WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD AND WIRELESS APPARATUS

• US 20120099448A1
• Filed: 09/02/2011
• Published: 04/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsuo, Ryoko, Tandai, Tomoya, Tomizawa, Takeshi
• Application Number:
  US13/224,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20120099448A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0241 where no transmission is received, e.g. out of range of the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/005 Transmission of information for alerting of incoming communication
• 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

A wireless apparatus includes: a first wireless unit, a second wireless unit, a controller, and a processing unit. The first wireless unit performs wireless communications in a first communication mode for performing the communications within a first communication coverage area. The second wireless unit performs wireless communications in a second communication mode for performing the communications within a second communication coverage area which is smaller than the first communication coverage area. The controller starts the second wireless unit on the basis of a received power of the start notification signal. The start notification signal is received by the first wireless unit. The processing unit manages or holds data transmitted and received by the first wireless unit and the second wireless unit.

Claims

1. A wireless apparatus comprising:

a first wireless unit configured to perform wireless communications in a first communication mode for performing the communications within a first communication coverage area, and to receive a start notification signal transmitted in accordance with the first communication mode;

a second wireless unit configured to perform wireless communications in a second communication mode for performing the communications within a second communication coverage area which is smaller than the first communication coverage area;

a controller configured to start the second wireless unit on the basis of a received power of the start notification signal; and

a processing unit configured to manage or hold data transmitted and received by the first wireless unit and the second wireless unit.

2. The wireless apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the controller starts the second wireless unit if a strength of the received power has a larger intensity than a threshold.

3. The wireless apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the controller starts the second wireless unit if a link margin calculated based on the received power is equal to or larger than a threshold.

4. The wireless apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the second wireless unit includes a timer configured to measure an elapsed length of time after the starting of the second wireless unit by the controller, and

if the length of time measured by the timer exceeds a predetermined length of time, the second wireless unit stops an operation.

5. The wireless apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the predetermined length of time is equal to or longer than a transmission interval of a connection request signal in the second communication mode.

6. The wireless apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the second wireless unit performs a reception operation for a length of time at regular intervals while the second wireless unit is not in operation.

7. A wireless apparatus comprising:

a first wireless unit configured to perform wireless communications in a first communication mode for performing the communications within a first communication coverage area, and to receive a start notification signal transmitted in accordance with the first communication mode;

a second wireless unit configured to perform wireless communications in a second communication mode for performing the communications within a second communication coverage area that is smaller than the first communication coverage area;

a controller configured to start the second wireless unit on the basis of location information included in the start notification signal; and

a processing unit configured to manage or hold data transmitted and received by the first wireless unit and the second wireless unit.

8. The wireless apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

based on the location information included in the start notification signal and the location information of the wireless apparatus, the controller calculates a distance between the wireless apparatus and a transmission destination apparatus having transmitted the start notification signal, and

if the distance falls within the second communication coverage area, the controller starts the second wireless unit.

9. The wireless apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

the second wireless unit includes a timer configured to measure an elapsed length of time after the starting of the second wireless unit by the controller, and

if the length of time measured by the timer exceeds a predetermined length of time, the second wireless unit stops an operation.

10. The wireless apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the predetermined length of time is equal to or longer than a transmission interval of a connection request signal in the second communication mode.

11. The wireless apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein the second wireless unit performs a reception operation for a length of time at regular intervals while the second wireless unit is not in operation.

12. A wireless apparatus comprising:

a first wireless unit configured to perform wireless communications in a first communication mode for performing the communications within a first communication coverage area;

a second wireless unit configured to perform wireless communications in a second communication mode for performing the communications within a second communication coverage area that is smaller than the first communication coverage area;

a processing unit configured to manage or hold data transmitted and received by the first wireless unit and the second wireless unit; and

a controller configured to control the first wireless unit to transmit a start notification signal in accordance with the first communication mode in the case of transmitting the data held by the processing unit in the second communication mode, and to control the second wireless unit to transmit a connection request signal in accordance with the second communication mode after the first wireless unit transmits the start notification signal.

13. The wireless apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

the first wireless unit performs communications with an access point in the first communication mode, and transmits the start notification signal to the access point, and

if the first wireless unit receives a signal from the access point after transmitting the start notification signal, the controller controls the second wireless unit to transmit the connection request signal.