JP2002368761A - Wireless communication unit and its connection method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless communication unit that can efficiently select a desirably accessed unit among other accessible wireless communication units existing around the wireless communication unit. SOLUTION: The connection method of this invention includes a step S302 of extracting the number of connected times of each of detected peripheral devices from a storage device, using this value so as to generate a list (a) where names of the detected peripheral devices are arranged in the order of greater connection number of times, a step S303 of displaying the generated list (a) and a plurality of access services available through wireless communication on a display device and accepting the selection of an access service, a step S305 of generating a list (b) of names of the peripheral devices compatible with the selected access service among the peripheral devices in the list (a) when discriminating the selection of one access service, and a step S306 of displaying the list (b) and accepting the selection of the peripheral device from the list (b).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radio communication device and a connection method therefor, and more particularly, to a radio communication device for selecting and connecting any one of a plurality of other radio communication devices existing in the vicinity. Device, its connection method and computer
About the program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, wireless communication technology has been rapidly developed, and IEEE 802.11 has been developed by the IEEE.
Various standardizations of wireless communication, such as wireless communication b and Wireless 1394, are being advanced.

[0003] In particular, Bluetooth ISG is a short-range wireless communication technology excellent in security and confidentiality.
Bluetooth specified by (organization name) is attracting attention. Bluetooth adopts a time division multiplexing method using a 2.4 GHz band ISM band as a radio frequency, and realizes radio communication by frequency hopping spread spectrum communication in the ISM band. Personal computers and PDAs that perform communication in accordance with this technology,
2. Description of the Related Art A wireless communication device such as a mobile phone has the characteristics of lower power consumption and higher interference resistance than other short-range wireless communication technologies.

[0004] The outline of the connection procedure between wireless communication devices by Bluetooth is as follows. First, in response to a connection request from a user, when a certain wireless communication device detects another wireless communication device (hereinafter, referred to as a “peripheral device”) within a radio wave range, a peripheral device detected as a result of the detection processing is detected. A list of device names of the devices is created and displayed on a display device, and a selection of a connection service used by a user in wireless communication, such as voice transmission / reception, data transmission / reception, or a fax service, is received.

When one connection service is selected from the list by the user, a new list of peripheral devices corresponding to the selected connection service is created and displayed on the display device, and the selection of the peripheral device is accepted. . Then, when the selection of one peripheral device from the new list is received, the wireless communication device receives from the user an input of an authentication passkey that has been previously determined with the peripheral device.

[0006] The wireless communication device to which the passkey has been input by the user makes an inquiry (inquiry) to the selected peripheral device for connection, and subsequently transmits the passkey input by the user. In response to the inquiry, the peripheral device that has received the passkey transmits a passkey that has been predetermined with the wireless communication device.

When it is confirmed that the passkey transmitted by the wireless communication device and the passkey transmitted by the peripheral device match each other, a setting for encrypting subsequent communication between the wireless communication device and the peripheral device is performed. Is performed, and the connection is completed.

[0008]

However, in the conventional short-distance communication described above, when a list of peripheral devices is created, a list is created by simply arranging device names of wireless communication devices in the order in which they are detected. Was.

That is, the creation of the list has been performed irrespective of the frequency of connection with each of the detected wireless communication devices. For this reason, even if the wireless communication device is frequently connected, the user must search for a connection target from the list every time a connection is requested. Then, as the number of peripheral wireless communication devices increases, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to find a desired connection target from a list.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and a purpose thereof is to efficiently select a desired wireless communication device from other connectable wireless communication devices existing around the device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless communication device capable of connecting, a connection method thereof, and a computer program.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is a wireless communication device, which stores the number of times of connection with each of the other wireless communication devices. Means, detection means for detecting the other wireless communication device, and when at least two other wireless communication devices are detected by the detection means, stored in the storage means, according to the number of connections with each, Display means for arranging and displaying information indicating the detected other wireless communication devices, and selection receiving means for receiving a selection of one to be connected from among the other wireless communication devices displayed on the display means, Connecting means for connecting to another wireless communication device selected by the selection receiving means; and updating means for updating the number of times of connection with the connected other wireless communication device stored in the storage means. To And butterflies.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication apparatus, wherein the storage means stores the number of times of establishing synchronization with each of the other wireless communication apparatuses, and the other wireless communication apparatus is detected. Detecting means, when at least two other wireless communication devices are detected by the detecting means, the detected other wireless communication devices are stored in the storage means according to the number of times of establishment of synchronization with each of them; Display means for arranging and displaying information to be displayed, selection receiving means for receiving a selection of a device to be connected from among the other wireless communication devices displayed on the display means, and another wireless device selected by the selection receiving means. Synchronization establishing means for establishing synchronization with a communication device, and updating means for updating the number of times of establishment of synchronization with another wireless communication device that has been established by the synchronization establishing means and is stored in the storage means. Characterized in that was.

