Communication apparatus, control method thereof, and storage medium

A control method a communication apparatus that includes a communication unit having a transmitting function and receiving function for a radio signal, wherein, while belonging to a first group of devices, the communication apparatus activates the transmitting function and the receiving function to perform communication in a first period, and deactivates the transmitting function and the receiving function outside the first period, the control method comprising:

• determining whether or not the communication apparatus, among devices in the first group, performs monitoring for a presence of a second group of devices which is different from the first group during a second period which is different from the first period;
• controlling the communication unit by activating the receiving function and performing such monitoring during the second period when it is determined that the communication apparatus performs such monitoring, and by keeping the transmitting function and the receiving function inactive outside the first period when it is determined that the communication apparatus does not perform the monitoring;
• and
• notifying another device in the first group of information related to the second group during the first period when a presence of the second group is detected during the second period.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program that causes a communication apparatus to perform processes,

• the communication apparatus including a communication unit having a transmitting function and a receiving function for a radio signal, wherein, while belonging to a first group of devices, the communication apparatus activates the transmitting function and the receiving function to perform communication in a first period, and deactivates the transmitting function and the receiving function outside the first period,
• the processes comprising:
• determining whether or not the communication apparatus, among devices in the first group, performs monitoring for a presence of a second group of devices which is different from the first group during a second period which is different from the first period;
• controlling the communication unit by activating the receiving function and performing the monitoring during the second period when it is determined that the communication apparatus performs such monitoring, and by keeping the transmitting function and the receiving function inactive outside the first period when it is determined that the communication apparatus does not perform such monitoring;
• and
• notifying another device in the first group of information related to the second group during the first period when a presence of the second group is detected during the second period.