JP2013126003A - Short-range wireless communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a short-range wireless communication system that makes quick and efficient connection possible in the case a slave side communication device is not compliant with a profile requested by a master side communication device.SOLUTION: A communication system establishes connection between a master communication device and a slave communication device that are able to connect by a prescribed short-range wireless communication protocol. The master side communication device requests connection according to any service by the protocol from a particular slave side communication device, and if the slave side communication device is not able to connect by the service, the slave side communication device will transmit that information to the master side communication device to inform a user of it. Furthermore, the communication system searches for another slave side communication device, and if the other slave side communication device is found by the search, the communication system requests connection by the service from the other slave side communication device.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system for establishing a connection between a master and a slave communication device that can be connected by a predetermined short-range wireless communication protocol, and more particularly to a procedure for establishing a connection by an arbitrary service on the protocol. It is.

  Instead of a wired connection, a connection by a short-range wireless communication based on a predetermined communication protocol has become widespread for connection between computers or peripheral devices. A typical wireless communication protocol of this type is Bluetooth (registered trademark). In Bluetooth, in order to realize wireless communication in various devices, a number of connection profiles are defined for each connection service. Each Bluetooth-enabled device has one or more connection profiles that it can use, and in the process of pairing, devices with the same profile can communicate with each other. Typical connection profiles in Bluetooth include, for example, an A2DP profile (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) for transmitting audio signals to headphones with a receiver, and an HFP profile for controlling communication of audio data with synchronous packets in a hands-free call ( Hands-Free Profile), DUN profile (Dial-up Networking Profile) for dial-up connection to the Internet via a mobile phone, etc., HID profile (Human Interface Device Profile) for wireless input devices such as mouse and keyboard )and so on.

  In pairing of Bluetooth-compatible devices, that is, initial connection setting, a device that starts the connection is called a master, and a connected device is called a slave. For example, now, communication with a DUN profile is established with a multifunctional information terminal (slave side) represented by a smartphone, with a multifunctional vehicle-mounted device equipped with AV playback, broadcast reception and navigation functions as a master device. Assuming that the navigation application on the vehicle-mounted device is dial-up connected to the Internet via a wireless public line that can be used by the multi-function information terminal, the connection procedure is as follows.

  A navigation application is started on the vehicle-mounted device, and user authentication information is input to a server on the Internet that is accessed by the navigation application. In response to this, the in-vehicle device side starts searching for the communication device on the slave side to be paired, transmits this authentication information to the discovered information terminal, and requests dial-up connection to the Internet. In response to this request, the information terminal side makes a dial-up connection to the Internet, accesses the target server and authenticates it, and establishes a connection between the server and the vehicle-mounted device.

  However, in such a connection procedure, when the information terminal paired with the vehicle-mounted device is not compatible with the DUN profile, the following problem occurs. That is, a communication device that does not support the DUN profile cannot make a dial-up connection in response to a request for user authentication from the vehicle-mounted device, and therefore the authentication procedure ends in failure. Usually, the result is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device side and notified to the user, but the authentication failed because the input authentication information was inappropriate or the information terminal related to the connection is not in the DUN profile. There is a problem that it is impossible to determine whether it is a response.

  In relation to such problems, register the profile information of the slave side communication device in advance on the master side communication device, and present this information to the user when pairing. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for avoiding the above problems from occurring by enabling a device to be selected.

JP 2010-199718 A

  However, if the Bluetooth device used by the user is replaced or the corresponding profile is added or changed, the registration information on the OBE must be rewritten, and the latest registration information is always maintained. It is not always easy to do. In particular, there are a wide variety of Bluetooth-compatible devices, and the number of such devices has increased considerably, and it is difficult to register all the Bluetooth-compatible devices that may be brought into the vehicle. As a result, inconsistency occurs between the registration information and the actually brought-in communication device, and there is a case where a suitable pairing cannot be performed quickly.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problem, and in the case where the slave side communication device does not correspond to the profile requested from the master side communication device, the fact is notified to the user, Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a connection establishment procedure for a short-range wireless communication system that prompts a user to select another communication device as a slave side. In addition, when the slave communication device does not support the profile requested by the master communication device, a procedure for searching for another communication device compatible with the profile and establishing the connection The purpose is to provide.

