JP7439601B2 - Communication device and control method for communication device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a communication device and a method of controlling the communication device, and more particularly to a communication device that transmits and receives packet data, and a method of controlling the communication device.

The APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System: registered trademark) message function is used when you want to send a message by specifying a specific partner station. APRS messages are transmitted and received as individual packet data different from beacons. The partner station receives the APRS message and sends an acknowledgment message (ACK) back to its own station. The APRS message is sent up to five times until an acknowledgment message (ACK) is received.

Furthermore, when the local station receives an APRS message and cannot directly receive user operation input, there is a message automatic response function that sends a preset response message to the other station. This response message has "AA:" meaning "Auto Answer message" added to the beginning. Note that Patent Document 1 discloses a communication device related to such an automatic message response function.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-033184

The APRS message sender who sent the APRS message can be notified of the reception of the APRS message and the absence of the APRS message recipient by the message automatic response function. However, if the APRS message recipient is located far from the communication device, he or she may not be able to immediately acknowledge receipt of the APRS message.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device and a method of controlling the communication device that allow a user to immediately recognize reception of an APRS message even if the user is located away from the communication device.

The communication device according to this embodiment includes:
a receiving section;
a control unit that determines whether the transfer function is enabled or disabled;
comprising an automatic transfer means;
When the receiving unit receives an APRS message transmitted by another communication device and the control unit determines that the transfer function is valid, the automatic transfer means transfers transfer information including at least the APRS message to APRS. The email is forwarded to the Internet mail address set as the forwarding destination via the gateway station and the APRS server connected to the APRS gateway station.

The method for controlling a communication device according to the present embodiment is as follows:
receiving an APRS message sent by another communication device;
a step of determining whether the automatic transfer function is enabled or disabled;
When the APRS message is received and the automatic forwarding function is determined to be valid, forwarding information including at least the APRS message is forwarded via an APRS gateway station and an APRS server connected to the APRS gateway station. forwarding the email to the Internet email address set as the destination.

According to this embodiment, even if the user is away from the communication device, the user can immediately recognize the reception of the APRS message.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an operation of an example of a communication device according to a first embodiment; FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a setting screen. 3 is a flowchart showing message reception processing. 3 is a flowchart showing message reception processing. 3 is a flowchart showing e-mail message creation processing. 3 is a table showing the relationship between each step in the e-mail message creation process and the e-mail message. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating each character string configuring an e-mail message. 3 is a flowchart showing response message command creation processing. 12 is a flowchart showing a process for implementing a QSY function using VoIP. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display on a display.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Further, in order to clarify the explanation, the following description and drawings are simplified as appropriate.

(Embodiment 1)
Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication device according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the communication device 100 includes a control unit 1, a DSP 2, a transmitting/receiving circuit 3, and an antenna 4.

The control unit 1 controls each component of the communication device 100. The control unit 1 has a hardware configuration including, for example, an arithmetic circuit having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a storage device having a program memory, data memory, RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. may be provided. The control unit 1 acquires data from each component of the communication device 100, and uses an arithmetic circuit to calculate various data according to a program stored in the storage device. The control unit 1 determines whether the transfer function and automatic response function are enabled or disabled.

A DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 2 is a processor that performs digital signal processing. The DSP 2 is connected to a control unit 1, a transmitting/receiving circuit 3, a microphone 5, and a speaker 6. An antenna 4 is connected to the transmitter/receiver circuit 3 .

The transmitting/receiving circuit 3 receives data transmitted by another communication device (not shown) via the antenna 4. The other communication device may have the same configuration as the communication device 100, or may have a different configuration. The DSP 2 acquires the data received by the transmitting/receiving circuit 3. The format of this acquired data may be a packet. It may also indicate the acquired data, characters, location, weather, etc. The DSP 2 demodulates the acquired data, decodes the character string of the packet included in the data, and supplies the decoded character string to the control unit 1. The DSP 2, the transmitting/receiving circuit 3, and the antenna 4 function as a receiving section. The control unit 1 analyzes this supplied packet.

The control unit 1 assembles packet data. The DSP 2 generates a signal by modulating the assembled packet data. The transmitting/receiving circuit 3 amplifies the signal generated by the DSP 2 and transmits it via the antenna 4. The DSP 2, the transmitting/receiving circuit 3, and the antenna 4 function as automatic transfer means.

