Communication apparatus, communication system, communication method, program, and integrated circuit

A communication apparatus which is connected through wireless connection to a relay apparatus that relays data, and communicates with a partner apparatus connected to the relay apparatus, said communication apparatus comprising:

• a measurement data transmitting unit configured to transmit (i) first measurement data to the relay apparatus, and (ii) second measurement data to the partner apparatus via the relay apparatus, the first measurement data being data for measuring a communication time between said communication apparatus and the relay apparatus, and the second measurement data being data for measuring a communication time between said communication apparatus and the partner apparatus via the relay apparatus;
• a response data receiving unit configured to (i) receive, from the relay apparatus, first response data that is a response to the first measurement data, and (ii) receive, from the partner apparatus via the relay apparatus, second response data that is a response to the second measurement data;
• a network measurement unit configured to (i) calculate, based on the first response data, a first communication time that is a communication time between said communication apparatus and the relay apparatus, and (ii) calculate, based on the second response data, a second communication time that is a communication time between said communication apparatus and the partner apparatus via the relay apparatus;
• a connection mode judging unit configured to judge whether or not the relay apparatus and the partner apparatus are connected through wireless connection, based on a partner section communication time that is a difference between the second communication time and the first communication time;
• and
• a connection mode switching unit configured to switch, when said connection mode judging unit judges that the relay apparatus and the partner apparatus are connected through wireless connection, the communication with the partner apparatus from indirect wireless communication to direct wireless communication, the indirect wireless communication being wireless communication via the relay apparatus, and the direct wireless communication being wireless communication not via the relay apparatus,
• wherein said connection mode judging unit is configured to (i) hold, in advance, an assumed communication time that is a partner section communication time assumed when the relay apparatus and the partner apparatus are connected through wired connection, and (ii) judge that the relay apparatus and the partner apparatus are connected through wireless connection, when the partner section communication time falls outside the assumed communication time.

A communication system comprising:

• a relay apparatus that relays data;
• a partner apparatus connected to said relay apparatus;
• and a communication apparatus that is connected through wireless connection to said relay apparatus and communicates with said partner apparatus,
• wherein said communication apparatus includes:
• a measurement data transmitting unit configured to transmit (i) a first measurement data to said relay apparatus, and (ii) a second measurement data to said partner apparatus via said relay apparatus, the first measurement data being data for measuring a communication time between said communication apparatus and said relay apparatus, and the second measurement data being data for measuring a communication time between said communication apparatus and said partner apparatus via said relay apparatus;
• a response data receiving unit configured to (i) receive, from said relay apparatus, first response data that is a response to the first measurement data, and (ii) receive, from said partner apparatus via said relay apparatus, second response data that is a response to the second measurement data;
• a network measurement unit configured to (i) calculate, based on the first response data, a first communication time that is a communication time between said communication apparatus and said relay apparatus, and (ii) calculate, based on the second response data, a second communication time that is a communication time between said communication apparatus and said partner apparatus via said relay apparatus;
• a connection mode judging unit configured to judge whether or not said relay apparatus and said partner apparatus are connected through wireless connection, based on a partner section communication time that is a difference between the second communication time and the first communication time;
• and
• a connection mode switching unit configured to switch, when said connection mode judging unit judges that said relay apparatus and said partner apparatus are connected through wireless connection, the communication with said partner apparatus from indirect wireless communication to direct wireless communication, indirect wireless communication being wireless communication via said relay apparatus, and the direct wireless communication being wireless communication not via said relay apparatus,
• wherein said relay apparatus includes:
• a data transmitting and receiving unit configured to generate the first response data based on the first measurement data, and to transmit the generated first response data to said communication apparatus;
• and
• a data relay unit configured to relay the second measurement data received from said communication apparatus to said partner apparatus, and to relay the second response data received from said partner apparatus to said communication apparatus,
• wherein said partner apparatus includes
• a data transmitting and receiving unit configured to generate the second response data based on the second measurement data, and to transmit the generated second response data to said communication apparatus via the relay apparatus, the second measurement data being received from said partner apparatus via the relay apparatus, and
• wherein said connection mode judging unit is configured to judge that said relay apparatus and said partner apparatus are connected through wireless connection, when the partner section communication time is greater than or equal to a predetermined percentage of the first communication time.

