JP2011160341A - Communication device, communication method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly detect a device that provides a communication parameter. <P>SOLUTION: When a network search signal for searching a peripheral network is transmitted and a response signal for the signal is received, it is determined whether a device having transmitted the response signal is a device that provides a communication parameter for communication on a predetermined network. If the device having transmitted the response signal is not the above providing device as a result of determination, a providing device search signal with information for searching the providing device is transmitted to a channel which has received the response signal, and the device having transmitted the response signal is determined as a providing device if the response signal for the providing device search signal is received. The communication parameter for communication on the predetermined network is received from the providing device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device, a communication method for the communication device, and a program.

  In wireless communication represented by a wireless LAN compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series, there are many setting items that must be set before use. For example, as setting items, there are communication parameters necessary for wireless communication such as SSID as a network identifier, encryption method, encryption key, authentication method, authentication key, etc., which are very complicated for the user to set manually. It is.

  Therefore, various manufacturers have devised an automatic setting method for easily setting communication parameters in a wireless device (Patent Document 1). In these automatic setting methods, communication parameters are automatically set by providing communication parameters from one device to the other device according to a predetermined procedure and message between connected devices. Non-Patent Document 1 discloses an example of automatic setting of communication parameters in wireless LAN infrastructure mode communication (infrastructure communication). By using such automatic communication parameter setting, the user can automatically set communication parameters with a simple operation.

JP 2009-027353

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED (TM) for Wi-Fi Protected Setup: Easing the User Experience for Home and Small Office Wi-Fi (R) Networks, http: // www. wi-fi. org / wp / wifi-protected-setup

  In the communication parameter automatic setting method, a role of a providing device that provides communication parameters to other wireless devices and a receiving device that receives the communication parameters provided from the providing device and sets the communication parameters in the own device are necessary. Therefore, when a wireless device receives provision of communication parameters by automatic setting, the wireless device must search for a communication parameter providing device.

  However, in the providing device search process, if the providing device does not always respond to the search request signal transmitted by the receiving device, the communication parameter providing device cannot be easily searched. For example, in an IEEE 802.11 standard IBSS ad hoc network, a station that returns a response to a probe request that is a search request signal is the station that last transmitted a beacon. Therefore, even if a probe request is transmitted to search for a providing device, devices other than the providing device may respond and it is difficult to find the providing device.

  The above problem can be solved by using, for example, a public action frame signal (PA signal) defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard. Since any target station can return a response to the PA signal, if the providing device search signal storing information for searching for the providing device is transmitted in the PA signal, the providing device transmits the signal. Respond to. As a result, for example, by using a method of transmitting a search signal based on a PA signal to all communicable wireless LAN channels (hereinafter referred to as an all-channel transmission method), it is possible to reliably find providing devices that exist in the vicinity.

  However, in the method of searching for a providing device by transmitting PA signals to all wireless channels, it is necessary to transmit a search signal and wait for a response even for a wireless channel for which no providing device exists, which is not efficient. Further, until the providing device can be found, communication parameters cannot be received, and communication with communication parameters set cannot be started.

  An object of the present invention is to make it possible to quickly find a providing device that provides communication parameters. Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings.

  The present invention transmits a network search signal for searching a network existing in the surroundings, and receives a network search response signal for the network search signal, the device that has transmitted the network search response signal communicates in a predetermined network. It is determined whether or not the device is a providing device that provides communication parameters, and if it is determined that the device that transmitted the network search response signal is not the providing device, the network search response signal is received. When a providing device search signal to which information for searching for the providing device is added is transmitted to a channel and a providing device response signal for the providing device search signal is received, the device that has transmitted the providing device response signal is transmitted to the providing device. And the device that transmitted the network search response signal is the providing device. Or determining that the device that transmitted the providing device response signal is the providing device, receives communication parameters for communication on the predetermined network from the providing device. .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to quickly find a providing device that provides communication parameters.

