JP2006020071A - Radio communication system, radio communication equipment and service searching method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the convenience of a remote operator of connection side radio communication equipment and to realize communication at a different security level between real communication application processing and information search processing of a communication application service. <P>SOLUTION: A direct print service providing system is provided with a printer 100 for providing a direct print service and digital cameras 110 and 111 that can use the direct print service. While the printer 100 provides the digital camera 110 with the direct print service, the newly started digital camera 111 uses a broadcast radio frame or multicast radio frame to transmit a discovery request message to the printer 100 when the digital camera 111 searches and obtains information of the direct print service. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology that enables a service search process even for a wireless communication terminal occupied by unicast wireless communication between wireless communication terminals.

  In recent years, non-PC devices capable of storing a large amount of electronic content information such as still images and moving images have appeared, such as digital cameras and digital video cameras. In response to the desire to output electronic content information directly from printers, the advent of DPS (Direct Print Service), which defines the server-client relationship between print and storage, enables compatibility between vendors of direct output services for electronic content information. It is being done.

  In addition, with the drop in prices of wireless communication units such as IEEE802.11 wireless LAN and Bluetooth, wireless communication units are being built in non-PC devices such as the above digital cameras, digital video cameras, and printers. There is a demand for DPS using a communication unit.

  However, for example, when a wireless communication medium is used between a digital camera and a printer, the digital camera side (service receiver) cannot visually recognize the connection relationship between the digital camera and the printer. Therefore, there are cases where there is no response to service discovery from the digital camera side (service search processing to search for whether or not you can enjoy the service), when there is no valid printer within the effective range where radio waves reach, There is a case where a valid printer exists within the range, but the other person is occupying the printer. In these cases, there is a problem that it is not possible to distinguish whether the service can be provided or not.

On the other hand, with respect to the technology for providing services via the wireless communication medium as described above, a method for accumulating and storing service profiles of devices having a connection history in the past has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). ).
JP 2003-91466 A

  However, the conventional example has the following problems.

  When a connection-side wireless communication terminal (for example, a digital camera) searches for a connected-side wireless communication terminal (for example, a printer) and the connected-side wireless communication terminal is occupied by another terminal, the connection-side wireless communication terminal The connected wireless communication terminal cannot respond to the service search process until the occupation is completed. Therefore, the connectable wireless communication terminal cannot provide a service that can be provided to the operation interface of the newly searched connection-side wireless communication terminal (in other words, the connection-side wireless communication terminal does not provide a service). Cannot support message sequence for search processing).

  In addition, even if the connection-side wireless communication terminal stores the past connection results with respect to the connected-side wireless communication terminal, if the selected connected-side wireless communication terminal is occupied by another terminal, the connected-side wireless communication terminal A sufficient service cannot be provided from the side wireless communication terminal to the connection side wireless communication terminal, which impairs the convenience of the remote operator of the connection side wireless communication terminal.

  An object of the present invention is to improve the convenience of a remote operator of a connection-side wireless communication device. Another object of the present invention is to realize communication at different security levels between the actual communication application process and the information search process of the communication application service.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a connection-side wireless communication device that uses a broadcast wireless frame or a multicast wireless frame when searching for and obtaining application service information of a connected-side wireless communication device. A search request is transmitted to the connection-side wireless communication terminal, and the connected-side wireless communication device uses the unicast wireless frame to provide an application service to another wireless communication device, while the connected-side wireless communication device broadcasts When a search request using a multicast radio frame is received, whether or not a response using a broadcast radio frame or a multicast radio frame to the search request is possible is determined based on the processing status of the communication application service, and according to the determination Response processing.

  According to the present invention, even when an application service is being provided, it is possible to cope with a message sequence for information search processing of the application service from the connection-side wireless communication terminal, and to provide information on the application service. it can. Therefore, it is possible to improve the convenience of the remote operator of the connection side wireless communication terminal.

