Patent Publication Number: US-2023156271-A1

Title: Wireless communication device and method for controlling wireless communication device

Description:
The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2021-184965, filed Nov. 12, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a wireless communication device and a method for controlling a wireless communication device. 
     2. Related Art 
     A technique of transmitting video data from a wireless dongle to a display device is known. 
     For example, JP-A-2015-53631 describes an HDMI (trademark registered) dongle that enables image transmission utilizing a wireless communication function to a display device having no wireless communication function. The HDMI dongle transmits image data received via a wireless communication interface to the display device via an HDMI interface. 
     However, the HDMI dongle described in JP-A-2015-53631 may not necessarily have an HDMI cable coupled to the display device. If the HDMI dongle receives image data in the state where the HDMI cable is not coupled to the display device, an image is not displayed on the display device and therefore an operation intended by the user who has transmitted the image is not executed. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect, a wireless communication device includes: a first wireless communication device receiving first image information by a first wireless communication method; a first terminal; and a processor executing adding information representing that communication is performed by the first wireless communication method to wireless connection destination information transmitted from the first wireless communication device, when the first terminal is coupled to a display device, and not adding the information representing that communication is performed by the first wireless communication method to the wireless connection destination information, when the first terminal is not coupled to the display device. 
     According to another aspect, a method for controlling a wireless communication device includes: receiving first image information by a first wireless communication method, using a wireless communication device; outputting the first image information to a display device via a first terminal; adding information representing that communication is performed by the first wireless communication method to wireless connection destination information transmitted from the wireless communication device, when the first terminal is coupled to a display device; and not adding the information representing that communication is performed by the first wireless communication method to the wireless connection destination information, when the first terminal is not coupled to the display device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    shows an example of the configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    shows an example of the configuration of a wireless dongle according to the embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    is a flowchart showing an example of processing by a controller. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG.  1    shows an example of the configuration of a communication system  100  according to this embodiment. The communication system  100  has a wireless dongle  1 , a smartphone  2 , and a projector  3 . 
     The wireless dongle  1  is communicatively connected to the smartphone  2  in conformity with the Miracast (trademark registered) standard. The wireless dongle  1  is also communicatively connected to the smartphone  2  in conformity with the Wi-Fi (trademark registered) standard. 
     When communicatively connected to the smartphone  2  in conformity with the Miracast standard, the wireless dongle  1  receives image information DP1 corresponding to an image displayed on an LCD (liquid crystal display) of the smartphone  2 . 
     When communicatively connected to the smartphone  2  in conformity with the Wi-Fi standard, the wireless dongle  1  receives image information DP2 corresponding to various images in response to a user&#39;s instruction to the smartphone  2 . 
     The wireless dongle  1  is equivalent to an example of a “wireless communication device”. The Miracast standard is equivalent to an example of a “first wireless communication method”. The Wi-Fi standard is equivalent to a “second wireless communication method”. The image information DP1 is equivalent to an example of “first image information”. The image information DP2 is equivalent to an example of “second image information”. 
     The wireless dongle  1  is communicatively connected to the projector  3 , for example, in conformity with the HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface, trademark registered) standard. The projector  3  is communicatively connected to the wireless dongle  1  via an HDMI cable CB1. 
     When the wireless dongle  1  is communicatively connected to the projector  3  via the HDMI cable CB1, the wireless dongle  1  decodes the image information DP1 and transmits image information DPA after the decoding to the projector  3  via the HDMI cable CB1. The projector  3  projects an image corresponding to the image information DPA received from the wireless dongle  1 , onto a screen. That is, the projector  3  executes the mirroring of the smartphone  2  via the wireless dongle  1 . 
     The wireless dongle  1  is also communicatively connected to the projector  3 , for example, in conformity with the USB (Universal Serial Bus, trademark registered) standard. The projector  3  is communicatively connected to the wireless dongle  1  via a USB cable CB2. 
     When the wireless dongle  1  is connected to the projector  3  via the USB cable CB2, the wireless dongle  1  is supplied with power from the projector  3  via the USB cable CB2. The wireless dongle  1  transmits the image information DP2 to the projector  3  via the USB cable CB2. The projector  3  decodes the image information DP2 received from the wireless dongle  1  and projects an image corresponding to image information DPB after the decoding, onto the screen. 
