Communication device and method

• US 7,336,926 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2002
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sato, Makoto, Noda, Takuro
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAO, MINH D
• Application Number:
  US10/468,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20040214524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,915 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1421 Indication of expected costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a communication apparatus and method for controlling a communicating device by sending predetermined command data without directly operating the communicating device. In step S6, a PDA sends command data described in XML format concerning the start of a Bluetooth function to a personal computer via a reader/writer. In steps S24 and S25, the reader/writer receives the command data sent from the PDA, and requests the personal computer to start the Bluetooth-function. In steps S42 and S43, the personal computer starts the Bluetooth communication function based on the request from the reader/writer. The present invention is applicable to a wireless communication apparatus.

Claims

1. A first communication apparatus for performing short range wireless communication with a second communication apparatus located in proximity with said first communication apparatus via an electromagnetic wave and for performing long range wireless communication with the second communication apparatus, the first communication apparatus comprising:

detection means for detecting the presence of the second communication apparatus;

acquiring means for acquiring, via the short range wireless communication, information for establishing long range wireless communication on the second communication apparatus;

sending means for sending, to the second communication apparatus via the short range wireless communication, command data for starting long range wireless communication on the second communication apparatus;

receiving means for receiving response data sent from the second communication apparatus in response to the command data; and

establishing means for establishing long range wireless communication with the second communication apparatus based on the information.

2. A first communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the command data includes command data for controlling a predetermined function of said second communication apparatus or command data for obtaining a state of a predetermined function.

3. A first communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the response data includes information concerning the state of a predetermined function of said second communication apparatus.

4. A first communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the command data is data described in XML format.

5. A communication method for use in a first communication apparatus for performing short range wireless communication with a second communication apparatus located in proximity with said first communication apparatus via an electromagnetic wave and for performing long range wireless communication with the second communication apparatus, the method comprising:

detecting the presence of the second communication apparatus;

acquiring, via the short range wireless communication, information for establishing long range wireless communication on the second communication apparatus;

sending, to the second communication apparatus via the short range wireless communication, command data for starting long range wireless communication on the second communication apparatus;

receiving response data sent from the second communication apparatus in response to the command data; and

establishing long range wireless communication with the second communication apparatus based on the information.

6. A recording medium having a computer-readable program for causing a first communication apparatus to perform a short range wireless communication method to communicate with a second communication apparatus located in proximity with said first communication apparatus via an electromagnetic wave and to perform long range wireless communication with the second communication apparatus, said method comprising:

detecting the presence of the second communication apparatus;

acquiring, via the short range wireless communication, information for establishing long range wireless communication on the second communication apparatus;

sending, to the second communication apparatus via the short range wireless communication, command data for starting long range wireless communication on the second communication apparatus

receiving response data sent from the second communication apparatus in response to the command data; and

establishing long range wireless communication with the second communication apparatus based on the information.

7. A first communication apparatus for performing short range wireless communication with a second communication apparatus according to a predetermined wireless communication standard and for performing long range wireless communication with the second communication apparatus, the first communication apparatus comprising:

first obtaining means for obtaining information for establishing long range wireless communication on the second communication apparatus;

reading means for reading the information;

writing means for writing the information into a storage medium;

transmitting means for transmitting, via the short range wireless communication, the information to the second communication apparatus; and

establishing means for establishing long range communication with the second communication apparatus in response to command data from the second communication apparatus.

8. A first communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the command data includes command data for controlling a predetermined function of said second communication apparatus or command data for obtaining a state of a predetermined function.

9. A first communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined command data is data described in XML format.

10. A first communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the storage medium is a memory card.

11. A communication method for use in a first communication apparatus for performing wireless communication with a second communication apparatus according to a wireless communication standard, the method comprising:

obtaining information for establishing long range wireless communication on the second communication apparatus;

reading the information;

writing the information into a storage medium;

transmitting, via short range wireless communication, the information to the second communication apparatus; and

establishing lone range communication with the second communication apparatus in response to command data from the second communication apparatus.

12. A recording medium having a computer-readable program for causing a first communication apparatus to perform a wireless communication method to communicate with a second communication apparatus according to a wireless communication standard, said method comprising:

obtaining information for establishing long range wireless communication on the second communication apparatus;

reading the information;

writing the information into a storage medium;

transmitting, via short range wireless communication, the information to the second communication apparatus; and

establishing long range communication with the second communication apparatus in response to command data from the second communication apparatus.