Radio communication system, radio communication device, radio communication method, and program

• US 8,472,419 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2010
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Saito, Erika, Yamaura, Tomoya, Itoh, Katsutoshi, Naito, Masahiko, Itaya, Natsuki, Suzuki, Hideyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Brian D
• Application Number:
  US12/939,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20110116425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/338
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Provided is a radio communication system including a first radio communication device, and a second radio communication device that communicates with a radio communication device operating as a master unit and being connected, wherein the second radio communication device includes a communication unit that communicates with the radio communication device being connected, and a control unit that controls the communication unit to send a response packet to the first radio communication device when a response request packet broadcasted from the first radio communication device is received by the communication unit.

Claims

1. A radio communication system comprising:

a first radio communication device,

wherein the first radio communication device continuous detects a plurality of beacon packets broadcast on different frequencies by a plurality of radio communication devices operating as master units, and

wherein the first radio communication device broadcasts a plurality of response request packets on the frequencies of detected beacon packets;

a second radio communication device that communicates with one of the plurality of radio communication devices operating as master units and being connected,

the second radio communication device comprising;

a communication unit that communicates with the radio communication device being connected, and

a control unit that controls the communication unit to send a response packet to the first radio communication device when a response request packet broadcasted from the first radio communication device is received by the communication unit.

2. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein

the first radio communication device detects a packet sent from the radio communication device operating as the master unit and broadcasts the response request packet by using a frequency of the detected packet.

3. The radio communication system according to claim 2, wherein

the response request packet contains information indicating a communication function of the first radio communication device, and

the control unit controls the communication unit to send the response packet when the communication function indicated by the information is available.

4. The radio communication system according to claim 3, wherein

the first radio communication device performs connection processing with the radio communication device operating as the master unit and being connected with the second radio communication device based on reception of the response packet.

5. The radio communication system according to claim 3, wherein

the first radio communication device performs connection processing with the second radio communication device based on reception of the response packet.

6. The radio communication system according to claim 5, wherein

the first radio communication device makes a connection with the second radio communication device by using a frequency different from a frequency used by the second radio communication device for communication with the radio communication device operating as the master unit.

7. The radio communication system according to claim 5, wherein

the first radio communication device makes a connection with the second radio communication device by using a frequency used by the second radio communication device for communication with the radio communication device operating as the master unit.

8. The radio communication system according to claim 2, wherein

the response request packet contains information indicating a communication function of the first radio communication device, and

the control unit controls the communication unit to send the response packet regardless of whether the communication function indicated by the information is available.

9. The radio communication system according to claim 2, wherein

the response packet contains information indicating a communication function available for the second radio communication device.

10. The radio communication system according to claim 9, wherein

the first radio communication device performs connection processing with the radio communication device operating as the master unit and being connected with the second radio communication device based on reception of the response packet.

11. The radio communication system according to claim 9, wherein

the first radio communication device performs connection processing with the second radio communication device based on reception of the response packet.

12. A radio communication device comprising:

a communications unit continuously detecting a plurality of beacon packets broadcast on different frequencies by a plurality of radio communications devices operating as master units;

a control unit broadcasting a plurality of response request packets on the frequencies of detected beacon packets;

a communications unit receiving a response packet on one of the frequencies of detected beacon packets from a radio communications device different than the radio communications devices operating as master units; and

a processing unit determining the existence and a communication function of a radio communications device connected to the radio communications device operating as a master unit on the frequency of the received response packet.

13. A radio communication method comprising the steps of:

continuously detecting a plurality of beacon packets broadcast on different frequencies by a plurality of radio communications devices operating as master units;

broadcasting a plurality of response request packets on the frequencies of detected beacon packets;

receiving a response packet on one of the frequencies of detected beacon packets from a radio communications device different than the radio communications devices operating as master units; and

determining the existence and a communication function of a radio communications device connected to the radio communications device operating as a master unit on the frequency of the received response packet.

14. A computer readable storage medium, comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a radio communication method, comprising the steps of;

continuously detecting a plurality of beacon packets broadcast on different frequencies by a plurality of radio communications devices operating as master units;

broadcasting a plurality of response request packets on the frequencies of detected beacon packets;

receiving a response packet on one of the frequencies of detected beacon packets from a radio communications device different than the radio communications devices operating as master units; and

determining the existence and a communication function of a radio communications device connected to the radio communications device operating as a master unit on the frequency of the received response packet.