Communication apparatus, communication system, and network establishing method

• US 8,953,487 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2009
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Moritomo, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Sefcheck, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): MITCHELL, DANIEL D
• Application Number:
  US12/352,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20090196200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,220 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/00 Network planning, e.g. coverage or traffic planning tools; Network deployment, e.g. resource partitioning or cells structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• 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

A communication apparatus determines whether another communication apparatus participating in a network established in accordance with a first communication standard is also compatible with a second communication standard. The communication apparatus detects leaving of the network by another communication apparatus incompatible with the second communication standard. The communication apparatus establishes a network that adheres to the second communication standard, depending on the detection result.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus compatible with a first communication standard and a second communication standard being different from the first communication standard, the communication apparatus comprising:

a participating unit configured to participate in a wireless network compatible with the first communication standard, the wireless network having been established in advance by a first other communication device which is not compatible with the second communication standard;

a determining unit configure to determine that other communication device being not compatible with the second communication standard including at least the first other communication device has left the wireless network in which the communication apparatus is participating; and

an establishing unit configured to leave the wireless network compatible with the first communication standard in responding to a result of a determination of the determining unit, and newly establish a wireless network compatible with the second communication standard;

a transmission unit configured to transmit a switching signal which indicates switching from a wireless network compatible with the first communication standard to a network compatible with the second communication standard; and

a judging unit configured to judge whether or not other communication device compatible with the second communication standard rejects the switching from a wireless network compatible with the first communication standard to a network compatible with the second communication standard based on a response to the switching signal, from the other communication device compatible with the second communication standard,

wherein the establishing unit newly establishes a wireless network compatible with the second communication standard when the other communication device compatible with the second communication standard does not reject the switching from a wireless network compatible with the first communication standard to a network compatible with the second communication standard.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

a confirming unit configured to confirm whether or not a second other communication device participating in the wireless network is compatible with the second communication standard.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the confirming unit is further configured to send an inquiry signal for inquiring whether or not the second other communication device is compatible with the second communication standard and confirm whether or not the second other communication device participating in the wireless network is compatible with the second communication standard according to a response of the second other communication device to the inquiry signal.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the confirming unit is further configured to determine that the second other communication device is not compatible with the second communication standard if the second other communication device sends back an explicit response signal indicating incompatibility with the second communication standard or if the second other communication device shows an implicit response by not sending a reply to the inquiry signal.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising

a broadcast unit configured to transmit a broadcast signal in the wireless network, wherein the inquiry signal is transmitted with the broadcast signal.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the establishing unit is further configured not to switch from a wireless network compatible with the first communication standard to a network compatible with the second communication standard when the switching is rejected.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a storage unit configured to associate identification information for identifying the second other communication device which is included in the broadcast signal from the second other communication device, with standard information indicating whether or not the second other communication device is compatible with the second communication standard, and store the associated information;

a deciding unit configured to decide whether or not the second other communication device has left a wireless network compatible with the first communication standard based on whether or not a broadcast signal can be received from the second other communication device;

a removing unit configure to remove the standard information associated with identification information for identifying the second other communication device which has left the wireless network,

wherein the establishing unit is further configured to newly establish a wireless network compatible with the second communication standard when all other communication devices being not compatible with the second communication standard have left the wireless communication network compatible with the first communication standard based on the remove by the removing unit.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a communication speed of the second communication standard is faster than that of the first communication standard.

9. A communication system comprising a plurality of communication devices, at least one of the plurality of communication devices being compatible with a first communication standard and a second communication standard being different from the first communication standard, the at least one of the plurality of communication devices including:

a participating unit configured to participate in a wireless network compatible with the first communication standard, the wireless network been established in advance by a first other communication device which is not compatible with the second communication standard;

a determining unit configure to determine that other communication device being not compatible with the second communication standard including at least the first other communication device has left the wireless network in which the communication apparatus is participating; and

an establishing unit configured to leave the wireless network compatible with the first communication standard in responding to a result of a determination of the determining unit, and newly establish a wireless network compatible with the second communication standard;

a transmission unit configured to transmit a switching signal which indicates switching from a wireless network compatible with the first communication standard to a network compatible with the second communication standard; and

a judging unit configured to judge whether or not other communication device compatible with the second communication standard rejects the switching from a wireless network compatible with the first communication standard to a network compatible with the second communication standard based on a response to the switching signal, from the other communication device compatible with the second communication standard,

wherein the establishing unit newly establishes a wireless network compatible with the second communication standard when the other communication device compatible with the second communication standard does not reject the switching from a wireless network compatible with the first, communication standard to a network compatible with the second communication standard.

10. A wireless network establishing method in a communication apparatus compatible with a first communication standard and a second communication standard being different from the first communication standard comprising the steps of:

participating in a wireless network compatible with the first communication standard, the wireless network having been established in advance by a first other communication device which is not compatible with the second communication standard;

determining that other communication device being not compatible with the second communication standard including at least the first other communication device has left the wireless network in which the communication apparatus is participating;

leaving the wireless network compatible with the first communication standard in responding to a result of a determination of the step of determining; and

newly establishing a wireless network compatible with the second communication standard;

transmitting a switching signal which indicates switching from a wireless network compatible with the first communication standard to a network compatible with the second communication standard; and

judging whether or not other communication device compatible with the second communication standard rejects the switching from a wireless network compatible with the first communication standard to a network compatible with the second communication standard based on a response to the switching signal, from the other communication device compatible with the second communication standard,

wherein the establishing newly establishes a wireless network compatible with the second communication standard when the other communication device compatible with the second communication standard does not reject the switching from a wireless network compatible with the first communication standard to a network compatible with the second communication standard.

