JP2014195157A - Communication apparatus, control method of the same, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve convenience of a user when executing a communication parameter setting protocol.SOLUTION: A communication apparatus determines a kind of protocol used when a communication parameter is exchanged with a communication partner, determines a standby time until a connection process with the communication partner is started on the basis of the determined protocol, and executes the connection process after the determined standby time elapses.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device, a communication device control method, and a program.

  In recent years, wireless LAN (Local Area Network) systems represented by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 have been widely used. In wireless communication represented by a wireless LAN compliant with the IEEE802.11 standard series, there are many setting items that must be set before using the communication. As setting items, for example, there are communication parameters such as an SSID as a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key. As described above, since the number of communication parameters is large, it is very complicated for the user to set them in the wireless device by manual input.

  So far, various automatic setting systems (hereinafter referred to as communication parameter setting protocols) have been devised for easily setting these communication parameters in a wireless device. In this communication parameter setting protocol, a communication parameter is provided from one device to the other device by transmitting and receiving a predetermined procedure and message between connected devices. Thereby, the communication parameter is automatically set in the other device. Non-Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a communication parameter setting protocol in communication in a wireless LAN infrastructure mode.

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED (TM) for Wi-Fi Protected Setup: Easing the User Experience for Home and Small Office Wi-Fi (R) Networks, http://www.wi-fi.org/wp/wifi-protected-setup

  Some communication parameter setting protocols devised so far require the access point (base station) side that provided the communication parameters to change the settings and restart. At this time, if the client (terminal station) wirelessly connects to the access point after receiving the communication parameters, the wireless connection may fail if the access point takes time to change and restart the communication parameter settings. There is. In this case, the client repeats the scanning process, and when it is determined that the access point has completed setting the communication parameter, the client automatically performs the wireless connection process or manually performs the wireless connection process after a predetermined period. When the client repeats the scanning process and automatically connects, unnecessary scanning process is repeated, and thus there is a possibility that useless power is consumed. Further, when the user manually connects to the client by wireless connection, the convenience of the user is impaired, and the user cannot accurately determine when the access point and the client can be wirelessly connected.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve user convenience when executing a communication parameter setting protocol.

  In order to achieve the above object, a wireless communication apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention has the following arrangement. A communication device for determining a type of a protocol used when exchanging communication parameters with a communication partner; and a waiting time until connection processing for the communication partner is started. And determining means for determining the connection processing after the determined waiting time has elapsed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve user convenience when executing the communication parameter setting protocol.

The figure which shows an example of the hardware function of the radio | wireless communication apparatus by this embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the software function of the radio | wireless communication apparatus by this embodiment. The figure which shows the network structure by this embodiment. The figure which shows the flowchart of operation | movement of the radio | wireless communication apparatus by this embodiment. The figure which shows the operation | movement sequence of the apparatus A and the terminal A by this embodiment. The figure which shows the operation | movement sequence of the apparatus A and the terminal A by this embodiment. The figure which shows the flowchart of the connection process of the terminal A by this embodiment. The figure which shows the operation | movement sequence of the apparatus A, the apparatus B, and the terminal A by this embodiment. The table | surface which shows the relationship between the communication parameter by this embodiment, and standby | waiting time.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The configurations shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to the illustrated configurations.

  In the present embodiment, a case is considered in which the access point side that provided the communication parameter to the client side needs to restart when the setting is changed. At this time, if the client side tries to connect to the access point immediately after receiving the communication parameters, the access point side is not ready and the connection may fail. Therefore, in this embodiment, the client that has received the communication parameter determines the waiting time until connection based on the communication parameter setting protocol used to receive the communication parameter, and performs the connection after waiting for a certain period.

  Hereinafter, the wireless communication apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, an example using a wireless LAN system compliant with the IEEE802.11 series will be described, but the communication form is not necessarily limited to the wireless LAN compliant with IEEE802.11.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a block configuration (hardware) of the wireless communication apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the entire apparatus 101, the control unit 102 is a computer such as a CPU or MPU that controls the entire apparatus by executing a control program stored in the storage unit 103. The storage unit 103 stores a computer program for control executed by the control unit 102 and various information necessary for communication. As the storage unit 103, a memory such as a ROM or a RAM, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a DVD, or the like can be used. Various operations described later are performed by the control unit 102 reading and executing the control program stored in the storage unit 103.

