Mobile communication device containable in ad hoc network

• US 7,212,514 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamashita, Atsushi, Sakamoto, Kiyomi, Nomura, Noboru, Iisaka, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham; Tuan
• Application Number:
  US10/535,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20060009248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/412.2, 455/518, 455/456.3, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 370/328, 370/338
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

In a mobile communication device, when an inquiry packet sent from another mobile communication device for inquiring whether to accept or deny the participation in an ad hoc network is transferred to a work area, a transmission/reception control section determines whether or not a denial flag set in a storage device is 1. When the denial flag is 1, the transmission/reception control section generates a first response for denying the participation in the ad hoc network, and transmits the first response through a transmission/reception section to the other mobile communication device that transmitted the inquiry packet.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device capable of data communication through an ad hoc network, said mobile communication device comprising:

a reception section for receiving inquiry information for inquiring whether to accept or deny participation in the ad hoc network, the inquiry information being sent from another mobile communication device;

a storage device for storing information indicating whether or not to accept the participation in the ad hoc network based on a user'"'"'s input;

a condition determination section for, after said reception section receives the inquiry information, determining whether or not at least one preset condition is satisfied based on a state of said mobile communication device; and

a transmission section for generating information for denying the participation in the ad hoc network based on a determination result of said condition determination section, and for transmitting the generated information to the other mobile communication device,

wherein when said condition determination section determines that the information stored in said storage device indicates that the participation in the ad hoc network is not to be accepted, said transmission section is operable to generate the information for denying the participation in the ad hoc network.

2. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein:

said storage device is operable to store a scheduled time at which said mobile communication device engages in communication; and

when said condition determination section determines that the scheduled time stored in said storage device is reached after a lapse of a predetermined period of time, said transmission section is operable to generate the information for denying the participation in the ad hoc network.

3. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein:

said storage device is operable to store an age of a user of said mobile communication device and a driving history of the user of said mobile communication device; and

when the age of the user, which is stored in said storage section, is equal to or more than a predetermined reference value, said transmission section is operable to generate the information for denying the participation in the ad hoc network.

4. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein said mobile communication device is mounted in a vehicle.

5. A mobile communication device capable of data communication through an ad hoc network, said mobile communication device comprising:

a reception section for receiving inquiry information for inquiring whether to accept or deny participation in the ad hoc network, the inquiry information being sent from another mobile communication device;

a state detection section for detecting whether or not said mobile communication device is in communication;

a condition determination section for, after said reception section receives the inquiry information, determining whether or not at least one preset condition is satisfied based on a state of said mobile communication device; and

a transmission section for generating information for denying the participation in the ad hoc network based on a determination result of said condition determination section, and for transmitting the generated information to the other mobile communication device,

wherein when said condition determination section determines that said state detection section has detected that said mobile communication device is in communication, said transmission section is operable to generate the information for denying the participation in the ad hoc network.

6. The mobile communication device according to claim 5, wherein said mobile communication device is mounted in a vehicle.

7. A mobile communication device capable of data communication through an ad hoc network, said mobile communication device comprising:

a reception section for receiving inquiry information for inquiring whether to accept or deny participation in the ad hoc network, the inquiry information being sent from another mobile communication device;

a residual power detection section for detecting a residual power of a battery in said mobile communication device;

a condition determination section for, after said reception section receives the inquiry information, determining whether or not at least one preset condition is satisfied based on a state of said mobile communication device; and

a transmission section for generating information for denying the participation in the ad hoc network based on a determination result of said condition determination section, and for transmitting the generated information to the other mobile communication device,

wherein when said condition determination section determines that the residual power detected by said residual power detection section is less than or equal to a predetermined reference value, said transmission section is operable to generate the information for denying the participation in the ad hoc network.

