Contact-type data communication apparatus, transmission and reception apparatus, and transmission and reception method

A transmission and reception method for use with a transmission and reception apparatus for transmitting and receiving a command to and from a first non-contact-type data communication apparatus and a second non-contact-type data communication apparatus and a contact-type data communication apparatus, the transmission and reception apparatus including a transmission path for transmitting an electrical signal, to which one or more of the contact-type data communication apparatuses are connected electrically;

• generation means for generating a first transmission command for controlling the contact-type data communication apparatus;
• and relay means for relaying a first transmission command from the generation means and a reply command with respect to the first transmission command from the contact-type data communication apparatus and from the first non-contact-type data communication apparatus between the contact-type data communication apparatus and between the first non-contact-type data communication apparatus and the generation means via the transmission path and for relaying a second transmission command from the second non-contact-type communication apparatus to the contact-type data communication apparatus, the transmission and reception method comprising the steps of:
• generating a transmission command for controlling the contact-type data communication apparatus;
• relaying the transmission command and a reply command by transmitting and receiving a coded signal, such that the transmission command and the reply command are coded by a coding method, the coding method being associated with the first non-contact-type data communication apparatus, to and from the contact-type data communication apparatus via the transmission path;
• and
• relaying a second transmission command for the contact-type data communication apparatus, which is transmitted in the form of radio waves from the second non-contact-type communication apparatus, and a second reply command with respect to the second transmission command from the contact-type data communication apparatus between the other communication apparatus and the contact-type data communication apparatus via the transmission path,
• wherein the second relay means relays the second transmission command and the second reply command by transmitting and receiving a coded signal, such that the second transmission command and the second reply command are coded by a coding method, the coding method being associated with the second non-contact-type data communication apparatus, to and from the contact-type data communication apparatus via the transmission path.

A contact-type data communication apparatus for transmitting and receiving a command to and from a transmission and reception apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving a command also to and from a first non-contact-type data communication apparatus and a second non-contact-type data communication apparatus, the contact-type data communication apparatus comprising:

• electrical signal input means for inputting an electrical signal;
• detection means for detecting a transmission start signal indicating that a transmission command is to be transmitted from the transmission and reception apparatus on the basis of the electrical signal input from the electrical signal input means;
• receiving means for receiving, as a transmission command, a coded signal such that the transmission command is coded by a coding method, the coding method being associated with at least one of the first non-contact-type data communication apparatus and the second non-contact-type data communication apparatus, which is represented by the electrical signal input from the electrical signal input means, when the transmission start signal is detected by the detection means;
• relay means for relaying the transmission command from the first non-contact-type communication apparatus and the second non-contact-type communication apparatus to the contact-type data communication apparatus;
• and
• transmission means for coding a reply command, which is a command of a reply with respect to the transmission command, by the coding method and transmitting the reply command.

A transmission and reception method for use with a contact-type data communication apparatus for transmitting and receiving a command to and from a transmission and reception apparatus that includes electrical signal input means for inputting an electrical signal and that is capable of transmitting and receiving a command also to and from a first non-contact-type data communication apparatus and a second non-contact-type data communication apparatus, the transmission and reception method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a transmission start signal indicating that a transmission command is to be transmitted from the transmission and reception apparatus on the basis of an electrical signal input from the electrical signal input means;
• receiving, as a transmission command, a coded signal such that the transmission command is coded by a coding method, the coding method being associated with at least one of the first non-contact-type data communication apparatus and the second non-contact-type data communication apparatus, which is represented by the electrical signal input from the electrical signal input means, when the transmission start signal is detected;
• relaying a transmission command from the first non-contact-type communication apparatus and the second non-contact-type communication apparatus to the contact-type data communication apparatus;
• and
• coding a reply command, which is a command of a reply with respect to the transmission command, by the coding method and transmitting the reply command.

A transmission and reception apparatus for transmitting and receiving a command to and from a first non-contact-type data communication apparatus and a second non-contact-type data communication apparatus and a contact-type data communication apparatus, the transmission and reception apparatus comprising:

• a transmission path for transmitting an electrical signal, to which one or more of the contact-type data communication apparatuses are connected electrically;
• a generation section generating a first transmission command for controlling the contact-type data communication apparatus;
• a first relay section relaying a first transmission command from the generation section and a first reply command from the contact-type data communication apparatus and from the first non-contact-type data communication apparatus with respect to the first transmission command between at least one of the contact-type data communication apparatus and the second non-contact-type data communication apparatus, and the generation section via the transmission path,
• wherein the first relay section relays the first transmission command and the first reply command by transmitting and receiving a coded signal, such that the first transmission command and the first reply command are coded by a coding method, the coding method being associated with the first non-contact-type data communication apparatus, to and from the contact-type data communication apparatus via the transmission path;
• and
• second relay section for relaying a second transmission command for the contact-type data communication apparatus, which is transmitted in the form of radio waves from the second non-contact-type communication apparatus, and a second reply command with respect to the second transmission command from the contact-type data communication apparatus between the other apparatus and the contact-type data communication apparatus via the transmission path,
• wherein the second relay section relays the second transmission command and the second reply command by transmitting and receiving a coded signal, such that the second transmission command and the second reply command are coded by a coding method, the coding method being associated with the non-contact-type data communication apparatus, to and from the contact-type data communication apparatus via the transmission path.

A contact-type data communication apparatus for transmitting and receiving a command to and from a transmission and reception apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving a command also to and from a first non-contact-type data communication apparatus and a second non-contact-type data communication apparatus, the contact-type data communication apparatus comprising:

• an electrical signal input section inputting an electrical signal;
• a detection section detecting a transmission start signal indicating that a transmission command is to be transmitted from the transmission and reception apparatus on the basis of the electrical signal input from the electrical signal input section;
• a reception section receiving, as a transmission command, a coded signal such that the transmission command is coded by a coding method associated with the first non-contact-type data communication apparatus, which is represented by the electrical signal input from the electrical signal input section, when the transmission start signal is detected by the detection section;
• a relaying section relaying a transmission command from the second non-contact-type communication apparatus to the contact-type data communication apparatus;
• and
• a transmission section coding a reply command, which is a command of a reply with respect to the transmission command, by the coding method and transmitting the reply command.