JP2011205485A - System and method for registering radio communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and method for registering a radio communication apparatus allowing a radio communication apparatus newly participating in a radio network to perform a radio connection setting by an easy operation, and easily performing apparatus registration of a radio communication apparatus on a counterpart side in utilization of an application shared among a plurality of radio communication apparatuses.SOLUTION: A radio communication apparatus 101 including a display part 115 converts data including apparatus information in addition to radio connection information to an image pattern by an information conversion part 114 to be displayed on the display part 115; and a radio communication apparatus 102 including an imaging part 125 images the image pattern, restores it to radio connection information and apparatus information by an information restoration part 124, and performs radio connection to a radio network using these pieces of information, and automatically implements apparatus registration of radio communication apparatuses sharing an application for browsing a moving image content or the like.

Description

  In the present invention, in a home or premises wireless network, communication is performed between wireless communication devices in a wireless network, and wireless communication devices communicate with each other in order to share and operate an application between them. The present invention relates to a wireless communication device registration system for registering a device and a wireless communication device registration method.

  In recent years, not only offices and factories, but also information networks by wireless connection or video / audio transmission networks have been widely used not only in homes but also in homes. Wireless connection is rapidly spreading especially in connection with personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “PCs”) and their peripheral devices, or with network devices such as routers when connecting PCs and other information devices to the Internet. is doing. The wireless connection eliminates the appearance problem of unsightly LAN (Local Area Network) cable installation work and wiring, and also provides freedom of movement when connecting to portable devices. It is expected to be used in

  In fact, it is wirelessly connected to notebook PCs, game machines having an Internet connection function, television receivers, electronic book browsing terminals (so-called electronic books), digital cameras, digital camera photo display terminals (so-called digital photo frames), etc. Many connections are used.

  These wireless connections are usually configured as shown in FIG. The wireless communication devices 301 and 302 are connected to the access point 200. As a result, the wireless communication devices 301 and 302 belong to one communication group, and can communicate with each other, that is, can perform bidirectional data transmission. The access point 200 is often connected to the Internet 202 via the communication control device 201 and the communication control device 201. The communication control device 201 has a high-speed modem function for connecting to the Internet transmission network and a router function for controlling the connection of IP communication (in actual products, each function is separated into individual products. Is common).

  In order for each wireless communication device 301, 302 to connect to the access point 200 with such a connection, wireless connection information regarding the access point 200 to the wireless communication device 301, 302 so that the wireless connection with the access point 200 is possible. Must be set in advance. Here, the wireless connection information is, for example, communication group identification information called SSID (Service Set Identifier), a channel number that defines a frequency for communication, a type of authentication method such as WPA2-PSK, a type of encryption method such as AES, For example, an encryption key for decrypting the cipher.

  Further, even in the ad hoc mode in which the wireless communication device 302 is directly connected to the wireless communication device 301 without going through the access point 200, it is necessary to set the same wireless connection information as in the case of connecting to the access point 200.

  In this way, in order for a wireless communication device to newly join a wireless network and communicate with other wireless communication devices existing in the same wireless network, wireless connection information is set for the wireless communication device of itself. There is a need. This setting operation is cumbersome for the user, and when the wireless communication device is not a PC, it is common not to have a keyboard for character input. Therefore, the setting operation is a more burdensome operation. .

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, when the wireless communication device 301 has a display function like a television receiver and the wireless communication device 302 has an imaging function like a digital camera, the wireless connection information has already been stored. The acquired and stored wireless communication device 301 displays the stored wireless connection information as an image pattern such as a QR code (registered trademark), while the wireless communication device 302 captures the image pattern. The image pattern is converted into the original wireless connection information and the information is captured. As a result, the user can set information necessary for wireless connection to the wireless communication device 302 with a very simple operation without performing a character input operation. In addition, since the setting operation can be performed almost automatically, it is possible to prevent an erroneous input due to a user's erroneous operation. Even if the wireless communication device 301 does not have a display function, for example, if it has a printer function, an image pattern can be output by printing.

JP 2008-211507 A

  As described above, if the method according to Patent Document 1 is used, if the wireless communication device has a display function, the wireless connection information and device information held by itself are displayed as an image pattern, and the wireless communication device having an imaging function By capturing an image pattern, information necessary for wireless connection can be set easily and without error.

