Communication apparatus, method and system

• US 8,953,577 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yokota, Akane
• Primary Examiner(s): SMARTH, GERALD A
• Application Number:
  US12/097,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20090323644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,933 Days
• Field of Search: 370/349
• US Class Current: 370/349
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/00 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

If a network having the same SSID as but a different BSSID from those of a network that has been established by a first communication apparatus is detected, the network established by the first communication apparatus is terminated and the first communication apparatus participates in the detected network. This makes it possible for the first communication apparatus and another communication apparatus to participate in the same network.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

a first probing unit adapted to probe for a predetermined communication partner;

a timer that measures a predetermined time period;

a second probing unit adapted to probe, in response to the predetermined time period being measured by said timer after the probe by said first probing unit, for another communication apparatus that transmits a signal including a predetermined network identifier in a case that the predetermined communication partner is not detected;

a comparing unit adapted to compare information received from the other communication apparatus and information regarding said communication apparatus in a case that the other communication apparatus is detected by said second probing unit;

a participation unit adapted to participate in a first wireless network formed by the other communication apparatus in a case that a value represented by the information received from the other communication apparatus is larger than a value represented by the information regarding said communication apparatus, wherein, in this case, a BSSID (Basic Service Set Identification) of said communication apparatus is set to a value identical to a BSSID (Basic Service Set Identification) of the other communication apparatus; and

a communication unit adapted to perform a predetermined communication with the other communication apparatus in a second wireless network formed by said communication apparatus in a case that a value represented by the information regarding said communication apparatus is larger than a value represented by the information received from the other communication apparatus,

wherein at least one of the first probing unit, the second probing unit, the comparing unit, the participation unit and the communication unit is implemented by a processor or a controller.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus participates in a wireless network formed by the predetermined communication partner in a case that said first probing unit detects the predetermined communication partner.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a registration unit adapted to perform a registration processing for registering information acquired in exchange with the other communication apparatus.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the registration processing is a processing for registering information regarding the other communication apparatus.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the registration processing is a processing for registering information regarding a service performed by the other communication apparatus.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a memory unit adapted to memorize the other communication apparatus as a communication partner; and

a setting unit adapted to setting a communication parameter corresponding to the other communication apparatus in a case that a communication with the other communication apparatus is executed again.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the communication parameter includes SSID.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication apparatus changes a network establishment method depending upon a type, a function or an attribute of a communication partner.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication apparatus establishes a wireless network with a communication partner by participating in a wireless network formed by the communication partner in a case that the communication partner has a predetermined type, predetermined function, or predetermined attribute.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second probing unit starts to probe for another communication apparatus that transmits a signal including a predetermined network identifier in a case that a predetermined time period passed after a probe by said first probing unit.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second probing unit alternately repeats waiting for a predetermined time period and probing for the other communication apparatus.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said communication apparatus participates in a wireless network formed by a communication partner in a case that the communication partner is an apparatus having a predetermined attribute; and

said communication apparatus selects either one of;

participating in a wireless network formed by the communication partner;

or performing a predetermined communication with the communication partner in a wireless network formed by said communication apparatus.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second probing unit transmits a probe signal, and probes for the other communication apparatus based on a response to the probe signal.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second probing unit probes for the other communication apparatus based on a signal transmitted by the other communication apparatus.

15. A method for controlling a communication apparatus, comprising the steps of:

probing for a predetermined communication partner;

measuring a predetermined time period using a timer;

probing, in response to the predetermined time period being measured by the timer after the probe for the predetermined communication partner, for another communication apparatus that transmits a signal including a predetermined network identifier in a case that the predetermined communication partner is not detected;

comparing information received from the other communication apparatus with information regarding said communication apparatus in a case that the other communication apparatus is detected in said step of probing for another communication apparatus;

participating in a first wireless network formed by the other communication apparatus in a case that a value represented by the information received from the other communication apparatus is larger than a value represented by the information regarding said communication apparatus, wherein, in this case, a BSSID (Basic Service Set Identification) of said communication apparatus is set to a value identical to a BSSID (Basic Service Set Identification) of the other communication apparatus; and

performing a predetermined communication with the other communication apparatus in a second wireless network formed by said communication apparatus in a case that a value represented by the information regarding said communication apparatus is larger than a value represented by the information received from the other communication apparatus.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to execute the steps of the method according to claim 15.