Method and device for communication on a network
First Claim
1. A method of communicating between communication stations adapted to communicate with each other when at least one of said communication stations supplies a control signal, said one of said stations then functioning in a “
- base station”
mode, and other stations not supplying a control signal then functioning in a “
mobile station”
mode, the method being performed by a first communication station needing to send information, the method comprising the steps of;
determining the presence of a second communication station functioning in base station mode able to convey said information; and
in a case where the determining step determines that no second communication station is functioning in base station mode and is capable of conveying said information, performing a switching operation, during which said first communication station switches to function in base station mode.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The communication method of the invention applies to communication stations adapted to communicate with each other when at least one of said communication stations supplies a control signal, said station then functioning in “base station” mode and the stations not supplying a control signal then functioning in “mobile station” mode.
It includes, performed by at least one communication station functioning initially in base station mode:
an operation of determining the presence of a station functioning in mobile station mode, and
when, during the presence determination operation it is determined that no station is functioning in mobile station mode, an operation of switching into mobile station mode, during which said station goes into mobile station node.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of communicating between communication stations adapted to communicate with each other when at least one of said communication stations supplies a control signal, said one of said stations then functioning in a “
- base station”
mode, and other stations not supplying a control signal then functioning in a “
mobile station”
mode, the method being performed by a first communication station needing to send information, the method comprising the steps of;determining the presence of a second communication station functioning in base station mode able to convey said information; and
in a case where the determining step determines that no second communication station is functioning in base station mode and is capable of conveying said information, performing a switching operation, during which said first communication station switches to function in base station mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
determining the presence of a station functioning in mobile station mode; and
in a case where it is determined that no station is functioning in the mobile station mode, performing a switching operation during which said station switches to mobile station mode.
- base station”
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6. An information storage means which can be read by a computer or a microprocessor, the information storage means storing instructions of a computer program for performing a communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
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7. An information storage means which is partially or totally removable and which can be read by a computer or a microprocessor, the information storage means storing instructions of a computer program for performing a communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
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8. A method according to claim 1, the method further being performed for the establishment of a confidential communication between at least two communication stations initially functioning in the mobile station mode, in contact with an “
- initial”
base station, the method further comprising the steps of;switching into a “
new”
base station mode one of the communication stations initially functioning in the mobile station mode; and
establishing communication between the new base station and each of the communication stations concerned by the confidential communication.
- initial”
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9. A device for communicating between communication stations adapted to communicate with each other when at least one of said communication stations supplies a control signal, said one of said stations then functioning in a “
- base station”
mode and other stations not supplying a control signal then functioning in a “
mobile station”
mode, the device having a processing means adapted to perform process steps when a first communication station of which the processing means forms a part needs to send information, the process steps comprising;determining the presence of a second communication station functioning in base station mode able to convey said information; and
in a case where it is determined that no second communication station is functioning in base station mode and is capable of conveying said information, switching the functioning of said communication into base station mode. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
determining the presence of a station functioning in mobile station mode; and
in case where it is determined that no station is functioning in mobile station mode, switching into mobile station mode.
- base station”
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14. A communication network, comprising at least two devices according to any one of claims 9 to 13.
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15. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the device is included in a telephone.
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16. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the device is included in a photographic apparatus.
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17. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the device is included in a printer.
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18. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the device is included in a scanner.
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19. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the device is included in a camera.
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20. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the device is included in a computer.
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21. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the device is included in a facsimile machine.
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22. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the device is included in a television receiver.
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23. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the device is included in an audio/video player.
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24. A device according to claim 9, wherein the processing means further performs process steps of:
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determining a request for confidential communication between at least two stations initially functioning in mobile station mode;
switching the mode of one of the communication stations concerned by a confidential communication initially functioning in the mobile station mode to base station mode, said station then being referred to as a “
new base station”
; and
establishing communication between the new base station and each of the communication stations concerned by the confidential communication.
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Specification