  However, in the method according to Patent Document 1, it is possible to easily and surely connect to a desired wireless communication device, but further to device registration on the other side in an application shared by both wireless communication devices after the connection. Is not supported, it is still necessary to perform setting operations centered on character input and the like for subsequent setting operations, and the problem remains that the operations are complicated.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and a wireless communication device newly joining a wireless network can perform wireless connection setting with a simple operation and is shared between a plurality of wireless communication devices. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless communication device registration system and a wireless communication device registration method that can easily perform device registration of a counterpart wireless communication device in use of the wireless communication device.

  To achieve the above object, a wireless communication device registration system according to claim 1 of the present invention performs device registration for wireless connection between a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device via a wireless network. A wireless communication device registration system to perform, wherein the first wireless communication device includes a first storage unit that stores wireless connection information for connecting to a wireless network and device information related to the wireless communication device, wireless connection information, and the device An information conversion unit that converts information into an image pattern and a display unit that displays the image pattern are provided, and the second wireless communication device captures the image pattern displayed on the display unit of the first wireless communication device. An imaging unit, an information restoration unit that restores an image pattern captured by the imaging unit to wireless connection information and device information, and a second storage unit that saves the wireless connection information and device information restored by the information restoration unit The second wireless communication device connects to the wireless network using the wireless connection information stored in the second storage unit, and establishes the wireless connection using the device information stored in the second storage unit. The first wireless communication device is discovered later, and the first wireless communication device is registered in order to share an application.

  This makes it easy to set up a connection to a wireless network and register a device for application sharing after connection.

  In the wireless communication device registration system according to claim 2 of the present invention, in the wireless communication device registration system according to claim 1, when the first wireless communication device is wirelessly connected to the second wireless communication device, the application is The second wireless communication device is registered as a device for sharing.

  This makes it possible to automate device registration on the partner side in any of the two wireless communication devices sharing the application.

  In the wireless communication device registration system according to claim 3 of the present invention, in the wireless communication device registration system according to claim 1 or 2, the wireless network is a wireless LAN.

  As a result, the present invention can be applied to the premises or home wireless networks that are most widely used in society.

  Further, in the wireless communication device registration system according to claim 4 of the present invention, when the wireless communication device registration system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 has an access point having a base station function in the wireless network, The wireless connection information is information for connecting to an access point.

  As a result, the present invention can be applied to a wireless network having a typical configuration including an access point.

  In the wireless communication device registration system according to claim 5 of the present invention, in the wireless communication device registration system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the first wireless communication device is a television receiver. It is characterized by.

  As a result, it is possible to effectively utilize the display unit used to display moving image content such as originally broadcast.

  In the wireless communication device registration system according to claim 6 of the present invention, in the wireless communication device registration system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the wireless network has a function equivalent to that of the second wireless communication device. A third or later wireless communication device provided is connected.

  As a result, if there is one wireless communication device having a display function, a plurality of wireless communication devices having an imaging function can easily perform connection setting to the wireless network and device registration for application sharing after connection.

  In the wireless communication device registration system according to claim 7 of the present invention, in the wireless communication device registration system according to claim 6, the display unit of the first wireless communication device includes a plurality of second and third wireless communication devices. A plurality of image patterns each including device information of the device are displayed.

  As a result, even in a wireless network that accommodates a plurality of wireless communication devices, if there is one wireless communication terminal device with a display function, any wireless communication device is used for connection setting to the wireless network and application sharing after connection. Easy device registration.

  A wireless communication device registration method according to claim 8 of the present invention is a wireless communication device registration method for performing device registration so that a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device are wirelessly connected via a wireless network. The first wireless communication device includes a first storage step for storing wireless connection information for connecting to a wireless network and device information regarding the wireless communication device, and information for converting the wireless connection information and the device information into an image pattern. A conversion step; and a display step for displaying an image pattern. The second wireless communication device captures the image pattern displayed in the display step of the first wireless communication device. An information restoration step for restoring the image pattern thus obtained into wireless connection information and device information, and a step of saving the wireless connection information and device information restored in the information restoration step. The second wireless communication device connects to the wireless network using the wireless connection information saved in the second storage step, and stores the device information saved in the second storage step. The first wireless communication device is discovered after the wireless connection is established, and the first wireless communication device is registered to share the application.

  In the wireless communication device registration method according to claim 9 of the present invention, in the wireless communication device registration method according to claim 8, when the first wireless communication device is wirelessly connected to the second wireless communication device, the application is A device registration step of registering the second wireless communication device for sharing is further provided.