  In addition, it is possible to realize communication with different security levels between the actual communication application process when actually using the application service and the process of searching for information on the application service.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
In the first embodiment of the present invention, an IEEE802.11 wireless IP network is used as a network communication medium, and a wireless LAN direct print service compatible digital camera (hereinafter referred to as a wireless LAN compatible digital camera or digital camera) is used as a connection-side wireless communication terminal. In a direct print service providing system using a printer compatible with a wireless LAN direct print service (hereinafter, abbreviated as a wireless LAN compatible printer or printer) as a connected side wireless communication terminal, a direct print service is being provided to a wireless LAN compatible digital camera. This is an example in which a new wireless LAN compatible digital camera performs service discovery (service search processing for searching for whether or not to enjoy a service) for the wireless LAN compatible printer.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a direct print service providing system including a wireless LAN compatible printer and a wireless LAN compatible digital camera as a wireless communication system according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, the direct print service providing system includes a printer 100 as a wireless LAN compatible printer, a digital camera (DSC_1) 110 and a digital camera (DSC_2) 111 as wireless LAN compatible digital cameras.

  The direct print service providing system includes a unicast radio frame used for direct print communication between radio communication terminals, a broadcast radio frame used for broadcast communication to all radio communication terminals constituting the system, or a plurality of designated radio communications. It is configured as a wireless LAN system that can use a multicast wireless frame used for communication with a terminal, and provides a direct print service as a communication application service.

  The ad hoc wireless link 10 is being used for an actual direct print service. The ad hoc wireless link 11 is used for service discovery. The digital camera (DSC_1) 110 is using the direct print service of the printer 100 via the ad hoc wireless link 10. The digital camera (DSC_2) 111 performs service discovery for the printer 100 via the ad hoc wireless link 11.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless LAN compatible printer.

  2, the wireless LAN compatible printer includes an internal bus 200, a print engine 201, a print processing unit 202, a wireless media access processing unit 203, an RF (Radio Frequency) unit 204, a CPU 205, a flash ROM 206, a display 207, and a display processing unit. 208, a RAM 209, an operation unit 210, a system controller 211, a memory card interface 212, a parallel interface 214, and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface 215.

  The print engine 201 performs a printing operation for printing an image on a sheet. The print processing unit 202 performs print processing such as outputting print data to the print engine 201. A wireless media access processing unit 203 performs wireless media access processing with the outside of the printer. The RF unit 204 transmits and receives various information wirelessly. The CPU 205 controls the entire printer via the internal bus 200 and executes the processes shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 7, 10, and 11 based on the control program stored in the flash ROM 206. The flash ROM 206 stores various control programs and the like.

  The display 207 performs various displays (power on / off state, paper state, etc.). A display processing unit 208 controls display on the display 207. The RAM 209 stores temporary usage data. The operation unit 210 is used for various settings (number of prints, paper size, etc.) by the user. The system controller 211 analyzes the user operation content input from the operation unit 210. The memory card interface 212 controls an interface with a memory card 213 that is detachably attached to the printer. The parallel interface 214 manages wired communication with the outside of the printer. The USB interface 215 serves as an interface for USB connection with the outside of the printer.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a wireless LAN compatible digital camera.

  In FIG. 3, the wireless LAN compatible digital camera includes an internal bus 300, an imaging unit 301, a video processing unit 302, a wireless media access processing unit 303, an RF unit 304, a CPU 305, a flash ROM 306, a display 307, a display processing unit 308, and a RAM 309. , An operation unit 310, a system controller 311, a memory card interface 312, an audio interface 314, and a USB interface 315.

  The imaging unit 301 performs an imaging operation for capturing an image of a subject. The video processing unit 302 performs video processing for processing a video signal accompanying the imaging operation of the imaging unit 301. A wireless media access processing unit 303 performs wireless media access processing with the outside of the digital camera. The RF unit 304 transmits and receives various types of information wirelessly. The CPU 305 controls the entire digital camera via the internal bus 300, and executes the processes shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 8 based on the control program stored in the flash ROM 306. The flash ROM 306 stores various control programs and the like.

  The display 307 performs various displays (power on / off state, shooting mode, etc.). The display processing unit 308 manages display control for the display unit 307. The RAM 309 stores temporary usage data. The operation unit 310 is used for various settings (such as a shooting mode) by the user. The system controller 311 analyzes the user operation content input from the operation unit 310. The memory card interface 312 controls an interface with a memory card 313 that is detachably attached to the digital camera. The audio interface 314 serves as an interface with a sound collection microphone (not shown). The USB interface 315 serves as an interface for USB connection with the outside of the digital camera.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data frame format of an IEEE 802.11 wireless IP network.

