KR20130057638A - System and method for managing communication network - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a network management system and a communication network management method. The network management system according to the present invention includes at least one local area wireless communication (NFC) device, a plurality of wireless communication modules connected to a wireless communication network, and a communication network management connected to communicate with the local wireless communication device and the wireless communication module. And a device, wherein the network management device receives information of a mobile terminal in proximity to the local area wireless communication device and transmits network connection information to the local area wireless communication device according to a communication state of each of the wireless communication modules.

Description

Network management system and network management method {SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING COMMUNICATION NETWORK}

The present invention relates to a communication network management system and a communication network management method capable of automatically establishing a communication connection with a wireless communication module having a best communication state through a near field communication device (NFC).

With the spread of wireless communication technology and the spread of various mobile devices that can utilize wireless communication technology, opportunities for providing services such as Internet access and real-time multimedia viewing through wireless communication technology are increasing regardless of time and place. . In particular, recently, as the penetration rate of smartphones and tablet PCs increases, accessibility to wireless communication technologies becomes wider, and even wireless transportation services such as subways and buses are being provided.

In order to access a service such as the Internet through a wireless communication technology, information for communication connection must be separately input to a device such as a smartphone, a tablet PC, a notebook, etc. having a wireless communication unit. In this case, the information for communication connection may include identification information (ID), password, etc., which are differently assigned according to individual users or communication companies, and the user must input identification information and password corresponding to each communication environment.

Therefore, in using a wireless communication technology that is frequently used during the movement, such communication connection information input may be inconvenient for the user. In addition, when a plurality of wireless communication modules (ACCESS POINTs, APs) exist in a predetermined space in which a wireless communication network is established, a problem may occur that the communication environment through the corresponding wireless communication module is deteriorated by the concentration of users to a specific module. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and automatically transmits communication status and connection information for a plurality of wireless communication modules to a user's mobile terminal using near field communication (NFC). Allows connection to the wireless communication module with the best communication status. Accordingly, the user can be provided with a fast communication service through the wireless communication module having the best communication state, and the service provider can efficiently maintain and manage the wireless communication network.

According to a first technical aspect of the present invention, at least one short-range wireless communication (NFC) device, a plurality of wireless communication modules connected to a wireless communication network, and the short-range wireless communication device and the wireless communication module is connected to enable communication And a network management device, wherein the network management device receives information of a mobile terminal in proximity to the short range wireless communication device and transmits network connection information to the short range wireless communication device according to a communication state of each of the wireless communication modules. Suggest a system.

In addition, the communication network management device proposes a communication network management system that periodically detects communication states of the plurality of wireless communication modules.

In addition, the communication network management device proposes a communication network management system that detects communication states of a plurality of wireless communication modules connected to the wireless communication network when receiving information of a mobile terminal in proximity to the short-range wireless communication device.

The communication network management device may further include a communication network management system that transmits communication network connection information for the wireless communication module having the highest communication state among the plurality of wireless communication modules to the short range wireless communication device based on the detected communication state. Suggest.

In addition, the short-range wireless communication device proposes a communication network management system for transmitting the communication network connection information to the adjacent mobile terminal.

In addition, the network connection information proposes a communication network management system including identification information for accessing the wireless communication module having the best communication state, and a password.

On the other hand, according to the second technical aspect of the present invention, recognizing a mobile terminal in proximity to at least one short-range wireless communication device, detecting a communication state of a plurality of wireless communication modules connected to communicate with the short-range wireless communication device And selecting one of the plurality of wireless communication modules based on the detected communication state, and transmitting communication network connection information for the selected wireless communication module to the short range wireless communication device. Suggest a method.

On the other hand, according to the third technical aspect of the present invention, detecting a communication state of a plurality of wireless communication module periodically, the mobile close to at least one short-range wireless communication device connected to communicate with the plurality of wireless communication modules Recognizing a terminal, selecting one of the plurality of wireless communication modules based on the detected communication state, and transmitting communication network connection information for the selected wireless communication module to the short range wireless communication device. We propose a communication network management method.

The present invention also provides a communication network management method further comprising transmitting the communication network access information to the mobile terminal through the local area wireless communication device.

In addition, the transmitting step proposes a communication network management method for transmitting identification information and a password for accessing the selected wireless communication module to the short range wireless communication device.

The detecting step may further include a communication network management method for detecting at least one of a number of terminals connected to each of the plurality of wireless communication modules, a communication speed of each of the plurality of wireless communication modules, and a signal strength as the communication state. .

