Multiplex communications – Diagnostic testing – Of a switching system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-09
2004-04-20
Sam, Phirin (Department: 2661)
Multiplex communications
Diagnostic testing
Of a switching system
C370S242000, C370S248000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06724731
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio communication system control method, a radio communication system, and an information processing apparatus used therein. More particularly, the invention is directed to a system and method wherein radio communications links a server and terminals via a plurality of base stations.
In a conventional radio or wireless LAN system, the radio terminal apparatus assumes that an appropriate link or connection exists between a base station and a server (parent machine and child machine), even in situations where there is no proper link between the base station and the server. Transmission of data, therefore, beginning based upon this erroneous presumption. Communication errors therefore occur; due to the fact that the radio terminal apparatus cannot recognize or identify the source of the communication error, the error is repeated.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 8
shows a block diagram of one example of a radio LAN system in the prior art.
A communication system
100
in the prior art includes a server
101
, radio terminal apparatus
102
-
1
through
102
-N which communicate with the server through radio communication, and a communication apparatus
103
. The communication apparatus
103
connects the server
101
with the radio terminal apparatuses
102
-
1
through
102
-N through radio communication and forms radio LAN circuits.
The server
101
is connected with the radio terminal apparatuses
102
-
1
through
102
-N via the communication apparatus
103
, and performs predetermined processing in accordance with commands from the radio terminal apparatuses
102
-
1
through
102
-N. The radio terminal apparatuses
102
-
1
through
102
-N perform radio communication with the communication apparatus
103
and are connected with the server
101
.
The communication apparatus
103
includes a plurality of base stations
104
-
1
through
104
-M which perform radio communication with the radio terminal apparatuses
102
-
1
through
102
-N, and a branching device (HUB)
105
which causes a communication circuit from the server
101
to branch to the plurality of base stations
104
-
1
through
104
-M.
In the radio LAN system
100
in the prior art, for example, when the link of the base station
104
-
1
with the server
101
is disconnected for any reason as indicated by X in
FIG. 8
, the radio terminal apparatus
102
-
1
existing in the communication possible area of the base station
104
-
1
is completely independent and is not aware of the condition of link, the radio terminal apparatus
102
-
1
operates as if the link is normal and starts communication.
As a result, however, communication errors occur in radio terminal apparatus
102
-
1
. However, radio terminal apparatus
102
-
1
does not recognize the cause of the communication errors; radio terminal apparatus
102
-
1
therefore continues the communication with base station
104
, and the communication errors repetitively occur.
In the communication system discussed above, when the link between the server and a base station is disconnected, the radio terminal apparatus performs communication with the base station continuously even though the link between this base station and the server is disconnected. This occurs because the radio terminal apparatus is not aware of the condition of the link between the server and the base station. Communication errors therefore frequently and repetitively occur. Further, because the radio terminal apparatus cannot recognize the cause of the communication error, restoration cannot be performed easily.
When the number of base stations (parent machines) increases, there are additional problems; when malfunctions occur, for example, a great deal of labor and time are required for identifying and correcting the cause of the malfunction, and also restoring the errors caused by the malfunction.
The present invention has been developed in consideration of the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a radio communication system control method, a radio communication system control method, a radio communication system, and an information processing apparatus used therein, wherein communication impossible conditions or communication breakdowns can be prevented from occurring in the radio communication system, therefore reducing communication errors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a radio communication system in which a server and terminals communicate via a plurality of base stations, comprising a method which includes a link detecting step detecting conditions of links between the server and the plurality of base stations, and a communication stopping step stopping the communication between a base station and a terminal, disconnection of the link between the base station and the server having been determined as a result of detection in the link detecting step.
According to a first embodiment the present invention, as a result of the communication between the disconnected base station and the terminal being stopped in the stopping step, the terminal does not perform communication with the base station and thereby communication errors in the terminal can be avoided.
In a second embodiment of the invention, the communication stopping step stops the communication between the disconnected base station and the terminal by disconnecting a power supply in the base station through a command radio-transmitted from an adjacent base station.
According to this second embodiment, as a result of the disconnection of the power supply in the base station, through the command from the adjacent base station, the communication between the terminal and this base station is stopped.
In a third embodiment, the invention further comprises a communication switching step enabling communication between the server and the terminal through the base station adjacent to the disconnected base station, after the communication between the terminal and the disconnected base station is stopped.
According to the third embodiment, because the terminal which is intended to perform communication with the disconnected base station can perform communication with the adjacent base station, communication errors in the terminal can be avoided.
A fourth embodiment of the invention is one where the link detecting step repeatedly detects the links between the server and the plurality of base stations every predetermined time period. According to this embodiment, as a result of detection of the links between the server and the plurality of base stations every predetermined time period, any disconnection or failed link can be detected very quickly, communication from the terminal can be stopped, and communication error in the terminal can be avoided.
In a fifth embodiment, in a radio communication system according to the invention comprises a system including link detecting means for detecting conditions of links between the server and the plurality of base stations, and first communication stopping means, provided in the server, for stopping communication between a base station and a terminal, disconnection of the link between the base station and the server having been determined as a result of detection by the link detecting means. The stopping of the communication is performed by an adjacent base station.
According to this embodiment, the link detecting means detects the disconnected base station, and the communication stopping means stops the communication between the terminal and this disconnected base station. Because the terminal does not perform communication with the disconnected base station, communication errors in the terminal can be avoided.
According to a sixth embodiment, the server has a link condition management table for managing the conditions of the links between the server and the plurality of base stations. As a result of management of the conditions of the links of the plurality of base stations through the link condition management table, the overall c
Mizutani Yasunao
Shibasaki Tomoki
LandOfFree
Radio communication system and control method, and... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Radio communication system and control method, and..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Radio communication system and control method, and... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3270361