     The projector  3  is equivalent to an example of a “display device”. 
     The configuration of the wireless dongle  1  will now be described with reference to  FIG.  2   .  FIG.  2    shows an example of the configuration of the wireless dongle  1  according to this embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the wireless dongle  1  has a controller  11 , a Miracast communicator  12 , a Wi-Fi communicator  13 , a first interface  14 , a second interface  15 , a first terminal  16 , and a second terminal  17 . 
     The controller  11  has a processor  11 A such as a CPU (central processing unit) or an MPU (micro-processing unit), and a memory  11 B such as a ROM (read-only memory) or a RAM (random-access memory). The controller  11  controls each part of the wireless dongle  1 . 
     The memory  11 B stores a control program PGM. 
     The Miracast communicator  12  is communicatively connected to the smartphone  2  in conformity with the Miracast standard according to an instruction from the controller  11 . The Miracast communicator  12  has a receiving circuit receiving the image information DP1 from the smartphone  2  in conformity with the Miracast standard, and a processing circuit outputting the received image information DP1 to the controller  11 , or the like. 
     The Wi-Fi communicator  13  is communicatively connected to the smartphone  2  in conformity with the Wi-Fi standard according to an instruction from the controller  11 . The Wi-Fi communicator  13  has a receiving circuit receiving the image information DP2 from the smartphone  2  in conformity with the Wi-Fi standard, and a processing circuit outputting the received image information DP2 to the controller  11 , or the like. 
     The Miracast communicator  12  is equivalent to an example of a “first wireless communication circuit”. The Wi-Fi communicator  13  is equivalent to an example of a “second wireless communication circuit”. 
     The HDMI cable CB1 is coupled to the first terminal  16 . The HDMI cable CB1 communicatively connects the wireless dongle  1  and the projector  3  in conformity with the HDMI standard. 
     The USB cable CB2 is coupled to the second terminal  17 . The USB cable CB2 communicatively connects the wireless dongle  1  and the projector  3  in conformity with the USB standard. The USB cable CB2 also couples the wireless dongle  1  and the projector  3  in such a way as to be able to supply power in conformity with the USB standard. 
     The first interface  14  has an interface circuit and communicatively connects the projector  3  and the controller  11  in conformity with the HDMI standard. The first interface  14  is communicatively connected to the projector  3  in conformity with the HDMI standard via the HDMI cable CB1 installed at the first terminal  16 . 
     The second interface  15  has an interface circuit and communicatively connects the projector  3  and the controller  11  in conformity with the USB standard. The second interface  15  is communicatively coupled to the projector  3  in conformity with the USB standard via the USB cable CB2 installed at the second terminal  17 . 
     The second interface  15  is also coupled to the projector  3  in such a way as to be able to be supplied with power via the USB cable CB2 installed at the second terminal  17 . The second interface  15  has a power-supply circuit and supplies the power supplied from the projector  3 , to each part of the wireless dongle  1 . 
     The controller  11  of the wireless dongle  1  will now be described. 
     The controller  11  has a communication setter  111  as a functional unit. Specifically, the processor  11 A executes the control program PGM stored in the memory  11 B and thus functions as the communication setter  111 . 
     The communication setter  111  determines whether the first terminal  16  is communicatively coupled to the projector  3  via the HDMI cable CB1 or not. 
     When the first terminal  16  is not communicatively coupled to the projector  3  via the HDMI cable CB1, the communication setter  111  does not add IE (information elements) for Miracast to L2 discovery information. The L2 discovery information is transmitted for the Miracast communicator  12  to implement P2P (peer-to-peer) connection based on Wi-Fi Direct. 
     The L2 discovery information is equivalent to an example of “wireless connection destination information”. The IE for Miracast is equivalent to an example of “information representing that communication is performed by the first wireless communication method”. 
     In this way, when the first terminal  16  is not communicatively coupled to the projector  3  via the HDMI cable CB1, the communication setter  111  does not add the IE for Miracast to the L2 discovery information. Therefore, the Miracast communicator  12  cannot connect to the smartphone  2 . Thus, the Miracast communicator  12  cannot execute communication conforming to the Miracast standard with the smartphone  2 . 
