Communication device

A communication device including a communicator and a communication controller is provided. The communicator has at least two communication ranges including a short communication range and a long communication range longer than the short communication range. The communication controller permits the communicator to perform communication with a terminal present in the short communication range regardless of a priority level of the terminal. The communication controller permits the communicator to perform communication with a terminal present in the long communication range and out of the short communication range when a priority level of the terminal is higher than a predetermined priority level.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/JP2014/003659 filed on Jul. 10, 2014 and published in Japanese as WO 2015/008460 A1 on Jan. 22, 2015. This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-148536 filed on Jul. 17, 2013. The entire disclosures of all of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a communication device that performs communication with a terminal.

BACKGROUND ART

Some conventional communication devices for performing communication with a terminal such as a portable terminal and the like are configured to communicate with multiple terminals. Considering that multiple terminals are in a communication range of the communication device, it is proposed to permit the communication with the communication device in a descending order of priority levels pre-set to the terminals (see Patent Literature 1 for example).

PRIOR ART LITERATURES

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The inventors of the present application have found out the following with regard to the communication device. In some cases, the communication device described in Patent Literature 1 performs the communication with a low priority level terminal when the terminal is in the communication range of the communication device. As a result, the communication between an intended communication device and an intended terminal cannot be performed.

For example, suppose that there are two communication devices A and B, the terminal A is given high priority for the communication device A, and the terminal B is given high priority for the communication device B. In this situation, the terminal A may perform communication with the communication device B when (a) the terminal A is in an overlap portion between the communication range of the communication device A and the communication range of the communication device B and the terminal B is not in the communication range of the communication device B or (b) the communication device B are communicable with two or more terminals. When the communication between the terminal A and the communication device B starts prior to start of the communication between the terminal A and the communication device A, as long as this communication is disconnected, the terminal A cannot perform the communication with the intended communication device A. Therefore, although the terminal A and the communication device A may become communicable finally, it may take a time to establish the communication.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a communication device that satisfactorily enables communication between an intended communication device and an intended terminal.

In order to achieve the above object, a communicator of a communication device has at least two communication ranges including a short communication range and a long communication range longer than the short communication range. A communication controller permits the communicator to perform communication with a terminal that is in the short communication range regardless of a priority level of the terminal in the short communication range, and permits the communicator to perform communication with a terminal that is in the long communication range and out of the short communication range when a priority level of the terminal in the long communication range and out of the short communication range is higher than a predetermined priority level.

Therefore, a terminal that is given a lower priority level than the predetermined priority level may not be able to perform the communication unless it is placed close to the communication device and in the short communication range in the present disclosure. It becomes possible for an intended communication device and an intended terminal to perform communication therebetween.

More specifically, for example, when communication between a low priority level terminal and the communication device is intended, one may take the terminal into the short communication range to enable the communication between the terminal and the communication device. Under another situation where there are two communication devices, when the communication between a first communication device and a terminal that is given high priority for the first communication device is intended for example, the terminal may be placed out of the short communication range of a second communication device to enable the communication between the first communication device and the terminal. In these ways, by referencing the position of the terminal using the respective communication ranges of the communication device, it becomes possible to satisfactorily perform communication between an intended communication device and an intended terminal.

In preference to the communication with a terminal that is in the long communication range and out of the short communication range, the communication controller may permit the communication with a terminal that is in the short communication range regardless of the priority level of this terminal. In this case, when a terminal with a lower priority level than the predetermined priority level is placed close to the communication device and placed in the short communication range, it becomes possible to satisfactorily perform the communication between the terminal and the communication device.

EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION

Outline Configuration in Embodiment

An embodiment will be described with the drawings.FIG. 1illustrates two vehicles10A and10B equipped with communication devices14A and14B. In the below description, when distinction between the vehicle10A and the vehicle10B is necessary, references of parts may be added with indexes A, B. When the distinction is not necessary, the indexes may not be given.

As shown inFIG. 1, each vehicle10is an automobile equipped with a driver seat11, a front passenger seat12and a rear seat13. A communication device14is provided In front of the driver seat11of the vehicle10and includes an ECU15holed inside a dashboard (not shown) or the like and an antenna16exposed to a driver (not shown).

Occupants (not shown) of each vehicle10can get into the vehicle10with their terminals20A,20B,20C,20D which may include a multifunction portable phone (what is called a smartphone). In this case, the portable terminal20can perform communication with the communication device14. This communication may be performed using a short range wireless communication such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (each registered trademark) or the like in order to implement a function cooperating with the vehicle10such as audio streaming, handsfree call, data communication or the like. This communication may be used to implement a door lock/unlock function or the like.

The portable terminal20A carried by an owner of the vehicle10A is registered as a high priority level portable terminal in the communication device14A of the vehicle10A. The portable terminal20B carried by an owner of the vehicle10B is registered as a high priority level portable terminal in the communication device14B of the vehicle10B. The priorities (which is assumed as high or low for description but may be middle) of respective portable terminals20are stored as a table in a memory (not shown) of the ECU15. Registration of the portable terminal20may be made with a unique ID used in Bluetooth.

As shown inFIG. 2, each ECU15A,15B includes a controller50for executing various processes and a wireless communicator60for performing wireless communication with the portable terminal20. The controller50includes a wireless communicator controller51for controlling the wireless communicator60. The wireless communicator60includes a communication processor61for performing various communication processes such as authenticating the portable terminal20, establishing the communication and the like, and a transmission output switcher63for switching over a radio wave output transmitted from the antenna16. These controller50and wireless communicator60, or, the wireless communicator controller51, communication processor61, transmission output switcher63and the like built-in these components may be separated and configured as independent elements or separated in software of the ECU15. The portable terminal20includes a wireless communicator21for performing communication with the communication device14.

The transmission output switcher63switches over the output of the radio wave. Thereby, a communication range, which is a range where the antenna16and the portable terminal20is communicable, is switched over between two communication ranges which are a long communication range E1and a short communication range E2as schematically shown inFIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 1, the communication range E2covers a driver seat11(including not only the driver seat11but also a cabin space above it). The communication range E1contains the communication range E2and covers the entire of the vehicle cabin including the driver seat11, the front passenger seat12, and the rear seat13.

Processes in Embodiment

The wireless communicator controller51repeatedly performs the process illustrated inFIG. 3at fixed time intervals while the ECU15is connected to the battery. As shown inFIG. 3, in this process, it is determined first at S1whether or not the total number of portable terminals20already connected reaches a maximum number (MAX. NO). When the total number does not reach the maximum number (S1: N), the process proceeds to S2and it is determined whether or not a priority level of a portable terminal20targeted for a next connection attempt is a high level. Specifically, in S2to S7, attempts to connect to respective portable terminals20registered in the table are sequentially made in the below way. When the process proceeds to S2for the first time, it is determined whether or not the priority level of the portable terminal20registered in the first on the table is a high level.

When the priority level is high (S2: Y), the attempt to connect is made with the long communication range E1at S3. At S4, it is determined whether or not the communication has succeeded. When the communication has succeeded (S4: Y), the process is ended. When the communication has failed (S4: N), the process proceeds to S2again. At S2, it is determined whether or not a priority level of a portable terminal20targeted for a next connection attempt is a high level. After the attempt to connect the portable terminal20registered at the end on the table is made, the selection of the portable terminal20at S2is made in a loop manner so that the portable terminal20registered in the first on the table is selected.

When it is determined at S2that the priority level of the portable terminal20is not a high level (S2: N), the attempt to connect is made at S5with the short communication range E2. At S6, it is determined whether or not the connection has succeeded. When the connection has succeeded (S6: Y), it is determined at S7that this portable terminal20is a driver's portable terminal20, and the process is ended. When the connection has not succeeded (S6: N), the process proceeds to S2again.

