JP5471958B2 - Communication device - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to data file communication.

  A communication device such as a mobile phone can transmit various data files such as a text file, a still image file, a music file, a moving image file, and an address book file to the opposite communication device. For example, a mobile phone is not limited to cellular communication, and may support various communication methods such as NFC (Near Field Communication), Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi, and IrDA (Infrared Data Association). Also, techniques for cooperation (handover, etc.) between these various communication methods have been proposed.

  By the way, in order to transmit the data file to the opposite communication device, the user needs to perform some operations (inputs). For example, an operation for specifying a target data file from various data files stored in the communication device is required. In addition, an operation for specifying a communication method for transmitting the specified target data file, an operation for approving transmission, an operation for specifying a transmission destination (opposite communication device), and the like are also required.

Connection Handover 1.1 (NFC ForumTM)

  Generally, simplifying the operation procedure performed by the user contributes to improving the operability of the communication device. Further, coexistence of the simplified operation procedure and the existing operation procedure is beneficial to both a user who prefers the existing operation procedure and a user who prefers the simplified operation procedure. Furthermore, when both of them coexist, the user's burden due to re-operation can be reduced by adaptively switching to the other operation procedure in a situation that is not suitable for one operation procedure.

  Therefore, an embodiment aims to provide a simplified operation procedure that can coexist with an existing operation procedure regarding transmission of a data file.

  When a connection based on the first wireless communication method is established with the opposite communication device in a state where the target data file is specified, the communication device according to one aspect performs second wireless communication different from the first wireless communication method. A first wireless communication unit configured to acquire opposed address information for connecting to the opposed communication apparatus using the first wireless communication method; This communication apparatus accepts an operation for selecting a transmission destination from at least one transmission destination candidate and an output unit that outputs at least one of a screen that presents at least one transmission destination candidate and a voice when acquisition of the counter address information fails. Input section. The communication device transmits the target data file using the second wireless communication method according to the counter address information if acquisition of the counter address information is successful, and transmits the target data file if an operation for selecting a transmission destination is accepted. A second wireless communication unit that transmits using the second wireless communication method according to the above is included.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a communication device according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a first wireless communication unit in FIG. 1. The block diagram which illustrates the 2nd radio communications department of Drawing 1. Explanatory drawing of the screen transition accompanying the existing operation procedure. Explanatory drawing of the screen transition accompanying the simplified operation procedure which concerns on one Embodiment. The sequence diagram which illustrates the operation | movement by the side of a user until transmission of a data file, and the operation | movement of an opposing side. The flowchart which illustrates operation | movement on the user side until it transmits a data file. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating error processing related to the operation of FIG. 7. The figure which illustrates an error screen.

Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
(One embodiment)
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a communication apparatus according to an embodiment includes a control unit 101, an input unit 102, an output unit 103, a data file storage unit 104, a first wireless communication unit 110, and a second wireless communication unit 120. Have.

  The control unit 101 controls each element of the communication device in FIG. Specifically, the control unit 101 is a processor that realizes various functions by executing a program stored in a storage unit (not shown). For example, the control unit 101 may realize a part of functions of a first wireless communication unit 110 and a second wireless communication unit 120 described later.

  The input unit 102 receives an operation (input) from the user and passes it to the control unit 101. Typically, the input unit 102 can include a key device such as a numeric keypad, a keyboard, and a push button, a touch panel, and the like. For example, the input unit 102 can accept an operation indicating a response (approval, non-approval, selection, etc.) from the user to the screen or sound output from the output unit 103. The input unit 102 also specifies an operation for specifying (selecting, playing, etc.) the target data file, an operation for specifying a communication method for transmitting the target data file, and an opposing communication device for transmitting the target data file. It is also possible to accept operations for Furthermore, since the operation from the user may be input in the form of voice, gesture, or the like, the input unit 102 may include a microphone, a camera, an acceleration sensor, and the like.

