WIRELESS LAN TERMINAL ALLOWING ANOTHER PROCESSING IN ITS WAITING OR IDLE STATE
Wireless LAN (Local Area Network) terminals are provided for executing a four-way handshaking procedure when they communicate with one another directly in a wireless ad hoc network mode. Each of the wireless LAN terminals may include a state processor which takes action in accordance with a communication state of its own wireless LAN terminal, and, upon sending a message during the four-way handshaking procedure, issues sending-completion information that indicates completion of the sending. The terminal may further include a state manager which, based on the sending-completion information, causes the communication state to be in a waiting state so that even during the four-way handshaking procedure, a message in processing procedure other than the message sent during the four-way handshaking procedure can be sent and received.
1 . A wireless LAN (Local Area Network) terminal for executing a four-way handshaking procedure when said wireless LAN terminal directly communicates with another wireless LAN terminal in a wireless ad hoc network mode, comprising:
a state processor which takes action in accordance with a communication state of said wireless LAN terminal, and, upon sending a message during the four-way handshaking procedure, issues sending-completion information that indicates completion of the sending; and
a state manager responsive to the sending-completion information for causing the communication state to be in a waiting state to thereby allow, during the four-way handshaking procedure, a message in processing other than the message sent during the four-way handshaking procedure to be sent or received.
2 . The wireless LAN terminal in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said state manager further manages a receiving state for receiving a message, a sending state for sending a message and an idle state as the communication state.
3 . The wireless LAN terminal in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said state processor accepts reception of a message from external in the idle state or the waiting state.
4 . A method of executing a four-way handshaking procedure when a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) terminal directly communicates with another wireless LAN terminal in a wireless ad hoc network mode, comprising:
a state processing step of taking action in accordance with a communication state of the wireless LAN terminal, and issuing, upon sending a message during the four-way handshaking procedure, sending-completion information that indicates completion of the sending; and
a state managing step of causing, based on the sending-completion information, the communication state to be in a waiting state to thereby allow, during the four-way handshaking procedure, a message in processing other than the message sent during the four-way handshaking procedure to be sent or received.