When it is determined at S1that the total number of portable terminals20already connected reaches the maximum number (S1: Y), the process proceeds to S8. At S8, it is determined whether or not among the already-connected portable terminals20, there is the portable terminal20determines as the driver's one at S7. When there is the portable terminal20determines as the driver's one (S8: Y), the process is ended. When there is no portable terminal20determines as the driver's one (S8: N), the process proceeds to S9. At S9, the connection to the lowest priority level portable terminal20is disconnected, and then the process proceeds to S2. At S9, when multiple portable terminals20are equally the low priority level, arbitrarily-selected one of the multiple portable terminals20may be disconnected, or the last-connected one or oldest-connected one of the multiple portable terminals20may be disconnected.

Technical Effect in Embodiment

In the present embodiment, the attempt to connect a high priority level portable terminal20is made using the long communication range E1(S3), while the attempt to connect a low priority level portable terminal20is made using the short communication range E2(S5). Therefore, the low priority level portable terminal20cannot perform the communication unless it is carried into the driver seat11, and it becomes possible for an intended communication device14and a portable terminal20to satisfactorily perform communication therebetween.

For example, as shown inFIG. 4, suppose that the two vehicles10A and10B are parked or traveling side by side, and that the long communication range E1of the communication device14B partially covers the driver seat11A of the vehicle10A. Now, for sake of comparison, it is assumed that each communication device14A,14B attempts to connect to all the portable terminals20using the long communication range E1. In this case, if the communication device14B has the above-described maximum number of 2 and the communication device14B is connected to only the portable terminal20B, the portable terminal20A may perform the communication with the communication device14B. Then, if the communication between the portable terminal20A and the communication device14B starts before the portable terminal20A starts communication with the communication device14A, as long as this communication is disconnected, the portable terminal20A cannot perform the communication with the intended communication device14A.

In other words, although the portable terminal20A and the communication device14A may become communicable finally, it may take a time to establish the communication. Furthermore, if the portable terminals20C and20D each given a low priority level for the communication device14A are connected to the communication device14A prior to disconnecting the communication between the portable terminal20A and the communication device14B, the communication between the portable terminal20A and the communication device14A becomes more difficult provided that the above-described maximum total number is 2.

By contrast, in the present embodiment, because the attempt to connect the low priority level portable terminal20is made using the short communication range E2(S5), the portable terminal20A is not connected to the communication device14B as long as the portable terminal20is out of the communication range E2of the communication device14B as shown inFIG. 1. Therefore, the portable terminal20A which is given the high priority level for the communication device14A can be satisfactorily connected to the communication device14A (S3).

Moreover, when a person carrying the portable terminal20A which is given the low priority level for the communication device14B gets into the driver seat11B of the vehicle10B as a driver, this portable terminal20A is inside the communication range E2of the communication device14B (S6: Y). Therefore, the low priority level portable terminal20A carried by the driver is satisfactorily connected to the communication device14B.

Additionally, in the above case, because it is determined that the portable terminal20A is the driver's one (S7), this connection is maintained even if multiple portable terminals20given higher priority level for the communication device14B than the portable terminal20A are carried into the cabin of the vehicle10B (S8: Y). Additionally, even if the total number of already-connected portable terminals20is the maximum number at a time when the driver gets into the vehicle (S1; Y), there is no driver's one among the already-connected ones (S8: N), and thus, the attempt to connect the driver's portable terminal20is made. Therefore, the present embodiment can satisfactorily connect the portable terminal20carried by the driver to the communication device14of the vehicle10which he or she intends to drive.

