JP2012049766A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus enabling easy post-facto inspection on whether communication has any trouble, in the electronic apparatus to which a wireless LAN module can externally be installed or which has a built-in wireless LAN module.SOLUTION: The electronic apparatus to which the wireless LAN module can externally be installed or which has the built-in wireless LAN module is provided with a recording unit (such as a nonvolatile memory 7) which when a predetermined change occurs in the connection situation of a wireless LAN between the wireless LAN module and a wireless LAN access point, records time information and content information relating to the change.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to an electronic device in which a wireless LAN module can be externally attached or a wireless LAN module is incorporated.

  In recent years, various network compatible electronic devices such as ActVila (registered trademark) compatible television receivers are on the market. Such network-compatible electronic devices can be broadly classified into those using a wired LAN (Local Area Network) and those using a wireless LAN.

JP 2008-288719 A (paragraphs 0084 and 0085) JP 2008-047956 A (paragraph 0024, FIG. 3) JP 2006-093926 A (paragraph 0024) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-109901 (paragraph 0034) Japanese translation of PCT publication No. 2003-511901 (paragraph 0024)

  A network-compatible electronic device that uses a wireless LAN is more unstable in communication than a network-compatible electronic device that uses a wired LAN. A configuration is desirable. For example, when a long-term aging test is performed on a network-compatible electronic device that uses a wireless LAN before shipment from the factory, the long-term aging test can be performed if it is possible to easily verify whether there is a communication problem afterwards. Work to analyze the results will be easier.

  Note that the wireless communication device proposed in Patent Document 1 is configured to store the reception success rate of the previous BA 70 (one of the received data) or the BA 70 reception success rate in the past predetermined period. It is not a configuration that can easily verify whether there is a problem later.

  In addition, the communication device proposed in Patent Document 2 is configured to measure a time during which the intensity of the signal received by the communication interface is equal to or less than a threshold value as a non-transmission time, and when there was a problem in communication (for example, when communication Whether the intensity of the signal received by the interface has changed from a state larger than the threshold value to a state lower than the threshold value) cannot be easily verified afterwards.

  In addition, the wireless network connection device identification method proposed in Patent Document 3 simply stores the history of time and reception strength, and data when there is no problem in communication also remains in the history. Therefore, it cannot be easily verified afterwards when there was a communication problem.

  In addition, the wireless LAN device proposed in Patent Document 4 simply stores connection history information, and the data when there is no communication problem remains in the history. It is not a configuration that easily verifies whether or not there has been.

  Patent Document 5 describes that it is beneficial to consider signal strength in addition to power-on history, but does not describe how to consider signal strength. A configuration for easily verifying when there was a problem in communication afterwards is not disclosed.

  In view of the above situation, the present invention provides an electronic device in which a wireless LAN module can be externally attached or has a built-in wireless LAN module, and can easily and later verify whether there is a communication problem. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, an electronic device according to the present invention is an electronic device to which a wireless LAN module can be attached externally or has a built-in wireless LAN module, between the wireless LAN module and the wireless LAN access point. When there is a predetermined change in the connection state of the wireless LAN, a configuration is provided that includes a recording unit that records time information and content information relating to the change.

  According to such a configuration, when there is a predetermined change in the connection state of the wireless LAN between the wireless LAN module and the wireless LAN access point, time information and content information regarding the change are recorded. By outputting the recorded contents, it can be verified afterwards whether there was a communication problem. In addition, since the data when there is no predetermined change in the connection state of the wireless LAN between the wireless LAN module and the wireless LAN access point is not recorded, the above verification becomes easy.

  The predetermined change preferably includes a change in which the wireless LAN between the wireless LAN module and the wireless LAN access point changes from a connected state to a disconnected state. This makes it possible to grasp the most serious problem of the wireless LAN connection status.

  Preferably, the predetermined change further includes a change in which the wireless LAN between the wireless LAN module and the wireless LAN access point changes from a disconnected state to a connected state. Thereby, it becomes possible to grasp how long the cut state has continued.

  In addition, the predetermined change is a change in which a reception signal received by the wireless LAN module changes from a certain strength to less than the certain strength, and a reception signal received by the wireless LAN module A change that changes from less than a certain intensity to more than the certain intensity may be further included.

  In addition, a video / audio processing unit that performs video / audio streaming playback based on a received signal received by the wireless LAN module, a monitoring unit that monitors whether a problem occurs in the streaming playback, and the streaming playback When a problem occurs, an information recording unit may be provided that records information relating to the occurrence of the problem in streaming playback. In such a configuration, the recording unit and the information recording unit may be the same memory or different memories.

