Communication method, communication device, and computer program

• US 8,761,072 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2013
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakoda, Kazuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Ian N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jangbahadur, Lakeram
• Application Number:
  US14/048,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20140112314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 259 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/244 using a network of reference devices, e.g. beaconing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/53 based on regulatory allocation policies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/002 Transmission of channel access control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

An electronic device includes processing circuitry configured to set a transmitting and receiving operation as active state for a first operating period and determine whether to set the transmitting and receiving operation as a state in which transmission or reception is limited after the first operating period elapses.

Claims

1. An electronic device forming a part of a communication system comprising:

first processing circuitry configured to;

receive a beacon from a counterpart device forming a part of the communication system after a beacon transmitting timing;

wherein the communication system includes second processing circuitry configured to cause the counterpart device to;

set a transmitting and receiving operation as active state for a first operating period, the first operating period being a designated time period starting at the beacon transmitting timing,

set a transmitting and receiving operation as operation state for a second operating period, the second operating period is from a beacon transmitting timing to a next beacon transmitting timing, and

set a transmitting and receiving operation as operation state for a third operating period, the third operating period is scheduled in advance; and

wherein a start time, duration, and interval of the third operating period is included in a beacon signal transmitted from the counterpart device to the electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, the first processing circuitry further configured to control transmitting to and receiving from the counterpart device according to ad-hoc communication.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, the communication system causing the counterpart device to set a transmitting and receiving operation as active state after the first operating period elapses by transmitting a signal to the counterpart device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first operating period is shorter than a beacon interval.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna unit configured to transmit or receive signals.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

an interface unit configured to exchange information sets with an external device.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a transceiver configured to communicate with a counterpart communication apparatus.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the counterpart device determines a duration of the first operating period.

9. A communication method performed in an electronic device forming part of a communication system, the communication method comprising:

receiving a beacon from a counterpart device forming a part of the communication system after a beacon transmitting timing;

wherein the communication system causes the counterpart device to;

set a transmitting and receiving operation as active state for a first operating period, the first operating period being a designated time period starting at the beacon transmitting timing, and

set a transmitting and receiving operation as operation state for a second operating period, the second operating period is from a beacon transmitting timing to a next beacon transmitting timing,

set a transmitting and receiving operation as operation state for a third operating period, the third operating period is scheduled in advance; and

wherein a start time, duration, and interval of the third operating period is included in a beacon signal transmitted from the counterpart device to the electronic device.

10. The communication method of claim 9, further comprising controlling transmitting to and receiving from the counterpart device according to ad-hoc communication.

11. The communication method of claim 9, the communication system causing the counterpart device to set a transmitting and receiving operation as active state after the first operating period elapses by transmitting a signal to the counterpart device.

12. The communication method of claim 9, wherein the first operating period is shorter than a beacon interval.

13. The communication method of claim 9, further comprising using an antenna unit to transmit or receive signals.

14. The communication method of claim 9, further comprising using an interface unit to exchange information sets with an external device.

15. The communication method of claim 9, wherein the counterpart device determines a duration of the first operating period.

16. A communication apparatus forming a part of a communication system, the communication apparatus comprising:

a transceiver configured to communicate with a counterpart communication apparatus; and

first processing circuitry configured to;

receive a beacon from a counterpart device forming a part of the communication system after a beacon transmitting timing;

wherein the communication system includes second processing circuitry configured to cause the counterpart device to;

set a transmitting and receiving operation as active state for a first operating period, the first operating period being a designated time period starting at the beacon transmitting timing,

set a transmitting and receiving operation as operation state for a second operating period, the second operating period is from a beacon transmitting timing to a next beacon transmitting timing, and

set a transmitting and receiving operation as operation state for a third operating period, the third operating period is scheduled in advance,

wherein a start time, duration, and interval of the third operating period is included in a beacon signal transmitted from the counterpart device to the electronic device.

17. The communication apparatus of claim 16, the first processing circuitry further configured to control transmitting to and receiving from a counterpart device according to ad-hoc communication.

18. The communication apparatus of claim 16, the second processing circuitry further configured to cause the counterpart device to keep the transmitting and receiving operation as active state according to reception of a signal from a counterpart device even after the first operating period elapses.

19. The communication apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first operating period is shorter than a beacon interval.

20. The communication apparatus of claim 16, the second processing circuitry further configured to cause the counterpart device to set the transmitting and receiving operation as active state for a second operating period, the second operating period is scheduled in advance.

21. The communication apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

an interface unit configured to exchange information sets with an external device.