  The output unit 103 receives information from the control unit 101 and presents it to the user. Typically, the output unit 103 can include a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Device) display, a speaker, and the like. For example, the output unit 103 can output at least one of a screen and a sound for confirming the user with approval or non-approval of transmitting the target data file to the opposite communication device. In addition, if it is assumed that vibration is generated in an auxiliary manner with respect to presentation of information to the user, the output unit 103 may include a vibrator.

  The data file storage unit 104 stores various data files held by the communication apparatus of FIG. Each data file stored in the data file storage unit 104 is presented to the user by the output unit 103 via the control unit 101 as needed, or from the second wireless communication unit 120 as necessary to the opposite communication device. Or sent to. The communication apparatus of FIG. 1 may of course include a storage unit (not shown) for storing, for example, a program executed by the control unit 101 in addition to the data file storage unit 104.

  The first wireless communication unit 110 is a wireless communication processing unit that supports the first wireless communication method. That is, the first wireless communication unit 110 has a function of transmitting and receiving various data using the first wireless communication method. For example, when a connection based on the first wireless communication method is established with the opposite communication device, the first wireless communication unit 110 uses the second wireless communication method different from the first wireless communication method to perform the opposite communication. Device information such as counter address information for connecting to the device, device name, and hash value for generating a link key for connection with security can be acquired using the first wireless communication method. A specific example of the first wireless communication unit 110 will be described later.

  The second wireless communication unit 120 is a wireless communication processing unit that supports the second wireless communication method. That is, the second wireless communication unit 120 has a function of transmitting and receiving various data using the second wireless communication method. For example, the second wireless communication unit 120 can transmit the target data file using the second wireless communication method in accordance with the counter address information notified from the first wireless communication unit 110. Also, the second wireless communication unit 120 can transmit the target data file using the second wireless communication method according to the transmission destination according to the input accepted by the input unit 102. A specific example of the second wireless communication unit 120 will be described later.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the first wireless communication method and the second wireless communication method are NFC and Bluetooth (referred to as BT in the following description). However, the first wireless communication method may be replaced with a wireless communication method different from NFC, and the second wireless communication method may be replaced with a wireless communication method different from BT.

Hereinafter, specific examples of the first wireless communication unit 110 and the second wireless communication unit 120 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 2, the first wireless communication unit 110 includes a handover data generation unit 111, a handover data transmission unit 112, an NFC data transmission unit 113, an NFC unit 114, an NFC data reception unit 115, a handover data reception unit 116, and A BT address information notification unit 117 is included.

The handover data generation unit 111 generates handover data that requests a handover from the first wireless communication method to the second wireless communication method. As an example, the handover data generation unit 111 can generate a message called HandoverRequest (Select) according to a standard (for example, “Connection Handover 1.1 (NFC Forum ^™ )”).

  The handover data transmission unit 112 performs data processing for transmitting handover data from the handover data generation unit 111. The NFC data transmission unit 113 performs data processing for transmitting various NFC data (data that can be transmitted and received using NFC) including the processed handover data from the handover data transmission unit 112.

  The NFC unit 114 is a physical signal processing circuit for signal transmission / reception using NFC. For example, the NFC unit 114 performs digital-analog conversion on the transmission data from the NFC data transmission unit 113, adjusts the signal (frequency conversion, amplification, filtering, etc.), and transmits the signal to the opposite communication device. Further, the NFC unit 114 adjusts a signal received from the opposite communication device, performs analog-digital conversion, and supplies the converted signal to the NFC data receiving unit 115.

  The NFC data receiving unit 115 performs data processing for obtaining various NFC data (including handover data) based on the received data from the NFC unit 114. The handover data receiving unit 116 performs data processing for obtaining handover data based on the processed NFC data from the NFC data receiving unit 115. This handover data may include counter address information indicating the BT address of the counter communication apparatus with which the connection based on NFC is established. If the opposite address information is included in the handover data, the BT address information notifying unit 117 notifies the second wireless communication unit 120 of the opposite address information.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the second wireless communication unit 120 includes an opposing BT address information acquisition unit 121, a registered BT address information acquisition unit 122, a BT address information comparison unit 123, a BT data reception unit 124, a BT unit 125, A BT data transmission unit 126, a transmission data file acquisition unit 127, and a registered BT address information storage unit 128 are included.

