Electronic apparatus and communication control method

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a device detection unit which detects an external device which is located within a wireless communication area that is covered by the electronic apparatus, a distance calculation unit which calculates a distance between the electronic apparatus and the detected external device on the basis of a radio-wave intensity of a wireless signal which is transmitted from the detected external device, and a connection control unit which establishes wireless connection between the detected external device and the electronic apparatus if the distance calculated by the distance calculation unit is within a predetermined reference distance.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A general architecture that implements the various feature of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view showing a general appearance of a computer according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view for explaining a communication control function of the computer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram showing the system configuration of the computer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary block diagram showing the functional structure of a communication control program which is used by the computer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary graph showing an example of radio-wave intensity attenuation characteristics in association with a wireless communication device which is provided in the computer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating a first example of the procedure of a device connection process which is executed by the computer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 shows an example of a pop-up message which is displayed by the computer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating a second example of the procedure of the device connection process which is executed by the computer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating a first example of the procedure of a device disconnection process which is executed by the computer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating a second example of the procedure of the device disconnection process which is executed by the computer shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 11 shows an example of a distance setup screen which is displayed by the computer shown in FIG. 1.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus which executes wireless communication, comprising: a device detection unit which detects an external device which is located within a wireless communication area that is covered by the electronic apparatus;a distance calculation unit which calculates a distance between the electronic apparatus and the detected external device on the basis of a radio-wave intensity of a wireless signal which is transmitted from the detected external device; anda connection control unit which establishes wireless connection between the detected external device and the electronic apparatus if the distance calculated by the distance calculation unit is within a predetermined reference distance.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection control unit inquires of a user as to whether the wireless connection to the detected external device is to be established or not, if the calculated distance is greater than the predetermined reference distance.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distance calculation unit is configured to calculate a distance between an external device, which is already wirelessly connected to the electronic apparatus, and the electronic apparatus, on the basis of a radio-wave intensity of a wireless signal which is transmitted from the external device which is already wirelessly connected to the electronic apparatus, and the connection control unit inquires of the user as to whether the wireless connection between the external device, which is already wirelessly connected to the electronic apparatus, and the electronic apparatus is to be disconnected or not, if the calculated distance between the external device, which is already wirelessly connected to the electronic apparatus, and the electronic apparatus is another reference distance or more, which is greater than the predetermined reference distance.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the connection control unit executes a process for disconnecting the wireless connection between the external device, which is already wirelessly connected to the electronic apparatus, and the electronic apparatus, if the calculated distance between the external device, which is already wirelessly connected to the electronic apparatus, and the electronic apparatus is still another reference distance or more, which is greater than said another reference distance.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detected external device is configured to function as an external input device which inputs information to the electronic apparatus by a wireless signal.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detected external device is configured to function as an external storage device which stores data which is transmitted from the electronic apparatus by a wireless signal.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory unit which stores reference distance setting information indicative of a plurality of reference distances corresponding to a plurality of external devices, wherein the connection control unit selects one of the plurality of reference distances, which corresponds to the detected external device, and establishes wireless connection between the detected external device and the electronic apparatus if the distance calculated by the distance calculation unit is within the selected reference distance.

8. An electronic apparatus comprising: a wireless communication unit which executes wireless communicationa memory unit which stores reference distance setting information indicative of a plurality of reference distances corresponding to a plurality of external devices which are wirelessly connectable to the electronic apparatus;a device detection unit which detects an external device which is located within a wireless communication area that is covered by the wireless communication unit;a distance calculation unit which calculates a distance between the electronic apparatus and the detected external device on the basis of a radio-wave intensity of a wireless signal which is transmitted from the detected external device; anda connection control unit which selects one of the plurality of reference distances, which corresponds to the detected external device, and establishes wireless connection between the detected external device and the electronic apparatus if the distance calculated by the distance calculation unit is within the selected reference distance.

9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the connection control unit inquires of a user as to whether the wireless connection to the detected external device is to be established or not, if the calculated distance is greater than the selected reference distance.

10. A communication control method for controlling wireless communication which is executed by an electronic apparatus, comprising: detecting an external device which is located within a wireless communication area that is covered by the electronic apparatus;calculating a distance between the electronic apparatus and the detected external device on the basis of a radio-wave intensity of a wireless signal which is transmitted from the detected external device; andexecuting a connection control process of establishing wireless connection between the detected external device and the electronic apparatus if the calculated distance is within a predetermined reference distance.

11. The communication control method according to claim 10, further comprising inquiring of a user as to whether the wireless connection to the detected external device is to be established or not, if the calculated distance is greater than the predetermined reference distance.

12. The communication control method according to claim 10, further comprising: calculating a distance between an external device, which is already wirelessly connected to the electronic apparatus, and the electronic apparatus, on the basis of a radio-wave intensity of a wireless signal which is transmitted from the external device which is already wirelessly connected to the electronic apparatus, andinquiring of the user as to whether the wireless connection between the external device, which is already wirelessly connected to the electronic apparatus, and the electronic apparatus is to be disconnected or not, if the calculated distance between the external device, which is already wirelessly connected to the electronic apparatus, and the electronic apparatus is another reference distance or more, which is greater than the predetermined reference distance.

13. The communication control method according to claim 10, wherein the electronic apparatus includes a memory unit which stores reference distance setting information indicative of a plurality of reference distances corresponding to a plurality of external devices, and the connection control process includes a process of selecting one of the plurality of reference distances, which corresponds to the detected external device, and a process of establishing wireless connection between the detected external device and the electronic apparatus if the calculated distance is within the selected reference distance.