A communication method for causing a communication apparatus to switch between connection modes for communication with a partner apparatus, the communication apparatus being connected through wireless connection to a relay apparatus that relays data and communicating with the partner apparatus that is connected to the relay apparatus, said communication method comprising:

• transmitting (i) first measurement data to the relay apparatus, and (ii) second measurement data to the partner apparatus via the relay apparatus, the first measurement data being data for measuring a communication time between the communication apparatus and the relay apparatus, and the second measurement data being data for measuring a communication time between the communication apparatus and the partner apparatus via the relay apparatus;
• (i) receiving, from the relay apparatus, first response data that is a response to the first measurement data, and (ii) receiving, from the partner apparatus via the relay apparatus, second response data that is a response to the second measurement data;
• calculating (i) a first communication time based on the first response data, and (ii) a second communication time based on the second response data, the first communication time being a communication time between the communication apparatus and the relay apparatus, and the second communication time being a communication time between the communication apparatus and the partner apparatus via the relay apparatus;
• judging whether or not the relay apparatus and the partner apparatus are connected through wireless connection, based on a partner section communication time that is a difference between the second communication time and the first communication time;
• and
• switching, when it is judged in said judging that the relay apparatus and the partner apparatus are connected through wireless connection, the communication with the partner apparatus from indirect wireless communication to direct wireless communication, the indirect wireless communication being wireless communication via the relay apparatus, and the direct wireless communication being wireless communication not via the relay apparatus,
• wherein said judging comprises judging that the relay apparatus and the partner apparatus are connected through wireless connection, when the partner section communication time is greater than or equal to a predetermined percentage of the first communication time.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having a program stored thereon for causing a communication apparatus to switch between connection modes for communication with a partner apparatus, the communication apparatus being connected through wireless connection to a relay apparatus that relays data and communicating with the partner apparatus that is connected to the relay apparatus, the program causing the communication apparatus to execute:

• transmitting (i) a first measurement data to the relay apparatus, and (ii) a second measurement data to the partner apparatus via the relay apparatus, the first measurement data being data for measuring a communication time between the communication apparatus and the relay apparatus, and the second measurement data being data for measuring a communication time between the communication apparatus and the partner apparatus via the relay apparatus;
• (i) receiving, from the relay apparatus, first response data that is a response to the first measurement data, and (ii) receiving, from the partner apparatus via the relay apparatus, second response data that is a response to the second measurement data;
• calculating (i) a first communication time based on the first response data, and (ii) a second communication time based on the second response data, the first communication time being a communication time between the communication apparatus and the relay apparatus, and the second communication time being a communication time between the communication apparatus and the partner apparatus via the relay apparatus;
• judging whether or not the relay apparatus and the partner apparatus are connected through wireless connection, based on a partner section communication time that is a difference between the second communication time and the first communication time;
• and
• switching, when it is judged in said judging that the relay apparatus and the partner apparatus are connected through wireless connection, the communication with the partner apparatus from indirect wireless communication to direct wireless communication, the indirect wireless communication being wireless communication via the relay apparatus, and the direct wireless communication being wireless communication not via the relay apparatus,
• wherein said judging comprises judging that the relay apparatus and the partner apparatus are connected through wireless connection, when the partner section communication time is greater than or equal to a predetermined percentage of the first communication time.

An integrated circuit for causing a communication apparatus to switch between connection modes for communication with a partner apparatus, the communication apparatus being connected through wireless connection to a relay apparatus that relays data and communicating with the partner apparatus that is connected to the relay apparatus, said integrated circuit comprising:

• a measurement data transmitting unit configured to transmit (i) a first measurement data to the relay apparatus, and (ii) a second measurement data to the partner apparatus via the relay apparatus, the first measurement data being data for measuring a communication time between said communication apparatus and the relay apparatus, and the second measurement data being data for measuring a communication time between said communication apparatus and the partner apparatus via the relay apparatus;
• a response data receiving unit configured to (i) receive, from the relay apparatus, first response data that is a response to the first measurement data, and (ii) receive, from the partner apparatus via the relay apparatus, second response data that is a response to the second measurement data;
• a network measurement unit configured to (i) calculate, based on the first response data, a first communication time that is a communication time between said communication apparatus and the relay apparatus, and (ii) calculate, based on the second response data, a second communication time that is a communication time between said communication apparatus and the partner apparatus via the relay apparatus;
• a connection mode judging unit configured to judge whether or not the relay apparatus and the partner apparatus are connected through wireless connection, based on a partner section communication time that is a difference between the second communication time and the first communication time;
• and
• a connection mode switching unit configured to switch, when said connection mode judging unit judges that the relay apparatus and the partner apparatus are connected through wireless connection, the communication with the partner apparatus from indirect wireless communication to direct wireless communication, the indirect wireless communication being wireless communication via the relay apparatus, and the direct wireless communication being wireless communication not via the relay apparatus,
• wherein said connection mode judging unit is configured to judge that the relay apparatus and the partner apparatus are connected through wireless connection, when the partner section communication time is greater than or equal to a predetermined percentage of the first communication time.