JP4775310B2 - Wireless communication system and method, wireless communication apparatus and method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, a wireless communication device and method, and a program, and in particular, with a user-friendly operation system, reliably performs settings necessary for communication with a wireless communication device desired by a user as a communication partner, The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, a wireless communication apparatus and method, and a program that can increase the security level of communication using the setting.

  In recent years, wireless local area networks (LANs) that use IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Inc.) 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g wireless communication standards have become widespread (for example, Patent Document 1). And Patent Document 2).

JP 2002-330142 A

  However, conventionally, in order to construct such a wireless LAN, a user has identified wireless LAN identification information (for example, SSID (Service Set Identification)) and security information (for example, WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) key). It is necessary to set unique information using dedicated software installed in a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC (Personal Computer) as appropriate).

  Note that the dedicated software may be the setting tool itself, but in general, this setting is performed by setting the WWW (World Wide Web) page inside the access point. In such a case, the WWW browser corresponds to dedicated software. Alternatively, the W.W.W browser may be regarded as one of the setting tools.

  That is, in order to construct a wireless LAN, the user needs a complicated work involving a plurality of manual operations (for example, manual input of SSID, etc.), and accordingly, requires a lot of work time. There was a first problem.

  Furthermore, the setting tool is often application software for a PC. Therefore, there is a second problem that a user who does not have a PC cannot construct a wireless LAN. In recent years, not only PCs but also home appliances such as hard disk recorders can be used as wireless LAN terminals, and such a second problem is the use of home appliances without using PCs. This is a more prominent issue for users who want to build.

  Therefore, in order to solve the first and second problems, for example, a station (for example, a wireless LAN PC card or converter) in which access point information such as SSID is preset is sold as a set with the access point. A method is considered. However, in such a method, when the user changes the setting of the access point or newly purchases another station, the first and second problems will eventually occur. It is hard to say that the first and second problems are sufficiently solved.

  Further, for example, in Patent Document 1, a station (for example, a wireless communication terminal owned by a user) performs communication connection in an infrastructure mode via a preset access point, and the connection fails. In such a case, a method for switching to the ad-hoc mode is disclosed. Here, a mode for connecting to an existing network via an access point that is a repeater in the network is referred to as an infrastructure mode. On the other hand, a mode in which a wireless network is constructed only between wireless communication terminals without going through an access point is called an ad hoc mode.

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, as described above, wireless LAN identification information (SSID, etc.), security information (WEP key), etc. corresponding to a predetermined access point are stored in the station. It is premised that it is also registered in advance on the side, and it is not possible to make a new setting for another access point or change the setting of a preset access point. That is, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot solve the first and second problems.

  Further, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses a method of detecting a wireless network capable of wireless communication (that is, acquiring an SSID) and connecting to a wireless network corresponding to a predetermined one of the acquired SSIDs. ing.

  However, as described above, Patent Document 2 discloses SSID setting, but does not disclose security information (WEP key) setting. In other words, with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is possible to construct a wireless LAN (although wireless communication itself is possible), but information related to security is not set. The third problem (new problem) that the safety of the wireless communication cannot be ensured occurs in the wireless LAN where the communication is performed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and with a user-friendly operation system, the user can reliably perform settings necessary for communication with a wireless communication device desired as a communication partner, and the settings can be performed. It is intended to increase the security level of communication used.

A wireless communication system according to one aspect of the present invention uses a first information for identifying a wireless network and second information related to security as communication information necessary for communication via a wireless network. And each of the second wireless communication devices is a wireless communication system that performs wireless communication with each other via the wireless network, and the second wireless communication device keeps timing from pressing of the first setting switch. The request includes request information for requesting transmission of the communication information in response to pressing of the first setting switch, and including an encryption key for encrypting the first and second information Information is wirelessly transmitted to the first wireless communication device, and the first wireless communication device starts timing from the pressing of the second setting switch, and the predetermined time from the pressing of the second setting switch. In between, the second in response to receiving the request information transmitted from the wireless communication device, the encryption system using the encryption key included in the request information received, the second Encryption obtained by encrypting the first and second information generated in response to pressing of the setting switch for a predetermined time or more, and encrypting the first and second information The second wireless communication apparatus responds to the reception of the encrypted data transmitted from the first wireless communication apparatus within a predetermined time after the first setting switch is pressed. The received encrypted data is decrypted by a decryption method corresponding to the encryption method, and the first and second information obtained by decrypting the encrypted data is set as the communication information, The first wireless communication Each device and the second wireless communication apparatus performs wireless communication with each other by using the communication information set.

  A wireless communication method according to one aspect of the present invention is a method corresponding to the above-described wireless communication system according to one aspect of the present invention.

In the wireless communication system and method according to one aspect of the present invention, the first information for identifying the wireless network and the second information related to security are used as communication information necessary for communication via the wireless network. Each of the wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device performs mutual wireless communication via the wireless network as follows. That is, the second wireless communication apparatus is request information for requesting transmission of the communication information in response to pressing of the first setting switch, and for encrypting the first and second information. The request information including the encryption key is wirelessly transmitted to the first wireless communication apparatus. The request information received by the first wireless communication device in response to receiving the request information transmitted from the second wireless communication device within a predetermined time from the pressing of the second setting switch. The first and second information generated in response to pressing of the second setting switch for a predetermined time or longer is encrypted by an encryption method using the encryption key included in Then, the encrypted data obtained as a result is transmitted. In response to the fact that the encrypted data transmitted from the first wireless communication device is received by the second wireless communication device within a predetermined time from the pressing of the first setting switch. The received encrypted data is decrypted by a decryption method corresponding to the encryption method, and the first and second information obtained by decrypting the encrypted data is set as the communication information, and the first information The wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device perform wireless communication with each other using the set communication information.

A wireless communication device according to one aspect of the present invention is a wireless communication device that performs wireless communication with another wireless communication device via a wireless network, and includes a time measuring unit that starts time measurement from pressing of the first setting switch, generating means for generating a second security information in response to pressing of the first setting switch was made over time determined in advance, within a predetermined time after depression of the first setting switch, the Request information for requesting transmission of communication information necessary for communication via the wireless network, transmitted from the other wireless communication device in response to pressing of a second setting switch provided in the other wireless communication device. Before receiving the request information including the encryption key for encrypting the first information for identifying the wireless network and the second information. Encryption means for encrypting the first and second information by an encryption method using the encryption key included in the request information, and the first and second information as a response corresponding to the request information Transmission control means for performing control to wirelessly transmit the encrypted data obtained by the encryption to the other wireless communication device; and in the other wireless communication device, a predetermined time from pressing of the second setting switch In response to the fact that the encrypted data is received and decrypted by the decryption method corresponding to the encryption method, wireless communication with the other wireless communication device is performed using the first and second information. Wireless communication means to perform.

The generating means generates the second information related to security from a random number.

  The second information is a WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) key.

The first information is an SSID (Service Set Identification) generated in response to a pressing operation on the first setting switch.

The generating means generates the second information related to security from a random number.

  The second information is a WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) key.

  When the received request information includes a common key as the encryption key, the encryption means encrypts the first and second information by a common key encryption method using the common key. When a public key is included as the encryption key, the first and second information are encrypted by a public key encryption method using the public key.

  A wireless communication method and program according to one aspect of the present invention are a method and program corresponding to the above-described wireless communication apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention.

In the wireless communication device, method, and program according to one aspect of the present invention, the following processing is executed by a wireless communication device that performs wireless communication with another wireless communication device via a wireless network. That is, in the wireless communication device , second information related to security is generated in response to pressing of the first setting switch for a predetermined time or more, and a predetermined time has elapsed since the pressing of the first setting switch. Requesting transmission of communication information required for communication via the wireless network transmitted from the other wireless communication device in response to pressing of a second setting switch provided in the other wireless communication device. In response to receiving the request information including an encryption key for encrypting the first information for identifying the wireless network and the second information. The first and second information are encrypted by an encryption method using the encryption key included in the request information, and the first and second responses are sent as responses corresponding to the request information. Distribution of the encrypted data obtained by encryption are transmitted wirelessly to the other radio communication apparatus, in the another wireless communication device, the encrypted data from the pressing of the second setting switch within a predetermined time Is received and decrypted by the decryption method corresponding to the encryption method, wireless communication is performed with the other wireless communication device using the first and second information.

