Communication control apparatus

• US 8,332,056 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2008
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tanabe, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Kasenge, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEVENS, THOMAS H
• Application Number:
  US12/600,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20100152913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 340/3.9, 340/4.11, 340/4.42, 700/22
• US Class Current: 700/22
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• 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 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/544 Setting up communications; Call and signalling arrangements

Abstract

A communication control apparatus includes a first connection unit connecting to a power line, a second connection unit to which an external apparatus is connected, a power supply unit for supplying electric power to the external apparatus via the second connection unit, a communication unit for making the communication between a communication apparatus connected to the power line and the external apparatus via the first connection unit and the second connection unit, and a control unit for controlling the power supply unit to supply electric power to the external apparatus, based on information received from the external apparatus by the communication unit.

Claims

1. A communication control apparatus comprising:

a first connection unit that is connected to a power line;

a second connection unit that is connected to an external apparatus;

a detection unit that detects whether or not the external apparatus is connected to the second connection unit;

a power supply unit that supplies power to the external apparatus via the second connection unit;

a communication unit that communicates with a communication apparatus connected to the power line via the first connection unit and communicates with the external apparatus via the second connection unit; and

a control unit that (a) controls the power supply unit to supply power to the external apparatus based on information relating to conditions for supplying power if the external apparatus is connected to the second connection unit, (b) controls the power supply unit to stop supplying power to the external apparatus if the external apparatus connected to the second connection unit is a first device and a predetermined request is received via the first connection unit, (c) controls the power supply unit not to stop a supply of power to the external apparatus until a predetermined time elapses after the predetermined request is received via the first connection unit if the external apparatus connected to the second connection unit is a second device, and (d) controls the power supply unit to stop supplying power to the external apparatus after the predetermined time elapses if the external apparatus connected to the second connection unit is a second device and the predetermined request is received via the first connection unit, wherein the predetermined request includes a request for requesting stopping power.

2. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the second connection units respectively to which external apparatuses are connected, wherein the power supply unit supplies power to a plurality of external apparatuses connected to the plural second connection units, wherein the communication unit communicates with the plurality of external apparatuses via the plural second connection units, and wherein the control unit controls to supply electric power to the plurality of external apparatuses based on the information.

3. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information includes information indicating condition for stopping supplying power and information indicating condition for starting supplying power.

4. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information includes information indicating whether or not a supply of power to the external apparatus can be stopped.

5. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a memory for storing information relating to conditions received by the communication unit, and deletes information relating to the conditions corresponding to a removed external apparatus from the memory if it is detected that the external apparatus connected to the second connection unit is removed.

6. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first connection unit includes a plug, and wherein if the plug is removed from a socket leading to the power line, the control unit controls the power supply unit to stop supplying power to the external apparatus based on the information.

7. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication control apparatus includes a table tap.

8. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit communicates with the communication apparatus by using Power Line Communication (PLC).

9. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit communicates with the external apparatus by using Power Line Communication (PLC).

10. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit communicates with the communication apparatus by using Internet Protocol (IP).

11. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit communicates with the external apparatus by using Internet Protocol (IP).

12. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storing unit that stores an IP address relating to the external apparatus and MAC address relating to the external apparatus in a memory if the external apparatus is connected to the second connection unit.

13. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information includes information indicating whether or not the communication unit transmits information for notifying stopping power supply to the external apparatus connected to the second connection unit.

14. A method of controlling a communication control apparatus, wherein the communication control apparatus includes a first connection unit that is connected to a power line and a second connection unit that is connected to an external apparatus, the method comprising:

detecting whether or not the external apparatus is connected to the second connection unit;

communicating with a communication apparatus connected to the power line via the first connection unit;

communicating with the external apparatus via the second connection unit;

supplying power to the external apparatus based on information relating to conditions for supplying power if the external apparatus is connected to the second connection unit;

stopping supplying power to the external apparatus if the external apparatus connected to the second connection unit is a first device and a predetermined request is received via the first connection unit;

controlling not to stop a supply of power to the external apparatus until a predetermined time elapses after the predetermined request is received via the first connection unit if the external apparatus connected to the second connection unit is a second device; and

stopping supplying power to the external apparatus after the predetermined time elapses if the external apparatus connected to the second connection unit is a second device and the predetermined request is received via the first connection unit, wherein the predetermined request includes a request for requesting stopping power.