Patents Assigned to Buffalo Inc.
  • Publication number: 20120215837
    Abstract: A network device that includes a server-side specific functional unit which has a function to manage a location of a data file in accordance with a specific file sharing function; a client-side specific functional unit which has a function to acquire the data file in accordance with the specific file sharing function; a server-side general functional unit which has a function to manage the location of the data file in accordance with a general file sharing function; and a client-side general functional unit which has a function to acquire the data file in accordance with the general file sharing function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventors: Satoru GOTO, Yukihito HARA
  • Publication number: 20120213110
    Abstract: A communication channel selection device, method and computer program product select a wireless communication channel among a plurality of communication channels with partially overlapping bandwidths in a frequency range available for use by an access point. A channel detector detects a busy channel used by another access point different from the access point. A signal strength detector detects a received signal strength of a wireless radio wave output from the another access point in the busy channel detected by the channel detector. A channel selector checks for a presence of a non-interfering channel that does not interfere with the detected busy channel, and when the channel selector does not detect the presence of the non-interfering channel, the channel selector selects the communication channel to be used by the access point based on the received signal strength of the wireless radio wave output in the busy channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventor: Satoru YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20120213086
    Abstract: A wireless LAN device for wirelessly communicating using a specific frequency channel shared by a radar and a wireless LAN system. The wireless LAN device includes a plurality of antennas; a wireless communication unit including a plurality of transceiver circuits respectively provided for each of the plurality of antennas; and a controller that controls the wireless communication unit. The wireless communication unit wirelessly communicates in accordance with a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) scheme by the plurality of transceiver circuits, and the controller controls the wireless communication unit to execute radar wave monitoring on a frequency channel different from a frequency channel in use for wireless communication using one of the plurality of transceiver circuits when the frequency channel in use for the wireless communication is the specific frequency channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventor: Nagahiro MATSUURA
  • Publication number: 20120215882
    Abstract: A content management method, apparatus and computer program product cooperate to transmit from a management storage device a connection list request that requests a list of connection contents stored in a connection storage device connected to the management storage device via a public network to the connection storage device. A connection storage device receives the connection list request, and transmits the list of connection contents. The management storage device receives and arranges the list of connection contents, and converts a protocol corresponding to the connection storage device into a protocol corresponding to a local device, and transmits a consolidated content list to the local device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventor: Satoru GOTO
  • Patent number: 8250208
    Abstract: A network device, method for specifying installation position of network device, and notification device are provided. The network device includes: a loop detecting unit configured to detect a loop caused by the network device; and a location notifying unit configured to allow the network device itself to indicate a location of the network device in response to a detection of the loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventor: Tomoharu Niimi
  • Patent number: 8244940
    Abstract: A peripheral device of the invention is capable of data communication with a host device via one of a first-type interface and a second-type interface having different data communication-related specifications. The peripheral device has a single connector for making electric connection selectively with a first-type connector or a second-type connector. The peripheral device also has a controller for performing an initial connection process that makes a logical connection between the peripheral device and the host device via the first-type interface or the second-type interface. While the physical connection is maintained, the controller breaks the logical connection established by the initial connection process and subsequently makes another logical connection between the peripheral device and the host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventors: Suguru Ishii, Tsukasa Ito, Kenji Kato
  • Patent number: 8233424
    Abstract: A wireless communication system is provided. The wireless communication system includes a connection device which configures a first LAN which is a wireless LAN; a relay device which configures a second LAN different from the first LAN and relays data between a LAN terminal connected to the second LAN and the connection device; an authentication connection section which connects the relay device to the connection device through the first LAN by executing authentication conforming to an infrastructure mode based on a request from the relay device to the connection device; and a data transfer section which transfers data to be communicated between the LAN terminal and the connection device by using a data frame conforming to a wireless distribution system between the connection device and the relay device connected by the authentication connection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshiteru Tamura
  • Publication number: 20120188705
    Abstract: A case arranged to contain a disk storage apparatus. The case includes a case wall including a case inner flat face that extends along a outer flat face of the disk storage apparatus when the disk storage apparatus is contained in the case, and a deformable plate disposed between the outer flat face and the case inner flat face and that extends along the case inner flat face when the disk storage apparatus is contained in the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ozeki, Kentaro Saito
  • Patent number: 8228231
    Abstract: The antenna unit 100 includes a first antenna 10 positioned so as to face in the direction of gravity when the unit is oriented transversely, and a second antenna 20 positioned so as to face in the direction of gravity when the unit is oriented longitudinally. Based on the output of a sensor 50 that detects whether the antenna unit 100 is oriented transversely or oriented longitudinally, a switch controller 42 performs switching of an RF switch 30 so that the first antenna is used for reception or transmission of vertically polarized waves when the antenna unit 100 is oriented transversely, and the second antenna is used for reception or transmission of vertically polarized waves when the antenna unit 100 is oriented longitudinally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Ono
  • Patent number: 8230241
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a storage power supply system includes a first storage device coupled with a network, a second storage device coupled with the network and an uninterrupted power supply. The uninterrupted power supply comprises a backup circuit that supplies backup power when commercial power supply is interrupted. The uninterrupted power supply comprises a power supply state signal generation circuit that generates a power supply state signal indicating a state of the power. The power supply state signal includes a backup state signal indicating a supply of backup power. The first storage device performs a self-processing corresponding to a state in which backup power is supplied when the backup state signal generated by the power supply state signal generation circuit is inputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventor: Shinsuke Saito