11. A computer-readable non-transitory-recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a wireless network establishing method in a communication apparatus compatible with a first communication standard and a second communication standard being different from the first communication standard comprising the steps of:

participating in a wireless network compatible with the first communication standard, the wireless network having been established in advance by a first other communication device which is not compatible with the second communication standard;

determining that other communication device being not compatible with the second communication standard including at least the first other communication device has left the wireless network in which the communication apparatus is participating;

leaving the wireless network compatible with the first communication standard in responding to a result of a determination of the step of determining; and

newly establishing a wireless network compatible with the second communication standard;

transmitting a switching signal which indicates switching from a wireless network compatible with the first communication standard to a network compatible with the second communication standard; and

judging whether or not other communication device compatible with the second communication standard rejects the switching from a wireless network compatible with the first communication standard to a network compatible with the second communication standard based on a response to the switching signal, from the other communication device compatible with the second communication standard,

wherein the establishing newly establishes a wireless network compatible with the second communication standard when the other communication device compatible with the second communication standard does not reject the switching from a wireless network compatible with the first communication standard to a network compatible with the second communication standard.

12. A communication apparatus comprising:

a participating unit configured to participate in a first wireless network compatible with a first communication standard;

a communication unit configured to communicate in the first wireless network, with a first communication terminal compatible with a second communication standard, which supports a communication speed being higher than a communication speed supported by the first communication standard, and a second communication terminal incompatible with the second communication standard;

a detection unit configured to detect that the second communication terminal has left the first wireless network;

a leaving unit configured to leave the first wireless network in a case that the detection unit detects that the second communication terminal has left the first wireless network;

an establishing unit configured to newly establish a second network compatible with the second communication standard in a case that the detection unit detects that the second communication terminal has left the first wireless network; and

a transmission device which transmits a switching signal that indicates switching from the first network compatible with the first network to the second network compatible with the second network

wherein the communication unit communicates with the first communication terminal in the second network in a case that the second network has been newly established by the establishing unit, and

wherein said establishing unit makes said communication apparatus to leave from the first wireless network, and newly establishes the second network compatible with the second communication standard based on a reply from the other communication terminal corresponding to the switching signal transmitted by the transmission device.

13. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said establishing unit neither makes the communication apparatus to leave from the first wireless network, nor newly establishes the second network compatible with the second communication standard when switching to the second communication standard is rejected in response to the switching signal.

14. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said establishing unit makes said communication apparatus to leave from the first wireless network, and establishes the second network, said communication unit communicates with the first communication terminal via the second network when the detection unit has detected that all other communication terminals incompatible with the second communication standard have left the first network.

15. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a determination unit,

wherein the determination unit transmits, to another communication terminal participating in the first network, an inquiry signal for inquiring whether the other communication apparatus is compatible with the second communication standard, and determines whether the other communication apparatus is compatible with the second communication standard according to a response to the inquiry signal by the other communication apparatus.

16. The communication apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said determination unit determines that the other communication terminal is incompatible with the second communication standard if an explicit response signal indicating incompatibility with the second communication standard is received from the other communication terminal or if there is an implicit response whereby a reply to the inquiry signal is not received.

17. The communication apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a broadcast device which transmits a broadcast signal when a turn of the communication apparatus arrives to transmit the broadcast signal, which each of a plurality of communication apparatuses participating in the first wireless network transmits in order, wherein

the inquiry signal is transmitted following transmission of the broadcast signal by the broadcast device.

18. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a storage device configured to store identification information on another communication apparatus included in a broadcast signal received from the other communication apparatus in association with information indicating whether the other communication apparatus is compatible with the second communication standard, and

a determination unit, wherein

said determination unit determines whether the other communication apparatus has left the first wireless network based on whether a broadcast signal was received from the other communication apparatus, and

said detection unit judges that all communication apparatuses incompatible with the second communication standard have left the first wireless network as a result of deleting, from the storage device, the information corresponding to the identification information of other communication apparatuses that have left the first wireless network.

19. A wireless network establishing method in a communication apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

participating in a first wireless network compatible with a first communication standard;

communicating in the first wireless network, with a first communication terminal compatible with a second communication standard different from the first communication standard, which supports a communication speed being higher than a communication speed supported by the first communication standard, and a second communication terminal incompatible with the second communication standard;

detecting that the second communication terminal has left the first wireless network;

leaving the first wireless network in a case that the detection unit detects that the second communication terminal has left the first wireless network;

newly establishing a second network compatible with the second communication standard in a case that the detection unit detects that the second communication terminal has left the first wireless network; and

transmitting a switching signal that indicates switching from the first network compatible with the first network to the second network compatible with the second network

wherein the communicating step comprises communicating with the first communication terminal in the second network in a case that the second network has been newly established by the establishing unit, and

wherein the establishing step causes said communication apparatus to leave the first wireless network, and newly establishes the second network compatible with the second communication standard based on a reply from the other communication terminal corresponding to the switching signal transmitted by the transmission device.

20. A computer-readable non-transitory recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a network establishing method of a communication apparatus according to claim 19.