JP5824992B2 - Information processing apparatus and communication system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a communication system.

  In recent years, communication systems such as Wi-FiDirect have been proposed. Details of the Wi-FiDirect technology will be described in [Description of Embodiments], and will be briefly described here. Wi-FiDirect is composed of a plurality of electronic devices.

  In Wi-FiDirect, one electronic device among a plurality of electronic devices may be connected to the access point. An electronic device connected to the access point is called a main electronic device. The main electronic device can transmit information received from the access point to other electronic devices. Therefore, information can be shared with the main electronic device and other electronic devices. In other words, as long as the main electronic device is connected to the access point, other electronic devices may not be connected to the access point.

  However, in the conventional Wi-FiDirect, the user himself / herself has to determine the main electronic device based on the priority set by the user. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult for a user who does not have knowledge of the network to determine the main electronic device.

  According to the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus and a communication system that can easily determine a main electronic device even for a user who does not have knowledge of a network.

In order to achieve the above object, communication is a main information processing apparatus having communication means for communicating with another information processing apparatus, and any one of the other information processing apparatus and the information processing apparatus is connected to the communication apparatus. obtained in the information processing apparatus capable of configuring the system, the condition acquiring means for acquiring a condition for the communication system, the ability acquiring means for acquiring the capacity of the other information processing apparatus, by the condition acquisition unit The information processing device and the other information processing device based on the capability of the other information processing device acquired by the capability acquisition means and the capability of the information processing device so as to realize the determined condition . have a, a selection means for selecting the main information processing apparatus from among the condition acquisition unit, set by the operation means, acquires the condition relating to the type of the ability to preferentially We propose an information processing apparatus according to claim Rukoto.

  According to the information processing apparatus and the communication system of the present invention, the determination of the main electronic device can be facilitated even for a user who does not have knowledge of the network.

The figure which shows the function structural example of the communication system of a present Example. The figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the information processing apparatus of a present Example. The figure which shows an example of the control means of a present Example. The figure which shows an example of the processing flow of the communication system of a present Example. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the performance of the electronic apparatus of the present embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the button displayed on the display means of a present Example. The figure which shows an example of the control means of another embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the processing flow of the communication system of another embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the storage format of a policy server. The figure which shows an example of the processing flow of the communication system of another embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the control means of another embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the processing flow of the communication system of another embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the processing flow of the communication system of another embodiment.

[Embodiment 1]
The information processing apparatus of this embodiment is incorporated in an electronic device. In addition, the electronic device may be any electronic device as long as it has communication means for transmitting and receiving information to and from other electronic devices. For example, the electronic device is an image forming apparatus, a projector, a smartphone, a PC, or the like.

  Next, the communication system of the present embodiment will be described. The communication system of the present embodiment is, for example, Wi-FiDirect. FIG. 1 illustrates a functional configuration example of a communication system 1000 according to the present embodiment. The communication system 1000 includes a plurality of electronic devices (electronic devices 100, 200, and 300 in the example of FIG. 1), the communication device 50, and the like. The electronic devices 200 and 300 are wirelessly connected to the electronic device 100, respectively.

  The electronic device 100 is connected to the communication device 50 in, for example, an infrastructure mode. The electronic device connected to the communication device 50 is referred to as “main electronic device”. Main electronic device 100 is also called a group owner of communication system 1000. The communication device 50 is also called an access point. In addition, among electronic devices constituting the communication system, electronic devices other than the main electronic device are referred to as “secondary electronic devices”. In the example of FIG. 1, the slave electronic devices are the electronic devices 200 and 300.

  The communication device 50 is connected to the wired LAN 40, for example. Data shared from the server device 30 is transmitted to the main electronic device 100 via the wired LAN 40. Then, the main electronic device 100 transmits the transmitted data to the slave electronic devices 200 and 300. That is, the main electronic device 100 serves as a router for the slave electronic devices 200 and 300.

  Therefore, if the main electronic device 100 is located in the network range α of the communication device 50 and the slave electronic devices 200 and 300 are located in the network range β of the electronic device 100, the slave electronic device 200 is present. , 300 is located outside the network range α, the main electronic device 100 can transmit data from the server device 30 to the slave electronic devices 200, 300.

  In the following description, an electronic device to be described is referred to as “own electronic device 100”, and an information processing device provided in the electronic device is referred to as “self information processing device 110”. In addition, among a plurality of electronic devices constituting the communication system 1000, an electronic device other than the own electronic device is referred to as “other electronic devices 200 and 300”, and an information processing device provided in the other electronic device is referred to as “other information processing device”. 210, 310 ". That is, in the example of FIG. 1, the electronic device 100 is both the main electronic device and the own electronic device. In addition, the electronic devices 200 and 300 are slave electronic devices and other electronic devices.

  The electronic device of the present embodiment is a main electronic device (that is, an electronic device connected to the communication device 50) among a plurality of electronic devices (the own electronic device and other electronic devices) constituting the communication system 1000. The electronic device to select. In the following description, the own information processing apparatus is referred to as “own information processing apparatus 110”.

  FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 110 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 110 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 11, a main storage unit 12, an auxiliary storage unit 13, an external storage unit I / F unit 14, a communication unit 16, an operation unit 17, and a display unit. 18 is included.

  The control means 11 controls the respective devices and calculates and processes data in the information processing apparatus 110. The control unit 11 is an arithmetic device that executes a program stored in the main storage unit 12, receives data from the input device or the storage device, calculates and processes the data, and outputs the data to the output device or the storage device.

  The main storage unit 12 is a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), or the like, and a storage device that stores or temporarily stores programs and data such as an OS and application software that are basic software executed by the control unit 11. It is.

  The auxiliary storage means 13 is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like, and is a storage device that stores data related to application software or the like. The external storage device I / F unit 14 is an interface between a storage medium 15 (for example, a flash memory) connected via a data transmission path such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) and the information processing apparatus 110.

  Further, a predetermined program is stored in the storage medium 15, and the program stored in the storage medium 15 is installed in the information processing apparatus 110 via the external storage device I / F unit 14, and the predetermined program installed Can be executed by the information processing apparatus 110.

  The communication means 16 includes other electronic devices 200 and other electronic devices connected via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network) constructed by a data transmission path such as a wired and / or wireless line. It is an interface with 300.

  The operation unit 17 and the display unit 18 include a key switch (hard key) and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) having a touch panel function (including a GUI software key: Graphical User Interface). The operation unit 17 and the display unit 18 are also an operation unit and a display unit of the electronic device 100.

  The hardware configuration of FIG. 2 is sufficient if at least one of the own information processing apparatus 100 and the other information processing apparatuses 200 and 300 has, and preferably the own information processing apparatus 100 and the other information processing apparatuses 200 and 300. As long as all of have.

<Specific processing flow>
Next, a specific processing flow will be described. FIG. 3 shows a functional configuration example of the control means 11 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 shows a processing flow of the own information processing apparatus 110 and the like. The functional configuration example of FIG. 3 may be included in at least one of the own electronic device 100 and the other electronic devices 200 and 300, and is preferably included in the own electronic device 100 and the other electronic devices 200 and 300. It is preferable.

  As a precondition for the processing flow shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the communication system 1000 is already configured by the electronic device 100 and the other electronic devices 200 and 300. The own electronic device 100 is assumed to be the main electronic device 100. In the communication system of the present embodiment, conditions desired by the user can be set. Hereinafter, “condition” is referred to as “policy”. A case will be described in which the currently set policy is “security priority” and the user changes the policy to “communication speed priority”. As described above, the policy is a priority attribute (hereinafter referred to as “priority attribute”) for the configured communication system. Assume that the policies (priority attributes) of this embodiment include “communication speed priority”, “security priority”, and “energy saving priority”.

  In the communication system of the present embodiment, in order to achieve the policy for the communication system, the electronic device having the highest priority attribute set by the policy is set as the “main electronic device”.

  FIG. 5 shows the performance of each electronic device 100, 200, 300. In the example of FIG. 5, communication performance, security performance, and energy saving performance for each electronic device 100, 200, 300 are defined. The performance of each electronic device 100, 200, 300 may be stored in advance in the main storage unit 12 of each electronic device 100, 200, 300, or the own electronic device 100 may store the other electronic device 200, You may make it acquire from 300. Further, it is assumed that the performance of each electronic device 100, 200, 300 is stored in each main storage means 12 of each electronic device 100, 200, 300.