  • Publication number: 20120177022
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (LAN) system that includes first and second devices that performing a sharing operation of sharing setting information for establishing a wireless LAN connection. The first device includes a first notification module that notifies a ready status for the sharing operation between the first device and the second device prior to performing the sharing operation, and a first instruction receiving module that receives an instruction for performing the sharing operation in cooperation with the second device after the notifying by the first notification module. The second device includes a second notification module that notifies a ready status for the sharing operation between the first device and the second device prior to performing the sharing operation, and a second instruction receiving module that receives an instruction for performing the sharing operation in cooperation with the first device after the notifying by the second notification module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventor: Goki ICHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 8215983
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a casing. The casing has a groove formed along the periphery of the casing and designed to receive a connection cable having a flat cross-section therein, in such a manner that no part of the received connection cable protrudes beyond the brims of the groove; and a retainer adapted to retain a first connector attached to one end of the connection cable while the connection cable is being received in the groove. The design affords improved external appearance and ease of handling in relation to the connection cable of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventors: Shinya Obata, Hiromitsu Itono, Yoshio Ejiri
  • Patent number: 8214556
    Abstract: A terminal device 100 to and from which a removal storage medium 200 is attached and removed includes a display 130 and a writer 150. The display 130 displays an action-command input region and an execution-subject input region, the action-command input region being used for inputting an action command to execute a certain action, the execution-subject input region being used for inputting an execution subject for the execution of the action command. The writer 150 writes the action command inputted in the action-command input region and the execution subject inputted in the execution-subject input region, into the removable storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventor: Satoru Goto
  • Publication number: 20120155451
    Abstract: The present invention provides a LAN device 20 having an internal function of controlling communication. A management representative of the LAN device 20 sets a protocol applicable for communication with regard to each of MAC addresses or IP addresses allocated to transmitter terminals and each of IP addresses allocated to receiver terminals. The LAN device transmits data in the case of the protocol applicable for communication, while not transmitting data in the case of any protocol inapplicable for communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: BUFFALO INC.
    Inventor: Takashi Ishidoshiro
  • Patent number: 8205073
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to enable the configuration tasks needed to form a wireless LAN to be performed using a simple method while increasing security during such configuration. In a wireless network configuration system GH1 including an encryption key setting system LH1, where an access point 20 determines after the power thereto is turned ON that configuration for connection to a wireless LAN has not yet be carried out, the access point 20 activates a restricted receiving mode in which only an initial configuration packet is accepted. A terminal 50 that has sent an initial configuration packet and the access point 20 that has received such initial configuration packet while the restricted receiving mode is active each create an identical WEP key with reference to the data on a CD-ROM 51 or the data in a ROM 12, respectively, and set and register the created WEP key in itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Ishidoshiro
  • Patent number: 8194625
    Abstract: The present invention provides a LAN device 20 having an internal function of controlling communication. A management representative of the LAN device 20 sets a protocol applicable for communication with regard to each of MAC addresses or IP addresses allocated to transmitter terminals and each of IP addresses allocated to receiver terminals. The LAN device transmits data in the case of the protocol applicable for communication, while not transmitting data in the case of any protocol inapplicable for communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Ishidoshiro
  • Patent number: 8195862
    Abstract: A storage device includes a plurality of interfaces for connection to an external device, a storage unit that stores data, an effective interface setting unit, and a switching instruction receiving unit. The effective interface setting unit sets one of the plurality of interfaces as an effective interface that may access the storage unit. The switching instruction receiving unit receives an effective interface switching instruction during operation of the storage device. The effective interface setting unit switches the interface set as the effective interface based on the effective interface switching instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventor: Taichi Ejiri
  • Publication number: 20120134308
    Abstract: A portable device configured to be connected to a router via a wireless or wired connection. The portable device includes a first processing section that operates in each of a first operation mode to serve as a bridge functional part and a second operation mode to serve as a router functional part. The first processing section operates in the first operation mode when the portable device is connected to the router.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventors: Daisuke Yamada, Hidenori Yukawa
  • Publication number: 20120137063
    Abstract: A storage device that receives writing data with a first data size from a host, and writes data with a second data size that is greater than the first data size. The storage device includes a storage area unit formatted and managed by a file format including user data and specific management data, the user data and specific management data having a size smaller than the second data size, a cache memory having a capacity of not less than the second data size and that stores the specific management data, and a controller that controls reading and writing data from and into the storage area unit and the cache memory, when receiving an instruction from the host.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiko Horibe, Tsukasa Ito
  • Publication number: 20120136963
    Abstract: A content transmission method includes: a step in which a client device transmits a partner list request to a connection-target storage; a step in which the connection-target storage transmits the partner list request to a partner storage; a step in which a partner storage transmits a partner content list that is a list of contents in the partner storage, to the connection-target storage; a step in which the connection-target storage transmits the partner content list to a client device; and a step in which the client device transmits a data transmission request including transmission-source information indicating a content that is selected based on the partner content list and that is transmitted to the connection-target storage, to the connection-target storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventor: Satoru GOTO