     When the first terminal  16  is communicatively coupled to the projector  3  via the HDMI cable CB1, the communication setter  111  adds the IE for Miracast to the L2 discovery information. 
     In this way, when the first terminal  16  is communicatively coupled to the projector  3  via the HDMI cable CB1, the communication setter  111  adds the IE for Miracast to the L2 discovery information. Therefore, the Miracast communicator  12  can connect to the smartphone  2 . Thus, the Miracast communicator  12  can execute communication conforming to the Miracast standard with the smartphone  2 . 
     When a hot-plug-detect (HPD) signal from the first terminal  16  changes from on to off while the Miracast communicator  12  is executing the communication conforming to the Miracast standard with the smartphone  2 , the communication setter  111  causes the Miracast communicator  12  to maintain the communication conforming to the Miracast standard. 
     That the HPD signal from the first terminal  16  changes from on to off means that the HDMI cable CB1 coupled to the first terminal  16  changes into an uncoupled state with the first terminal  16 . 
     In this way, when the HPD signal from the first terminal  16  changes from on to off while the Miracast communicator  12  is executing the communication conforming to the Miracast standard with the smartphone  2 , the Miracast communicator  12  maintains the communication conforming to the Miracast standard with the smartphone  2 . Therefore, when the HDMI cable CB1 is coupled to the first terminal  16  again and the communication with the projector  3  is enabled, the projector  3  can project an image corresponding to the image information DPA received from the wireless dongle  1 , onto the screen. Thus, the convenience of the user can be improved. 
     The processing by the controller  11  will now be described with reference to  FIG.  3   .  FIG.  3    is a flowchart showing an example of the processing by the controller  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , first, in step S 101 , the communication setter  111  determines whether the first terminal  16  is communicatively coupled to the projector  3  via the HDMI cable CB1 or not. 
     When the communication setter  111  determines that the first terminal  16  is communicatively coupled to the projector  3  via the HDMI cable CB1 (YES in step S 101 ), the processing proceeds to step S 113 . When the communication setter  111  determines that the first terminal  16  is not communicatively coupled to the projector  3  via the HDMI cable CB1 (NO in step S 101 ), the processing proceeds to step S 103 . 
     In step S 103 , the communication setter  111  does not add the IE for Miracast to the L2 discovery information. 
     In step S 105 , the controller  11  causes the Wi-Fi communicator  13  to communicatively connect to the smartphone  2 . 
     In step S 107 , the controller  11  causes the Wi-Fi communicator  13  to receive the image information DP2 from the smartphone  2 . 
     In step S 109 , the controller  11  causes the Wi-Fi communicator  13  to transmit the image information DP2 to the projector  3  via the second interface  15 , the second terminal  17 , and the USB cable CB2. The projector  3  decodes the image information DP2 and projects an image corresponding to the image information DPB after the decoding, onto the screen. 
     In step S 111 , the controller  11  determines whether to end the display of the image by the projector  3  or not, for example, based on a user&#39;s instruction to the projector  3 . The controller  11  acquires information representing the user&#39;s instruction to the projector  3 , from the projector  3 , for example, via the USB cable CB2. 
     When the controller  11  determines that the display of the image by the projector  3  is not to be ended (NO in step S 111 ), the processing returns to step S 107 . When the controller  11  determines that the display of the image by the projector  3  is to be ended (YES in step S 111 ), the processing subsequently ends. 
     When YES in step S 101 , that is, when the communication setter  111  determines that the first terminal  16  is communicatively coupled to the projector  3  via the HDMI cable CB1, the communication setter  111  adds the IE for Miracast to the L2 discovery information in step S 113 . 
     In step S 115 , the controller  11  causes the Miracast communicator  12  to communicatively connect to the smartphone  2 . 
     In step S 117 , the controller  11  causes the Miracast communicator  12  to receive the image information DP1 in a streaming form from the smartphone  2 . 
     In step S 119 , the controller  11  transmits the image information DPA formed by decoding the image information DP1 to the projector  3  via the first terminal  16  and the HDMI cable CB1. The projector  3  projects an image corresponding to the received image information DPA onto the screen. 
     In step S 121 , the communication setter  111  determines whether the HPD signal from the first terminal  16  has changed from on to off or not. 
