Patent ID: 8036196

Claim:
A wireless communication apparatus that forms part of an autonomous distributed wireless network that uses a time division control system, the wireless communication apparatus performing wireless communication using a working channel used with other apparatuses that form part of the autonomous distributed wireless network, the wireless communication apparatus comprising: a channel setting portion that sets the working channel and an acquisition channel, the acquisition channel being used to acquire signals transmitted from apparatuses not in the autonomous distributed network; a remainder obtaining portion that obtains a remaining time length that can be used to wirelessly communicate with the apparatuses that form part of the autonomous distributed wireless network using the working channel; an acquisition portion that acquires the signals transmitted from the apparatuses not in the autonomous distributed network; and a remainder determination portion that determines whether the remaining time length obtained by the remainder obtaining portion is equal to or less than a specified acquisition reference remaining number and determines whether the remaining time length is equal to or less than a specified change reference remaining number, wherein: if the remainder determination portion determines that the remaining time length is equal to or less than the acquisition reference remaining number, the acquisition portion acquires signals transmitted from the apparatuses not in the autonomous distributed network using the acquisition channel, and if the remainder determination portion determines that the remaining time length is equal to or less than the change reference remaining number, the channel setting portion changes the working channel based on the signals that have been acquired by the acquisition portion.