Information Processing Apparatus and Communication Controlling Method

• US 20120250510A1
• Filed: 10/27/2011
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: He, Jingsha
• Application Number:
  US13/283,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20120250510A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/235
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a wireless communication module including a first wireless communication section that supports a first wireless communication system and a second wireless communication section that supports a second wireless communication system having a working frequency band in conflict with a working frequency band of the first wireless communication system, a traffic detecting section configured to calculate traffic of communication based on the first wireless communication system by the first wireless communication section, a traffic determining section configured to determine whether the traffic is less than a predetermined threshold value, and a control section configured to cause performance of an access point search for the second wireless communication system during a period when the traffic is less than the predetermined threshold value, on the basis of a result of the determination by the traffic determining section.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a wireless communication module including a first wireless communication section that supports a first wireless communication system and a second wireless communication section that supports a second wireless communication system having a working frequency band in conflict with a working frequency band of the first wireless communication system;

a traffic detecting section configured to calculate traffic of communication based on the first wireless communication system by the first wireless communication section;

a traffic determining section configured to determine whether the traffic is less than a predetermined threshold value; and

a control section configured to cause performance of an access point search for the second wireless communication system during a period when the traffic is less than the predetermined threshold value, on the basis of a result of the determination by the traffic determining section.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first wireless communication section has functions of a physical layer and a media access control layer of the second wireless communication system, and

the control section causes the first wireless communication section to perform the access point search for the second wireless communication system.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply controlling section configured to supply power only to any one of the first and second wireless communication sections.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a power supply controlling section configured to supply power only to the first wireless communication section during a period when the access point search is performed.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first antenna for communication based on the first wireless communication system; and

a second antenna for the access point search for the second wireless communication system.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

two antennas, wherein

the first wireless communication section separately assigns an antenna for communication based on the first wireless communication system and an antenna for the access point search for the second wireless communication system to separate antennas of the two antennas.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the control section switches from communication based on the first wireless communication system by the first wireless communication section to communication based on the second wireless communication system by the second wireless communication section if an access point is detected by the access point search for the second wireless communication system.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the control section switches from communication based on the first wireless communication system by the first wireless communication section to communication based on the second wireless communication system by the second wireless communication section if an access point is detected by the access point search for the second wireless communication system.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a power supply controlling section configured to supply power to the first wireless communication section during a period when the access point search for the second wireless communication system is performed and supply power to the second wireless communication section if an access point is detected by the access point search.

10. A communication controlling method for controlling communication by a wireless communication module including a first wireless communication system that supports a first wireless communication system and a second wireless communication section that supports a second wireless communication system having a working frequency band in conflict with a working frequency band of the first wireless communication system, comprising:

calculating traffic of communication based on the first wireless communication system by the first wireless communication section;

determining whether the traffic is less than a predetermined threshold value; and

causing performance of an access point search for the second wireless communication system during a period when the traffic is less than the predetermined threshold value, on the basis of a result of the determination.