US5481249A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bidirectional communication apparatus for transmitting/receiving information by wireless communication or through a power line
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1995-01-31
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Granted: 1996-01-02
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Expires: 2015-01-31
Abstract
Abstract Full duplex communication is attained by using only one communication channel in wireless communication between a host computer 1 and a printer 6. The communication from the host computer 1 to the printer 6 is effected by wireless, and the communication from the printer 6 to the host computer 1 which includes a small amount of information is effected through a power line 9.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideaki Sato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B3/00; H04B3/54; H04B3/542; H04B2203/00; H04B2203/54; H04B2203/5429; H04B2203/5441; H04B2203/5458
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A bidirectional communication apparatus powered from a power line, comprising: first means for transmitting and receiving information by wireless communication; second means connected to the power line for receiving and transmitting information through the power line; and switching means for switching said apparatus between a first state in which transmission to another communication apparatus is effected by wireless communication using said first means and reception from the other communication apparatus is effected through the power line using said second means, and a second state in which transmission to the other communication apparatus is effected through the power line using said second means and reception from the other communication apparatus is effected by wireless communication using said first means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A bidirectional communication apparatus powered from a power line, comprising: first means for transmitting and receiving information by wireless communication; second means connected to the power line for receiving and transmitting information through the power line; and switching means for switching said apparatus between a first state in which transmission to another communication apparatus is effected by wireless communication using said first means and reception from the other communication apparatus is effected through the power line using said second means, and a second state in which transmission to the other communication apparatus is effected through the power line using said second means and reception from the other communication apparatus is effected by wireless communication using said first means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A communication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said switching means switches in accordance with different amounts of information to be transmitted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication apparatus receives print data from a computer and the information transmitted by said first or said second means includes the print data received from the computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
A communication apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising the computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication apparatus transmits print data to a printer and the information received by said first or said second means includes the print data transmitted to the printer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
A communication apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising the printer.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
150 words
A system comprising a plurality of bidirectional communication apparatuses, each apparatus comprising: first means for transmitting and receiving information by wireless communication; second means connected to the power line for receiving and transmitting information through the power line; and switching means for switching said apparatus between a first state in which transmission to another one of said communication apparatuses is effected by wireless communication using said first means and reception from the other apparatus is effected through the power line using said second means, and a second state in which transmission to the other apparatus is effected through the power line using said second means and reception from the other apparatus is effected by wireless communication using said first means, wherein said system performs communication between each pair of said apparatuses by performing transmission and reception between said communication apparatus and any other one of the plurality of communication apparatuses.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
150 words
A system comprising a plurality of bidirectional communication apparatuses, each apparatus comprising: first means for transmitting and receiving information by wireless communication; second means connected to the power line for receiving and transmitting information through the power line; and switching means for switching said apparatus between a first state in which transmission to another one of said communication apparatuses is effected by wireless communication using said first means and reception from the other apparatus is effected through the power line using said second means, and a second state in which transmission to the other apparatus is effected through the power line using said second means and reception from the other apparatus is effected by wireless communication using said first means, wherein said system performs communication between each pair of said apparatuses by performing transmission and reception between said communication apparatus and any other one of the plurality of communication apparatuses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 7, wherein in each communication, one apparatus of the pair transmits print data from a computer and the other apparatus receives the print data to be outputted to a printer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
A system according to claim 8, further comprising the computer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
A system according to claim 8, further comprising the printer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
A bidirectional communication method comprising the steps of: providing a first amount of information and a second, lesser amount of information; and switching between a first state in which transmission is effected by wireless communication and reception is effected through a power line, and a second state in which transmission is effected through the power line and reception is effected by wireless communication, said switching being performed to effect transmission and reception of the first amount of data by wireless communication and the second amount of data through the power line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
A bidirectional communication method comprising the steps of: providing a first amount of information and a second, lesser amount of information; and switching between a first state in which transmission is effected by wireless communication and reception is effected through a power line, and a second state in which transmission is effected through the power line and reception is effected by wireless communication, said switching being performed to effect transmission and reception of the first amount of data by wireless communication and the second amount of data through the power line.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-01 | 1999-07-03 | 2000-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-01 | 2003-07-03 | 2004-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-01 | 2007-07-03 | 2008-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |