Communication system, communication terminal apparatus and wireless key apparatus

• US 7,668,556 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Japan Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yasuda, Mitsuyoshi, Yokoshi, Minoru, Natori, Makoto, Yoshimura, Osamu, Itoh, Katsutoshi, Itagaki, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aminzay; Shaima Q
• Application Number:
  US11/170,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20060003788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/410, 455/411, 455/414.1, 455/420, 455/426.1, 455/462, 455/517, 455/550.1, 455/567, 455/574, 340/328, 340/465, 370/311
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A communication system including a communication terminal apparatus and a wireless key apparatus in wireless communication is provided. The communication terminal apparatus includes a first communication unit operable to receive a first wireless signal, and a first control unit operable to determine a distance between the communication terminal apparatus and the wireless key apparatus based on the received first wireless signal, wherein the first control unit limits a predetermined function of the communication terminal apparatus based on determining the distance. The wireless key apparatus includes a second communication unit operable to receive a second wireless signal, and a second control unit operable to determine the distance between the communication terminal apparatus and the wireless key apparatus based on the received second wireless signal, whereby the second control unit decreases transmission power associated with the second communication unit based on the determined distance.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a communication terminal apparatus; and

a wireless key apparatus, wherein the communication terminal apparatus and the wireless key apparatus are in wireless communication,

said communication terminal apparatus comprising;

a communication unit operable to receive a first wireless signal from the wireless key apparatus, and

a control unit operable to determine a distance between the communication terminal apparatus and the wireless key apparatus based on the received first wireless signal, wherein the control unit limits a predetermined function of the communication terminal apparatus based on the determined distance being longer than a first predetermined distance; and

said wireless key apparatus comprising;

a communication unit operable to receive a second wireless signal from the communication terminal apparatus, and

a control unit operable to determine the distance between the communication terminal apparatus and the wireless key apparatus based on the received second wireless signal, the control unit decreasing transmission power associated with the communication unit based on the determined distance being longer than the predetermined first distance, wherein

the limited predetermined function is released and the transmission power is increased when the distance is determined to be shorter than a second predetermined distance, and wherein the second predetermined distance is less than the first predetermined distance.

2. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless key apparatus includes a notification unit for notifying that the function of the communication terminal apparatus is limited, the notification unit notifying that the function of the communication terminal apparatus is limited when it is determined that the distance is longer than the first predetermined distance.

3. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein the notification unit stops the notification when the distance is determined to be shorter than the second predetermined distance, and wherein the second predetermined distance is shorter than the first predetermined distance.

4. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal apparatus further comprises another communication unit operable to provide telephone communications by wirelessly communicating with a predetermined base station.

5. A communication system comprising:

a communication terminal apparatus; and

a wireless key apparatus, wherein the communication terminal apparatus and the wireless key apparatus are in wireless communication,

said communication terminal apparatus comprising;

a communication unit operable to receive a first wireless signal from the wireless key apparatus. and

a control unit operable to determine a distance between the communication terminal apparatus and the wireless key apparatus based on the received first wireless signal, wherein the control unit limits a predetermined function of the communication terminal apparatus based on the determined distance being longer than a first predetermined distance; and

said wireless key apparatus comprising;

a communication unit operable to receive a second wireless signal from the communication terminal apparatus, and

a control unit operable to determine the distance between the communication terminal apparatus and the wireless key apparatus based on the received second wireless signal, the control unit decreasing transmission power associated with the communication unit based on the determined distance being longer than the predetermined first distance, wherein

the limited predetermined function is released and the transmission power is increased when the distance is determined to be shorter than a second predetermined distance, wherein the communication terminal apparatus includes a clocking unit for clocking a predetermined time period, the control unit of the communication terminal apparatus operating said clocking unit when the distance is determined to be longer than the first predetermined distance, the control unit limiting the predetermined function when the predetermined time period associated with said clocking unit elapses.