  According to the electronic device of the present invention, when there is a predetermined change in the wireless LAN connection status between the wireless LAN module and the wireless LAN access point, time information and content information relating to the change are recorded. By outputting the recorded contents, it can be verified afterwards whether there is a communication problem. In addition, since the data when there is no predetermined change in the connection state of the wireless LAN between the wireless LAN module and the wireless LAN access point is not recorded, the above verification becomes easy.

It is a figure which shows one schematic structural example of the electronic device which concerns on this invention. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the electronic device shown in FIG. 1 in a wireless LAN connection status recording mode. It is a figure which shows the other schematic structural example of the electronic device which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the other schematic structural example of the electronic device which concerns on this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration example of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention.

  The electronic device shown in FIG. 1 is a DVD recorder, which includes a tuner 1, a video / audio processing unit 2, an OSD (On Screen Display) unit 3, an output unit 4, a DVD recording / reproducing unit 5, and a control unit 6. A nonvolatile memory 7, a light receiving unit 8, and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface 9. For example, a CPU may be used as the control unit 6. The control unit 6 has a calendar function and a clock function.

  The tuner 1 selects and demodulates a television broadcast signal received from the antenna 10 (for example, OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) demodulation). The video / audio processing unit 2 sends the video / audio signal received from the tuner 1 or the video / audio signal reproduced by the DVD recording / reproducing unit 5 to the output unit 4 or the video / audio signal received from the tuner 1 to the optical disc recording / reproducing unit 5. Or a streaming video / audio signal received by the USB interface 9 is sent to the output unit 4 using the wireless LAN module 11. The OSD unit 3 sends the OSD image data generated based on the instruction from the control unit 6 to the output unit 4. The output unit 4 outputs a synthesized video signal obtained by synthesizing the video signal received from the video / audio processing unit 2 and the OSD image data received from the OSD unit 3 to the outside, or the video / audio processing unit 2 without performing the synthesis process. The video signal received from the video signal is output to the outside as it is, the OSD image data received from the OSD unit 3 is output as it is without performing the above synthesis process, or the audio signal received from the video / audio processing unit 2 is output to the outside To do. The output signal of the output unit 4 is sent to a television receiver (not shown) connected to the electronic device shown in FIG. The television receiver connected to the electronic device shown in FIG. 1 performs video display and audio output based on the output signal of the output unit 4.

  The DVD recording / reproducing unit 5 records the video / audio signal received from the video / audio processing unit 2 on the optical disc or reproduces the video / audio signal recorded on the optical disc. The optical disc is detachably attached to the DVD recording / reproducing unit 5. Further, the DVD recording / reproducing unit 5 is compatible with a CD in addition to the DVD. When an optical disc is loaded, the type of the optical disc is discriminated, and reproduction or recording is performed according to the discrimination result.

  The light receiving unit 8 receives a remote control infrared signal transmitted from a remote control transmitter (not shown), converts it into an electrical signal, extracts an operation code from the electrical signal, and outputs the operation code to the control unit 6. The control unit 6 includes a control program and various settings stored in the nonvolatile memory 7 (for example, a data table indicating a correspondence relationship between each operation code and each function), an operation code received from the light receiving unit 8, Each part of the electronic device shown in FIG. 1 is controlled in accordance with an operation code determined by a signal output from an operation key group (not shown) provided in the main body of the electronic device shown in FIG.

  A wireless LAN module 11, which is a type of USB device, has a USB terminal (not shown) and is detachably attached to the USB interface 9. When the wireless LAN module 11 is attached to the USB interface 9, the control unit 6 operates the wireless LAN module 11 using a wireless LAN module driver stored in advance in the nonvolatile memory 7. The wireless LAN module 11 can be easily connected to the Internet via a wireless LAN access point (not shown) connected to the network.

  The operation of the electronic device having the above-described configuration in the wireless LAN connection status recording mode shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the wireless LAN connection status recording mode is activated in the electronic device shown in FIG. 1 in a state where the wireless LAN module 11 is externally attached (a state where the wireless LAN module 11 is attached to the USB interface 9), the flowchart of FIG. Operation starts.

  The wireless LAN connection status recording mode is activated by, for example, a special key operation (key operation not described in the user manual) of a remote control transmitter (not shown), and a long-term aging test before factory shipment ( For example, it may be performed at the start of an overnight aging test.

  Further, for example, when the electronic device shown in FIG. 1 is powered on and the wireless LAN module 11 is attached to the USB interface 9, or the electronic device shown in FIG. When the power is turned on, the wireless LAN connection status recording mode may be automatically activated. When the wireless LAN connection status recording mode is automatically activated as described above, the wireless LAN connection status recording mode is set even when the user is using the wireless LAN connection status recording mode, and the wireless LAN connection period is longer than the long-term aging test described above. Since the situation recording mode is set, it is desirable that the recording in step S70, which will be described later, is performed in a ring buffer so that the memory capacity spent for the recording does not become excessive.

