Communication apparatus, communication system, image capture apparatus, video capture apparatus, and setting method thereof

• US 8,004,112 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2006
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ooishi, Mutsuhiko, Koga, Hisao, Kodama, Nobutaka, Yokomitsu, Yasushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared J
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAPLAN, HAL IRA
• Application Number:
  US11/520,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20070120953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,805 Days
• Field of Search: 307/1, 307/3, 307/4, 307/36
• US Class Current: 307/36
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

A communication apparatus has a electrical outlet that is electrically connected to a power connector so as to supply power externally; a connection detector that detects connection of an external plug to the electrical outlet; and a controller that uses a receiver and a transmitter so as to perform setting with a device connected to the electrical outlet, when external connection is detected at the electrical outlet.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus communicating with another communication apparatus, the communication apparatus comprising:

an electrical inlet for obtaining power;

an electrical outlet for outputting the power; and

an integrated circuit for performing negotiation between the communication apparatus and said another communication apparatus and for determining whether a signal for the negotiation is transmitted from the electrical inlet or the electrical outlet, based on detection of a characteristic of the signal,

wherein when the electrical outlet is connected to said another communication apparatus, the electrical outlet outputs the power to said another communication apparatus and the integrated circuit performs the negotiation with said another communication apparatus via the electrical outlet in a case that the integrated circuit determines that the signal is transmitted via the electrical outlet.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrical inlet includes a plug and the power is AC power.

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

a filter for electrically connecting the electrical inlet and the electrical outlet,

wherein the electrical inlet further obtains a signal being superimposed on the AC power, and the filter attenuates the signal in a frequency band excluding at least frequency of the AC power.

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

an auto gain controller for controlling gain of the signal, the signal being superimposed on the AC power,

wherein the integrated circuit performs the negotiation when the gain is below a predetermined value.

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

an auto gain controller for controlling a gain of the signal, the signal being superimposed on the AC power,

wherein the integrated circuit performs the negotiation when the gain is above a predetermined value.

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

an instruction input unit for receiving an instruction to permit start of the negotiation;

a filter for attenuating a signal in a frequency band excluding at least frequency of the AC power, the signal being superimposed on the AC power; and

a path selector for selecting one of a first path and a second path and for connecting the electrical inlet and the electrical outlet, the first path connecting via the filter, the second path connecting not via the filter, wherein the path selector selects the first path when the instruction input unit inputs an instruction to permit start of the negotiation.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the integrated circuit performs the negotiation that allows a communication apparatus connected via the electrical inlet to communicate with a communication apparatus connected to the electrical outlet.

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

a connection detector for detecting connection between the electrical outlet and said another communication apparatus,

wherein the integrated circuit performs the negotiation when the connection detector detects the connection.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the connection detector monitors a voltage drop at the electrical outlet, and detects the connection based on the voltage drop.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the electrical outlet includes a button that is pressed down by the connection, and the connection detector detects the connection when pressing the button.

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

a display for indicating start of the negotiation when the connection detector detects a setting signal within a predetermined time after connecting between the electrical outlet and said another communication apparatus.

12. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the integrated circuit determines that the communication apparatus is one of a master device and a terminal device, based on a detection result of the connection detector.

13. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the integrated circuit sets the communication apparatus as the master device when the connection detector detects the connection.

14. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a setting display for displaying a setting of the communication apparatus as one of the master device and the terminal device.

15. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit starts the negotiation when receiving a request for the negotiation from a communication apparatus connected to the electrical outlet.

16. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit performs the negotiation using a first key different from a second key, the second key being used for communication between a master device and a terminal device.

17. A communication system, comprising:

a first communication apparatus that has a first electrical inlet for obtaining power, a first electrical outlet for outputting the power, and a first integrated circuit for performing negotiation; and

a second communication apparatus that has a second electrical inlet for obtaining the power, and a second integrated circuit for performing the negotiation,

wherein when the first electrical outlet is connected to the second electrical inlet, the first electrical outlet outputs the power to the second electrical inlet and the first integrated circuit and the second integrated circuit perform the negotiation between the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus via the first electrical outlet and the second electrical inlet, wherein the second integrated circuit decreases transmitting output strength during the negotiation.

18. An image capture apparatus communicating with another communication apparatus, the image capture apparatus comprising:

an electrical inlet for obtaining AC power;

an electrical outlet for outputting the AC power;

an integrated circuit for performing negotiation between the image capture apparatus and said another communication apparatus;

an image capture unit for capturing image data via the integrated circuit, the image data being output from an image output apparatus connected via the electrical outlet; and

a filter for connecting a path connecting a power outlet and the integrated circuit and the electrical inlet, and for attenuating a signal in a frequency band excluding at least a frequency of the AC power,

wherein when the electrical outlet is connected to said another communication apparatus, the electrical outlet outputs the AC power to said another communication apparatus and the integrated circuit performs the negotiation with said another communication apparatus via the electrical outlet.

19. The image capture apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a video capture apparatus further includes a second integrated circuit for being connected between a path connecting the electrical inlet and the filter and the image capture unit, and for performing power line communication.

20. A method for performing negotiation between a communication apparatus and another communication apparatus, the communication apparatus having an electrical inlet and an electrical outlet, the method comprising:

inputting power to the electrical inlet;

outputting the power from the electrical outlet; and

performing the negotiation between the communication apparatus and the another communication apparatus and determining whether a signal for the negotiation is transmitted from the electrical inlet or the electrical outlet, based on detection of a characteristic of the signal,

wherein when the electrical outlet is connected to said another communication apparatus, the power is output to said another communication apparatus and the negotiation is performed via the electrical outlet in a case that determines that the signal is transmitted via the electrical outlet.