Communication apparatus, communication system, communication method, and communication program for reducing current consumption during a period of a master apparatus detection process

A communication apparatus operating as a slave apparatus, comprising:

• a communication unit that communicates a signal with another communication apparatus in conformity with TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access);
• a master apparatus detection unit that performs a master apparatus detection process of detecting a communication apparatus operating as a master apparatus;
• and
• a control unit that includes a storage unit storing priority different from priority of frequencies used for another slave apparatus to perform the master apparatus detection process, as priority of frequencies used for the master apparatus detection unit to perform the master apparatus detection process, and that controls the master apparatus detection process performed by the master apparatus detection unit,
• wherein the master apparatus detection unit performs the master apparatus detection process at a frequency based on the priority stored in the storage unit.

A communication apparatus operating as a master apparatus, comprising:

• a communication unit that communicates a signal with another communication apparatus in conformity with TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) scheme;
• a storage unit that stores priority different from priority of frequencies used to communicate control data with a second slave apparatus as priority of frequencies used for the communication unit to communicate the control data with a communication apparatus operating as a first slave apparatus;
• and
• a control unit that controls the frequencies used for the communication unit to communicate the control data with the communication apparatus operating as the first slave apparatus based on the priority stored in the storage unit.

A communication system comprising:

• a first communication apparatus that operates as a first slave apparatus;
• a second communication apparatus that operates as a second slave apparatus;
• and
• a third communication apparatus that operates as a master apparatus,
• wherein the first communication apparatus includes
• a first communication unit that communicates a signal with another communication apparatus in conformity with TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access),
• a first master apparatus detection unit that performs a master apparatus detection process of detecting the third communication apparatus using at least a synchronization pattern included in the signal received by the first communication unit, and
• a first control unit that controls the number of bits of a signal pattern, which is used for the master apparatus detection process together with the synchronization pattern, in the signal pattern existing before the synchronization pattern in the signal received from the master apparatus based on the result of the master apparatus detection process performed by the first master apparatus detection unit, and
• wherein the second communication apparatus includes
• a second communication unit that communicates a signal with another communication apparatus in conformity with the TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), and
• a second master apparatus detection unit that performs the master apparatus detection process of detecting the third communication apparatus using a synchronization pattern included in the signal received by the second communication unit.

A communication system comprising:

• a first communication apparatus that operates as a first slave apparatus;
• a second communication apparatus that operates as a second slave apparatus;
• and
• a third communication apparatus that operates as a master apparatus,
• wherein the third communication apparatus includes
• a third communication unit that communicates a signal with another communication apparatus in conformity with TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access),
• a storage unit that stores priority of frequencies used for the communication unit to communicate control data with the first communication apparatus, and
• a third control unit that sets a frequency used for the communication unit to communicate the control data based on the priority stored in the storage unit when the communication with the first communication apparatus is performed, whereas sets a frequency used for the third communication unit to communicate the control data based on a state of a communication line between the third and second communication apparatuses, when the communication with the second communication apparatus is performed.

A communication method in a communication apparatus operating as a slave apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• communicating a signal with another communication apparatus in conformity with TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access);
• performing a master apparatus detection process of detecting a communication apparatus operating as a master apparatus using at least a synchronization pattern included in the received signal;
• and
• controlling the number of bits of a signal pattern, which is used for the master apparatus detection process together with the synchronization pattern, in the signal pattern existing before the synchronization pattern in the signal received from the master apparatus based on the result of the master apparatus detection process.

A communication method in a communication apparatus operating as a slave apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• communicating a signal with another communication apparatus in conformity with TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access);
• performing a master apparatus detection process of detecting a communication apparatus operating as a master apparatus;
• and
• controlling the master apparatus detection process,
• wherein in the step of performing the master apparatus detection process, the master apparatus detection process is performed at a frequency based on priority stored in a storage unit that stores the priority different from priority of frequencies used for another slave apparatus to perform the master apparatus detection process, as priority of frequencies used to perform the master apparatus detection process.