  First, communication performance will be described. In this embodiment, the communication performance is determined by the communication speed. The communication speeds of the electronic devices 100, 200, and 300 are 48 Mbps, 36 Mbps, and 54 Mbps, respectively. Accordingly, the communication performance is electronic device 300> electronic device 100> electronic device 200.

Next, security performance will be described. In the example of FIG. 5, the security performance is determined by wireless encryption, wireless authentication, IPSec, SSL / TLS. In the present embodiment, the security performance is compared for other electronic devices in the following numerical order. If one of the devices has a high priority, the security performance is determined by an electronic device having a high security performance (high security). Judge that there is.
1. Whether or not wireless encryption is introduced. If installed, it is determined by the priority of the installed security standard. The priority is WPA2>WPA>WEP> no introduction.
2. Whether wireless authentication is implemented. If so, determine the priority of the certification standard being introduced. The priority is 802.1X>PSK> no introduction.
3. Whether IPSec is installed.
4). Whether TLS / SSL is introduced. If installed, priorities are determined by the installed version. The priority is TLS1.2>TLS1.1>TLS1.0> SSL3.0.

  Accordingly, the security performance is as follows: electronic device 200> electronic device 100> electronic device 300.

  Next, energy saving performance will be described. Energy saving performance is determined according to the number of recognized protocols. More specifically, when the number of recognized protocols is large, the energy saving performance is high, and when the number of protocols is small, the energy saving performance is low. In the example of FIG. 5, regarding the energy saving performance, the electronic device 100> the electronic device 200> the electronic device 300. The reason why the energy saving performance is determined according to the number of recognized protocols will be described in the fourth embodiment.

  Next, the electronic apparatus and the electronic system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The user inputs information to change the policy from the operation means 17 (step S2). The policy change will be described. For example, a communication speed priority button 172, a security priority button 174, and an energy saving priority button 176 as shown in FIG. Then, the user presses a button for a desired policy. For example, when the user changes to “communication speed priority”, the user presses the communication speed priority button 172.

  The policy (communication speed priority) set by the operation means 17 is transmitted to the policy acquisition means 112 (step S4). Then, the policy acquisition unit 112 acquires the transmitted policy. The policy acquisition unit 112 transmits the transmitted policy to the capability acquisition unit 114 (step S6). The capability acquisition unit 114 analyzes the transmitted policy and recognizes a priority attribute. Since the attribute given priority here is “communication speed”, the own electronic device 100 needs to recognize the communication speed of the other electronic devices 200 and 300. It is assumed that the own electronic device 100 recognizes the communication speed of the main electronic device 100 itself because the own electronic device 100 stores the communication speed of the own electronic device 100 in the main storage unit 12.

  The capability acquisition unit 114 generates capability request information (capability request packet) for requesting the communication speed of the other electronic devices 200 and 300 from the other electronic devices 200 and 300. The capability request information is information for requesting capability information corresponding to the policy acquired by the policy acquisition unit 112. The capability information corresponding to the policy is information indicating the capability for the priority attribute indicated by the policy. Since the policy in this embodiment is communication speed priority, the priority attribute is “communication speed”, and the capability request information is the communication speed of the other electronic devices 200 and 300 from the other electronic devices 200 and 300. It is information for requesting.

  The generated capability request information is transmitted to the communication means 16 (step S8). And the communication means 16 transmits the capability request information which requests | requires a communication speed with respect to each other electronic devices 200 and 300 (step S10).

  When the other electronic devices 200 and 300 receive the transmitted capability request information, the other electronic devices 200 and 300 transmit the capability information indicating the communication speed to the communication unit 16 (step S12). In this example, the capability information transmitted by the other electronic devices 200 and 300 is the communication speed of the other electronic devices 200 and 300. In the example of FIG. 5, the communication speeds of the other electronic devices 200 and 300 are 36 Mbps and 54 Mbps, respectively. Then, the capability acquisition unit 114 temporarily stores the acquired communication speed in the main storage unit 12.

  Then, the capability information received by the communication unit 16 is transmitted to the selection unit 116 (step S14). Here, since the policy has been changed by the user, the selection unit 116 can execute the changed policy so that the other electronic devices 200 and 300 (other information processing apparatuses 210) acquired by the capability acquisition unit 114 can be executed. , 310) and the capability information of the own electronic device 100 (own information processing device 110), the electronic device connected to the communication device 50 from the own information processing device and the other information processing devices 200 and 300. A device (that is, a main electronic device) is selected (step S16).

