Intermittent operation communication device and communication system using beacon and sleep mode

• US 20090059828A1
• Filed: 09/03/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OKI Electric Industry Company Limited
• Original Assignee: OKI Electric Industry Company Limited
• Inventors: Kubo, Yuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,305,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An intermittent operation communication device periodically repeats beacon transmission, data reception or data reception wait, and sleep to transmit data to any of reception side communication devices. The intermittent operation communication device includes a data transmitter for performing transmission when receiving a beacon from any of the reception side communication devices and having data traffic generated meant for a reception side communication device, a transmission announcer for intermittently transmitting a transmission announcement beacon while waiting for reception when having the data traffic generated, and an adjuster for monitoring a transmission announcement beacon from any other of the intermittent operation communication devices to adjust the transmission of the data traffic.

Claims

1. An intermittent operation communication device periodically repeating an intermittent operation including beacon transmission, either of data reception and data reception wait and sleep for transmitting data to another communication device, comprising:

a data transmitter for performing transmission when a beacon is received from the other communication device and data traffic meant for the communication device is generated;

a transmission announcer for intermittently transmitting a transmission announcement beacon while waiting for reception when the data traffic is generated; and

an adjuster for monitoring a transmission announcement beacon sent from the other communication device to adjust transmission of the data traffic when the data traffic is generated.

2. The intermittent operation communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transmission announcer starts to transmit the transmission announcement beacon when a predetermined period of time lapses after the data traffic is generated.

3. The intermittent operation communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein, when the transmission announcement beacon is received from the other communication device, said adjuster turns to a sleep mode for a predetermined period of time to cause said data transmitter to delay the transmission.

4. The intermittent operation communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transmission announcer sets information specific to a destination in the transmission announcement beacon.

5. The intermittent operation communication device in accordance with claim 4, wherein, when the transmission announcement beacon having the information specific to the destination is received from the other communication device and the information matches a destination of the data traffic generated, said adjuster turns to the sleep mode for the predetermined period to cause said data transmitter to delay the transmission.

6. The intermittent operation communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transmission announcer records in the transmission announcement beacon a number of transmitting the transmission announcement beacon in connection with the data traffic generated.

7. The intermittent operation communication device in accordance with claim 6, wherein, when the transmission announcement beacon is received from the other communication device and the number of transmitting the transmission announcement beacon recorded in the transmission announcement beacon received exceeds the number of transmitting the transmission announcement beacon from said intermittent operation communication device, said adjuster turns to the sleep mode for the predetermined period to cause said data transmitter to delay the transmission.

8. The intermittent operation communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a history of previous communication operation is managed, said intermittent operation communication device further comprising an announcement transmission determiner operative in response to the history for determining whether or not said transmission announcer transmits the transmission announcement beacon.

9. The intermittent operation communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a history of previous communication operation is managed, said intermittent operation communication device further comprising an announcement content determiner operative in response to the history for determining information recorded in the transmission announcement beacon by said transmission announcer.

10. A communication system comprising a plurality of intermittent operation communication devices periodically repeating an intermittent operation including beacon transmission, either of data reception and data reception wait, and sleep for transmitting data to any other of said plurality of communication devices,

each of said plurality of communication devices comprising:

a data transmitter for performing transmission when a beacon is received from any other of the plurality of communication devices and data traffic meant for any of the plurality of communication devices is generated;

a transmission announcer for intermittently transmitting a transmission announcement beacon while waiting for reception when the data traffic is generated; and

an adjuster for monitoring a transmission announcement beacon sent from any other of the plurality of communication devices to adjust transmission of the data traffic when the data traffic is generated.