Wireless communication apparatus for wireless network and computer readable media

• US 9,338,818 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2014
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Nogawa, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tu X
• Application Number:
  US14/450,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20140342765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 455/13.1, 455/11.1, 455/15, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/38 triggered by timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

A wireless communication apparatus may operate selectively as a master station or as a remote station in a wireless network. When the apparatus operates as the master station, the apparatus may manage one or more remote devices that operate as remote stations. The apparatus continues operating as the master station until a continuation period elapses when the number of remote devices to be managed is zero. The continuation period begins when the number of remote devices becomes zero. If the number of remote devices becomes one or more before the continuation period elapses, the apparatus continues operating as the master station, even after a lapse of the continuation period. If the number of remote devices remains zero until the continuation period elapses, the apparatus stops operating as the master station after the lapse of the continuation period.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus configured to operate selectively as a group owner or as a client in a Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, comprising:

a processor configured to;

manage one or more remote devices, which operate as clients in a particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, when the wireless communication apparatus operates as the group owner in the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network; and

continue the operation of the wireless communication apparatus as the group owner, when the wireless communication apparatus operates as the group owner in the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, until a continuation period elapses when the number of remote devices to be managed is zero,

wherein the continuation period begins at a time when the number of remote devices to be managed becomes zero, wherein, if the number of remote devices to be managed becomes one or more before the continuation period elapses, the processor is configured to continue the operation of the wireless communication apparatus as the group owner in the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, even after a lapse of the continuation period,

wherein, if the number of remote devices to be managed remains zero until the continuation period elapses, the processor is configured to stop the operation of the wireless communication apparatus as the group owner after the lapse of the continuation period,

wherein, when the number of remote devices to be managed becomes zero without obtaining a disconnect signal from a last removed remote device, which is a last device that has been removed from the particular network, among the one or more remote devices to be managed, the processor is configured to continue the operation of the wireless communication apparatus as the group owner until the continuation period elapses, and

wherein, when the number of remote devices to be managed becomes zero while the disconnect signal is obtained from the last removed remote device, the processor is configured to stop the operation of the wireless communication apparatus as the group owner before the continuation period elapses.

2. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

obtain, from each of the one or more remote devices to be managed, category data indicating a category of each of the one or more remote devices to be managed; and

determine an end of the continuation period based on the category data obtained from the one or more remote devices to be managed.

3. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when the number of remote devices to be managed becomes zero, the processor is configured to determine the end of the continuation period based only on the category data obtained from a last removed remote device, which is a last device that has been removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network among the one or more remote devices to be managed.

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

a memory configured to store a plurality of category data and corresponding periods, associating each of the category data with each period,

wherein the processor is configured to determine the end of the continuation period based on a period associated with the category data obtained from the last removed remote device.

5. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine a holding period based on the category data obtained from the first-type remote device, each time a first-type remote device, among the one or more remote devices to be managed, is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, wherein the holding period begins when the first-type remote device is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network; and

when the number of remote devices to be managed becomes zero, determine an end of the holding period that is the longest, among one or more holding periods obtained in the determination of the holding period, as an end of the continuation period.

6. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, if a second-type remote device, among the one or more remote devices to be managed, is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, the processor is configured not to determine the holding period,

wherein the first-type remote device is a remote device that is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network without supplying a disconnect signal to the wireless communication apparatus, and

wherein the second-type remote device is a remote device that is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network by supplying the disconnect signal to the wireless communication apparatus.

7. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a memory configured to store a plurality of category data and corresponding periods, associating each of the category data with each period,

wherein, each time the first-type remote device is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, the processor is configured to determine an end of the holding period based on a period associated with the category data obtained from the first-type remote device.

8. A wireless communication apparatus configured to operate selectively as a group owner or as a client in a Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, comprising:

a processor configured to;

manage one or more remote devices, which operate as clients in a particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, when the wireless communication apparatus operates as the group owner in the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network;

continue the operation of the wireless communication apparatus as the group owner, when the wireless communication apparatus operates as the group owner in the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, until a continuation period elapses when the number of remote devices to be managed is zero; and

determine a holding period that begins when the first-type remote device is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, each time a first-type remote device among the one or more remote devices to be managed is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, and not determine the holding period if a second-type remote device among the one or more remote devices to be managed is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network,

wherein the continuation period begins at a time when the number of remote devices to be managed becomes zero, wherein, if the number of remote devices to be managed becomes one or more before the continuation period elapses, the processor is configured to continue the operation of the wireless communication apparatus as the group owner in the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, even after a lapse of the continuation period,

wherein, if the number of remote devices to be managed remains zero until the continuation period elapses, the processor is configured to stop the operation of the wireless communication apparatus as the group owner after the lapse of the continuation period,

wherein the processor is further configured to determine an end of the holding period that is the longest, among one or more holding periods obtained in the determination of the holding period, as an end of the continuation period, when the number of remote devices to be managed becomes zero,

wherein the first-type remote device is a remote device that is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network without supplying a disconnect signal to the wireless communication apparatus, and

wherein the second-type remote device is a remote device that is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network by supplying the disconnect signal to the wireless communication apparatus.

9. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to:

obtain, from each of the one or more remote devices to be managed, category data indicating a category of each of the one or more remote devices to be managed; and

determine an end of the continuation period based on the category data obtained from the one or more remote devices to be managed.

10. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, when the number of remote devices to be managed becomes zero, the processor is configured to determine the end of the continuation period based only on the category data obtained from a last removed remote device, which is a last device that has been removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network among the one or more remote devices to be managed.

11. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a memory configured to store a plurality of category data and corresponding periods, associating each of the category data with each period,

wherein the processor is configured to determine the end of the continuation period based on a period associated with the category data obtained from the last removed remote device.

12. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine a holding period based on the category data obtained from the first-type remote device, each time a first-type remote device, among the one or more remote devices to be managed, is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, wherein the holding period begins when the first-type remote device is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network; and

when the number of remote devices to be managed becomes zero, determine an end of the holding period that is the longest, among one or more holding periods obtained in the determination of the holding period, as an end of the continuation period.

13. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein, if a second-type remote device, among the one or more remote devices to be managed, is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, the processor is configured not to determine the holding period,

wherein the first-type remote device is a remote device that is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network without supplying a disconnect signal to the wireless communication apparatus, and

wherein the second-type remote device is a remote device that is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network by supplying the disconnect signal to the wireless communication apparatus.

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

a memory configured to store a plurality of category data and corresponding periods, associating each of the category data with each period,

wherein, each time the first-type remote device is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, the processor is configured to determine an end of the holding period based on a period associated with the category data obtained from the first-type remote device.

15. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions for a processor of a wireless communication apparatus configured to operate selectively as a group owner or a client in a Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, the computer-readable instructions instructing the processor to perform the steps of:

managing one or more remote devices that operate as clients in the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, when the wireless communication apparatus operates as the group owner in a particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network; and

controlling the operation of the wireless communication apparatus, when the wireless communication apparatus operates as the group owner in the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, to continue as the group owner until a continuation period elapses when the number of remote devices to be managed is zero, wherein the continuation period begins when the number of remote devices to be managed becomes zero,

wherein the controlling step comprises continuing the operation of the wireless communication apparatus as the group owner in the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, even after a lapse of the continuation period, if the number of remote devices to be managed becomes one or more before the continuation period elapses,

wherein the controlling step comprises stopping the operation of the wireless communication apparatus as the group owner after the lapse of the continuation period, if the number of remote devices to be managed remains zero until the continuation period elapses,

wherein, when the number of remote devices to be managed becomes zero without obtaining a disconnect signal from a last removed remote device, which is a last device that has been removed from the particular network, among the one or more remote devices to be managed, the controlling step comprises continuing the operation of the wireless communication apparatus as the group owner until the continuation period elapses, and

wherein, when the number of remote devices to be managed becomes zero while the disconnect signal is obtained from the last removed remote device, the controlling step comprises stopping the operation of the wireless communication apparatus as the group owner before the continuation period elapses.

16. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the controlling step comprises:

determining a holding period that begins when the first-type remote device is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, each time a first-type remote device among the one or more remote devices to be managed is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network;

not determining the holding period if a second-type remote device among the one or more remote devices to be managed is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network; and

determining an end of the holding period that is the longest, among one or more holding periods determined in the holding period determining step, as an end of the continuation period, when the number of remote devices to be managed becomes zero,

wherein the first-type remote device is a remote device that is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network without supplying a disconnect signal to the wireless communication apparatus, and

wherein the second-type remote device is a remote device that is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network by supplying the disconnect signal to the wireless communication apparatus.

17. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the controlling step comprises:

obtaining, from each of the one or more remote devices to be managed, category data indicating a category of each of the one or more remote devices to be managed; and

determining an end of the continuation period based on the category data obtained from the one or more remote devices to be managed.

18. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, wherein, when the number of remote devices to be managed becomes zero, the continuation period determining step comprises determining the end of the continuation period based only on the category data obtained from a last removed remote device, which is a last device that has been removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network among the one or more remote devices to be managed.

19. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the continuation period determining step comprises:

referencing a memory configured to store a plurality of category data and corresponding periods, associating each of the category data with each period; and

determining the end of the continuation period based on a period associated with the category data obtained from the last removed remote device.

20. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the controlling step comprises:

determining a holding period based on the category data obtained from the first-type remote device, each time a first-type remote device, among the one or more remote devices to be managed, is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, wherein the holding period begins when the first-type remote device is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network; and

when the number of remote devices to be managed becomes zero, determining an end of the holding period that is the longest, among one or more holding periods determined in the holding period determining step, as an end of the continuation period.

21. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium according to claim 20, wherein, if a second-type remote device, among the one or more remote devices to be managed, is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network, the holding period is not determined in the holding period determining step,

wherein the first-type remote device is a remote device that is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network without supplying a disconnect signal to the wireless communication apparatus, and

wherein the second-type remote device is a remote device that is removed from the particular Wi-Fi Direct wireless network by supplying the disconnect signal to the wireless communication apparatus.