  Here, the selection means 116 selects the electronic device having the highest ability for the priority attribute defined by the set (changed) policy as the main electronic device. For example, when the set policy is “communication speed priority”, the communication speed of the communication system is the communication speed between the communication device 50 and the main electronic device 100, the main electronic device 100 and the sub electronic device 200. This is because it depends on the communication speed between the terminal 300 and the terminal 300. Further, for example, when the set policy is “security priority”, the security of the communication system is the security between the communication device 50 and the main electronic device 100, the main electronic device 100 and the sub electronic device 200, It is because it depends on the security between 300.

  In this example, since the changed policy is “communication speed priority”, the priority attribute is “communication speed”, and the electronic device having the highest communication speed is the other electronic device 300. Therefore, the selection unit 116 selects the other electronic device 300 as the own electronic device.

  Then, in order to make the user recognize the main electronic device, at least one display unit 18 of the electronic device 100 or the other electronic devices 200 and 300 indicates that “the main electronic device is the other electronic device 300”. indicate. The user who confirms the display performs reconfiguration so that the other electronic device 300 becomes the main electronic device, and reconfigures the new communication system 1000. In this way, the reconfigured new communication system has a higher communication speed than before.

  If the changed policy is “security function priority” in step S2, the communication unit 16 requests capability information about security performance from the other electronic devices 200 and 300 in step S10. . In step S12, the communication unit 16 receives the capability information, and the selection unit 116 selects, from the electronic device 100 and the other electronic devices 200 and 300, an electronic device having a high security function as the main electronic device. In the example of FIG. 5, the other electronic device 200 is selected as the main electronic device. Then, at least one display unit 18 of the own electronic device 100 or the other electronic devices 200 and 300 displays that “the main electronic device is the other electronic device 200”.

  If the policy changed in step S2 is “energy saving function priority”, in step S10, the communication unit 16 has a capability for energy saving performance (number of protocols) for the other electronic devices 200 and 300. Request information. In step S12, the communication unit 16 receives the capability information, and the selection unit 116 selects, from the electronic device 100 and the other electronic devices 200 and 300, an electronic device having a high energy saving function as the main electronic device. In the example of FIG. 5, the own electronic device 100 is selected as the main electronic device. Then, at least one display unit 18 of the electronic device 100 or the other electronic devices 200 and 300 displays that “the main electronic device is the other electronic device 100”.

  Note that the capability information including the communication speed, the security function, and the number of protocols of the other electronic devices 200 and 300 transmitted from the other electronic devices 200 and 300 may be a MIB (Management information base).

  In addition, the selection process by the selection unit 116 in step S16 was performed after acquiring the capability information of all the other electronic devices 200 and 300. However, each time the capability information from the other electronic device is acquired, the selection process is performed. May be configured to be performed. When this configuration is used, in the example of FIG. 4, the selection unit 116 performs the selection process after acquiring the capability information from the other electronic device 200. Thereafter, the selection unit 116 performs the selection process after acquiring the capability information from the other electronic device 300.

  In the description of FIG. 4, the case where the policy is changed has been described. However, the case where a policy is newly set may be used. For example, the other electronic devices 200 and 300 exist in the network range β of the electronic device 100, but the main electronic device has not yet been determined. Even in such a case, the main electronic device can be determined by the selection unit 116 of the first embodiment.

  According to the first embodiment, the electronic device having the highest priority attribute for the policy set or changed by the user can be automatically determined as the main electronic device. Therefore, even a user who does not have knowledge of the network can determine the main electronic device. Furthermore, it is possible to configure a communication system (according to the purpose of the user) in which the attribute desired by the user is prioritized.

  Conventionally, for example, when there are a plurality of electronic devices having the same communication performance, the main electronic device is randomly determined. In the electronic device and the communication system of the present embodiment, the main electronic device is determined based on the policy set (or changed) by the user, so that such a problem can be solved.

  In the first embodiment, the policy acquisition unit 112 acquires a policy set by the user. Therefore, a communication system reflecting the policy set by the user can be configured.

  In the first embodiment, the capability acquisition unit 114 can acquire capability information from the other electronic devices 200 and 300. Therefore, the own electronic device 100 does not need to store the capability information of the other electronic devices 200 and 300 in the main storage unit 12.

