Communication apparatus and communication control method

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a communication apparatus comprises a close proximity wireless transfer device, a closeness detection module and a device control module. The close proximity wireless transfer device executes a close proximity wireless transfer. The closeness detection module detects that the close proximity wireless transfer device and an external device are in a close proximity state. Power which the closeness detection module consumes is lower than power which the close proximity wireless transfer device consumes in an idle state. The device control module is configured to activate the close proximity wireless transfer device when the closeness detection module detects the close proximity state.

1 . A communication apparatus comprising:
 a close proximity wireless transfer device configured to execute a close proximity wireless transfer;   a closeness detection module configured to detect that the close proximity wireless transfer device and an external device are in a close proximity state, wherein power consumed by the closeness detection module is less than power consumed by the close proximity wireless transfer device in an idle state; and   a device controller configured to activate the close proximity wireless transfer device when the closeness detection module detects the close proximity state.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the closeness detection module is configured to detect the close proximity state when the external device is within a predetermined distance from the close proximity wireless transfer device. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined distance is greater than or equal to a range of communication of the close proximity wireless transfer device, and a difference between the predetermined distance and the range of communication is shorter than or equal to a predetermined value. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the close proximity wireless transfer device is configured to be set either in a state where the close proximity wireless transfer device waits for a connection request from the external device, or in a state where the close proximity wireless transfer device sends a connection request to the external device when the device controller activates the close proximity wireless transfer device. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device controller is configured either to set the close proximity wireless transfer device from a power saving state to an operation state or to turn on the close proximity wireless transfer device when the closeness detection module detects the close proximity state. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the device controller is configured either to set the close proximity wireless transfer device in the power saving state or to turn off the close proximity wireless transfer device when the closeness detection module detects cancellation of the close proximity state. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the device controller is configured either to set the close proximity wireless transfer device in the power saving state or to turn off the close proximity wireless transfer device a predetermined time after the closeness detection module detects the cancellation of the close proximity state. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the close proximity wireless transfer device is configured to change to either a power saving state or a power-off state when disconnection from the external device is detected. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the close proximity wireless transfer device is configured to be set either in a state where the close proximity wireless transfer device waits for a connection request from the external device, or in a state where the close proximity wireless transfer device sends a connection request to the external device when the device controller activates the close proximity wireless transfer device. 
     
     
         10 . A communication control method of controlling a first close proximity wireless transfer device of a first communication apparatus and a second close proximity wireless transfer device of a second communication apparatus, comprising:
 activating a program for executing data transfer using the first close proximity wireless transfer device in response to a predetermined user entry on the first communication apparatus;   either setting the first close proximity wireless transfer device from a power saving state to an operation state or turning on the first close proximity wireless transfer device, after the program is executed;   detecting a close proximity state between the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus by a closeness detection module of the second communication apparatus; and   either setting the second close proximity wireless transfer device from a power saving state to an operation state or turning on the second close proximity wireless transfer device when the close proximity state between the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus is detected.