WIRELESS COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD

摘要

A wireless communication apparatus which forms part of a multi-hop network having a tree structure and which repeats startup and sleep is provided with: a network control unit which holds path information for transmitting data to other wireless communication apparatuses, and which generates a path control message including the path information; and a wireless transmission-reception unit that, upon reception of a data request from an adjacent wireless communication apparatus, from among the other wireless communication apparatuses, indicating that the adjacent wireless communication apparatus has started up from sleep, and requesting transmission of data, transmits the path control message generated by the network control unit to the adjacent wireless communication apparatus. Communication paths can thus be updated even when a wireless communication apparatus forming part of a multi-hop network is performing intermittent control.