  In FIG. 4, the data frame of the IEEE802.11 wireless IP network is composed of a MAC (Media Access Control) header section 40 composed of a plurality of fields 401 to 406 and a plurality of fields 407 to 410.

  The MAC header section 40 includes a frame control field 401, a Duration / ID field 402, a destination MAC address field 403, a transmission source MAC address field 404, an SSID field 405, and a Sequence Control field 406. A destination IP address field 407 following the MAC header portion 40 is a field for storing a destination logical address. The source IP address field 408 is a field for storing a source logical address. The Frame Body field 409 is a field for storing data for actual service. The FCS field 410 is a data error detection field.

  In this embodiment, when transmitting a broadcast radio frame or a multicast radio frame used by the digital camera for searching, broadcast or multicast is set for the destination MAC address field 403 and necessary for the destination IP address field 407. Depending on the unicast address, the broadcast address or multicast address is used properly.

  Next, the newly activated digital camera (DSC_2) 111 is activated at its own discretion with respect to the printer 100 that is providing the wireless LAN direct print service with the digital camera (DSC_1) 110 in this embodiment. The service discovery sequence to be performed will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a service discovery sequence led by the digital camera (DSC_2) 111. 6 is a flowchart showing processing when the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 is activated, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing when the discovery request message of the printer 100 is received, and FIG. 8 is a discovery response message of the digital camera (DSC_2) 111. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of reception.

  5 to 8, the newly activated digital camera (DSC_2) 111 has already acquired the IP address, which is a logical address used by itself, using the local auto IP assignment process or the like (step S601). It is determined whether or not the service discovery information is possessed in the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 (step S602). In the case of possessing service discovery information, the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 does not perform active service search processing, but intercepts a discovery message transmitted using a broadcast radio frame or a multicast radio frame, and detects service discovery information. Therefore, one processing unit is finished as it is.

  When the service discovery information is not possessed, the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 sets a broadcast address to a destination IP address that is a logical destination of a service search request target in order to perform an active service search process ( Step S603). Furthermore, the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 broadcasts at a timing that does not affect the print data frames 500 to 502 transmitted using the unicast wireless frame being used in the operating wireless LAN direct print service sequence. A discovery request message 510 is transmitted to the printer 100 using a wireless frame or a multicast wireless frame (step S604), and one processing unit is completed.

  The printer 100 that has received the discovery request message 510 calculates the required time for printing based on the processing status of the print data and the remaining amount of data stored in the printer (step S701), and within the calculated required time for printing, It is determined whether there is sufficient time to transmit a response broadcast radio frame or multicast radio frame (step S702). If there is not enough time for transmission, the printer 100 continues the print data acquisition process using the unicast radio frame (step S705) until the required time is sufficient. That is, the provision of the wireless LAN direct print service is continued.

  If there is sufficient time for transmission, the printer 100 sets the source IP address of the discovery request message as the destination IP address that is the logical destination of the service search response target (step S703). Further, the printer 100 broadcasts the broadcast frame or multicast at a timing that does not affect the print data frames 500 to 502 transmitted using the unicast wireless frame being used in the active wireless LAN direct print service sequence. A discovery response message 511 is transmitted to the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 using the radio frame (step S704), and one processing unit is terminated.

  The digital camera (DSC_2) 111 that has received the discovery response message 511 reads out the discovery information from the received discovery response message 511 and stores it in the digital camera (step S801). Next, the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 refers to the destination IP address of the received discovery response message 511 (step S802), and determines whether it is a response message to the discovery request transmitted by itself (step S803). ).

  If it is not a response message to the discovery request transmitted by itself, the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 ends one processing unit as it is. When the response message is a response message to the discovery request transmitted by itself, the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 determines the necessity of starting a message sequence for sending and receiving a further discovery message for the service search process (step S804). . If message sequence activation is not necessary, the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 ends one processing unit as it is.

  If message sequence activation is necessary, the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 sets the source address of the discovery response message to the destination IP address that is the logical destination of the service search request target (step S805). Further, the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 broadcasts at a timing that does not affect the print data frames 500 to 502 transmitted using the unicast wireless frame being used in the operating wireless LAN direct print service sequence. A discovery request message is transmitted to the printer 100 using a wireless frame or a multicast wireless frame (step S806), and one processing unit is completed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the printer 100 that is the connected wireless communication terminal provides the communication application service (wireless LAN direct print service) to the digital camera (DSC_1) 110 that is the connected wireless communication terminal. Even during provision, the newly activated digital camera (DSC_2) 111 can search for and obtain information on the communication application service of the printer 100. Further, the connection-side wireless communication terminal can cope with a message sequence for information search processing of the communication application service, and the convenience of the remote operator of the connection-side wireless communication terminal can be improved.

