Patent ID: 8175067

Claim:
A wireless communication apparatus for building a wireless communication network with another wireless communication apparatus, and for switching between a function as a control apparatus and a function as a control target apparatus of the wireless communication network, comprising: a start unit configured to start as the control apparatus; a transmission unit configured to transmit a search request for searching for another wireless communication apparatus which exists in a communicable range and functions as a control apparatus; a discrimination unit configured to discriminate on the basis of a response to the search request whether a wireless communication network is built between a plurality of other wireless communication apparatuses; a determination unit configured to determine on the basis of a discrimination result by said discrimination unit whether to function as the control apparatus or to function as the control target apparatus; and a control unit configured to end the started function as the control apparatus and control to start the function as the control target apparatus when said determination unit determines to function as the control target apparatus, and to control to keep functioning as the control apparatus when said determination unit determines to function as the control apparatus, wherein at least one of the start unit, the transmission unit, the discrimination unit, the determination unit and the control unit is implemented by a processor.