Communication apparatus and method

• US 20060212611A1
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Shichino, Takahiro, Fujii, Kenichi, Hirose, Takatoshi, Nago, Hidetada
• Granted Patent: US 8,037,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4282 on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247

Abstract

A method of communication in a communication apparatus includes steps of suppressing communication with a first communication device, which has been connected to a first communication interface, in accordance with data from the first communication device; establishing communication with a second communication device by a second communication interface; removing suppression of communication with the first communication device after communication with the second communication device has been established; and communicating data between the first and second communication devices via the first communication and second communication interfaces.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus having a plurality of communication interfaces, comprising:

a suppressing unit adapted to suppress communication with a first communication device, which has been connected to a first communication interface, in accordance with data from the first communication device;

a unit adapted to establish communication with a second communication device by a second communication interface;

a unit adapted to remove suppression of communication with the first communication device after communication with the second communication device has been established; and

a unit adapted to relay data communication between the first and second communication devices via the first communication and second communication interfaces.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit adapted to determine whether or not to activate said suppressing unit in accordance with content of data transmitted from the first communication device via the first communication interface.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit adapted to determine whether or not to activate said suppressing unit in accordance with type of communication device that has been connected by the first communication interface.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first operation mode selecting unit adapted to select operation in a first operation mode among a plurality of operation modes in a case where said suppressing unit has not been activated; and

a second operation mode selecting unit adapted to select operation in a second operation mode among the plurality of operation modes in a case where said suppressing unit has been activated.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein communication with the second communication device by the second communication interface is not established in a case where the first operation mode has been selected.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where communication other than communication with the first communication device by the second communication interface cannot be established, the second communication interface and a controller of the communication device are operated at low power consumption in a state in which communication with the first communication device is suppressed, and operation at the low power consumption is cancelled and communication other than communication with the first communication device by the second communication interface is established upon elapse of a stipulated period of time.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said suppressing unit includes any one among the following in order to suppress the first communication interface:

rendering the first communication interface un-utilizable in hardware fashion;

sending back a response that is different from a usual response in answer to a signal requested from the first communication device and halting operation of the first communication device; and

holding back a response to a signal requested from the first communication device via the first communication interface and not responding for a stipulated period of time.

7. A communication apparatus having a plurality of communication interfaces, comprising:

a unit adapted to suppress communication with a first communication device, which has been connected to a first communication interface, in accordance with data from the first communication device;

a unit adapted to establish communication with a second communication device by a second communication interface;

a unit adapted to remove suppression of communication with the first communication device after communication with the second communication device has been established;

a unit adapted to identify state of communication with the second communication device by the second communication interface; and

a unit adapted to notify communication devices on a network, which has been formed via the second communication interface, of the fact that service by the second communication interface has been halted, in a case where a third communication device has been connected by a third communication interface in a state in which the state of communication is not communication in progress,

wherein in a case where communication with the first communication device is suppressed and the second communication interface is currently communicating with the second communication device, the third communication interface is not activated until communication with the second communication device is completed even if the fact that the third communication device has been connected to the third communication interface is recognized.

8. A communication apparatus having a plurality of communication interfaces, comprising:

a suppressing unit adapted to suppressing communication with a first communication device, which has been connected to a first communication interface, in accordance with data from the first communication device;

a unit adapted to establish communication with a second communication device by a second communication interface;

a unit adapted to remove suppression of communication with the first communication device after communication with the second communication device has been established;

a unit adapted to identify state of communication with the second communication device by the second communication interface; and

a unit adapted to notify communication devices on a network, which has been formed via the second communication interface, of the fact that service by the second communication interface has transitioned to a busy state, in a case where a third communication device has been connected by a third communication interface in a state in which the state of communication is not communication in progress.

10. A communication method in a communication apparatus having a plurality of communication interfaces, comprising the steps of:

suppressing communication with a first communication device, which has been connected to a first communication interface, in accordance with data from the first communication device;

establishing communication with a second communication device by a second communication interface;

removing suppression of communication with the first communication device after communication with the second communication device has been established; and

performing data communication between the first and second communication devices via the first communication and second communication interfaces.

11. A program for causing a computer to execute the communication method set forth in claim 10.

12. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program set forth in claim 11 has been recorded.