amount) with respect to the network.

Next, the main control unit 300 of the mobile router device 501 compares the remaining operation times of the mobile router device 501 and the mobile device 500.
Here, when the remaining operation time of the mobile device 500 is shorter (No: Step S703), the mobile device 500 waits for a preset period and returns to Step S700. In addition, when the remaining operation time of the mobile device 200 is longer (Yes: Step S703), control for stopping power feeding is performed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the mobile device is charged from the mobile router device, the mutual use time can be approximated, so that one of the mobile router device and the mobile device can be used. It is possible to effectively prevent the battery from running out.

  Furthermore, when the mobile device is charged from the mobile router device (power is supplied to the mobile device), the power supply can be stopped at a preset threshold value, so that the mobile router device can be used even after the power supply. Become.

[Description of Operation of Embodiment 1 (Modification a)]
Next, the operation content of the modification a of Embodiment 1 is demonstrated based on the flowchart of FIG.
Here, it is assumed that the mobile router device 501a and the mobile device 500a are connected by a power supply cable (USB cable) (step S800).

At this time, power supply from the mobile router is started, and charging of the mobile device 500a is started (step S801).
Next, the battery remaining amount monitoring unit confirms the battery remaining amount of the mobile router device 501a (battery remaining amount confirmation step: step 802), and when the remaining battery amount in the mobile router device 501a falls below a threshold value (a constant value), Power supply to the mobile device 500a is stopped (step 803).

  Next, the battery amount confirmation step in step S802 will be described in detail based on the flowchart of FIG.

  In this battery amount confirmation step, first, in order to compare the remaining battery levels, the main control unit of the mobile router device 501a acquires the value of the remaining battery level from the remaining battery level monitoring unit (measurement) (step S900).

  Subsequently, the main control unit obtains a threshold value of the remaining battery level to stop power supply stored in the storage unit (step S901). Next, when the remaining battery level obtained in step 900 is equal to or greater than the threshold obtained in step 901 (yes: step 902),

Here, the main control unit waits for a predetermined time (step S903), and returns to step 900. On the other hand, when the remaining battery level is below the threshold (No: step S902), the power supply is stopped.
Note that the threshold for stopping power feeding can be arbitrarily set by the user, and the set value is stored in the storage unit.

  As a result, the mobile router device can appropriately control the power feeding operation to the mobile device even when the remaining operation time cannot be estimated on the mobile device 200 side or when the power of the mobile device is in the OFF state. It becomes possible.

  In addition, even when the mobile router device 201 is in a power-off state, that is, when the main control unit 1000 does not operate, it is possible to perform power supply control for the mobile device. For this reason, for example, even when the mobile router device is in a power-off state, that is, when the main control unit of the mobile router device is not operated, power can be supplied from the mobile router device to the mobile device.

  Furthermore, the microcomputer unit 1010a performs processing for comparing the remaining battery level and the threshold value for stopping power supply, so that the mobile router device 501a can perform power supply operation from the mobile router device to the mobile device even when the power is OFF ( 8 and 9), the mobile router device 501a can leave a certain amount of battery necessary for its own operation even when power is supplied to the mobile device 500a.

As described above, in the present embodiment (Modification a), when the mobile wireless router supplies power to the mobile device while communicating, the mobile device sends information on the remaining operation time predicted from the remaining battery level to the mobile wireless router. The mobile wireless router compares it with the remaining operation time predicted from its battery level.
At this time, if the predicted operation time of the mobile device is shorter than that of the mobile wireless router, power supply is continued, and the predicted operation time of the mobile device is the same as the predicted operation time of the mobile wireless router, or the predicted operation of the mobile device If the time is longer, power supply is stopped.

Thereby, in this embodiment, it is possible to achieve both power supply to the mobile device and operation as a mobile wireless router.
In the modified example a, the mobile wireless router has a certain threshold value (for example, a remaining battery level of 30%, etc.), and when the remaining battery level falls below this, the power feeding operation is stopped (suppressed). It is also possible to perform certain operations, and with this control, it is possible to leave a certain amount of power that allows the mobile wireless router itself to operate.

[Embodiment 2]
Next, as a specific embodiment of the power supply control system, as shown in FIG. 13, a configuration in which power is supplied from the mobile router device 1301 to the mobile device 1300 by non-contact power transmission (power supply control system 20). Will be described.

