Wireless communication system having network controller and wireless communication device connected to digital communication line, and method of controlling said system

• US 6,804,195 B2
• Filed: 01/12/1998
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Arai, Shunji, Izumi, Michihiro, Kagaya, Naoto, Uchimi, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, DUC CHI
• Application Number:
  US09/005,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20020044536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,465 Days
• Field of Search: 370/220, 370/522, 370/524, 370/465, 370/347, 370/451, 370/433, 370/466, 370/467, 370/493, 370/480, 370/468, 370/401, 370/349, 370/328, 370/329, 370/338, 455/517, 455/465, 455/450, 455/507, 455/509, 455/511
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/00 Local resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Data communicated on one wireless channel is converted and communicated via a wired line. Alternatively, data communicated on a plurality of wireless channels is bundled and communicated via a wired line using a number of channels smaller than that of the wireless channels. In a case where another wireless communication apparatus wishes to use a wireless communication channel when a plurality of wireless channels are being used for communication, some of the plurality of wireless channels are released, thereby making it possible for the other communication apparatus to perform communication even when communication is being carried out using the plurality of wireless channels. When communication by the other wireless communication apparatus subsequently ends, communication on the original number of wireless channels is resumed.

Claims

1. A communication system having a control apparatus connectable to a wired line, and a first wireless communication apparatus wirelessly connectable to the control apparatus, wherein said control apparatus comprises:

first wireless communication means for communicating data with the first wireless communication apparatus using plural N wireless channels of plural M (M≧

N) wireless channels;

first converting means for converting data on the plural N wireless channels received by said first wireless communication means to data for a wired channel; and

wired communication means for communicating, via the wired channel of the wired line, the data obtained by the conversion performed by said first converting means, and

said first wireless communication apparatus comprises;

second wireless communication means for communicating data with said control apparatus using plural N wireless channels of plural M wireless channels,

wherein said first wireless communication means can release a number of N wireless channels which have been used for data communication for other communication, and said first converting means performs data conversion without changing said wired channel even if the number of wireless channels is released.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said control apparatus has control means for releasing some of the plural N wireless channels being used by said first wireless communication means if a call origination request is received from another communication apparatus when communication is being performed by said first wireless communication means and said wired communication means.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said control means uses the released channels for communication with said other communication apparatus.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein when communication with said other communication apparatus is finished, said control means uses the wireless channels that were used for communication with said other communication apparatus for communication with said first wireless communication apparatus.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein when the wireless channels are released, said control means transmits information, which notifies of a change in transmission speed of data communicated using said wired communication means, to said wired line.

6. The system according to claim 2, wherein said other communication apparatus is a second wireless communication apparatus with which said control apparatus is capable of wirelessly communicating.

7. The system according to claim 2, wherein said other communication apparatus is a communication apparatus capable of communicating via the wired line.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first wireless communication apparatus has connecting means for connecting a data processing device that is capable of data communication, and said second wireless communication means communicates data received from said data processing device via said connecting means.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second wireless communication means perform communication using two wireless channels of plural M wireless channels;

said first converting means converts data on two of the wireless channels to data on one channel; and

said wired communication means communicates the data, obtained by the conversion by said first converting means, on one channel.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first wireless communication means is capable of communication by using a single wireless channel of plural M wireless channels, and said control apparatus determines the number of wireless channels in dependence upon a command from said first wireless communication apparatus.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the command is issued when said first wireless communication apparatus issues a call origination request to said control apparatus.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the command is included in information added onto dialing information transmitted when said first wireless communication apparatus issues the call origination request to said control apparatus.

13. A control apparatus, connectable to a wired line, capable of being wirelessly connected to a first wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

first wireless communication means for communicating data with the first wireless communication apparatus using plural N wireless channels of plural M (M≧

N) wireless channels;

first converting means for converting data on the plural N wireless channels received by said first wireless communication means to data for a wired channel that the channel number differs from the number of wireless channels; and

wired communication means for communicating, via the wired channel of the wired line, the data obtained by the conversion performed by said first converting means, wherein said first wireless communication means can release a number of N wireless channels which have been used for data communication for other communication, and said first converting means performs data conversion without changing wired channels even if the number of wireless channels is released.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said control apparatus has control means for releasing some of the plural N wireless channels being used by said first wireless communication means if a call origination request is received from another communication apparatus when communication is being performed by said first wireless communication means and said wired communication means.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said control means uses the released channels for communication with said other communication apparatus.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein when communication with said other communication apparatus is finished, said control means uses the wireless channels that were used for communication with said other communication apparatus for communication with said first wireless communication apparatus.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein when the wireless channels are released, said control means transmits information, which notifies of a change in transmission speed of data communicated using said wired communication means, to said wired line.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said other communication apparatus is a second wireless communication apparatus with which said control apparatus is capable of wirelessly communicating.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said other communication apparatus is a communication apparatus capable of communicating via the wired line.

20. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first wireless communication means performs communication using two wireless channels of plural M wireless channels;

said first converting means converts data on two of the wireless channels to data on one channel; and

said wired communication means communicates the data, obtained by the conversion by said first converting means, on one channel.

21. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first wireless communication means is capable of communication by using a single wireless channel of plural M wireless channels, and said control apparatus determines the number of wireless channels in dependence upon a command from said first wireless communication apparatus.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the command is issued when said first wireless communication apparatus issues a call origination request to said control apparatus.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the command is included in information added onto dialing information transmitted when said first wireless communication apparatus issues the call origination request to said control apparatus.

