Communication system, apparatus and methods employing multiple communication networks

• US 20020075876A1
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yoshikawa, Munehiro, Sakusabe, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,512,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.42
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/02 Arrangements for relaying broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/63 to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/00 Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4425 Monitoring of client processing errors or hardware failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/00 Access restriction access security to prevent unauthorised access H04W12/08; Network selection; Access point selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A communication system, method and apparatus which can maintain favorable communication quality without imposing much burden upon a user. A plurality of communication networks are formed between first and second communication apparatus. Upon starting communication between the first and second apparatus, communication quality of the communication networks is measured using at least one of the communication apparatus. One of the communication apparatus is selected for communication based on a result of the measurement. The first and second apparatus may be a base apparatus and a portable terminal apparatus, respectively, for use in the home, in which the base apparatus receives a television broadcast and transmits a selected television program of the broadcast to the terminal apparatus for display thereon. The communication networks may include a radio network and a wireline network. The terminal apparatus may also be adapted to access the Internet via the base apparatus.

Claims

1. A communication method for communicating between at least first and second communication apparatus, comprising the steps of:

forming a plurality of communication networks between the first and second communication apparatus;

measuring, upon starting communication between said first and second apparatus, communication quality of said communication networks using at least one of said communication apparatus; and

selecting one of said communication networks to be used for the communication, based on a result of the measurement.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, further comprising:

setting a priority order between said communication networks;

said measuring comprises measuring the communication quality in order beginning with the communication network having relatively high priority; and

if the communication quality of a particular one of said communication networks satisfies a criterion set in advance therefor, selecting that communication network as the communication network to be used for communication without measuring the communication quality of any other of said communication networks having lower priority.

3. The communication method according to claim 2, wherein:

said communication networks include at least one wireline communication network and at least one radio communication network; and

the at least one wireline communication network has higher priority than the at least one radio communication network.

4. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein each of said communication networks are local communication networks operable within a residential building.

5. The communication method according to claim 4, wherein:

the first communication apparatus is a base apparatus that receives at least a television broadcast signal containing multiple television programs on different respective television channels;

the second communication apparatus is a terminal apparatus having a display;

the terminal apparatus including an operating section that selects a television channel within said television broadcast signal responsive to a user channel selection;

the terminal apparatus transmitting a channel command corresponding to the selected channel to the base apparatus;

the base apparatus receiving the transmitted channel command, tuning to the selected channel to receive a television program on the selected channel and converting the television program of the broadcast signal into a communication signal;

the base apparatus locally transmitting the communication signal on the selected communication network to the terminal apparatus; and

the terminal apparatus receiving the communication signal and converting it to a display signal for display on the display.

6. The communication method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

the base apparatus selectively receiving data signals from the Internet;

the base apparatus converting the received data signals to a data communication signal and transmitting the data communication signal on the selected communication network to the terminal apparatus;

the terminal apparatus receiving the data communication signal and converting it to a video display signal for display on the display.

7. The communication method according to claim 5, wherein,

the base apparatus further receiving video signals via an external video input;

the base apparatus converting the received video signals to a video communication signal and transmitting the video communication signal on the selected communication network to the terminal apparatus;

the terminal apparatus receiving the video communication signal and converting it to a video display signal for display on the display.

8. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein said step of forming a plurality of communication networks between the first and second communication apparatus is performed by:

providing each of said first and second communication apparatus with a radio communication interface to form a radio communication network; and

providing each of said first and second communication apparatus with a wireline interface;

whereby a wireline communication network is formed when said first and second communication apparatus are connected to a wireline therebetween.

9. The communication method according to claim 8, wherein said wireline is selected from the group consisting of a telephone line, a coaxial cable, an IEEE 1394-1995 cable, a fiber optic cable, and a power line.

10. A communication method for communicating between at least first and second communication apparatus, comprising the steps of:

forming a plurality of communication networks between the first and second communication apparatus;

selectively using a first one of said communication networks for communication between said first and second communication apparatus;

monitoring, during communication through the first communication network, communication quality of the first communication network using at least one of said communication apparatus; and

changing over, if the monitored communication quality does not satisfy a criterion, the communication network to be used for further communication to a second one of said communication networks whose communication quality satisfies the criterion.

11. A communication method for communicating between at least first and second communication apparatus, comprising the steps of:

forming a plurality of communication networks between the first and second communication apparatus;

selectively using a first one of said communication networks for communication between said first and second communication apparatus;

monitoring, during communication through one of said communication networks, the network environment using at least one of said communication apparatus; and

measuring, if the network environment changes, the communication quality of said first and second communication networks to select one of said communication networks which is to be used for communication.

15. The communication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said communication apparatus communicates with another communication apparatus to receive data and displays an image based on the received data.

16. The communication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said communication apparatus communicates with another communication apparatus to transmit data.

18. A communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said communication apparatus communicates with another communication apparatus to receive data and displays an image based on the received data.