  In addition, capability information of the other electronic devices 200 and 300 can be stored in the main storage unit 12 in advance. In this case, it is not necessary to transmit the request information to the other electronic devices 200 and 300, and the transmission cost can be reduced.

Further, when security priority is set (or changed) as a policy by the user, a highly secure (secure) communication system can be configured. In addition, when communication speed priority is set (or changed) as a policy by the user, a communication system with high transfer performance can be configured. Further, when energy saving priority is set (or changed) as a policy by the user, a communication system with high energy saving performance can be configured.
[Embodiment 2]
Next, an electronic apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 shows a functional configuration example of the control means 11 of the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 shows a processing flow of the communication system of the second embodiment. The example of FIG. 7 is different from that of FIG. 3 in that an analysis unit 117 is additionally written.

  The precondition of Embodiment 2 will be described. In the second embodiment, a communication system is currently configured. However, a case where a new electronic device is newly connected to the configured communication system will be described. In the example of FIG. 8, the electronic device constituting the currently configured communication system 1000 is only the electronic device 100, and the electronic device 100 is the main electronic device. And the case where the other electronic device 200 is newly connected to the communication system 1000 is demonstrated.

  Other electronic device 200 issues a connection request to self-electronic device 100 (main electronic device). Specifically, when the communication system is Wi-Fi Direct, the user turns on Wi-Fi Direct of other electronic device 200. Then, the other electronic device 200 generates connection request information (connection request packet) for requesting that the other electronic device 200 newly connects to the communication system 1000, and transmits the connection request information to the own electronic device 100 (step S50). ). Here, the connection request information includes identification information (for example, an IP address) for identifying the other electronic device 200.

  And the communication means 16 transmits connection request information to the analysis means 118 with respect to connection request information (step S52). The analysis unit 118 analyzes the transmitted connection request information and extracts the identification information included in the connection request information, thereby recognizing the other electronic device that transmitted the connection request information (step S54). . In this example, the analysis unit 118 recognizes that the other electronic device 200 has transmitted the connection request information. In other words, the analysis unit 118 recognizes that the other electronic device 200 is requested to be connected to the communication stem 1000.

  Next, the analysis unit 118 generates acquisition request information for requesting acquisition of the current policy, and transmits it to the policy acquisition unit 112 (step S56). The policy acquisition unit 112 that has received the acquisition request information acquires the currently set policy (step S58). In the second embodiment, it is assumed that the policy set in the main storage unit 12 is stored, and the policy acquisition unit 112 acquires the policy stored in the main storage unit 12.

  In this example, it is assumed that a security priority policy is set in advance by the user, the security priority policy is stored in the main storage unit 12, and the policy acquisition unit 112 acquires a security priority policy. . The policy acquisition unit 112 transmits the acquired policy to the capability acquisition unit 114 (step S60). When receiving the policy, the capability acquisition unit 114 analyzes the policy and recognizes a priority attribute. In this case, since the priority attribute is the “security function”, the own electronic device 100 needs to recognize the security function of the other electronic device 200.

  Accordingly, the capability acquisition unit 114 generates capability request information for requesting the security function, and transmits it to the communication unit 16 (step S62). And the communication means 16 transmits capability request information with respect to the other electronic device 200 based on the identification information of the result of having analyzed connection request information by step S54 (step S64). In addition to acquiring the capability request information, the other electronic device 200 transmits capability information (in this example, a security function) to the communication means 16 (step S66).

  Then, the communication unit 16 transmits the transmitted capability information to the selection unit 116 (step S68). Then, the selection unit 116 selects the main electronic device based on the security function of the other electronic device 200 and the security function of the own electronic device 100 so that the set policy can be realized (step S16). That is, the selection unit 116 compares the security function of the main electronic device 100 with the security function of the other electronic device 200.

  As described with reference to FIG. 5, in the security function, the other electronic device 200> the own electronic device 100. Accordingly, the selection unit 116 selects the other electronic device 200 as the main electronic device. And the selection means 116 transmits the selection result information which is the result of the said selection process with respect to the communication means 16 (step S70). The selection result information includes the policy acquired by the policy acquisition unit 112 in step S58 and information indicating that the other electronic device 200 is the main electronic device. And the communication means 16 transmits selection result information with respect to the other electronic device 200 based on the identification information of the other electronic device 200 contained in the connection request information transmitted at step S50 (step S72).

