Wireless Communication Apparatus and Control Method for the Same

• US 20100164300A1
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Client Solutions CO., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Takezaki, Satoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,904,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/116
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a wireless communication apparatus includes a power supply controller configured to transmit a first command, to an electronic equipment using the wired communication module, for instructing to transmit setting message showing whether the electronic equipment is set to be activated in response to an activation command transmitted from the wired communication device, to transmit a second command, to the electronic equipment using the wired communication module, for instructing to transmit a state message showing whether the electronic equipment is in operation when the setting message shows that the electronic equipment is set to be activated in response to the activation command, to determine whether the electronic equipment is in operation based on the state message, and to instruct the power supply module to stop supplying the drive power to the wireless communication module when it is determined that the electronic equipment is not being activated.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a receptacle configured to be inserted one end of a cable for transmitting and receiving an audio and visual (AV) signal in which a video signal, an audio signal are superimposed on each other, commands, and messages;

a wired communication module configured to transmit the commands and the messages through the receptacle and to receive the commands and the messages the through the receptacle;

a signal controller configured to transmit the AV signal through the receptacle or receive the AV signal through the receptacle;

a wireless communication module configured to transmit and receive the AV signal and the commands;

a power supply module configured to supply drive power for driving the wireless communication module the wireless communication module; and

a power supply controller configured to transmit a first command, to an electronic equipment using the wired communication module, for instructing to transmit setting message showing whether the electronic equipment is set to be activated in response to an activation command transmitted from the wired communication device, to transmit a second command, to the electronic equipment using the wired communication module, for instructing to transmit a state message showing whether the electronic equipment is in operation when the setting message shows that the electronic equipment is set to be activated in response to the activation command, to determine whether the electronic equipment is in operation based on the state message, and to instruct the power supply module to stop supplying the drive power to the wireless communication module when it is determined that the electronic equipment is not being activated.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the power supply controller is configured to determine whether an second electronic equipment which transmits and receives the command through the receptacle exist after the instructing the power supply module to stop supplying the drive power, to determine whether a third electronic equipment which transmits or receives the AV signal through the receptacle exist when it is determined that the second electronic equipment does not exist, and to instruct the power supply module to start supplying the drive power to the wireless communication module when it is determined that the third electronic equipment exists.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein

the power supply controller is configured to receive the setting message from the second electric equipment when it is determined that the second electronic equipment exists, and to instruct the power supply module to start supplying the drive power to the wireless communication module when the setting information which is transmitted from the second electronic equipment shows that the electronic equipment is being activated.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein

the power supply controller is configured to receive the state message from the second electronic equipment when the setting message shows that the second electronic equipment is set to be not activated, to determine whether the second electronic equipment being activated based on the state message transmitted from the second electronic equipment, to instruct the power supply module to start supplying the drive power to the wireless communication module when it is determined that the second electronic equipment is activated.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the activation command and the second command is defined in a HDMI-CEC standard, and the first command and the setting message are a vender specific command.

6. Electronic equipment connected to a wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a receptacle configured to be insert one end of the cable for transmitting and receiving an audio and video signal in which a video signal and an audio signal are superimposed on each other, commands, and messages; and

a storage module configured to store setting information showing whether the electronic equipment is set to be activated in response to an activation command received, wherein

a transmitter configured to transmit, through the receptacle, a setting message comprising the setting information to the wireless communication apparatus in response to a first command which is transmitted from the wireless communication apparatus, and to transmit, through the receptacle, a state message showing a power state of the electronic equipment to the wireless communication apparatus in response to a second command which is transmitted from the wireless communication apparatus.

7. The equipment of claim 6, wherein

the activation command and second command are defined in the HDMI-CEC standard, and the setting message and the state message are vender specific commands.

8. A control method of a wireless communication apparatus configured to transmit an audio and visual signal (AV) signal in which a video signal and an audio signal are superimposed on each other through wireless communication, wherein

the wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a receptacle configured to be inserted one end of a cable for inputting/outputting the AV signal, commands, and messages;

a wireless communication module configured to transmit the AV signal and to transmit and receive the commands; and

a power supply module configured to supply drive power for driving the wireless communication module to the wireless communication module,

the method comprising;

transmitting a first command for instructing to transmit a setting message from the wireless communication apparatus to the electronic equipment using the wired communication module;

receiving the setting message transmitted from the electronic equipment through the receptacle;

determining whether the setting message shows that the electronic equipment is set to be activated in response to the activation command;

transmitting, to the electronic equipment using the wired communication module, a second command for instructing to transmit a state message showing whether the electronic equipment is in operation when it is determined that the setting message shows that the electronic equipment is set to be activated in response to the activation command;

receiving the state message transmitted form the electronic equipment through the receptacle;

determining whether the electronic equipment is in operation based on the state message; and

instructing the power supply module to stop supplying the drive power to the wireless communication module when it is determined that the electronic equipment is not being activated.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the activation command and second command are defined in the HDMI-CEC standard, and the first command setting message are vender specific commands.