1 is a block diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Software function diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention Network configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention FIG. 5 is an operational flowchart of a receiving device providing device search process according to the embodiment of the present invention. Operation sequence diagram of apparatus A, apparatus B, and apparatus C according to the embodiment of the present invention

Example 1
Hereinafter, the communication apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, an example using a wireless LAN system compliant with the IEEE 802.11 series will be described, but the communication form is not necessarily limited to the wireless LAN compliant with IEEE 802.11. In the following description, in the communication parameter automatic setting method, a communication apparatus that provides communication parameters to other wireless devices is referred to as a providing apparatus. Also, a communication device that receives communication parameters provided from the providing device and sets the communication parameter in the own device is referred to as a receiving device.

  A hardware configuration in a case suitable for the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of each device described below. Reference numeral 101 denotes the entire apparatus. A control unit 102 controls the entire apparatus by executing a control program stored in the storage unit 103, and is a computer such as a CPU or MPU. The control unit 102 also performs communication parameter automatic setting control with other devices. The communication parameter automatic setting control can execute automatic setting processing as an access point in the wireless LAN infrastructure mode and automatic setting processing as a station in the wireless LAN infrastructure mode. Also, automatic setting processing as a communication device in the wireless LAN ad hoc mode can be executed. Reference numeral 103 denotes a storage unit that stores a computer program for control executed by the control unit 102 and various types of information such as communication parameters. Various operations described later are performed by the control unit 102 executing a control program stored in the storage unit 103. Note that the storage unit 103 can be a memory such as a ROM or a RAM, or a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a DVD, or the like.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes a wireless unit for performing wireless communication. Reference numeral 105 denotes a display unit that performs various displays, and has a function capable of outputting visually recognizable information such as an LCD or LED, or outputting sound such as a speaker. Reference numeral 106 denotes a setting button for giving a trigger for starting the communication parameter automatic setting process. Reference numeral 107 denotes an antenna control unit, and reference numeral 108 denotes an antenna. Reference numeral 109 denotes an input unit for the user to perform various inputs.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration example of software function blocks executed by each device in the communication parameter automatic setting operation described later. Reference numeral 201 denotes the entire apparatus. Reference numeral 202 denotes a communication parameter automatic setting function block. In the present embodiment, communication parameters necessary for wireless communication such as SSID as a network identifier, encryption method, encryption key, authentication method, and authentication key are automatically set.

  A packet receiving unit 203 receives packets related to various types of communication. Reception of the beacon (notification signal) is performed by the packet receiving unit 203. A search signal such as a probe request is also received by the packet receiving unit 203. The probe request can also be referred to as a network search signal for confirming the presence or absence of a network. That is, if a probe request is transmitted on a wireless channel and a probe response that is a response signal to the probe request is sent, it can be determined that a network exists in the wireless channel. Further, if a probe response is not sent even after a certain time (timeout time) has elapsed, there is no network in the wireless channel. The packet receiver 203 has a first receiver for receiving a probe response that is a response signal to the probe request, and receives the probe response. Further, the packet receiving unit 203 also receives a providing device search signal in which information for searching for a providing device is stored in a public action frame signal (PA signal) defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard. Furthermore, it has the 2nd receiving part for receiving the provision apparatus response signal from the provision apparatus which is a response with respect to a provision apparatus search signal, and receives a provision apparatus response signal.

  A packet transmission unit 204 transmits packets related to various types of communication. The beacon is transmitted by the packet transmission unit 204. The packet transmission unit 204 also transmits a probe request and transmits a probe response that is a response signal to the probe request. Furthermore, transmission of the providing device search signal and the providing device response signal is also performed by the packet transmission unit 204. In addition, various information of the transmission source device is added to the probe request, the probe response, the providing device search signal, the providing device response signal, and the beacon signal. This information includes, for example, start information indicating that the device itself is being started as a providing device, and indicates that the device is capable of performing wireless parameter automatic setting and capable of performing wireless parameter automatic setting. Capability information is included. The packet transmission unit 204 includes a first transmission unit and a second transmission unit, transmits a probe request by the first transmission unit, and transmits a providing device search signal by the second transmission unit. A network control unit 205 controls network connection. Connection processing to the wireless LAN network is performed by the network control unit 205.