  13 is the mobile router device 201 (FIG. 1), the mobile device 1300 is the mobile device 200 (FIG. 1), and the WiMAX base station 1302 is the wireless WAN base station 202 (FIG. 1). It shall correspond respectively to 1).

  As shown in FIG. 12, the mobile router device 1301 is connected to a WiMAX communication module 1201 for connecting to a WiMAX network, which is a wireless WAN line, via a wireless WAN antenna 1202, and to a wireless LAN line via a wireless LAN antenna 1204. A wireless LAN communication module 1203 that performs charging, a Li-ion battery 1207 as a secondary battery in the mobile router device 1301, a battery remaining amount monitoring unit 1212 that constantly monitors the remaining charge amount in the battery 1207, and a Li- a power supply circuit unit 1206 that appropriately converts the voltage of the ion battery 1207 and supplies power to each block.

  In addition, the mobile router device 1301 includes a charging control unit 1209 that controls the operation of charging the Li-ion battery 1207 with power acquired via the Micro-B USB interface (corresponding to the power receiving interface 108) 1208, and the Li-ion. A power supply control unit 1210 that controls the operation of supplying power charged in the battery 1207 to the mobile device 1300 via the non-contact power transmission unit (corresponding to the power supply interface 111) 1211 is provided.

  Accordingly, the mobile router device 1301 functions as a wireless access point in the mobile device 1300, and thus the mobile device 1300 can connect to the Internet using the WiMAX communication via the mobile router device 1301.

Further, as described above, the mobile router device 1301 charges the mobile device 1300 by the non-contact charging method.
Note that since the mobile router device 1301 can be used wirelessly, the power supply can be performed wirelessly without using a USB cable or the like so that the mobile device and the mobile router can be used. The convenience for the person is further improved.

  Further, as described above, the mobile device 1300 has a configuration corresponding to the contactless charging method, and the Li-ion battery included in the mobile device 1300 is charged by contactless power feeding by the mobile router device 1301.

A mobile device 1300 that is a power supply target of the mobile router device 1301 has a Li-ion battery as a secondary battery, and the Li-ion battery uses the power obtained by receiving non-contact power transmission from the mobile router 1301. Is provided with a non-contact power receiver. The non-contact power receiving unit corresponds to the Micro-B USB interface (connector) 406 in FIG.
Thereby, the mobile router device 1301 can supply power to the mobile device 1300 by non-contact power transmission while exchanging information such as the remaining battery level and operation time via wireless LAN communication. Charge control can be performed in a wireless environment.

  As a result, when the mobile device 1300 and the mobile router device 1301 are close to each other at a certain distance, non-contact power supply is performed from the mobile router device 1301 to the mobile device 1300.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the Micro-B USB interface 1208 of the mobile router device 1301 may be connected to an AC 100V outlet via the AC adapter 1403. As a result, the Li-ion battery 1207 of the mobile router device 1301 is always charged from the AC 100V outlet.

[Description of Operation of Embodiment 2]
Next, the overall operation of the second embodiment (FIG. 13) will be described.
First, the power supply control unit 1210 of the mobile router device 1301 is connected to the mobile device (wireless communication terminal) 1300 wirelessly connected to itself (the mobile router device 1301) for charging provided in the mobile router device 1301 in advance. Power is supplied from the Li-ion battery 1207 which is a battery (power supply process).

Next, the main control unit 1200 acquires information (terminal battery remaining amount information) indicating the remaining battery amount of the battery (Li-ion battery) in the mobile device 1300 from the mobile device (wireless communication terminal) 1300 (remaining amount information). Acquisition step), the remaining battery amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the Li-ion battery 1207 of the mobile router device 1301, the remaining battery amount of the mobile device 1300 (terminal battery remaining amount information), and the mobile router device 1301 of the mobile device 1300. The remaining battery levels of the mobile router device 1301 and the mobile device 1300 are estimated based on the wireless communication connection status with respect to and the communication connection status with respect to the WiMAX network (remaining capacity estimation step).
Finally, the power supply control unit 1210 suppresses the power supply operation to the wireless communication terminal by the power supply unit when the information indicating the estimated remaining battery level approximates within a certain value (power supply suppression control step).

Here, the power supply step, the remaining amount information acquisition step, the remaining amount estimation step, and the power supply suppression control step may be configured such that the execution contents are programmed and executed by a computer.
In addition, the program may be recorded on a non-transitory storage medium such as a DVD, a CD, or a flash memory. In this case, the program is read from the recording medium by a computer and executed.

