Wireless communication device, wireless communication system, wireless communication method, and computer program

• US 8,391,193 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sugaya, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, XAVIER S
• Application Number:
  US12/646,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20100177720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

There is provided a wireless communication device including a beacon signal exchanging unit for exchanging a beacon signal with another wireless communication device, a connection management unit for establishing a connection relationship with the another wireless communication device by exchanging the beacon signal, a pause management unit for exchanging information on a predetermined pause period with the another wireless communication device, with which the connection relationship is established, and pausing the own operation until the predetermined pause period has elapsed from the predetermined time, and a beacon slot management unit for setting a beacon slot to be used for transmission of the beacon signal. The beacon slot management unit sets the beacon slot after elapse of the predetermined pause period, and the beacon signal exchanging unit transmits the signal for a predetermined period using the beacon slot after the predetermined pause period has elapsed and the beacon slot is set.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system comprising:

a first wireless communication device; and

a second wireless communication device,

wherein the first wireless communication device includes;

a beacon signal exchanging unit for exchanging a plurality of beacon signals with the second wireless communication device;

a connection management unit for establishing a connection relationship with the second wireless communication device by exchanging at least one of the plurality of beacon signals;

a pause management unit for exchanging information on a predetermined pause period with the second wireless communication device, with which the connection relationship is established, and pausing the own operation until the predetermined pause period has elapsed from a predetermined time; and

a beacon slot management unit for setting a beacon slot to be used for transmission of the plurality of beacon signals,

the beacon slot management unit sets the beacon slot after elapse of the predetermined pause period,

the beacon signal exchanging unit transmits at least two of the plurality of beacon signals for a predetermined time interval using the beacon slot after the predetermined pause period has elapsed and the beacon slot is set,

the second wireless communication device includes;

a beacon signal exchanging unit for exchanging a the plurality of beacon signals with the first wireless communication device;

a connection management unit for establishing a connection relationship with the first wireless communication device by exchanging at least one of the plurality of beacon signals;

a pause management unit for exchanging information on a predetermined pause period with the first wireless communication device, with which the connection relationship is established, and pausing the own operation until the predetermined pause period has elapsed from the predetermined time; and

a beacon slot management unit for setting a beacon slot to be used for transmission of the beacon signal, and

the pause management unit executes a predetermined operation in subordination to at least one of the plurality of beacon signals, transmitted from the first wireless communication device during the predetermined time interval, received by the beacon signal exchanging unit after elapse of the predetermined pause period.

2. A wireless communication device comprising:

a beacon signal exchanging unit for exchanging a plurality of beacon signals with another wireless communication device;

a connection management unit for establishing a connection relationship with the another wireless communication device by exchanging at least one of the plurality of beacon signals;

a pause management unit for exchanging information on a predetermined pause period with the another wireless communication device, with which the connection relationship is established, and pausing the own operation until the predetermined pause period has elapsed from the predetermined time; and

a beacon slot management unit for setting a beacon slot to be used for transmission of the beacon signal, wherein

the beacon slot management unit sets the beacon slot after elapse of the predetermined pause period, and

the beacon signal exchanging unit transmits at least two of the plurality of beacon signals for a predetermined time interval using the beacon slot after the predetermined pause period has elapsed and the beacon slot is set.

3. The wireless communication device according to claim 2, wherein

the beacon slot management unit builds a superframe after elapse of the predetermined pause period,

the beacon signal exchanging unit transmits the plurality of beacon signals based on the superframe built by the beacon slot management unit, and

the pause management unit again pauses the own operation until the predetermined pause period has elapsed when the beacon signal exchanging unit transmits at least one of the plurality of beacon signals for a predetermined number of times after the elapse of the predetermined pause period.

4. The wireless communication device according to claim 2, wherein the beacon signal exchanging unit transmits information to be notified to the another wireless communication device by being embedded in at least one of the plurality of beacon signals to be transmitted to the another wireless communication device after the elapse of the predetermined pause period.

5. The wireless communication device according to claim 2, wherein when a communication demand with the another wireless communication device is detected after the elapse of the predetermined pause period, information for transitioning the another wireless communication device to an operating state is transmitted to the another wireless communication device.