Note that the communication device 100 may further include a microphone 5, a speaker 6, a GNSS module 7, a nonvolatile memory 8, a LAN port 9, a display 10, a PTT switch 11, an operation unit 12, and an RTC 13.

The microphone 5 picks up the voice emitted by the user of the communication device 100 and converts it into an audio signal. The DSP 2 performs processing such as band limitation on this audio signal to generate a modulated wave. The transmitting/receiving circuit 3 modulates a carrier wave using the modulated wave generated by the DSP 2 and transmits it via the antenna 4.

When acquiring audio data, the DSP 2 generates an audio signal by D/A converting, demodulating and decoding the acquired audio data. The speaker 6 emits sound based on the audio signal generated by the DSP 2.

The GNSS module 7 includes an antenna that receives radio waves from a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellite, and a receiver that receives GNSS signals output from the antenna. An example of GNSS is GPS (Global Positioning System). The GNSS module 7 acquires position information indicating the position of the communication device 100 and supplies it to the control unit 1. If the communication device 100 is not movable with the user but is fixed at a predetermined position, the position information of the communication device 100 may be stored in the nonvolatile memory 8.

The nonvolatile memory 8 is, for example, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). The nonvolatile memory 8 may record, for example, an APRS message, an address to which the APRS message is transferred, and the like. The display 10 may display predetermined information and may include touch keys.

A PTT (Push To Talk) switch 11 is pressed by the user in order to perform an operation of speaking and transmitting an audio signal. The control unit 1 keeps the communication device 100 in a reception standby state when the PTT switch 11 is not pressed, and keeps the communication device 100 in a transmission state when the PTT switch 11 is pressed. The operation unit 12 receives operation input from the user. The content of this accepted operation input is, for example, setting at least one of a transfer function and an automatic response function to be enabled or disabled. The RTC (Real Time Clock) 13 generates time information by measuring time. This generated time information may be used as a timestamp.

(One operation example)
Next, an example of the operation of the communication device 100 will be described using FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the operation of the communication device shown in FIG. This operation example shows a message forwarding function (Forward function) that forwards an APRS message to an e-mail terminal owned and operated by the user of the communication device 100.

Terminal 100a and terminal 100b shown in FIG. 2 are examples of communication device 100 shown in FIG. The terminal 100a is assigned a call sign "AAAAAA-7", and the terminal 100b is assigned a call sign "BBBBBB-7". Strictly speaking, a call sign is assigned to a wireless station that includes a communication device, but in this case, it will be treated as consent. In this operation example, the terminal 100b is set in advance to enable (ON) the message transfer function.

The terminal 100a receives an operation input by the user of the terminal 100a, and transmits a transmission APRS message M1 to the terminal 100b. When the terminal 100b receives the transmission APRS message M1 from the terminal 100a, it transmits a reception confirmation APRS message M2 (ACK) to the terminal 100a.

The terminal 100b transmits a transfer APRS message M4 (transfer information). Transfer APRS message M4 includes send APRS message M1.

Further, the transfer APRS message M4 may be transfer information including information on the Internet line connection destination of the terminal 100b. The Internet line connection destination information is information regarding remote control on the terminal 100b side. The control unit of the terminal 100b may accept remote control of the terminal 100b from the e-mail terminal 40 set based on the Internet line connection destination information of the terminal 100b. For example, it is an Internet mail address that can be received by the terminal 100b, an IP address of the terminal 100b, and the like. As an example of remote control of the terminal 100b from the e-mail terminal 40, there is a process (see FIG. 7) of implementing a QSY function for setting the communication frequency of the terminal 100b using VoIP, as described later.
Further, when the terminal 100b receives a response message to the outgoing APRS message M1 included in the forwarded APRS message M4 via the Internet line connection section by remote control from the e-mail terminal 40, the terminal 100b sends the outgoing APRS message M1. Allows the response message to be sent as a response APRS message to other communication devices.

I-GATE20 is assigned the call sign "CCCCCC-1". When the I-GATE 20 receives the transfer APRS message M4, the I-GATE 20 transfers the transfer APRS message M4 to the APRS server 30. Although I-GATE 20 is used here, an APRS gateway station other than I-GATE may be used.