  The transmission data file acquisition unit 127 acquires (reads) the target data file from the data file storage unit 104 of FIG. 1 as necessary, and supplies it to the BT data transmission unit 126. The BT data transmission unit 126 performs data processing for transmitting various BT data (data that can be transmitted and received using the BT). The BT unit 125 is a physical signal processing circuit for signal transmission / reception using the BT. For example, the BT unit 125 performs digital-analog conversion on transmission data from the BT data transmission unit 126, adjusts a signal (frequency conversion, amplification, filtering, etc.), and transmits the signal to the opposite communication device. Further, the BT unit 125 adjusts the signal received from the opposite communication device, performs analog-digital conversion, and supplies the converted signal to the BT data receiving unit 124. The BT data receiving unit 124 performs data processing for obtaining various BT data based on the received data from the BT unit 125.

  The counter BT address information acquisition unit 121 acquires counter address information notified from the first wireless communication unit 110 (more specifically, for example, the BT address information notification unit 117 in FIG. 3). The registered BT address information acquisition unit 122 acquires at least one registered address information stored in the registered BT address information storage unit 128. The registered BT address information storage unit 128 can store at least one registered address information. The registered address information may be managed by the user, or may be automatically managed based on a communication history or the like. The BT address information comparison unit 123 compares the counter address information from the counter BT address information acquisition unit 121 with each of at least one registered address information from the registered BT address information acquisition unit 122. As will be described later, if at least one of the registered address information matches the counter address information, an operation for approving the transmission of the target data file, an operation for specifying the communication method for transmitting the target data file, and the target Some or all of the operations for specifying the transmission destination (opposite communication device) of the data file are omitted.

  Hereinafter, the screen transition associated with the existing operation procedure for transmitting the target data file to the opposite communication device will be described with reference to FIG. 4, and then the simplified operation procedure according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The accompanying screen transition will be described.

  According to the existing operation procedure, when the user performs an operation for specifying the target data file, the screen 10 is presented. On the screen 10, a target data file (a still image file as an example) is displayed. A transition from the screen 10 to the screen 20 occurs when the user performs an operation of selecting (from the submenu) transmission of the target data file using the BT (that is, an operation of specifying a communication method). On the screen 20, a window for confirming approval / non-approval of transmission of the target data file is displayed. A transition from the screen 20 to the screen 30 occurs when the user performs an operation of approving the transmission. The screen 30 displays a destination candidate list based on registered address information or searched peripheral BT devices (communication devices that support BT communication). A transition from the screen 30 to the screen 40 occurs when the user performs an operation of selecting a transmission destination (that is, an operation of specifying the opposite communication device). Then, the transmission process of the target data file is started, and the screen changes with this progress.

  As described above, the existing operation procedure specifies an operation for specifying a target data file, an operation for specifying a communication method for transmitting the target data file, an operation for approving transmission, and a transmission destination (opposite communication device). Numerous operations such as operations are required. However, the operation procedure and screen transition of FIG. 4 are only examples assumed in the present embodiment, and do not necessarily represent all existing operation procedures and screen transitions.

  According to the simplified operation procedure according to the present embodiment, when the user performs an operation of specifying the target data file, the screen 10 is presented as in the existing operation procedure. Next, unlike the existing operation procedure, the user can perform an operation for establishing a connection based on the first wireless communication method with the opposite communication device. Specifically, the user can touch his / her communication device with the opposite communication device. A connection based on NFC is established between the user communication device and the opposite communication device by a touch operation. When a connection based on NFC is established, a predetermined handover process (for example, in accordance with the standard) occurs, and opposite address information is notified to the user's communication device. As a result, BT is specified as the communication method of the target data file, and the opposite communication device is specified as the transmission destination. However, when the counter address information does not match the registered address information, a design that requires the user to select a transmission destination (or an operation to approve / disapprove transmission to the counter communication device) is also possible. . When BT is specified as the communication method of the target data file and the opposite communication device is specified as the transmission destination, for example, a transition from the screen 10 to the screen 50 occurs. On the screen 50, a window for confirming approval / non-approval of transmission of the target data file to the opposite communication apparatus is displayed. Here, when the user performs an operation indicating approval, a transition from the screen 50 to the screen 40 occurs. Then, the transmission process of the target data file is started, and the screen changes with this progress.

