COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION METHOD AND PROGRAM

• US 20100048126A1
• Filed: 07/20/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: NISHIYAMA, Fumihiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,331,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A communication apparatus of the present invention includes a transmission/reception coupler for performing a close-range one-to-one communication with a device of a communication counterpart by electric field coupling or magnetic field coupling; an intermittent operation unit for performing intermittent operation with a predetermined pause period provided when performing the communication with the device of the communication counterpart; and an intermittent operation cancel request unit for outputting a cancel request of canceling the intermittent operation of the device of the communication counterpart when transmitting a data frame to the device of the communication counterpart and a response with respect to the data frame is not received from the communication counterpart.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

a communication unit for performing a close-range one-to-one communication with a device of a communication counterpart by electric field coupling or magnetic field coupling;

an intermittent operation unit for performing intermittent operation without releasing connection after the connection is established with the device of the communication part;

an intermittent operation notifying unit for notifying the device of the communication counterpart of performing the intermittent operation, the intermittent operation notifying unit notifying without receiving a response to the notification; and

an intermittent operation cancel request unit for outputting a cancel request of canceling the intermittent operation of the device of the communication counterpart when transmitting a data frame to the device of the communication counterpart and a response with respect to the data frame is not received from the communication counterpart.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data frame is retransmitted to the device of the communication counterpart after receiving a response with respect to the cancel request from the device of the communication counterpart.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermittent operation cancel request unit determines whether or not the device of the communication counterpart is performing the intermittent operation based on a predetermined judgmental standard after transmitting the data frame to the device of the communication counterpart.

4. A communication system comprising:

a first communication apparatus for performing communication with a second communication apparatus through a close-range one-to-one communication by an electric field coupling or a magnetic field coupling; and

a second communication apparatus including an intermittent operation unit for performing intermittent operation without releasing connection after the connection is established with the first communication device, an intermittent operation notifying unit for notifying the first communication apparatus of performing the intermittent operation, the intermittent operation notifying unit notifying without receiving a response to the notification, and an intermittent operation cancel request unit for outputting a cancel request of canceling the intermittent operation of the device of the communication counterpart when transmitting a data frame to the device of the communication counterpart and a response with respect to the data frame is not received from the communication counterpart.

5. A communication method comprising the steps of:

performing a close-range one-to-one communication with a device of a communication counterpart by electric field coupling or magnetic field coupling;

performing intermittent operation without releasing connection after the connection is established with the device of the communication part;

notifying the device of the communication counterpart of performing the intermittent operation, the notification being made without receiving a response to the notification; and

outputting a cancel request of canceling the intermittent operation of the device of the communication counterpart when transmitting a data frame to the device of the communication counterpart and a response with respect to the data frame is not received from the communication counterpart.

6. A program for causing a computer to function as:

means for performing a close-range one-to-one communication with a device of a communication counterpart by electric field coupling or magnetic field coupling;

means for performing intermittent operation without releasing connection after the connection is established with the device of the communication part;

means for notifying the device of the communication counterpart of performing the intermittent operation, the unit notifying without receiving a response to the notification; and

means for outputting a cancel request of canceling the intermittent operation of the device of the communication counterpart when transmitting a data frame to the device of the communication counterpart and a response with respect to the data frame is not received from the communication counterpart.