6. The wireless communication device according to claim 5, wherein the beacon signal exchanging unit transmits information for transitioning the another wireless communication device to the operating state by being embedded in at least one of the plurality of beacon signals to be transmitted to the another wireless communication device.

7. The wireless communication device according to claim 5, wherein when grasping that the another wireless communication device transitioned to the operating state and the information to be notified to the another wireless communication device is transmitted, the pause management unit again pauses the own operation until the predetermined pause period has elapsed.

8. The wireless communication device according to claim 2, wherein the connection management unit cancels the connection relationship with the another wireless communication device when grasping that the plurality of beacon signals transmitted by the beacon signal exchanging unit are not recognized by the another wireless communication device for a predetermined startup check period.

9. A wireless communication device comprising:

a beacon signal exchanging unit for exchanging a plurality of beacon signals with another wireless communication device;

a connection management unit for establishing a connection relationship with the another wireless communication device by exchanging at least one of the plurality of beacon signals;

a pause management unit for exchanging information on a predetermined pause period with the another wireless communication device, with which the connection relationship is established, and pausing the own operation until the predetermined pause period has elapsed from the predetermined time; and

a beacon slot management unit for setting a beacon slot to be used for transmission of at least two of the plurality of beacon signals, wherein

the pause management unit executes a predetermined operation in subordination to the at least two of the plurality of beacon signals, transmitted from the another wireless communication device, during the predetermined time interval received by the beacon signal exchanging unit after elapse of the predetermined pause period.

10. The wireless communication device according to claim 9, wherein the beacon slot management unit builds a superframe after elapse of the predetermined pause period,

the beacon signal exchanging unit transmits at least one of the plurality of beacon signals based on the superframe built by the beacon slot management unit, and

the pause management unit again pauses the own operation until the predetermined pause period has elapsed when grasping that the plurality of beacon signals transmitted by the beacon signal exchanging unit is recognized by the another wireless communication device.

11. The wireless communication device according to claim 9, wherein the beacon signal exchanging unit transmits information to be notified to the another wireless communication device by being embedded in at least one of the plurality of beacon signals to be transmitted to the another wireless communication device after the elapse of the predetermined pause period.

12. The wireless communication device according to claim 9, wherein when a communication demand with the another wireless communication device is detected after the elapse of the predetermined pause period, information for transitioning the another wireless communication device to an operating state is transmitted to the another wireless communication device.

13. The wireless communication device according to claim 12, wherein the beacon signal exchanging unit transmits information for transitioning the another wireless communication device to the operating state by being embedded in at least one of the plurality of beacon signals to be transmitted to the another wireless communication device.

14. The wireless communication device according to claim 12, wherein when grasping that the another wireless communication device transitioned to the operating state and the information to be notified to the another wireless communication device is transmitted, the pause management unit again pauses the own operation until the predetermined pause period has elapsed.

15. The wireless communication device according to claim 9, wherein the connection management unit cancels the connection relationship with the another wireless communication device when grasping that the plurality of beacon signals transmitted by the beacon signal exchanging unit is not recognized by the another wireless communication device for a predetermined startup check period.

16. A wireless communication method, comprising the steps of:

exchanging a plurality of beacon signals with another wireless communication device;

establishing a connection relationship with the another wireless communication device by exchanging at least one of the plurality of beacon signals;

exchanging information on a predetermined pause period with the another wireless communication device, with which the connection relationship is established;

pausing the own operation until the predetermined pause period has elapsed from the predetermined time; and

executing a predetermined operation in subordination to at least two of the plurality of beacon signals, transmitted from the another wireless communication device, received in the beacon signal exchanging step as the predetermined time interval, after elapse of the predetermined pause period.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program for causing a computer to execute the steps of:

exchanging a plurality of beacon signals with another wireless communication device;

establishing a connection relationship with the another wireless communication device by exchanging at least one of the plurality of beacon signals;

exchanging information on a predetermined pause period with the another wireless communication device, with which the connection relationship is established;

pausing the own operation until the predetermined pause period has elapsed from the predetermined time; and

executing a predetermined operation in subordination to at least two of the plurality of beacon signals, transmitted from the another wireless communication device, received in the beacon signal exchanging step, after elapse of the predetermined pause period.