  In addition, according to the design philosophy that the touch operation by the user also suggests the approval of transmission, it is assumed that the transition from the screen 10 to the screen 40 is generated without the transition to the screen 50. Alternatively, the presence or absence of the transition to the screen 50 may be variable according to the user setting, the data file type, and the like. For example, personal information such as address book files and e-mail data can be prevented from being unintentionally leaked by causing a transition to the screen 50. On the other hand, when the photograph data taken by the user is shared with friends, the target data file can be transferred smoothly by not causing the transition to the screen 50. That is, the user can perform transmission of the target data file only by performing an operation for specifying the target data file and an operation (such as a touch operation) for establishing a connection based on the first wireless communication method with the opposite communication device. Realize.

  As described above, the simplified operation procedure according to the present embodiment includes an operation (touch operation) for specifying an object data file and establishing a connection based on the first wireless communication method with the opposite communication device. Etc.). That is, this simplified operation procedure includes at least a part of an operation for specifying a communication method for transmitting a target data file, an operation for approving transmission, and an operation for specifying a transmission destination (opposite communication device). The connection is simplified by replacing the connection based on the wireless communication method 1 with an operation to establish with the opposite communication device. Further, the simplified operation procedure can coexist without substantially hindering the existing operation procedure illustrated in FIG. Therefore, the introduction of the simplified operation procedure is not substantially disadvantageous for a user who prefers an existing operation procedure (for example, does not use the simplified operation procedure).

Hereinafter, the operation on the user side and the operation on the opposite side until the data file is transmitted according to the simplified operation procedure according to the present embodiment will be exemplified with reference to FIG.
In the user interface / application (UI / APL) on the user side, the target data file is specified based on the operation from the user, and the screen 10 is presented (step S201). Various UI / APL processes are realized by the cooperation of the control unit 101, the input unit 102, the output unit 103, and other elements not shown in FIG. Subsequently, based on the user's touch operation, NFC communication is established between the NFC element on the user side (an element corresponding to the first wireless communication unit 110) and the NFC element on the opposite side (step S202).

  When NFC communication is established, the NFC element on the user side notifies the UI / APL that NFC communication has been established (step S203). The UI / APL that has received the notification requests a BT connection to the BT element on the user side (an element corresponding to the second wireless communication unit 120) (step S204). The BT element that has received the request for BT connection acquires registered address information or searches for a nearby BT device (step S205). Depending on the design, one or both of obtaining registered address information and searching for nearby BT devices may be omitted in step S205.

  On the other hand, the following processing is performed in parallel with the processing from step S203 to step S205. Subsequent to step S202, negotiation for handover to the BT is performed between the NFC element on the user side and the NFC element on the opposite side (step S206). Then, the user-side NFC element requests opposite address information from the opposite-side NFC element (step S207). The opposite NFC element responds with the opposite address information to the NFC element on the user side (step S208), and this opposite address information is notified from the NFC element on the user side to the BT element (step S209).

  When the process of step S205 and the process of step S209 are completed, the BT element on the user side compares the counter address information notified in step S209 with the at least one registered address information acquired in step S205 (step S205). S210). If the counter address information matches at least one registered address information, the BT element on the user side performs BT connection with the BT element on the counter side using the generated link key (step S211). If the counter address information does not match any of the at least one registered address information, it is possible to design to automatically start the BT authentication process (process for generating a link key). A design that omits the comparison process (step S210) between the registered address information and the counter address information can also be assumed.

