Communication apparatus having wired communication function and wireless communication function, and control method therefor

• US 20010004242A1
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Published: 06/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Izumi, Michihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,061,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00312 with a digital transmission apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, SMS or ISDN device transmitting or receiving via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network or the internet H04N1/00214; transmission of digital information H04L
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0027 Adapting to communicate with plural different types of apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0457 Connection protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0471 Terminal access circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13179 Fax, still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1332 Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13322 Integrated circuits

Abstract

A communication apparatus automatically sets the most appropriate communication mode in accordance with the location at which the communication apparatus is used. For example, the communication mode is switched between operating as a master station and operating as a remote station of a wireless communication system depending on whether or not connection is made to a wired communication line.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus having a wired communication function and a wireless communication function, comprising:

determining means for determining whether connection is made to a wired communication line; and

control means for selectively controlling, in accordance with the determination by said determining means, whether to transmit data from said communication apparatus through one of the wired communication line and a wireless communication link.

2. A communication apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein said determining means performs the determination based on whether synchronization with one of layer 1 and layer 2 of the wired communication line can be established.

3. A communication apparatus having a first mode for performing wireless communication under the control of a first wireless communication apparatus and a second mode for controlling so that a second wireless communication apparatus performs wireless communication, said communication apparatus comprising:

determining means for determining whether connection is made to a wired communication line; and

control means for controlling, in accordance with the determination by said determining means, so as to switch between the first mode and the second mode.

4. A communication apparatus according to

claim 3

, wherein said determining means performs the determination based on whether synchronization with one of layer 1 and layer 2 of the wired communication line can be established.

5. A communication apparatus according to

claim 3

, further comprising:

generating means for generating a clock for performing communication through a wireless communication link;

wherein said control means controls, in accordance with the determination by said determining means, to perform one of communication in accordance with a clock extracted from the wired communication line and communication in accordance with the clock generated by said generating means.

6. A communication apparatus according to

claim 3

, wherein said determining means performs the determination when power is supplied to said communication apparatus.

7. A communication apparatus according to

claim 3

, wherein said determining means continuously performs the determination.

8. A communication apparatus according to

claim 3

, wherein said determining means periodically performs the determination.

9. A communication apparatus according to

claim 3

, wherein said control means controls so as to perform display in accordance with the determination by said determining means.

10. A communication apparatus according to

claim 3

, wherein said control means controls so as to display whether to perform one of the communication in the first mode and the communication in the second mode.

11. A communication apparatus according to

claim 3

, wherein the first mode is a mode in which communication through the wired communication line is performed through the first wireless communication apparatus;

and

thee second mode is a mode in which relaying processing is performed to enable the second wireless communication apparatus to perform communication through the wired communication line.

12. A communication apparatus according to

claim 3

, wherein said control means converts, in accordance with the switched mode, a received digital signal into one of a digital signal using another encoding system and an analog signal.

13. A communication apparatus according to

claim 3

, wherein said communication apparatus performs digital wireless communication and digital wired communication.

14. A communication apparatus according to

claim 13

, further comprising:

a digital/digital code converter for performing digital/digital code conversion of data received from a digital wireless link and for performing digital/digital reverse code conversion of data received from the wired communication line;

an analog/digital converter for performing digital/analog conversion of the data received from the digital wireless link and for performing analog/digital conversion of data output from a data processor for processing communication data; and

a selector switch for switching to interconnect the digital/digital code converter and the wired communication line when said communication apparatus and the wired communication line are connected to each other or to interconnect the digital/digital code converter and the analog/digital converter when said communication apparatus and the wired communication line are not connected to each other.

15. A method for controlling a communication apparatus having a wired communication function and a wireless communication function, comprising the steps of:

determining whether connection is made to a wired communication line; and

selectively controlling, in accordance with the determination in said determining step, whether to transmit data from said communication apparatus through one of the wired communication line and a wireless communication link.

16. A method for controlling a communication apparatus having a first mode for performing wireless communication under the control of a first wireless communication apparatus and a second mode for controlling so that a second wireless communication apparatus performs wireless communication, said method comprising the steps of:

determining whether connection is made to a wired communication line; and

controlling, in accordance with the determination in said determining step, so as to switch between the first mode and the second mode.