Method and system for managing wireless connection between slave terminals and master terminal

• US 6,907,227 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2002
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Fujioka, Susumu
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, NGUYEN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/141,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20020193073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/507, 455/509, 455/512, 370/449, 370/455
• US Class Current: 455/41.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/36 for reassigning the resources associated with the released connections
• 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 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Slave terminals and a master terminal are wirelessly connected according to the Bluetooth protocol. When a number of the slave terminals exceeds a predetermined number of the slave terminals for the wireless connection, the wireless connections are controlled by a predetermined set of rules. Active slave terminals are switched into inactive slave terminals according to the predetermined rules so as to efficiently use the resources in the system. The system is used for a data conferencing or class room instructions.

Claims

1. A method of controlling wireless communication between a master terminal and slave terminals, comprising;

a) establishing a connection between the master terminal and a predetermined maximal number of the slave terminals to have active slave terminals;

b) identifying remaining unconnected slave terminals as inactive slave terminals in case a number of the slave terminals exceeds the predetermined maximal number;

c) removing one of the active slave terminals from the connection to turn into an inactive slave terminal while establishing one of the inactive terminals for the connection with the master terminal in case the number of the slave terminals exceeds the predetermined maximal number;

d) repeating said step c) until every one of the slave terminals is at least once connected with the master terminal; and

e) communicating among the master terminal and the active slave terminals until a predetermined condition is met.

2. The method of controlling wireless communication between a master terminal and slave terminals according to claim 1 wherein said steps a) through e) are performed in accordance with the Bluetooth protocol.

3. The method of controlling wireless communication between a master terminal and slave terminals according to claim 1 wherein said step e) performs data conferencing among the master terminal and the active slave terminals.

4. The method of controlling wireless communication between a master terminal and slave terminals according to claim 1 wherein said step e) performs class room instructions among the master terminal and the active slave terminals.

5. The method of controlling wireless communication between a master terminal and slave terminals according to claim 1 wherein said step e) further comprises the following steps:

determining an amount of data communication between the master terminal and the active slave terminals;

comparing the data communication amount to a predetermined data communication amount to generate a data comparison result; and

based upon the data comparison result, removing one of the active slave terminals from the connection to turn into an inactive slave terminal while establishing one of the inactive terminals for the connection with the master terminal to turn into an active slave terminal.

6. The method of controlling wireless communication between a master terminal and slave terminals according to claim 5 wherein said step e) further comprises the following steps:

determining an amount of data communication transferred from the master terminal to one of the active slave terminals;

comparing the data communication amount to a predetermined data communication amount to generate a data comparison result; and

based upon the data comparison result, removing the one of the active slave terminals from the connection to turn into an inactive slave terminal while establishing the one of the inactive terminals for the connection with the master terminal to turn into the active slave terminal.

7. The method of controlling wireless communication between a master terminal and slave terminals according to claim 6 further comprising an additional step of selecting one of inactive terminals in accordance with a predetermined order prior to establishing the selected one of the inactive terminals with the master terminal to turn into the active slave terminal.

8. The method of controlling wireless communication between a master terminal and slave terminals according to claim 6 wherein the one of the active slave terminals is removed from the connection only when there is no communication among the master terminal and the slave terminals.

9. The method of controlling wireless communication between a master terminal and slave terminals according to claim 1 wherein said step e) further comprises the following steps:

determining an amount of time during communication among the master terminal and the active slave terminals;

comparing the amount of the time to a predetermined time to generate a time comparison result; and

based upon the time comparison result, removing one of the active slave terminals from the connection to turn into an inactive slave terminal while establishing one of the inactive terminals for the connection with the master terminal to turn into an active slave terminal.

10. The method of controlling wireless communication between a master terminal and slave terminals according to claim 9 wherein the predetermined time varies among the slave terminals.

11. The method of controlling wireless communication between a master terminal and slave terminals according to claim 9 wherein the one of the active slave terminals is removed from the connection only when there is no communication among the master terminal and the slave terminals.

12. The method of controlling wireless communication between a master terminal and slave terminals according to claim 9 further comprising an additional step of selecting one of inactive terminals in accordance with a predetermined order prior to establishing the selected one of the inactive terminals with the master terminals to turn into the active slave terminal.

