Wireless communication apparatus, system, and device communicating with another wireless communication apparatus, system, and device in an autonomous distributed network without a designated control station and method thereof

A wireless communication apparatus for communicating with another wireless communication apparatus in an autonomous distributed network without a designated control station apparatus,

• said wireless communication apparatus comprising:
• frame period setting means for setting a frame period for the wireless communication apparatus;
• data slot setting means for setting slots serving as data transmission units;
• scan period setting means for setting a scan period longer than said frame period;
• scanning means for receiving a beacon signal transmitted from another wireless communication apparatus in a scan operation period set in a continuous receiving operation over a time of said frame period;
• beacon analyzing portion for analyzing the received beacon signal that includes the reception slot information and the frame period information;
• and
• reception slot setting means for setting at least one reception slot for receiving a signal in said frame period.

A wireless communication system for communication among a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses in an autonomous distributed network without a designated control station apparatus, wherein

• each of the wireless communication apparatus configuring the network comprises:
• frame period setting means for setting a frame period for the wireless communication apparatus;
• data slot setting means for setting slots serving as data transmission units;
• beacon slot setting means for setting beacon slots for transmitting beacon signals at a predetermined timing of said frame period;
• reception slot setting means for setting at least one reception slot for receiving a signal in the receiving operation in said frame period;
• beacon generating portion for generating a beacon signal that has information about a timing of a reception slot set by said reception slot setting means and the frame period information;
• transmitting means for transmitting the beacon signal informing its presence to another wireless communication apparatus in the neighborhood;
• scan period setting means for setting a scan period longer than said frame period;
• managing means for managing a timing of receiving a beacon signal of another wireless communication apparatus in the neighborhood and timing of the reception slot, and for performing continuous reception over a time of said frame period and receiving a beacon signal of another wireless communication apparatus in the neighborhood in a scan operation period set over a time of said frame period;
• and
• beacon analyzing portion for analyzing the received beacon signal that includes the reception slot information and the frame period information.

A wireless communication method for communication among a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses in an autonomous distributed network without a designated control station apparatus, wherein each wireless communication apparatus being operable for:

• setting a frame period and slots serving as data transmission units for the wireless communication apparatus;
• setting a beacon slot for transmitting a beacon signal at a predetermined timing of said frame period;
• setting reception slot for receiving a signal in a receiving operation in said frame period;
• setting a scan period longer than said frame period;
• setting a scan operation period to engage in a continuous receiving operation over a time of the frame period;
• and
• generating a beacon signal that includes the reception slot information and the frame period information.

A wireless communication method for communication among a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses in an autonomous distributed network without a designated control station apparatus, wherein each wireless communication apparatus being operable for:

• setting a frame period and slots serving as data transmission units for the wireless communication apparatus,
• setting a scan period longer than said frame period, and the scan period setting in a scan operation period performing scan processing for continuous receiving operation over a time of said frame period,
• receiving a beacon signal transmitted from another wireless communication apparatus located in the neighborhood in the scan operation period,
• analyzing the received beacon signal that includes the reception slot information and the frame period information, and
• setting at least one reception slot for receiving a signal in said frame period.

A wireless communication method for communication among a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses in an autonomous distributed network without a designated control station apparatus, comprising, at each wireless communication apparatus, the steps of:

• setting a frame period and slots serving as data transmission units for the wireless communication apparatus,
• setting a beacon slot for transmitting a beacon signal at a timing of head of said frame period and a reception slot for receiving a signal in a receiving operation in said frame period,
• generating a beacon signal that has information about a timing of the set reception slot and the frame period information,
• transmitting the beacon signal that notifies its existence to another wireless communication apparatus located in the neighborhood,
• setting a scan period longer than said frame period and performing scan processing for continuous reception over the time of said frame period,
• receiving a beacon signal from another wireless communication apparatus located in the neighborhood in a scan operation period set over a time of said frame period, and
• analyzing the received beacon signal that includes the reception slot information and the frame period information.