Technique for enabling communication between a communication device that performs an intermittent reception and a communication device that performs a continuous reception operation

A communication device applied to each apparatus forming a network system comprising:

• transmission processing means for transmitting data;
• timer means for counting a continuous operation request effective time during which transmitted data is always received;
• transmission control means for controlling the transmission processing means to transmit a continuous operation request signal causing the timer means in a communication device applied to an intermittent apparatus that receives data intermittently to start counting the continuous operation request effective time, and for starting its own timer means to count the continuous operation request effective time;
• reception processing means for receiving data;
• reception control means for controlling the reception processing means;
• transmission interface means for accepting transmission destination information specifying whether transmission data including a message to be transmitted is to be transmitted by a broadcast or simplex transmission from an apparatus main body and for delivering the transmission destination information to the transmission control means;
• and
• transmission setting holding means for holding transmission setting information that is enabled or disabled,
• wherein the reception control means in the communication device applied to the intermittent apparatus starts its own timer means to count the continuous operation request effective time upon receipt of the continuous operation request signal at its own reception processing means, and
• wherein the transmission control means determines transmission control processing, in which the continuous operation request signal and a number of transmissions of the transmission data are specified in advance, depending on the transmission destination information, the transmission setting information, and whether the timer means is counting the continuous operation request effective time, and transmits data generated according to the determined transmission control processing to the transmission processing means.

A communication method for a network system including a communication device that receives data intermittently, characterized in that:

• a communication device at a transmission end includes a transmission control step of transmitting data in which is set continuous operation request information causing timer means in a communication device that performs an intermittent reception to start counting a continuous operation request effective time, and starting its own timer means to count the continuous operation request effective time;
• and
• the communication device that performs the intermittent reception and performs a continuous reception operation within the continuous operation request effective time includes a reception control step of starting its own timer means to count the continuous operation request effective time upon receipt of the data in which the continuous operation request information is set,
• wherein the transmission control step includes:
• a transmission setting reading step of reading out a state of a transmission setting that is enabled or disabled;
• a timer starting step of starting the timer means to count the continuous operation request effective time;
• an appending step of appending the continuous operation request information to transmission data;
• a broadcast transmission step for an intermittent reception of transmitting the transmission data by a broadcast transmission over a period longer than an intermittent cycle assuming that the transmission data is received at another communication terminal that performs an intermittent reception operation;
• a broadcast transmission step for a continuous reception of transmitting the transmission data by a broadcast transmission over a period shorter than the intermittent cycle assuming that the transmission data is received at another communication terminal that performs a continuous reception operation;
• a simplex transmission step for an intermittent reception of transmitting the transmission data by a simplex transmission over a period longer than the intermittent cycle assuming that the transmission data is received at another communication terminal that performs an intermittent reception operation;
• and
• a simplex transmission step for a continuous reception of transmitting the transmission data by a simplex transmission over a period shorter than the intermittent cycle assuming that the transmission data is received at another communication terminal that performs a continuous reception operation.

A communication method for a network system including a communication device that receives data intermittently, characterized in that:

• a communication device at a transmission end includes a transmission control step of transmitting a continuous operation request signal causing timer means in a communication device that performs an intermittent reception to start counting a continuous operation request effective time, and starting its own timer means to count the continuous operation request effective time;
• and
• the communication device that performs the intermittent reception and performs a continuous reception operation within the continuous operation request effective time includes a reception control step of starting its own timer means to count the continuous operation request effective time upon receipt of the continuous operation request signal,
• wherein the transmission control step includes:
• a transmission setting reading step of reading out a state of a transmission setting that is enabled or disabled;
• a timer starting step of starting the timer means to count the continuous operation request effective time;
• a signal generating step of generating the continuous operation request signal;
• a broadcast transmission step for an intermittent reception of transmitting the continuous operation request signal by a broadcast transmission over a period longer than an intermittent cycle assuming that the continuous operation request signal is received at a communication device that performs an intermittent reception operation;
• a broadcast transmission step for a continuous reception of transmitting the continuous operation request signal by a broadcast transmission over a period shorter than the intermittent cycle assuming that the continuous operation request signal is received at another communication device that performs a continuous reception operation;
• a simplex transmission step for an intermittent reception of transmitting the continuous operation request signal by a simplex transmission over a period longer than the intermittent cycle assuming that the continuous operation request signal is received at another communication device that performs an intermittent reception operation;
• and
• a simplex transmission step for a continuous reception of transmitting the continuous operation request signal by a simplex transmission over a period shorter than the intermittent cycle assuming that the continuous operation request signal is received at another communication device that performs a continuous reception operation.