JP2016100626A - Radio communication method, radio communication system, radio communication device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select a correct radio communication device as a connection opposite party.SOLUTION: A first radio communication device 10 and a second radio communication device 20 perform radio communication with each other using an electromagnetic wave in an invisible light region. A connection information transmission unit 13 transmits a connection permission signal including radio connection information used for radio communication connection by visible light communication. A connection information reception unit 23 receives the connection permission signal by the visible light communication. A radio connection request unit 24 transmits a connection request signal to request the radio communication connection using the radio connection information to the first radio communication device 10. A radio connection response unit establishes the radio communication connection on receiving the connection request signal from the second radio communication device 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication technique, and more particularly to a technique for setting information used for establishing a wireless communication connection.

  In wireless communication such as wireless LAN (Local Area Network) and Bluetooth (registered trademark), unlike wired communication, there is no physical connection between communication devices. Therefore, a procedure for specifying a communication partner prior to data transmission / reception is required.

  For example, in IEEE 802.11, which is a wireless LAN standard, a partner for wireless communication is specified by the following procedure. The base station (access point) for wireless communication periodically sends a signal (beacon frame) to notify the identifier (ESS-ID: Extended Service Set Identifier) that uniquely identifies the network to which it belongs (for example, every 100 milliseconds). Sending by broadcast. A slave unit (end point) for wireless communication scans an available frequency band and receives a beacon frame. The endpoint selects a network to be connected from the list of ESS-IDs received by the beacon frame and requests connection to the access point. The access point that has received the connection request performs mutual authentication with the end point according to a predetermined communication protocol, and permits connection with the end point when the authentication is successful. Here, the explanation is based on the assumption that the network is configured with a star connection (or infrastructure mode), but it is a peer-to-peer connection (or ad hoc mode) in which two wireless communication devices communicate directly with each other. Even in a configured network, one wireless communication device periodically broadcasts an identifier (SSID: Service Set Identifier) that uniquely identifies itself as an access point, and the other wireless communication device specifies the SSID. This is the procedure for requesting a connection.

  There are various methods for the wireless communication apparatus to select a connection destination network. For example, a method in which the user manually selects from the list of ESS-ID / SSID displayed on the screen of the wireless communication device, a method in which the ESS-ID / SSID with the highest radio field strength is automatically selected, or specified in advance A method of automatically selecting the ESS-ID / SSID when a beacon frame is received from the ESS-ID / SSID. As a specific example of these, Non-Patent Document 1 describes a technique for automatically setting information necessary for connection to an end point when a user performs a button operation at the access point. .

Buffalo, Inc., “AOSS to expand the future of wireless home networks”, [online], [October 28, 2014 search], Internet <URL: http://buffalo.jp/aoss/top.html>

  In conventional wireless communication, in a wireless communication environment where a plurality of networks exist, the relationship between the physical device and the network is not clear, and the wireless communication device receives a plurality of beacon frames, which is not intended. The possibility of connecting to the network cannot be excluded.

  An object of the wireless communication technique of the present invention is to correctly select a desired network even in a wireless communication environment in which a plurality of networks exist.

  In order to solve the above problems, a wireless communication method of the present invention is a wireless communication method for performing wireless communication using electromagnetic waves in an invisible light region between a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device. The first wireless communication device transmits a connection permission signal including wireless connection information used for wireless communication connection by visible light communication, and the second wireless communication device visually recognizes the connection permission signal. A connection information receiving step for receiving by optical communication, and a wireless connection requesting step for the second wireless communication device to transmit a connection request signal for requesting a wireless communication connection to the first wireless communication device using the wireless connection information; A wireless connection response step of establishing a wireless communication connection when the first wireless communication device receives a connection request signal from the second wireless communication device.

  According to the wireless communication technology of the present invention, a desired network can be correctly selected and connected even in a wireless communication environment where a plurality of networks exist.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of a wireless communication system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of the wireless communication system. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the wireless communication apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the wireless communication apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the wireless communication apparatus according to the third embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. In addition, the same number is attached | subjected to the component which has the same function in drawing, and duplication description is abbreviate | omitted.

[First embodiment]
The wireless communication technology of the present invention includes a communication unit having a property different from that of the wireless communication for the wireless communication device to perform original communication, and wirelessly communicates from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device by the communication unit. Information used to establish communication connection (hereinafter referred to as wireless connection information) is transmitted, and wireless communication between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device is performed using the wireless connection information. Establish a connection. The wireless communication system and method according to the first embodiment is characterized by using visible light communication as a communication means having a property different from that of original wireless communication.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the wireless communication system according to the first embodiment is a star connection in which at least one wireless communication device 10 and at least one wireless communication device 20 are connected via the wireless communication network 1. Network configuration. In this case, the wireless communication device 10 is, for example, an access point that connects the wireless communication network 1 to another communication network 2. The wireless communication device 20 is, for example, an endpoint that connects to the wireless communication network 1 and uses the communication network 2 via an access point. Specifically, the wireless communication device 20 is an information processing device having a wireless communication function such as a personal computer, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal. The communication network 2 may be an open network such as the Internet or a closed network such as a private LAN.

  Further, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the wireless communication system of the first embodiment is a peer-to-peer in which one wireless communication device 10 and one wireless communication device 20 are connected via a wireless communication path 1. The network configuration may be a peer connection. In this case, each of the wireless communication device 10 and the wireless communication device 20 is specifically an information processing device having a wireless communication function such as a personal computer, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first wireless communication apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a light emitting element 11, an antenna 12, a connection information transmission unit 13, and a wireless connection response unit 14. Further, the wireless communication device 10 may further include a start operation unit 15. The radio communication device 10 is a special configuration in which a special program is read into a known or dedicated computer having a central processing unit (CPU), a main storage device (RAM), and the like. Device. For example, the wireless communication device 10 executes each process under the control of the central processing unit. The data input to the wireless communication device 10 and the data obtained in each process are stored in, for example, a main storage device, and the data stored in the main storage device is read out as necessary and used for other processing. Is done. In addition, at least a part of each processing unit of the wireless communication device 10 may be configured by hardware such as an integrated circuit.

  The light emitting element 11 is an electronic element that converts an electrical signal into an optical signal, and specifically, for example, a light emitting diode (LED). Since visible light communication is used in this embodiment, the light emitting element 11 can emit electromagnetic waves in the visible light region. The emission color of the light emitting element 11 is not particularly limited as long as it is within the range allowed by the specification of visible light communication. When there are a plurality of first wireless communication devices 10 in the same environment, the wireless communication devices 10 may be configured to emit different colors. As the light emitting element 11, for example, a dedicated light emitting diode installed at an arbitrary position on the housing surface of the wireless communication device 10 may be used. Alternatively, a dedicated light emitting device externally connected via various interfaces provided in the wireless communication device 10 may be used. For example, if the wireless communication device 10 is an information processing device such as a smartphone, a light emitting diode used as various indicators may be used as the light emitting element 11.

  The antenna 12 is an antenna for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves for performing original wireless communication. The wireless communication of this embodiment is wireless communication using electromagnetic waves in the invisible light region. For example, wireless communication such as a wireless LAN may be used, or short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) may be used. Good.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the second wireless communication device 20 of the present embodiment includes a light receiving element 21, an antenna 22, a connection information receiving unit 23, and a wireless connection requesting unit 24. The radio communication device 20 is a special configuration in which a special program is read into a known or dedicated computer having a central processing unit (CPU), a main storage device (RAM), and the like. Device. For example, the wireless communication device 20 executes each process under the control of the central processing unit. Data input to the wireless communication device 20 and data obtained in each process are stored in, for example, a main storage device, and the data stored in the main storage device is read out as necessary and used for other processing. Is done. Further, at least a part of each processing unit of the wireless communication device 20 may be configured by hardware such as an integrated circuit.

  The light receiving element 21 is an electronic element that converts light intensity into an electric signal, and specifically, for example, a photodiode or a phototransistor. Since visible light communication is used in this embodiment, the light receiving element 21 can detect electromagnetic waves in the visible light region. For example, if the wireless communication device 20 is a smartphone or a tablet terminal, an image sensor mounted for the camera function can be used as the light receiving element 21. If the wireless communication device 20 is a desktop or laptop personal computer that does not have a camera function, a web camera connected externally by various general-purpose interfaces such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) is used as the light receiving element 21. Can do.

  The antenna 22 is an antenna for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves for performing original wireless communication. The antenna 22 is an antenna used for the same type of wireless communication as the antenna 12 included in the wireless communication device 10.

  Hereinafter, the processing procedure of the wireless communication system of the first embodiment will be described.

  The connection information transmitting unit 13 transmits a connection permission signal encoded with wireless connection information necessary for wireless communication connection by visible light communication using the light emitting element 11 at a predetermined time interval. As the visible light communication method, any known visible light communication may be used. For example, “JEITA CP-1221 visible light communication system”, Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association, 2007 3 The visible light communication described in “Month (Reference Document 1)” can be used. The wireless connection information includes an identifier that uniquely identifies a connection destination network or access point. This identifier is, for example, an ESS-ID or SSID in IEEE 802.11, or a device name in Bluetooth (registered trademark). The time interval for transmitting the wireless connection information may be arbitrarily set depending on the use status of the wireless communication. For example, it is preferable to set the interval equal to the beacon frame transmission interval in the wireless LAN (for example, 100 milliseconds). is there.

  The connection information receiving unit 23 receives a connection permission signal transmitted from the light emitting element 11 by visible light communication using the light receiving element 21. The connection information receiving unit 23 decodes the wireless connection information from the received connection permission signal. The received wireless connection information is sent to the wireless connection request unit 24.

  Using the antenna 22, the wireless connection request unit 24 transmits a wireless communication connection request signal to the wireless communication device 10 specified by the identifier included in the input wireless connection information.

  When the wireless connection response unit 14 receives the connection request signal from the wireless communication device 20, the wireless connection response unit 14 establishes a wireless communication connection with the wireless communication device 20 in accordance with the determined wireless communication communication protocol. Thereafter, the wireless communication device 10 and the wireless communication device 20 can transmit and receive data by wireless communication.

  By configuring as described above, the wireless communication system of the present embodiment transmits and receives information necessary for wireless communication connection by communication means having a different property from wireless communication that performs original communication. At this time, in order to transmit and receive wireless connection information using visible light communication, the user needs to place the second wireless communication device within the range where the light emission of the first wireless communication device reaches, and the wireless communication device of the connection destination It can be visually confirmed whether or not is correctly selected. When there are a plurality of first wireless communication devices, the light emitting elements of each wireless communication device may emit light in different colors. If comprised in this way, a user will be able to discriminate | determine more reliably to which radio | wireless communication apparatus it is going to connect with the color of the light which hits the 2nd radio | wireless communication apparatus. Therefore, a desired network can be correctly selected even in a wireless communication environment having a plurality of networks.

<Modification 1>
In the first embodiment, the configuration in which the first wireless communication apparatus periodically transmits a connection permission signal including wireless connection information has been described. However, in this case, depending on the set transmission interval, a time lag may occur before the second wireless communication apparatus receives the wireless connection information. Therefore, in the first modification, the first wireless communication device 10 is configured to include the start operation unit 15 so that the wireless communication device 10 immediately transmits a connection permission signal by a user operation.

  The start operation unit 15 is a physical operation unit installed at an arbitrary position on the housing surface of the wireless communication device 10. The start operation unit 15 can use an arbitrary physical form such as a button or a switch. The start operation unit 15 may be configured such that the wireless communication apparatus 10 includes a touch panel type liquid crystal display and the like, and may be realized by an operation unit such as a virtual button or switch drawn on the liquid crystal display.

  The start operation unit 15 inputs a transmission start signal for instructing the start of transmission of a connection permission signal to the connection information transmission unit 13 in accordance with a user operation. The connection information transmission unit 13 transmits a connection permission signal by visible light communication when the transmission start signal is input. Thereafter, similarly to the wireless communication system of the first embodiment, a wireless communication connection is established between the wireless communication device 10 and the wireless communication device 20.

  By configuring as described above, the wireless communication system of the present modification can transmit a connection permission signal including wireless connection information by a user operation on the first wireless communication device. Since the connection permission signal is transmitted only when operated by the user, the risk of making wireless connection information known to an unintended wireless communication device is reduced, and security is improved.

[Second Embodiment]
In 1st embodiment, the structure which transmits the connection permission signal containing wireless connection information by the opportunity by the side of the 1st radio | wireless communication apparatus was demonstrated. In the second embodiment, the connection permission signal is transmitted when triggered by the second wireless communication apparatus.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, the first wireless communication device 30 of the present embodiment includes the light emitting element 11, the antenna 12, the connection information transmission unit 13, and the wireless connection response unit 14 in the same manner as the wireless communication device 10. An element 31 and an information request receiving unit 32 are further included. Further, the wireless communication device 30 may further include a reception confirmation unit 33 and / or a connection information generation unit 34.

  The light receiving element 31 is the same as the light receiving element 21 provided in the second wireless communication apparatus 20 of the first embodiment. For the light receiving element 31, for example, a dedicated image sensor installed at an arbitrary position on the surface of the housing of the wireless communication device 30 may be used. Alternatively, a web camera connected externally through various interfaces provided in the wireless communication device 30 may be used. For example, if the wireless communication device 30 is an information processing device such as a smartphone, an image sensor mounted for the camera function can be used as the light receiving element 31.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, the second wireless communication device 40 of the present embodiment includes the light receiving element 21, the antenna 22, the connection information receiving unit 23, and the wireless connection requesting unit 24 with the wireless communication device 20 of the first embodiment. A light emitting element 41 and an information request transmission unit 42 are further included.

  The light emitting element 41 is the same as the light emitting element 11 provided in the first wireless communication device 30. For example, if the wireless communication device 40 is an information processing device such as a smartphone, the light emitting element 41 may use a light emitting diode used as various indicators as the light emitting element 41. Further, a dedicated light emitting diode installed at an arbitrary position on the surface of the housing of the wireless communication device 40 may be used. Alternatively, a dedicated light emitting device externally connected through various interfaces provided in the wireless communication device 40 may be used.

  The information request transmission unit 42 generates an information request signal for requesting the wireless connection information to be returned in response to a user operation, and transmits the information request signal using the light emitting element 41 by visible light communication. The visible light communication method may use any known visible light communication, may be the same type of visible light communication as that used for transmission / reception of the connection permission signal, or may be a different type of visible light communication. There may be. The operation unit of the information request transmission unit 42 may be, for example, a physical operation unit such as a button or a switch, or an operation such as a virtual button or switch drawn on the liquid crystal display of the wireless communication device 40. Part.

  The information request receiving unit 32 receives an information request signal transmitted from the light emitting element 41 by visible light communication using the light receiving element 31. The received information request signal is sent to the connection information transmission unit 13. When the information request signal is input, the connection information transmitting unit 13 transmits a connection permission signal encoded with wireless connection information necessary for wireless communication connection by visible light communication using the light emitting element 11. Thereafter, similarly to the wireless communication system of the first embodiment, a wireless communication connection is established between the wireless communication device 30 and the wireless communication device 40.

  With the configuration as described above, the wireless communication system of the present embodiment can transmit a connection permission signal including wireless connection information by a user operation on the second wireless communication device. For example, if the first wireless communication device is installed in a place where it is difficult for humans to operate, such as the ceiling or the top of a high rack, the second wireless communication device at hand of the user is operated. Since the connection permission signal can be transmitted, the convenience is high.

<Modification 2>
In the second embodiment, the configuration has been described in which when the second wireless communication device transmits an information request signal by visible light communication, the first wireless communication device immediately returns a connection permission signal. However, considering the case where the connection of the wireless communication has finally failed, the problem is whether the transmission / reception of the information request signal has failed, the transmission / reception of the connection permission signal has failed, or the wireless communication connection procedure has failed. Identifying the location is convenient for problem solving. Therefore, in the second modification, the first wireless communication device 30 is configured to include the reception confirmation unit 33 so that it can be confirmed whether or not the transmission / reception of the information request signal has succeeded.

  When the information request receiving unit 32 receives the information request signal, the information request signal is input to the reception confirmation unit 33. The reception confirmation unit 33 transmits a confirmation signal notifying that the information request signal has been received by visible light communication using the light emitting element 11 when the information request signal is input. Thereafter, the reception confirmation unit 33 inputs an information request signal to the connection information transmission unit 13. The connection information transmission unit 13 transmits a connection permission signal by visible light communication when the information request signal is input. Thereafter, similarly to the wireless communication system of the first embodiment, a wireless communication connection is established between the wireless communication device 30 and the wireless communication device 40.

  The reception confirmation unit 33 may cause any light emitting element to emit light when the information request signal is input. The light emitting element that emits light at this time may be the light emitting element 11 used for visible light communication, or may be another light emitting element used as an indicator for the wireless communication device 30 to notify the state.

  By configuring as described above, the wireless communication system according to the present modification can confirm that the first wireless communication apparatus has received the information request signal. For example, when the reception confirmation unit 33 transmits a confirmation signal, it can be confirmed whether or not the transmission / reception of the information request signal has been successful based on a communication log recorded by both wireless communication apparatuses. Also, for example, when the reception confirmation unit 33 causes the light emitting element to emit light, it is confirmed whether or not the user has successfully transmitted and received the information request signal by visually confirming the light emission state of the first wireless communication device. it can. Therefore, it becomes easy to specify at which stage the problem has occurred when the wireless communication connection finally fails, and can be used as a reference for solving the problem.

<Modification 3>
In the above-described embodiment, the second wireless communication device that has received the connection permission signal transmitted by the first wireless communication device at least once is wireless whenever the wireless connection information obtained from the connection permission signal is held. It becomes possible to request a connection for communication. Therefore, in the third modification, the first wireless communication device 30 is configured to include the connection information generation unit 34 so as to generate wireless connection information in which the number of effective times, the effective period, and available wireless communication devices are limited. To.

  An information request signal is input to the connection information generation unit 34 from the information request reception unit 32 or the reception confirmation unit 33. In response to the input of the information request signal, the connection information generation unit 34 generates wireless connection information including an attribute value indicating a use condition of the wireless connection information in addition to an identifier that uniquely identifies the network. As usage conditions of the wireless connection information, for example, (1) effective number of times, (2) effective period, (3) usable wireless communication device, and the like can be set.

  (1) The effective number is a use condition that limits the number of times wireless communication can be connected using the wireless connection information. For example, the connection information generation unit 34 generates wireless connection information including a random identifier for which the effective number is set. The wireless connection response unit 14 counts the number of connections for each identifier included in the wireless connection information, and establishes a wireless communication connection if the number of connections is within the effective number set in the wireless connection information. . If the connection count exceeds the valid count, the connection information generation unit 34 newly generates wireless connection information including a random identifier. For example, if the effective count is set to 1, wireless connection information that can be used only for connection only at that time, such as a so-called one-time password, can be obtained.

  (2) The validity period is a use condition that limits a time range in which wireless communication can be connected using the wireless connection information. For example, the connection information generation unit 34 generates wireless connection information including a random identifier in which a creation time and a valid period are set. The wireless connection response unit 14 collates the current time with the creation time of the wireless connection information and the effective period, and establishes a wireless communication connection within the effective period. If the current time exceeds the valid period, the connection information generation unit 34 newly generates wireless connection information including a random identifier. For example, if the effective period is set to one day, wireless connection information that can be connected any number of times during the day but cannot be connected the next day can be obtained.

  (3) The available wireless communication device is a use condition that limits wireless communication devices that can connect wireless communication using the wireless connection information. For example, the information request transmission unit 42 sets a terminal identifier for uniquely identifying the wireless communication device 40 in the information request signal, and the connection information generation unit 34 generates wireless connection information including a session identifier uniquely corresponding to the terminal identifier. To do. The wireless connection request unit 24 transmits the terminal identifier together with the wireless connection information, and the wireless connection response unit 14 collates the correspondence between the session identifier set in the wireless connection information and the terminal identifier received from the wireless connection request unit 24. . If the correspondence between the terminal identifier and the session identifier matches, a wireless communication connection is established. As a result, the available wireless communication devices can be limited, and the connection from the wireless communication device that has illegally acquired the connection permission signal can be rejected.

  Although this modification has been described as a modification of the second embodiment, (1) the number of effective times and (2) a configuration that limits the effective period can be applied to the wireless communication system of the first embodiment. is there. That is, the connection information generation unit 34 can be included in the wireless communication device 10 of the first embodiment.

  (1) Valid number, (2) Valid period, (3) Available wireless communication devices can be set individually or in any combination. For example, it is possible to generate wireless connection information with a limited validity period for each available wireless communication device. In addition, for example, when the number of connections and the effective period are limited and a certain number of connections are made within a certain period, wireless connection information can be generated so that the next connection cannot be made unless the period elapses. .

  By configuring as described above, the wireless communication system according to the present modification has wireless connection information in which usage conditions such as (1) effective number of times, (2) effective period, (3) usable wireless communication device, and the like are set. Therefore, security can be improved.

[Third embodiment]
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration using visible light communication as a communication unit having a different property from the original wireless communication has been described. The wireless communication system and method according to the third embodiment is characterized in that highly directional wireless communication is used as a communication means having different properties from the original wireless communication. High-directivity wireless communication may use electromagnetic waves in the visible light region or may use electromagnetic waves in the invisible light region. Specifically, wireless communication using a visible light laser used in a laser pointer or the like, or wireless communication using a laser in an invisible light region such as an ultraviolet laser used for reading an optical drive may be used. Good. The degree of directivity may be arbitrarily set according to the assumed usage environment, such as the size and installation location of the housing of the wireless communication device and the distance from other wireless communication devices, and is not particularly limited.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the first wireless communication device 50 of the present embodiment includes the antenna 12, the connection information transmission unit 13, and the wireless connection response unit 14 in the same manner as the wireless communication device 10 of the first embodiment, An oscillator 51 is further included.

  The oscillator 51 is an oscillator that generates an electromagnetic wave used for highly directional wireless communication. Specifically, the oscillator 51 is, for example, a laser oscillator. The highly directional wireless communication according to this embodiment may use an electromagnetic wave in the visible light region or an electromagnetic wave in the invisible light region. As the oscillator 51, a dedicated laser oscillator installed at an arbitrary position on the surface of the casing of the wireless communication device 50 may be used. Alternatively, a dedicated laser oscillation device externally connected as a peripheral device through various interfaces provided in the wireless communication device 50 may be used. For example, if the wireless communication device 50 is an information processing device such as a smartphone and includes a general-purpose oscillator capable of oscillating highly directional electromagnetic waves, the oscillator may be used as the oscillator 51.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the second wireless communication device 60 of the present embodiment includes the antenna 22, the connection information receiving unit 23, and the wireless connection requesting unit 24 in the same manner as the wireless communication device 20 of the first embodiment, A receiver 61 is further included.

  The receiver 61 is a receiver that receives electromagnetic waves used for highly directional wireless communication. Specifically, the receiver 61 is, for example, a laser receiver. The receiver 61 can detect a highly directional electromagnetic wave oscillated by the oscillator 51. For example, if the oscillator 51 is a visible light laser oscillator that oscillates an electromagnetic wave in the visible light region, the receiver 61 can use an image sensor mounted for the camera function as the light receiving element 21. If the oscillator 51 is an invisible laser oscillator that oscillates electromagnetic waves in the invisible light region, a laser receiver externally connected through various interfaces can be used as the receiver 61. Alternatively, if the wireless communication device 50 is an information processing device such as a smartphone and includes a general-purpose receiver capable of receiving highly directional electromagnetic waves, the receiver may be used as the receiver 61. .

  Between the connection information transmitting unit 13 and the connection information receiving unit 23 of this embodiment, a connection permission signal is transmitted and received by highly directional wireless communication. The connection permission signal to be transmitted / received is the same as in the above-described embodiments and modifications. The wireless connection request unit 24 and the wireless connection response unit 14 establish a wireless communication connection using the wireless connection information obtained from the connection permission signal in the same manner as the wireless communication systems of the above-described embodiments and modifications. To do.

  In the third embodiment, the configuration equivalent to that of the first embodiment has been described as an example. However, the processing procedure performed by visible light communication in the same manner is applied to the other embodiments and modifications described above. It can be configured to perform by directional wireless communication.

  By configuring as described above, the wireless communication system of the present embodiment transmits and receives information necessary for wireless communication connection by communication means having a different property from wireless communication that performs original communication. At this time, in order to transmit and receive wireless connection information using highly directional wireless communication, the user needs to place the second wireless communication device in a range in which the connection permission signal can be received. It is possible to guess intuitively whether or not is correctly selected. Further, even in an environment where a plurality of wireless communication devices exist, the range in which wireless connection information transmitted from each wireless communication device is mixed can be eliminated, and there is a risk of connecting to an unintended wireless communication device. Can be reduced. Therefore, a desired network can be correctly selected even in a wireless communication environment having a plurality of networks.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The various processes described in the above embodiment may be executed not only in time series according to the order of description, but also in parallel or individually as required by the processing capability of the apparatus that executes the processes or as necessary.

[Program, recording medium]
When various processing functions in each device described in the above embodiment are realized by a computer, the processing contents of the functions that each device should have are described by a program. Then, by executing this program on a computer, various processing functions in each of the above devices are realized on the computer.

  The program describing the processing contents can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. As the computer-readable recording medium, for example, any recording medium such as a magnetic recording device, an optical disk, a magneto-optical recording medium, and a semiconductor memory may be used.

  The program is distributed by selling, transferring, or lending a portable recording medium such as a DVD or CD-ROM in which the program is recorded. Furthermore, the program may be distributed by storing the program in a storage device of the server computer and transferring the program from the server computer to another computer via a network.

  A computer that executes such a program first stores, for example, a program recorded on a portable recording medium or a program transferred from a server computer in its own storage device. When executing the process, the computer reads a program stored in its own recording medium and executes a process according to the read program. As another execution form of the program, the computer may directly read the program from a portable recording medium and execute processing according to the program, and the program is transferred from the server computer to the computer. Each time, the processing according to the received program may be executed sequentially. Also, the program is not transferred from the server computer to the computer, and the above-described processing is executed by a so-called ASP (Application Service Provider) type service that realizes the processing function only by the execution instruction and result acquisition. It is good. Note that the program in this embodiment includes information that is used for processing by an electronic computer and that conforms to the program (data that is not a direct command to the computer but has a property that defines the processing of the computer).

  In this embodiment, the present apparatus is configured by executing a predetermined program on a computer. However, at least a part of these processing contents may be realized by hardware.

10, 30, 50 First wireless communication device 20, 40, 60 Second wireless communication device 11, 41 Light emitting element 12, 22 Antenna 13 Connection information transmission unit 14 Wireless connection response unit 15 Start operation unit 21, 31 Light receiving element 23 connection information reception unit 24 wireless connection request unit 32 information request reception unit 33 reception confirmation unit 34 connection information generation unit 42 information request transmission unit 51 oscillator 61 receiver

Claims (7)

A wireless communication method for performing wireless communication using electromagnetic waves in an invisible light region between a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device,
A connection information transmitting step in which the first wireless communication device transmits a connection permission signal including wireless connection information used for connection of the wireless communication by visible light communication;
A connection information receiving step in which the second wireless communication device receives the connection permission signal by the visible light communication;
A wireless connection request step in which the second wireless communication device transmits a connection request signal for requesting the wireless communication connection to the first wireless communication device using the wireless connection information;
A wireless connection response step for establishing a wireless communication connection when the first wireless communication device receives the connection request signal from the second wireless communication device;
A wireless communication method including: The wireless communication method according to claim 1,
An information request transmission step in which the second wireless communication device transmits an information request signal for requesting the wireless connection information by the visible light communication;
An information request receiving step in which the first wireless communication device receives the information request signal by the visible light communication;
Further including
The connection information transmitting step is executed when receiving the information request signal as a trigger. The wireless communication method according to claim 1 or 2,
The visible light communication is a wireless communication method in which electromagnetic waves in a high directivity visible light region are used as a medium. A wireless communication system that performs wireless communication using electromagnetic waves in an invisible light region between a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device,
The first wireless communication device is
A connection information transmission unit that transmits a connection permission signal including wireless connection information used for the connection of the wireless communication by visible light communication;
A wireless connection response unit that establishes a connection of the wireless communication when receiving a connection request signal from the second wireless communication device;
Including
The second wireless communication device is
A connection information receiving unit for receiving the connection permission signal by the visible light communication;
A wireless connection request unit that transmits a connection request signal for requesting connection of the wireless communication to the first wireless communication device using the wireless connection information;
A wireless communication system including: A connection information transmission unit that transmits a connection permission signal including wireless connection information used for wireless communication connection using electromagnetic waves in an invisible light region by visible light communication;
A wireless connection response unit that establishes a connection of the wireless communication when receiving a connection request signal from the second wireless communication device;
A wireless communication device. A connection information receiving unit for receiving a connection permission signal including wireless connection information used for connection of wireless communication using an electromagnetic wave in an invisible light region by visible light communication;
A wireless connection request unit that transmits a connection request signal for requesting connection of the wireless communication to the first wireless communication device using the wireless connection information;
A wireless communication device.   A program for causing a computer to function as the wireless communication device according to claim 5.

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