  Next, the operation content of the second embodiment (FIG. 14) will be described in detail based on the flowchart of FIG.

First, the mobile device 1300 establishes a wireless LAN connection with the mobile router device 1301 functioning as a wireless LAN access point (step 1500).
Next, it is assumed that the mobile router device 1301 is connected to an AC 100V outlet via the AC adapter 1403 and charging of the Li-ion battery 1207 of the mobile router device 1301 is started (step 1501).

Next, the mobile device 1300 and the mobile router device 1301 are brought close to each other so that contactless charging can be performed (step 1502).
Here, it is assumed that the mobile device and the mobile router each have an internal configuration corresponding to contactless charging.

  Here, when the mobile device 1300 and the mobile router device 1301 are each provided with a USB interface, they are connected to each other via a USB cable as a power supply cable, and power is supplied via the USB cable. May be.

  Here, power supply is started from the mobile router device 1301 to the mobile device 1300, that is, charging of the Li-ion battery of the mobile device 1300 is performed (step 1503).

Next, the main control unit 1200 measures the time until the charging of the Li-ion battery 1207 of the mobile router device 1301 is completed, and the dedicated application means set in the main control unit of the mobile device 1300 The time until the charging of the Li-ion battery is completed is measured.
In addition, the measured main control unit 1200 of the mobile router device 1301 compares the measured time until charging is completed in each of the mobile router device 1301 and the mobile device 1300 (step 1504).

  Next, the power supply control unit 1210 of the mobile router device 1301 adjusts the power supply current from the mobile router device 1301 to the mobile device 1300 so that the charging completion times of both the mobile router device 1301 and the mobile device 1300 become equal ( Step S1505).

In addition, the power supply control unit 1210 always checks whether charging of the mobile device 1300 is completed (step 1506), and if charging is completed (Yes in step 1506), power supply to the mobile device 1300 is terminated.
If the charging is not completed (No in Step 1506), after waiting for a certain time (Step 1507), the remaining charging time is compared again (Step 1504), and the remaining charging time is changed. The supply current is adjusted (step 1505).

  The power supply control unit 1210 calculates the remaining time until the completion of charging based on table information (FIG. 16) stored in advance in the storage unit 1205 of the mobile router device. Further, the power supply control unit 1210 may be set to calculate a change in the remaining battery level per time during charging.

  As described above, in the first and second embodiments, the main control unit of the mobile router device performs wireless communication connection status (for example, communication packet amount) to the mobile router device of the mobile device, and communication status to the WiMAX network (external network). Based on (for example, communication packet amount), the remaining operation time of each of the mobile router device 501 and the mobile device 500 can be estimated more accurately, thereby appropriately controlling the power supply operation from the mobile router device to the mobile device. It becomes possible.

Regarding the above-described embodiment, the main points of the new technical contents are summarized as follows.
In addition, although a part or all of said embodiment is put together as follows as a novel technique, this invention is not necessarily limited to this.

(Appendix 1)
A power supply control system comprising: a router device that performs wireless communication connection to an external network; and a wireless communication terminal that wirelessly connects to the router device and performs communication connection to the external network via the router device. There,
The router device
A power feeding unit that feeds power to the wireless communication terminal from a charging battery provided in advance in the router device for the wireless communication terminal wirelessly connected to the router device;
A remaining amount information acquisition unit for acquiring terminal battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the battery in the terminal of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal;
The self battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the charging battery, the terminal battery remaining amount information, the wireless communication usage state for the router device in the wireless communication terminal, and the router device of the wireless communication terminal via the router device A remaining amount information estimation unit for estimating a remaining battery level of each of the router device and the wireless communication terminal based on a wireless communication usage state performed for an external network;
A power supply suppression control unit that suppresses power supply operation to the wireless communication terminal by the power supply unit when information on the estimated remaining battery level in each of the router device and the wireless communication terminal approximates within a certain value. A power supply control system characterized by that.

(Appendix 2)
In the power supply control system according to attachment 1,
The power supply unit includes a microcomputer unit that functions by using a minute electric power obtained from the charging battery and stores a preset remaining battery threshold value.
The power supply suppression control unit includes a threshold determination suppression unit that suppresses a power supply operation to the wireless communication terminal by the power supply unit when the battery unit has a remaining battery level threshold value. system.