  First, in step S10, the control unit 6 determines whether or not the wireless LAN between the wireless LAN module 11 and a wireless LAN access point (not shown) is in a connected state. If the wireless LAN is in a connected state (YES in step S10), the process proceeds to step S20. On the other hand, if the wireless LAN is not connected (NO in step S10), the process proceeds to step S60.

  From the time of shifting to step S20, the control unit 6 monitors whether the wireless LAN between the wireless LAN module 11 and the wireless LAN access point (not shown) changes from a connected state to a disconnected state. If the wireless LAN changes from the connected state to the disconnected state (YES in step S20), the process immediately proceeds to step S70, the date and time when the wireless LAN changes from the connected state to the disconnected state, and the contents of the state change (the wireless LAN is changed from the connected state). (Changed to a disconnected state) is recorded in the nonvolatile memory 7 and then the process proceeds to step S80. On the other hand, if the wireless LAN does not change from the connected state to the disconnected state even after a predetermined period has elapsed from the time when the process proceeds to step S20 (NO in step S30), the process proceeds to step S30.

  In step S <b> 30, the control unit 6 determines whether the received signal received by the wireless LAN module 11 is equal to or higher than a certain strength. If the received signal is above a certain strength (YES in step S30), the process proceeds to step S40. On the other hand, if the received signal is not above a certain strength (NO in step S30), the process proceeds to step S50.

  From the time when the process proceeds to step S40, the control unit 6 monitors whether the reception signal received by the wireless LAN module 11 changes from a certain level of strength to less than a certain level. If the received signal changes from a certain intensity or more to less than a certain intensity (YES in step S40), the process immediately proceeds to step S70, and the date and time and state change of the received signal changes from a certain intensity or more to less than a certain intensity. The contents (the received signal has changed from a certain intensity or more to less than a certain intensity) are recorded in the nonvolatile memory 7 in association with each other, and then the process proceeds to step S80. On the other hand, if the received signal does not change from a certain level of intensity to less than a certain level even after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the transition to Step S40 (NO in Step S40), the process proceeds directly to Step S80.

  Further, from the point of time when the process proceeds to step S50, the control unit 6 monitors whether the reception signal received by the wireless LAN module 11 changes from less than a certain intensity to more than a certain intensity. If the received signal changes from less than a certain intensity to more than a certain intensity (YES in step S50), the process immediately proceeds to step S70, and the date and time and state change of the received signal changes from less than a certain intensity to more than a certain intensity. The contents (the received signal has changed from less than a certain intensity to more than a certain intensity) are recorded in the nonvolatile memory 7 in association with each other, and then the process proceeds to step S80. On the other hand, if the received signal does not change from less than a certain strength to more than a certain strength even after a predetermined period has elapsed since the transition to Step S50 (NO in Step S50), the procedure proceeds directly to Step S80.

  Further, from the point of time when the process proceeds to step S60, the control unit 6 monitors whether the wireless LAN between the wireless LAN module 11 and the wireless LAN access point (not shown) changes from the disconnected state to the connected state. If the wireless LAN changes from the disconnected state to the connected state (YES in step S60), the process immediately proceeds to step S70, the date and time when the wireless LAN changes from the disconnected state to the connected state, and the contents of the state change (the wireless LAN is changed from the disconnected state). (Changed to a connected state) is recorded in the nonvolatile memory 7 and then the process proceeds to step S80. On the other hand, if the wireless LAN does not change from the disconnected state to the connected state even after a predetermined period has elapsed since the transition to step S60 (NO in step S60), the process directly proceeds to step S80.

  The control unit 6 monitors the operation content of a remote control transmitter (not shown) and an operation key group (not shown) provided on the main body of the electronic device shown in FIG. 1, and based on the monitoring result in step S80. Then, it is determined whether or not the history output of the wireless LAN connection status is requested. If the history output of the wireless LAN connection status is not requested (NO in step S80), the process returns to step S10. On the other hand, if the wireless LAN connection status history output is requested (YES in step S80), the data recorded in step S70 is output (step S90). As an output format, for example, there is a format in which OSD image data for displaying a list of data recorded in step S70 is output to a television receiver (not shown) or a monitor (not shown) connected to the output unit 4. Conceivable. Further, for example, the USB device attached to the USB interface 9 is changed from the wireless LAN module 11 to a USB memory (not shown), and the list of data recorded in step S70 is displayed in the form of text data in the USB memory (not shown). The output format can also be considered.

