COMMUNICATION CONTROL APPARATUS

• US 20100152913A1
• Filed: 06/23/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tanabe, Akihiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,332,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/544 Setting up communications; Call and signalling arrangements

Abstract

A communication control apparatus includes a first connection unit connecting to a power line, a second connection unit to which an external apparatus is connected, a power supply unit for supplying electric power to the external apparatus via the second connection unit, a communication unit for making the communication between a communication apparatus connected to the power line and the external apparatus via the first connection unit and the second connection unit, and a control unit for controlling the power supply unit to supply electric power to the external apparatus, based on information received from the external apparatus by the communication unit.

Claims

1. A communication control apparatus comprising:

a first connection unit connecting to a power line;

a second connection unit to which an external apparatus is connected;

a power supply unit configured to supply electric power to the external apparatus via the second connection unit;

a communication unit configured to make the communication between a communication apparatus connected to the power line and the external apparatus via the first connection unit and the second connection unit; and

a control unit configured to control the power supply unit to supply electric power to the external apparatus, based on information received from the external apparatus by the communication unit,

wherein the communication unit receives information relative to conditions for supplying electric power to the external apparatus from the external apparatus, and

wherein the control unit controls the supply of electric power to the external apparatus by the power supply unit, based on the information relative to the conditions.

3. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the second connection units respectively to which external apparatuses are connected,

wherein the power supply unit supplies electric power to the plural external apparatuses connected to the plural second connection units,

wherein the communication unit communicates with the plural external apparatuses via the plural second connection units, and

wherein the control unit controls the supply of electric power to the plural external apparatuses by the power supply unit, based on the information relating to the conditions received from the plural external apparatuses.

4. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information relative to the conditions includes information indicating condition for stopping the supply of electric power to the external apparatus and condition for starting the supply of electric power.

5. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information relative to the conditions includes information indicating whether or not the supply of electric power to the external apparatus can be stopped.

6. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit configured to detect whether or not the external apparatus is connected to the second connection unit,

wherein the control unit controls the communication unit to receive the information relative to the conditions from the external apparatus if the detection unit detects that the external apparatus is connected.

7. The communication control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit includes a memory for storing the information relative to the conditions, and deletes the information relative to the conditions of a removed external apparatus from the memory if the detection unit detects that the external apparatus connected to the second connection unit is removed.

8. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first connection unit includes a plug inserted into a socket leading to the power line, and wherein if the plug is removed from the socket, the control unit controls the power supply unit to stop the supply of electric power to the external apparatus, based on the information relative to the conditions.

11. The table tap according to claim 8, wherein the power supply unit supplies electric power from the power line via the plug to the external apparatuses connected to the plural sockets, and wherein the plurality of communication circuits receive information from the communication apparatus connected to the power line via the plug and sends the received information to the external apparatuses connected to the plurality of sockets.

12. The table tap according to claim 8, further comprising:

a selection unit configured to select one of the plurality of communication circuits to send the information received via the plug to the external apparatus,

wherein the control unit stops the operation of the selection unit if the external apparatus is not connected to any one of the plurality of sockets.

2. (canceled)

9. A table tap comprising:

a plug connecting to a power line;

a plurality of sockets respectively to which external apparatuses are connected;

a power supply unit configured to supply electric power to the external apparatuses via the plurality of sockets;

a plurality of communication circuits respectively configured to make the communication between a communication apparatus connected to the power line and the external apparatuses connected to the plurality of sockets via the plug and the plurality of sockets; and

a control unit configure to control the power supply unit to supply electric power to the external apparatuses connected to the plurality of sockets, discriminate whether or not each of the external apparatuses connected to the plurality of sockets is communicable with the plurality of communication circuits, and stop operation of the communication circuit for communicating with the incommunicable external apparatus among the plurality of communication circuits, according to the discrimination result.

10. (canceled)