(Appendix 3)
In the power supply control system according to attachment 1 or 2,
The router device includes a contactless power feeding unit that feeds power to the wireless communication terminal by performing contactless power transmission as the power feeding unit,
The power supply control system, wherein the wireless communication terminal includes a wireless power storage unit that acquires the power transmitted through the contactless power and stores the power in the in-terminal battery.

(Appendix 4)
In the power supply control system according to attachment 1 or 2,
The remaining amount information estimation unit includes a device operating time and a terminal indicating operating times of the router device and the wireless communication terminal from the self battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the charging battery and the terminal battery remaining amount information, respectively. A power supply control system characterized by calculating an operation time.

(Appendix 5)
A router device that provides a wireless communication radio wave as a communication base unit to a wireless communication terminal and performs wireless communication connection to an external network,
A power feeding unit that feeds power from a charging battery provided in advance to the wireless communication terminal wirelessly connected to the router device using the wireless communication radio wave;
A remaining amount information acquisition unit for acquiring terminal battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the battery in the terminal of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal;
Self battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the charging battery, terminal battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the terminal battery provided in the wireless communication terminal device, wireless to the router device in the wireless communication terminal A remaining amount information estimation unit that estimates a remaining battery level of each of the router device and the wireless communication terminal based on a communication utilization state and a wireless communication utilization state performed with respect to the external network via the router device of the wireless communication terminal When,
A router apparatus comprising: a power supply suppression control unit configured to suppress a power supply operation to the wireless communication terminal by the power supply unit when the information indicating the estimated remaining battery level approximates within a certain value.

(Appendix 6)
A power supply control system comprising: a router device that performs wireless communication connection to an external network; and a wireless communication terminal that performs wireless communication connection to the router device and connects to the external network via the router device A power supply control method for supplying power to the wireless communication terminal wirelessly connected to the router device,
Power is supplied from a charging battery provided in advance to the wireless communication terminal wirelessly connected to the router device,
Obtaining terminal battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the battery in the terminal of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal,
The self battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the charging battery, the terminal battery remaining amount information, the wireless communication usage state for the router device in the wireless communication terminal, and the router device of the wireless communication terminal via the router device Estimating the remaining battery level of each of the router device and the wireless communication terminal based on the wireless communication usage state performed for an external network,
When the information indicating the estimated remaining battery level approximates within a certain value, the power supply unit is configured to suppress the power supply operation to the wireless communication terminal,
A power supply control method, wherein the operation step is executed by the router device.

(Appendix 7)
A power supply control system comprising: a router device that performs wireless communication connection to an external network; and a wireless communication terminal that performs wireless communication connection to the router device and connects to the external network via the router device A power supply control program for supplying power to the wireless communication terminal wirelessly connected to the router device,
A power supply function for supplying power from a charging battery provided in advance to the wireless communication terminal wirelessly connected to the router device;
A remaining amount information acquisition function for acquiring terminal battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the battery in the terminal of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal;
The self battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the charging battery, the terminal battery remaining amount information, the wireless communication usage state for the router device in the wireless communication terminal, and the router device of the wireless communication terminal via the router device A remaining amount information estimation function for estimating the remaining battery level of each of the router device and the wireless communication terminal based on a wireless communication usage state performed on an external network;
A power supply suppression control function that suppresses a power supply operation to the wireless communication terminal by the power supply unit when the information indicating the estimated remaining battery level approximates within a certain value is realized by a computer provided in the router device. A power supply control program characterized by that.

  The present invention mutually notifies battery data indicating remaining battery (battery) capacity and operable time between terminals between different terminals, and controls the amount of power supplied between the terminals based on the battery data. It can be effectively applied to the inter-system power supply system.

100, 400 Main control unit 105 Storage unit 106 Power supply circuit 107 Battery 108 Power receiving interface 111 Power feeding interface 200, 500 Mobile device 201, 501 Mobile wireless router device 202, 502 WiMAX base station 401 Battery remaining amount monitoring unit 402 Wireless LAN communication unit 404 Li-ion battery 405 charge controller 4001 dedicated application means

Claims (7)

