Communication apparatus and its control method

• US 20060242304A1
• Filed: 03/13/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• 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 7,984,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A wireless communication apparatus recognizes whether an information input apparatus is in a wirelessly communicable state at periods shorter than a disconnection waiting time in an information transfer protocol which transfers information between the information input apparatus and an information output apparatus. If the wireless communication apparatus recognizes that the information input apparatus is not in the wireless communicable state, it permits and expedites processing of a request for connection with the information output apparatus sent from another information input apparatus over a wireless network.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus including:

a connection unit for connection with an information processing apparatus;

a communication unit which communicates with a communication partner of the information processing apparatus over a network;

a confirmation unit which confirms a state of communication with the communication partner; and

a change unit which changes a state of connection with the information processing apparatus to a quasi-disconnection state depending on a confirmation result obtained by said confirmation unit.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the quasi-disconnection state is a state in which the communication apparatus is physically connects to the information processing apparatus, but in which the information processing apparatus detects the connection with the communication apparatus to have been broken.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said confirmation unit confirms the state of communication with the communication partner at intervals shorter than a data delay time-out period defined in an information transfer protocol used for communication with the communication partner.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said change unit sets a state of bus connection with the information processing apparatus to the quasi-disconnection state.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further including a management unit which manages the information processing apparatus as in a non-communicating state depending on a confirmation result obtained from said confirmation unit.

12. A communication system including:

an information processing apparatus; and

a communication apparatus according to claim 1.

6. A communication apparatus which connects with an information processing apparatus, including:

a connection unit for connection with the information processing apparatus;

a communication unit for performing communication over a network;

a recognition unit which performs a process of recognizing whether the information processing apparatus is in a state capable of communicating with a communication partner over the network at periods shorter than a disconnection waiting time defined in an information transfer protocol used for transferring information between the information processing apparatus and the communication partner; and

a control unit which sets a state of connection with the information processing apparatus to a quasi-disconnection state upon recognition that the information processing apparatus is not in the state capable of communicating with the communication partner.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control unit simulatedly and temporarily disconnects connection between said connection unit and the information processing apparatus and initializes the connection upon recognition that the information processing apparatus is not in the state capable of communicating with the communication partner.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said connection unit is a USB interface, and said control unit temporarily sets Vbus of the USB interface to Low and then sets Vbus back to High.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein if said recognition unit recognizes that the information processing apparatus cannot communicate with the communication partner, said communication unit informs another information processing apparatus, from which said communication unit receives a discovery request for the information processing apparatus sent, that the information processing apparatus is in an idle state.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein if said recognition unit recognizes that the information processing apparatus cannot communicate with the communication partner, said communication unit sends a drop-out notification indicating a drop-out from the network and then sends an entry notification indicating an entry to the network.

11. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said recognition unit sends, via said communication unit to the communication partner, a confirmation signal for confirming whether the information processing apparatus can communicate with the communication partner.

13. A control method for a communication apparatus having a connection unit for connection with an information processing apparatus, including:

a communication step of communicating with a communication partner of the information processing apparatus over a network;

a confirmation step of confirming a state of communication with the communication partner; and

a change step of changing a state of connection with the information processing apparatus to a quasi-disconnection state depending on a confirmation result obtained in the confirmation step.

14. A control method for a communication apparatus including a connection unit for connection with an information processing apparatus and a communication unit for the information processing apparatus to perform communication over a network, including:

a recognition step of performing a process of recognizing whether the information processing apparatus is in a state capable of communicating with a communication partner over the network at periods shorter than a disconnection waiting time defined in an information transfer protocol used for transferring information between the information processing apparatus and the communication partner; and

a step of setting a state of connection with the information processing apparatus to a quasi-disconnection state upon recognition that the information processing apparatus is not in the state capable of communicating with the communication partner.

15. A computer program product including instructions configured to cause a communication apparatus to connect with information processing apparatus, comprising instructions for:

communicating with a communication partner of the information processing apparatus over a network;

confirming a state of communication with the communication partner; and

changing a state of connection with the information processing apparatus to a quasi-disconnection state depending on a confirmation result obtained by the confirmation.

16. A computer program product including instructions configured to cause a communication apparatus to connect with information processing apparatus, comprising instructions for:

performing a process of recognizing whether the information processing apparatus is in a state capable of communicating with a communication partner over a network at periods shorter than a disconnection waiting time defined in an information transfer protocol used for transferring information between the information processing apparatus and the communication partner; and

setting a state of connection with the information processing apparatus to a quasi-disconnection state upon recognition that the information processing apparatus is not in the state capable of communicating with the communication partner.