After the BT connection, the BT element on the user side notifies the UI / APL of the BT connection (step S212). When receiving the notification of the BT connection, the UI / APL displays the screen 50 (step S213). When the user performs an operation of approving the transmission, the UI / APL requests the BT element on the user side to transmit the target data file (step S214). The BT element on the user side uses the BT to transmit the target data file to the BT element on the opposite side (step S215). After the transmission of the target data file, the BT element on the user side notifies the UI / APL of the completion of transmission of the target data file (step S216).
As described above, transmission of the target data file is realized according to the simplified operation procedure according to the present embodiment.

Hereinafter, the operation on the user side until the data file is transmitted will be described with reference to FIG. 7 for both the existing operation procedure and the simplified operation procedure according to the present embodiment.
The target data file is specified based on the operation from the user, and the screen 10 is presented (step S301). Here, based on the operation performed by the user, a branch between the existing operation procedure process and the simplified operation procedure process according to the present embodiment occurs (step S302). For example, when the user performs an operation for specifying the communication method (for example, an operation for selecting BT from the submenu), the process proceeds to step S303 along the existing operation procedure. On the other hand, when the user touches his / her communication device on the opposite communication device to establish NFC communication, the process proceeds to step S311 along the simplified operation procedure according to the present embodiment.

  In step S303, the screen 20 is presented. As described above, on the screen 20, a window for confirming approval / non-approval of transmission of the target data file is displayed. When the user performs an operation of selecting approval (“Yes”) (step S304), the process proceeds to step S305. On the other hand, when the user performs an operation of selecting non-approval (“No”) (step S304), the process returns to step S301 (or the process may end depending on the design). In step S305, the first wireless communication unit 110 acquires registered address information or searches for nearby BT devices. A destination candidate list is created based on the acquired registered address information, the searched peripheral BT device, and the like, and the process proceeds to step S306.

  In step S306, the screen 30 is presented. As described above, the transmission destination candidate list is displayed on the screen 30. The user can perform an operation of selecting a transmission destination (device) from the transmission destination candidate list (step S307). When the transmission destination is selected in step S307, the BT address information of the selected device is extracted (step S308) and notified to the second wireless communication unit 120. The second wireless communication unit 120 makes a BT connection to the selected device using the generated link key (step S309), and the process proceeds to step S310. In step S310, the target data file is transmitted, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, in step S311, NFC communication is established based on the user's touch operation (corresponding to step S202 in FIG. 6). When NFC communication is established, the second wireless communication unit 120 acquires registered address information or searches for a nearby BT device (corresponding to step S312 and steps S203 to S205 in FIG. 6). In parallel with step S312, the first wireless communication unit 110 acquires counter BT address information using NFC (step S313, corresponding to step S206 to step S209 in FIG. 6). If acquisition of the counter BT address information is successful in step S313, the process proceeds to step S314; otherwise, the process proceeds to, for example, step S306 (step S319).

  In step S314, the second wireless communication unit 120 compares the counter address information acquired in step S313 with each of the at least one registered address information acquired in step S312 (corresponding to step S210 in FIG. 6). . If the counter address information matches any of the at least one registered address information, the process proceeds to step S315. If the counter address information does not match all registered address information, the process proceeds to step S318. In step S318, the second wireless communication unit 120 generates a link key using the hash value exchanged by NFC for BT connection with the opposite communication device, and the process proceeds to step S315.

  In step S315, the second wireless communication unit 120 performs BT connection using the generated link key (corresponding to steps S211 to S212 in FIG. 6). Subsequently, the screen 50 is presented (corresponding to step S316 and step S213 in FIG. 6). As described above, on the screen 50, a window for confirming approval / non-approval of transmission of the target data file to the opposite communication apparatus is displayed. When the user performs an operation of selecting approval (“Yes”) (step S317), the process proceeds to step S310. On the other hand, when the user performs an operation of selecting non-approval (“No”) (step S317), the process ends (or the process may return to step S301 depending on the design).