  According to the present invention, wireless communication can be performed after setting wireless communication with a specific communication partner. In particular, with a user-friendly operation system, settings necessary for communication with a wireless communication apparatus that the user desires as a communication partner can be reliably performed, and the security level of communication using the settings can be increased.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a wireless communication system to which the present embodiment is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in a wireless communication system to which the present embodiment is applied, an access point 2 connected to an external network 1 via a wire 21, an external information processing device 4 and a wire 24 are connected. The wireless communication device 3 connected via the wireless communication performs wireless communication via the wireless 23. That is, the wireless communication system to which the present embodiment is applied includes an access point 2 and a wireless communication device 3. For example, an external information processing device 4 is connected to an external network 1. It can be applied when communicating with (not shown).

  In the wireless communication system of FIG. 1, only one access point 2 and one wireless communication device 3 are shown for simplicity of explanation, but of course, the present embodiment is applied. Although not shown, the wireless communication system can also be composed of a plurality of access points including the access point 2 and a plurality of wireless communication devices including the wireless communication device 3.

  In other words, in the wireless communication system to which the present embodiment is applied, a wireless network (including a one-to-one communication form as shown in FIG. 1) is constructed, and wireless communication is performed via the wireless network. Done.

  The access point 2 includes a wireless communication device 11 that performs wireless communication with the wireless communication device 3 via the wireless 23, and an information relay device 12 that relays information exchanged between the wireless communication device 11 and the network 1. Is provided.

  The information relay device 12 is connected to the network 1 via the wire 21 and the wireless communication device 11 via the wire 22, and the information supplied from the network 1 via the wire 21 is transmitted via the wire 22. To the wireless communication device 11. In addition, the information relay device 12 supplies information supplied from the wireless communication device 11 via the wire 22 to the network 1 via the wire 21.

  The wireless communication device 11 transmits information supplied via the wire 22 (information supplied from the network 1 via the wire 21, the information relay device 12, and the wire 22) to the wireless communication device via the wireless 23. 3 is supplied. In addition, the wireless communication device 11 supplies information (information supplied from the wireless communication device 3 via the wireless 23) via the wireless 23 to the information relay device 12 via the wired 22. That is, the wireless communication device 11 converts (converts) a signal transmitted via a wireless network using the wireless 23 into a signal that can be transmitted via the wire 22, and transmits the signal transmitted via the wire 22. Is a converter that converts (converts) the signal into a signal that can be transmitted in a wireless network using the wireless 23.

  The wireless communication device 3 supplies information transmitted through the wire 24 (information supplied from the information processing device 4 via the wire 24) to the wireless communication device 11 through the wireless 23. In addition, the wireless communication device 3 supplies information transmitted by the wireless 23 (information supplied from the wireless communication device 11 through the wireless 23) to the information processing device 4 through the wired 24. That is, the wireless communication device 3 also converts (converts) a signal transmitted through a wireless network using the wireless 23 into a signal that can be transmitted through the wired 24 and transmits the signal transmitted through the wired 24. Is a converter that converts (converts) the signal into a signal that can be transmitted in a wireless network using the wireless 23.

  Therefore, when the wire 22 and the wire 24 are wires used in the same communication method (standard), for example, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and FIGS. 6 to 8 to be described later, the wireless communication device 3 and the wireless communication device 11 can be basically devices having the same configuration and function.

  The forms of the network 1 and the information processing apparatus 4 are not particularly limited, and can take various forms. For example, as the network 1, the Internet or Ethernet (registered trademark) can be applied. Further, for example, a personal computer can be applied as the information processing apparatus 4, and home appliances such as a television receiver, a video tape recorder, or a hard disk recorder can also be applied.

  In the following description, the network 1 is assumed to be Ethernet (registered trademark). That is, in this case, a standard defined by Ethernet (registered trademark) is adopted as a communication method for wired communication.

  In addition, the wireless communication method of wireless communication is not particularly limited, and, for example, a standard such as Bluetooth may be adopted, but in the following, the IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g standard is adopted. Will be described.

  By the way, the setting of wireless communication in the wireless communication system of the present embodiment is executed via the wireless 23.

  Here, information necessary for constructing a wireless network (hereinafter referred to as communication information) is set in each of the wireless communication devices connected to the wireless network (in this case, the wireless communication device 11 and the wireless communication device 3). This is called wireless communication setting.

  In other words, before the wireless network is constructed, wireless communication settings for constructing the wireless network are performed by wireless communication. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a state in which normal wireless communication (wireless communication between wireless communication devices that have been connected by negotiation after the wireless network is constructed) is performed (hereinafter referred to as a normal state). And a state in which wireless communication for setting (wireless communication before the wireless network is constructed) is performed (hereinafter referred to as a wireless communication setting state) is clearly distinguished.

  For this reason, the wireless communication device 11 has a setting switch 31 for shifting the state from the normal state to the wireless communication setting state. That is, the setting switch 31 is a switch that generates a trigger signal that causes the wireless communication device 11 to start setting wireless communication when the user presses the switch.

  Similarly, the wireless communication device 3 also has a setting switch 41 for shifting the state from the normal state to the wireless communication setting state. That is, the setting switch 41 is a switch that generates a trigger signal that causes the wireless communication device 3 to start setting wireless communication by a user's pressing operation.

  Therefore, when the user depresses each of the setting switch 31 and the setting switch 41 (as will be described later, the timing of depressing is not particularly limited as long as both are depressed within a certain period of time). Processing for setting wireless communication with the apparatus 3 is started. That is, each of the wireless communication device 11 and the wireless communication device 3 shifts its own state from the normal state to the wireless communication state.

  Then, the wireless communication device 3 transmits first information for identifying the wireless network as communication information necessary for communication via the wireless network to the wireless communication device 11 (access point 2) wirelessly 23, and security-related first information. Request 2 information. That is, the wireless communication device 3 generates information for requesting the first information and the second information (hereinafter referred to as communication information request), and transmits the information to the wireless communication device 11 (access point 2) by the wireless 23.

  The type of communication request information is not particularly limited, and new information may be generated for setting wireless communication, or predetermined existing information may be used. In this case, since the IEEE802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g standard is adopted, for example, a probe request (request) or a management frame (Management Frame) should be applied as predetermined existing information. Can do.

  In the following, a probe request used for setting up wireless communication, that is, a probe request used as a communication information request is referred to as a normal probe request (after a wireless network is constructed, a communication partner (may be broadcast). In order to distinguish it from a probe request used when making a connection request, it is referred to as a special probe request.

  The wireless communication device 11 (access point 2) receives the first information and the second information set in advance in the wireless communication device 11 itself as a response corresponding to the communication information request transmitted from the wireless communication device 3 by the wireless 23. Information is transmitted to the wireless communication device 3 by the wireless 23.

  In this case, for example, when the communication information request is a special probe request, the wireless communication device 11 (access point 2) can transmit the communication information included in the probe response (response). That is, a field including first information (that is, wireless network identification information) is prepared in the probe response to a normal probe request. Therefore, for example, when a special probe request is transmitted from the wireless communication device 3, the wireless communication device 11 (access point 2) receives the first information (that is, identification of the wireless network) in this field as a response. In addition to (information), a probe response including second information (that is, information related to security) can be generated and transmitted to the wireless communication device 3.

  In the following, the probe response to such a special probe request, that is, in this case, the first information (that is, identification information of the wireless network) and the second information (that is, information related to security) are included. The probe response is referred to as a special probe response in response to a special probe request.

  For example, when a management frame is used for transmission of a communication information request, the wireless communication device 11 (access point 2) transmits communication information (in this case, first information and second information). Can also use the management frame.

