Electronic apparatus and wireless network system

• US 7,395,463 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2004
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Suwa, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Baker; Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US10/996,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20050166117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 714/708, 375/347
• US Class Current: 714/708
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0063 Single parity check
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0097 Relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Electronic apparatus such as a cordless phone, the electronic apparatus includes detection means for detecting the error of received data and at least two speech buffers as speech buffers for temporarily storing the received voice data. In case the electronic apparatus is in a position where it can communicate with a repeater and a base unit, the electronic apparatus stores the voice data transmitted from the base unit into one speech buffer and stores voice data transmitted from the repeater into the other speech buffer, and uses the voice data of a lower error rate. This maintains high speech quality. In case the electronic apparatus roams from a second wireless network formed around the repeater to a first wireless network formed around the base unit, smooth roaming is provided without degrading the speech quality by using the voice data of a lower error rate stored in either of the two speech buffers, even when the conversation state is gradually degraded and more errors are detected in the received data.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus connectable to a plurality of wireless networks, said electronic apparatus comprising:

a radio section for directly communicating with a first electronic apparatus which belongs to a first wireless network or for communicating with said first electronic apparatus via a second electronic apparatus which belongs to a second wireless network, said second electronic apparatus performing data relay between said first wireless network and said second wireless network;

an error detector for detecting an error of first data received directly from said first electronic apparatus or for detecting an error of second data received from said first electronic apparatus via said second electronic apparatus; and

a selector for selecting data from said first data or said second data depending on a result detected by said error detector, wherein;

when an error rate detected by said error detector has reached or exceeded a predetermined value while communicating with an electronic apparatus which belongs to one of said first wireless network and said second wireless network, said radio section starts communications over a path which belongs to the other wireless network.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selector makes partial selection from said respectively received data based on said error detected by said error detector.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least two buffers for temporarily storing said received data, wherein;

said electronic apparatus stores said first data directly received from said first electronic apparatus into a first buffer and stores said second data received via said second electronic apparatus into a second buffer when said electronic apparatus is in a position to communicate with said first electronic apparatus and said second electronic apparatus, and

said electronic apparatus reads and reproduces data from either said first buffer or said second buffer selected based on said error rate detected by said error detector.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when said error rate detected by said error detector has reached or exceeded a predetermined value while communicating with one of said first electronic apparatus and said second electronic apparatus, said radio section releases a connection with said one of said first electronic apparatus and said second electronic apparatus.

5. An electronic apparatus connectable to a plurality of wireless networks, said electronic apparatus comprising:

a communicator for communicating with another electronic apparatus directly or via a repeater;

an error detector for detecting an error of first data received directly from said other electronic apparatus or for detecting an error of second data received from said other electronic apparatus via said repeater;

a selector for selecting data from said first data or said second data depending on the result detected by said error detector;

a controller, when said electronic apparatus is in a position where said electronic apparatus is communicable with said first electronic apparatus and said second electronic apparatus, for outputting a voice based on said selected data; and

at least two buffers for temporarily storing the received data, wherein;

said electronic apparatus stores the data directly received from said first electronic apparatus into one buffer and stores the data received via said second electronic apparatus into the other buffer respectively, and

when the electronic apparatus is in a position where the electronic apparatus is communicable with said first electronic apparatus and said second electronic apparatus, said electronic apparatus reads and reproduces data from a buffer selected based on the error rate detected by said detection means.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said communicator starts one communication of communication with said other electronic apparatus directly and communication with said other electronic apparatus via said repeater and said communicator stops said communication with said other electronic apparatus directly and communication with said other electronic apparatus via said repeater when an error rate detected by said error detector has reached or exceeded a predetermined value.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said communicator releases communication where an error rate detected by said error detector has reached or exceeded the a predetermined value.

8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said error detector calculates an error rate based on a weighting factor which depends on an error location in said first data and said second data.

9. A wireless network system comprising:

a first electronic apparatus connected to a first wireless network and connectable to a second wireless network;

a second electronic apparatus connected to said second wireless network and connectable to said first wireless network, said second electronic apparatus performing data relay between said first wireless network and said second wireless network; and

a third electronic apparatus connected to said first wireless network and said second wireless network, said third electronic apparatus comprising a calculator for calculating an error rate of data received from said first electronic apparatus and said second electronic apparatus;

wherein;

said third electronic apparatus has a feature to transmit to said first electronic apparatus a release notice indicating that communications with said second electronic apparatus is unavailable in case said error rate of said data received from said electronic apparatus has reached or exceeded a predetermined value, and

said first electronic apparatus has a feature to transmit a release notice to said second electronic apparatus in case a release notice is received from said third electronic apparatus.

10. An electronic apparatus connectable to a plurality of wireless networks, said electronic apparatus comprising:

a radio section (I) for directly communicating with a first electronic apparatus which belongs to a first wireless network, receiving first data from said first electric apparatus and outputting said first data, or (ii) for communicating with said first electronic apparatus via a second electronic apparatus which belongs to a second wireless network, receiving second data from said second electric apparatus and outputting said second data, said second electronic apparatus performing data relay between said first wireless network and said second wireless network;

an error counter for counting the number of errors of first data outputted from said radio section; and

a selector for selecting data from said first data or said second data, wherein

when said number of errors has reached or exceeded a predetermined value while communicating with said first electronic apparatus, said selector selects said second data and said radio section starts communicating with said second apparatus.

11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

said error counter counts another number of errors of second data outputted from said radio section, and

when said other number of errors has reached or exceeded a predetermined value while communicating with said second electronic apparatus, said selector selects said first data and said radio section starts communications with said first apparatus.