6. A communication terminal apparatus comprising:

a communication unit for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal from a connection partner apparatus; and

a control unit operable to determine a distance between the communication terminal apparatus and the connection partner apparatus based on the received wireless signal, wherein the control unit limits a predetermined function of the communication terminal apparatus based on determining the distance to be longer than a first predetermined distance, the predetermined function being released based on the distance being determined to be shorter than a second predetermined distance, wherein the second predetermined distance is less than the first predetermined distance.

7. A communication terminal apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the communication unit includes a transmission power changing unit operable to control wireless signal transmission power, wherein the control unit reduces the transmission power using the transmission power changing unit such that wireless signal transmission with the connection partner apparatus cannot be provided unless the distance between the communication terminal apparatus and connection partner apparatus is within the second predetermined distance, and when the limiting of the predetermined function is released, the control unit increases the transmission power using the transmission power changing unit such that wireless signal transmission between the communication terminal apparatus and the connection partner apparatus is provided up to the first predetermined distance.

8. A communication terminal apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising another communication unit operable to provide telephone communications by wirelessly communicating with a predetermined base station.

9. A communication terminal apparatus comprising:

a communication unit for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal from a connection partner apparatus;

a transmission power changing unit operable to control wireless signal transmission power at the communication unit;

a control unit operable to determine a distance between the communication terminal apparatus and the connection partner apparatus based on the received wireless signal, wherein the control unit limits a predetermined function of the communication terminal apparatus based on determining the distance to be longer than a first predetermined distance, the control unit reducing the wireless signal transmission power using the transmission power changing unit such that a distance over which the communication terminal apparatus and the connection partner apparatus are capable of wireless communication is within a second predetermined distance, wherein the second predetermined distance is shorter than the first predetermined distance.

10. A wireless key apparatus comprising:

a communication unit for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal from a connection partner apparatus;

a notification unit for notifying that a predetermined function of the connection partner apparatus is limited; and

a control unit operable to control the notification unit when the control unit determines that a distance between the wireless key apparatus and the connection partner apparatus is longer than a first predetermined distance, the control unit further controlling the notification unit in order to stop the notification when the control unit determines that the distance between the wireless key apparatus and the connection partner apparatus is less than a second predetermined distance, wherein the second predetermined distance is shorter than the first predetermined distance.

11. A wireless key apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the communication unit includes a transmission power changing unit operable to control wireless signal transmission power, wherein after the notification was executed, the control unit reduces the transmission power using the transmission power changing unit such that wireless signal transmission with the connection partner apparatus cannot be provided unless the distance between the wireless key apparatus and connection partner apparatus is within the second predetermined distance, and after the notification was stopped, the control unit increases the transmission power using the transmission power changing unit such that wireless signal transmission between the wireless key apparatus and the connection partner apparatus can be provided up to the first predetermined distance.

12. A wireless key apparatus comprising:

a communication unit for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal from a connection partner apparatus;

a notification unit for notifying that a predetermined function of the connection partner apparatus is limited;

a transmission power changing unit for controlling wireless signal transmission power at the communication unit; and

a control unit operable to control the notification unit when the control unit determines that a distance between the wireless key apparatus and the connection partner apparatus is longer than a first predetermined distance, the control unit further controlling the transmission power changing unit in order reduce the transmission power such that wireless signal transmission with said connection partner apparatus cannot be provided unless the distance between the wireless key apparatus and connection partner apparatus is within a second predetermined distance, wherein the second predetermined distance is shorter than the first predetermined distance.

13. A communication system comprising:

a communication terminal apparatus; and

a wireless key apparatus, wherein the communication terminal apparatus and the wireless key apparatus are in wireless communication,

said communication terminal apparatus comprising;

a communication unit operable to perform wireless communication,

a state judgment unit for judging a wireless state of a first wireless signal received by the communication unit from the wireless key apparatus, wherein the judged wireless state corresponds to one of a plurality of connection modes associated with the communication terminal apparatus,

a clocking unit; and

a control unit for limiting a predetermined function based on the judged wireless state; and

said wireless key apparatus comprises;

a communication unit operable to perform wireless communication,

a state judgment unit for judging a wireless state of a wireless signal received by the communication unit from the communication terminal apparatus, wherein the judged wireless state corresponds to one of a plurality of connection modes associated with the wireless key apparatus, and

a transmission power changing unit for changing wireless signal transmission power at the communication unit;

wherein the control unit associated with the communication terminal apparatus limits the predetermined function when it is judged by the state judgment unit of the communication terminal apparatus that the wireless state of the first wireless signal transmitted from the wireless key apparatus at a first transmission power constitutes a connection failure and when a predetermined time period associated with said clocking unit elapses, and wherein the transmission power changing unit associated with the wireless key apparatus adjusts the wireless signal transmission power to a second transmission power which is less than the first transmission power.