  According to the present invention, a wireless communication device newly participating in a wireless network can perform wireless connection setting with a simple operation, and device registration of a partner wireless communication device in using an application shared among a plurality of wireless communication devices. It is also possible to provide a wireless communication device registration system and a wireless communication device registration method that can be easily implemented.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the radio | wireless communication apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the radio | wireless communication apparatus with a display function in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the radio | wireless communication apparatus with an imaging function in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an image figure which shows the example of a display of the radio | wireless communication apparatus with a display function in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the example of a network where the apparatus registration method of this invention is utilized.

  Hereinafter, wireless communication devices according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a wireless communication device according to the present embodiment. The first wireless communication device 101 includes a wireless communication unit 111, a wireless communication control unit 112, a storage unit 113, an information conversion unit 114, a display unit 115, and a device main function unit 116.

  The second wireless communication device 102 includes a wireless communication unit 121, a wireless communication control unit 122, a storage unit 123, an information restoration unit 124, an imaging unit 125, and a device main function unit 126.

  The wireless communication unit 111 of the wireless communication device 101 performs wireless transmission / reception with the outside. In detail, a high frequency amplifier circuit, a frequency channel selection circuit, a modulation / demodulation circuit, and the like are included. The wireless communication control unit 112 controls the overall wireless communication function in the wireless communication device 101. A so-called microprocessor is usually used. In some cases, it may exist as a part of the function of the control unit in the device main function unit 116 described later. The storage unit 113 stores wireless connection information and device information. The information conversion unit 114 converts data including at least wireless connection information and device information into an image pattern. As the image pattern, a barcode, a two-dimensional barcode, a so-called QR code, or the like can be used. The display unit 115 displays an image pattern.

  The device main function unit 116 is a part that executes the original function of the wireless communication device 101. For example, if the wireless communication device 101 is a television receiver, it includes functions related to reception and reproduction of television vision broadcasts. Therefore, the display unit 115 is normally used for displaying moving image content of television broadcasting. Typically, a display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel or a plasma display panel is used.

  The wireless communication unit 121, the wireless communication control unit 122, and the storage unit 123 of the wireless communication device 102 have the same functions as the wireless communication unit 111, the wireless communication control unit 112, and the storage unit 113 of the wireless communication device 101, respectively. Omitted. The information restoration unit 124 restores the image pattern to wireless connection information or device information. The imaging unit 125 captures an image pattern.

  The device main function unit 126 is a part that executes the original function of the wireless communication device 102. For example, if the wireless communication device 102 is a digital camera, it includes functions related to shooting and playback of the digital camera. Therefore, the imaging unit 125 is normally used for taking a picture with a digital camera. Typically, it is configured by an optical system such as a lens and an image sensor such as a CCD or CMOS.

In the above configuration, the operation of the wireless communication device 101 will be described first. The wireless communication control unit 112 controls a wireless communication function as a part of the device main function of the wireless communication device 101. For example, if the wireless communication device 101 is a television receiver, it functions to operate the network connection function of the television receiver. For example, to display content stored in other video devices in the same wireless network via the wireless network, or to connect to the Internet and display various video content or image content that exists on the Internet To control the wireless communication function.

  In the storage unit 113, wireless connection information and device information of the own device are written in advance. This writing is generally performed from a PC with a PC connected by wire, but if the wireless communication device 101 has an operating environment for character input, it can be used. For example, a remote control terminal can be used.

  The wireless communication control unit 112 reads the wireless connection information from the storage unit 113 and gives it to the wireless communication unit 111. The wireless communication unit 111 can wirelessly connect to the access point 200 using the given wireless connection information.

  On the other hand, the wireless communication control unit 112 reads the wireless connection information and the device information of the own device from the storage unit 113 and supplies the information to the information conversion unit 114. The information converter 114 converts the received data into an image pattern such as a QR code.

  The display unit 115 displays the image pattern obtained by the conversion on the display panel. As described above, the display unit 115 is normally used for displaying image content as a main function of the wireless communication device 101.

  Next, the operation of the wireless communication device 102 will be described. The imaging unit 125 captures the image pattern displayed on the display unit 115 of the wireless communication device 101. The wireless communication control unit 122 gives the read image pattern to the information restoration unit 124. The information restoration unit 124 restores the image pattern to the wireless connection information and the device information of the wireless communication device 101. The restored wireless connection information and device information are written in the storage unit 123.