In addition, the selecting step proposes a communication network management method for selecting a wireless communication module having the best communication state among the plurality of wireless communication modules.

According to the present invention, by using a short range wireless communication device, by transmitting the connection information for the wireless communication module having the best communication state among the plurality of wireless communication modules to the user's mobile terminal, the mobile terminal separates identification information, password, etc. Control so that the connection with the wireless communication module can be set automatically without the input procedure of. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently utilize, maintain and manage limited communication resources, and the user can conveniently access the wireless communication network without any troublesome setting process.

1 is a diagram illustrating a communication network management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a communication network management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart provided to explain a communication network management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It should be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention are different, but need not be mutually exclusive. For example, certain features, structures, and characteristics described herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in connection with an embodiment. It is also to be understood that the position or arrangement of the individual components within each disclosed embodiment may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled, if properly explained. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar functions throughout the several views.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention.

1 is a diagram illustrating a communication network management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the communication network management system according to the present embodiment may include a short range wireless communication device 110, a wireless communication module 120, a communication network management device 130, and a communication network 140. The communication network 140 may include at least one or more wireless communication networks 143 and 145 according to a standard such as IEEE 802.11 b / g / n in addition to the wired communication network 141, and may be managed and controlled by the communication network management device 130. Can be.

The near field communication (NFC) device 110 is connected to the communication network management device 130 and its operation is controlled, and the mobile terminal 150 such as a smartphone, a tablet PC, a notebook, etc. having a near field communication (NFC) module embedded therein And can communicate according to near field communication (NFC). When a mobile terminal 150 such as a smartphone, a tablet PC, or the like in which a near field communication (NFC) module is embedded approaches the near field communication (NFC) device 110 within a predetermined distance, it may recognize and transmit and receive data.

The wireless communication module 120 may be connected to the wired communication network 141 and generate different wireless communication networks 143 and 145. Each of the plurality of wireless communication modules 123 and 125 may operate as an access point (AP) for connecting the mobile terminal 150 to the wireless communication networks 143 and 145.

The communication network management device 130 is a device for maintaining and managing the communication networks 140, 143, and 145 to which the plurality of wireless communication modules 123 and 125 are connected. The communication network management device 130 may be separately provided according to a communication service provider that provides a communication service. Can be. Through the wired communication network 140 to which the plurality of wireless communication modules 123 and 125 are connected, the communication network management device 130 may manage not only the wired communication network 140 but also the wireless communication networks 143 and 145.

When the specific mobile terminal 150 approaches the near field communication (NFC) device 110, the near field communication (NFC) device 110 reads user information stored in the mobile terminal 150. At this time, the user information read by the near field communication (NFC) device 110 is a carrier information that can provide a communication service to the mobile terminal 150, a unique identification number assigned to the mobile terminal 150-for example Mobile communication numbers-and the like. The near field communication (NFC) device 110 transmits the information read from the mobile terminal 150 to the communication network management device 130 through the wired communication network 140.

The communication network management device 130 may be connected to a wireless communication network 143, 145 connected to the communication network management device 130 by the corresponding mobile terminal 150 based on user information received from the near field communication (NFC) device 110. Determine whether the device is present. For example, when the mobile terminal 150, which is provided with a communication service by another carrier B, wishes to connect to the radio communication networks 143 and 145 operated by the carrier A, the communication network management device of the carrier A ( 130 may restrict the connection.

From the user information transmitted by the near field communication (NFC) device 110, if it is determined that the mobile terminal 150 can be connected to the wireless communication network (143, 145), the network management device 130 is a wireless communication network 143 Communication state information of the wireless communication modules 123 and 125 generating the 145 may be detected. The communication state information detected by the communication network management device 130 from the wireless communication modules 123 and 125 includes the number of mobile terminals 150 connected to the respective wireless communication modules 123 and 125, and the respective wireless communication modules 123 and 125. ) May include up, down data transmission speed, bandwidth, and the like.

The communication network management apparatus 130 selects the wireless communication modules 123 and 125 having the best communication state from the communication state information detected by the wireless communication modules 123 and 125, and selects the selected wireless communication modules 123 and 125. Communication network connection information for connecting to a communication network corresponding to the local area wireless communication (NFC) device 110 is transmitted. For example, the communication network management device 130 may select the wireless communication module 123 having the smallest number of currently connected mobile terminals 150 as the best communication state. The near field communication (NFC) device 110 may receive user identification information (ID), a password required for communication connection, and the like as information for being connected to the selected wireless communication module 123.