[0013] The invention described in claim 3 is the first invention.
Or the wireless communication device according to 2, wherein the storage unit further stores a time at which the other wireless communication device is connected or synchronization is established, and the selection receiving unit stores the time stored in the storage unit. The information indicating the other wireless communication device is arranged in further consideration of the above.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for connecting a wireless communication device, comprising detecting another wireless communication device,
When at least two other wireless communication devices are detected in the detection, the display device arranges information indicating the detected other wireless communication devices according to the number of times of connection with each of the devices, stored in a storage device. Display, accepts a selection of a device to be connected from among the displayed other wireless communication devices, connects to the other wireless communication device selected in the reception, and stores the connected device stored in the storage device. The number of times of connection with another wireless communication device is updated.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for connecting a wireless communication device, comprising detecting another wireless communication device,
When at least two other wireless communication devices are detected in the detection, information indicating the other wireless communication devices is arranged on the display device according to the number of times of establishment of synchronization with each of the other wireless communication devices stored in the storage device. Display, accepting a selection of one to be connected from among the displayed other wireless communication devices, establishing synchronization with the other wireless communication device selected in the reception, and storing the synchronization in the storage device. The number of times of establishment of synchronization with another wireless communication device in which the communication has been established is updated.

The invention described in claim 6 is the same as the invention in claim 4.
Or the connection method of the wireless communication device according to 5, wherein the storage device further stores a time at which connection or synchronization is established with another wireless communication device, and when the reception is performed,
The information indicating the other wireless communication device is arranged in further consideration of the time stored in the storage device.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program for causing a wireless communication device to detect another wireless communication device, and detecting at least two other wireless communication devices. In the case, according to the number of times of connection with each stored in the storage device, information indicating the detected other wireless communication devices is arranged and displayed on the display device, and the displayed other wireless communication devices are displayed. Receiving a selection of a device to be connected from the device, connecting the device to another wireless communication device selected in the reception, and updating the number of times of connection with the connected other wireless communication device stored in the storage device. It is characterized by.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program for causing a wireless communication device to detect another wireless communication device, and detecting at least two other wireless communication devices. In the case, stored in the storage device, according to the number of times of establishment of synchronization with each of them, the information indicating the other wireless communication device is arranged and displayed on the display device, from among the displayed other wireless communication device Let the selection of what to connect be accepted, establish synchronization with the other wireless communication device selected in the acceptance, stored in the storage device, with the other wireless communication device that has been synchronized by the establishing step Characterized in that the number of times of establishing the synchronization of the data is updated.

Further, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the seventh aspect of the present invention.
Or in the computer program according to 8,
The storage device further stores the time when it is connected or synchronized with another wireless communication device, and when accepting, the other wireless communication device further considers the time stored in the storage device. The information to be shown is arranged.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a wireless communication apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and conceptually shows only parts related to the present invention. The wireless communication device 200 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 201, a storage device 202, a communication interface 203, a display device 204,
An input device 205 and an antenna unit 206 are provided.

The CPU 201 performs various controls of the wireless communication device 200. The storage device 202 includes a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, and the like, and stores various programs and data for executing processing according to the present invention. The data stored in the storage device 202 includes other wireless communication devices (peripheral devices) existing around the wireless communication device 200.
The number of times of connection with the peripheral device, that is, data on the number of times of connection, which is associated with the device name or address code of the device. The input device 205 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. The display device 204 is used for displaying an input reception screen or the like displayed when receiving data input from a user. The wireless communication device 200 can communicate with another wireless communication device existing in the vicinity via the communication interface 203 and the antenna unit 206 connected to the communication interface.

The CPU 201 performs processing based on an OS (Operating System) stored in the storage device 202 or a control program such as an application program that uses communication by Bluetooth. When the wireless communication device is a PC or the like, these programs are stored in a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a CD-ROM, or the like, and are read and executed in the storage device 202 before execution. be able to.

Next, a method for connecting a wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the wireless communication device 200, which has received a Bluetooth connection request from the user, transmits an inquiry request and detects a peripheral device within a radio wave reach (step S301). The peripheral device that has received the inquiry request returns a response signal including the device name and the address code in response to the inquiry. The wireless communication device 200 extracts the device name and the address code from each response signal transmitted from the peripheral device. If the extracted device name and address code are detected for the first time, the storage device 202 stores the device name and address code in the storage device 202 in association with the number of connections “0”.

Next, the radio communication device 200 fetches the number of connections from the storage device 202 for each of the detected peripheral devices, and uses this value to derive the device name of the detected peripheral device from the number of connections. A list arranged in the descending order (hereinafter, referred to as "list a") is created (step S30).
2). Next, the created list a and a plurality of connection services that can be used by wireless communication are displayed together on the display device, and the user selects a desired connection service (step S303).

