Communication apparatus

• US 7,515,897 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Toshiba Mobile Communications Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Tomoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hai V
• Application Number:
  US10/946,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20050143046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: 455/343.2
• US Class Current: 455/343.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0241 where no transmission is received, e.g. out of range of the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

If a control section fails to detect a connectable device by Inquiry/Page_Scan before an OFF timer times out, the control section halts the Inquiry/Page_Scan. The control section keeps this state until time-out of an ON timer. Upon time-out of the ON timer, the control section starts Inquiry/Page. The control section issues a request for a role switch to the connectable device detected by Inquiry/Page. Upon acceptance of the request, the control section effects a master/slave role switch.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus for use as a terminal in a communication network including a plurality of terminals, wherein one of the plurality of terminals acts as a master and at least one other one of the plurality of terminals acts as a slave to execute communication between the terminals, the communication apparatus comprising:

detection means for detecting a first signal that is sent from the terminal acting as the master;

halt means for halting the detection means upon non-detection of the first signal during a first time period;

transmission means for transmitting a second signal in order to inquiry or page the terminals;

start means for causing the transmission means to start transmission of the second signal, upon passage of a second time period from the halt of the detection means;

request means for issuing a request for a master/slave role switch to a given one of the terminals that responds to the second signal transmitted by the transmission means; and

switch means for executing the master/slave role switch upon acceptance of the request.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

stop means for halting the transmission means upon absence of a response to the second signal within a third time period from the start of the transmission of the second signal by the transmission means; and

re-start means for causing the transmission means to again start transmission of the second signal, upon passage of the second time period from the halt of the transmission means.

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

stop means for halting the transmission means upon rejection of the request; and

re-start means for causing the transmission means to again start transmission of the second signal, upon passage of the second time period from the halt of the transmission means.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first time period is designated by a user.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second time period is designated by a user.

6. A communication apparatus for use as a terminal in a communication network including a plurality of terminals, wherein one of the plurality of terminals acts as a master and at least one other one of the plurality of terminals acts as a slave to execute communication between the terminals, the communication apparatus comprising:

a detection unit configured to detect a first signal that is sent from the terminal acting as the master;

a halt unit configured to halt the detection unit upon non-detection of the first signal during a first time period;

a transmission unit configured to transmit a second signal in order to inquiry or page the terminals;

a start unit configured to cause the transmission unit to start transmission of the second signal, upon passage of a second time period from the halt of the detection unit;

a request unit configured to issue a request for a master/slave role switch to a given one of the terminals that responds to the second signal transmitted by the transmission unit; and

a switch unit configured to execute the master/slave role switch upon acceptance of the request.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a stop unit configured to halt the transmission unit upon absence of a response to the second signal within a third time period from the start of the transmission of the second signal by the transmission unit; and

a re-start unit configured to cause the transmission unit to again start transmission of the second signal, upon passage of the second time period from the halt of the transmission unit.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a stop unit configured to halt the transmission unit upon rejection of the request; and

a re-start unit configured to cause the transmission unit to again start transmission of the second signal, upon passage of the second time period from the halt of the transmission unit.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first time period is designated by a user.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said second time period is designated by a user.