Communication device, communication system, mode switching method, and program

A communication device comprising:

• a signal electrode to which voltage is to be applied;
• a first communication unit for performing communication by a communication scheme, the communication scheme being for applying voltage to the signal electrode that is in contact with or that is brought into proximity of a human body, generating an electric near field on a human body surface and performing transmission;
• a second communication unit different from the first communication unit;
• and
• a switching signal transmission unit for transmitting, by the first communication unit, a mode switching signal for causing communication means, corresponding to the second communication unit, of a counterpart device to switch from a power save mode to a normal mode.

A communication system comprising:

• a first communication device including
• a first communication unit for performing communication by a communication scheme, the communication scheme being for applying voltage from a signal electrode that is in contact with or that is brought into proximity of a human body, generating an electric near field on a human body surface and performing transmission,
• a second communication unit different from the first communication unit,
• a switching signal detection unit for detecting, from signals intermittently received by the first communication unit, a mode switching signal for switching the second communication unit from a power save mode to a normal mode, and
• a switching control unit for switching the second communication unit from the power save mode to the normal mode in a case the mode switching signal is detected by the switching signal detection unit;
• and
• a second communication device including
• a third communication unit for performing communication by a same communication scheme as the first communication unit,
• a fourth communication unit different from the third communication unit, and
• a switching signal transmission unit for transmitting, by the third communication unit, the mode switching signal for causing the second communication unit of the first communication device to switch from the power save mode to the normal mode.

A program causing a computer to realize:

• a first communication function of performing communication by a communication scheme, the communication scheme being for applying voltage from a signal electrode that is in contact with or that is brought into proximity of a human body, generating an electric near field on a human body surface and performing transmission;
• a second communication function different from the first communication function;
• a switching signal detection function of detecting, from signals intermittently received by the first communication function, a mode switching signal for switching a communication mode of the second communication function from a power save mode to a normal mode;
• and
• a switching control function of switching the communication mode of the second communication function from the power save mode to the normal mode in a case the mode switching signal is detected by the switching signal detection function.