Electronic apparatus and method

An electronic apparatus which is configured to communicate with a first wireless communication apparatus and a second wireless communication apparatus, the electronic apparatus comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive (1) data, in a case in which the data is transmitted from the first wireless communication apparatus to the electronic apparatus and a third wireless communication apparatus different from the first and second wireless communication apparatuses, and (2) a first wireless signal which instructs the electronic apparatus and the third wireless communication apparatus to transmit the data to the second wireless communication apparatus, in a case in which the first wireless signal is transmitted from the first wireless communication apparatus to the electronic apparatus and the third wireless communication apparatus;
• and
• a transmitter configured to directly transmit the data to the second wireless communication apparatus in a case in which the first wireless signal is received,
• wherein:
• the transmitter is further configured to transmit, in a case in which a reception result of the data in the second wireless communication apparatus is received, a second wireless signal comprising the reception result to the first wireless communication apparatus, and in a case in which the reception result of the data in the second wireless communication apparatus is not received, not to transmit the second wireless signal to the first wireless communication apparatus,
• the third wireless communication apparatus is configured to communicate with the second wireless communication apparatus and directly transmit the data to the second communication apparatus,
• the first wireless signal comprises an indication of one of a first retransmission method and a second retransmission method, the first retransmission method being a method by which retransmission of the data is to be initiated by the first apparatus, and the second retransmission method being a method by which retransmission of the data is to be initiated by the electronic apparatus and the third wireless communication apparatus,
• in a case in which the first wireless signal comprises the indication of the first retransmission method, the first period comprises a time from transmission of the first wireless signal to transmission of the second wireless signal by the electronic apparatus and the third wireless communication apparatus to the first apparatus, and
• in a case in which the first wireless signal comprises the indication of the second retransmission method, the first period comprises a time from the transmission of the first wireless signal to one of (i) retransmission of the data by the electronic apparatus and the third wireless communication apparatuses to the second wireless communication apparatus according to the reception result of the data in the second wireless communication apparatus and (ii) transmission of the second wireless signal by the electronic apparatus and the third wireless communication apparatus to the first apparatus.

A method to be executed by an electronic apparatus which communicates with a first wireless communication apparatus and a second wireless communication apparatus, the method comprising:

• transmitting data;
• transmitting a first wireless signal to instruct the first and second wireless communication apparatuses to transmit the data to the third wireless communication apparatus;
• and
• in response to determining that no second wireless signal transmitted from the first and second wireless communication apparatuses is detected within a first period after transmission of the data and the first wireless signal, transmitting a third wireless signal to instruct the first and second wireless communication apparatuses to retransmit the data to the third wireless communication apparatus,
• wherein:
• each of the first and second wireless communication apparatuses is configured to communicate with the third communication apparatus and directly transmit the data to the third communication apparatus,
• the first wireless signal comprises an indication of one of a first retransmission method and a second retransmission method, the first retransmission method being a method by which retransmission of the data is to be initiated by the electronic apparatus, and the second retransmission method being a method by which retransmission of the data is to be initiated by the first and second wireless communication apparatuses,
• in a case in which the first wireless signal comprises the indication of the first retransmission method, the first period comprises a time from transmission of the first wireless signal to transmission of the second wireless signal by the first and second wireless communication apparatuses to the electronic apparatus, the second wireless signal being indicative of a reception result of the data in the third wireless communication apparatus, and
• in a case in which the first wireless signal comprises the indication of the second retransmission method, the first period comprises a time from the transmission of the first wireless signal to one of (i) retransmission of the data by the first and second wireless communication apparatuses to the third wireless communication apparatus according to the reception result of the data in the third wireless communication apparatus and (ii) transmission of the second wireless signal by the first and second wireless communication apparatuses to the electronic apparatus.

A system comprising an electronic apparatus and first to third wireless communication apparatuses, the electronic apparatus being configured to communicate with each of the first and second wireless communication apparatuses, and the electronic apparatus comprising:

• a transmitter configured to transmit (1) data and (2) a first wireless signal to instruct the first and second wireless communication apparatuses to transmit the data to a third wireless communication apparatus,
• wherein:
• the transmitter is further configured to transmit, in a case in which no second wireless signal transmitted from the first and second wireless communication apparatuses is detected within a first period after transmission of the data and the first wireless signal, a third wireless signal to instruct the first and second wireless communication apparatuses to retransmit the data to the third wireless communication apparatus,
• each of the first and second wireless communication apparatuses is configured to communicate with the third communication apparatus and directly transmit the data to the third communication apparatus,
• the first wireless signal comprises an indication of one of a first retransmission method and a second retransmission method, the first retransmission method being a method by which retransmission of the data is to be initiated by the electronic apparatus, and the second retransmission method being a method by which retransmission of the data is to be initiated by the first and second wireless communication apparatuses,
• in a case in which the first wireless signal comprises the indication of the first retransmission method, the first period comprises a time from transmission of the first wireless signal to transmission of the second wireless signal by the first and second wireless communication apparatuses to the electronic apparatus, the second wireless signal being indicative of a reception result of the data in the third wireless communication apparatus, and
• in a case in which the first wireless signal comprises the indication of the second retransmission method, the first period comprises a time from the transmission of the first wireless signal to one of (i) retransmission of the data by the first and second wireless communication apparatuses to the third wireless communication apparatus according to the reception result of the data in the third wireless communication apparatus and (ii) transmission of the second wireless signal by the first and second wireless communication apparatuses to the electronic apparatus.