Communication network access information received by the near field communication (NFC) device 110 is transmitted to the mobile terminal 150 by near field communication (NFC). The mobile terminal 150 may automatically establish a connection with the specific wireless communication network 143 without the user having to input another ID or password using the received communication network access information.

2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a communication network management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, the network management system 200 according to the present embodiment includes at least one short range wireless communication (NFC) device 212, 222 and a wireless communication module 214, 216, 224, 226. The communication environment in the plurality of spaces 210 and 220 is maintained and managed. One or more mobile terminals 251, 253, 255, and 257 may be connected to each wireless communication module 214, 216, 224, 226, and the communication environment of each space 210, 220 is connected to the Internet network 230. And managed by the communication service manager 240.

The wireless communication module 214, 216, 224, 226 may be a general wireless access point (AP), and each wireless communication module (214, 216, 224, 226) is generated by the characteristics of the wireless router. The distance that can be connected to the communication network is bound to be limited. For convenience of description, an area where a wireless communication environment is established by the first and second wireless communication modules 214 and 216 is stored in the first space 210, the third and fourth wireless communication modules 224 and 226. The area where the wireless communication environment is established is defined as the second space 220. The first and second spaces 210 and 220 may be a specific building such as an enclosed building or an open space that is not enclosed.

The communication service manager 240 periodically monitors and detects a communication state of each of the one or more wireless communication modules 214, 216, 224, and 226 connected to the Internet network 230, and detects a short range wireless communication (NFC) device 212. 222) Store and manage each piece of information. For the communication status of each of the wireless communication modules 214, 216, 224, and 226, the communication service manager 240 connects the mobile terminals 251, 253, 255, connected to the respective wireless communication modules 214, 216, 224, and 226. The number of 257 and the corresponding uplink and downlink data transmission rates and bandwidths of the wireless communication modules 214, 216, 224, and 226 may be detected as a communication state.

When the mobile terminal 259 is close to the near field communication (NFC) device 212, the near field communication (NFC) device 212 recognizes the near field communication (NFC) module included in the mobile terminal 259 and approaches the near field communication device. The user information stored in the mobile terminal 259 is read. For example, the near field communication (NFC) device 212 may include an identification number assigned to a mobile terminal 259 in close proximity, carrier information to which the mobile terminal 259 is subscribed, and a radio available in the mobile terminal 259. Recognize communication standards and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the near field communication (NFC) device 212 is connected to communicate with the communication service manager 240, and the communication service manager 240 is read by the near field communication (NFC) device 212. User information of the entered mobile terminal 259 is analyzed to determine whether to permit connection with the wireless communication modules 214 and 216. For example, when the mobile terminal 259 is registered in the communication network operated by the communication service manager 240 and the other service managers managing the wireless communication modules 214 and 216, the communication service manager 240 performs wireless communication. Connection to the wireless communication modules 214, 216 can be restricted regardless of the communication status of the modules 214, 216.

When it is determined that the mobile terminal 259 is a terminal that can be provided with a communication service legitimately from the communication service manager 240, the communication service manager 240 is configured to include a near field communication (NFC) device 212. The wireless communication modules 214 and 216 to be connected to the mobile terminal 259 are selected according to the communication states of the wireless communication modules 214 and 216 in the one space 210. 2, three mobile terminals 251, 253, and 255 are connected only to the second wireless communication module 216, and the mobile terminal is not connected to the first wireless communication module 214 at all. Assume Accordingly, the communication service manager 240 selects the first wireless communication module 214 having excellent communication status as the wireless communication module to be connected with the mobile terminal 259 and is required to be connected to the first wireless communication module 214. Communication network connection information is transmitted to a near field communication (NFC) device 212.

The network connection information may include a password required for connecting to the first wireless communication module 214. The near field communication (NFC) device 212 transmits communication network connection information received from the communication service manager 240 to the mobile terminal 259 through the near field communication (NFC), and the mobile terminal 259 connects to the communication network. Using the information, the connection with the first wireless communication module 214 may be automatically established.

3 is a flowchart provided to explain a communication network management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the communication network management method according to the present embodiment begins by detecting a communication state of a wireless communication module (S30). As described above, the communication network management apparatus may detect the number of mobile terminals connected to the wireless communication module, the communication speed of the wireless communication module, the bandwidth, the strength of the wireless signal transmitted from the antenna, and the like as the communication state. In addition, the communication state of the wireless communication module may be detected at regular intervals and updated in real time.

