JPH06112859A - Idle channel seeking device for radio communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To recognize automatically a channel highly probable to be idle by repeating the seeking of all channels of seeking objects for a prescribed number of times, rearranging the seek object channels in the order of the frequency count and writing the result to a memory. CONSTITUTION:A microcomputer 8 stores a program controlling the operation of idle channel seeking. When the idle channel seek processing is started, the seek condition is read from a memory 5 to check whether or not the channel is idle. Depending on the result, a channel frequency count 52 is incremented/ decremented by a frequency count revision means. The operation is repeated for plural number of times by a seek repetition means 52. Depending on the processing, the frequency count of each seek object channel stored in the memory 4 is revised depending on number of times of the idle channel. Then a rearrangement means rearranges the seek object channel in the order of frequency counts and written in the memory 4. As a result, a channel highly probable to be idle is automatically recognized.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless communication device, and more particularly, to a wireless communication device,
The present invention relates to a wireless communication device that can automatically search a channel that is rarely used, that is, a channel that has a high probability of being a free channel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In amateur radio communication or the like, a communication partner is called on a specific calling channel, and subsequent communication is performed by shifting to a communication channel. At this time, if radio waves are emitted from the communication channel that is already in use due to communication between other stations, there is a problem that interference such as interference will be given. Or
You must emit radio waves after checking.

Therefore, as a technique for efficiently searching for such a free channel, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-2 is available.
There is a "wireless communication device" disclosed in No. 28433. This is a radio communication device having a transmission / reception frequency selection means for selecting a channel of a transmission frequency band and a random access memory for writing and reading data relating to the channel selected by the transmission / reception frequency selection means. Of transmission / reception frequency automatic sweeping means provided to sequentially select the channels, detection means for detecting the presence or absence of radio waves of channels sequentially selected by the transmission / reception frequency automatic sweeping means, and detection information obtained by the detection means. And a writing means for sequentially writing a numerical value by the counting means relating to one of the divided transmission / reception frequency bands to the random access memory, and a random access memory for data relating to a channel is provided for the transmission / reception frequency. Wireless communication that is also used for band traffic measurement The machine has been proposed.

This allows the traffic data in the divided transmission / reception frequency band to be measured over the entire area, and the presence or absence of traffic bias within the band and the traffic volume can be easily grasped. Alternatively, JP-A-62-1
There is a "vacant channel search device for wireless communication device" disclosed in No. 20729.

This is a channel setting storage means for arbitrarily setting and storing a channel for starting a search for a free channel, and a search frequency setting storage means for setting and storing the number of channels for searching for a free channel. , Counting means for displaying which channel is being searched at the time of searching for an empty channel, and the numerical value displayed on the counting means becomes equal to the number of searching channels of the empty channel stored in the searching frequency setting storage means. Up to the investigation of free channels.

[0006] This allows the free channel search range to be set freely, and the free channel search can be performed only at a specific frequency.

[0007]

However, JP-A-59-59
In the "wireless communication device" disclosed in No. 228433, traffic data can be measured, but it is unknown specifically which channel is an empty channel, and the empty channel is eventually selected from the divided transmission / reception frequency bands. It is inconvenient in that it requires an investigation.

Further, "wireless communication device" disclosed in JP-A-59-228433 and "vacant channel search device for wireless communication device" disclosed in JP-A-62-120729.
In any of the above cases, since it is determined whether or not the channel is a free channel by a single investigation, there is a problem that the probability of error increases. In the case of frequency bands where radio waves are not always emitted to the same channel, such as amateur radio bands, it is not known when a single investigation will be used even if it is an empty channel. Therefore, the probability of making an erroneous decision as an empty channel becomes very high.

In order to prevent this, it is necessary to know the probability that each channel will become an empty channel, but this is not possible, so substitute with the probability that it was an empty channel within a predetermined time up to the present time. Is the next best thing. Further, in both the "wireless communication device" disclosed in JP-A-59-228433 and the "vacant channel search device for wireless communication device" disclosed in JP-A-62-120729, sweep is performed automatically. Since the channel data in the memory is arranged in the order of frequency, the channel data in the memory must be searched in order to know the empty channel. is there.

Therefore, in the present invention, the probability that each of a plurality of target channels is an empty channel within a predetermined time up to the present time is obtained, and the channel that can be assumed to have a high probability of becoming an empty channel is known. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device capable of arranging channel data in the order of probability of being a free channel.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a plurality of channels are sequentially received, it is judged whether or not each channel is an empty channel, and the judgment result is stored in a memory. In a wireless communication device having an empty channel search function to be stored in, the search target channel setting means for setting a plurality of search target channels to be searched, and sequentially receiving the set plurality of search target channels. Detecting means for investigating whether or not the channel is an empty channel, searching repeating means for repeating a plurality of investigation target channels by the investigating means a plurality of times, and whether or not the channel is judged to be an empty channel by the searching means. The frequency count value changing means for changing the frequency count value, and the frequency It took measures that and a rearrangement means for writing in said memory rearranged in the order of count value.