Furthermore, the APRS server 30 forwards the forwarded APRS message M4 to a predetermined Internet mail address (E-mail destination). The e-mail terminal 40 only needs to be able to receive mail transferred to this Internet mail address. The e-mail terminal 40 is a personal computer, but may also be a tablet, a smartphone, etc., for example.

E-mail terminal 40 notifies the user of terminal 100b of the transferred APRS message M4. Note that in many cases, the user of the e-mail terminal 40 and the user of the terminal 100b are the same person. Further, in many cases, the e-mail terminal 40 is located at a location where the user of the terminal 100b can operate it, or is carried by the user. Since the transferred APRS message M4, that is, the transfer information, includes the content of the transmitted APRS message M1, the user of the terminal 100b can confirm the content of the transmitted APRS message M1 from the transferred APRS message M4.

The e-mail terminal 40 has an application installed thereon that can remotely control the terminal 100b, and can send a response message to the terminal 100b via the Internet 50 and modem 60 using a command, for example. The e-mail terminal 40 receives an operation input from the user of the terminal 100b, for example, an input of clicking on an e-mail link. Then, the call sign and message line number of the other party are automatically set on the e-mail terminal 40, and the PC application is started with the response message input.

If the automatic response message function is enabled, the terminal 100b can replace the automatic response message M3 with a command message until the automatic response waiting time elapses. Terminal 100b transmits automatic response message M3 to terminal 100a.

As described above, when the terminal 100b receives the sent APRS message M1, it can forward the sent APRS message M1 to the forwarding destination email address. Therefore, the user of the terminal 100b can use the e-mail terminal 40 to immediately check the contents of the transferred APRS message transferred to the forwarding destination e-mail address. As a result, even if the user of the terminal 100b is away from the terminal 100b and cannot confirm reception of the transmitted APRS message from the terminal 100b, the user of the terminal 100b can immediately confirm the contents of the transmitted APRS message M1.

Note that, in the case where the message transfer function of the terminal 100b is set to be disabled (OFF), the above-described operation example is not performed.

(Message forwarding function setting screen)
Next, a setting screen for setting the message transfer function will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen.

As shown in FIG. 3, the setting screen 110 has settings such as "APRS Message Forward", "OFF", "ON(E-mail1)", "ON(E-mail2)", "ON(E-mail3)", etc. indicate. The setting screen 110 is a specific example of the display 10 shown in FIG. 1, or a specific example of the display 10 of either terminal 100a or 100b shown in FIG. The setting screen 110 is used to set the message transfer function. The setting screen 110 receives an input from the user to select any one of "OFF", "ON(E-mail1)", "ON(E-mail2)", and "ON(E-mail3)". The setting screen 110 accepts an input "ON (E-mail1)" from the user. It is preferable to have multiple e-mail addresses that can be set because they can be switched depending on the situation. The number of e-mail addresses that can be set is three, but preferably one or more.

(Message reception processing)
Next, an example of message reception processing of the terminal 100b will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B. 4A and 4B are flowcharts showing message reception processing.

A packet is received (step ST11). Subsequently, the DTI (Data Type Identifier) of the received packet is determined (step ST12).

If the DTI is ":" (step ST12: YES), the received packet is a message packet, so the destination call sign is determined (step ST13). Note that if the DTI is other than ":" (step ST12: NO), the received packet is not a message packet, so the message reception process is ended.

Subsequently, by comparing the character strings of the destination call sign and the local call sign, it is determined whether or not they match (step ST13). The local call sign is set in the communication device 100.

If it is determined that the destination call sign and the local call sign match (step ST13: YES), the received packet is determined to be an APRS message (step ST14). If the destination call sign and the call sign of the local station do not match (step ST13: NO), the received packet is not a message addressed to the local station, so the message reception process is ended.

Subsequently, the call sign of the other station is acquired (step ST15). Specifically, the call sign portion of the other station is extracted from the received packet and stored.

Subsequently, the message body is extracted from the received packet and stored (step ST16). Subsequently, the line number is extracted from the received packet and stored (step ST17). Subsequently, a reception confirmation APRS message M2 (ACK) packet is created and transmitted (step ST18).