  In the communication parameter automatic setting function block 206, a communication parameter providing unit 206 provides a communication parameter to a counterpart device when the device operates as a providing device. Reference numeral 207 denotes a communication parameter receiving unit that receives communication parameters from the counterpart device when the device itself operates as a receiving device. An automatic setting control unit 208 controls various protocols in communication parameter automatic setting. The communication parameter automatic setting process described later is performed based on the control of the automatic setting control unit 208. Reference numeral 209 denotes a providing device search unit that searches for a providing device when automatic communication parameter setting is executed. Although details will be described later, processing for searching for a providing device in a receiving device described later is performed by the providing device search unit 209. Also, the providing device searching unit 209 determines whether the device that has transmitted the probe response is operating as the providing device based on information included in the probe response received by the first receiving unit of the packet receiving unit 203. A first determination unit; In addition, the second reception unit of the packet reception unit 203 includes a second determination unit that determines that the provision device exists when the provision device response signal is received.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a providing device A301 (device A), a receiving device B302 (device B), a device C303, and a network 304. The devices A, B, and C have the configurations shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 described above. Apparatus B and apparatus C participate in the network 304. In this state, the devices A and B start communication parameter automatic setting processing for ad hoc communication in accordance with an instruction by the user operating the setting button 106. Since device B has already joined the network 304, it functions as a providing device. The device A functions as a receiving device and receives from the device B provision of communication parameters (such as an SSID as a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key) for communication over the network 304. When the device A sets the communication parameters provided from the device B and participates in the network 304, the devices A, B, and C can perform data communication using the communication parameters for the network 304.

  FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart illustrating an example of a providing device search process by the device A301. FIG. 4 is performed by the control unit 102 reading and executing the computer program stored in the storage unit 103.

  When the setting button 106 of the device A301 is operated by the user, the control unit 102 (automatic setting control unit 208) starts communication parameter automatic setting processing. When the communication parameter automatic setting process is started, the control unit 102 (automatic setting control unit 208) starts an operation as a receiving apparatus, and the providing apparatus searching unit 209 performs a providing apparatus search process (S401). The providing device search unit 209 transmits a network search signal (probe request) for searching for and finding a network existing around the wireless unit 104 (packet transmission unit 204) on a predetermined wireless channel (S402). ). Each time the network search signal is transmitted, the control unit 102 monitors whether the wireless unit 104 (packet receiving unit 203) has received the network search response signal (probe response) for a certain period (S403). If the network search response signal is not received even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the providing device search unit 209 checks whether or not the network search signal has been transmitted on all the radio channels (S407). When the network search signal is not transmitted on all the wireless channels, the wireless LAN channel is switched to an unsearched wireless LAN channel (S410), and the network search signal is retransmitted (S402). If all the wireless channels have been searched, that is, if the providing device has not been found in any of the wireless channels, the processing as the receiving device that receives the communication parameters is terminated.

  In step S403, when the providing device searching unit 209 receives the network search response signal, does the response signal include activation information indicating that the device that transmitted the response signal is activated as the providing device? It is confirmed whether or not (S404). When the activation information is included, the providing device searching unit 209 determines the device that transmitted the signal as the providing device (S408), and the automatic setting control unit 208 uses the network control unit 205 to enter the network in which the providing device is participating. participate. Then, the communication parameter receiving unit 207 receives communication parameters from the providing device (S409).