In the above way, the present embodiment satisfactorily enables communication between an intended communication device14and portable terminal20by referencing the position of the portable terminal20using the long communication range E1and short communication range E2of the communication device14. Additionally, in the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 1, both the communication ranges E1and E2partially protrude outside the vehicle. Therefore, the present embodiment is applicable to processes that instruct the lock and unlock of the door of the vehicle10with the portable terminal20. Examples of this application include the followings. When unlocking his or her own vehicle10A, an owner of the portable terminal20A can operate at a position distant from the vehicle10A. When unlocking his or her family member's vehicle10B with this portable terminal20A, he or she needs to operate at a position close to the driver seat11.

Other Embodiments

Embodiments in the present disclosure are not limited to the above-illustrated embodiments and can have various forms. For example, while two communication ranges of the small communication range E2and the large communication range E1larger than the small communication range E2are being employed, the portable terminals20may be connected according to priority level regardless of whether or not it is carried by the driver. This processing can be implemented by, for example, omitting S7and S8inFIG. 3In this case, although the low priority level portable terminal20may be disconnected from the communication device14if it is carried by the driver, the high priority level portable terminal20can be surely connected to the communication device14.

There are various ways of ranking the priority level, including ranking according to an order of past-connections from newest, according to a descending order of the total number of connections, according to user's setting, and the like. In these cases, the high priority level may read the priory level that is higher than or equal to a predetermined ranking. This predetermined ranking may be pre-designated or may be settable arbitrarily.

Furthermore, there are various modifications in the communication ranges E1, E2of the embodiment. For example, the short communication range E2may cover the driver seat11and the front passenger seat12. Additionally, when the communication is used for the processes that instruct the lock and unlock of the door of the vehicle10, the short communication range E2may cover the surrounding of the vehicle10(e.g., an area within 1 meter from the periphery) and the long communication range E1may cover an area within about 5 meters from the vehicle10. In contrast, when the communication may be used for processes that used only inside the cabin of the vehicle10, the communication ranges E1, E2may be restricted to the vehicle cabin. Furthermore, three or more communication ranges may be prepared.

The process ofFIG. 3or the modification of the process may be started upon a communication request from the portable terminal20. In this case, it may be determined whether or not the priority level of the portable terminal20is high (S2), and a response to the connection request may be made using the communication range E1or E2(S3, S5) that matches the priority level. Only the high priority level portable terminal20may be registered in the ECU15, and a non-registered portable terminal20may be deemed low priority. Moreover, in the process ofFIG. 3, when the total number of already-connected portable terminals20reaches the maximum number (S1: Y) and there is the driver's one among these (S8: Y), only S1and S8are repeated. In this state, only after a new connection request is made, the process ofFIG. 3may be performed.

In the above embodiment, the output of the radio wave transmitted from the antenna16is switched over and thereby the communication range E1and E2is switched over. Alternatively, multiple antennas16having different communication ranges may be provided and an antenna16to be used may be switched over. For example, as shown in the block diagram ofFIG. 5, an antenna16corresponding to the communication range E1and an antenna16corresponding to the communication range E2may be provided, and an antenna switch switcher65(antenna SW switcher) of the wireless communicator60may switch over the antenna16to be used.

In this case, the antenna16to be used is switched over by a switching operation of the antenna switch switcher65and the communication range E1and E2is switched over as is the case in the above embodiment. This provides the same operations and effects as the above embodiment. Additionally, because the switching over of the antenna16to be used enables the use of many antennas16in arbitrary combinations, the communication range can be switched over in more detailed manners.

In the above embodiments, the antenna16and the wireless communicator60correspond to a communicator (communication means), the portable terminal20corresponds to a terminal, and the controller50corresponds to a communication controller (communication control means). Additionally, technical ideas embodied in the above embodiments are applicable to communication devices in various fields other than the vehicle. For example, the same control is applicable to communications between a personal computer and a terminal such as a cellular phone, a mouse and the like.

Although embodiments and configurations in the present disclosure are illustrated above, embodiments and configurations in the present disclosure are limited to those illustrated above. For example, embodiments and configurations in the present disclosure cover those obtained by appropriately combining technical elements disclosed in different embodiments and configurations.