  Then, information indicating that the other electronic device 200 is the main electronic device is displayed on the display unit 17 of the own electronic device 100 and / or the other electronic device 200. Then, the user recognizes that the main electronic device is changed to the other electronic device 200 by recognizing the information. The user then sets the main electronic device as the other electronic device 200.

  In the case of the electronic device and communication system of the second embodiment, when a new electronic device (in this example, another electronic device 200) is about to be newly connected to the currently configured communication system, it is automatically The main electronic device can be determined. In the second embodiment, the policy acquisition unit 112 acquires a policy stored in the main storage unit 12 of the electronic device 100. Further, the capability information of the other electronic device to be newly connected acquires the capability of the other electronic device from the other electronic device to be newly connected.

  In the second embodiment, the capability acquisition unit 114 acquires capability information of the other electronic device 200 from the other electronic device 200 to be newly connected. Further, the currently set policy is stored in the main storage unit 12, and the policy acquisition unit 112 acquires the stored policy.

  In the second embodiment, the own electronic device 100 is the main electronic device (connected to the communication device 50), and the communication system is configured only by the own electronic device 100. The case where another electronic device 200 is newly connected has been described.

  As another example, the own electronic device 100 is a main electronic device, a communication system is already configured by the own electronic device 100 and one or more other electronic devices, and a new other electronic device is connected to the communication system. Even when newly connected, the concept of the second embodiment can be used.

In this case, the capability means 114 acquires the capability of the new other electronic device from the new other electronic device. Then, the selection unit 116 selects the other electronic device, the new other electronic device, or the own electronic device based on the acquired capability of the new information processing apparatus, the capability of the other electronic device, and the capability of the own electronic device. To select the main electronic device. Therefore, even when a communication system is already configured by the main electronic device and one or more other electronic devices, and the new other electronic device is connected to the communication system, the main electronic device can be appropriately selected.
[Embodiment 3]
Next, an electronic apparatus and a communication system according to Embodiment 3 will be described. In step S58, the policy acquisition unit 112 of the second exemplary embodiment acquires the policy stored in the main storage unit 12 in step S58. However, the main storage unit 12 may not store a policy. In the third embodiment, even in such a case, the policy acquisition unit 112 can acquire a policy. As a premise, it is assumed that a policy server is connected to the wired LAN. The policy server stores a policy defined for each communication system. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a policy is defined for each communication system identification information. In the example of FIG. 9, for example, the policy of the communication system whose communication system identification information is X ₁ is “communication speed priority”.

  FIG. 10 shows a detailed processing flow of the policy acquisition method (step S58) of the policy acquisition unit 112 of the third embodiment. First, the policy acquisition unit acquires the IP address of the policy server 400 (step S80). The IP address of the policy server 400 is stored in the main storage unit 12 in advance.

  Then, the policy acquisition unit 112 generates policy request information for requesting the policy and transmits it to the communication unit 16 (step S82). Then, the communication unit 16 transmits the generated policy request information to the policy server 400 based on the acquired IP address (step S84). The policy server 400 that has received the policy request information transmits the policy to the communication means 16 (step S86).

  Then, the communication unit 16 transmits the received policy to the policy acquisition unit 112 (step S88). Then, the policy acquisition unit 112 receives the transmitted policy. In this way, the policy acquisition unit 112 according to the third embodiment can acquire a policy from the policy server 400.

  Since the process after the policy acquisition in step S58 (the process after step S60 in FIG. 8) is the same as that in the third embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  When the user changes the policy, the policy in the policy server 400 is also changed.

In the case of the electronic device and the communication system according to the third embodiment, the policy acquisition unit 112 can acquire a policy from the policy server 400. Therefore, even when no policy is stored in the main storage unit 12 of the electronic device 100, the policy acquisition unit 112 can acquire the policy. If the policy is not changed by the user, the policy stored in the policy server 400 is not changed. Therefore, even when the main electronic device is changed, it is possible to prevent the policy from being changed.
[Embodiment 4]
Next, an electronic device and a communication system according to Embodiment 4 will be described. As described with reference to FIG. 5 and the like, in this embodiment, it has been described that the policy includes communication speed priority, security function priority, and energy saving performance priority. In the fourth embodiment, a case where the policy is energy saving priority will be described. In addition, as a premise of the fourth embodiment, the communication system 1000 includes the own electronic device 100 and the other electronic device 200. In addition, the own electronic device 100 is a main electronic device. Then, the user sets an energy saving priority mode for reducing the energy consumption of the other electronic device 200 for the other electronic device 200 or the own electronic device 100. The energy saving priority mode of the fourth embodiment is a process that should be performed by the other electronic device 200. However, in order to reduce the energy consumption of the other electronic device 200, the process to be performed by the electronic device 100 is a proxy process. It is to let you. In the fourth embodiment, the proxy process is a response process to an HTTP request from the user, but may be another process.