[0012]

According to the present invention, when a plurality of channels are sequentially received and it is investigated whether or not the channels are vacant, the channels to be searched set by the channel setting means to be searched are sequentially received by the searching means. , The channel frequency count value is increased or decreased by the frequency count value changing means by investigating whether or not the channel is a free channel.

The above-mentioned investigation is repeated a plurality of times (at least twice) by the investigation repeating means. Through such processing, the frequency count value of each channel to be searched stored in the memory is updated depending on the number of times the channel is a free channel. Therefore, the rearrangement means rearranges the channels to be searched in the order of their frequency count values and writes them in the memory. This rearrangement may be performed after the search for all the search target channels is repeated a predetermined number of times or after one search.

Therefore, when transmitting, if a channel which is assumed to have a high probability of being a free channel at the beginning or the end of the plurality of channels to be searched stored in the memory is used, the communication between other stations is disturbed. The risk of doing this is lowest.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A vacant channel searching device for a wireless communication device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment thereof. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of a wireless communication device equipped with a free channel searching device for a wireless communication device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an operation of the free channel searching device for the wireless communication device. It is a flowchart.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a receiver of a wireless communication device, which is configured to receive a channel based on a frequency output from a PLL frequency synthesizer 2. Reference numeral 3 denotes an empty channel detection circuit which detects whether or not the channel received by the receiving unit 1 is an empty channel, and outputs an empty channel detection signal if the channel is an empty channel. Reference numeral 4 denotes a memory (for example, a random access memory) for storing data of empty channels, and stores an empty channel list in which a channel number determined as an empty channel and a frequency count value of the channel are paired. .

The empty channel detection circuit 3 is
Depending on the noise squelch or the electric field strength, it is determined whether any signal exists in the channel and is in use, or whether the channel is an empty channel in which no signal is detected.

Reference numeral 5 is a search condition memory for storing conditions for searching a free channel. The search target memory 51 serves as a search target channel setting means in which a search target channel is set, and the number of times a specified target channel is searched. And a search frequency memory 52 as a search frequency setting means. An interval timer 6 generates an interrupt signal at a set time interval. 7
Is an input device for inputting data to the reception frequency, the search condition memory 5, and the interval timer 6.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a microcomputer that controls data based on a built-in control program while exchanging data with each of the above components. Reference numeral 9 denotes a transmitter, which is configured to transmit on a channel based on the frequency output from the PLL frequency synthesizer 2.

The microcomputer 8 is provided with a memory in which a control program is stored to perform the operation shown in FIG.

In the wireless communication device having the above configuration, the transmitting operation and the receiving operation are the same as those of a normal wireless communication device. The input device 7 is operated for the empty channel search operation,
Input the target channel to be searched for an empty channel and write it in the search target memory 51, and input the number of times to search the specified target channel to input the search frequency memory 52.
Write in.

During standby, the idle channel search processing shown in FIG. 2 is activated by an interrupt from the interval timer 6 or the like.

In step S1 of FIG. 2, a list of channels to be searched and the number of searches are read from the search condition memory 5. In step S2, the initial value of the channel to be searched is set, the number of times of searching is substituted into the count value of the number of times of searching, and the channel is received.

In step S3, it is determined whether or not a free channel detection signal is output from the free channel detection unit 3. If the empty channel detection signal is not output (that is, if the channel is in use), it is determined in step S4 whether or not the channel is already present in the empty channel list of the memory 4, and the channel must be present. If so, go to step S9.

If it exists in the free channel list,
In step S5, the frequency count value of the channel is decreased by [1], and the process proceeds to step S10. However, the minimum frequency count value is

[0]. Step S
In 3, when an empty channel detection signal is output,
Go to step S6.

In step S6, it is determined whether or not the channel is already in the free channel list of the memory 4, and if it is not present, the process proceeds to step S7, in which the free channel list of the memory 4 contains the channel. The channel number and the frequency count value (= 1) are added, and the process proceeds to step S10. If it exists in the free channel list, the process proceeds to step S8, the frequency count value of the channel is increased by [1], and then step S10 is performed.
Proceed to.

In step S10, it is determined whether or not the investigation of all the channels to be searched specified in the investigation condition memory 5 is completed. If not completed, the procedure proceeds to step S9, and if completed, step S11. Proceed to.

In step S9, the investigation channel is changed to the next investigation target channel, and the process returns to step S3. In step S11, if the designated number of investigations has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S12, and if completed, the process proceeds to step S13. In step S12, the count value of the number of investigations is decremented by [1], and step S3
Return to.

