CONNECTION ESTABLISHMENT METHOD, COMMUNICATION METHOD, STATE CHANGE TRANSMISSION METHOD, STATE CHANGING METHOD WIRELESS APPARATUS, WIRELESS DEVICE, AND COMPUTER

• US 20030043771A1
• Filed: 08/06/1998
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: ISHIKAWA, HIROSHI, MIZUTANI, AKIHIKO, PANT, AMRIT
• Granted Patent: US 6,603,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/00 Local resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A wireless hub, connected to the USB bus of a computer, and a wireless port, connected to a USB interface of a peripheral device, are provided, and wireless communication is performed between the two. The wireless hub performs communication with the computer by converting a USB packet routed to a device into a wireless signal, and a wireless signal received from a device into a USB packet. The wireless port attached to each device also converts a wireless signal into a USB packet and vice versa. While it is normal for a plurality of wireless ports to be connected to a single wireless hub, an arrangement of one wireless hub and a corresponding single wireless port is also possible. A wireless hub and a wireless port each have a device identifier assigned to them, and in the USB-wireless conversion, a non-specific destination identified by a USB address and bus topology is converted into a device identifier. Inter-host communication is enabled by using the device identifier.

Claims

1. A method for a first wireless apparatus to establish a connection with a second wireless apparatus, said second wireless apparatus communicating with a computer, comprising the steps of:

receiving a packet acknowledging that connection with said second wireless apparatus is permitted;

transmitting a connection request packet including an identifier of said first wireless apparatus in response to receipt of said packet;

receiving a connection permission packet including bus information concerning a bus of said computer;

transmitting a predetermined packet in response to said connection permission packet; and

setting the first wireless apparatus by said bus information when said predetermined packet that does not specify said first wireless apparatus as a destination.

2. The method of to claim 1, further comprising a step of:

transmitting a successive connection request packet, after said predetermined packet has been received, when said predetermined packet does specify said first wireless apparatus as a destination.

3. A method for establishing a connection with a first wireless apparatus by a second wireless apparatus communicating with a computer, comprising the steps of:

receiving a connection request packet, said connection request packet including an identifier of said first wireless apparatus;

generating bus information concerning a bus of said computer for said first wireless apparatus;

transmitting a connection permission packet including said bus information to said first wireless apparatus;

said second wireless apparatus receiving a predetermined packet from said first wireless apparatus; and

setting said second wireless apparatus using said identifier and said bus information.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said connection permission packet includes first bus information and further comprising said computer generating computer bus information corresponding to said first bus information, and wherein said setting comprising setting said second wireless apparatus by said computer bus information.

5. The method according to claim 3 wherein said predetermined packet is not received within a predetermined period of time following transmission of said connection permission packet, further comprising a step of:

transmitting a packet that designates as a destination said first wireless apparatus, said first wireless apparatus having transmitted said connection request packet.

6. The method according to claim 3, further comprising receiving a periodic packet transmitted after said predetermined packet has been received, said periodic packet not specifying as a destination said first wireless apparatus that has transmitted said connection request packet.

7. A method for communicating with a first wireless apparatus in wireless communication by a second wireless apparatus communicating with a computer, said first wireless apparatus communicating with a device, comprising the steps of:

receiving a communication request for said device from said computer;

transmitting a NAK signal to said computer within a response time limit, said NAK signal indicating that said specific apparatus is not ready to perform processing; and

forwarding said communication request to said first wireless apparatus.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of:

transmitting at least one successive NAK signal to said computer within said response limit until a response is received from said first wireless apparatus.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said communication request comprises a request for reading data from said device, further comprising the steps of:

receiving data from said first wireless apparatus;

transmitting a predetermined packet to said first wireless apparatus in response to receipt of said data; and

transmitting said received data to said computer.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein said communication request is for writing data to said device, further comprising transmitting said data to be written with said communication request to said first wireless apparatus.

11. A method for performing wireless communication with a first wireless apparatus by a second wireless apparatus communicating with an apparatus, comprising the steps of:

receiving a data reading request from said first wireless apparatus;

transmitting said read request to said apparatus;

receiving data from said apparatus;

returning a predetermined message to said apparatus in response to receipt of said data; and

transmitting said data to said first wireless apparatus.