13. The method of controlling wireless communication between a master terminal and slave terminals according to claim 1 wherein said step e) further comprises the following steps:

requesting an inactive state release from one of the inactive slave terminals during communication among the master terminal and the active slave terminals; and

based upon the inactive state release request, removing one of the active slave terminals from the connection to turn into an inactive slave terminal while establishing the one of the inactive terminals for the connection with the master terminal to turn into an active slave terminal.

14. The method of controlling wireless communication between a master terminal and slave terminals according to claim 13 wherein the one of the active slave terminal fails to act on communication in the upper layers of a base band.

15. The method of controlling wireless communication between a master terminal and slave terminals according to claim 13 wherein the one of the active slave terminals is removed from the connection only when there is no communication among the master terminal and that slave terminal.

16. The method of controlling wireless communication between a master terminal and slave terminals according to claim 1 wherein said step e) further comprises the following steps:

determining whether or not any slave terminal has been selected;

determining whether or not the selected slave terminal is in an inactive state;

determining an amount of time of the selected inactive slave terminal;

comparing the amount of the time to a predetermined time to generate a time comparison result; and

based upon the time comparison result, removing one of the active slave terminals from the connection to turn into an inactive slave terminal while establishing the selective inactive terminal for the connection with the master terminal to turn into an active slave terminal.

17. The method of controlling wireless communication between a master terminal and slave terminals according to claim 16 wherein the predetermined time varies among the slave terminals.

18. The method of controlling wireless communication between a master terminal and slave terminals according to claim 16 wherein the one of the active slave terminals is removed from the connection only when there is no communication among the master terminal and that slave terminals.

19. A system for controlling wireless communication, comprising;

a number of slave terminals; and

a master terminal for establishing a wireless connection between said master terminal and a predetermined maximal number of said slave terminals to have active slave terminals in accordance with the Bluetooth protocol, said master terminal identifying remaining unconnected ones of said slave terminals as inactive slave terminals in case the number of said slave terminals exceeds the predetermined maximal number, said master terminal removing one of said active slave terminals from the wireless connection to turn into one of said inactive slave terminals while establishing one of said inactive terminals for the wireless connection with said master terminal until every one of said slave terminals is at least once wirelessly connected with said master terminal, said master terminal communicating with said active slave terminals until a predetermined condition is met.

20. The system for controlling wireless communication according to claim 19 wherein said master terminal and said slave terminals perform communication for data conferencing.

21. The system for controlling wireless communication according to claim 19 wherein said master terminal and said slave terminals perform communication for class room instructions.

22. The system for controlling wireless communication according to claim 19 wherein said master terminal determines an amount of data communication between said master terminal and said active slave terminals, said master terminal comparing the data communication amount to a predetermined data communication amount to generate a data comparison result, and said mater terminal removing one of said active slave terminals from the wireless connection to turn into one of said inactive slave terminals while establishing one of said inactive terminals for the wireless connection with said master terminal to turn into one of said active slave terminals based upon the data comparison result.

23. The system for controlling wireless communication according to claim 22 wherein said master terminal further determines an amount of data communication transferred from said master terminal to a particular one of said active slave terminals, said master terminal comparing the data communication amount to a predetermined data communication amount to generate a data comparison result, and said master terminal removing one of said active slave terminals from the wireless connection to turn into one of said inactive slave terminals while establishing said one of said inactive terminals for the wireless connection with the master terminal to turn into one of said active slave terminals based upon the data comparison result.

24. The system for controlling wireless communication according to claim 23 wherein said master terminal further selecting one of said inactive terminals in accordance with a predetermined order prior to establishing said selected one of said inactive terminals with said master terminal to turn into one of said active slave terminals.

25. The system for controlling wireless communication according to claim 23 wherein said master terminal removes said one of said active slave terminals from the wireless connection only when there is no communication between said master terminal and said active slave terminals.

26. The system for controlling wireless communication according to claim 19 wherein said master terminal determines an amount of time during communication among said master terminal and said active slave terminals, said mater terminal comparing the amount of the time to a predetermined time to generate a time comparison result, and said mater terminal removing one of said active slave terminals from the wireless connection to turn into one of said inactive slave terminals while establishing one of said inactive terminals for the wireless connection with said master terminal to turn into one of said active slave terminals based upon the time comparison result.

27. The system for controlling wireless communication according to claim 26 wherein the predetermined time varies among said slave terminals.

28. The system for controlling wireless communication according to claim 26 wherein said master terminal removes said one of said active slave terminals from the wireless connection only when there is no communication among said master terminal and said slave terminals.

29. The system for controlling wireless communication according to claim 26 wherein said master terminal selects one of said inactive terminals in accordance with a predetermined order prior to establishing said selected one of said inactive terminals for the wireless connection with said master terminal to turn into one of said active slave terminals.

30. The system for controlling wireless communication according to claim 19 wherein one of said inactive slave terminals transmits to said master terminal an inactive state release request during communication among said master terminal and said active slave terminals, and in response to the inactive state release request, said master terminal removing one of said active slave terminals from the wireless connection to turn into one of said inactive slave terminals while establishing said one of said inactive terminals for the wireless connection with said master terminal to turn into one of said active slave terminals.

31. The system for controlling wireless communication according to claim 30 wherein said one of said active slave terminals fails to act on communication in the upper layers of a base band.

32. The system for controlling wireless communication according to claim 30 wherein said one of said active slave terminals is removed from the connection only when there is no communication among said master terminal and said slave terminal.

33. The system for controlling wireless communication according to claim 19 wherein said master terminal determines whether or not any one of said slave terminals has been selected, said master terminal determining whether or not said selected slave terminal is in an inactive state, said master terminal determining an amount of time of said selected inactive slave terminal, said master terminal comparing the amount of the time to a predetermined time to generate a time comparison result, and said master terminal removing one of said active slave terminals from the connection to turn into one of said inactive slave terminals while establishing said selective inactive terminal for the wireless connection with said master terminals to turn into one of said active slave terminals based upon the time comparison result.

34. The system for controlling wireless communication according to claim 33 wherein the predetermined time varies among said slave terminals.

35. The system for controlling wireless communication according to claim 33 wherein said one of said active slave terminals is removed from the connection only when there is no communication among said master terminal and said slave terminal.

36. A master terminal for controlling wireless communication among a number of slave terminals, comprising;

a Bluetooth module for establishing a wireless connection between said master terminal and a predetermined maximal number of the slave terminals to have active slave terminals in accordance with the Bluetooth protocol; and

a CPU operationally connected to said Bluetooth module for identifying remaining unconnected ones of the slave terminals as inactive slave terminals in case the number of said slave terminals exceeds the predetermined maximal number, said CPU instructing said Bluetooth module to remove one of the active slave terminals from the wireless connection to turn into one of the inactive slave terminals while establishing one of the inactive terminals for the wireless connection with said master terminal until every one of the slave terminals is at least once wirelessly connected with said master terminal, said master terminal communicating with the active slave terminals until a predetermined condition is met.

37. The master terminal for controlling wireless communication among a number of slave terminals according to claim 36 wherein said CPU determines an amount of data communication between said master terminal and the active slave terminals, said CPU comparing the data communication amount to a predetermined data communication amount to generate a data comparison result, and said Bluetooth module removing one of the active slave terminals from the wireless connection to turn into one of the inactive slave terminals while establishing one of the inactive terminals for the wireless connection with said Bluetooth module to turn into one of the active slave terminals based upon the data comparison result.

38. The master terminal for controlling wireless communication among a number of slave terminals according to claim 37 wherein said CPU further determines an amount of data communication transferred from said master terminal to a particular one of the active slave terminals, said CPU comparing the data communication amount to a predetermined data communication amount to generate a data comparison result, and said Bluetooth module removing one of the active slave terminals from the wireless connection to turn into one of the inactive slave terminals while establishing the one of the inactive terminals for the wireless connection with said Bluetooth module to turn into one of the active slave terminals based upon the data comparison result.

39. The master terminal for controlling wireless communication among a number of slave terminals according to claim 36 wherein said CPU determines an amount of time during communication among said master terminal and the active slave terminals, said CPU comparing the amount of the time to a predetermined time to generate a time comparison result, and said Bluetooth module removing one of the active slave terminals from the wireless connection to turn into one of the inactive slave terminals while establishing one of the inactive terminals for the wireless connection with said master terminal to turn into one of the active slave terminals based upon the time comparison result.

40. The master terminal for controlling wireless communication among a number of slave terminals according to claim 39 wherein the predetermined time varies among the slave terminals.

41. The master terminal for controlling wireless communication among a number of slave terminals according to claim 39 wherein said Bluetooth module removes said one of the active slave terminals from the wireless connection only when there is no communication among said master terminal and the slave terminals.