     When the communication setter  111  determines that the HPD signal from the first terminal  16  has not changed from on to off (NO in step S 121 ), the processing proceeds to step S 125 . When the communication setter  111  determines that the HPD signal from the first terminal  16  has changed from on to off (YES in step S 121 ), the processing proceeds to step S 123 . 
     In step S 123 , the communication setter  111  causes the Miracast communicator  12  to maintain the connection with the smartphone  2 . 
     In step S 125 , the controller  11  determines whether to end the display of the image by the projector  3  or not, for example, based on a user&#39;s instruction to the projector  3 . 
     When the controller  11  determines that the display of the image by the projector  3  is not to be ended (NO in step S 125 ), the processing returns to step S 117 . When the controller  11  determines that the display of the image by the projector  3  is to be ended (YES in step S 125 ), the processing subsequently ends. 
     As described with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  3   , the wireless dongle  1  according to this embodiment has the Miracast communicator  12  receiving the image information DP1 in conformity with the Miracast standard, the first terminal  16 , and the processor  11 A executing adding the IE (information elements) for Miracast to the L2 discovery information transmitted from the wireless dongle  1  when the first terminal  16  is coupled to the projector  3 , and not adding the IE for Miracast to the L2 discovery information when the first terminal  16  is not coupled to the projector  3 . 
     In this configuration, when the first terminal  16  is coupled to the projector  3 , the communication setter  111  adds the IE for Miracast to the L2 discovery information transmitted from the wireless dongle  1 . Therefore, the Miracast communicator  12  is communicatively connected, for example, to the smartphone  2  in conformity with the Miracast standard. Thus, the user can make the wireless dongle  1  execute an operation intended by the user. 
     When the first terminal  16  is not coupled to the projector  3 , the communication setter  111  does not add the IE for Miracast to the L2 discovery information. Thus, the Miracast communicator  12  is not communicatively connected, for example, to the smartphone  2 . Meanwhile, for example, the Wi-Fi communicator  13  is communicatively connected to the smartphone  2  in conformity with the Wi-Fi standard. Thus, the user can make the wireless dongle  1  execute an operation intended by the user. 
     In the wireless dongle  1 , when the hot-plug-detect signal from the first terminal  16  has changed from on to off while the Miracast communicator  12  is executing communication conforming to the Miracast standard, the Miracast communicator  12  maintains the communication conforming to the Miracast standard. 
     In this configuration, when the hot-plug-detect signal from the first terminal  16  has changed from on to off, that is, when the first terminal  16  has shifted from the state of being coupled to the projector  3  to the state of not being coupled to the projector  3 , the communication conforming to the Miracast standard is maintained. 
     Thus, when the first terminal  16  has shifted to the state of being coupled to the projector  3  again, the Miracast communicator  12  is communicatively connected to the smartphone  2  that is connected to the Miracast communicator  12  before the hot-plug-detect signal changes from on to off, for example. Therefore, the wireless dongle  1  can acquire the image information DP1 from the smartphone  2 , for example. Thus, the convenience of the user can be improved. 
     The wireless dongle  1  also has the Wi-Fi communicator  13  receiving the image information DP2 in conformity with the Wi-Fi standard, and the second terminal  17 , which is different from the first terminal  16 . When receiving the image information DP1 in conformity with the Miracast standard, the Miracast communicator  12  decodes the image information DP1 in conformity with the Wi-Fi standard. When the Wi-Fi communicator  13  receives the image information DP2 in conformity with the Wi-Fi standard, the processor  11 A transmits the image information DP2 to the projector  3 . When receiving the image information DP2 via the second terminal  17 , the projector  3  decodes the image information DP2. 
     In this configuration, in the communication conforming to the Miracast standard, the wireless dongle  1  decodes the received image information DP1. Therefore, the projector  3  need not decode the image information DP1. Thus, the processing load on the projector  3  can be reduced. 
     In the communication conforming to the Wi-Fi standard, the projector  3  decodes the received image information DP2. Therefore, the wireless dongle  1  need not decode the image information DP2. Thus, the processing load on the wireless dongle  1  can be reduced. 
     In the wireless dongle  1 , the first terminal  16  is an HDMI terminal and the second terminal  17  is a USB terminal. 