  The wireless communication control unit 122 reads the wireless connection information from the storage unit 123 and gives the wireless connection information to the wireless communication unit 121. The wireless communication unit 121 wirelessly communicates with the access point 200 using the given wireless connection information and succeeds in connection.

  As a result of the above operation, the wireless communication device 101 and the wireless communication device 102 become communicable via the access point 200. As described above, the writing of the wireless connection information to the wireless communication device 102 is realized in the form of photographing an image pattern without performing a character input operation by the user, and therefore can be performed very easily and accurately.

  Next, as a function of the device main function unit 126, the wireless communication device 102 searches for another wireless communication device that can operate by sharing an application on the wireless network. Since the device information of the wireless communication device 101 has already been acquired and stored in the storage unit 123, the control function in the device main function unit 126 determines whether or not the device is a device to be shared with the application based on the device information. judge.

  Here, a typical application to be shared is DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance). DLNA is a technical specification for sharing content such as music, still images, and moving images between different devices over a wired or wireless network in the home. For example, the moving image content of a video recording device placed in a room can be viewed on a PC in another room via a network.

  If a wireless communication device that can be connected by wireless connection can be identified as a DLNA target, the device is registered, and will be displayed as one of the connection target device candidate menus on the screen from the next time.

  If normal, first connect to the wireless communication device 101 by wireless connection, and then read device information to identify whether or not the device is a target device that can share the application. In this embodiment, device information is acquired and registered by image pattern shooting before wireless connection. In this embodiment, application connection is already possible immediately after wireless connection.

  The device information for identifying the device includes a MAC address, an IP address, a device name, a device category (type of TV, PC, camera, printer, etc.), a standard compliant level, and the like.

  Next, operations of the wireless communication devices 101 and 102 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the wireless communication device 101 having a display function. In step S101, wireless connection information is acquired. Usually, the wireless connection information is access point information. In step S102, the device information of the own device is acquired. In step S103, an image pattern is generated from the wireless connection information and device information acquired in steps S101 and S102. It can be realized by integrating both pieces of information data and converting them into QR codes as they are. If the number of bits is insufficient, a plurality of QR codes may be arranged, or a dedicated two-dimensional image pattern that can accommodate a larger number of bits may be used. In step S104, the generated image pattern is displayed on the display unit 115.

  After that, in step S105, the process waits until a connection request from another wireless device, in the example of FIG. 1, is received from the wireless communication device 102. When a connection request is received (in the case of “YES” in step S105), a connection response is transmitted to the wireless communication device 102 that has requested connection in step S106. In step S107, device information of the other party, that is, the wireless communication device 102 is acquired, and pairing registration between the own device and the wireless communication device 102 is performed as a device sharing an application.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation in the wireless communication device 102 having an imaging function. First, in step S201, the image pattern displayed on the display unit 115 of the wireless communication device 101 is photographed. In step S202, the captured image pattern is restored to wireless connection information and device information. In step S203, wireless LAN connection processing is performed using the restored wireless connection information. That is, connection with the access point 200 is attempted. In step S204, it is detected whether the wireless LAN connection is completed, that is, whether the connection with the access point 200 is successful. If the wireless LAN connection is completed (in the case of “YES” in step S204), the process proceeds to step S205, and if the wireless LAN connection fails (in the case of “NO” in step S204), the process proceeds to step S210 and ends abnormally. Stop the operation. If the wireless LAN connection is completed in step S204, it is confirmed that the wireless connection information is correct. Therefore, in step S205, the wireless connection information is formally registered in the storage unit 123.

  In step S206, a wireless communication device having the same device information as the device information acquired from the image pattern is searched from wireless communication devices connected to the wireless network. Subsequently, in step S207, it is determined whether a wireless communication device that matches the device information held is detected. If no corresponding wireless communication device is found (in the case of “NO” in step S207), the search is determined to have failed and the process proceeds to step S210. It ends abnormally. If the corresponding wireless communication device 101 is found (in the case of “YES” in step S207), pairing registration between the own device and the wireless communication device 101 is performed as a device sharing the application.

