Wireless communication apparatus, communication control program, and communication control method

• US 20040258032A1
• Filed: 06/04/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 2BCom LLC (Markman Advisors LLC)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawamura, Takuya
• Granted Patent: US 7,986,635 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• 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 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A wireless communication apparatus wirelessly communicable with a plurality of communication devices including an identifier naming unit configured to give each of the plurality of communication devices at least one local identifiers allowed to be set optionally, a communication device management unit configured to associate the local identifier with a pre-assigned identifier to each of the plurality of communication devices, and to manage a relation between the plurality of communication devices with the local identifiers, and an identifier display control unit configured to control a display device to display the local identifier in place of the pre-assigned identifier as information specifying a currently wirelessly communicable communication device among the plurality of communication devices.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus wirelessly communicable with a plurality of communication devices, comprising:

an identifier naming unit configured to give each of the plurality of communication devices at least one local identifiers allowed to be set optionally;

a communication device management unit configured to associate the local identifier with a pre-assigned identifier to each of the plurality of communication devices, and to manage a relation between the plurality of communication devices with the local identifiers; and

an identifier display control unit configured to control a display device to display the local identifier in place of the pre-assigned identifier as information specifying a currently wirelessly communicable communication device among the plurality of communication devices.

2. The wireless communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein when a plurality of local identifiers for one communication device are registered in the communication device management unit, the identifier display control unit selects an identifier from the local identifiers and displays the identifier.

3. The wireless communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an environment detection unit configured to detect an operative environment,

wherein when the plurality of local identifiers for one communication device are registered in the communication device management unit, the identifier display control unit selects a local identifier from the communication device management unit and displays the identifier; and

the identifier adapts to the environment detected by the environment detection unit.

4. The wireless communication apparatus as claimed in claim 3,

wherein the environment detection unit detects an operating mode or information at authentication as the environment.

5. The wireless communication apparatus as claimed in claim 3,

wherein when the local identifier is registered, the communication device management unit associates the local identifier with information on the environment detected by the environment detection unit and registers the local identifier.

6. The wireless communication apparatus as claimed in claim 4,

wherein when the local identifier is registered, the communication device management unit associates the local identifier with information on the environment detected by the environment detection unit and registers the local identifier.

7. The wireless communication apparatus as claimed in claim 3,

wherein the environment detection unit detects whether any device depending on an environment exists or not;

and

the communication device management unit associates the local identifier with information indicating whether each of the plurality of the communication devices depends on an environment or not, and registers the local identifier.

8. The wireless communication apparatus as claimed in claim 7,

wherein the wireless communication apparatus can make wireless communication with the plurality of communication devices in conformity with a Bluetooth specification;

and

the environment detection unit detects an attribute of each of the plurality of communication devices on the basis of Class Of Device (CoD).

9. The wireless communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the wireless communication apparatus can make wireless communication with the plurality of communication devices in conformity with a Bluetooth specification;

and

the pre-assigned identifier is at least one of a device address and a friendly name.

10. A communication control program for causing a wireless communication apparatus wirelessly communicable with a plurality of communication devices to execute;

comprising;

giving each of the plurality of communication devices at least one local identifiers allowed to be set optionally;

associating the local identifier with a pre-assigned identifier to each of the plurality of communication devices, registering the identifier, and managing the plurality of the communication devices; and

controlling a display device to display the local identifier in place of the pre-assigned identifier as information specifying a currently wirelessly communicable communication device among the plurality of communication devices.

11. The wireless communication control program as claimed in claim 10,

wherein when a plurality of local identifiers for one communication device are registered, an identifier is selected from the local identifiers and the identifier is displayed.

12. The wireless communication control program as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

detecting an operative environment,

wherein when the plurality of local identifiers for one communication device are registered, a local identifier is selected from the communication device management unit and the identifier is displayed; and

the identifier adapts to the environment.

13. The wireless communication control program as claimed in claim 12, wherein an operating mode or information at authentication is detected as the environment.

14. The wireless communication control program as claimed in claim 12,

wherein when the local identifier is registered, the local identifier is associated with information on the environment and the local identifier is registered.

15. The wireless communication control program as claimed in claim 13,

wherein when the local identifier is registered, the local identifier is associated with information on the environment and the local identifier is registered.

16. The wireless communication control program as claimed in claim 12,

wherein it is detected whether any device depending on an environment exists or not;

and

the local identifier is associated with information indicating whether each of the plurality of the communication devices depends on an environment or not, and the local identifier is registered.

17. A communication control method for a wireless communication apparatus wirelessly communicable with a plurality of communication devices, comprising:

giving each of the plurality of communication devices at least one local identifiers allowed to be set optionally;

associating the local identifier with a pre-assigned identifier to each of the plurality of communication devices, registering the identifier, and managing the plurality of the communication devices; and

controlling a display device to display the local identifier in place of the pre-assigned identifier as information specifying a currently wirelessly communicable communication device among the plurality of communication devices.

18. The wireless communication control method as claimed in claim 17,

wherein when a plurality of local identifiers for one communication device are registered, an identifier is selected from the local identifiers and the identifier is displayed.

19. The wireless communication control method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

detecting an operative environment,

wherein when the plurality of local identifiers for one communication device are registered, a local identifier is selected from the communication device management unit and the identifier is displayed; and

the identifier adapts to the environment.

20. The wireless communication control method as claimed in claim 19,

wherein an operating mode or information at authentication is detected as the environment.

21. The wireless communication control method as claimed in claim 19,

wherein when the local identifier is registered, the local identifier is associated with information on the environment and the local identifier is registered.

22. The wireless communication control method as claimed in claim 20,

wherein when the local identifier is registered, the local identifier is associated with information on the environment and the local identifier is registered.

23. The wireless communication control method as claimed in claim 19,

wherein it is detected whether any device depending on an environment exists or not;

and

the local identifier is associated with information indicating whether each of the plurality of the communication devices depends on an environment or not, and the local identifier is registered.