Method and device for communication on a network

• US 7,116,645 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Caillerie, Alain, Morvan, Isabelle, Tocze, Lionel
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US11/087,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20050174967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/278, 370/329, 370/282, 370/341, 455/466, 455/422, 709/203, 709220-222
• US Class Current: 370/278
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

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.

The method of the invention includes, for at least one communication between two communication stations functioning in mobile station mode, in connection with a first base station:

• • an operation of determining a second station, during which a communication station functioning in mobile station mode able to function in base station mode is determined,
  • a switching request operation during which a message representing a request to switch into base station mode is sent to the second station determined during the determination operation.

Claims

1. A method for changing a communication station functioning in base station mode in a communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

performing a request operation in which a first communication station transmits to a second communication station functioning in base station mode a first message representing a request to change base station; and

if the first communication station receives from the second communication station a second message representing an acceptance of change of base station and information about communication stations in the communication network, changing the mode of the first communication station to base station mode.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of switching the mode of the second communication station to mobile station mode.

3. A device for changing a communication station functioning in base station mode in a communication network, the device comprising:

means for performing a request operation in which a first communication station transmits to a second communication station functioning in base station mode a first message representing a request to change base station; and

means for changing the functioning of the first communication station to base station mode if the first communication station receives from the second communication station a second message representing an acceptance of change of base station and information about communication stations in the communication network.

4. A device according to claim 3 further comprising means for switching the mode of the second communication station to mobile station mode.

5. An information storage means, which can be read by a computer or a microprocessor, storing instructions of a computer program, said computer program implementing a communication method for changing a communication station functioning in base station mode in a communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

performing a request operation in which a first communication station transmits to a second communication station functioning in base station mode a first message representing a request to change base station; and

if the first communication station receives from the second communication station a second message representing an acceptance of change of base station and information about communication stations in the communication network, changing the mode of the first communication station to base station mode.

6. A method for changing a communication station functioning in base station mode in a communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

performing a reception operation in which a second communication station functioning in base station mode receives from a first communication station a first message representing a request to change base station; and

if the second communication station accepts the first message, sending from the second communication station to the first communication station a second message representing an acceptance of change of base station and information about communication stations in the communication network.

7. A method according to claim 6 further comprising a step of switching the mode of the second communication station to mobile station mode.

8. A method according to claim 6 further comprising a step of switching the mode of the first communication station to base station mode.

9. A device for changing a communication station functioning in base station mode in a communication network, the device comprising:

means for performing a reception operation in which a second communication station functioning in base station mode receives from a first communication station a first message representing a request to change base station; and

means for sending from the second communication station to the first communication station a second message representing an acceptance of change of base station and information about communication stations in the communication network if the second communication station accepts the first message.

10. A device according to claim 9 further comprising means for switching the mode of the second communication station to mobile station mode.

11. A device according to claim 9 further comprising means for switching the mode of the first communication station to base station mode.

12. An information storage means, which can be read by a computer or a microprocessor, storing instructions of a computer program, said computer program implementing a communication method for changing a communication station functioning in base station mode in a communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

performing a reception operation in which a second communication station functioning in base station mode receives from a first communication station a first message representing a request to change base station; and

if the second communication station accepts the first message, sending from the second communication station to the first communication station a second message representing an acceptance of change of base station and information about communication stations in the communication network.