Wireless communication apparatus and control method for the same

• US 7,904,611 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Client Solutions CO., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Takezaki, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai; Henry W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mamo; Elias
• Application Number:
  US12/643,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20100164300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 710/15, 710/17
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a wireless communication apparatus includes a receptacle, a power supply controller and a control module. The receptacle is adapted to receive an audio and visual (AV) signal in which a video signal and an audio signal are superimposed on each other, and various commands for operation control. These various commands may be defined in a HDMI-CEC standard. The power supply controller is configured to supply drive power to the wireless communication module. The control module is configured to control the power supply controller, to acquire setting information showing whether the electronic equipment is set to be activated in response to an activation command. The setting information is acquired based on expansion commands, which are vendor specific commands, transmitted and received through the receptacle.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a receptacle configured to be inserted on one end of a cable for transmitting and receiving an AV signal in which a video signal and an audio signal are superimposed on each other, and various commands for operation control;

a wireless communication module configured to transmit and receive the AV signal and the various commands;

a power supply controller configured to supply drive power to the wireless communication module; and

a control module configured to control the power supply controller, to acquire, from an electronic equipment, setting information showing whether the electronic equipment is set to be activated in response to an activation command, the setting information is acquired based on expansion commands transmitted and received through the receptacle, to determine whether the electronic equipment is in operation based on commands transmitted and received through the receptacle when the setting information shows that the electronic equipment is in operation, and to instruct the power supply controller to stop supplying the drive power to the wireless communication module when it is determined that the electronic equipment is not being activated,

wherein the various commands are defined in a HDMI-CEC (high definition multimedia interface for consumer electronics control) standard, and the expansion commands are a vender specific command.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

after the control module instructs to stop supplying the drive power, the power supply controller is configured to determine whether the electronic equipment is able to transmit and receive the various commands based on the various commands transmitted and received through the receptacle, and to instruct the power supply controller to start supplying the drive power to the wireless communication module when it is determined that the electronic equipment does not transmit and receive the various commands.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein

the control module is configured to receive, based on the expansion commands transmitted and received through the receptacle, setting information showing whether the electronic equipment is activated in response to the activation command when it is determined that the electronic equipment is able to transmit and receive the various commands, and to instruct the power supply controller to start supplying the drive power to the wireless communication module when the setting information shows that the electronic equipment is not being activated.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein

the control module is configured to determine whether the electronic equipment is in operation based on second commands transmitted and received through the receptacle when the power supply controller detects that the electronic equipment is in operation, and to instruct the power supply controller to start supplying the drive power to the wireless communication module when it is determined that the electronic equipment is activated.

5. An electronic equipment connected to a wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a receptacle configured to be inserted on one end of a cable for transmitting and receiving an AV signal in which a video signal and an audio signal are superimposed on each other, and various commands for operation control;

a storage module configured to store setting information showing whether the electronic equipment is set to be activated in response to an activation command received through the receptacle; and

a transmitter configured to transmit, to a transmission source of a first message, the setting information by using a second message in response to the first message received through the receptacle, and to transmit, to the transmission source, a state message showing a power state of the electronic equipment in response to a third message for confirming the power state of the electronic equipment, and the command received through the receptacle,

wherein the various commands are defined in a HDMI-CEC (high definition multimedia interface for consumer electronics control) standard, and the expansion commands are a vender specific commands.

6. A control method of a wireless communication apparatus configured to transmit an AV signal in which a video signal and an audio signal are superimposed on each other through wireless communication, the AV signal transmitted from an electronic equipment, wherein

the wireless communication apparatus comprises a first receptacle configured to be inserted one end of a cable for inputting and outputting the AV signal, and various commands for operation control, a wireless communication module configured to transmit the AV signal and to transmit and receive the commands, and a power supply controller configured to supply drive power for driving the wireless communication module to the wireless communication module,

the electronic equipment comprises a second receptacle configured to be inserted on one end of a cable for inputting and outputting the AV signal, and commands for operation control, and a storage module configured to store setting information showing whether the electronic equipment is activated in response to an activation command received through the second receptacle, the method comprising:

transmitting, from the wireless communication apparatus to the electronic equipment through the first receptacle, a first message for acquiring a second message showing the setting information;

transmitting, from the electronic equipment to the wireless communication apparatus through the second receptacle, the second message showing the setting information in response to the first message received through the second receptacle;

transmitting, from the wireless communication apparatus to the electronic equipment through the first receptacle, a third message for inquiring of a power state of the electronic equipment when the second message shows activation of the electronic equipment;

transmitting, from the electronic equipment to the wireless communication apparatus through the second receptacle, a fourth message in response to the third message received through the second receptacle, the fourth message showing that the power state of the electronic equipment;

determining whether the electronic equipment is in operation based on the fourth message received through the first receptacle; and

instructing the power supply controller to stop supplying the drive power to the wireless communication module when it is determined that the electronic equipment is not in operation,

wherein the various commands, the third message, and fourth message are defined in the HDMI-CEC (high definition multimedia interface for consumer electronics control) standard, and the first message and second message are vender specific commands.