  Further, as described in the first embodiment, the energy saving performance is determined according to the number of recognized protocols. More specifically, when the number of recognized protocols is large, the energy saving performance is high, and when the number of protocols is small, the energy saving performance is low.

  Explain why. Even if the communication system enters the energy saving priority mode, if a packet (for example, HTTP request) of a protocol in which the port of the slave electronic device is open is received, the mode returns from the energy saving priority mode to another mode. Therefore, the slave electronic device requests the main electronic device for a proxy response for the packet, and the main electronic device responds with a protocol for the packet for which the proxy response has been made. Thus, when the main electronic device recognizes many protocols, the main electronic device has a high probability of being able to make a proxy response. Therefore, the energy saving performance is determined according to the number of recognized protocols.

  FIG. 11 shows a functional configuration example of the control means 11 of the fourth embodiment. The control means 11 shown in FIG. 11 differs from the control means 11 shown in FIG. 7 in that a registration means 120 and an execution means 122 are added. FIG. 12 illustrates a processing flow when the energy saving priority mode is set in the other electronic device 200.

  The user sets an energy saving priority mode for causing the electronic device 100 to perform proxy processing for the other electronic device 200 (step S100). The other electronic device 200 transmits the set energy saving priority mode to the communication means 16 (step S102). The energy saving priority mode transmitted to the communication unit 16 is transmitted to the analysis unit 118 (step S104).

  Then, the analysis unit 118 analyzes the energy saving priority mode (step S106). The analysis of the energy saving priority mode is to acquire a method for reducing energy consumption. In this example, the energy saving priority mode acquires a method in which the own electronic device 100 performs proxy processing on the processing of the other electronic device 200. Furthermore, in this example, the analysis unit 118 also acquires that the proxy process is a response process to the HTTP request from the user to the other electronic device 200.

  Then, the analysis unit 118 transmits, to the registration unit 120, proxy processing information indicating the content of the proxy processing (in this example, information indicating that the response processing is an HTTP request from the user to the other electronic device 200). To do.

  Then, the registration unit 120 stores the proxy processing information in the main storage unit 12. With this storage, even if the user makes an HTTP request to the other electronic device 200, the own electronic device 100 as the main electronic device makes a response to the HTTP request (a response corresponding to the HTTP request is sent). Will act on behalf of you).

  When the registration unit 120 stores the proxy processing information in the main storage unit 12, the registration unit 120 generates registration completion information indicating that the registration is completed, and transmits the registration completion information to the communication unit 16 (step S112). . Then, the communication unit 16 transmits registration completion information to the other electronic device 200. By receiving the registration completion information, the other electronic device 200 recognizes that the own electronic device 100 performs proxy processing on the HTTP request made to the other electronic device 200. In this way, the proxy process is set by the electronic device 100.

  FIG. 13 shows a processing flow in which the electronic device 100 performs proxy processing on an HTTP request made to the other electronic device 200. First, a user transmits request information about an HTTP request from an arbitrary electronic device 500 to the electronic device 100 or the other electronic device 200.

  Here, if the user recognizes that “the own electronic device 100 performs proxy processing of the HTTP request made to the other electronic device 200”, the user can communicate with the communication unit 16 of the own electronic device 100. An HTTP request is transmitted to. If the user is not aware that “the electronic device 100 performs proxy processing for the HTTP request made to the other electronic device 200”, the HTTP request is transmitted to the other electronic device 200. . Then, the other electronic device 200 transfers the HTTP request to the communication unit 16 of the own electronic device 100.

  When the communication unit 16 receives the request information (step S150), the communication unit 16 transfers the request information to the analysis unit 118 (step S152). Then, the analyzing unit 118 analyzes the transferred request information, and acquires that the request information is being sent to the other electronic device 200 and the requested content. Then, the analysis result (request information being made to the other electronic device 200 and the requested content) is transmitted to the execution means 116.

