COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND COMMUNICATION METHOD THEREFOR

• US 20090046684A1
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Tetsuya
• Application Number:
  US12/180,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20090046684A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5092 by self-assignment, e.g. picking addresses at random and testing if they are already in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A communication apparatus determines a communication mode in a network in which the communication apparatus is to participate. If the communication apparatus determines that the communication mode is the infrastructure mode, it selects a client function. If the communication apparatus determines that the communication mode is the ad hoc mode, it selects a server function. The communication apparatus operates as an apparatus having the selected client function or server function.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

a determination unit configured to determine a communication mode in a network in which the communication apparatus is to participate;

a selection unit configured to select, based on the determination by the determination unit, a client function or a server function in processing of deciding an address; and

an operation unit configured to operate as an apparatus of the function selected by the selection unit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether the communication mode is a mode in which communication is executed via a base station.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether the communication mode is a communication mode in which communication apparatuses directly communicate with each other without relay of a base station.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the determination unit determines that the communication mode is a predetermined mode, the selection unit selects one of the client function and the server function in accordance with whether a power supply of the apparatus is a commercial power supply.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the determination unit determines that the communication mode is a predetermined mode, the selection unit selects one of the client function and the server function in accordance with whether the apparatus is a desktop apparatus.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the determination unit determines that the communication mode is a predetermined mode, the selection unit selects one of the client function and the server function in accordance with whether the apparatus is an image output apparatus or an image input apparatus.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the determination unit determines that the communication mode is a predetermined mode, the selection unit selects one of the client function and the server function in accordance with whether another communication apparatus of a server function exists in the network.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the determination unit determines that the communication mode is a predetermined mode, the selection unit selects one of the client function and the server function in accordance with whether the apparatus created the network.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit displays a message for inquiring of a user whether to select the client function or the server function in accordance with the determination by the determination unit, and selects one of the client function and the server function in accordance with an instruction by the user.

10. A communication method for a communication apparatus comprising:

determining a communication mode in a network in which the communication apparatus is to participate;

selecting, based on the determination in the determining step, a client function or a server function in processing of deciding an address; and

operating as an apparatus of the function selected in the selecting step.

11. A program, which is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, for causing a computer to execute the communication method for the communication apparatus according to claim 10.

12. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute the communication method for the communication apparatus according to claim 10.