  As described above, existing information such as a probe request and a probe response or a management frame can be used for information exchanged by wireless communication settings (information exchanged wirelessly). That is, it is not necessary to define new information and use the defined new information only for wireless communication settings. As a result, for example, wireless communication can be set easily and at low cost.

  The type and number of the first information and the second information used as communication information, that is, the identification information of the wireless network to be constructed and the information related to security are not particularly limited. Since the IEEE802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g standard is adopted as the wireless communication method, for example, it is assumed that an SSID is adopted as identification information and a WEP key is adopted as information related to security.

  Thus, when the setting of wireless communication is completed, the wireless communication device 11 and the wireless communication device 3 can perform wireless communication with each other after performing normal negotiation thereafter. That is, the information processing device 4 includes the wireless communication device 3, the access point 2 (the wireless communication device 11 and the information relay device 12), and other information processing devices connected to the network 1 via the network 1 ( It is possible to communicate with each other (not shown).

  If communication information such as an SSID or WEP key is not set in advance in the wireless communication device 11 of the access point 2, the access point 2 generates communication information by itself, as will be described later. Can be set. The trigger for this process (the process for generating and setting the communication information of the access point 2) is not particularly limited, but here, for example, the trigger is that the setting switch 31 is pressed for a certain period of time (long press). Suppose that this process is started.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the user simply performs a simple operation such as pressing the setting switch 31 of the wireless communication device 11 and the setting switch 41 of the wireless communication device 3, and Wireless communication with the access point 2 (wireless communication device 11) can be set. That is, it becomes possible to solve the above-described conventional first and second problems.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, not only the identification information of the wireless network but also information related to security is set, so that it is possible to ensure the safety of wireless communication in the wireless network after setting. That is, the above-described conventional third problem can be solved.

  In the present embodiment, each of the setting switch 31 and the setting switch 41 is a switch as dedicated hardware, but may be a switch as software or other functions (software It may be used as a switch having a hardware or hardware).

  However, when the setting switch 31 or the setting switch 41 is a switch as software, the display unit for displaying the switch and the operation unit for operating the switch displayed on the display unit include the wireless communication device 11 or the wireless communication device. It is necessary as a component of the device 3.

  In addition, since each of the setting switch 31 and the setting switch 41 is a dedicated switch, the user can easily recognize the function of the switch (that is, the switch for setting wireless communication). Therefore, the user can feel that the setting operation of the wireless communication is easy. That is, the conventional first and second problems can be solved.

  Furthermore, as will be described later, the order of pressing the setting switch 31 and the setting switch 41 is not particularly limited, and is simply a predetermined operation after either one of the setting switch 31 or the setting switch 41 is pressed. Before the time elapses, the other may be pressed. Such freedom of operation (flexibility) also allows the user to experience that the setting operation of wireless communication is easy. That is, the conventional first and second problems can be solved.

  Next, referring to FIGS. 2 to 8, detailed configuration examples of the wireless communication device 11 of the access point 2, the information relay device 12, and the wireless communication device 3 connected to the information processing device 4, respectively. Will be described individually in that order.

  2 and 3 show an example of the external configuration of the wireless communication device 11 of the access point 2. FIG. Specifically, FIG. 2 shows a front view and FIG. 3 shows a back view.

  In FIG. 2, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 32 is provided below the front (in the drawing) of the wireless communication device 11. Of the side surfaces perpendicular to the front, the side below the LED 32 (in the drawing). In addition, the wire 22 is connected. Specifically, in this case, the wire 22 is a LAN cable for Ethernet (registered trademark), for example.

  FIG. 3 shows the back surface of the wireless communication apparatus 11 with the cover 35 attached (the surface opposite to the front surface of FIG. 2). The setting switch 31 described above is provided. The switch 33 is assigned a function other than the wireless communication setting (a function different from the setting switch 31). Specifically, for example, when the switch 33 is pressed, the setting at the time of factory shipment is restored.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the wireless communication device 11 of the access point 2.

  In FIG. 4, the main control unit 51 controls the overall operation of the wireless communication device 11 in synchronization with a clock having a predetermined frequency (for example, 48 MHz) oscillated from the oscillation unit 60.

  The wired communication control unit 52 is connected to the wired connection unit 55 via the wire 22 in synchronization with a clock of a predetermined frequency (for example, 25 MHz) oscillated from the oscillation unit 53 based on the control of the main control unit 51. The wired communication with the other wired communication device (in this case, the information relay device 12) is controlled.

  One end of the wired line 22 is connected to the wired connection unit 55. That is, the wired connection unit 55 is an interface with another wired communication device (in this case, the information relay device 12) to which the other end of the wired 22 is connected. Specifically, for example, in this case, since the wired 22 is an Ethernet (registered trademark) LAN cable, the wired connection unit 55 is a port for connecting the terminal of the Ethernet (registered trademark) LAN cable. It is said.

  The wireless communication control unit 54 controls wireless communication with another wireless communication device (in this case, the wireless communication device 3) connected via a wireless network using the wireless 23.

  That is, the wireless communication control unit 54 and the wired communication control unit 52 convert (convert) information transmitted from the wireless communication device 3 by the wireless 23 into a signal for wired transmission, and the wired connection unit 55 and the wired 22 To the information relay device 12 via Further, the wireless communication control unit 54 and the wired communication control unit 52 wirelessly transmit a signal transmitted via a wire (a signal transmitted from the information relay device 12 and received via the wired 22 and the wired connection unit 55). The signal is converted (converted) into a signal for transmission and transmitted to the wireless communication device 3 by the wireless 23.

  The power supply unit 56 supplies power supplied from the external power source (FIG. 5) via the information relay device 12, the wire 22, and the wire connection unit 55 to the entire wireless communication device 11. In FIG. 4, an arrow indicating that power is supplied to the entire wireless communication device 11 is illustrated, but actually, the power supply unit 56 corresponds to each of the units such as the display unit 58. Supply power individually with voltage. Specifically, for example, when a DC voltage of + 12V is applied from the wired connection unit 55, the power supply unit 56 generates a DC voltage of + 3.3V with a built-in switching regulator, Output and generate a + 1.8V DC voltage from a + 3.3V DC voltage with the built-in linear regulator, and supply it to the corresponding parts.

  In other words, the power used by the wireless communication device 11 is supplied from another device connected to the wired connection unit 55 via the wire 22. Therefore, connecting the wireless communication device 11 to another device (in this case, the information relay device 12) via the wire 22 also means that the wireless communication device 11 is turned on. .

  The operation unit 57 includes the setting switch 31 and the switch 33 described above, and supplies a signal based on a user operation to the main control unit 51.

  The display unit 58 is configured by the above-described LED 32, LED 34, and the like, and performs, for example, status display for transmitting / receiving information. Here, the LED 32 is controlled by the main control unit 51, and the LED 34 is controlled by the wired communication control unit 52.

  Although not shown, the storage unit 59 is configured by, for example, a FLASH ROM (Read Only Memory) or SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) (or a combination thereof), and the main control unit 51 includes various types. Information (including a program) necessary for executing the process is stored.

  That is, the main control unit 51 controls the execution of various processes in accordance with programs loaded in the SDRAM from programs recorded in the FLASH ROM. The SDRAM also appropriately stores data necessary for the main control unit 51 to control the execution of various processes.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of the information relay device 12 of the access point 2.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the information relay device 12 is provided with one or more wired connection units 72 (in FIG. 5, two wired connection units 72-1 and a line connection unit 72-2). A wired connection unit 72 is physically (wired) connected by the relay unit 71. That is, the information relay device 12 relays information exchanged between the devices connected to the wired connection unit 72-1 and the wired 72-2.

  Specifically, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, one end of the wired 21 is connected to the wired connection unit 72-1, and the network 1 (another information processing apparatus not illustrated) is connected to the other end of the wired 21. In addition, when one end of the wire 22 is connected to the wire connection unit 72-2 and the wireless communication device 11 is connected to the other end of the wire 22, the information supplied from the network 1 is the wire 21, wire connection The wireless communication device 11 is supplied via the unit 72-1, the relay unit 71, the wired connection unit 72-2, and the wired 22. Further, the information supplied from the wireless communication device 11 is supplied to the network 1 via the wire 22, the wire connection unit 72-2, the relay unit 71, the wire connection unit 72-1, and the wire 21.

