Wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication system, wireless communication method, and program

• US 8,207,847 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2009
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamasuge, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US12/419,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20090251309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.3, 340/636.1, 340/639.19, 455/522, 455/423, 320/107
• US Class Current: 340/539.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention includes a wireless communication transmitting circuit and a wireless communication receiving circuit that perform communication with another apparatus connected through a wireless communication network; a power situation acquiring unit that acquires a power situation of the wireless communication apparatus; and a wireless power transmitting circuit that wirelessly supplies power to another apparatus in accordance with a power supply request from another apparatus connected through the wireless communication network, when the power situation of the wireless communication apparatus satisfies a predetermined condition.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a wireless communication unit that performs communication with a first apparatus connected through a wireless communication network;

a power situation acquiring unit that acquires a power situation of the wireless communication apparatus;

a location acquiring unit that acquires distance and direction information between the wireless communication apparatus and the first apparatus; and

a power supply unit that wirelessly supplies power to the first apparatus in accordance with a power supply request from the first apparatus and based on the distance and direction information, when the power situation of the wireless communication apparatus satisfies a predetermined condition.

2. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

a remaining power amount acquiring unit that acquires the remaining power amount of the wireless communication apparatus,

wherein, when the remaining power amount is not more than a predetermined value, the power supply request is transmitted to a second apparatus that is connected through the wireless communication network.

3. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the predetermined condition is a condition indicating that the wireless communication apparatus is connected to a power supply or a condition indicating that the remaining power amount of the wireless communication apparatus is not less than a predetermined value.

4. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the wireless communication unit receives the power supply request transmitted from the first apparatus through an access point of the wireless communication network.

5. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the wireless communication unit transmits the power situation of the wireless communication apparatus to the access point, and

the access point determines whether the power situation of the wireless communication apparatus satisfies the predetermined condition.

6. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the wireless communication unit receives the power supply request from the first apparatus, and transmits the power situation of the wireless communication apparatus to the first apparatus, and

the first apparatus that transmits the power supply request determines whether the power situation of the wireless communication apparatus satisfies the predetermined condition.

7. A wireless communication system comprising:

a wireless communication apparatus, comprising;

a power supply request acquiring unit that acquires a power supply request from a first and second terminal apparatuses connected to the wireless communication apparatus through a wireless communication network,

a power situation acquiring unit that acquires a power situation of the first and second terminal apparatuses, and

a power supply request transmitting unit that transmits the power supply request from the first terminal apparatus to the second terminal apparatus; and

the second terminal apparatus, comprising;

a power situation transmitting unit that transmits the power situation to the wireless communication apparatus,

a power supply request receiving unit that receives the power supply request,

a location acquiring unit that acquires distance and direction information between the wireless communication apparatus and the first apparatus, and

a power supply unit that wirelessly supplies power to the first terminal apparatus that transmits the power supply request to the wireless communication apparatus in accordance with the power supply request and based on the distance and direction information.

8. A wireless communication method comprising the steps of:

performing, by a self apparatus, communication with a first apparatus connected through a wireless communication network;

acquiring a power situation of the self apparatus;

acquiring distance and direction information between the self apparatus and the first apparatus; and

wirelessly supplying power to the first apparatus in accordance with a power supply request from the first apparatus and based on the distance and direction information, when the power situation of the self apparatus satisfies a predetermined condition.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program, the computer program, when executed by a computer, causing the computer to function as:

a first unit performing communication with a first apparatus through a wireless communication network;

a second unit acquiring a power situation of the computer;

a third unit acquiring distance and direction information between the computer and the first apparatus; and

a fourth unit wirelessly supplying power to the first apparatus in accordance with a power supply request from the first apparatus and based on the distance and direction information, when the power situation of the computer satisfies a predetermined condition.