# US 2008/0189422 A1 · Communication Device, Communication System, Communication Method, Communication Program, and Communication Circuit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0189422 A1 - Document ID: US20080189422A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/883,254 - Filed: 2006-01-26 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2005-01-28 - Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Hitoshi Naoe; Fumihiro Fukae; Koji Sakai; Shohei Ohsawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080189422A1 ## CPC - H04B 10/1125: {using a single common optical path} - H04L 69/325: in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 (H04L69/16 takes precedence) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract The present invention is a network layer protocol used for free-space optical transmission utilizing an LED or LD as a light source. In order to connect to a device, the network layer issues a connection request command (LAP_con_req2) to a lower layer when the network layer has received a connection request command (LM_con_req1) from an upper layer. Furthermore, when the network layer has received a connection confirmation command reception notification (LAP_con_conf1) from the lower layer, the network layer issues a connection confirmation command reception notification (LM_con_conf2) to the upper layer without issuing a data transfer request command to the lower layer. Accordingly, the invention provides a network layer protocol with which time for a connection or disconnection is reduced. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A communication device as a primary station for communication with a secondary station, the device comprising a network layer, an upper layer which is an upper-level communication layer to the network layer, and a lower layer which is a lower-level communication layer to the network layer, the device comprising a network layer protocol controller, wherein in order to connect to the secondary station, in the network layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a connection request command to the lower layer when the network layer protocol controller has received a connection request command from the upper layer and issues a connection confirmation command reception notification to the upper layer, without issuing a data transfer request command to the lower layer, when the network layer protocol controller has received a connection confirmation command reception notification from the lower layer. ### Claim 2 A communication device as a secondary station for communication with a primary station, the device comprising a network layer, an upper layer which is an upper-level communication layer to the network layer, and a lower layer which is a lower-level communication layer to the network layer, the device comprising a network layer protocol controller, wherein in order to connect to the primary station, the network layer protocol controller issues a connection request command reception notification to the upper layer, without issuing a data transfer request command to the lower layer, when the network layer protocol controller has received a connection request command reception notification from the lower layer and issues a connection confirmation command to the lower layer when the network layer protocol controller has received a connection confirmation command from the upper layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1, wherein in order to connect to the secondary station, when the network layer protocol controller has received a connection request command from the upper layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a connection request command to the lower layer and passes, to the lower layer, user data contained in the connection request command from the upper layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1, wherein in order to connect to the secondary station, when the network layer protocol controller has received a connection confirmation command reception notification from the lower layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a connection confirmation command reception notification to the upper layer and passes, to the upper layer, user data contained in the connection confirmation command reception notification received from the lower layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The communication device of claim 2, wherein in order to connect to the primary station, when the network layer protocol controller has received a connection request command reception notification from the lower layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a connection request command reception notification to the upper layer and passes, to the upper layer, user data contained in the connection request command reception notification received from the lower layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The communication device of claim 2, wherein in order to connect to the primary station, when the network layer protocol controller has received a connection confirmation command from the upper layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a connection confirmation command to the lower layer and passes, to the lower layer, user data contained in the connection confirmation command received from the upper layer. ### Claim 7 A communication device as a primary station for communication with a secondary station, the device comprising a network layer, an upper layer which is an upper-level communication layer to the network layer, and a lower layer which is a lower-level communication layer to the network layer, the device comprising a network layer protocol controller, wherein in order to disconnect from the secondary station, in the network layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a disconnection request command, without issuing a data transfer request command to the lower layer, when the network layer protocol controller has received a disconnection request command from the upper layer and issues a disconnection confirmation command reception notification to the upper layer when the network layer protocol controller has received a disconnection confirmation command reception notification from the lower layer. ### Claim 8 A communication device as a secondary station for communication with a primary station, the device comprising a network layer, an upper layer which is an upper-level communication layer to the network layer, and a lower layer which is a lower-level communication layer to the network layer, the device comprising a network layer protocol controller, wherein in order to disconnect from the primary station, the network layer protocol controller issues a disconnection request command reception notification to the upper layer when the network layer protocol controller has received a disconnection request command reception notification from the lower layer and issues a disconnection confirmation command to the lower layer when the network layer protocol controller has received a disconnection confirmation command from the upper layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The communication device of claim 7, wherein in order to disconnect from the secondary station, when the network layer protocol controller has received a disconnection request command from the upper layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a disconnection request command to the lower layer and passes, to the lower layer, user data contained in the disconnection request command received from the upper layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The communication device of claim 7, wherein in order to disconnect from the secondary station, when the network layer protocol controller has received a disconnection confirmation command reception notification from the lower layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a disconnection confirmation command reception notification to the upper layer and passes, to the upper layer, user data contained in the disconnection confirmation command reception notification received from the lower layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The communication device of claim 8, wherein in order to disconnect from the primary station, when the network layer protocol controller has received a disconnection request command reception notification from the lower layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a disconnection request command reception notification to the upper layer and passes, to the upper layer, user data contained in the disconnection request command reception notification received from the lower layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The communication device of claim 8, wherein in order to disconnect from the primary station, when the network layer protocol controller has received a disconnection confirmation command from the upper layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a disconnection confirmation command to the lower layer and passes, to the lower layer, user data contained in the disconnection confirmation command received from the upper layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1, wherein in order to connect to the secondary station, when the network layer protocol controller has received a one-way-communication connection request command from the upper layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a connection request command to the lower layer and thereafter issues a data transfer request command to the lower layer in response to a data transfer request command from the upper layer without waiting for a connection confirmation command from the lower layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The communication device of claim 2, wherein in order to connect to the primary station: when the network layer protocol controller has received, from the lower layer, a connection request command reception notification and a notification that the primary station is requesting a one-way transfer, the network layer protocol controller issues a connection request reception notification command to the upper layer; and subsequently when the network layer protocol controller has received a data reception notification from the lower layer without receiving a connection confirmation command from the upper layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a data reception notification to the upper layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The communication device of claim 13, wherein in order to connect to the secondary station, when the network layer protocol controller has received a connection request command from the upper layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a connection request command to the lower layer and passes, to the lower layer, user data contained in the connection request command from the upper layer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The communication device of claim 14, wherein in order to connect to the primary station, when the network layer protocol controller has received a connection request command reception notification from the lower layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a connection request command reception notification to the upper layer and passes, to the upper layer, user data contained in the connection request command reception notification received from the lower layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 7) The communication device of claim 7, wherein in order to disconnect one-way communication with the secondary station, when the network layer protocol controller has received a disconnection request command from the upper layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a disconnection request command without issuing a data transfer request command to the lower layer, thereby completing disconnection from the secondary station without receiving a disconnection confirmation command reception notification from the lower layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 8) The communication device of claim 8, wherein in order to disconnect one-way communication with the primary station, when the network layer protocol controller has received a disconnection request command reception notification from the lower layer, the network layer protocol controller issue a disconnection request command reception notification to the upper layer, thereby completing disconnection from the primary station without receiving a disconnection confirmation command from the upper layer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The communication device of claim 17, wherein in order to disconnect one-way communication with the secondary station, when the network layer protocol controller has received a disconnection request command from the upper layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a disconnection request command and passes, to the lower layer, user data contained in the disconnection request command received from the upper layer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The communication device of claim 18, wherein in order to disconnect one-way communication with the primary station, when the network layer protocol controller has received a disconnection request command reception notification from the lower layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a disconnection request command reception notification to the upper layer and passes, to the upper layer, user data contained in the disconnection request command reception notification received from the lower layer. ### Claim 21 A communication device as a primary station for communication with a secondary station, the device comprising a network layer, an upper layer which is an upper-level communication layer to the network layer, and a lower layer which is a lower-level communication layer to the network layer, the device comprising a network layer protocol controller, wherein in order to connect to the secondary station, in the network layer, when the network layer protocol controller has received a connection request command from the upper layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a connection request command to the lower layer and issues a connection confirmation command to the upper layer without receiving a connection confirmation command reception notification from the lower layer. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The communication device of claim 21, wherein in order to connect to the secondary station, in the network layer, when the network layer protocol controller has received a connection request command from the upper layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a connection request command to the lower layer and regards a connection as having been established without a connection confirmation command to the upper layer. ### Claim 23 A communication device as a secondary station for communication with a primary station, the device comprising a network layer, an upper layer which is an upper-level communication layer to the network layer, and a lower layer which is a lower-level communication layer to the network layer, the device comprising a network layer protocol controller, wherein in order to connect to the primary station, when the network layer protocol controller has received a connection request command reception notification from the lower layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a connection request command reception notification to the upper layer without issuing a data transfer request command to the lower layer. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1, wherein the network layer protocol controller complies with an IrLMP (Infrared Link Management Protocol). ### Claim 25 A communication method implemented by a communication device as a primary station for communication with a secondary station, the device including a network layer, an upper layer which is an upper-level communication layer to the network layer, and a lower layer which is a lower-level communication layer to the network layer, in order to connect to the secondary station, the method comprising, in the network layer, the steps of: issuing a connection request command to the lower layer upon receiving a connection request command from the upper layer; and issuing a connection confirmation command reception notification to the upper layer, without issuing a data transfer request command to the lower layer, upon receiving a connection confirmation command reception notification from the lower layer. ### Claim 26 A communication method implemented by a communication device as a secondary station for communication with a primary station, the device including a network layer, an upper layer which is an upper-level communication layer to the network layer, and a lower layer which is a lower-level communication layer to the network layer, in order to connect to the primary station, the method comprising the steps of: issuing a connection request command reception notification to the upper layer, without issuing a data transfer request command to the lower layer, upon receiving a connection request command reception notification from the lower layer; and issuing a connection confirmation command to the lower layer upon receiving a connection confirmation command from the upper layer. ### Claim 27 A communication method implemented by a communication device as a primary station for communication with a secondary station, the device including a network layer, an upper layer which is an upper-level communication layer to the network layer, and a lower layer which is a lower-level communication layer to the network layer, in order to disconnect from the secondary station, the method comprising, in the network layer, the steps of: issuing a disconnection request command, without issuing a data transfer request command to the lower layer, upon receiving a disconnection request command from the upper layer; and issuing a disconnection confirmation command reception notification to the upper layer upon receiving a disconnection confirmation command reception notification from the lower layer. ### Claim 28 A communication method implemented by a communication device as a secondary station for communication with a primary station, the device including a network layer, an upper layer which is an upper-level communication layer to the network layer, and a lower layer which is a lower-level communication layer to the network layer, in order to disconnect from the primary station, the method comprising the steps of: issuing a disconnection request command reception notification to the upper layer upon receiving a disconnection request command reception notification from the lower layer; and issuing a disconnection confirmation command to the lower layer upon receiving a disconnection confirmation command from the upper layer. ### Claim 29 A communication method implemented by a communication device as a primary station for communication with a secondary station, the device including a network layer, an upper layer which is an upper-level communication layer to the network layer, and a lower layer which is a lower-level communication layer to the network layer, in order to connect to the secondary station, the method comprising, in the network layer, the steps of, upon receiving a connection request command from the upper layer, issuing a connection request command to the lower layer and issuing a connection confirmation command to the upper layer without receiving a connection confirmation command reception notification from the lower layer. ### Claim 30 A communication method implemented by a communication device as a primary station for communication with a secondary station, the device including a network layer, an upper layer which is an upper-level communication layer to the network layer, and a lower layer which is a lower-level communication layer to the network layer, in order to connect to the secondary station, the method comprising, in the network layer, the steps of, upon receiving a connection request command from the upper layer, issuing a connection request command to the lower layer and regarding a connection as having been established without issuing a connection confirmation command to the upper layer. ### Claim 31 A communication method implemented by a communication device as a secondary station for communication with a primary station, the device including a network layer, an upper layer which is an upper-level communication layer to the network layer, and a lower layer which is a lower-level communication layer to the network layer, in order to connect to the primary station, the method comprising the step of issuing a connection request command reception notification to the upper layer without issuing a data transfer request command to the lower layer upon receiving a connection request command reception notification from the lower layer. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) A communication system, comprising the communication device of claim 1 and the communication device comprising a network layer, an upper layer which is an upper-level communication layer to the network layer and a lower layer which is a lower-level communication layer to the network layer, the device comprising a network layer protocol controller wherein in order to connect to the primary station, when the network layer protocol controller has received a connection request command reception notification from the lower layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a connection request command reception notification to the upper layer without issuing a data transfer request command to the lower layer. ### Claim 33 (depends on 7) A communication system, comprising the communication device of claim 7 and the communication device comprising a network layer, an upper layer which is an upper-level communication layer to the network layer, and a lower layer which is a lower-level communication layer to the network layer, the device comprising a network layer protocol controller, wherein in order to disconnect from the primary station, the network layer protocol controller issues a disconnection request command reception notification to the upper layer when the network layer protocol controller has received a disconnection request command reception notification from the lower layer and issues a disconnection confirmation command to the lower layer when the network layer protocol controller has received a disconnection confirmation command from the upper layer. ### Claim 34 (depends on 21) A communication system, comprising the communication device of claim 21 and the communication device comprising a network layer, an upper layer which is an upper-level communication layer to the network layer, and a lower layer which is a lower-level communication layer to the network layer, the device comprising a network layer protocol controller, wherein in order to connect to the primary station, when the network layer protocol controller has received a connection request command reception notification from the lower layer, the network layer protocol controller issues a connection request command reception notification to the upper layer without issuing a data transfer request command to the lower layer. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) A communication program for running the communication device of claim 1, the program causing a computer to functions as the network layer protocol controller. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1) A communication circuit for enabling the communication device of claim 1 to operate, the circuit functioning as the network layer protocol controller. ### Claim 37 (depends on 1) A mobile phone, comprising the communication device of claim 1, the communication device performing communication. ### Claim 38 (depends on 1) A display device, comprising the communication device of claim 1, the display device producing a display from data received by the communication device. ### Claim 39 (depends on 1) A printing device, comprising the communication device of claim 1, the printing device printing from data received by the communication device. ### Claim 40 (depends on 1) A recording device, comprising the communication device of claim 1, the recording device recording data received by the communication device.