Communication Method, Communication System and Communication Apparatus

Abstract

When wireless communications are performed with other communication devices, an inquiry message to discover other communication devices residing in the vicinity is wirelessly transmitted by having communication ranges altered at a plurality of stages; response messages to the transmitted inquiry message are received; information relating to a receiving state or frequency of receipt of the response messages from the respective communication ranges is preserved with respect to each communication device which is a source of the response message; and based on the preserved information relating to the receiving state or the frequency of receipt of the response messages a communication device to be a connection object for wireless communication is selected. By doing so, when short-range wireless communications are performed, communication services can be performed appropriately between required devices.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a communication method suitable for a relatively short-range wireless communication method, a communication system to implement the communication method and a communication apparatus applied to the communication system.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Recently, a communication method called Bluetooth communication is drawn attention as a method for wireless communication of a relatively short-range up to approximately 100 meters at maximum, and a variety of corresponding devices are being developed.[0003]A short-range wireless communication system like Bluetooth communication using radio signals of relatively high frequency waves has merits such as having no directivity and having a high transmissivity in comparison with a infrared communication method using infrared signals, and it is expected that corresponding devices continue to increase in the future.[0004]In a communication system to which an infrared communication method is applied, in...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a communication method and system for wireless communications between devices. The method involves transmitting an inquiry message with altered communication ranges and receiving response messages from other devices. The information about the receiving state or frequency of the response messages is preserved and used to select the connection object for wireless communications. This allows for easy and simple communication between devices. The system includes a communication device with wireless communication means and control means to transmit and receive the inquiry message, and a preservation means to preserve the information relating to the receiving state or frequency of the response messages. The technical effects of the invention include improved communication ranges, simplified device-to-device communication, and better user experience.

Problems solved by technology

Conventionally, there needs an operational procedure wherein information relating to devices contained in those response messages is shown in a display or the like and a user makes a selection of a desired device, however, when there were many devices residing in the vicinity, there was a problem that the user was forced to spend a huge amount of time for the selection procedure and its usability became worse.

In addition, in order to judge whether a device was actually one desired for a connection, it was necessary to confirm information such as an ID provided by the device, and therefore, there was a possibility of causing excessive work on the user.

However, when there is no connectable device residing within the range of the short distance, a user needs another processing such as searching again by further expanding a search range.

Moreover, even if a reaching range of a message is limited to a short distance, a device held by a person is also discovered, when such a person happens to pass nearby.

This problem still remains in consideration that all devices of personal belongings will become involved in networks in the future.

Moreover, in such devices as providing an access point which are permanently set up and are desired to be automatically managed, a user can not explicitly establish a connection.

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