  As described above, the wired connection unit 72-1 and the wired connection unit 72-2 are connected to the wired communication device (in this case, another wired communication device connected to the network 1) in the same manner as the wired connection unit 55 (FIG. 4). Or an interface with a wireless communication device 11) functioning as a wired communication device. Specifically, for example, in this case, the wired 21 and the wired 22 are Ethernet (registered trademark) LAN cables, so the wired connection unit 72-1 and the wired connection unit 72-2 are Ethernet (registered). (Trademark) LAN cable terminal.

  The power supply unit 73 supplies power supplied from an external power source to the router function execution unit 74. Furthermore, the power supply unit 73 supplies power supplied from an external power source to the wireless communication device 11 via the relay unit 71 and the wired connection unit 72-2.

  The information relay apparatus 12 is further provided with a router function execution unit 74 as necessary (when no other router is connected to the network 1), and the router function execution unit 74 executes the function of the router.

  That is, as a function of the router, for example, a part of the protocol of the network layer (third layer) and transport layer (fourth layer) defined in the “OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) basic reference model” is analyzed and transferred. The function to perform is included. Specifically, for example, as a function of the router, a route selection function for judging which route should be forwarded by looking at the address of the network layer is included. For example, the function of the router includes a function of discarding all data other than the protocol supported by the router itself.

  The "OSI Basic Reference Model" divides the communication functions that a computer should have into seven layers based on the network structure design policy "OSI" established by ISO to realize data communication between different models. This is a model in which standard function modules are defined for each layer.

  However, when another router (not shown) is connected to the network 1, the router function execution unit 74 is not an essential configuration for the information relay device 12.

  6 and 7 show an example of the external configuration of the wireless communication device 3 connected to the information processing device 4. As described above, the wireless communication device 3 can have the same configuration and function as the wireless communication device 11. 6 and 7 showing an example of the external configuration of the wireless communication device 3 are basically the same as FIGS. 2 and 3 showing the external configuration example of the wireless communication device 11 described above. It is said that. Therefore, the description of FIGS. 6 and 7 is omitted.

  Similarly, FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the wireless communication device 3 connected to the information processing device 4, but is basically the same as FIG. 4 illustrating an internal configuration example of the wireless communication device 11. The figure is similar. That is, each of the main control unit 91 to the oscillation unit 100 in FIG. 8 has basically the same configuration and function as each of the main control unit 51 to the oscillation unit 60 in FIG. Therefore, the description of FIG. 8 is omitted.

  FIG. 9 illustrates a configuration example of software for performing wireless communication settings of the wireless communication device 11 (access point side) and the wireless communication device 3. These softwares are comprised of a plurality of modules as shown in FIG. Each module has one independent algorithm and performs unique operations according to that algorithm. That is, for example, the module of the wireless communication device 11 is stored in a flash ROM (not shown) of the storage unit 59 in FIG. 4 and is appropriately read by the main control unit 51 (into an SDRAM (not shown) of the storage unit 59. Expanded) and executed. Similarly, for example, the module of the wireless communication device 3 is stored in a flash ROM (not shown) of the storage unit 99 in FIG. 8 and is appropriately read by the main control unit 91 (an SDRAM (not shown) of the storage unit 99. To be executed).

  In FIG. 9, paying attention to the wireless communication device 11, the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 changes the state of the wireless communication device 11.

  That is, as described above, the state of the wireless communication device 11 is the normal state (that is, a state in which wireless communication with other wireless communication devices is possible). When the setting switch 31 is pressed in the normal state, the wireless communication device 11 shifts (changes) the state from the normal state to the wireless communication setting state. For the wireless communication device 11, in this wireless communication setting state, communication information (in this case, SSID and WEP key) is transmitted to the wireless communication device (in this case, the wireless communication device 3) that will perform wireless communication. It can also be said that this is possible. Therefore, hereinafter, the wireless communication setting state in the wireless communication device 11 is referred to as a communication information transmission standby state.

  In other words, for example, when detecting that the setting switch 31 has been pressed, the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 changes (transitions) the state of the wireless communication device 11 from the normal state to the communication information transmission standby state. Further, for example, when the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 detects that the communication information transmission module 124 described later has completed control for transmitting communication information, the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 changes the state of the wireless communication device 11 to the communication information transmission standby state. To transition to the normal state.

  For example, when the communication information generation module 122 detects that the setting switch 31 has been pressed for a certain period of time (long press), the communication information generation module 122 generates communication information (SSID and WEP key in this case) necessary for wireless communication. The communication information transmission module 124 is supplied, and the wireless communication device 11 (access point 2) itself is set for wireless communication using the generated communication information. The communication information generation method is not particularly limited. For example, when a 128-bit WEP key is adopted, the communication information generation module 122 generates a random number, and the 128-bit WEP key and SSID are generated from the generated random number. Can be generated.

  If it is assumed that communication information is set in advance in the wireless communication device 11, the communication information generation module 122 is not essential as a configuration of the wireless communication device 11. However, in the following description, it is assumed that the communication information is generated by the communication information generation module 122.

  The communication information request receiving module 123 controls the wireless communication device 11 to receive a communication information request transmitted wirelessly from the wireless communication device 3, and the wireless communication device 11 has received the communication information request normally. If it is confirmed, this is notified to the communication information transmission module 124.

  When the communication information transmission module 124 is notified by the communication information request reception module 123 that the communication information request has been received, the wireless communication device 11 transmits communication information generated in advance by the communication information generation module 122 (as will be described later). In addition, the encryption module 125 may be encrypted to the wireless communication apparatus 3 wirelessly. The communication information transmission module 124 also notifies the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 when the transmission control is completed (when it is confirmed that the communication information is normally transmitted from the wireless communication device 11). That is, as described above, upon receiving this notification, the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 returns (transitions) the state of the wireless communication device 11 from the communication information transmission standby state to the normal state.

  The encryption module 125 encrypts the communication information generated by the communication information generation module 122 (or set in advance) and supplied to the communication information transmission module 124. That is, when the communication information is supplied from the communication information transmission module 124 before being transmitted, the encryption module 125 encrypts the communication information using a predetermined encryption method, and the communication information transmission module 124. To supply. The communication information transmission module 124 controls the wireless communication device 11 to transmit this encrypted communication information to the wireless communication device 3.

  As described above, the communication information is encrypted, so that the safety of communication can be further improved. In other words, in the present embodiment, the wireless communication setting is performed before the wireless communication between the target wireless communication devices (in this case, the wireless communication device 11 and the wireless communication device 3) is established. Communication information) may be leaked. Therefore, in such a case, if the communication information is encrypted, it is difficult for the other information processing apparatus to read the communication information even if the communication information leaks to the other information processing apparatus. Become. That is, even if communication information is leaked, if the communication information is encrypted, the contents can be protected.

  The encryption method is not particularly limited, and for example, a common key encryption can be applied as the encryption method.

  Common key encryption, also called symmetric encryption, has the property that the encryption key used for encrypting data and the encryption key used for decryption are the same (or one encryption key, even if they are different encryption keys). This is an encryption algorithm having the property that it is easy to calculate the other encryption key from the key. Common key cryptosystems include, for example, DES (Data Encryption Standard), Triple DES, and NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation) (Fast) developed by the US Bureau of Commerce Standards Bureau. Data Encipherment Algorithm) is known.

  Specifically, for example, first, the wireless communication device 3 transmits the common key to the wireless communication device 11 by some method (for example, included in the communication information request).

  The encryption module 125 encrypts the communication information using this common key, and the wireless communication device 11 wirelessly transmits the encrypted communication information to the wireless communication device 3 based on the control of the communication information transmission module 124. Supply.

  The wireless communication device 3 (decryption module 135 described later) can obtain communication information by decrypting the encrypted communication information using the common key previously sent to the wireless communication device 11.

