INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS

• US 20090048004A1
• Filed: 03/25/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Fukushima, Kazuya
• Application Number:
  US12/055,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20090048004A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes: an antenna; a first wireless communication module that establishes wireless communication using a first communication system through the antenna; a second wireless communication module that establishes wireless communication using a second communication system through the antenna, the second communication system having a narrower communication range and smaller power consumption than the first communication system; a determination unit that determines whether or not wireless communication by the first wireless communication module or by the second wireless communication module is available; and a controller that controls the second wireless communication module to establish wireless communication using the second communication system regardless of whether or not wireless communication using the first communication system is established by the first wireless communication module when the determination unit determines that wireless communication by the second wireless communication module is available.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an antenna within the housing;

a first wireless communication module within the housing configured to establish wireless communication using a first communication system through the antenna;

a second wireless communication module within the housing configured to establish wireless communication using a second communication system through the antenna, the second communication system having a narrower communication range and smaller power consumption than the first communication system;

a determination unit configured to determine whether or not wireless communication by the first or second wireless communication module is available; and

a controller configured to control the second wireless communication module to establish wireless communication using the second communication system when the determination unit determines that wireless communication by the second wireless communication module is available, regardless of whether or not wireless communication using the first communication system is established by the first wireless communication module.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a monitor circuit configured to monitor power consumption of the second wireless communication module, wherein the determination unit is configured to determine availability of wireless communication using the second wireless communication module by an increase in the power consumption of the second wireless communication module.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a register in which a power consumption value is set, the power consumption value being used as a reference for determining whether wireless communication by the second wireless communication module is available or not.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication module is configured to search for a base station to establish wireless communication using the first communication system when the determination unit determines that wireless communication by the second wireless communication module is unavailable.

5. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an antenna within the housing;

a first wireless communication module within the housing configured to establish wireless communication using a first communication system through the antenna;

a second wireless communication module within the housing configured to establish wireless communication using a second communication system through the antenna, the second communication system having a narrower communication range and smaller power consumption than the first communication system;

a third wireless communication module within the housing configured to establish wireless communication using a third communication system through the antenna, the third communication system having a narrower communication range and smaller power consumption than the first communication system;

a monitor circuit configured to monitor whether wireless communication by any one of the first through the third wireless communication modules is available; and

a controller configured to control either the second or third wireless communication module to establish wireless communication using either the second or third communication system when the determination unit determines whether wireless communication by either the second or third wireless communication module is available respectively, regardless of whether or not wireless communication using the first communication system is established by the first wireless communication module.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the monitor circuit comprises a power consumption monitor section configured to determine whether wireless communication by either the second or third wireless communication module is available by an increase in the power consumption of either the second or third wireless communication module respectively.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a setting unit configured to set a priority of using either the second or the third wireless communication module for establishing wireless communication when the monitor circuit determines that wireless communications using the second and third wireless communication modules are both available.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a search unit configured to search for a base station to establish wireless communication using the first communication system when the monitor circuit determines that wireless communications by the second and the third wireless communication modules are both unavailable.