  If the activation information is not included in the network search response signal as a result of the confirmation in step S404, the providing device search unit 209 transmits the providing device search signal to the network in which the device that has transmitted the network search response signal participates ( S405). As described above, this providing device search signal is a signal in which information for searching for a providing device is stored in a public action frame signal (PA signal) defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard. After transmitting the providing device search signal, the providing device search unit 209 waits for the providing device response signal for a certain period (S406). When the providing device response signal is received, it is determined that the device that transmitted the signal is found as the providing device (S408), and the automatic setting control unit 208 joins the network in which the providing device is participating by the network control unit 205. . Then, the communication parameter receiving unit 207 receives communication parameters from the providing device (S409).

  When the providing device response signal is not received, the providing device search unit 209 checks whether or not the network search signal has been transmitted on all the radio channels (S407). When the network search signal is not transmitted on all the radio channels, it is switched to an unsearched radio channel (S410), and the network search signal is retransmitted (S402). If the network search signal has already been transmitted on all the radio channels, that is, if the providing device has not been found in any of the radio channels, the processing as the receiving device that receives the communication parameters ends.

  In the above description, in step S405, the providing device search signal is transmitted to the network in which the device that has transmitted the network search response signal is participating. However, in step S405, the providing device search unit 209 may transmit the providing device search signal to the wireless channel with which the device that has transmitted the network search response signal is communicating. As a result, the response signal is received from the providing device even when another device exists on the wireless channel with which the device that transmitted the network search response signal is communicating and the providing device exists in the other network. can do.

  As described above, in the providing device search process, the network search signal is used to narrow down networks in which the providing device may exist, and then the providing device search signal is transmitted to the network. This makes it possible to efficiently transmit the providing device search signal only when necessary. For example, when an attempt is made to find a providing device using only a network search signal, there is a possibility that a device other than the providing device returns a response and the providing device cannot be found. In addition, when an attempt is made to find a providing device using only the providing device search signal, it cannot be determined that the providing device does not exist until the response signal times out even if the providing device search signal is transmitted to a wireless channel where the providing device does not exist. . However, if the providing device is searched using the network search signal and the providing device search signal as in the present embodiment, the providing device can be discovered efficiently and promptly. In other words, the providing device and devices other than the providing device also discover the network efficiently by searching the network using the network search signal that returns a response. At this time, if the device responding to the network search signal is a providing device, the providing device can be found by searching using the network search signal. Even if a device other than the providing device returns a response, it can be determined that a network exists on the wireless channel searched by the network search signal. Since the providing device search signal in which only the providing device returns a response is transmitted to the found network and the providing device of the network is searched, the providing device can be found efficiently and promptly.

  FIG. 5 is a processing sequence when the setting buttons of the devices A and B are pressed and the communication parameter automatic setting processing is performed between the devices A and B.

  When the setting button 106 of the device A is pressed, the device A starts the providing device search process described with reference to FIG. 4 as a receiving device (F501). When the setting button 106 of the device B is pressed, the device B starts operating as a providing device (F502).

  Device A transmits a network search signal (probe request) (F503). Here, when the device B and the device C receive the network search signal, it is assumed that the device C is the device that last transmitted a beacon at this time. Upon receiving the network search signal transmitted from the device A, the device C returns a network search response signal (probe response) to the device A (F504). Note that the network search response signal includes capability information indicating that the device C is a device capable of performing wireless parameter automatic setting, but does not include activation information indicating that the device C is being activated. Absent. Therefore, when the device A receives the network search response signal, it can confirm the presence of the network 304 but cannot confirm the presence of the providing device. Therefore, apparatus A transmits a provided device search signal to network 304 (F505). Since the device B that has received the providing device search signal has started the operation as the providing device, the device B transmits a providing device response signal (F506). The providing apparatus response signal includes activation information indicating that apparatus B is being activated as a providing apparatus.