12. A method for notifying a state change from a first wireless apparatus communicating with a computer to a second wireless apparatus, comprising the steps of:

receiving a suspend command from said computer;

transmitting said suspend command to said second wireless apparatus;

receiving a suspend command;

transmitting a periodic packet including a state bit that indicates said second wireless apparatus is in a suspended state;

receiving a resume command from said computer; and

transmitting a periodic packet including a state bit representing said second wireless apparatus is in an enabled state in response to receipt of said resume command.

13. A method for performing a state change by a first wireless apparatus communicating with a second wireless apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a periodic packet including a state bit representing the state of said first wireless apparatus as disabled;

determining whether a predetermined command was received from said second wireless apparatus before said periodic packet was received; and

changing the state of said first wireless apparatus to a state other than a connected state if said predetermined command was not received.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said predetermined command is one of a port suspend command and a disable command.

15. A wireless device for establishing a connection with a wireless apparatus communicating with a computer, comprising:

a receiving unit for receiving a wireless signal from said wireless apparatus;

a transmission unit for transmitting a wireless signal to said wireless apparatus; and

a control unit for instructing said transmission unit to transmit a connection request packet, for instructing said transmission unit to transmit a predetermined packet in response to receipt of a connection permission packet by said receiving unit, said connection permission packet including bus information concerning a bus of said computer, and for employing said bus information to perform a setup in response to receipt of a packet by said receiving unit.

16. A wireless apparatus for communicating with a computer, comprising:

a receiving unit for receiving a wireless signal;

a transmission unit for transmitting a wireless signal; and

a control unit for generating first bus information concerning a bus of said computer for a wireless device in response to a connection request packet received at said receiving unit from a wireless device, said connection request packet including an identifier of said wireless device, for instructing said transmission unit to transmit a connection permission packet including said first bus information to said wireless device, for employing said identifier and said first bus information to perform a setup in response to that said receiving unit receives a predetermined packet from said wireless device, and for employing said second bus information to perform a setup if said computer generates second bus information corresponding to said first bus information.

17. The wireless apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising clock means wherein, if said receiving unit does not receive said predetermined packet within a predetermined period of time following transmission of said connection permission packet, said control unit instructs said transmission unit to transmit a packet specifying as a destination said wireless device that transmitted said connection request packet.

18. A wireless apparatus for communicating with a computer, comprising:

a transmission unit for transmitting a wireless signal to a wireless device communicating with an apparatus;

a receiving unit for receiving a wireless signal from said wireless device; and

a control unit comprising at least means for transmitting a NAK signal to said computer within a response limit in response to a request for communication with said apparatus from said computer, said NAK signal representing that said apparatus is not ready to perform processing, and means for instructing said transmission unit to transmit said communication request to said wireless device.

19. The wireless apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising timing means for monitoring response time for receiving a response from said wireless device and for comparing said response time to a response limit, wherein said control unit transmits at least one successive NAK signal to said computer within said response limit until said receiving unit receives a response from said wireless device.

20. The wireless apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising means for instructing said transmission unit to transmit a predetermined packet to said wireless device in response to that said receiving unit receives data from said wireless device when said communication request is for reading data from said apparatus, and wherein said control unit transmits said received data to said computer.

21. A wireless device for communicating with an apparatus, comprising:

a receiving unit for receiving a wireless signal from a wireless apparatus;

a transmission unit for transmitting a wireless signal to said wireless apparatus; and

a control unit for transmitting a read request received at said receiving unit to said apparatus, for returning a predetermined message to said wireless apparatus in response to receipt of data from said specific apparatus, and for instructing said transmission unit to transmit said data to said wireless apparatus.

22. A wireless apparatus for communicating with a computer, comprising:

a receiving unit;

a transmission unit for transmitting a wireless signal to a wireless device; and

a control unit for instructing said transmission unit to transmit a suspend command to said wireless device in response to receipt of a suspend command from said computer, for instructing said transmission unit to transmit a periodic packet including a state bit representing that said wireless device is in a suspended state after the transmission of said suspend command, and for instructing said transmission unit to transmit a periodic packet including a state bit representing that said wireless device is in an enabled state, in response to receipt of a resume command from said computer.