  The present invention is a communication system for establishing a connection between a master and a slave communication device that can be connected by a predetermined short-range wireless communication protocol, from the master side communication device to a specific slave side communication device. Means for requesting connection by an arbitrary service in the network, and means for receiving a connection request from the communication device on the master side and determining whether connection by the service is possible on the communication device on the slave side receiving the request And when the slave communication device determines that the connection by the service is impossible, the master communication device transmits a message to that effect to the master communication device. And means for notifying the user that the connection cannot be established.

  Preferably, when it is determined that the connection by the service is impossible in the slave communication device, a means for searching for another slave communication device, and the other slave communication device by the search And a means for requesting the communication device to establish a connection using the service when it is found. Preferably, when another slave-side communication device is discovered by the search, information on the slave-side communication device is presented to the user, and the connection with the slave-side communication device by the service is performed. A means for determining necessity is further provided. Preferably, a means for acquiring, from the slave-side communication device, information for determining whether or not connection by the service is possible when another slave-side communication device is found by the search, Have. Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes means for notifying the user when no other slave communication device is found by the search. Preferably, the means for presenting information about the communication device on the slave side to the user and determining whether or not connection by the service is necessary is possible to connect with the service together with information on the communication device on the slave side. Information to determine whether or not is presented. Preferably, when it is determined that there is no communication device that can be connected by the service based on the information acquired from the communication device on the slave side to determine whether the connection by the service is possible or not, And a means for notifying that. Preferably, the master-side communication device further includes means for storing information on a slave-side communication device connected by the protocol, and requests connection by an arbitrary service to the specific slave-side communication device. The means determines the slave communication device based on the stored communication device information. Preferably, the means for requesting connection by an arbitrary service to the specific slave side communication device, based on the stored communication device information, the last connected communication device as the slave side communication device. To choose. Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes means for receiving an authentication request for using the service from the master communication device and executing the authentication request in the slave communication device.

  The present invention is also a communication device in a communication system that establishes a connection between a master and a slave communication device that can be connected by a predetermined short-range wireless communication protocol, to a specific slave-side communication device on the protocol. Means for requesting connection by an arbitrary service, means for receiving information on whether or not connection by the service is possible from the communication device on the specific slave side, and whether or not connection by the service is possible And a means for notifying the user to that effect when it is determined that connection by the service is impossible in the slave communication device based on the information.

  Preferably, when it is determined that the connection by the service is impossible in the slave communication device, a means for searching for another slave communication device, and the other slave communication device by the search And a means for requesting the communication device to establish a connection using the service when it is found. Preferably, when another slave-side communication device is discovered by the search, information on the slave-side communication device is presented to the user, and the connection with the slave-side communication device by the service is performed. A means for determining necessity is further provided. Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes means for acquiring, from the slave communication device, information for determining whether or not connection by the service is possible when another slave communication device is found by the search.

  The present invention is also a communication program for establishing a connection between a master and a slave communication device connectable by a predetermined short-range wireless communication protocol, from a master communication device to a specific slave communication device, Requesting connection by an arbitrary service on the protocol, and receiving a connection request from the communication device on the master side, determining whether connection by the service is possible on the communication device on the slave side that has received the request And when it is determined that connection by the service is impossible in the slave side communication device, in the master side communication device, the step of transmitting the fact to the master side communication device, And notifying the user that connection by the service is impossible.

  The present invention is also a communication method for establishing a connection between a master and a slave communication device connectable by a predetermined short-range wireless communication protocol, from a master communication device to a specific slave communication device, Requesting connection by an arbitrary service on the protocol, and receiving a connection request from the communication device on the master side, determining whether connection by the service is possible on the communication device on the slave side that has received the request And when it is determined that connection by the service is impossible in the slave side communication device, in the master side communication device, the step of transmitting the fact to the master side communication device, And notifying the user that connection by the service is impossible.