24. A wireless communication apparatus, capable of wireless communication with a first communication apparatus, which performs communication with a second communication apparatus via wired channels, comprising;

wireless connection means for wirelessly connecting with said first communication apparatus via N wireless channels of plural P (P≧

N) wireless channels, wherein said first communication apparatus performs communication via a wired channel; and

wireless communication means for communicating data, which is communicated via the wired channel by said first communication apparatus, with said first communication apparatus via the N wireless channel,

wherein said wireless connection means releases a number of N wireless channels connected to said first communication apparatus while said first communication apparatus is communicating data for other communication with said second communication apparatus via the wired channel, and said wireless communication means communicates data, which was communicated via the wired channel by said first communication apparatus, with said first communication apparatus via wireless channels that the wireless channels has been released.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said wireless connection means releases some of the N wireless channels, which have been connected with said first communication apparatus, in accordance with a signal received from said first communication apparatus.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said wireless connection means connects the released wireless channels again in accordance with the signal received from said first communication apparatus.

27. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said wireless communication apparatus has connecting means for connecting a data processing device that is capable of data communication, and said wireless communication means communicates data from said data processing device received via said connecting means.

28. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said wireless communication means performs communication using two wireless channels of plural P wireless channels;

and

said first communication apparatus converts data on two of the wireless channels to data on one channel and communicates with the data, obtained by the conversion, on one channel.

29. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said wireless communication apparatus transmits information for specifying the number of wireless channels for connecting with said first communication apparatus upon start of communication with said first communication apparatus.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said information is added onto dialing information and transmitted.

31. A method of controlling a communication system having a control apparatus connectable to a wired line, and a first wireless communication apparatus wirelessly connectable to the control apparatus, wherein a method of controlling said control apparatus comprises:

a first wireless communication step of causing communication of data with the first wireless communication apparatus using plural N wireless channels of plural M (M≧

N) wireless channels;

a first converting step of converting data on the plural N wireless channels received at said first wireless communication step to data for a wired channel; and

a wired communication step of causing communication of data, via the wired channel of the wired line, obtained by the conversion performed at said first converting step, and

a method of controlling said first wireless communication apparatus comprises;

a second wireless communication step of causing communication of data with said control apparatus using plural N wireless channels of plural M wireless channels,

wherein the number of N wireless channels can be released at said first wireless communication step which have been used for data communication for other communication, and data conversion is performed at said first converting step without changing said wired channel even if the number of wireless channels is released.

32. A method of controlling a control apparatus, which is connectable to a wired line, capable of being wirelessly connected to a first wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a first wireless communication step of causing communication of data with the first wireless communication apparatus using plural N wireless channels of plural M (M≧

N) wireless channels;

a first converting step of converting data on the plural N wireless channels received at said first wireless communication step to data for a wired channel; and

a wired communication step of causing communication of data, via the wired channel of the wired line, obtained by the conversion performed at said first converting step,

wherein a number of N wireless channels can be released at said first wireless communication step which have been used for data communication for other communication, and data conversion is performed at said first converting step without changing said wired channel even if the number of wireless channels is released.

33. A method of controlling a wireless communication apparatus capable of wireless communication with a first communication apparatus, which performs communication with a second communication apparatus via wired channels, comprising;

a wireless connection step of wirelessly connecting with said first communication apparatus via N wireless channels of plural P (P≧

N) wireless channels, wherein said first communication apparatus performs communication via a wired channel; and

a wireless communication step of causing communication of data, which is communicated via the wired channel by said first communication apparatus, with said first communication apparatus via the N wireless channels,

wherein a number of N wireless channels connected to said first communication apparatus is released at said wireless connection step while said first communication apparatus is communicating with said second communication apparatus via the wired channel which have been used for data communication for other communication, and said wireless communication step causes communication of data, which was communicated via the wired channel by said first communication apparatus, with said first communication apparatus via wireless channels that wireless channels has been released.

34. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for controlling a control apparatus, which is connectable to a wired line, capable of being wirelessly connected to a first wireless communication apparatus, said method comprising;

a first wireless communication step causing communication of data with the first wireless communication apparatus using plural N wireless channels of plural M (M≧

N) wireless channels;

a first converting step converting data on the plural N wireless channels received at said first wireless communication step to data for a wired channel; and

a wired communication step causing communication of data, via the wired channel of the wired line, obtained by the conversion performed at said first converting step,

wherein a number of N wireless channels can be released at said first wireless communication step which have been used for data communication for other communication, and data conversion is performed at said first converting step without changing said wired channel even if the number of wireless channels is released.

35. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for controlling a wireless communication apparatus capable of wireless communication with a first communication apparatus, which performs communication with a second communication apparatus via wired channels, said method comprising:

a wireless connection step wirelessly connecting with said first communication apparatus via N wireless channels of plural P (P≧

N) wireless channels, wherein said first communication apparatus performs communication via a wired channel; and

a wireless communication step causing communication of data, which is communicated via the wired channel by said first communication apparatus, with said first communication apparatus via the N wireless channels step,

wherein a number of N wireless channels connected to said first communication apparatus is released at said wireless connection step while said first communication apparatus is communicating with said second communication apparatus via the wired channel which have been used for data communication for other communication, and said wireless communication step causes communication of data, which was communicated via the wired channel by said first communication apparatus, with said first communication apparatus via wireless channels that the wireless channels has been released.