23. A wireless device for communicating with a wireless apparatus, comprising:

a receiving unit for receiving a wireless signal from said wireless apparatus; and

a control unit comprising at least a clock determining component for, in response to receipt by said receiving unit of a periodic packet including a state bit representing the state of said wireless apparatus as disabled, determining whether or not a predetermined command was received from said wireless apparatus before said periodic packet was received, and state changing component for changing said state of said wireless device to a state other than a connected state if said predetermined command is not received.

24. A computer having a bus, comprising:

a bus controller for controlling said bus; and

a wireless apparatus connected to said bus, said wireless apparatus including, a receiving unit for receiving a wireless signal;

a transmission unit for transmitting a wireless signal; and

a control unit comprising generating means for generating first bus information concerning a bus of said computer for a wireless device in response to a connection request packet received at said receiving unit from a wireless device, said connection request packet including an identifier of said wireless device, for instructing said transmission unit to transmit a connection permission packet including said first bus information to said wireless device, for employing said identifier and said first bus information to perform a setup in response to that said receiving unit receives a predetermined packet from said wireless device, and for employing said second bus information to perform a setup if said second bus information corresponding to said first bus information is received from said bus controller.

25. A computer having a bus, comprising:

a bus controller for controlling said bus; and

a wireless apparatus connected to said bus, said wireless apparatus including;

a transmission unit for transmitting a wireless signal to a wireless device communicating with an apparatus; and

a control unit comprising at least timing means for monitoring a response limit, means for generating a NAK signal for transmission to said bus controller within a response limit in response to a request for communication with said apparatus from said bus controller, said NAK signal indicating that said apparatus is not ready to perform processing, and instruction means for instructing said transmission unit to transmit said communication request to said wireless device.

26. A computer having a bus, comprising:

a bus controller for contorting said bus; and

a wireless apparatus connected to said bus, said wireless apparatus including;

a transmission unit for transmitting a wireless signal to a wireless device; and

a control unit comprising at least instruction means for instructing said transmission unit to transmit a suspend command to said wireless device in response to receipt of a suspend command from said bus controller, for instructing said transmission unit to transmit a periodic packet including a state bit representing said wireless device is in a suspended state, after said suspend command has been transmitted, and for instructing said transmission unit to transmit a periodic packet including a state bit representing said wireless device is in an enabled state, in response to receipt of a resume command from said bus controller.

27. A method for establishing a connection in wireless communication with a first computer by a second computer, said method comprising the steps of:

activating a first device bridge having an interface for a bus of said second computer and a buffer for storing data concerning said wireless communication, in response to a command from said second computer;

in response to receiving a connection permission packet from said first computer across said first wireless channel used by said first computer, transmitting across said first wireless channel to said first computer a connection request packet including data concerning a second wireless channel used by said second computer;

in response to receipt of a connection permission packet across said first wireless channel from said first computer, transmitting a predetermined packet across said first wireless channel to said first computer;

transmitting across said second wireless channel a packet specifying a second device bridge in said first computer, said second device bridge including an interface for a bus of said first computer and a buffer for storing data concerning said wireless communication;

in response to receipt of a connection request packet across said second wireless channel from said first computer, transmitting a connection permission packet to said first computer across said second wireless channel; and

in response to receipt of a predetermined packet across said second wireless channel from said first computer, employing said data concerning said first wireless channel and first bus information concerning said bus of said second computer to perform a setup.

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising a step of:

generating second bus information relative to said first device bridge.