  As described above, in this embodiment, the unique simplified operation procedure coexists with the existing operation procedure, and the user can freely select both. In addition, it is possible to design to adaptively switch to an existing operation procedure from the middle of a simplified operation procedure. For example, according to the transition from step S319 to step S306 shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to adaptively switch to the existing operation procedure from the middle of the simplified operation procedure. In such a case, the error processing of FIG. 8 may be performed without causing a transition from step S319 to step S306 immediately.

  Acquisition of the counter BT address information (the process of step S313 in FIG. 7) may fail due to an NFC communication failure or the like. At this time, for example, the screen 60 of FIG. 9 is presented (step S320). The screen 60 displays a window for notifying the user of the occurrence of an error in the simplified operation procedure and confirming approval / non-approval of the switch to the existing operation procedure. When the user performs an operation of selecting approval (“Yes”) (step S321), the process proceeds to, for example, step S306, step S305, and the like. On the other hand, when the user performs an operation of selecting non-approval (“No”) (step S321), the process ends (or the process may return to step S301 depending on the design).

  As described above, the communication apparatus according to the embodiment realizes transmission of the target data file by a simplified operation procedure using the first wireless communication method. This simplified operation procedure can coexist with an existing operation procedure. Furthermore, it is possible to adaptively switch to an existing operation procedure in accordance with the situation (error occurrence, etc.) during the simplified operation procedure. Therefore, according to the communication apparatus according to the present embodiment, it is possible to benefit from the simplified operation procedure without substantially impairing the convenience of the existing operation procedure.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  For example, it is possible to provide a program that realizes the processing of the above-described embodiment by storing it in a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium may be a computer-readable storage medium such as a magnetic disk, optical disk (CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD, etc.), magneto-optical disk (MO, etc.), semiconductor memory, etc. For example, the storage format may be any form.

  Further, the program for realizing the processing of the above embodiment may be stored on a computer (server) connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded to the computer (client) via the network.

10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 ... screen 101 ... control unit 102 ... input unit 103 ... output unit 104 ... data file storage unit 110 ... first wireless communication 111: Handover data generation unit 112 ... Handover data transmission unit 113 ... NFC data transmission unit 114 ... NFC unit 115 ... NFC data reception unit 116 ... Handover data reception unit 117 BT address information notifying unit 120 ... second wireless communication unit 121 ... opposite BT address information acquiring unit 122 ... registered BT address information acquiring unit 123 ... BT address information comparing unit 124 ... BT data reception unit 125... BT unit 126... BT data transmission unit 127... Transmission data file acquisition unit 128. Dress information storage unit

Claims (3)

When a connection based on the first wireless communication method is established with the opposite communication device in a state where the target data file is specified, the opposite communication is performed using a second wireless communication method different from the first wireless communication method. A first wireless communication unit that acquires counter address information for connecting to a device using the first wireless communication method;
An output unit that outputs at least one of a screen and audio that present at least one destination candidate when acquisition of the counter address information fails;
An input unit that accepts an operation for selecting a transmission destination from the at least one transmission destination candidate; and if the acquisition of the counter address information is successful, the target data file is converted into the target data file using the second wireless communication method according to the counter address information. And a second wireless communication unit that transmits the target data file using the second wireless communication method according to the transmission destination when an operation of transmitting and selecting the transmission destination is accepted. When the acquisition of the counter address information is successful, the comparator further compares each of the at least one registered address information with the counter address information before the second wireless communication unit transmits the target data file. Equipped,
If any of the at least one registered address information matches the counter address information, the second radio communication unit uses the second radio communication method for the target data file according to the counter address information. Send
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. When the acquisition of the counter address is successful, the output unit approves or disapproves the transmission of the target data file to the counter communication device before the second wireless communication unit transmits the target data file. Output at least one of the screen and audio to confirm
The input unit accepts an operation indicating the approval or an operation indicating the non-approval,
When the operation indicating the approval is accepted, the second wireless communication unit transmits the target data file using the second wireless communication method according to the counter address information.
The communication apparatus according to claim 1.

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