Subsequently, it is determined whether the message forwarding function (Forward function) is enabled (ON) or disabled (OFF) (step ST19). If the message transfer function is enabled (step ST19: YES), a message for e-mail is created (step ST20). Details of this step ST20 will be described later using flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C. If the message transfer function is set to be disabled (step ST19: NO), the process moves to automatic message response determination (step ST22).

Next, the created e-mail message is sent (step ST21).

Subsequently, it is determined whether the automatic message response function is enabled (ON) or disabled (OFF) (step ST22). If the automatic message response function is enabled (step ST22: YES), the elapse of the automatic response waiting time is monitored (step ST23: NO). If the automatic response waiting time has elapsed (ST23: YES), the process moves to automatic response message response processing (steps ST24 to ST26). The automatic response waiting time is set to a predetermined time. If the automatic message response function is set to be disabled (step ST22: NO), the message reception process is ended.

Subsequently, it is determined whether a command for a response message has been received (step ST24). If a response message command is not received (step ST24: NO), a preset message is responded as the automatic response message M3 (step ST25).

When a command for a response message is received (step ST24: YES), the command message is replaced with a preset message and is responded to as an automatic response message M3 (step ST26).

(E-mail message creation process)
Next, E-mail message creation processing will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5C. FIG. 5A is a flowchart showing e-mail message creation processing. FIG. 5B is a table showing the relationship between each step in the e-mail message creation process and the e-mail message. FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating each character string forming an e-mail message.

This e-mail message creation process is the details of step ST20 shown in FIG. 4B, and is a process of assembling an e-mail message.

One character ":" (colon) is set to start setting the destination call sign area (step ST31). Subsequently, the character string "EMAIL" is set in the destination call sign area (step ST32). The destination call sign area is fixed at 9 characters, so set ``EMAIL'' followed by 4 ``'' (spaces). To start setting the message body area, one character ":" (colon) is set (step ST33).

The destination e-mail address is set at the beginning of the message body area (step ST34). The destination e-mail address is set by the APRS message transfer function, and is "abc@def.com" in the examples shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C. Next, one character " " (space) is set (step ST35).

Next, a reply destination e-mail address is set (step ST36). The e-mail address of the reply destination is the Internet mail address of the terminal 100b, and is "def@def.com" in the example shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C. Subsequently, similarly to step ST35, one character " " (space) is set (step ST37).

Subsequently, the IP address of the terminal 100b is set (step ST38). This IP address is "111.222.33.44" in the example shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C. Subsequently, similarly to step ST35, one character " " (space) is set (step ST39).

Subsequently, QSY information is set (step ST40). This QSY information is "430.000MHz" in the example shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C. Subsequently, similarly to step ST35, one character " " (space) is set (step ST41).

Subsequently, the received message is set (step ST42). This received message is "hello!" in the example shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C. Subsequently, similarly to step ST35, one character " " (space) is set (step ST43).

Subsequently, the other station's call sign is set (step ST44). The call sign of the other station consists of "de" and a character string indicating the call sign format, and in the example shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, it is "de AAAAAA".

Finally, a line number is set (step ST45). This line number is "{00001" in the example shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C.

(Response message command creation process)
Next, the response message command creation process will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the response message command creation process.

The response message command creation process is a process of assembling a response message. Next to each block shown in FIG. 6, an example of a response message that is being assembled is shown.

Response message parameters are set (step ST51). One character ":" (colon) is set as a delimiter (step ST52).

Subsequently, the call sign of the other station is set (step ST53). In the example shown in FIG. 6, the call sign of the other station is "AAAAAA". As in step ST52, one character ":" (colon) is set as a delimiter (step ST54).

Subsequently, a response message is set (step ST55). An example of the response message shown in FIG. 6 is "TEST". Another example of the response message is content indicating that the user of the terminal 100b is away from the terminal 100b at the time the response message is sent. Another example of the response message is content indicating the point in time when the user of the terminal 100b will be able to use the terminal 100b again.

Subsequently, a response message line number is set (step ST56). An example of the response message line number shown in FIG. 6 is "{00001".

From the above, a response message can be created. Control can be performed to send the contents of the response message to the e-mail address of the terminal 100b.

(Processing to implement QSY function using VoIP)
Next, processing for implementing the QSY function using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) will be described with reference to FIG.