[Second Embodiment]
The second embodiment of the present invention is different from the first embodiment described above in the following points. Since the other elements of the present embodiment are the same as the corresponding ones of the first embodiment (FIGS. 1, 2, and 3) described above, description thereof is omitted.

  In the first embodiment described above, the example in which the newly activated wireless LAN compatible digital camera (DSC_2) 111 activates the service discovery sequence based on its own determination has been described.

  In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the wireless LAN compatible digital camera (DSC_2) 111 starts a service discovery sequence according to polling from the active wireless LAN compatible printer 100 side.

  Next, the newly activated digital camera (DSC_2) 111) is connected to the printer 100 side with respect to the printer 100 that is providing the wireless LAN direct print service with the digital camera (DSC_1) 110 in this embodiment. A service discovery sequence that is activated in accordance with polling from will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 7 and FIGS. 9 to 11.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a service discovery sequence led by the printer 100. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the process when the printer 100 finishes receiving the print data packet unit, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the process when the printer 100 finishes sending the discovery response message.

  6 to 7 and FIGS. 9 to 11, the newly activated digital camera (DSC_2) 111 acquires an IP address, which is a logical address used by itself, using a local auto IP allocation process or the like (step After S601), it is determined whether or not the service discovery information is already possessed in the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 (Step S602). In the case of possessing service discovery information, the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 does not perform active service search processing, but intercepts a discovery message transmitted using a broadcast radio frame or a multicast radio frame, and detects service discovery information. Therefore, one processing unit is finished as it is.

  When the service discovery information is not possessed, the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 sets a broadcast address as a destination IP address that is a logical destination of a service search request target in order to perform active service search processing ( Step S603). Furthermore, the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 performs discovery using the broadcast radio frame or multicast radio frame at the reception timing of the discovery polling message 910 transmitted from the active printer 100 using the broadcast radio frame or multicast radio frame. A request message 911 is transmitted to the printer 100 (step S604), and one processing unit is completed.

  After the printer 100 in operation receives the print data frames 900 to 901 transmitted using the unicast radio frame, the time required for printing is determined based on the processing status of the print data and the remaining amount of accumulated data in the printer. (Step S1001), and within the calculated print time, there is sufficient time to transmit a broadcast radio frame for discovery response or a multicast radio frame (polling frame for permitting acceptance of discovery request). Is determined (step S1002). If there is not enough time for transmission, the printer 100 continues the print data acquisition process (step S1007) using the unicast radio frame until the required time is sufficient. That is, the provision of the wireless LAN direct print service is continued.

  If there is sufficient time for transmission, the printer 100 determines whether the active wireless LAN medium can set different encryption keys for transmission / reception of unicast wireless frames and broadcast wireless frames or multicast wireless frames. Determination is made (step S1003). If a different encryption key can be set, the process proceeds to step S1005.

  If a different encryption key cannot be set, the printer 100 cancels the encrypted communication (step S1004), and then sets the broadcast IP address as the destination IP address that is the logical destination of the service search polling target ( Step S1005). Further, the printer 100 transmits a discovery polling message 910 to the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 using a broadcast radio frame or a multicast radio frame (step S1006), and then ends one processing unit. Note that the wireless media access processing unit 203 of the printer 100 performs setting of a different encryption key and cancellation of encrypted communication.

  Upon receiving the discovery request message 911, the printer 100 calculates the required time for printing based on the processing status of print data and the remaining amount of data stored in the printer (step S701), and within the calculated required time for printing, It is determined whether there is sufficient time to transmit a response broadcast radio frame or multicast radio frame (step S702).

  Here, when the discovery polling message 910 described with reference to FIG. 10 is transmitted, it is determined that the required time has sufficient time, so the printer 100 immediately determines the logical destination of the service search response target. The source IP address of the discovery request message is set as the destination IP address (step S703). Further, the printer 100 immediately transmits a discovery response message 912 to the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 using a broadcast radio frame or a multicast radio frame (step S704), and ends one processing unit.