  When the execution unit 116 receives the analysis result, the execution unit 116 confirms the proxy processing information in the main storage unit 12 (step S110 in FIG. 12), thereby confirming whether the HTTP request from the electronic device 200 is to be proxy-processed. With the processing flow of FIG. 12, proxy processing information for proxy processing of an HTTP request from the electronic device 200 is stored in the main storage unit 12, so the execution unit 116 executes the transmitted request content. Recognize

  Specifically, the execution means 116 requests the contents of the transmitted request information from the server device 30 (see FIG. 1). The server device 30 transmits the requested data to the communication unit 16 (step S158). When the communication unit 16 receives the transmitted data, the communication unit 16 transmits the data to an arbitrary electronic device 500 that is the transmission source of the request information (step S160).

  According to the fourth embodiment, as the energy saving priority mode, the main electronic device 100 performs the proxy processing for the processing performed by the other electronic device 200, so that the energy consumption of the other electronic device 200 can be reduced.

  In the fourth embodiment, the energy saving performance is determined according to the number of protocols. However, as another example, the energy saving performance may be determined according to the amount of energy consumed when executing a predetermined process. Good.

30 server device 40 LAN
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 Communication apparatus 100 Electronic device 110 Information processing apparatus 112 Policy acquisition means 114 Capability acquisition means 116 Selection means 200 Electronic apparatus 210 Information processing apparatus 300 Electronic apparatus 310 Information processing apparatus

Claims (8)

It is possible to configure a communication system that includes a communication unit that communicates with another information processing apparatus, and that one of the other information processing apparatus and the information processing apparatus is a main information processing apparatus connected to the communication apparatus. In the information processing apparatus,
Condition acquisition means for acquiring conditions for the communication system;
Capability acquisition means for acquiring the capability of the other information processing apparatus;
Based on the capability of the other information processing device acquired by the capability acquisition unit and the capability of the information processing device so as to realize the condition acquired by the condition acquisition unit, the information processing device and the have a, a selection means for selecting the main information processing apparatus among other information processing apparatus,
The information acquisition apparatus, wherein the condition acquisition unit acquires the condition set by the operation unit and related to the type of ability to be prioritized . The communication means receives a connection request for requesting that a new information processing apparatus be connected to the communication system,
When the communication means receives the connection request,
The capability acquisition means acquires the capability of the new information processing device from the new information processing device,
The selection means is connected to the communication device from among the new information processing device, the information processing device, and the other information processing device based on the acquired capability of the new information processing device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an information processing apparatus to be processed is selected. In an information processing device connected to a communication device,
A communication means for receiving a connection request for requesting that another information processing apparatus be connected to the information processing apparatus in order to configure a communication system;
Condition acquisition means for acquiring conditions for the communication system;
Capability acquisition means for acquiring the capability of the other information processing apparatus;
Based on the capability of the other information processing device acquired by the capability acquisition unit and the capability of the information processing device so as to realize the condition acquired by the condition acquisition unit, the information processing device and the selection means for selecting a main information processing apparatus that will be connected to the communication device from the another information processing apparatus, the possess,
The information acquisition apparatus, wherein the condition acquisition unit acquires the condition set by the operation unit and related to the type of ability to be prioritized . Storage means for storing the capability of the other information processing apparatus;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the capability acquisition unit acquires the capability of the other information processing device stored in the storage unit.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the capability acquisition unit acquires the capability of the other information processing apparatus from the other information processing apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition acquisition unit acquires the condition from a condition server connected to the communication apparatus. The condition is the communication speed priority, security priority, the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 to 6 or 1, wherein said that any one of the energy conservation priority. In a communication system that includes a plurality of information processing devices, and any one of the plurality of information processing devices is connected to a communication device.
At least one of the plurality of information processing devices is
Condition acquisition means for acquiring conditions for the communication system;
Among the plurality of information processing devices, capability acquisition means for acquiring the capability of another information processing device;
Based on the capability of the other information processing device acquired by the capability acquisition unit and the capability of the information processing device so as to realize the condition acquired by the condition acquisition unit, the information processing device and the selection means for selecting et main information processing apparatus or in the other information processing apparatus, the possess,
The said condition acquisition means acquires the said condition regarding the kind of said capability to set with priority set by the operation means, The communication system characterized by the above-mentioned .

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