Battery saving synchronization method in a communcation apparatus
First Claim
1. A communication apparatus which is provided with transmission and reception processing means for transmitting and receiving data by wireless communication, and time counting means for measuring a lapse of time, the apparatus comprising:
- control means for repeating an intermittent receipt control wherein the transmission and reception processing means is in operation at intervals of a predetermined period, transmits a beacon indicating that the transmission and reception processing means is set in a state of being capable of receiving the data, and is continued to operate in response to an output from the time counting means after the transmission of the beacon so that the transmission and reception processing means is capable of receiving the data during a guarantee period, and the operation of the transmission and reception processing means is suspended when the guarantee period is expired;
wherein the predetermined period is defined so that the average electric power consumed by the intermittent receipt control will be smaller than the electric power consumed in the case where the transmission and reception processing means does not transmit beacon and do keep alive all the time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a communication apparatus and method capable of carrying out communication at a low consumed electric power without setting a base station when communication is carried out between a plurality of communication terminals capable of carrying out wireless communication. The communication apparatus 11 transmits a beacon from a transmission function circuit 22 every time the beacon transmission request is generated. A data receivable period is provided after the beacon is transmitted. After the lapse of the receivable period, the supply of the electric power to the transmission and reception processing device 12 is suspended with the power source control circuit 27 to provide a sleep time. The data can be exchanged with reliability without setting the base station by means of a beacon. Addition, the supply of electric power is suspended so that the consumed electric power can be eliminated.
138 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A communication apparatus which is provided with transmission and reception processing means for transmitting and receiving data by wireless communication, and time counting means for measuring a lapse of time, the apparatus comprising:
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control means for repeating an intermittent receipt control wherein the transmission and reception processing means is in operation at intervals of a predetermined period, transmits a beacon indicating that the transmission and reception processing means is set in a state of being capable of receiving the data, and is continued to operate in response to an output from the time counting means after the transmission of the beacon so that the transmission and reception processing means is capable of receiving the data during a guarantee period, and the operation of the transmission and reception processing means is suspended when the guarantee period is expired; wherein the predetermined period is defined so that the average electric power consumed by the intermittent receipt control will be smaller than the electric power consumed in the case where the transmission and reception processing means does not transmit beacon and do keep alive all the time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A communication apparatus comprising:
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transmission and reception processing means for transmitting and receiving packeted data by wireless communication; control means for controlling an operation of the transmission and reception processing means; time counting means for measuring a lapse of time; and identification information memorizing means for setting and registering identification information about neighboring communication apparatuses, on the basis of a beacon indicating that the communication apparatus is set in the state of being capable of receiving the data, the beacon being transmitted from a communication apparatus which conducts an intermittently receiving operation, at intervals of a predetermined period; wherein, in the case where the data are to be transmitted to a communication apparatus whose identification information is not memorized in the identification information memorizing means, the transmission and reception processing means transmits the data immediately, and in the case where the data are to be transmitted to a communication apparatus whose identification information is memorized in the identification information memorizing means, the transmission and reception processing means monitors the beacon from the communication apparatus to which the data are to be transmitted, for a period at least longer than the predetermined period, and transmits and receives the data in response to the receipt of the beacon. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A data communication method which is carried out in a communication apparatus network including one or plural first communication apparatuses and one or plural second communication apparatuses,
the one or plural first communication apparatuses comprising: -
first transmission and reception processing means for transmitting and receiving data by wireless communication; first time counting means for measuring a lapse of time; and first control means for repeating an intermittent receipt control wherein the first transmission and receipt processing means is operated at intervals of a first period, transmits a beacon indicating that the first transmission and reception processing means is set in a state of being capable of receiving the data, and is continued to operate in response to an output from the time counting means after the transmission of the beacon so that the transmission and reception processing means is capable of receiving the data during a first guarantee period, and then the operation of the first transmission and receipt processing means is suspended after the guarantee period, the one or more second communication apparatuses comprising; second transmission and reception processing means for transmitting and receiving the data by wireless communication; and second control means for controlling an operation of the second transmit and receive processing means, the second control means being controlled so that the data can be received at all times, wherein when the data are transmitted to the first communication apparatus, the second transmission and reception processing means suspends data transmission and waits for the beacon transmitted from the first communication apparatus for a second period which is set longer than the first period, and transmits the data in response to the receipt of the beacon. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification