Wireless communication method, wireless communication system, and wireless communication apparatus

• US 6,961,568 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sugaya, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US10/163,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20020187783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 455/450, 455/452.1, 455/517, 455/509, 455/435.1, 370/329, 370/465, 370/345, 370/278, 370/311, 370/350, 370/509, 370/313, 370/314
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/02 by periodical registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/06 De-registration or detaching
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A wireless communication system that forms a personal area network and that includes a control station and a communication apparatus. The control station and the communication apparatus perform a connection confirmation process. A connection confirmation period that constitutes a connection cycle is variable for each communication apparatus. When the connection confirmation period arrives each communication apparatus sends connection confirmation information to the control station.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a control station; and

at least one wireless communication apparatus for performing connection confirmation with the control station, wherein

the wireless communication apparatus transmits connection confirmation information to the control station at a predetermined interval by using a portion of a management field of a transmission frame;

the transmission frame includes the management field and a data field;

the portion of the management field is divided into a plurality of slots, each slot being assigned independently to each wireless communication apparatus for sending the connection confirmation information;

the control station detects the connection confirmation information, whereby a connection status of the wireless communication apparatus is monitored; and

the interval of transmitting the connection confirmation information is changed in accordance with an operating state of the wireless communication apparatus.

2. A wireless communication method for performing connection confirmation between a control station and at least one wireless communication apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

determining an interval of transmitting connection confirmation information, the determining being performed by the wireless communication apparatus; and

transmitting the connection confirmation information to the control station by using a portion of a management field of a transmission frame, the transmitting being performed by the wireless communication apparatus, wherein

the transmission frame includes the management field and a data field;

the portion of the management field is divided into a plurality of slots, each slot being assigned independently to each wireless communication apparatus for sending the connection confirmation information; and

the interval of transmitting the connection confirmation information is changed in accordance with an operating state of the wireless communication apparatus.

3. The wireless communication method according to claim 2, wherein the area allocated independently to each wireless communication apparatus includes any one area in a frame period of a connection cycle formed by a series of continuous frame periods, the included area corresponding to the wireless communication apparatus.

4. The wireless communication method according to claim 2, wherein the wireless communication apparatus transmits the connection confirmation information once in each N connection cycles in a series of continuous connection cycles, wherein

N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

5. The wireless communication method according to claim 2, wherein when a transmission packet from the wireless communication apparatus belonging to a network formed by the control station is detected the connection confirmation information from the wireless communication apparatus is received.

6. The wireless communication method according to claim 2, wherein the control station monitors a connection status of the wireless communication apparatus by detecting the connection confirmation information transmitted at the interval from the wireless communication apparatus forming a network.

7. A wireless communication apparatus used as a control station of a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

wireless communication means for transmitting a signal for identifying the wireless network and for receiving a signal from an other wireless communication apparatus belonging to the wireless network;

timing means for timing a predetermined time interval; and

an information storage unit for storing the predetermined time interval for each wireless communication apparatus included in the wireless network, wherein

the predetermined time interval is variable and is a threshold for determining whether a connection is established;

a transmission frame sent from the wireless communication apparatus includes a management field and a data field; and

a portion of the management field is divided into a plurality of slots, each slot being assigned independently to each wireless communication apparatus for sending the communication confirmation information.

8. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a controller for deleting the other wireless communication apparatus included in the wireless network when no signal is transmitted from the wireless communication apparatus in the predetermined time interval.

9. A wireless communication apparatus for performing connection confirmation with a control station, the apparatus comprising:

wireless communication means for receiving a signal from the control station and for transmitting connection confirmation information to the control station by using a portion of a management field of a transmission frame; and

timing means for timing a predetermined time interval, wherein

the predetermined time interval is variable in accordance with an operating state of the wireless communication apparatus;

the transmission frame includes the management field and a data field; and

the portion of the management field is divided into a plurality of slots, each slot being assigned independently to each wireless communication apparatus for sending the connection confirmation information.

10. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the area allocated independently to each wireless communication apparatus includes any one area in a frame period of a connection cycle formed by a series of continuous frame periods, the included area corresponding to the wireless communication apparatus.

11. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a controller for controlling the wireless communication means to send the connection confirmation information to the control station at the predetermined time interval when no information is transmitted in the predetermined time interval.