Image communication apparatus wirelessly connectable to other apparatuses, system having the image communication apparatus, and method for controlling the same

• US 9,049,319 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2012
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Mikuni, Makoto, Izumi, Michihiro, Hirai, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US13/651,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20130038137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104, 307 1- 8, 320/108, 320113-115, 455/343.5, 455/573, 455/574, 455/127.5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00315 with a radio transmission apparatus with a cordless telephone H04N1/00305; systems or arrangements for the transmission of a picture signal specially adapted for transmission via radio H04N1/00103; H04N1/00307 takes precedence; radio transmission systems H04B7/00; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00885 Power supply means, e.g. arrangements for the control of power supply to the apparatus or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00896 using a low-power mode, e.g. standby
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0077 Types of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

A wireless mode between a scanner and an image communication apparatus is changed, in response to completion of image transmission from the scanner to the image communication apparatus, completion of print of the image sent from the scanner to the image communication apparatus, completion of transmission via a communication line connected to the image communication apparatus of the image sent from the scanner to the image communication apparatus, instructions to stop print of the image sent from the scanner to the image communication apparatus, instructions to stop transmission via the communication line connected to the image communication apparatus of the image sent from the scanner to the image communication apparatus, and states of the scanner and the image communication apparatus at a predetermined time and so on. For example, a low power consumption mode and communication mode of Bluetooth communication are switched to each other.

Claims

1. An electric apparatus comprising:

a communication unit that communicates wirelessly with an other apparatus; and

a controller that controls, in a case that a remaining amount of a battery of the electric apparatus is lower than a defined value in a state that the communication unit is in a second mode of which power consumption is lower than that of a first mode, the communication unit to transmit, to the other apparatus, a first message for requesting a transition to the first mode, and controls, in a case that the communication unit has transitioned to the first mode in response to the transmission of the first message, the communication unit to transmit, to the other apparatus, a second message for requesting the other apparatus to supply electric power.

2. The electric apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a change unit that changes a mode of the communication unit from the second mode for reducing electric power for communication with the other apparatus to the first mode for accessing the other communication apparatus, in a case that the voltage level of the battery of the electric apparatus is lower than the defined value while the communication unit is operating second mode.

3. The electric apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the change unit requests the other apparatus to change a mode, when changing to the second mode.

4. The electric apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the change unit changes the mode of the communication unit from the to the first mode, in a case that the communication unit transmits data to the other apparatus.

5. The electric apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the change unit changes the mode of the communication unit from the communication mode to the second mode after the other apparatus completes outputting of an image transmitted to the other apparatus by the electric apparatus.

6. The electric apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a halt unit that halts a communication of the communication unit when a defined period of time elapses after changing to the second mode by the change unit.

7. The electric apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays a warning, in a case that the voltage level of the battery is lower than the defined value.

8. The electric apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display unit clears the warning, if the electric apparatus is mounted on the other apparatus.

9. The electric apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display unit clears the warning, if the voltage level of the battery is higher than the defined value.

10. The electric apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a charge unit adapted to charge the battery by the electric power supplied by the other apparatus.

11. The electric apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the state that the communication unit is in the second mode includes a state that data communication is not performed with the other apparatus.

12. The electric apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the state that the communication unit is in the second mode includes a state of a park mode in which a communication mode of the communication unit is defined to the specification of Bluetooth.

13. The electric apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the electric apparatus includes an image processing apparatus, and

the image processing apparatus includes a unit that stops, if the electric apparatus performs an operation for an image process in the case in which the remaining amount of the battery of the electric apparatus is lower than the defined value, the operation for the image process.

14. The electric apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit performs the wireless communication based on the specification of Bluetooth.

15. The electric apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit transmits the second message without transmission of the first message in a case in which the remaining amount of the battery of the electric apparatus is lower than the defined value in a state that the communication unit is in the first mode.

16. The electric apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first message is a message for establishing a wireless link with the other apparatus.

17. The electric apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second message causes the other apparatus to perform a process of supplying the electric power to the electric apparatus.

18. The electric apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the process of supplying the electric power to the electric apparatus includes a process of performing a notification to place the electric apparatus at a position to which the electric power can be supplied.

19. The electric apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the remaining amount of the battery of the electric apparatus is based on a voltage level of the battery.

20. A communication method of a communication unit of an electric apparatus that communicates wirelessly with an other apparatus, the method comprising:

controlling, in a case that a remaining amount of a battery of the electric apparatus is lower than a defined value in a state that the communication unit is in a second mode of which power consumption is lower than that of a first mode, the communication unit to transmit, to the other apparatus, a first message for requesting a transition to the first mode, and controlling, in a case that the communication unit has transitioned to the first mode in response to the transmission of the first message, the communication unit to transmit, to the other apparatus, a second message for requesting the other apparatus to supply electric power.