  Such a common key encryption method is a technology that can be easily understood by those skilled in the art, for example, standardized in ISO / IEC (International Electro technical Commission) 9798-2. Therefore, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Further, as an encryption method, for example, SSL (Secure Socket Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security) can be used.

  SSL and TLS are security technologies that can avoid threats such as “wiretapping”, “tampering”, or “spoofing” on the network.

  Note that SSL was developed by Netscap (trade name) and is now widely used as an encryption communication protocol on networks such as the Internet. TLS is being developed and standardized by IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force), and RFC (Request For Comments) 2246 is published. Therefore, since there are many documents about details of SSL and TLS, and these are techniques that can be easily understood by those skilled in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  Next, paying attention to the wireless communication device 3 connected to the information processing device 4, the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 changes the state of the wireless communication device 3.

  That is, as described above, when the state of the wireless communication device 3 is in the normal state, when the setting switch 41 is pressed, the wireless communication device 3 changes the state from the normal state to the wireless communication setting state. Transition (transition). For the wireless communication device 3, this wireless communication setting state is the communication information (in this case, the SSID and WEP key) transmitted from the wireless communication device (in this case, the wireless communication device 11) that will perform wireless communication. It can also be said that reception is possible. Therefore, hereinafter, the wireless communication setting state in the wireless communication device 3 is referred to as a communication information reception standby state.

  That is, for example, when the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 detects that the setting switch 41 is pressed, the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 changes the state of the wireless communication device 3 from the normal state to the communication information reception standby state. This is notified to the communication information request transmission module 132.

  The communication information reception standby state transition module 131 detects, for example, that the communication information setting module 134 (described later) has set (completed) the wireless communication of the wireless communication device 3 itself. The state is shifted (shifted) from the communication information reception standby state to the normal state.

  When the communication information request transmission module 132 is notified by the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 that the state of the wireless communication apparatus 3 has changed to the communication information reception standby state (that is, when the setting switch 41 is pressed). ), A communication information request is generated, and the wireless communication device 3 performs control to wirelessly transmit to the wireless communication device 11.

  The communication information receiving module 133 performs control so that the wireless communication device 3 receives communication information (in this case, SSID and WEP key) transmitted wirelessly from the wireless communication device 11.

  Further, when the communication information received by the wireless communication device 3 is encrypted, the communication information receiving module 133 supplies the encrypted communication information to the decryption module 135, and the communication information decrypted by the decryption module 135. Is supplied to the communication information setting module 134.

  On the other hand, when the communication information received by the wireless communication device 3 is not encrypted, the communication information receiving module 133 supplies the communication information as it is to the communication information setting module 134.

  When communication information is supplied from the communication information receiving module 133, the communication information setting module 134 sets the supplied communication information in the wireless communication device 3 itself.

  The communication information setting module 134 notifies the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 of the completion of the wireless communication setting. That is, as described above, the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 receives this notification and returns (transitions) the state of the wireless communication device 3 from the communication information reception standby state to the normal state.

  Next, wireless communication setting processing in the wireless communication system of FIG. 1 to which the present embodiment is applied will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 10 and 11 and the arrow charts of FIGS. The flowchart of FIG. 10 represents an example of setting processing of the wireless communication device 11 on the access point 2 side. FIG. 11 illustrates a setting process example of the wireless communication device 3 connected to the information processing device 4. FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 show the processing relationship between the wireless communication device 11 and the wireless communication device 3. Specifically, FIG. 12 illustrates an example in which a special probe request is used for transmitting a communication information request and a special probe response is used for transmitting communication information. On the other hand, FIG. 13 shows an example in which a management frame is used for a communication information request and transmission of communication information.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the setting processing of the wireless communication device 11 and the wireless communication device 3 will be described individually in that order. The relationship between the processing of these devices is shown in FIG. It can be easily understood by referring to the corresponding steps.

  Here, the wireless communication device 11 on the access point 2 side generates communication information (in this case, SSID and WEP key), and has already set it to itself. Description will be made assuming that the initial state of the wireless communication device 3 (current state) is a normal state.

  First, the wireless communication setting process of the wireless communication device 11 on the access point 2 side will be described with reference to FIG. 10, FIG. 12, and FIG.

  In step S1, the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 of FIG. 9 determines whether or not the setting switch 31 is in an on state.

  If it is determined in step S1 that the setting switch 31 is not in the on state, the process returns to step S1, and it is determined again whether or not the setting switch 31 is in the on state.

  In other words, the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 constantly monitors the state (on state or off state) of the setting switch 31.

  When the setting switch 31 is pressed, the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 determines in step 1 that the setting switch 31 is on, and in step S2, the state of the wireless communication device 11 is changed from the normal state. Transition to the communication information transmission standby state (transition).

  At this time, the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 may display information that clearly indicates that the communication information transmission standby state is in the display unit 58 (FIG. 4).

  In step S3, the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 starts measuring time. The method of timing is not particularly limited, and the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 may perform timing based on, for example, a clock from the oscillation unit 60 (FIG. 4) or count to a timer (not shown). Time may be measured by starting the operation and acquiring the count value of the timer.

  In step S4, the communication information transmission module 124 determines whether a communication information request has been received.

  The communication information transmission module 124 determines that the communication information request has not been received in step S4, unless the communication information request reception module 123 has received the reception of the communication information request, and measures the time for a certain time in step S7. It is determined whether or not.

  That is, for example, when the communication information transmission module 124 determines in step S4 that a communication information request has not been received, in step S7 the time counted by the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 (in the process of step S3). It is determined whether or not a predetermined time has been measured by determining whether or not the detected time exceeds a predetermined threshold.

  If it is determined in step S7 that the time has been measured for a certain time (timeout), the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 ends the time measurement in step S8, executes predetermined error processing, and sets wireless communication. End the process.

  That is, if a communication information request is not sent within a certain time after the setting switch 31 is pressed, the wireless communication device 11 considers that the wireless communication setting has been canceled or some abnormality has occurred. Error processing is executed.

  At this time, the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 may return the state of the wireless communication apparatus 11 to the normal state (may be changed), or the normal state or communication information transmission standby. A state different from the state may be newly set, and a transition to the set new state may be made.

  Further, the error process in step S8 is not essential, and the error process may or may not be executed. That is, the purpose of the process of step S8 is to shift the state of the wireless communication device 11 from the communication information transmission standby state to another state (normal state or the like).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that the predetermined time has not been measured, the process returns to step S4, and it is determined again whether or not a communication information request has been received. That is, the communication information transmission module 124 always monitors that a communication information request is received when the state of the wireless communication device 11 is changed to the communication information transmission standby state.

  In a normal case, as will be described later, when the setting switch 31 is turned on (pressed), the setting switch 41 on the wireless communication apparatus 3 side is also pressed within a certain time (or before that).

  As a result, the wireless communication device 3 also shifts its state to the communication information reception standby state, generates a communication information request, and transmits the generated communication information request to the wireless communication device 11 by the wireless 23 (FIG. 1). (Steps S21 to S24 in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 or FIG. 13).

  In FIG. 12, the communication information request is a special probe request. On the other hand, in FIG. 13, the communication information request is management frame (broadcast) information, and a public key is also sent.

  Then, the communication information request receiving module 123 controls the reception of the communication information request, and when confirming that the communication information request has been normally received, notifies the communication information transmitting module 124 of the fact. If the communication information request includes a public key (in the case of FIG. 13), the communication information request receiving module 123 provides the public key to the encryption module 125, although not shown.

  When receiving a notification that the communication information request has been normally received from the communication information request receiving module 123, the communication information transmitting module 124 determines in step S4 that the communication information request has been received, and in step S5, the communication information request is received. Control is performed so that the wireless communication device 11 transmits the communication information (SSID and WEP key in this case) generated in advance by the information generation module 122 to the wireless communication device 3 by the wireless 23 (see FIG. 1).

