Communication apparatus having wired communication function and wireless communication function, and control method therefor

• US 7,408,438 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Izumi, Michihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Nam V
• Application Number:
  US11/124,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20050197072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 340/2.1, 340/2.23, 340/2.7, 340/3.1, 340/3.63, 340/539, 455/7.39, 455/7.4, 455/3.1, 370/350, 370/338
• US Class Current: 340/2.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00312 with a digital transmission apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, SMS or ISDN device transmitting or receiving via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network or the internet H04N1/00214; transmission of digital information H04L
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0027 Adapting to communicate with plural different types of apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0457 Connection protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0471 Terminal access circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13179 Fax, still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1332 Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13322 Integrated circuits

Abstract

A communication apparatus automatically sets the most appropriate communication mode in accordance with the location at which the communication apparatus is used. For example, the communication mode is switched between operating as a master station and operating as a remote station of a wireless communication system depending on whether or not connection is made to a wired communication line.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

a communication unit having a base station mode for controlling wireless communication of a slave station and a slave station mode for wirelessly communicating under the control of a base station;

a determining unit adapted to determine whether a wired communication line is connected to said communication apparatus; and

a switching unit adapted to switch between the base station mode and the slave station mode in accordance with the determination by said determining unit,

wherein said communication unit relays data from the slave station to the wired communication line and transmits data inputted in said communication apparatus by a user to the wired communication line when operating in the base station mode, and transmits the data inputted by the user to the base station, which relays the data to the wired communication line, when operating in the slave station mode.

2. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determining unit performs the determination based on whether synchronization with one of layer 1 and layer 2 of the wired communication line can be established.

3. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a generating unit adapted to generate a clock for performing communication through a wireless communication line, and

a control unit adapted to control, in accordance with the determination by said determining unit, to perform one of communication in accordance with a clock extracted from the wired communication line and communication in accordance with the clock generated by said generating unit.

4. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determining unit performs the determination when power is supplied to said communication apparatus.

5. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determining unit continuously performs the determination.

6. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determining unit periodically performs the determination.

7. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit adapted to display in accordance with the determination by said determining unit.

8. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit adapted to display whether to perform one of the communication in the base station mode and the communication in the slave station mode.

9. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a converting unit adapted to convert, in accordance with the switched mode, a received digital signal into one of a digital signal using another encoding system and an analog signal.

10. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication apparatus performs digital wireless communication and digital wired communication.

11. A method for controlling a communication apparatus having a communication unit having a base station mode for controlling wireless communication of a slave station and a slave station mode for wirelessly communicating under the control of a base station, said method comprising the steps of:

determining whether a wired communication line is connected to the communication apparatus; and

switching between the base station mode and the slave station mode in accordance with the determination in said determining step,

wherein said communication unit relays data from the slave station to the wired communication line and transmits data inputted in said communication apparatus by a user to the wired communication line when operating in the base station mode, and transmits the data inputted by the user to the base station, which relays the data to the wired communication line, when operating in the slave station mode.