  After completing the transmission of the discovery response message 912, the printer 100 completes the reception of the print data frames 900 to 901 transmitted using the unicast radio frame, and then processes the print data and the remaining amount of data stored in the printer. The print required time is calculated based on (step S1101), and it is determined whether or not there is sufficient time for transmitting the discovery response broadcast radio frame or multicast radio frame within the calculated print required time. This is performed (step S1102).

  If there is sufficient time for radio frame transmission, the printer 100 sets the broadcast IP address as the destination IP address that is the logical destination of the service search polling target (step S1103), and the broadcast radio frame or multicast radio frame. The discovery polling message 910 is transmitted to the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 by using (Step S1104), and one processing unit is completed. If there is not enough time for wireless frame transmission, the printer 100 resumes the encryption communication (step S1105), then resumes the print data acquisition process (step S1106), and ends one processing unit.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the digital camera (DSC_2) 111 can be used even when the printer 100 that is the connected wireless communication terminal is providing the communication application service (wireless LAN direct print service). The information on the communication application service of the printer 100 can be searched and obtained. Further, the connection-side wireless communication terminal can cope with a message sequence for information search processing of the communication application service, and the convenience of the remote operator of the connection-side wireless communication terminal can be improved.

  In addition, when it is necessary to use different encryption schemes for unicast radio frames, broadcast radio frames, and multicast radio frames and to switch the encryption schemes, the encryption schemes are switched at the respective timings of starting / ending polling processing. To do. Accordingly, it is possible to realize communication with different security levels between the actual communication application process when actually using the communication application service and the process of searching for information on the communication application service.

[Other embodiments]
In the first and second embodiments, an IEEE802.11 wireless LAN is used as a network communication medium, a wireless LAN compatible digital camera is used as a connection-side wireless communication terminal, and a wireless communication terminal is connected as a wireless communication terminal. Although an example using a LAN-compatible printer has been shown, the present invention is not limited to this. A medium that can effectively use broadcast communication as a network communication medium, for example, a short-range wireless network such as a wired LAN or Bluetooth, and a wireless LAN compatible digital video camera, a wireless LAN compatible camcorder, a wireless LAN as a connection side wireless communication terminal The present invention can also be applied to a case where a direct print application service is performed using a device such as a compatible information terminal and a device capable of recording digital content such as a storage device as a connected wireless communication terminal. In this case, the same effect can be obtained.

  In the first and second embodiments, when a wireless communication terminal other than the digital camera that has activated the service discovery sequence has intercepted a discovery response message transmitted from a printer using a broadcast wireless frame or a multicast wireless frame, It is also possible to update service profile information that can be provided on the wireless network using the intercepted information.

  In the second embodiment, an example is shown in which a different encryption key is set and encryption-use communication is canceled on the printer side, which is a connected wireless communication terminal, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to set a different encryption key and cancel encryption-based communication on the digital camera side that is the connection-side wireless communication terminal.

  In the second embodiment, an example in which different encryption keys are set for transmission / reception of a unicast radio frame and a broadcast radio frame or a multicast radio frame has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to use an encryption algorithm instead of the encryption key. It is also possible to encrypt only the data in the unicast radio frame and not encrypt the data in the broadcast radio frame or multicast radio frame.

  The present invention supplies a software program (the flowcharts of FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment to a computer or CPU. This can be achieved by reading and executing the supplied program.

  In this case, the program is directly supplied from a storage medium storing the program, or downloaded from another computer or database (not shown) connected to the Internet, a commercial network, a local area network, or the like. Supplied.

  The form of the program may be in the form of object code, program code executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to an OS (operating system), and the like.

  The present invention also supplies a computer or CPU with a storage medium storing a software program for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the computer or CPU reads and executes the program stored in the storage medium. Can also be achieved.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the respective embodiments described above, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for storing the program code, for example, ROM, RAM, NV-RAM, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk (registered trademark), magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, MO, CD-R, CD -RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, etc.

  The functions of this embodiment described above are not only executed by executing the program code read from the computer, but the OS or the like running on the computer can perform part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. It can also be realized by doing.

  Furthermore, the present invention can be achieved by downloading a software program for realizing the above-described embodiment from a database on a network or a homepage by a communication program, and reading and executing this program.

