Information processing apparatus with antenna switching function, communication apparatus, antenna switching control unit and computer-readable recording medium recording antenna switching control program

A communication apparatus including an antenna switching function, comprising a plurality of antennas and a plurality of communication units each capable to carry out a radio communication,

• a switching unit being provided to switch connection states between said plurality of antennas and said plurality of communication units, and
• a switching control unit for controlling said switching unit to switch said connection states, wherein, when the radio communications are simultaneously made through a use of said plurality of communication units, said switching control unit controls said switching unit to make connections between said plurality of communication units and said plurality of antennas and, when the radio communications are made through a use of the portion of said plurality of communication units, said switching control unit controls said switching unit to make connections between said antennas, the number of which depends on the communication modes of said communication units made to carry out the radio communications, and said communication units, and
• an inputting unit manipulated by an operator for inputting switching instruction information for switching said connection states through said switching unit, wherein said switching control unit controls said switching unit, in accordance with said switching instruction information inputted from said inputting unit, to switch connection states,
• reception state providing means for providing, when said switching unit is to switch the connection states, an electric-wave reception state on said communication unit in use to the operator so that information as to whether the switching of the connection states by said switching unit causes a problem is provided to the operator, and
• when radio communications are simultaneously made through a use of said plurality of communication units, said switching unit makes connections between said plurality of communication units and said plurality of antennas and, when radio communications are made through the use of a portion of said plurality of communication units, said switching unit makes a connection between said antennas, the number of which depends on communication modes of said communication units made to carry out the radio communications, and said communication units.

An antenna switching control unit, which is used for an apparatus comprising a plurality of antennas, a plurality of communication units each made to carry out

• a radio communication and a switching unit made to switch connection states between said plurality of antennas and said plurality of communication units and which is made to control said switching unit to switch the connection states,
• controlling said switching unit so that, when radio communications are simultaneously made through the use of the plurality of communication units, said switching unit makes connections between said plurality of communication units and said plurality of antennas and, when radio communications are made through the use of a portion of said plurality of communication units, said switching unit makes connection between the antennas, the number of which depends on communication modes of said communication units made to carry out the radio communications, and said communication units,
• further comprising an inputting unit manipulated by an operator for inputting switching instruction information for switching said connection states through said switching unit, wherein said switching unit is controlled in accordance with said switching instruction information inputted from said inputting unit to switch said connection states;
• and
• reception state providing means for providing, when said switching unit is to switch the connection states, an electric-wave reception state on said communication unit in use to the operator so that information as to whether the switching of the connection states by said switching unit causes a problem is provided to the operator.

A computer-readable recording medium recording an antenna switching control program, which makes a computer function as an antenna switching control unit to, in an apparatus comprising a plurality of antennas, a plurality of communication units each made to carry out a radio communication and a switching unit made to switch connection states between said plurality of antennas and said plurality of communication units, control said switching unit to switch said connection states,

• wherein that said antenna switching control program makes said computer control said switching unit so that, when radio communications are simultaneously made through the use of said plurality of communication units, said switching unit makes connections between said plurality of communication units and said plurality of antennas and, when radio communications are made through the use of a portion of said plurality of communication units, said switching unit makes connection between the antennas, the number of which depends on communication modes of said communication units made to carry out the radio communications, and said communication units,
• wherein said antenna switching control program makes said computer control said switching unit in accordance with switching instruction information inputted from an inputting unit manipulated by an operator to switch said connection states through said switching unit,
• wherein said antenna switching control program makes said computer function as reception state providing means for providing, when said switching unit is to switch the connection states, an electric-wave reception state on said communication unit in use to the operator so that information as to whether the switching of the connection states by said switching unit causes a problem is provided to the operator.

An antenna switching control unit, capable of being used for an apparatus comprising a plurality of antennas, a plurality of communication units, and a switching unit capable of switching connection states between said plurality of antennas and said plurality of communication units and to control said switching unit to switch the connection states, controlling said switching unit so that, when radio communications are simultaneously made through a use of the plurality of communication units, said switching unit makes connections between said plurality of communication units and said plurality of antennas and, when radio communications are made through the use of a portion of said plurality of communication units, said switching unit makes connection between the antennas, the number of which depends on communication modes of said communication units made to carry out the radio communications, and said communication units, comprising:

• an inputting unit manipulated by an operator for inputting switching instruction information for switching said connection states through said switching unit, wherein said switching unit is controlled in accordance with said switching instruction information inputted from said inputting unit to switch said connection states;
• and
• a processor for providing, when said switching unit is to switch the connection states, an electric-wave reception state on said communication unit in use to the operator so that information as to whether the switching of the connection states by said switching unit causes a problem is provided to the operator.

A method performed by a processor of controlling a switching, comprising:

• inputting information for switching connection states;
• providing, when the connection states are to be switched, an electric-wave reception state on a communication unit in use to an operator;
• and
• determining whether the switching of the connection states causes a problem based on the provided state.