  If the communication information needs to be encrypted, the encryption module 125 encrypts the communication information to be transmitted at this time (at the time of step S5), and the communication information transmission module 124 has been encrypted. Controls transmission of communication information. For example, when the public key is included in the communication information request (in the case of FIG. 13), the encryption module 125 encrypts the communication information with the public key, and the communication information transmission module 124 uses the encrypted communication. Controls transmission of information using a management frame (Unicast).

  When the communication information request is a special probe request (in the case of FIG. 12), a special probe response (a special probe response in which an SSID and a WEP key are inserted in the SSID column of a normal probe response) is a wireless communication device. 11 is transmitted.

  When the communication information transmission module 124 confirms that the communication information has been transmitted normally, the communication information transmission module 124 notifies the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 of that fact.

  Upon receiving this notification, the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 ends the time measurement in step S6 and shifts the state of the wireless communication apparatus 11 to the normal state. Thus, the wireless communication setting process of the wireless communication device 11 on the access point 2 side is completed.

  Thereafter, normal negotiation is performed, and the wireless communication device 11 and the wireless communication device 3 on the access point 2 side perform wireless communication. Note that the processing after the wireless communication setting processing (that is, the processing of the wireless communication device 11 in the normal state) is not directly related to the present invention and can be easily understood by those skilled in the art. To do.

  In the example of FIG. 10, when the communication information is transmitted, the state of the wireless communication device 11 is shifted to the normal state. However, the timing of shifting to the normal state is not limited to the example of FIG. For example, it may be the time when new information such as an acknowledgment is received from the wireless communication device 3.

  Next, referring to FIG. 11, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13, the wireless communication device 3 connected to the information processing device 4 with respect to the wireless communication setting process of the wireless communication device 11 on the access point 2 side described above. The wireless communication setting process will be described.

  In step S21, the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 in FIG. 9 determines whether or not the setting switch 41 is in an on state.

  If it is determined in step S21 that the setting switch 41 is not in the on state, the process returns to step S21, and it is determined again whether or not the setting switch 41 is in the on state.

  That is, the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 constantly monitors the state (on state or off state) of the setting switch 41.

  When the setting switch 41 is pressed, the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 determines in step 21 that the setting switch 41 is on, and in step S22, changes the state of the wireless communication device 3 from the normal state. Transition to the communication information reception standby state (transition).

  At this time, the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 may display information that clearly indicates that the communication information reception standby state is in the display unit 98 (FIG. 8).

  In step S23, the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 starts measuring time. The timing method is not particularly limited, and the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 is, for example, the oscillation unit 100 (see FIG. 5) similarly to the wireless communication device 11 (communication information transmission standby state transition module 121) on the access point 2 side. The time may be measured based on the clock from 8), or the time may be measured by starting a count operation by a timer (not shown) and acquiring the count value of the timer.

  Then, the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 notifies the communication information request transmission module 132 that the state of the wireless communication device 3 has been shifted to the communication information reception standby state.

  Upon receiving this notification, the communication information request transmission module 132 generates a communication information request in step S24, and controls the wireless communication device 3 to transmit the communication information request to the wireless communication device 11 by wire.

  Note that the destination of the communication information request at this time may be addressed to the access point 2 (wireless communication apparatus 11) or may be broadcast.

  In step S25, the communication information receiving module 133 determines whether the communication information has been received.

  Unless the communication information is supplied, the communication information receiving module 133 determines in step S25 that the communication information has not been received, and in step S28 determines whether or not the time has been measured for a certain time.

  That is, for example, when the communication information receiving module 133 determines in step S25 that the communication information has not been received, the time measured by the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 in step S28 (the time measurement in the process of step S23). The time from the start time to the time at that time) is detected, and whether or not the detected time exceeds a predetermined threshold value is determined to determine whether or not a certain time has been counted.

  If it is determined in step S28 that the time has been measured for a certain time (timeout), the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 ends the time measurement in step S29, executes predetermined error processing, and sets wireless communication. End the process.

  That is, if the communication information is not sent within a certain time after the setting switch 41 is pressed, the wireless communication device 3 regards that the wireless communication setting has been canceled or that some abnormality has occurred, Error processing is executed.

  At this time, the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 may return the state of the wireless communication apparatus 3 to the normal state (may be changed), or may be the normal state or the communication information reception standby. A state different from the state may be newly set, and a transition to the set new state may be made.

  Further, the error processing in step S29 is not essential, and the error processing may or may not be executed. That is, the purpose of the process of step S29 is to shift the state of the wireless communication device 11 from the communication information reception standby state to another state (normal state or the like).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S28 that the predetermined time has not been measured, the process returns to step S25, and it is determined again whether or not the communication information has been received.

  In a normal case, as described above, when the setting switch 41 is turned on (pressed), the setting switch 31 on the wireless communication apparatus 11 side is also pressed within a certain time (or before that), and the step In the process of S2, the state of the wireless communication device 11 is shifted to the communication information transmission standby state. When the communication information request transmitted from the wireless communication device 3 is received by the wireless communication device 11 via the wireless 23 (see FIG. 1), that is, it is determined that the communication information request has been received in the process of step S4. Then, communication information (SSID and WEP key in this case) is transmitted from the wireless communication device 11 in the process of step S5.

  Since the communication information transmitted from the wireless communication device 11 is transmitted to the wireless communication device 3 by the wireless 23 (see FIG. 1), the communication information receiving module 133 controls reception of the communication information, and the communication information is If it is confirmed that the communication information has been normally received, it is determined in step S25 that the communication information has been received, and the communication information is supplied to the communication information setting module 134.

  If the communication information is encrypted, the communication information receiving module 133 supplies the encrypted communication information to the decryption module 135 at this time, and the decrypted communication information is supplied from the decryption module 135. And supplies it to the communication information setting module 134. For example, when the wireless communication device 3 includes the common key in the communication information request and transmits it to the wireless communication device 11 (in the case of FIG. 13), the communication information is encrypted with the common key. Decrypt communication information using it.

  Then, in step S26, the communication information setting module 134 sets the received communication information (in this case, SSID and WEP key) in the wireless communication device 3 itself. The reception standby state transition module 131 is notified.

  Upon receipt of this notification, the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 ends the time measurement in step S27 and shifts the state of the wireless communication device 3 to the normal state. Thereby, the wireless communication setting process of the wireless communication device 3 is completed.

  As described above, when the respective wireless communication setting processes of the wireless communication device 3 and the wireless communication device 11 are completed, normal negotiation is performed thereafter, and wireless communication with the wireless communication device 11 on the access point 2 side is performed. The device 3 can perform wireless communication. Note that the processing after the wireless communication setting processing (that is, the processing of the wireless communication device 3 in the normal state) is not directly related to the present invention and is easily understood by those skilled in the art. To do.

  Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the information processing device 4 is connected to the network 1 via the wireless communication device 3, the access point 2 (the wireless communication device 11 and the information relay device 12), and the network 1. It is possible to communicate with another information processing apparatus (not shown).

Thus, in the wireless communication system of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, each of the access point 2 (wireless communication apparatus 11) and the wireless communication apparatus 3 transmits a predetermined signal based on a user operation. When input (that is, when each of the setting switch 31 and the setting switch 32 in FIG. 1 is pressed), the access point 2 (wireless communication apparatus 11) uses the identification information in the wireless network (in this case, SSID) and security-related information (in this case, a WEP key) are transmitted to the wireless communication device 3 by the wireless 23, and the wireless communication device 3 sets the communication information to itself.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, a personal computer is not required for wireless communication settings (since it is not necessary to use a setting tool installed in the personal computer), that is, manual device registration is performed. Since information necessary for wireless communication setting is exchanged with a predetermined trigger, the setting information (for example, the above-described communication) of the access point (for example, the wireless communication device 11 of the access point 2 in FIG. 1) can be easily operated by the user. The information (including not only identification information such as SSID but also information related to security such as a WEP key) can be set in the station (for example, the wireless communication device 3 in FIG. 1). That is, the first to third conventional problems described above can be solved.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, each of the access point and the station performs independent time management, and determines a wireless communication setting error based on the time management.