In the determination process of step S304, when it is determined that one connection service is selected by the user's input using the input device 205, the wireless communication device 200 selects one of the peripheral devices in the list a. A list of device names of peripheral devices corresponding to the specified connection service (hereinafter, referred to as “list b”) is created (step S).
305). Next, the created list b is displayed on the display device 204.
At the same time, and accepts a selection of a peripheral device desired by the user from the list b (step S3).
06).

If it is determined in step S307 that one device name has been selected from the list b (hereinafter, the selected peripheral device is referred to as a peripheral device A), the wireless communication device 200 A dialog box having an area (input field) for inputting a passkey for authentication that has been previously agreed with A is displayed, and the passkey input is accepted). Next, when a connection instruction is received from the user after the pass key is input by operating the input device 205, the wireless communication device 200 inquires the peripheral device A of the connection (inquiry). The peripheral device A that has received the inquiry returns its own address code for performing wireless communication and a packet indicating a clock. The wireless communication device 200 establishes synchronization with the peripheral device A based on the received packet.

Next, radio communication apparatus 200 transmits the input passkey to peripheral apparatus A, and requests connection.
When the peripheral device A responds to the connection request, the peripheral device A transmits a passkey that has been negotiated with the wireless communication device 200 in advance to the PC 100.
Send to

The peripheral device A compares the passkey received from the wireless communication device 200 with a predetermined passkey, while the wireless communication device 200 compares the input passkey with the passkey received from the peripheral device A. Then, when the wireless communication device 200 and the peripheral device A each determine that the input passkey matches the previously determined passkey, the subsequent wireless communication device 2
Settings for encrypting the communication between 00 and the peripheral device A are performed in each device, and a connection is established (step S308). When the connection is established, the connection count of the peripheral device A stored in the storage device 202 is updated (step S309).

Next, referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, in each process shown in the flowchart of FIG.
Will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the screen displayed in step S303. On the screen 400, a list a (40) in which peripheral devices detected in the detection processing in step S301 are arranged in descending order of the number of times of connection.
1) is displayed, and a button for selecting a connection service, that is, a button 402 to be pressed when performing data transmission / reception with another wireless communication device, a button 403 to be pressed when using a fax service, And a button 404 to be pressed when performing voice transmission / reception.
The user uses the input device of the wireless communication device 205 to
By selecting any of the buttons 402 to 404, a desired connection service can be selected.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display device 204 in step S306. As shown in the figure, the screen 500 displays a list b (501) in which device names of detected peripheral devices are arranged. The list 501 is configured so that the displayed peripheral device can be selected using the input device. Here, when the user selects any wireless communication device and presses an “OK” button arranged at the lower right of the screen, the display device 20 is displayed.
4, a dialog box shown in the example of FIG. 5 is displayed.

In this embodiment, an example has been described in which a list in which the device names of detected peripheral devices are arranged in accordance with the number of connections is created. However, when the lists a and b are created, synchronization is performed instead of the number of connections. The device names of the peripheral devices may be arranged according to the number of times of establishment.

In this case, the storage device 202 stores in advance the device name and address code of the peripheral device and the number of synchronization establishments indicating the number of times of establishing synchronization with the peripheral device. Then, when the synchronization between the wireless peripheral device 200 and the peripheral device is established in step S308, the number of synchronization establishments corresponding to the peripheral device is updated. In the subsequent connection processing with the peripheral device, when the list a is created in step S302 and the list b is created in step S305, the device names are arranged according to the number of synchronization establishments corresponding to the detected peripheral device. Thereby, in the connection processing, it is possible to easily search for a peripheral device having a high frequency of trying to establish a connection by establishing synchronization.

(Second Embodiment) In the above-described embodiment, when the wireless communication device 200 detects a peripheral device that has been frequently connected in the past but has not been recently connected, the lists a and b are displayed. At the time of creation, a list in which this peripheral device is arranged at a higher level is created. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the time at which the connection with the peripheral device was established (connection time) in step S308 of FIG. Remember. In the subsequent connection processing, when the list a is created in step S302 and the list b is created in step S305, the following formula is applied to each detected peripheral device, and the device names are arranged in the list. Find the priority when doing. (Priority) = k × (number of times of connection) / (time elapsed since last connection time) or (priority) = k ′ × (number of times of synchronization establishment) / (time elapsed since last time of synchronization establishment) , K and k ′ are constants. In this way, by creating the lists a and b in consideration of the elapsed time from the last connection time or the synchronization establishment time stored in the storage device 202, frequently connected in the distant past but recently A wireless communication device that is not connected can be placed at the bottom of the list.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment but can be implemented in other various modes. For example, in the above embodiment, the wireless communication technology is Blu-ray.
Although the description has been given by using the example of the “ethoth”, the present invention can be applied to another wireless communication technology for selecting and connecting an arbitrary device from a plurality of peripheral devices.