14. A communication terminal apparatus comprising:

a communication unit for transmitting and receiving wireless signals from a connection partner apparatus;

a clocking unit;

a state judgment unit for judging a wireless state of a wireless signal received by the communication unit from the connection partner apparatus; and

a control unit for limiting a predetermined function within the communication terminal apparatus when;

it is judged by the state judgment unit that the wireless state of the wireless signal transmitted from the connection partner apparatus at a first transmission power constitutes a connection failure, and

a predetermined time period associated with said clocking unit elapses,

the control unit releasing the limited predetermined function when it is judged by the state judgment unit that the wireless state of the wireless signal transmitted from the connection partner apparatus at a second transmission power smaller than said first transmission power constitutes a successful connection, wherein upon releasing the limited predetermined function within the communication terminal apparatus the second transmission power at the connection partner apparatus is changed back to the first transmission power.

15. A wireless key apparatus comprising:

a communication unit for transmitting and receiving wireless signals from a connection partner apparatus;

a state judgment unit for judging a wireless state of a wireless signal received by the communication unit from the connection partner apparatus;

a notification unit for notifying that a predetermined function of said connection partner apparatus is limited;

a transmission power changing unit for changing wireless signal transmission power at the communication unit; and

a control unit operable to control the notification unit when;

it is judged by the state judgment unit that the wireless state of the wireless signal transmitted from said connection partner apparatus at a first transmission power constitutes a connection failure based on exceeding a first predetermined distance between the wireless key apparatus and the connection partner apparatus, and

the predetermined function of said connection partner apparatus is limited, the control unit controlling the transmission power changing unit such that the transmission power changing unit reduces the transmission power to a second transmission power, wherein the second transmission power is less than the first transmission power, and when the limited predetermined function is released the transmission power is increased to the first transmission power when the distance is determined to be shorter than a second predetermined distance, wherein the second predetermined distance is less than the first predetermined distance.

16. A communication system comprising a communication terminal apparatus and a wireless key apparatus which can carry out a wireless communication with the communication terminal apparatus by a predetermined wireless communication system, wherein

said communication terminal apparatus comprises:

a communication unit for carrying out a wireless communication by said predetermined wireless communication system,

a distance judgment unit for judging a distance with respect to said wireless key apparatus, and

a control unit for limiting a predetermined function of said communication terminal apparatus according to the distance with respect to said wireless key apparatus;

said wireless key apparatus comprises;

a communication unit for a wireless communication by said predetermined wireless communication system, and

a distance judgment unit for judging a distance with respect to said communication terminal apparatus;

at least one of said communication terminal apparatus and said wireless key apparatus comprises a transmission power changing unit for controlling the transmission power of a wireless signal which said communication unit of said one apparatus transmits; and

when it is judged by said distance judgment unit that the distance with respect to said wireless key apparatus is longer than a first distance, said control unit of said communication terminal apparatus limits said predetermined function of said communication terminal apparatus and at the same time, said transmission power changing unit changes said transmission power such that the possible communication distance between said communication terminal apparatus and said wireless key apparatus becomes a second distance which is shorter than said first distance, wherein

said communication terminal apparatus includes a clocking unit for clocking a predetermined time period, and said control unit of said communication terminal apparatus operates said clocking unit when it is judged by said distance judgment unit that the distance with respect to said wireless key apparatus is longer than said first distance and limits said predetermined function in a case when it is judged by said distance judgment unit that said clocking unit clocks said predetermined time period and the distance with respect to said wireless key apparatus becomes equal or more than said first distance.