  Specifically, for example, when the access point 2 (wireless communication device 11) starts the wireless communication setting process first, the access point 2 (wireless communication device 11) is in a communication information transmission standby state for a certain period of time. If a communication information request from the station (wireless communication apparatus 3) is not received during this time, it times out and enters a normal state (or a communication information transmission standby state or a predetermined state different from the normal state). Transition to. On the other hand, when the station (wireless communication device 3) starts the wireless communication setting process first, the station (wireless communication device 3) enters a communication information reception standby state for a certain period of time. When the communication information from the (wireless communication apparatus 11) is not received, it times out and transitions to a normal state (or a communication information transmission standby state or a predetermined state different from the normal state).

  Accordingly, the respective timings of triggers for setting wireless communication between the access point 2 (wireless communication device 11) and the station (wireless communication device 3) (that is, in this case, the timing when the setting button 31 and the setting button 41 are pressed). As a result, the user can give a trigger to each of the access point 2 (wireless communication device 11) and the station (wireless communication device 3) according to his / her own preference.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, each of the access point 2 (wireless communication device 11) and the station (wireless communication device 3) performs independent time management, that is, the start timing of mutual wireless communication setting. Therefore, for an access point other than the access point 2 desired by the user as a communication partner (such as an access point managed by something other than the user), the start timing of the wireless communication setting is set. It becomes difficult to plan. That is, it becomes difficult for an access point other than the access point 2 that the user desires as a communication partner to set up wireless communication with the station (wireless communication device 3) owned by the user, and the safety of wireless communication is achieved. . That is, the above-described conventional third problem can be solved.

  By the way, the radio | wireless communications system with which this Embodiment is applied is not limited to the form shown by FIG. 1, but can take various forms.

  For example, in FIG. 1, the device (that is, the station) that performs wireless communication with the access point 2 (the wireless communication device 11) is the wireless communication device 3 that is connected to the other information processing device 4 (that is, the device). Although the other information processing apparatus 4 is substantially communicated), it may be an independent apparatus.

  In this case, of course, the wireless communication device 3 may perform wireless communication with the access point 2 (wireless communication device 11) independently (without being connected to another device). For example, the access point 2 (wireless communication) As a device for performing wireless communication with the device 11), a personal computer as shown in FIG. 14 can be used.

  In FIG. 14, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 executes various processes according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202 or a program loaded from a storage unit 208 to a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203. To do.

  That is, for example, the program including the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 to the decryption module 135 shown in FIG. 9 described above is stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, a storage unit 208, or the like. The module will be read and executed.

  The RAM 203 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 201 to execute various processes.

  The CPU 201, the ROM 202, and the RAM 203 are connected to each other via the bus 204. An input / output interface 205 is also connected to the bus 204.

  Connected to the input / output interface 205 are an input unit 206 such as a keyboard and a mouse, an output unit 207 composed of a display, a storage unit 208 composed of a hard disk, a wired communication unit 209, and a wireless communication unit 210. Yes.

  That is, the wireless communication unit 210 controls, for example, wireless communication with the wireless communication device 11 of the access point 2.

  In addition, the trigger signal for starting the setting process of wireless communication may be input from a switch as hardware, such as the setting switch 31 and the setting switch 41 described above (in this case, such a switch is an input unit) 206 may be input from a switch as software.

  A drive 211 is connected to the input / output interface 205 as necessary, and a removable recording medium 212 made up of a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like is appropriately mounted, and a computer read from them A program (for example, a program as shown in FIG. 9) is installed in the storage unit 208 as necessary.

  Furthermore, the wireless communication device 11 on the access point 2 side is not limited to the devices shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 described above, and for example, the personal computer shown in FIG. 14 can be used.

  In this case, for example, a program including the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 to the encryption module 125 shown in FIG. 9 described above is stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, a storage unit 208, or the like. Each module is read and executed as appropriate.

  In addition, the wireless communication unit 210 controls wireless communication with, for example, the wireless communication device 3 or another persol computer.

  Furthermore, if such a personal computer does not have the wireless communication unit 210, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, for example, if it has a PC card connection unit 221 connected to the input / output interface 205, By connecting (mounting) the wireless LAN PC card 222 to the PC card connection unit 221, wireless communication can be easily performed.

  In other words, in FIG. 1, the information processing device 4 can be regarded as a personal computer having the configuration of FIG. 15, and the wireless communication device 3 connected to the information processing device 4 can be regarded as a wireless LAN PC card 222. .

  Furthermore, it is not essential for the wireless communication device 11 to function as an access point of the external network 1. In the present embodiment, the wireless communication device 11 and the wireless communication device 3 can simply perform wireless communication with each other. That's fine. That is, in the above-described example, the embodiment is an embodiment in which an external network is connected via an access point, that is, an embodiment in a so-called infrastructure mode, but this embodiment is not connected via an access point. In addition, a so-called ad-hoc mode in which wireless communication apparatuses perform wireless communication can be applied. In this case, any one of the wireless communication device 11, the wireless communication device 3, or the personal computer having the configuration of FIG. 14 or FIG. 15 is a master, and the other devices are slaves. Therefore, each of the master and the slave can perform the above-described series of processing to set the wireless communication.

  The master here refers to a device that first outputs a beacon. When the beacon output from the master is interrupted for some reason, the slave starts to output a beacon after obtaining a random number period and becomes a new master. In addition, when the master detects a beacon output from other than itself, the master determines which of the master itself and the other device that outputs the detected beacon has priority based on the time stamp, and the master becomes the slave. It may change.

  Furthermore, as described above, the communication method of the wireless communication system to which the present embodiment is applied is not limited to the wireless LAN, and may be another wireless communication method such as Bluetooth (Bluetooth).

  By the way, when each module shown in FIG. 9 described above executes a predetermined function, a program constituting the software is installed from a network or a recording medium.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, this recording medium is a magnetic disk (including a floppy disk) on which a program is stored, which is distributed to provide a program to the user separately from the apparatus main body. Package media (removable recording) consisting of optical disks (including CD-ROM (compact disk-read only memory), DVD (digital versatile disk)), magneto-optical disks (including MD (mini-disk)), or semiconductor memory In addition to the medium 212), the medium is provided with a ROM 202 storing a program, a hard disk included in the storage unit 208, and the like provided to the user in a state of being incorporated in the apparatus main body in advance. In addition, the storage unit 59 in FIG. 4 or the storage unit 99 in FIG.

  Further, the form of each module shown in FIG. 9 is not limited as long as it fulfills its function.

  That is, for example, the module may be configured by hardware or the like. In that case, the manufacturer or the like, for example, manufactures hardware corresponding to the communication information transmission standby state transition module 121 to the encryption module 125 of FIG. 9 and connects them as shown in FIG. Thus, it is possible to easily realize a part for setting the wireless communication of the wireless communication device on the access point side having a configuration different from that of FIG. 4, FIG. 14, or FIG. Further, for example, a manufacturer can easily manufacture hardware corresponding to the communication information reception standby state transition module 131 to the decryption module 135 in FIG. 9 and connect them as shown in FIG. In addition, it is possible to realize a part for setting wireless communication of the wireless communication apparatus (station side) having a configuration different from that of FIG. 8, FIG. 14, or FIG.

  Further, for example, the configuration of the program is not limited to the example of FIG. 9, for example, a module in which some or all of the functions of several modules shown in FIG. 9 are combined or shown in FIG. 9. A module configuration may be made up of modules in which the module functions are divided. Or the program which has only one algorithm may be sufficient.

  In the present specification, the step of describing the program recorded on the recording medium is not limited to the processing performed in chronological order according to the described order, but is not necessarily performed in chronological order. It also includes processes that are executed individually.

