Memory device and wireless communication control method of the same

• US 9,204,477 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2013
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsumagari, Yasufumi, Ito, Kuniaki, Wakutsu, Takashi, Sakurai, Shuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Scheibel, Robert C
• Application Number:
  US13/847,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20130272284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, a control unit and a wireless communication unit. The control unit controls the nonvolatile semiconductor memory. The wireless communication unit includes a wireless communication function and is controlled by the control unit. The control unit includes a first control mode to control the wireless communication unit in accordance with set information when a control command to control the wireless communication unit is not received within a predetermined time. The control unit includes a second control mode to control the wireless communication unit in accordance with the control command when the control command is received within the predetermined time.

Claims

1. A memory device comprising:

a nonvolatile semiconductor memory;

a control unit which controls the nonvolatile semiconductor memory; and

a wireless communication unit which includes a wireless communication function and which is controlled by the control unit,

wherein the control unit includes a first control mode to control the wireless communication unit independently by the control unit without being based on a control command, by issuing a first command equivalent to the control command, when the control command to control the wireless communication unit is not received within a predetermined time, and

the control unit includes a second control mode to control the wireless communication unit in accordance with the control command when the control command is received within the predetermined time.

2. The memory device according to claim 1, wherein

in the first control mode, the control unit performs one of start and end of the wireless communication function in the wireless communication unit in accordance with whether a predetermined file stored in the nonvolatile semiconductor memory has been modified.

3. The memory device according to claim 1, wherein

in the first control mode, the control unit ends an operation of the wireless communication function when no connection is established between the outside and the wireless communication unit for a predetermined time or more during the operation of the wireless communication function in the wireless communication unit.

4. The memory device according to claim 1, wherein

in the first control mode, the control unit starts the wireless communication function in the wireless communication unit in response to sequential writing performed within a predetermined time, and

the control unit ends an operation of the wireless communication function in response to sequential writing performed within a predetermined time during the operation of the wireless communication function.

5. The memory device according to claim 1, wherein

in the first control mode, the control unit starts as a station when a registered access point of a wireless communication network is found, and

the control unit starts as an access point of the wireless communication network when the registered access point is not found.

6. The memory device according to claim 1, wherein

in the first control mode, the control unit shifts to the second control mode from the first control mode when receiving the control command to control the wireless communication unit.

7. The memory device according to claim 1, wherein

the nonvolatile semiconductor memory stores set information, and in the first control mode, the control unit controls the wireless communication unit in accordance with the set information.

8. The memory device according to claim 1, wherein

the wireless communication function of the wireless communication unit includes a function to construct a wireless communication network, a function to connect to the wireless communication network, and a function to disconnect from the wireless communication network.

9. The memory device according to claim 2, wherein

the modification to the predetermined file includes setting of the predetermined file to a write protect state.

10. The memory device according to claim 2, wherein

the modification to the predetermined file includes setting of print information for the predetermined file.

11. A wireless communication control method of a memory device including a wireless communication function, the method comprising:

performing a first control mode to control the wireless communication function independently by the memory device without being based on a control command, by issuing a first command equivalent to the control command, when the control command to control the wireless communication function is not received within a predetermined time; and

performing a second control mode to control the wireless communication function in accordance with the control command, by the memory device, when the control command is received within the predetermined time.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein

in the first control mode, the wireless communication function is any one of started and ended in accordance with whether a predetermined file stored in the memory device has been modified, by the memory device.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein

in the first control mode, an operation of the wireless communication function is ended, by the memory device, when no connection to the outside is established for a predetermined time or more during the operation of the wireless communication function.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein

in the first control mode, the wireless communication function is started in response to sequential writing performed within a predetermined time, by the memory device, and

an operation of the wireless communication function is ended in response to sequential writing performed within a predetermined time during the operation of the wireless communication function, by the memory device.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein

in the first control mode, the memory device starts as a station when a registered access point of a wireless communication network is found, and

the memory device starts as an access point of the wireless communication network when the registered access point is not found.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein

in the first control mode, a shift is made to the second control mode from the first control mode, by the memory device, when the control command to control the wireless communication function is received.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein

the memory device stores set information, and in the first control mode, the memory device controls the wireless communication function in accordance with the set information.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein

the wireless communication function includes a function to construct a wireless communication network, a function to connect to the wireless communication network, and a function to disconnect from the wireless communication network.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein

the modification to the predetermined file includes setting of the predetermined file to a write protect state.

20. The method according to claim 12, wherein

the modification to the predetermined file includes setting of print information for the predetermined file.