  The wireless unit 104 has a signal modulation processing function for wireless communication. The display unit 105 has a function of performing various displays and outputting visually recognizable information such as an LCD or LED, or a sound output such as a speaker. The antenna control unit 106 and the antenna 107 are used to transmit the modulation signal output from the radio unit 104 to the counterpart station. The input unit 108 is an interface for a user to perform various inputs such as a communication parameter setting protocol activation instruction. 1 is an example, and the wireless communication apparatus 101 may have a hardware configuration other than the hardware configuration illustrated in FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block configuration (software) executed by the wireless communication apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the entire apparatus 201, the packet receiving unit 202 receives packets related to various communications, and the packet transmitting unit 203 transmits packets related to various communications. Communication parameters are exchanged through transmission / reception of this packet. The network control unit 204 controls network connection. The automatic control unit 205 controls a series of operations for receiving communication parameters. A setting protocol determination unit 206 determines the type of communication parameter setting protocol performed under the control of the automatic setting control unit 205. When the setting protocol determination unit 206 determines that the communication parameter setting protocol needs to be reset and restarted, the timer control unit 207 determines the standby time. Note that all the functional blocks shown in FIG. 2 are not limited to those provided by software, but may be provided by hardware. Each functional block shown in FIG. 2 has a mutual relationship. Each functional block shown in FIG. 2 is an example, and a plurality of functional blocks may constitute one functional block, or any functional block may be further divided into blocks that perform a plurality of functions. Good.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a device A (301), a device B (303), a terminal A (302) and their connections as a network configuration according to the present embodiment. The device A is a base station and has a function of providing communication parameters that the device A has based on a communication parameter setting protocol. Device B is a base station and has communication parameters different from those of device A. Terminal A has the configuration of the wireless communication apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 described above. In this embodiment, the communication parameter is information such as an SSID as a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key.

  Here, the calculation method of the standby time according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the table 901 in FIG. Here, the waiting time is a time from when the client receiving the communication parameter from the access point connects to the access point. Table 901 shows a standby time as a basic value predetermined for each protocol. Further, the table 901 shows the additional standby time related to the encryption method setting and the communication parameter exchange speed. Here, the communication parameter exchange rate is obtained by measuring the packet transmission / reception time described above.

  Protocol 1 in Table 901 represents a communication parameter setting protocol that does not require resetting and restarting on the access point side when providing communication parameters, and the waiting time is 0 second. On the other hand, protocol 2 and protocol 3 in Table 901 represent communication parameter setting protocols that need to be reset and restarted on the access point side when providing communication parameters, and the standby time shown in the table is set. Yes. In Protocol 2 and Protocol 3, the time required for exchanging encryption methods and communication parameters is different, and the basic value and the additional waiting time are set to different values.

  The relationship between the communication parameter corresponding to each protocol and the standby time as shown in Table 901 is stored in the storage unit 103. Then, according to the type of protocol determined by the set protocol determination unit 206, the timer control unit 207 calls the table as appropriate, and determines the actual standby time as the sum of the basic value and the additional standby time. For example, the setting protocol determination unit 206 determines that the protocol is 2 (3 seconds), the communication parameter received during the communication parameter exchange is the encryption method B (1 second), and the communication parameter exchange speed is 1 second or more. In this case (2 seconds), the total waiting time is 6 seconds. In addition, the additional standby time based on the communication parameter may be considered as the additional standby time depending on the propagation intensity, the surrounding device status, the device manufacturer, and the model number, but is not limited thereto.

  Next, the operation of the wireless communication apparatus (terminal A) according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart from when the communication parameter is provided from the device A to the terminal A based on the communication parameter setting protocol according to the present embodiment until the device A and the terminal A connect. Note that FIG. 4 illustrates a case where after device A provides communication parameters to terminal A, device A needs to change settings and restart. 4 is performed when the control unit 102 reads out and executes a computer program stored in the storage unit 103.

  Terminal A and device A each start a communication parameter setting protocol (S401). Thereby, the terminal A and the device A that are recognized as communication partners perform communication parameter exchange processing (S402). In terminal A, the automatic setting control unit 205 receives communication parameters. After the communication parameter exchange, in the terminal A, the setting protocol discrimination unit 206 discriminates the type of the communication parameter setting protocol used at the time of the communication parameter exchange and determines whether or not a standby time is necessary (S403). As a result of S403, when the setting protocol determination unit 206 determines that the standby time is necessary (protocol 2 or 3 in Table 901) (Yes in S403), the timer is determined based on the communication parameter exchange processing already performed. The control unit 207 determines the standby time (S404). The terminal A waits for the determined waiting time (S405), and after the waiting time, the network control unit 204 performs connection processing (S406). On the other hand, if the setting protocol determination unit 206 determines that the standby time is unnecessary (protocol 1 in Table 901) as a result of S403 (No in S403), the network control unit 204 is connected immediately after receiving the communication parameters without performing standby. Processing is performed (S406).

  Thereafter, in S407, the network control unit 204 determines whether or not the connection is successful. If it is determined that the connection is successful, the process ends (Yes in S407). On the other hand, if the network control unit 204 determines that the connection has failed (No in S407), the network control unit 204 further determines whether it is within a predetermined required time (connection processing time) (S408). The predetermined connection processing time is a determination time used for interrupting the connection processing in the event of a malfunction on the device A side, and is measured, for example, from the time of the first connection processing. If the connection process is not successful within this time range, the process ends (No in S408). On the other hand, if the connection processing is successful within the predetermined connection processing time (Yes in S408), the timer control unit 207 sets the standby time again (S409) and performs standby. The re-waiting time may be a random numerical value within a predetermined waiting time for each communication parameter setting protocol, or a specified value determined for connection failure, but is not limited thereto. Further, the terminal A may transmit a search signal in order to confirm whether the setting of the device A is completed before the connection process after re-waiting.

  FIG. 5 is a processing sequence diagram from communication parameter exchange to connection between the device A and the terminal A according to the present embodiment. This processing sequence is based on the operation flowchart shown in FIG. Device A has a function of providing communication parameters based on a communication parameter setting protocol. Apparatus A and terminal A each start communication parameter setting processing (F501, F502). Terminal A transmits a Probe Request that is a search signal (F503). The device A that has received F503 adds information indicating that the communication parameter is activated, and returns a Probe Response, which is a probe request response signal, to the terminal A (F504). In the processes of F503 and F504, apparatus A and terminal A recognize each other's existence. Upon receiving the probe response of F504, the terminal A that has recognized the existence of the device A issues a communication parameter exchange request, and the device A responds to it to perform a communication parameter exchange process (F505).

  When the communication parameter exchange in F505 is completed, the device A performs resetting and restarting (F506), and the terminal A determines the type of the communication parameter setting protocol used for exchanging the communication parameters and determines the standby time. (F507). The terminal A waits for the determined waiting time in F507 (F508), and after the waiting time ends, performs connection processing with the device A that has been reset and restarted (F509). Specifically, the terminal A sends a connection request, which is a connection request signal, to the device A, and makes a connection after succeeding. As described above, when the communication parameter setting protocol used for exchanging communication parameters needs to be reset and restarted by the communication parameter provider, it waits for a predetermined time, thereby repeating connection processing failure or search processing. And wasteful power consumption can be avoided.

  FIG. 6 is a processing sequence diagram when communication parameters are not reset or the operation is stopped due to a malfunction of apparatus A after the communication parameter exchange of F505 in FIG. This processing sequence is based on the operation flowchart shown in FIG. After the exchange of communication parameters between the device A and the terminal A (F601), the device A stops its operation due to a malfunction (F602). Terminal A determines a standby time from the communication parameter setting protocol (F603), and waits for the determined time (F604). After waiting in F604, the terminal A makes a connection request by transmitting an Association Request which is a connection request signal to the device A (F605). However, since the device A stops operating in F602, the connection request (connection processing) in F605 fails. After the connection request failure in F605, the terminal A determines the re-waiting time (F606) and waits for the determined time (F607). After the flow from F605 to F607 is repeated for a certain period, if it is not within the range of the connection processing time, the terminal A stops the connection processing (F608), and the user cannot connect to the device A or the search fails. An error status of the device such as the notification is notified (F609). The period for performing the repetitive processing from F605 to F607 may be a specified period or a specified number of times determined for each communication parameter setting protocol, but is not limited thereto. In this way, by setting a period for repeating the processing, it is possible to prevent a connection processing loop, promptly notify the user of a setting or connection failure, and reduce unnecessary connection waiting time.

  7 transmits a probe request, which is a search signal, before transmitting an association request, which is a connection request signal, in the connection process of S406 in FIG. 4, and checks whether there is a device having the received communication parameter. It is a flowchart figure in the case. After waiting for the specified time in S405 in FIG. 4, a Probe Request that is a search signal is transmitted (S701). The Probe Request is transmitted to the entire surrounding wireless communication device. Therefore, Probe Response which is a search response signal is returned from devices other than the communication parameter providing device (S702). It is compared whether there is a received communication parameter having the same communication parameter as the received communication parameter (S703). If there is a probe response having the same communication parameter as a result of S703, connection processing is performed with the device that has transmitted the probe response (S704). If there is no Probe Response having the same communication parameter as a result of S703, the connection process is not performed and the process proceeds to the re-wait process of S408.

  FIG. 8 is a processing sequence diagram when terminal A transmits a Probe Request to device B before connection processing to device A. This processing sequence is based on the operation flowchart shown in FIG. A mobile device such as a smartphone or a notebook PC may be set to automatically perform connection processing when a device having communication parameters possessed by the device exists. In this case, if the reset time and restart time of the device A are longer than the standby time of the terminal A after the device A and the terminal A exchange communication parameters, the device A automatically connects to the device B that is not intended by the user. There is a possibility that. Although the terminal A is connected to the device B that is not intended by the user, the terminal A notifies the user as if the connection with the device A was successful. In FIG. 8, the sequence corresponds to the case where connection is made to such an unintended device.

  The processing from F801 to F808 is the same as the processing flow from F501 to F508. Terminal A transmits a Probe Request after waiting for a predetermined period of F808 (F809). The Probe Request is transmitted to the devices A and B. However, since the device A is being restarted, the probe response cannot be returned, and the terminal A determines that the device A does not exist. In response to the probe request of terminal A, apparatus B returns a normal probe response (F810). The terminal A uses the automatic setting control unit 205 to compare the received probe response communication parameter with the communication parameter received in F805 (S811). As a result of the comparison, it is determined that there is no probe response having the communication parameter received in F805, and the connection process with the existing communication parameter apparatus B is not performed.

  The processing from F812 to F813 is the same as the processing from F606 to F607. After re-waiting for a predetermined period of F813, if it is within the range of the connection processing time, a Probe Request is transmitted again (F814). At this time, since the resetting and restarting of the communication parameters in F806 have been completed, apparatus A transmits a probe response to both apparatus A and apparatus B (F815). Again, the received probe response communication parameter is compared with the communication parameter received in F805 (F816). As a result of the comparison, it is determined that there is a probe response having the communication parameter received in F805, and connection processing is performed with the device A that has transmitted the probe response having the same communication parameter (F817).

  In the present embodiment, the control for suppressing connection with a device that is not a received communication parameter has been mentioned. However, connection processing may be performed with a device different from the received communication parameter, and after a predetermined period, the device may be disconnected and switched to connection with the device that provided the communication parameter. In the present embodiment, the standby time is described as the time from the reception of the communication parameter to the client connecting to the access point. However, the start time of the standby time is not limited to this. In this way, even after the communication parameter exchange, even if the resetting and restarting time of the device that provided the communication parameter is long, the normal automatic connection processing is suppressed and the desired device that has performed the communication parameter exchange is connected. be able to.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, this is merely an example for explaining the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to this example. The embodiment can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention. Further, the above description has been made taking an example of a wireless LAN compliant with IEEE802.11. However, the present invention may be implemented in other wireless media such as wireless USB, MBOA, Bluetooth (registered trademark), UWB, and ZigBee. Moreover, you may implement in wired communication media, such as wired LAN. Here, MBOA is an abbreviation for Multi Band OFDM Alliance. UWB includes wireless UWB, wireless 1394, WINET, and the like.

  The wireless communication device of the above embodiment is not limited to a digital camera, a printer, or the like. It may be a PC or a tablet terminal, and may be a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or a smartphone. Further, it may be an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine, a scanner, a FAX, or a multifunction machine, or a digital home appliance such as a television or a recorder. In the above-described embodiment, the infrastructure network in which the devices A and B operate as base stations has been described as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to an ad hoc network in which these devices also operate as terminals. Alternatively, the system in which the device A, the device B, and the terminal A each have a mode in which they operate as an access point (base station) and a mode in which they operate as a client (terminal), and operate in any role by negotiation between these devices. It is also applicable to.

  The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (11)

A communication device,
A discriminating means for discriminating the type of protocol used when exchanging communication parameters with a communication partner;
A determination unit that determines a waiting time until connection processing for the communication partner starts, based on the type of the determined protocol;
Connection means for performing the connection processing after the determined waiting time has elapsed;
A communication apparatus comprising:     The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection process is a wireless connection process.   The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines the total by adding a basic value corresponding to the determined protocol and an additional waiting time corresponding to the communication parameter.   The communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the additional waiting time is determined based on a type of the communication parameter.   The communication apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the additional waiting time is determined based on a speed of exchanging the communication parameters.   When it is determined that the connection process after the elapse of the waiting time has failed, the connection unit repeats the process of performing the connection process after the elapse of a predetermined time within the range of the connection process time. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.   In the connection process, a communication partner is searched after the waiting time has elapsed, a communication parameter included in a response to the search is connected to a communication partner whose communication parameter is the same as the exchanged communication parameter, and the response The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the included communication parameter is different from the exchanged communication parameter, it is determined that the connection process has failed.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection process is a connection process using a wireless LAN compliant with IEEE802.11 series.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication parameter includes at least one of a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key. A communication device control method comprising:
A discriminating step for discriminating the type of protocol used when exchanging communication parameters with the communication partner;
A determination step of determining a waiting time until connection processing for the communication partner is started based on the type of the determined protocol;
A connection step of performing the connection process after elapse of the determined waiting time;
A method for controlling a communication apparatus, comprising: A computer program that causes a computer to function as the communication device according to claim 1.

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