In step S13, the vacant channel list is rearranged in the descending order of the frequency count value and written in the memory 4, and the vacant channel search process is terminated. The steps S1, S2, S3, S4, S
5, S6, S7, S8, S9 and S10 correspond to the investigating means, steps S11 and 12 correspond to the investigative repeating means, steps S5 and S8 correspond to the frequency count value changing means, and step S13 corresponds to It corresponds to the sorting means.

As a result of such processing, the free channel list in the memory 4 is in the descending order of the frequency count value. Therefore, the channel having a high probability of being free, that is, the channel having the high frequency count value is the free channel list. A channel having a low probability of being vacant, that is, a channel having a small frequency count value (or a channel having 0) is arranged at the end of the vacant channel list.

For example, when the number of investigations is set to 5, the frequency count value is

[0] to [5]. That is, if there is an empty channel at each investigation, the frequency count value of that channel becomes [5], and the frequency count value of the channel being used at each investigation is

[0]
Becomes

Therefore, when transmitting, the memory 4
By selecting the first channel in the empty channel list of 1 as the transmission channel, it is possible to reduce the probability that interference such as interference will occur in communication between other stations while the selected channel is in use. In other words, it is possible to automatically perform the mandatory work of the wireless station, which is necessary to confirm whether or not interference such as interference is given to the multiple stations before the own station emits the radio wave.

When the memory 4 is rearranged in the ascending order of the frequency count value, the last channel in the empty channel list may be selected as the transmission channel. Of course, the frequency count value may be decreased when the channel is a free channel, and may be increased when the channel is in use.

As shown in FIG. 3, the receiving section 1A dedicated to the vacant channel search and the receiving section 1 dedicated to receiving the contents of communication.
By including B, it is possible to make it possible to always search for an empty channel in the receiving section 1A dedicated to searching for an empty channel even during reception of communication contents. At this time,
It is good to rearrange all the channels to be searched once each time. Alternatively, the search may be performed a predetermined number of times and then rearranged.

The oscillation frequency of the PLL frequency synthesizer 2A is supplied to the receiving section 1A dedicated to the empty channel search, and the oscillation frequency of the PLL frequency synthesizer 2B is supplied to the receiving section 1B and the transmitting section 9 dedicated to receiving the communication contents. It Further, in FIG. 3, description of the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 is omitted.

As a result, the communication contents can be received even during the investigation, and even when the communication contents are being received, the empty channels can be searched and the empty channel list can be constantly updated. Therefore, when a state in which the call channel has to be changed to another channel occurs, it is possible to immediately change to a channel with a low probability of causing interference such as interference with communication between other stations.

Further, even if the channel to be transmitted is not manually set, the microcomputer 8 only needs to transfer the channel data at the beginning or the end of the empty channel list of the memory 4 to the PLL frequency synthesizer 2. Therefore, operability is improved.

[0038]

According to the present invention, it is possible to detect whether or not a plurality of channels to be searched set by the channel setting means to be searched are empty channels, and to know a channel which can be assumed to have a high probability of becoming an empty channel. In addition, the rearrangement means rearranges data in the order of the number of free channels and writes it in the memory. Therefore, when transmitting, if the data is transmitted in the first or last channel of the memory, communication between other stations may be disturbed. It is possible to obtain the effect of preventing interference.

Further, even if the memory is not searched, the data of the channel, which is less likely to interfere with the communication between other stations, exists in the predetermined position of the memory, so that the channel for transmission can be selected. This can be performed easily and efficiently, and the operability of the wireless communication device can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a main part of a wireless communication device including an idle channel searching device for a wireless communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of a free channel search device of the wireless communication device.

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of a main part of a wireless communication device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Receiver of wireless communication device 1A Receiver for exclusive use of empty channel search 2 PLL Frequency synthesizer 2A PLL Frequency synthesizer 3 Empty channel detection circuit 4 Memory for storing empty channel data 5 Investigation condition memory 51 Investigation target memory (Investigation target channel setting 52) Search frequency memory (search frequency setting means) 6 Interval timer 7 Input device 8 Microcomputer 9 Transmitter S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S
9, S10 Investigating means S11, 12 Investigative repeating means S5, S8 Frequency count value changing means S13 Rearranging means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A wireless communication device equipped with an empty channel search function for sequentially receiving a plurality of channels, judging whether each channel is an empty channel, and storing the judgment result in a memory. Search target channel setting means for setting a plurality of search target channels to be searched, a search means for sequentially receiving the set plurality of search target channels and searching for a free channel, and the search means A search repeating unit that repeats a search for a plurality of search target channels by a plurality of times, a frequency count value changing unit that changes the frequency count value of the channel depending on whether the search unit determines that the channel is an empty channel, and each search target channel. Sorting in the order of the frequency count value and writing to the memory Free and busy channels investigation device of a wireless communication apparatus characterized by comprising a.