Communication device, communication system, communication method, and program thereof

• US 20060155877A1
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Kazuhiko, Kida, Kenji, Yoshimura, Yasuo, Miki, Tadashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,779,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/249
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems

Abstract

The invention provides a communication apparatus used inside a house, a communication system connected thereto, a communication process, and computer program used therefor. The communication apparatus of the present invention connected via a network to one or more terminal appliances in the house, communicates with an outside via two or more different communication configurations including a first communication configuration with a high speed digital transmission technique and a second communication configuration providing service for telephone subscribers. The communication apparatus is characterized in recognizing a situation thereby to disconnect the first communication configuration and to use only the second communication configuration for communication with the outside.

Claims

1-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A communication apparatus used in a house, comprising:

a data processor connected with at least one terminal appliance in the house;

first and second transceivers connected with the data processor, capable of connecting to first and second communication networks, respectively, the first communication network allowing data communication having higher speed than the second network; and

wherein the data processor disconnects the communication via the first transceiver according to a situation.

25. The communication apparatus according to claim 24,

wherein the data processor determines whether a person stays in the house, and disconnects the communication via the first transceiver when the person stays in the house.

26. The communication apparatus according to claim 24, further including a timer connected with the data processor;

wherein the data processor disconnects the communication via the first transceiver when it falls within a predetermined time period.

27. The communication apparatus according to claim 24,

wherein the data processor disconnects the communication via the first transceiver when the terminal appliance is inoperative.

28. The communication apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising;

an input device connected with the data processor, for allowing the person to switch whether the person is staying in the house.

29. The communication apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising;

a memory connected with the data processor, for storing a predetermined date and time when the person stays in the house.

30. The communication apparatus according to claim 25,

wherein the data processor determines that the person does not stay in the house when a display of the communication apparatus is inactive.

31. The communication apparatus according to claim 25,

wherein the data processor verifies whether a message transmitted from an external communication device matches with the pre-stored identification data, and thereby allowing the communication via the first transceiver when the message matches with the pre-stored identification data.

32. The communication apparatus according to claim 31,

wherein the data processor informs a central server apparatus capable of being connected to the communication apparatus that it allows the communication via the first transceiver.

33. The communication apparatus according to claim 31,

wherein the data processor informs a central server apparatus capable of being connected to the communication apparatus, of a global address obtained for the communication apparatus when it allows the communication via the first transceiver.

34. The communication apparatus according to claim 31,

wherein the data processor transmits status/operation data of the terminal appliances to a central server apparatus capable of being connected to the communication apparatus when it allows the communication via the first transceiver.

35. The communication apparatus according to claim 31,

wherein the data processor informs the communication device that it allows the communication via the first transceiver.

36. The communication apparatus according to claim 24,

wherein the data processor determines whether a person stays in the house, and defines a scope of the communication via either one of the first and second transceivers depending upon content of the communication when the person stays in the house.

37. The communication apparatus according to claim 36,

wherein the scope of the communication includes prohibition of the communication containing data for controlling the terminal appliance, and allowance of the communication containing data for monitoring the terminal appliance.

38. The communication apparatus according to claim 36,

wherein the data processor detects manual operation by the person for the terminal appliance thereby to determine that the person stays in the house.

39. The communication apparatus according to claim 36, further comprising:

an obstacle detecting sensor connected with the data processor for detecting whether the person stays in the house, and

wherein the data processor in cooperation with the obstacle detecting sensor determines whether the person stays in the house.

40. The communication apparatus according to claim 36, further comprising;

a memory connected with the data processor, for storing a predetermined date and time when the person stays in the house.

41. The communication apparatus according to claim 36,

wherein the setting indicating whether the person stays or not can be switched only from the setting allowing the access to the another setting limiting the access.

42. The communication apparatus according to claim 36,

wherein the setting indicating whether the person stays or not can be switched by the communication apparatus in the house but prohibited from the outside.

43. A communication system, comprising:

a central server apparatus provided outside a house; and

a communication apparatus connected with at least one terminal appliance in the house, and connected with the central server apparatus via first and second networks, the first communication network allowing data communication having higher speed than the second network;

wherein the communication apparatus disconnects the communication via the first communication network according to a situation.

44. The communication system according to claim 43,

wherein the communication apparatus verifies whether a message transmitted from an external communication device matches with the pre-stored identification data, and thereby allowing the communication via the first transceiver when the message matches with the pre-stored identification data.

45. The communication system according to claim 43,

wherein the communication apparatus determines whether a person stays in the house, and defines a scope of the communication via either one of the first and second transceivers depending upon content of the communication when the person stays in the house.