  The device A that has received the providing device response signal from the device B determines that the device B is the providing device. Device A starts communication parameter reception processing (F507) and participates in network 304 (F508). Note that the participation here is participation in a state where communication parameters are not provided. Therefore, communication can be performed when communication parameter provision processing is performed, but data communication (encryption communication) using communication parameters for the network 304 is possible. Etc) is not possible. Then, device A transmits a request signal for requesting provision of communication parameters to device B, which is a providing device (F510). The device B that has received the request signal starts communication parameter provision processing (F510), and provides the communication parameters of the network 304 to the device A (F511). Then, when the device A receives the communication parameter from the device B (F511), the device A sets the communication parameter in its own wireless unit 104, thereby enabling communication using the communication parameter for the network 304.

  As described above, the receiving device transmits the network search signal and transmits the providing device search signal based on the received network search response signal, so that the providing device can be quickly found. As a result, it is possible to quickly complete the communication parameter automatic setting process, improving the usability of the user.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, this is merely an example for explaining the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to this example. The embodiment can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention. Also, the above description has been made with reference to an IEEE 802.11-compliant wireless LAN as an example. However, the present invention may be implemented in other wireless media such as wireless USB, MBOA, Bluetooth (registered trademark), UWB, and ZigBee. Moreover, you may implement in wired communication media, such as wired LAN.

  Here, MBOA is an abbreviation for Multi Band OFDM Alliance. UWB includes wireless USB, wireless 1394, WINET, and the like.

(Other examples)
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 201 Communication apparatus 202 Communication parameter automatic setting function part 203 Packet reception part 204 Packet transmission part 205 Network control part 206 Communication parameter provision part 207 Communication parameter reception part 208 Automatic setting control part 209 Provision apparatus search part

Claims (6)

A communication device,
First transmission means for transmitting a network search signal for searching for a network existing in the surroundings;
First receiving means for receiving a network search response signal for the network search signal;
When the network search response signal is received by the first receiving means, it is first determined whether or not the device that has transmitted the network search response signal is a providing device that provides communication parameters for communication in a predetermined network Determining means,
As a result of the determination by the first determination means, when it is determined that the device that transmitted the network search response signal is not the providing device, the channel for receiving the network search response signal is searched for the providing device. Second transmitting means for transmitting a providing device search signal to which information is added;
Second receiving means for receiving a provider response signal for the provider search signal;
When the providing device response signal is received by the second receiving unit, a second determining unit that determines the device that has transmitted the providing device response signal as the providing device;
When the device that has transmitted the network search response signal by the first determination unit is determined to be the providing device, or the device that has transmitted the providing device response signal by the second determination unit is the providing device A communication parameter receiving unit that receives communication parameters for communicating on the predetermined network from the providing device;
A communication apparatus comprising:   The first determination unit includes the network search response signal when the network search response signal includes information indicating that the device that has transmitted the network search response signal is being activated as the providing device. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus that transmitted the message is determined to be the providing apparatus.   The first determination means includes the network search response signal when the network search response signal does not include information indicating that the device that transmitted the network search response signal is being activated as the providing device. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus determines that the apparatus that transmitted the message is not the providing apparatus.   The said 2nd transmission means transmits the said provision apparatus search signal to the network in which the apparatus which transmitted the said network search response signal has joined, The Claim 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Communication equipment. A communication method for a communication device, comprising:
A communication device,
Communication for transmitting a network search signal for searching a network existing in the surroundings and receiving a network search response signal for the network search signal, so that a device that has transmitted the network search response signal communicates in a predetermined network Determine whether the device is a providing device that provides parameters,
As a result of the determination, if it is determined that the device that transmitted the network search response signal is not the providing device, a providing device in which information for searching for the providing device is added to the channel that has received the network search response signal When transmitting a search signal and receiving a providing apparatus response signal for the providing apparatus search signal, the apparatus that has transmitted the providing apparatus response signal is determined as the providing apparatus,
When it is determined that the device that has transmitted the network search response signal is the providing device, or when the device that has transmitted the providing device response signal is determined as the providing device, from the providing device, the predetermined network A communication method for a communication apparatus, comprising: receiving a communication parameter for performing communication with the communication device.   A computer program for causing a computer to function as the communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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