Patent ID: 8792371

Claim:
A method for determining a group owner that functions as an access point in a wireless network that allows direct communication between devices, the method comprising: a first device acquiring first intention information indicating the first device's intention to become a group owner; transmitting a negotiation request frame to a second device; receiving, from the second device, a negotiation response frame including second intention information indicating the second device's intention to become a group owner responsive to the negotiation request frame; and comparing the first intention information and the second intention information and determining, at the first device, that one of the first and second devices is a group owner, wherein comparing the first intention information and the second intention information compares the first intention information and the second intention information transmitted in the negotiation request frame and the negotiation response frame, respectively, wherein the first intention information is set by information regarding a power supply status of the first device when the intention information has not been set by a user, and wherein the information regarding the power supply status is at least one of information indicating whether or not power is supplied from an external power source and information regarding a battery charge status.