Communication system, communication method, and communication device

• US 20080222316A1
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Sato, Yasuhiro
• Application Number:
  US12/004,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20080222316A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

A disclosed communication system, communication method, and communication device enable an intended command to be easily acquired from a movement of an operator and executed. The communication system includes a first communication device and a second communication device communicating with each other. The first communication device includes a physical quantity detection unit that detects a physical quantity that changes as the first communication device moves. Based on an increase or a decrease in the physical quantity detected by the physical quantity detection unit, a communication direction is determined by a direction determination unit of the first communication device. Based on the thus determined communication direction, a communication unit of the first communication device communicates with the second communication device.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising a first communication device and a second communication device that communicate with each other,

the first communication device comprising:

a physical quantity detection unit configured to detect a physical quantity that changes as the first communication device moves;

a direction determination unit configured to determine a communication direction between the first and second communication devices in accordance with a change in the physical quantity detected by the physical quantity detection unit; and

a communication unit configured to communicate with the second communication device based on the communication direction that is determined by the direction determination unit.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the second communication device comprises a physical quantity detection slave unit corresponding to the physical quantity detection unit, wherein the physical quantity detection unit is configured to detect the physical quantity in cooperation with the physical quantity detection slave unit.

3. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the direction determination unit is configured to determine the communication direction based on the change in the physical quantity detected by the physical quantity detection unit exceeding a predetermined value.

4. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the first communication device comprises a mode selection unit configured to select a data transmission/reception mode,

wherein the direction determination unit is configured to determine the communication direction based on the change in the physical quantity upon selection of the data transmission/reception mode.

5. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the first communication device comprises a distance measuring unit configured to measure the distance from the second communication device,

wherein the communication unit is configured to communicate with one of plural different candidates for the second communication device which one has the shortest distance from the first communication device.

6. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the first communication device comprises an opposed angle measuring unit configured to measure an opposed angle of the second communication device relative to the first communication device,

wherein the communication unit is configured to communicate with one of plural different candidates for the second communication device which one has the smallest opposed angle.

7. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the first communication device further comprises:

a screen generation unit configured to generate a screen for displaying information about the functions of the second communication device; and

a function selection unit configured to select one of the functions of the second communication device;

wherein the second communication device is configured to transmit data received from the first communication device in accordance with the function selected by the function selection unit, or to transmit received data to the first communication device in accordance with the function selected by the function selection unit.

8. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the first communication device further comprises:

a candidate information acquisition unit configured to acquire information about candidates for the second communication device; and

a candidate screen generation unit configured to generate a screen for displaying information about the candidates for the second communication device.

9. A communication method for a communication system in which a first communication device and a second communication device communicate with each other, the method comprising the steps of:

the first communication device detecting a physical quantity that changes as the first communication device moves;

the first communication device determining a communication direction between the first and second communication devices based on a change in the physical quantity detected by the physical quantity detection step; and

initiating communications between the first communication device and the second communication device based on the communication direction that has been determined.

10. The communication method according to claim 9, wherein the communication direction determining step comprises determining the communication direction based on the change in the physical quantity detected in the physical quantity detection step exceeding a predetermined value.

11. The communication method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of the first communication device selecting a data transmission/reception mode,

wherein the communication direction determining step comprises determining the communication direction based on the change in the physical quantity upon selection of the data transmission/reception mode.

12. A communication device configured to communicate with another communication device, comprising:

a physical quantity detection unit configured to detect a physical quantity that changes as the communication device moves;

a direction determination unit configured to determine a communication direction based on a change in the physical quantity detected by the physical quantity detection unit; and

a communication unit configured to communicate with the other communication device based on the communication direction that is determined by the direction determination unit.

13. The communication device according to claim 12, wherein the direction determination unit is configured to determine the communication direction for transmission when the change in the physical quantity indicates that the distance between the communication device and the other communication device is becoming shorter, and the communication direction for reception when the change in the physical quantity indicates that the distance between the communication device and the other communication device is becoming longer.