     In this configuration, since the first terminal  16  is an HDMI terminal, the wireless dongle  1  and the projector  3  are communicatively coupled in conformity with the HDMI standard via the HDMI cable CB1. Therefore, the image information DPA formed by the wireless dongle  1  decoding the image information DP1 received when the Miracast communicator  12  is communicatively connected to the smartphone  2  in conformity with the Miracast standard can be efficiently transmitted to the projector  3 . 
     Also, since the second terminal  17  is a USB terminal, the wireless dongle  1  and the projector  3  are communicatively coupled in conformity with the USB standard via the USB cable CB2. Therefore, the power supplied from the projector  3  can be supplied to each part of the wireless dongle  1 . Also, the image information DP2 received when the Wi-Fi communicator  13  is communicatively connected to the smartphone  2  in conformity with the Wi-Fi standard can be transmitted to the projector  3 . 
     The method for controlling the wireless dongle  1  according to this embodiment includes: receiving the image information DP1 in conformity with the Miracast standard, using the Miracast communicator  12 ; outputting the image information DP1 to the projector  3  via the first terminal  16 ; adding the IE (information elements) for Miracast to the L2 discovery information transmitted from the wireless dongle  1  when the first terminal  16  is coupled to the projector  3 ; and not adding the IE for Miracast to the L2 discovery information when the first terminal  16  is not coupled to the projector  3 . 
     Thus, the method for controlling the wireless dongle  1  according to this embodiment has effects similar to the effects of the wireless dongle  1  according to this embodiment. 
     This embodiment simply represents an aspect of the present disclosure and can be modified and applied in any form within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     For example, the case where the wireless communication device according to the embodiment is the wireless dongle  1  is described. However, this is not limiting. The wireless communication device may be not a dongle, for example. In other words, the size of the wireless communication device is not particularly limited. 
     In the embodiment, the case where the first wireless communication method is communication conforming to the Miracast standard is described. However, this is not limiting. The first wireless communication method may be, for example, communication conforming to the AirPlay (trademark registered) standard. 
     In the embodiment, the case where the second wireless communication method is communication conforming to the Wi-Fi standard is described. However, this is not limiting. The second wireless communication method may be, for example, communication conforming to the Bluetooth (trademark registered) standard. 
     In the embodiment, the case where the display device is the projector  3  is described. However, this is not limiting. The display device may be, for example, an LCD. 
     In the embodiment, the case where the wireless dongle  1  receives image information from the smartphone  2  is described. However, this is not limiting. The wireless dongle  1  may receive image information, for example, from a personal computer. The wireless dongle  1  may also receive image information from a server device, for example, via the internet. 
     Each functional unit shown in  FIG.  2    represents a functional configuration and is not particularly limited to any specific form of installation. That is, a piece of hardware corresponding individually to each functional unit need not necessarily be installed. A single processor may be configured to execute a program to implement functions of a plurality of functional units. A part of the functions implemented by software in the embodiment may be implemented by hardware. Alternatively, a part of the functions implemented by hardware may be implemented by software. Also, the specific detailed configuration of each part of the wireless dongle  1  can be changed in any manner without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     For example, the processing steps in the flowchart of  FIG.  3    are provided by dividing the processing according to the main content of the processing in order to facilitate the understanding of the processing by the controller  11 . The way the processing is divided into processing steps and the names of the processing steps do not limit the present disclosure. The processing may be divided into more processing steps according to the content of the processing. The processing may be divided in such a way that one processing step includes more processing. The order of the processing steps may be changed where appropriate within a scope that does not affect the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
     The method for controlling the wireless dongle  1  can be implemented by causing the processor  11 A of the controller  11  to execute the control program PGM stored in the memory  11 B. The control program PGM can also be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium. 
     As the recording medium, a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory device can be used. Specifically, a portable recording medium such as a flexible disk, an HDD (hard disk drive), a CD-ROM (compact disk read-only memory), a DVD (digital versatile disc), a Blu-ray (trademark registered) disc, a magneto-optical disc, a flash memory or a card-type recording medium, or a fixed recording medium may be employed. 
     The recording medium may also be a non-volatile storage device such as a RAM, a ROM or an HDD that is an internal storage device provided in the wireless dongle  1 . The functional blocks in the controller  11  of the wireless dongle  1  can also be implemented by storing the control program PGM in a server device or the like in advance and downloading the control program PGM from the server device to the controller  11  of the wireless dongle  1 .