  Further, in the present specification, the system represents the entire apparatus including a plurality of apparatuses and processing units.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the radio | wireless communications system with which this Embodiment is applied. It is a front view which shows the structural example of the external appearance of the radio | wireless communication apparatus of the access point of FIG. It is a back surface (back surface) figure which shows the structural example of the radio | wireless communication apparatus of the access point of FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of a wireless communication device of the access point in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of an information relay device of an access point in FIG. 1. It is a front view which shows the structural example of the external appearance of the radio | wireless communication apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus of FIG. It is a back surface (back surface) figure which shows the structural example of the radio | wireless communication apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of a wireless communication device connected to the information processing device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration example of software for executing a wireless communication setting function of each of a wireless communication device connected to the information processing device of FIG. 1 and a wireless communication device of an access point. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a wireless communication setting process of the access point wireless communication apparatus of FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a wireless communication setting process of a wireless communication apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus of FIG. 3 is an arrow chart illustrating a relationship between setting examples of wireless communication between the wireless communication device of the access point of FIG. 1 and the wireless communication device connected to the information processing device of FIG. 6 is an arrow chart showing the relationship of another example of setting processing for wireless communication between the wireless communication device of the access point of FIG. 1 and the wireless communication device connected to the information processing device of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the other structural example of the radio | wireless communication apparatus which comprises the radio | wireless communications system to which this Embodiment is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the further another structural example of the radio | wireless communication apparatus which comprises the radio | wireless communications system with which this Embodiment is applied.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network, 2 Access point, 3 Wireless communication apparatus, 4 Information processing apparatus, 11 Wireless communication apparatus, 12 Information relay apparatus, 21 and 22 Wired, 23 Wireless, 24 Wired, 31, 41 Setting switch, 51 Main control part, 52 Wired communication control unit, 54 Wireless communication control unit, 55 Wired connection unit, 56 Power supply unit, 91 Main control unit, 92 Wired communication control unit, 94 Wireless communication control unit, 95 Wired connection unit, 96 Power supply unit, 121 Communication Information transmission standby state transition module, 122 Communication information generation module, 123 Communication information request reception module, 124 Communication information transmission module, 125 Encryption module, 131 Communication information reception standby state transition module, 132 Communication information request transmission module, 133 Communication information Receive mod , 134 Communication information setting module, 135 Decoding module, 201 CPU, 202 ROM, 203 RAM, 206 Input unit, 208 Storage unit, 209 Wired communication unit, 210 Wireless communication unit, 212 Removable recording medium, 222 Wireless LAN PC card

Claims (11)

As communication information necessary for communication via a wireless network, each of the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device using the first information for identifying the wireless network and the second information related to security is used. In a wireless communication system that performs wireless communication with each other via the wireless network,
The second wireless communication device is:
Start timing from pressing the first setting switch,
The request information that requests transmission of the communication information in response to pressing of the first setting switch, and the request information includes an encryption key for encrypting the first and second information. Wirelessly transmitting to the first wireless communication device;
The first wireless communication device is:
Start timing from pressing the second setting switch,
In response to receiving the request information transmitted from the second wireless communication device within a predetermined time from the pressing of the second setting switch, the encryption key included in the received request information is used. And encrypting the first and second information generated in response to pressing of the second setting switch for a predetermined time or more ,
Sending encrypted data obtained by encrypting the first and second information;
The second wireless communication apparatus responds to the reception of the encrypted data transmitted from the first wireless communication apparatus within a predetermined time from the pressing of the first setting switch. Decrypting the received encrypted data by a decryption method corresponding to the method,
As the communication information, set the first and second information obtained by decrypting the encrypted data,
A wireless communication system in which each of the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device performs wireless communication with each other using the set communication information. As communication information necessary for communication via a wireless network, each of the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device using the first information for identifying the wireless network and the second information related to security is used. In a wireless communication method of a wireless communication system for performing wireless communication with each other via a wireless network,
The second wireless communication device is:
Start timing from pressing the first setting switch,
The request information that requests transmission of the communication information in response to pressing of the first setting switch, and the request information includes an encryption key for encrypting the first and second information. Wirelessly transmitting to the first wireless communication device;
The first wireless communication device is:
Start timing from pressing the second setting switch,
In response to receiving the request information transmitted from the second wireless communication device within a predetermined time from the pressing of the second setting switch, the encryption key included in the received request information is used. And encrypting the first and second information generated in response to pressing of the second setting switch for a predetermined time or more ,
Sending encrypted data obtained by encrypting the first and second information;
The second wireless communication apparatus responds to the reception of the encrypted data transmitted from the first wireless communication apparatus within a predetermined time from the pressing of the first setting switch. Decrypting the received encrypted data by a decryption method corresponding to the method,
As the communication information, set the first and second information obtained by decrypting the encrypted data,
A wireless communication method in which each of the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device performs wireless communication with each other using the set communication information. In a wireless communication device that performs wireless communication with another wireless communication device via a wireless network,
A time measuring means for starting time counting from the pressing of the first setting switch;
Generating means for generating second information related to security in response to pressing of the first setting switch for a predetermined time or more ;
The wireless network transmitted from the other wireless communication device in response to the pressing of the second setting switch provided in the other wireless communication device within a predetermined time from the pressing of the first setting switch. The request information requesting transmission of communication information necessary for communication via the network, and including an encryption key for encrypting the first information for identifying the wireless network and the second information In response to receiving the information, encryption means for encrypting the first and second information by an encryption method using the encryption key included in the received request information;
As a response corresponding to the request information, transmission control means for performing control to wirelessly transmit the encrypted data obtained by encrypting the first and second information to the other wireless communication device;
In the other wireless communication apparatus, in response to the fact that the encrypted data is received within a predetermined time from the pressing of the second setting switch and decrypted by the decryption method corresponding to the encryption method, A wireless communication device comprising: wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with the other wireless communication device using the first and second information. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the generation unit generates the second information related to security from a random number. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second information is a WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) key. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first information is an SSID (Service Set Identification) generated in response to a pressing operation on the first setting switch. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the generation unit generates the second information related to security from a random number. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second information is a WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) key. The encryption means adds the received request information to the request information.
When a common key is included as the encryption key, the first and second information are encrypted by a common key encryption method using the common key,
The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the public key is included as the encryption key, the first and second information are encrypted by a public key encryption method using the public key. In a wireless communication method of a wireless communication device that performs wireless communication with another wireless communication device via a wireless network,
A timing step for starting timing from the pressing of the first setting switch;
Generating a second information relating to security in response to pressing of the first setting switch for a predetermined time or more ;
The wireless network transmitted from the other wireless communication device in response to the pressing of the second setting switch provided in the other wireless communication device within a predetermined time from the pressing of the first setting switch. The request information requesting transmission of communication information necessary for communication via the network, and including an encryption key for encrypting the first information for identifying the wireless network and the second information In response to receiving the information, an encryption step of encrypting the first and second information by an encryption method using the encryption key included in the received request information;
A transmission control step for performing control to wirelessly transmit the encrypted data obtained by encrypting the first and second information to the other wireless communication device as a response corresponding to the request information;
In the other wireless communication apparatus, in response to the fact that the encrypted data is received within a predetermined time from the pressing of the second setting switch and decrypted by the decryption method corresponding to the encryption method, And a wireless communication step of performing wireless communication with the other wireless communication device using the first and second information. A computer that controls a wireless communication device that performs wireless communication with another wireless communication device via a wireless network,
A timing step for starting timing from the pressing of the first setting switch;
Generating a second information relating to security in response to pressing of the first setting switch for a predetermined time or more ;
The wireless network transmitted from the other wireless communication device in response to the pressing of the second setting switch provided in the other wireless communication device within a predetermined time from the pressing of the first setting switch. The request information requesting transmission of communication information necessary for communication via the network, and including an encryption key for encrypting the first information for identifying the wireless network and the second information In response to receiving the information, an encryption step of encrypting the first and second information by an encryption method using the encryption key included in the received request information;
A transmission control step for performing control to wirelessly transmit the encrypted data obtained by encrypting the first and second information to the other wireless communication device as a response corresponding to the request information;
In the other wireless communication apparatus, in response to the fact that the encrypted data is received within a predetermined time from the pressing of the second setting switch and decrypted by the decryption method corresponding to the encryption method, A program for executing processing including: a wireless communication step of performing wireless communication with the other wireless communication device using the first and second information.

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