8. The mobile communication device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a storage device having stored therein a database describing a chargeable point for said mobile communication device; and

a position detection section for detecting a current position of said mobile communication device,

wherein when said condition determination section determines that a distance from the current position detected by said position detection section to the chargeable point stored in said storage device is less than or equal to a predetermined reference value, said transmission section is operable to generate information for accepting the participation in the ad hoc network if the residual power detected by said residual power detection section is less than or equal to a predetermined reference value.

9. The mobile communication device according to claim 7, wherein said mobile communication device is mounted in a vehicle.

10. A mobile communication device capable of data communication through an ad hoc network, said mobile communication device comprising:

a reception section for receiving inquiry information for inquiring whether to accept or deny participation in the ad hoc network, the inquiry information being sent from another mobile communication device;

a storage device for storing an age of a user of said mobile communication device; and

a condition determination section for, after said reception section receives the inquiry information, determining whether or not at least one preset condition is satisfied based on a state of said mobile communication device;

a transmission section for generating information for denying the participation in the ad hoc network based on a determination result of said condition determination section, and for transmitting the generated information to the other mobile communication device,

wherein when the age of the user, which is stored in said storage section, is equal to or more than a predetermined reference value, said transmission section is operable to generate information for accepting the participation in the ad hoc network regardless of another condition.

11. The mobile communication device according to claim 10, wherein said mobile communication device is mounted in a vehicle.

12. A method for a mobile communication device to perform data communication through an ad hoc network, said method comprising:

receiving inquiry information for inquiring whether to accept or deny participation in the ad hoc network, the inquiry information being sent from another mobile communication device;

storing information indicating whether or not to accept the participation in the ad hoc network based on a user'"'"'s input;

determining, after the inquiry information is received, whether or not at least one preset condition is satisfied based on a state of the mobile communication device;

generating information for denying the participation in the ad hoc network based on a determination result of said determining; and

transmitting the generated information to the other mobile communication device,

wherein when said determining determines that the information stored in said storing indicates that the participation in the ad hoc network is not to be accepted, said generating generates the information for denying the participation in the ad hoc network.

13. A method for a mobile communication device to perform data communication through an ad hoc network, said method comprising:

receiving inquiry information for inquiring whether to accept or deny participation in the ad hoc network, the inquiry information being sent from another mobile communication device;

detecting whether or not the mobile communication device is in communication;

determining, after the inquiry information is received, whether or not at least one preset condition is satisfied based on a state of the mobile communication device;

generating information for denying the participation in the ad hoc network based on a determination result of said determining; and

transmitting the generated information to the other mobile communication device,

wherein when said determining determines that said detecting has detected that the mobile communication device is in communication, said generating generates the information for denying the participation in the ad hoc network.

14. A method for a mobile communication device to perform data communication through an ad hoc network, said method comprising:

receiving inquiry information for inquiring whether to accept or deny participation in the ad hoc network, the inquiry information being sent from another mobile communication device;

detecting a residual power of a battery in the mobile communication device;

determining, after the inquiry information is received, whether or not at least one preset condition is satisfied based on a state of the mobile communication device;

generating information for denying the participation in the ad hoc network based on a determination result of said determining; and

transmitting the generated information to the other mobile communication device,

wherein when said determining determines that the residual power detected in said detecting is less than or equal to a predetermined reference value, said generating generates the information for denying the participation in the ad hoc network.

15. A method for a mobile communication device to perform data communication through an ad hoc network, said method comprising:

receiving inquiry information for inquiring whether to accept or deny participation in the ad hoc network, the inquiry information being sent from another mobile communication device;

storing an age of a user of the mobile communication device;

determining, after the inquiry information is received, whether or not at least one preset condition is satisfied based on a state of the mobile communication device;

generating information for denying the participation in the ad hoc network based on a determination result of said determining; and

transmitting the generated information to the other mobile communication device,

wherein when the age of the user stored in said storing is equal to or more than a predetermined reference value, generating generates information for accepting the participation in the ad hoc network regardless of another condition.