The display screen described above is merely an example for explanation, and the arrangement and size of the display area are not limited to the examples shown in the embodiment of the present invention.
Similarly, the information indicating the wireless communication device is not limited to the device name, and may be other information such as the address code of the wireless communication device.

Further, various modifications other than those described above are possible. However, as long as the modification is based on the technical idea described in the claims, the modification falls within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It becomes easy to select a wireless communication device with a high connection frequency or a high frequency of synchronization establishment.

Also, by taking into account the elapsed time since the last connection, it is possible to create a list of wireless communication devices that emphasizes the frequency of connection in the near past.

Accordingly, the efficiency of the wireless communication connection work by the user can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a wireless communication device to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a connection method of a wireless communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a display device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a display device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a dialog box displayed on the display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 200 wireless communication device 201 CPU 202 storage device 203 communication interface 204 display device 205 input device 400, 500, screen 401 list a 501 list b 402, 403, 404 button 600 dialog box 601 input field 602 check box

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit that stores the number of times of connection with each of other wireless communication devices, a detection unit that detects the other wireless communication device, and at least two other wireless communication devices are detected by the detection unit. If so, display means for arranging and displaying information indicating the detected other wireless communication devices according to the number of times of connection with each stored in the storage means, and other information displayed on the display means Selection receiving means for receiving a selection of one to be connected from among the wireless communication devices, connection means for connecting to another wireless communication device whose selection has been received by the selection receiving means, and the connection stored in the storage means Updating means for updating the number of times of connection made with another wireless communication device. 2. A storage unit for storing the number of times of establishing synchronization with each of the other wireless communication devices, a detecting unit for detecting the other wireless communication device, and at least two other wireless communication devices by the detecting unit Is detected, stored in the storage means, according to the number of establishments of synchronization with each of them, display means for arranging information indicating the detected other wireless communication devices and displaying on a display device, Selection accepting means for accepting a selection of one to be connected from among the other wireless communication devices displayed on the display means; synchronization establishing means for establishing synchronization with the other wireless communication device selected by the selection accepting means; Wireless communication apparatus, comprising: updating means for updating the number of times of establishment of synchronization with another wireless communication apparatus with which synchronization has been established by the synchronization establishing means, stored in a storage means. 3. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit further stores a time at which the other wireless communication device is connected or synchronization is established, and the selection receiving unit includes: A wireless communication device, wherein information indicating the other wireless communication device is arranged in further consideration of the time stored in the storage unit. 4. When detecting at least two other wireless communication devices in the detection, detecting at least two other wireless communication devices according to the number of connections with each of the wireless communication devices stored in the storage device. The information indicating the other wireless communication devices is arranged and displayed on the display device, and the selection of the one to be connected is received from the displayed other wireless communication devices, and the other wireless communication device selected in the reception is selected. A method for connecting a wireless communication device, comprising: connecting and updating the number of times of connection with the connected other wireless communication device stored in the storage device. 5. When detecting at least two other wireless communication devices in the detection, detecting the other wireless communication devices according to the number of times of establishment of synchronization with each of the other wireless communication devices stored in the storage device. The information indicating the wireless communication devices is arranged and displayed on the display device, and the selection of the one to be connected from among the displayed other wireless communication devices is accepted, and the synchronization with the other wireless communication device selected in the reception is performed. And updating the number of times of establishment of synchronization with another wireless communication device with which the synchronization has been established, stored in the storage device. 6. The connection method for a wireless communication device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the storage device further stores a time at which the wireless communication device is connected to another wireless communication device or synchronization is established. And arranging information indicating the other wireless communication devices in further consideration of the time stored in the storage device. 7. The wireless communication device detects another wireless communication device, and in the case where at least two other wireless communication devices are detected in the detection, according to the number of times of connection with each stored in the storage device. Arranging information indicating the detected other wireless communication device on a display device, and accepting selection of a device to be connected from among the displayed other wireless communication devices; A computer program for connecting to another wireless communication device and updating the number of times of connection with the connected other wireless communication device stored in the storage device. 8. A wireless communication device for detecting another wireless communication device, and establishing at least one of the other wireless communication devices when the detection detects at least two other wireless communication devices. According to the number of times, the information indicating the other wireless communication device is arranged and displayed on the display device, and the selection of the one to be connected from among the displayed other wireless communication devices is received, and the other selected in the reception is selected. Computer program for establishing synchronization with another wireless communication device, and updating the number of times of establishment of synchronization with another wireless communication device, which is stored in the storage device and has been synchronized by the establishing step, with the wireless communication device. . 9. The computer program according to claim 7, wherein the storage device further stores a time at which the wireless communication device is connected to another wireless communication device or synchronization is established. A computer program for arranging information indicating the other wireless communication device in further consideration of the time stored in the device.