Electronic apparatus and wireless network system

• US 20050166117A1
• Filed: 11/26/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Suwa, Yutaka
• Granted Patent: US 7,395,463 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/746
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0063 Single parity check
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0097 Relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• 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

Electronic apparatus such as a cordless phone, the electronic apparatus includes detection means for detecting the error of received data and at least two speech buffers as speech buffers for temporarily storing the received voice data. In case the electronic apparatus is in a position where it can communicate with a repeater and a base unit, the electronic apparatus stores the voice data transmitted from the base unit into one speech buffer and stores voice data transmitted from the repeater into the other speech buffer, and uses the voice data of a lower error rate. This maintains high speech quality. In case the electronic apparatus roams from a second wireless network formed around the repeater to a first wireless network formed around the base unit, smooth roaming is provided without degrading the speech quality by using the voice data of a lower error rate stored in either of the two speech buffers, even when the conversation state is gradually degraded and more errors are detected in the received data.

Claims

1. Electronic apparatus connectable to a plurality of wireless networks, said electronic apparatus comprising:

radio section for directly communicating with first electronic apparatus which belongs to a first wireless network or communicating with said electronic apparatus via second electronic apparatus which belongs to second wireless network and performs data relay between said first wireless network and said second wireless network;

error detector means for detecting the error of data received directly from said first electronic apparatus or data received from said first electronic apparatus via said second electronic apparatus; and

a selector for selecting one of the data received directly from said first electronic apparatus or data received from said electronic apparatus via said second electronic apparatus depending on the result detected by said detection means.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selector select optimum data from said data received directly from said first electronic apparatus or said data received from said first electronic apparatus via said second electronic apparatus.

3. The electronic apparatus connectable to a plurality of wireless networks according to claim 1, further comprising at least two buffers for temporarily storing the received data,

wherein said electronic apparatus stores the data directly received from said first electronic apparatus into one buffer and stores the data received via said second electronic apparatus into the other buffer respectively, in case the electronic apparatus is in a position where the electronic apparatus is communicable with said first electronic apparatus and said second electronic apparatus, and

said electronic apparatus reads and reproduces data from a buffer selected based on the error rate detected by said detection means.

4. The electronic apparatus connectable to a plurality of wireless networks according to claim 1, wherein in case an error rate detected by said detection means has reached or exceeded a predetermined value while communicating with electronic apparatus which belong to one wireless network, said communications means starts communications over a path which belong to the other wireless network.

5. The electronic apparatus connectable to a plurality of wireless networks according to claim 2 or 3, wherein in case an error rate detected by said detection means has reached or exceeded a predetermined value while communicating with electronic apparatus which belong to one wireless network, said communications means releases connection with the wireless network where said error rate has reached or exceeded the predetermined value.

7. The electronic apparatus connectable to a plurality of wireless networks according to claim 5, further comprising at least two buffers for temporarily storing the received data,

wherein said electronic apparatus stores the data directly received from said first electronic apparatus into one buffer and stores the data received via said second electronic apparatus into the other buffer respectively,

in case the electronic apparatus is in a position where the electronic apparatus is communicable with said first electronic apparatus and said second electronic apparatus, and

said electronic apparatus reads and reproduces data from a buffer selected based on the error rate detected by said detection means.

8. The electronic apparatus connectable to a plurality of wireless networks according to claim 5, wherein said communications means starts communications with electronic apparatus separate from the electronic apparatus under communications in case the error rate detected by said detection means has reached or exceeded a predetermined value.

9. The electronic apparatus connectable to a plurality of wireless networks according to claim 5, wherein said communications means releases communications over a path where the error rate has reached or exceeded a predetermined value in case the error rate detected by the detection means has reached or exceeded the predetermined value.

10. The electronic apparatus connectable to a plurality of wireless networks according to claim 5, wherein said detection means calculates said error rate based on a weighting factor which depends on the error location in said received data.

11. The electronic apparatus connectable to a plurality of wireless networks according to claim 1, wherein said selector makes partial selection from said respectively received data based on the error location detected by said detection means.

13. The wireless network system according to claim 11, wherein the selector selects said data based on the error rate detected by said detection means.

14. The wireless network system according to claim 11, wherein said communications means starts communications with electronic apparatus separate from the electronic apparatus under communications in case the error rate detected by said detection means has reached or exceeded a predetermined value.

15. The wireless network system according to claim 11, wherein said communications means releases communications over a path where the error rate has reached or exceeded a predetermined value in case the error rate detected by the detection means has reached or exceeded the predetermined value.

16. The wireless network system according to claim 11, wherein said detection means calculates said error rate based on a weighting factor which depends on the error location in said received data.

17. The wireless network system according to claim 11, wherein said selector makes partial selection from said respectively received data based on the error location detected by said detection means.

6. Electronic apparatus connectable to a plurality of wireless networks, said electronic apparatus comprising:

communications means for communicating with other electronic apparatus directly or via a repeater;

detection means for detecting the error of data received directly from said other electronic apparatus or data received from said other electronic apparatus via the repeater by way of the communications means; and

a selector for selecting the optimum data from said data received directly from said other electronic apparatus or data received from said other electronic apparatus via the repeater depending on the result detected by said detection means.

12. A wireless network system comprising:

first electronic apparatus connected to a first wireless network and connectable to a second wireless network;

second electronic apparatus connected to said second wireless network and connectable to said first wireless network, said second electronic apparatus performing data relay between said first wireless network and said second wireless network; and

third electronic apparatus connectable to said first wireless network and said second wireless network;

wherein said third electronic apparatus comprises;

communications means for communicating with said first electronic apparatus directly or via said second electronic apparatus;

detection means for detecting an error in the data received directly from said first electronic apparatus or data received via said communications apparatus respectively; and

a selector for selecting the optimum data from the data received directly from said first electronic apparatus or data received via said communications apparatus respectively depending on the result of detection by the detection means.

18. A wireless network system comprising:

first electronic apparatus connected to a first wireless network and connectable to a second wireless network;

second electronic apparatus connected to said second wireless network and connectable to said first wireless network, said second electronic apparatus performing data relay between said first wireless network and said second wireless network; and

third electronic apparatus connected to said first wireless network and said second wireless network, said third electronic apparatus comprising means for calculating the error rate of data received from said first electronic apparatus and said second electronic apparatus;

wherein said third electronic apparatus has a feature to transmit to said first electronic apparatus a release notice indicating that communications with said second electronic apparatus is unavailable in case the error rate of the data received from said electronic apparatus has reached or exceeded a predetermined value, and

said first electronic apparatus has a feature to transmit a release notice to said second electronic apparatus in case a release notice is received from said third electronic apparatus.