  As described above, when pairing registration can be performed in each wireless communication device, after that, when the user starts an application such as DLNA, as a connection destination candidate in the application, for example, the other party's wireless on the operation screen The communication device is displayed in the menu.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the wireless communication device 101 having the display function and the wireless communication device 102 having the imaging function are wirelessly connected to the wireless network, the wireless connection setting can be performed with a simple operation. At the same time, device registration of the counterpart wireless communication device can be easily performed when using an application shared among a plurality of wireless communication devices.

  In the first embodiment, one wireless communication device having a display function and one wireless communication device having an imaging function are connected to the access point. However, one communication device having a display function is connected. If there are multiple wireless communication devices that capture the displayed image, any wireless communication device has a display function by performing the same operation as in the flowchart of FIG. Pairing registration with a wireless communication device can be performed easily.

  In Embodiment 1, the wireless communication device displays the device information of its own device on the display unit, but it is also possible to display an image pattern including device information other than the own device. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, device information acquired from a plurality of wireless communication devices can be displayed on the display screen as an image pattern in combination with wireless connection information. The user selects which device a wireless communication device newly participating in the wireless network is connected to from the screen, and if the image pattern is captured by the image capturing unit 125, the connection with the desired wireless communication device is determined by the application. The feature that it can be easily done even at the level can be demonstrated.

  The wireless connection is typically a wireless LAN according to the IEEE 802.11 standard, but may be a low-power wireless or other standardized wireless system.

  The present invention makes it possible to easily perform both a setting for wireless connection and a setting for application sharing in a wireless communication device newly connected to a home or campus wireless network. Therefore, it can be used as an extremely useful technology in the future for spreading information sharing, remote viewing, and the like for information devices, video / audio content holding devices and playback devices.

101, 102, 301, 302 Wireless communication device 111, 121 Wireless communication unit 112, 122 Wireless communication control unit 113, 123 Storage unit 114 Information conversion unit 115 Display unit 116, 126 Main equipment function unit 124 Information restoration unit 125 Imaging unit 200 Access point 201 Communication control device 202 Internet

Claims (9)

A wireless communication device registration system for performing device registration for wireless connection between a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device via a wireless network,
The first wireless communication device is:
A first storage unit for storing wireless connection information for connecting to the wireless network and device information relating to the wireless communication device;
An information conversion unit for converting the wireless connection information and the device information into an image pattern;
A display unit for displaying the image pattern,
The second wireless communication device is:
An imaging unit that captures the image pattern displayed on the display unit of the first wireless communication device; an information restoration unit that restores the image pattern captured by the imaging unit to the wireless connection information and the device information; ,
A second storage unit for storing the wireless connection information restored by the information restoration unit and the device information;
The second wireless communication device uses the wireless connection information stored in the second storage unit to connect to the wireless network and uses the device information stored in the second storage unit. A wireless communication device registration system for discovering the first wireless communication device after establishing a wireless connection and registering the first wireless communication device for sharing an application. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication device registers the second wireless communication device to share an application when wirelessly connected to the second wireless communication device. Wireless communication device registration system. The wireless communication device registration system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wireless network is a wireless LAN. The wireless connection information is information for connecting to the access point when there is an access point having a base station function in the wireless network. Wireless communication device registration system. The wireless communication device registration system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first wireless communication device is a television receiver. The wireless communication device registration according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the wireless network connects a third and subsequent wireless communication devices having functions equivalent to those of the second wireless communication device. system. 7. The display unit of the first wireless communication device displays a plurality of image patterns each including device information of the second and third and subsequent wireless communication devices. The wireless communication device registration system described in 1. A wireless communication device registration method for performing device registration for wireless connection between a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device via a wireless network,
The first wireless communication device is:
A first storage step of storing wireless connection information for connecting to the wireless network and device information relating to the wireless communication device;
An information conversion step of converting the wireless connection information and the device information into an image pattern;
A display step for displaying the image pattern,
The second wireless communication device is:
A shooting step of shooting the image pattern displayed in the display step of the first wireless communication device;
An information restoration step for restoring the image pattern photographed in the photographing step to the wireless connection information and the device information;
A second storage step for storing the wireless connection information restored in the information restoration step and the device information;
The second wireless communication device uses the wireless connection information stored in the second storage step to connect to the wireless network and uses the device information stored in the second storage step. A wireless communication device registration method for discovering the first wireless communication device after establishing a wireless connection and registering the first wireless communication device for sharing an application. The first wireless communication device further includes a device registration step of registering the second wireless communication device to share an application when wirelessly connected to the second wireless communication device. The wireless communication device registration method according to claim 8.

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