WIRELESS COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, WIRELESS COMMUNICATION APPARATUS CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM

• US 20150351022A1
• Filed: 10/01/2013
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: SAKODA, Kazuyuki, SAKO, Yoichiro, ARATANI, Katsuhisa, ASADA, Kohei, WATANABE, Kazuhiro, NAKAMURA, Takatoshi, TAKEHARA, Mitsuru, KOGA, Yuki, HANAYA, Hiroyuki, ONUMA, Tomoya, TANGE, Akira
• Granted Patent: US 10,091,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Provided is a wireless communication apparatus including a communication unit that transmits and receives data in at least one communication mode from among a first communication mode in which wireless communication is conducted with other wireless communication apparatuses present within a predetermined range, and a second communication mode in which wireless communication is conducted with other wireless communication apparatuses present within a wider range than the predetermined range; and a control unit that, when data is being transmitted and received with a second wireless communication apparatus via one or a plurality of other wireless communication apparatuses in the first communication mode, configures the second communication mode and conducts a control for detecting a third wireless communication apparatus that satisfies a predetermined condition.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a communication unit that transmits and receives data in at least one communication mode from among a first communication mode in which wireless communication is conducted with other wireless communication apparatuses present within a predetermined range, and a second communication mode in which wireless communication is conducted with other wireless communication apparatuses present within a wider range than the predetermined range; and

a control unit that, when data is being transmitted and received with a second wireless communication apparatus via one or a plurality of other wireless communication apparatuses in the first communication mode, configures the second communication mode and conducts a control for detecting a third wireless communication apparatus that satisfies a predetermined condition.

2. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

if the third wireless communication apparatus is detected, the control unit conducts a control for connecting to the third wireless communication apparatus instead of the second wireless communication apparatus in the first communication mode, and transmitting and receiving data with the third wireless communication apparatus via one or a plurality of other wireless communication apparatuses.

3. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

in the first communication mode, the communication unit transmits and receives data with the second wireless communication apparatus to receive a first service provided by the second wireless communication apparatus, and

in the second communication mode, the control unit detects, as the third wireless communication apparatus, a wireless communication apparatus that provides the same service as the first service.

4. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

in the first communication mode, the communication unit transmits and receives data with the second wireless communication apparatus to receive the first service, and also transmits and receives data with a fourth wireless communication apparatus to receive a second service provided by the fourth wireless communication apparatus via one or a plurality of other wireless communication apparatuses, and

the control unit detects, as the third wireless communication apparatus, a wireless communication apparatus whose communication route is at least partially shared in common with a communication route for transmitting and receiving data with the fourth wireless communication apparatus in the first communication mode.

5. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit configures the second communication mode to detect the third wireless communication apparatus at a predetermined timing.

6. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the control unit configures the second communication mode on the basis of a configured value of a timer.

7. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the control unit configures the second communication mode on the basis of a communication status in the first communication mode.

8. The wireless communication apparatus according claim 5, wherein

the control unit configures the second communication mode on the basis of a remaining level of a battery for driving another wireless communication apparatus present on a communication route in the first communication mode.

9. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the control unit configures the second communication mode on the basis of a movement status of another wireless communication apparatus present on a communication route in the first communication mode.

10. A communication system comprising:

first to third wireless communication apparatuses that transmit and receive data in at least one communication mode from among a first communication mode in which wireless communication is conducted with other wireless communication apparatuses present within a predetermined range, and a second communication mode in which wireless communication is conducted with other wireless communication apparatuses present within a wider range than the predetermined range, wherein

the first wireless communication apparatus, when data is being transmitted and received with the second wireless communication apparatus via one or a plurality of other wireless communication apparatuses in the first communication mode, configures the second communication mode and conducts a control for detecting the third wireless communication apparatus that satisfies a predetermined condition.

11. A wireless communication apparatus control method comprising:

a first step of, when data is being transmitted and received with a second wireless communication apparatus via one or a plurality of other wireless communication apparatuses in a first communication mode in which wireless communication is conducted with other wireless communication apparatuses present within a predetermined range, configuring a second communication mode in which wireless communication is conducted with other wireless communication apparatuses present within a wider range than the predetermined range; and

a second step of detecting a third wireless communication apparatus that satisfies a predetermined condition in the second communication mode.

12. A program causing a computer to execute:

a first step of, when data is being transmitted and received with a second wireless communication apparatus via one or a plurality of other wireless communication apparatuses in a first communication mode in which wireless communication is conducted with other wireless communication apparatuses present within a predetermined range, configuring a second communication mode in which wireless communication is conducted with other wireless communication apparatuses present within a wider range than the predetermined range; and

a second step of detecting a third wireless communication apparatus that satisfies a predetermined condition in the second communication mode.