Note that as one of the Q codes used internationally in wireless communications, there is QSY, which is used to change the operating voice communication frequency. The QSY function uses this QSY to exchange audio band frequency information. In APRS, the QSY function exchanges frequency information by using the AFRS (Automatic Frequency Reporting System) format included in the APRS communication protocol.

Specifying the IP address of the terminal 100b shown in FIG. 2, the e-mail terminal 40 connects to the terminal 100b (step ST61). Next, a TCP connection is made to the TCP number to enable command communication (step ST62). The TCP number is, for example, "TCP:6000". Subsequently, the frequency is changed to QSY frequency (step ST63). Subsequently, a UDP connection is made to the UDP number (step ST64). The UDP number is, for example, "UDP:60001". Subsequently, the audio is packetized (step ST65), mutual audio communication (transmission and reception) is performed, and a QSY response is made (step ST66). Thereby, even if the user of the terminal 100b is away from the terminal 100b, the user can use the e-mail terminal 40 to change the audio communication frequency used by the terminal 100b.

(Example of display)
Next, with reference to FIG. 8, a display example of the display 210, which is an example of the display 10 of the communication device 100, will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8, the display 210 includes display areas 10a to 10e.

The display 210 displays the reception frequency and the transmission frequency in the display area 10a. When an APRS message is received, the display 210 displays APRS information as an interrupt screen in the display area 10a.

The display 210 displays a cross key and an "ENT" (decision) key in the middle of the cross key in the display area 10b. This cross key and this "ENT" key are touch keys, and accept operation inputs from the user. This operation input includes frequency changes, character input, menu settings, and the like.

The display 210 displays a numeric keypad in the display area 10c. This numeric keypad is a touch key and accepts operation input from the user. This operation input includes changing the frequency, inputting characters, and the like.

The display 210 displays a message to be sent that is being created or has been created in the display area 10d. The display 210 displays a "Message SEND" button in the display area 10f. This "Message SEND" button is a touch key and accepts operation input from the user. This operational input is the transmission of a message.

The display 210 displays a "TUNE" button in the display area 10g. This "TUNE" button is a touch key and accepts operation input from the user. This operation input is the execution of QSY.

Display 210 displays QSY information in display area 10e. This QSY information is the call sign of the other station and the frequency to be changed.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit.

100 Communication device 100a Terminal 100b Terminal 1 Control unit 2 DSP
3 Transmission/reception circuit 4 Antenna 5 Microphone 6 Speaker 7 GNSS module 8 Nonvolatile memory 9 LAN ports 10, 110, 210 Display (setting screen)
10a-10g Display area 11 PTT switch 12 Operation unit 30 APRS server 40 E-mail terminal 50 Internet 60 Modem M1 Outgoing APRS message M2 Reception confirmation APRS message M3 Automatic response message M4 Transfer APRS message ST11-ST26, ST31-ST45, ST51- ST56, ST61~ST66 steps

Claims (4)

a receiving section;
a control unit that determines whether the transfer function is enabled or disabled;
comprising an automatic transfer means;
When the receiving unit receives an APRS message transmitted by another communication device and the control unit determines that the transfer function is valid, the automatic transfer means transfers transfer information including at least the APRS message to APRS. forwarding to an Internet mail address set as a forwarding destination via a gateway station and an APRS server connected to the APRS gateway station;
Communication device. Equipped with an internet line connection section to connect to the internet line,
The control unit includes Internet line connection destination information for connecting to the internet line connection unit in the transfer information and forwards it to the transfer destination Internet mail address,
The control unit accepts a remote operation to the communication device set based on the Internet line connection destination information from a transfer destination terminal that can obtain the transfer information at the transfer destination Internet mail address.
The communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control unit includes:
When a response message to the APRS message is received from the Internet line connection unit by remote control from the transfer destination terminal, the response message is permitted to be transmitted as an APRS message to another communication device that transmitted the APRS message;
The communication device according to claim 2, characterized in that: receiving an APRS message sent by another communication device;
a step of determining whether the automatic transfer function is enabled or disabled;
When the APRS message is received and the automatic forwarding function is determined to be valid, forwarding information including at least the APRS message is forwarded via an APRS gateway station and an APRS server connected to the APRS gateway station. forwarding the email to the Internet email address set as the destination;
A method of controlling communication equipment.

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