A power supply control system comprising: a router device that performs wireless communication connection to an external network; and a wireless communication terminal that wirelessly connects to the router device and performs communication connection to the external network via the router device. There,
The router device
A power feeding unit that feeds power to the wireless communication terminal from a charging battery provided in advance in the router device for the wireless communication terminal wirelessly connected to the router device;
A remaining amount information acquisition unit for acquiring terminal battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the battery in the terminal of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal;
The self battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the charging battery, the terminal battery remaining amount information, the wireless communication usage state for the router device in the wireless communication terminal, and the router device of the wireless communication terminal via the router device A remaining amount information estimation unit for estimating a remaining operation time of each of the router device and the wireless communication terminal based on a wireless communication usage state performed for an external network;
A power supply suppression control unit that suppresses a power supply operation to the wireless communication terminal by the power supply unit when the estimated remaining operation time in each of the router device and the wireless communication terminal approximates within a certain value. Characteristic power supply control system. The power supply control system according to claim 1,
The power supply unit includes a microcomputer unit that functions by using a minute electric power obtained from the charging battery and stores a preset remaining battery threshold value.
The power supply suppression control unit includes a threshold determination suppression unit that suppresses a power supply operation to the wireless communication terminal by the power supply unit when the battery unit has a remaining battery level threshold value. system. In the electric power feeding control system of Claim 1 or 2,
The router device includes a contactless power feeding unit that feeds power to the wireless communication terminal by performing contactless power transmission as the power feeding unit,
The power supply control system, wherein the wireless communication terminal includes a wireless power storage unit that acquires the power transmitted through the contactless power and stores the power in the in-terminal battery. In the electric power feeding control system of Claim 1 or 2,
The remaining amount information estimation unit is configured to indicate the remaining operation time of each of the router device and the wireless communication terminal from the self-battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the charging battery and the terminal battery remaining amount information. And a power supply control system for calculating a terminal operating time. A router device that provides a wireless communication radio wave as a communication base unit to a wireless communication terminal and performs wireless communication connection to an external network,
A power feeding unit that feeds power from a charging battery provided in advance to the wireless communication terminal wirelessly connected to the router device using the wireless communication radio wave;
A remaining amount information acquisition unit for acquiring terminal battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the battery in the terminal of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal;
Self battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the charging battery, terminal battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the terminal battery provided in the wireless communication terminal device, wireless to the router device in the wireless communication terminal A remaining amount information estimation unit that estimates the remaining operation time of each of the router device and the wireless communication terminal based on the communication use state and a wireless communication use state performed with respect to the external network via the router device of the wireless communication terminal When,
A router apparatus comprising: a power supply suppression control unit that suppresses a power supply operation to the wireless communication terminal by the power supply unit when the estimated remaining operation time approximates within a certain value. A power supply control system comprising: a router device that performs wireless communication connection to an external network; and a wireless communication terminal that performs wireless communication connection to the router device and connects to the external network via the router device A power supply control method for supplying power to the wireless communication terminal wirelessly connected to the router device,
Power is supplied from a charging battery provided in advance to the wireless communication terminal wirelessly connected to the router device,
Obtaining terminal battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the battery in the terminal of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal,
The self battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the charging battery, the terminal battery remaining amount information, the wireless communication usage state for the router device in the wireless communication terminal, and the router device of the wireless communication terminal via the router device Estimating the remaining operation time of each of the router device and the wireless communication terminal based on the wireless communication usage state performed for an external network,
When the estimated remaining operation time approximates within a certain value, the power supply unit is configured to suppress the power supply operation to the wireless communication terminal,
A power supply control method, wherein the operation step is executed by the router device. A power supply control system comprising: a router device that performs wireless communication connection to an external network; and a wireless communication terminal that performs wireless communication connection to the router device and connects to the external network via the router device A power supply control program for supplying power to the wireless communication terminal wirelessly connected to the router device,
A power supply function for supplying power from a charging battery provided in advance to the wireless communication terminal wirelessly connected to the router device;
A remaining amount information acquisition function for acquiring terminal battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the battery in the terminal of the wireless communication terminal from the wireless communication terminal;
The self battery remaining amount information indicating the remaining battery amount of the charging battery, the terminal battery remaining amount information, the wireless communication usage state for the router device in the wireless communication terminal, and the router device of the wireless communication terminal via the router device A remaining amount information estimation function for estimating a remaining operation time of each of the router device and the wireless communication terminal based on a wireless communication usage state performed for an external network;
A power supply suppression control function for suppressing a power supply operation to the wireless communication terminal by a power supply unit when the estimated remaining operation time approximates within a certain value is realized by a computer provided in the router device. Power supply control program.

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