When the communication state is detected, the near field communication (NFC) device recognizes a mobile terminal in proximity (S31). The near field communication (NFC) device detects carrier information providing a communication service to a mobile terminal from a nearby mobile terminal, a serial number for identifying a terminal, a wireless communication standard executable in the terminal, and transmits the same to a communication network management apparatus.

When receiving the identification information of the specific mobile terminal from the near field communication (NFC) device, the network management apparatus selects one of a plurality of wireless communication modules which detect and store a communication state (S32). Of course, in order to provide the best communication environment to the mobile terminal and to efficiently manage limited communication resources, it is possible to select a wireless communication module having the smallest number of connected mobile terminals and the fastest communication speed among the plurality of wireless communication modules.

When the wireless communication module is selected, the communication network management device transmits connection information for connecting to the selected wireless communication module to the near field communication (NFC) device (S33). As described above, the access information may include an ID, a password, and the like for connecting to the selected wireless communication module. The mobile terminal may receive connection information on the wireless communication module selected by the communication network management device from the near field communication device (NFC) and automatically establish a connection with the wireless communication module (S34). Through this process, communication between the mobile terminal and the wireless communication module can be conveniently set up without the user having to bother to search for the wireless communication module and input a password.

Meanwhile, the step S30 of detecting a communication state of the wireless communication module and the step S31 of recognizing a mobile terminal in proximity to a near field communication (NFC) device may be executed in a reversed order. That is, if it is determined that the mobile terminal is close to the near field communication (NFC) device without detecting the communication state of the wireless communication module periodically, the mobile terminal is included in the same communication environment as the near field communication (NFC) device. The communication state of the communication module can be detected.

Although the present invention has been described by specific embodiments such as specific components and the like, but the embodiments and the drawings are provided to assist in a more general understanding of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and variations can be made from these descriptions.

Therefore, the spirit of the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the above-described embodiments, and all of the equivalents or equivalents of the claims, as well as the following claims, I will say.

110, 212, 222: near field communication (NFC) device
120, 123, 125, 214, 216, 224, 226: wireless communication module
130: communication network management device
240: communication service manager
150, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259: mobile terminal

Claims (12)

At least one near field communication (NFC) device;
A plurality of wireless communication modules connected to a wireless communication network; And
A communication network management device connected to communicate with the short range wireless communication device and the wireless communication module; Lt; / RTI >
The communication network management device receives the information of the mobile terminal in close proximity to the short-range wireless communication device and transmits the network connection information to the short-range wireless communication device according to the communication status of each of the wireless communication module.
According to claim 1, The communication network management device,
Communication network management system for periodically detecting a communication state of the plurality of wireless communication module.
According to claim 1, The communication network management device,
And receiving communication information of a mobile terminal in proximity to the short range wireless communication device, and detecting communication states of a plurality of wireless communication modules connected to the wireless communication network.
The communication network management apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein
And a communication network connection information for the wireless communication module having the highest communication state among the plurality of wireless communication modules, based on the detected communication state, to the short range wireless communication device.
The method of claim 4, wherein the short range wireless communication device,
A network management system for transmitting the network connection information to the adjacent mobile terminal.
5. The method of claim 4,
The network connection information includes network identification information and a password for accessing the wireless communication module having the best communication state, and a password.
Recognizing a mobile terminal in proximity to at least one short range wireless communication device;
Detecting a communication state of a plurality of wireless communication modules connected to the short range wireless communication device;
Selecting one of the plurality of wireless communication modules based on the detected communication state; And
Transmitting communication network access information for the selected wireless communication module to the short range wireless communication device; Network management method comprising a.
Periodically detecting communication states of the plurality of wireless communication modules;
Recognizing a mobile terminal in proximity to at least one short-range wireless communication device connected to communicate with the plurality of wireless communication modules;
Selecting one of the plurality of wireless communication modules based on the detected communication state; And
Transmitting communication network access information for the selected wireless communication module to the short range wireless communication device; Network management method comprising a.
9. The method according to claim 7 or 8,
Transmitting the network access information to the mobile terminal through the short range wireless communication device; Network management method further comprising.
The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein the transmitting step,
And transmitting identification information and a password for accessing the selected wireless communication module to the short range wireless communication device.
The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein the detecting step,
And detecting at least one of a number of terminals connected to each of the plurality of wireless communication modules, a communication speed of each of the plurality of wireless communication modules, and a signal strength as the communication state.
The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein the selection step,
A communication network management method of selecting a wireless communication module having the best communication state among the plurality of wireless communication modules.

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