  With the above operation, when a predetermined change occurs in the connection state of the wireless LAN between the wireless LAN module 11 and the wireless LAN access point (not shown), the date and time of the change and the change Since the contents are recorded and the recorded contents can be output, it can be verified afterwards whether there is a communication problem. In addition, since the data when there is no predetermined change in the wireless LAN connection status between the wireless LAN module 11 and the wireless LAN access point (not shown) is not recorded, the above-described verification becomes easy.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment which concerns on this invention was described, the range of this invention is not limited to this, A various change can be added and implemented in the range which does not deviate from the main point of invention.

  For example, in the electronic device shown in FIG. 1, the wireless LAN module 11 is externally attached to the electronic device shown in FIG. 1. However, like the electronic device shown in FIG. 3, the electronic device according to the present invention is wireless. A form incorporating a LAN module may also be used. As a matter of course, the wireless LAN module 11 built in the electronic device shown in FIG. 3 has a USB terminal unlike the wireless LAN module 11 externally attached to the electronic device shown in FIG. There is no configuration.

  Further, for example, the electronic device shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration in which the nonvolatile memory 7 stores a driver for the wireless LAN module. However, like the electronic device shown in FIG. The storage means provided may not store the wireless LAN module driver, and the storage means provided in the wireless LAN module may store the wireless LAN module driver. In FIG. 4, the storage unit itself provided in the wireless LAN module 11 is not shown.

  In the electronic device shown in FIG. 1, since the control unit 6 has a calendar function and a clock function, the wireless LAN connection status between the wireless LAN module 11 and a wireless LAN access point (not shown) is determined. If the electronic device according to the present invention is a DVD player or the like that does not have a render function and a clock function, the wireless LAN module 11 and the wireless LAN can be obtained. Since the date and time when a predetermined change has occurred in the connection status of the wireless LAN with the access point (not shown) cannot be ascertained, the connection between the wireless LAN module 11 and the wireless LAN access point (not shown) is not possible. Instead of recording the date and time when a predetermined change occurred in the wireless LAN connection status, the wireless LAN module is started from the start of the wireless LAN connection status recording mode. The elapsed time to the point where a predetermined change occurred in the connection status of the wireless LAN between the Le 11 and the wireless LAN access point (not shown) may be recorded. The elapsed time can be easily measured by using a counter or the like generally provided in electronic equipment.

  In the electronic device shown in FIG. 1, information about a predetermined change in the wireless LAN connection status between the wireless LAN module 11 and a wireless LAN access point (not shown) is recorded. In addition to this, for example, in a long-term aging test before shipment from the factory, the video / audio processing unit 2 performs streaming reproduction of the video / audio based on the received signal received by the wireless LAN module 11, and the control unit 6 performs the streaming. Whether or not there is a problem in the reproduction is monitored, and when a problem occurs in the streaming reproduction, information on the occurrence of the problem in the streaming reproduction (for example, temporary freeze of the moving image) is stored in the nonvolatile memory 7 Alternatively, it may be recorded in a memory (not shown) other than the nonvolatile memory 7.

  The present invention is not limited to a DVD recorder or a DVD player, and various network-compatible electronic devices (for example, game machines, personal computers, televisions) to which a wireless LAN module can be externally attached or a wireless LAN module is built-in. It can be applied to receivers, set top boxes, etc. When the wireless LAN module is an externally attachable electronic device, the connection between the wireless LAN module and the electronic device is not limited to USB connection, and any type of connector may be used. Good.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tuner 2 Video / audio processing part 3 OSD part 4 Output part 5 DVD recording / reproducing part 6 Control part 7 Non-volatile memory 8 Light receiving part 9 USB interface 10 Antenna 11 Wireless LAN module

Claims (5)

An electronic device in which a wireless LAN module can be externally attached or has a built-in wireless LAN module,
An electronic device comprising: a recording unit that records time information and content information relating to a change when a wireless LAN connection status between the wireless LAN module and the wireless LAN access point changes. machine.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined change includes a change in which a wireless LAN between the wireless LAN module and the wireless LAN access point changes from a connected state to a disconnected state. .   The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined change further includes a change in which a wireless LAN between the wireless LAN module and the wireless LAN access point changes from a disconnected state to a connected state. machine.   The predetermined change is a change in which a reception signal received by the wireless LAN module changes from a certain strength or more to less than the certain strength, and a reception signal received by the wireless LAN module is the certain constant. 4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a change that changes from less than intensity to more than the certain intensity. A video / audio processing unit that performs video / audio streaming playback based on a received signal received by the wireless LAN module;
A monitoring unit that monitors whether a problem occurs in the streaming playback;
5. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising: an information recording unit configured to record information related to the occurrence of a problem in the streaming reproduction when a problem occurs in the streaming reproduction.

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