  The above program can also be supplied by connecting to a homepage on the Internet using a browser of a client computer and downloading the computer program itself or a compressed file including an automatic installation function from the homepage to a storage medium such as a hard disk. .

  The above program distributes a storage medium such as a CD-ROM stored after encrypting the program code to the user, and provides a key for decrypting the encryption from the homepage via the Internet to the user who has cleared a predetermined condition. It can also be provided by downloading the information and using the key information to execute the encrypted program code and install it on the computer.

  The function of this embodiment described above can also be realized by dividing the program code into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different home page. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer also constitutes the present invention.

  In addition, the function of the present embodiment described above is that after a program read from a storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, Based on the instruction of the program, the CPU or MPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit can also be realized by executing a part or all of the actual processing.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a direct print service providing system including a wireless LAN compatible printer and a wireless LAN compatible digital camera as a wireless communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless LAN compatible printer. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the digital camera corresponding to wireless LAN. 1 is a diagram showing a data frame format of an IEEE 802.11 wireless IP network. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the service discovery sequence of a wireless LAN corresponding | compatible digital camera initiative. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of wireless LAN corresponding | compatible digital camera starting. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing when a discovery request message is received by a wireless LAN compatible printer. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of the discovery response message reception of the digital camera corresponding to wireless LAN. It is a figure which shows the example of the service discovery sequence led by the wireless LAN corresponding printer which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart showing processing at the end of reception of a print data packet unit of a wireless LAN compatible printer. 6 is a flowchart showing processing at the end of discovery response message transmission of a wireless LAN compatible printer.

Explanation of symbols

10, 11 Ad hoc wireless link 100 Wireless LAN compatible printer (compatible with connected wireless communication devices)
110, 111 Wireless LAN compatible digital camera (compatible with wireless communication devices on the connection side)
203 wireless media access processing unit 303 wireless media access processing unit

Claims (10)

A wireless communication system capable of wireless communication using a unicast wireless frame and a broadcast wireless frame or a multicast wireless frame,
A connected wireless communication device that provides an application service;
A plurality of connection-side wireless communication devices that can use the application service by forming a wireless link with the connected-side wireless communication device;
The connection-side wireless communication device searches the connected-side wireless communication device using the broadcast wireless frame or the multicast wireless frame when searching for and obtaining information on the application service of the connected-side wireless communication device. A wireless communication system, characterized by transmitting a request. A wireless communication device,
A radio communication apparatus that transmits a search request to the connected radio communication apparatus using a broadcast radio frame or a multicast radio frame when searching for application service information provided by the connected radio communication apparatus . A wireless communication device,
When a search request using a broadcast radio frame or a multicast radio frame is received from a connection-side radio communication device while providing an application service to another radio communication device using a unicast radio frame, the broadcast radio corresponding to the search request A wireless communication apparatus that determines whether or not a response using a frame or the multicast wireless frame is possible based on the processing status of the application service, and performs response processing according to the determination.   4. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when it is determined that the response is impossible by the determination, the application service is continuously provided to the other wireless communication apparatus using the unicast wireless frame. .   Whether or not polling processing using the broadcast radio frame or the multicast radio frame for permitting acceptance of a search request from the connection-side radio communication device is possible while providing an application service to the other radio communication device The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a polling process is performed according to the determination of the application service based on the processing status of the application service.   6. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein different encryption methods are used as the data encryption method for the unicast radio frame and the broadcast radio frame or the multicast radio frame. .   7. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the different encryption method is an encryption method selected from a group including an encryption method using different encryption keys and an encryption method using different encryption algorithms.   6. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein data in the unicast radio frame is encrypted, and data in the broadcast radio frame or the multicast radio frame is not encrypted.   9. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the encryption method is changed at a start timing of the polling process and returned at an end timing of the polling process. A service search method for a connected-side wireless communication device that provides an application service,
The connection-side wireless communication device transmits a search request to the connected-side wireless communication terminal using a broadcast wireless frame or a multicast wireless frame when searching and obtaining the application service information of the connected-side wireless communication device And
The connected wireless communication device receives a search request using a broadcast wireless frame or a multicast wireless frame from the connected wireless communication device while providing an application service to another wireless communication device using a unicast wireless frame. In such a case, it is determined based on the processing status of the communication application service whether a response using the broadcast radio frame or the multicast radio frame to the search request is possible, and a response process is performed according to the determination. A service search method characterized by the above.

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