29. A method for establishing a connection in wireless communication with a first computer by a second computer, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a connection request packet including data concerning a first wireless channel used by said first computer, across a second wireless channel used by said second computer;

activating a second device bridge including an interface for a bus of said second computer and a buffer for storing data concerning said wireless communication;

transmitting a connection permission packet to said first computer across said second wireless channel;

receiving a periodic packet;

when said periodic packet designates said second device bridge across said first wireless channel from said first computer, transmitting a connection request packet to said first computer through said first wireless channel;

in response to receipt of a connection permission packet across said first wireless channel from said first compute, transmitting a predetermined packet; and

when said periodic packet does not designate said second device bridge across said first wireless channel from said first computer, employing data concerning said first wireless channel and third bus information concerning a bus of said second computer to perform a setup.

30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising a step of:

generating fourth bus information relative to said second device bridge.

31. A wireless apparatus for performing wireless communication with a first computer, said wireless apparatus connected to a second computer, said wireless apparatus comprising:

a receiving module for receiving a wireless signal;

a transmission module for transmitting a wireless signal; and

a control module comprising at least activation component for activating a second device bridge having an interface for a bus of said second computer and a buffer for storing data concerning said wireless communication, instruction component for instructing said transmission module to transmit, across a first wireless channel, to said first computer a connection request packet including data concerning a second wireless channel used by said second computer, in response to that said receiving module receives across said first wireless channel used by said first computer a packet that permits connection of a device bridge, from said first computer, for instructing said transmission module to transmit a predetermined packet across said first wireless channel to said first computer in response to that said receiving module receives across said first wireless channel a connection permission packet from said first computer, for instructing said transmitting module to transmit across said second wireless channel, a packet specifying a first device bridge in said first computer, said first computer having an interface for a bus of said first computer and a buffer for storing data concerning said wireless communication, and for instructing said transmission module to transmit a connection permission packet to said first computer across said second wireless channel in response to that said receiving module receives across said second wireless channel a connection request packet from said first computer, and setup component for employing said data concerning said first wireless channel and first bus information concerning said bus of said second computer to perform a setup in response to receipt of a predetermined packet across said second wireless channel from said first computer.

32. A wireless apparatus for performing wireless communication with a first computer, said wireless apparatus connected to a second computer, said wireless apparatus comprising:

a receiving module for receiving a wireless signal, said receiving module receiving, from said first computer across a second wireless channel used by said second computer, a connection request packet including information concerning a first wireless channel used by said first computer;

a transmission module for transmitting a wireless signal, said transmission module transmitting a connection permission packet to said first computer across said second wireless channel; and

a control module comprising at least activation component for activating a second device bridge having an interface for a bus of said second computer and a buffer for storing data concerning said wireless communication, instruction component for instructing said transmission module to transmit a connection request packet to said first computer across a first wireless channel in response to that said receiving module receives across said first wireless channel a packet specifying said second device bridge from said first computer, and for instructing said transmission module to transmit a predetermined packet across said first wireless channel in response to that said receiving module receives across said first wireless channel a connection permission packet from said first computer, and setup component for employing data concerning said first wireless channel and third bus information concerning a bus of said second computer to perform a setup in response to that said receiving module receives across said first wireless channel a packet that does not designate said second device bridge, from said first computer.

33. A computer for performing wireless communication with a second computer, comprising:

a receiving module for receiving a wireless signal;

a transmission module for transmitting a wireless signal; and

a control module comprising at least activation component for activating a device bridge having an interface for a bus of said computer and a buffer for storing data concerning said wireless communication, instruction component for instructing said transmission module to transmit across a second wireless channel to said second computer a connection request packet including data concerning a wireless channel used by said computer, in response to that said receiving module receives across said second wireless channel used by said second computer a packet permitting a connection by a device bridge from said second computer, for instructing said transmission module to transmit a predetermined packet across said second wireless channel to said second computer in response to that said receiving module receives across said second wireless channel a connection permission packet from said second computer, for instructing said transmitting module to transmit across said wireless channel a packet specifying a second device bridge in said second computer having an interface for a bus of said second computer and a buffer for storing data concerning said wireless communication, and for instructing said transmission module to transmit a connection permission packet to said second computer across said wireless channel in response to that said receiving module receives across said wireless channel said connection request packet from said second computer, and setup component for employing said data concerning said second wireless channel and first bus information concerning said bus of said computer to perform a setup in response to receipt of a predetermined packet across said wireless channel from said second computer.