19. A communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said communication apparatus communicates with another communication apparatus to transmit data.

12. A communication method for communicating between at least first and second communication apparatus, comprising the steps of:

forming a plurality of communication networks between the first and second communication apparatus;

selecting, upon starting communication or during communication through one of said communication networks, one of said communication networks which is suitable for an application program to be executed using one of said communication apparatus; and

performing communication between the first and second apparatus for the application program using the selected communication network.

13. A communication method for communicating between at least first and second communication apparatus, comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a radio communication network between the first and second communication apparatus;

(b) communicating between said first and second apparatus over said radio communication network;

(c) forming a wireline communication network between the first and second communication apparatus while said communicating is occurring over said radio communication network;

(d) wherein said wireline communication network is formed due to a sudden electrical connection over a wireline between said first and second apparatus,

(e) measuring communication quality of said wireline communication network after formation thereof, using one of said first and second communication apparatus; and

(f) changing over, when the measured communication quality satisfies a criterion, the communication network to the wireline communication network to perform further communication between said first and second apparatus.

14. A communication apparatus for a communication network system wherein a plurality of communication networks are formed between different communication apparatus and one of said communication networks is selectively used for communication between said communication apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of communication interfaces for forming said communication networks; and

a communication network selection section for measuring communication quality of said communication networks upon starting communication to select one of said communication networks which is to be used for communication.

17. A communication apparatus for a communication network system wherein a plurality of communication networks are formed between different communication apparatus and one of said communication networks is selectively used for communication between said communication apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of communication interfaces for forming said communication networks; and

a communication network changeover section for monitoring, during communication through a particular one of said communication networks, communication quality of the particular communication network;

said communication network changeover section changing over, if the supervised communication quality does not satisfy a criterion, the communication network to be used for communication to another one of said communication networks whose communication quality satisfies the criterion.

20. A communication system configured for residential use, comprising:

(a) a base apparatus, said base apparatus comprising;

(i) a television tuner section for receiving a television broadcast signal and selecting a broadcast program therefrom on a television channel in accordance with a user selection of a specific channel of the television broadcast signal;

(ii) a radio communication interface to convert said selected broadcast program into radio signals for local radio transmission when a radio communication network is selected for communication;

(iii) at least one wireline communication interface to convert said selected broadcast program to local wireline communication signals for transmission on a local wireline communication network when the local wireline communication network is selected for communication; and

(iv) a control section for controlling transmission of the selected broadcast program on either said radio communication network or said wireline communication network;

(b) at least one terminal apparatus comprising;

(i) a radio communication interface for receiving said radio signals;

(ii) a wire communication interface for receiving said wireline communication signals;

(iii) a display section for displaying images of said broadcast program of said received radio signals or said received wireline communication signals;

(c) at least one of said base apparatus and said terminal apparatus including a section for measuring communication quality of the radio and wireline communication networks when the terminal apparatus is first turned on, and selecting between said radio and wireline communication networks based on the measurement as the communication network to be used for communication of the selected broadcast program.

21. The communication system of claim 20 wherein said local wireline communication network is a wireline network within a single building, and said radio communication network is a network configured for communication only within the building and its immediate vicinity.

22. The communication system according to claim 20, wherein said wireline is selected from the group consisting of a telephone line, a coaxial cable, an IEEE 1394-1995 cable, and a power line.

24. The communication system of claim 23 wherein said local wireline communication network is a wireline network within a single building, and said radio communication network is a network configured for communication only within the building and its immediate vicinity.

25. The communication system according to claim 23, wherein said wireline is selected from the group consisting of a telephone line, a coaxial cable, an IEEE 1394-1995 cable, and a power line.

23. A communication system configured for residential use, comprising:

(a) a base apparatus, said base apparatus comprising;

(i) a television tuner section for receiving a television broadcast signal and selecting a broadcast program therefrom on a television channel in accordance with a user selection of a specific channel of the television broadcast signal;

(ii) a radio communication interface to convert said selected broadcast program into radio signals for local radio transmission when a radio communication network is selected for communication;

(iii) at least one wireline communication interface to convert said selected broadcast program to local wireline communication signals for transmission on a local wireline communication network when the local wireline communication network is selected for communication; and

(iv) a control section for controlling transmission of the selected broadcast program on either said radio communication network or said wireline communication network;

(b) at least one terminal apparatus comprising;

(i) a radio communication interface for receiving said radio signals;

(ii) a wire communication interface for receiving said wireline communication signals;

(iii) a display section for displaying images of said broadcast program of said received radio signals or said received wireline communication signals;

(c) at least one of said base apparatus and said terminal apparatus including a monitoring section for monitoring communication quality of the selected communication network, and if the communication quality is below a predetermined threshold, commanding a measurement of communication quality of the other communication network;

(d) wherein if the communication quality of the other communication network is above said predetermined threshold, communication is changed over to that communication network.