Relay device, relay method, relay program product and computer-readable recording medium having relay program recorded theron

• US 20040048567A1
• Filed: 06/25/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ohgami, Yoichi, Oyama, Kazuya
• Granted Patent: US 7,352,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• 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 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A relay device includes a first signal reception unit receiving a signal from the outside, a first radio communication unit transmitting the signal by radio that is received by the first signal reception unit, a second radio communication unit provided separately from the first radio communication unit and transmitting/receiving a signal by radio, a detection unit detecting transmission/reception of the signal by the second radio communication unit, and a first inhibition unit inhibiting, during a period in which transmission/reception of the signal by the second radio communication unit is detected by the detection unit, transmission of the signal by the first radio communication unit. Thus, communication by means of a plurality of communication units can efficiently be accomplished.

Claims

1. A relay device comprising:

a first signal reception unit receiving a signal from the outside;

a first radio communication unit transmitting the signal by radio that is received by said first signal reception unit;

a second radio communication unit provided separately from said first radio communication unit and transmitting/receiving a signal by radio;

a detection unit detecting transmission/reception of the signal by said second radio communication unit; and

a first inhibition unit inhibiting, during a period in which transmission/reception of the signal by said second radio communication unit is detected by said detection unit, transmission of the signal by said first radio communication unit.

2. The relay device according to claim 1, further comprising a second signal transmission/reception unit provided separately from said first signal reception unit and transmitting/receiving a signal to/from the outside, wherein

said second radio communication unit transmits the signal in response to reception by said second signal transmission/reception unit.

3. The relay device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit storing, during the period in which transmission of the signal by said first radio communication unit is inhibited by said inhibition unit, the signal received by said first signal reception unit.

4. The relay device according to claim 3, wherein

said first radio communication unit transmits the signal stored by said storage unit when transmission/reception of the signal by said second radio communication unit is finished.

5. The relay device according to claim 1, further comprising a second inhibition unit inhibiting, when the signal received by said first signal reception unit is a predetermined signal, transmission of the signal by said first radio communication unit.

6. A method of relaying a signal by a relay device including a first signal reception unit receiving a signal from the outside, a first radio communication unit transmitting the signal by radio that is received by said first signal reception unit and a second radio communication unit provided separately from said first radio communication unit and transmitting/receiving a signal by radio, comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal by said first signal reception unit;

transmitting said received signal by said first radio communication unit;

detecting transmission/reception of a signal by said second radio communication unit; and

inhibiting, during a period in which transmission/reception of the signal by said second radio communication unit is detected, transmission of the signal by said first radio communication unit.

7. A relay program product executed by a relay device including a first signal reception unit receiving a signal from the outside, a first radio communication unit transmitting the signal by radio that is received by said first signal reception unit and a second radio communication unit provided separately from said first radio communication unit and transmitting/receiving a signal by radio, said relay device executing said relay program product to perform the steps of:

receiving a signal by said first signal reception unit;

transmitting said received signal by said first radio communication unit;

detecting transmission/reception of a signal by said second radio communication unit; and

inhibiting, during a period in which transmission/reception of the signal by said second radio communication unit is detected, transmission of the signal by said first radio communication unit.

8. A computer-readable recording medium having a relay program recorded thereon, said relay program being executed by a relay device including a first signal reception unit receiving a signal from the outside, a first radio communication unit transmitting the signal by radio that is received by said first signal reception unit and a second radio communication unit provided separately from said first radio communication unit and transmitting/receiving a signal by radio, and said relay device executing said relay program to perform the steps of:

receiving a signal by said first signal reception unit;

transmitting said received signal by said first radio communication unit;

detecting transmission/reception of a signal by said second radio communication unit; and

inhibiting, during a period in which transmission/reception of the signal by said second radio communication unit is detected, transmission of the signal by said first radio communication unit.