Method, system and recording medium using a relay device for detecting and inhibiting communication

• US 7,352,994 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2003
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ohgami, Yoichi, Oyama, Kazuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse; Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US10/602,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20040048567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,742 Days
• Field of Search: 455/9, 455/11.1, 455/403, 455/7, 455/556.1, 455/557, 379/102.01, 379/103.03, 375/211
• US Class Current: 455/7
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A relay device includes a first signal reception unit receiving a signal from the outside, a first radio communication unit transmitting the signal by radio that is received by the first signal reception unit, a second radio communication unit provided separately from the first radio communication unit and transmitting/receiving a signal by radio, a detection unit detecting transmission/reception of the signal by the second radio communication unit, and a first inhibition unit inhibiting, during a period in which transmission/reception of the signal by the second radio communication unit is detected by the detection unit, transmission of the signal by the first radio communication unit. Thus, communication by means of a plurality of communication units can efficiently be accomplished.

Claims

1. A relay device comprising:

a first signal reception unit receiving a first signal from the outside;

a first radio communication unit further transmitting said first signal by radio;

a second radio communication unit provided separately from said first radio communication unit either transmitting or receiving a second signal by radio;

a detection unit detecting a transmission/reception of said second signal by said second radio communication unit; and

a first inhibition unit inhibiting, during a period in which said transmission/reception of said second signal by said second radio communication unit is detected by said detection unit, transmission of said first signal by said first radio communication unit,

wherein at least said first radio communication unit and said second radio communication unit are configured in a single assembly, and

wherein said first signal and said second signal are different types of signals, including video signals and LAN signals.

2. The relay device according to claim 1, further comprising a second signal transmission/reception unit provided separately from said first signal reception unit either transmitting or receiving a signal to or from the outside, wherein

said second radio communication unit transmits said second signal in response to reception by said second signal transmission/reception unit of said second signal.

3. The relay device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit storing, during the period in which transmission of said first signal by said first radio communication unit is inhibited by said inhibition unit, said first signal received by said first signal reception unit.

4. The relay device according to claim 3, wherein

said first radio communication unit transmits said first signal stored by said storage unit when transmission/reception of said second signal by said second radio communication unit is finished.

5. The relay device according to claim 1, further comprising a second inhibition unit inhibiting, when a subsequent signal received by said first signal reception unit is a predetermined signal, transmission of said first signal by said first radio communication unit.

6. A method of relaying a signal by a relay device including a first signal reception unit, a first radio communication unit, and a second radio communication unit provided separately from said first radio communication unit capable of both transmitting/receiving signals by radio, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first signal from the outside by said first signal reception unit;

further transmitting said received first signal by said first radio communication unit;

detecting a transmission/reception of a second signal by said second radio communication unit; and

inhibiting, during a period in which said transmission/reception of said second signal by said second radio communication unit is detected, transmission of said first signal by said first radio communication unit,

wherein at least said first radio communication unit and said second radio communication unit are configured in a single assembly, and

wherein said first signal and said second signal are different types of signals, including video signals and LAN signals.

7. The method of relaying a signal by a relay device according to claim 6, further comprising:

providing a second signal transmission/reception unit separately from said first signal reception unit,

said second signal transmission/reception unit receiving a signal to/from the outside,

wherein said second radio communication unit transmits said second signal in response to reception by said second signal transmission/reception unit of said second signal.

8. The method of relaying a signal by a relay device according to claim 6, further comprising the step of:

storing in a storage unit, during the period in which transmission of said first signal by said first radio communication unit is inhibited by said inhibition unit, said first signal received by said first signal reception unit.

9. The method of relaying a signal by a relay device according to claim 8, further comprising the step of:

transmitting by said first radio communication unit said first signal stored by said storage unit when transmission/reception of said second signal by said second radio communication unit is finished.

10. The method of relaying a signal by a relay device according to claim 6, further comprising the step of:

inhibiting by a second inhibition unit, when a subsequent signal received by said first signal reception unit is a predetermined signal, transmission of said first signal by said first radio communication unit.

11. A computer-readable recording medium having a relay program recorded thereon, said relay program being executed by a relay device including a first signal reception unit, a first radio communication unit, and a second radio communication unit provided separately from said first radio communication unit transmitting/receiving signals by radio, and said relay device executing said relay program to perform the steps of:

receiving a first signal from the outside by said first signal reception unit;

further transmitting said received first signal by said first radio communication unit;

detecting said transmission/reception of a second signal by said second radio communication unit; and

inhibiting, during a period in which said transmission/reception of said second signal by said second radio communication unit is detected, transmission of said first signal by said first radio communication unit,

wherein at least said first radio communication unit and said second radio communication unit are configured in a single assembly, and

said first signal received by said first signal reception unit and said signals transmitted/received by said second transmission/reception unit are different types of signals, including video signals and LAN signals.