Communication device and connection establishment method

• US 20060195522A1
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Yoshio
• Application Number:
  US11/338,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20060195522A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection

Abstract

A game device is provided which can connect to a plurality of wireless controllers. A game device of the present invention has a plurality of communication modules, each serving as a master, which can wirelessly connect to slaves. One communication module performs an inquiry procedure for establishing a connection with a plurality of slaves, and the other communication module performs no inquiry procedure. The communication module that has issued the inquiry transmits, to a control unit, information relating to a slave that is not connected to the module itself, and the other communication module acquires the information from the control unit, thus obtaining information necessary for establishing a connection with a slave. This allows for quickly establishing a connection with a slave.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a plurality of masters each capable of wirelessly connecting to a plurality of slaves; and

a control unit which controls a transmission of information relating to one or more slaves between the plurality of masters.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

a first master of the plurality of masters performs an inquiry procedure for establishing a connection with a peripheral slave.

3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein

a second master of the plurality of masters performs no inquiry procedure for establishing a connection with the peripheral slave.

4. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein

the first master establishes a connection with at least some of the plurality of slaves which each have returned a response to an inquiry.

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

the first master transfers information relating to the slaves to the control unit; and

the control unit transfers, to the second master, information relating to one or more slaves with which the first master establishes no connection.

6. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein:

the first master transfers information relating to the slaves to the control unit; and

the control unit transfers, to the second master, at least a portion of information relating to the slaves transferred from the first master.

7. The communication device according to claim 6, wherein:

the first master transfers information relating to the slave and containing master designation information to the control unit; and

the control unit refers to the master designation information to transfer, to the second master, information that designates the second master as a connecting party.

8. The communication device according to claim 5, wherein

the second master establishes a connection with a slave based on the information relating to the salve transferred from the control unit.

9. The communication device according to claim 6, wherein

the second master establishes a connection with a slave based on the information relating to the salve transferred from the control unit.

10. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit defines a limited maximum number of slaves to which each master connects.

11. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein

the control unit divides the plurality of slaves between each master so that each master connects to a substantially equal number of slaves that is within the maximum number.

12. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit divides the plurality of slaves between each master in accordance with a latency level defined for each slave.

13. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit assigns the plurality of slaves having a common purpose of use or function to one master.

14. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit utilizes at least one master for searching a slave.

15. A communication device comprising:

an internal master capable of wirelessly connecting to a plurality of slaves;

a mount portion in which an external master capable of wirelessly connecting to a plurality of slaves is mounted; and

a control unit which controls a transmission of information relating to one or more slaves between the internal master and the external master, with the external master mounted in the mount portion.

16. A method for establishing a connection to a plurality of slaves in a communication device having a first master and a second master, the method comprising:

allowing the first master to perform an inquiry procedure for establishing a connection;

allowing the first master to acquire information relating to the plurality of slaves;

transferring information relating to one or more slaves to the second master;

allowing the first master to page a slave; and

allowing the second master to page a slave that is not paged by the first master.

17. A program for establishing a connection with a plurality of slaves by making a computer execute:

allowing a first master to perform an inquiry procedure for establishing a connection;

receiving information relating to the plurality of slaves acquired by the first master;

transferring information relating to one or more slaves to a second master;

allowing the first master to page a slave; and

allowing the second master to page a slave that is not paged by the first master.