  According to the present invention, when the slave side communication device does not correspond to the profile requested by the master side communication device, the user is notified of this, and the user receives this, The communication device is prompted to be selected as the slave side, and as a result, suitable pairing can be performed quickly. According to the present invention, when the slave communication device does not correspond to the profile requested from the master communication device, one or more other communication devices corresponding to the profile are provided. Is searched, and the user can select one of them, so that suitable pairing can be performed quickly.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the communication system which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the typical structure of an information terminal. It is a block diagram which shows the typical structure of onboard equipment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the communication connection part of an information terminal, and the communication connection part of onboard equipment. It is the figure which showed the timing chart of the signal between onboard equipment and an information terminal in case the information terminal to which the onboard equipment connected first respond | corresponds to a DUN profile. It is the figure which showed the timing chart of the signal between onboard equipment and an information terminal in case the information terminal which the onboard equipment connected first does not respond | correspond to a DUN profile. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of the process by the onboard equipment at the time of pairing execution with an information terminal. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of the process by the onboard equipment at the time of pairing execution with an information terminal. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of the process by the side of the information terminal at the time of pairing execution with onboard equipment. It is the figure which showed an example of the screen transition on the display of onboard equipment at the time of pairing execution.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. A preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to an aspect in which an in-vehicle device equipped with AV playback, broadcast reception, navigation functions, and the like is paired with a multi-function information terminal brought into the vehicle based on the Bluetooth standard. For example, by connecting these devices according to the Bluetooth DUN profile, the vehicle-mounted device can be connected to the Internet via the public line connection function of the information terminal, and the information providing service implemented by the vehicle-mounted device can be used. In addition, by connecting these devices according to the A2DP profile, the music on the information terminal can be reproduced and output on the vehicle-mounted device side. Furthermore, by connecting these devices in accordance with the HFP profile, it is possible to receive a call received at the information terminal through a headset connected to the vehicle-mounted device side. Here, the information terminal is a multifunctional portable terminal having a communication function capable of processing information. For example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a palmtop personal computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, etc. It is. On the other hand, the vehicle-mounted device is an electronic device mounted on a vehicle and can include an audio / video playback function, a television / radio broadcast reception function, a navigation function, and the like. However, the technology of the present invention is not limited to the communication system according to the Bluetooth standard shown here, but can be used in communication systems according to other short-range wireless communication protocols.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a communication system 10 is connected to one or a plurality of information terminals 20a to 20c and any one of the information terminals 20a to 20c by short-range wireless communication (hereinafter referred to as Bluetooth connection 40) according to the Bluetooth standard. And the vehicle-mounted device 30. Here, the information terminal 20 is a multifunctional smartphone or mobile phone having a communication function. The vehicle-mounted device 30 has a navigation function and a multimedia function. The navigation function of the vehicle-mounted device 30 is connected to a service on the Internet as a part of the function in relation to the present invention, and the facility information, traffic jam information, route information and other driving support in the vicinity of the vehicle position from the server Information is acquired and displayed on the display.

  The vehicle-mounted device 30 may have one or a plurality of arbitrary connection profiles according to the Bluetooth standard, but includes at least a DUN profile in order to realize the navigation function. On the other hand, the information terminal 20 can similarly have a plurality of arbitrary connection profiles. Here, it is assumed that the first information terminal 20a does not have the DUN profile, and the other information terminals 20b and 20c have the profile. That is, when using the navigation function of the vehicle-mounted device 30, the information terminals 20b and 20c can serve as hubs for connection to the Internet, but the information terminal 20a does not function as the hub. These communication devices 20 and 30 have other profiles, for example, an HFP profile for controlling communication of voice data with a synchronous packet in a hands-free call, A2DP for controlling a mono or stereo audio signal with high quality and asynchronous data transfer. You can have a profile. Therefore, when the information terminal 20 is brought into the vehicle, these and the vehicle-mounted device 30 can be paired by the Bluetooth connection 40 using an arbitrary connection profile. The information terminal 20 and the vehicle-mounted device 30 may be provided with other data exchange communication means, for example, a wired connection by USB (Universal Serial Bus), a wireless LAN connection by Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity), or the like.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a typical configuration of the information terminal. The information terminal 20 includes an input unit 100 that receives input from the user, a communication connection unit 110 that realizes connection with the vehicle-mounted device 30 through the Bluetooth connection 40, a display unit 120 that displays various images and information on a display, and outputs audio. Possessed by the communication unit 140, the control unit 150, and the information terminal 20 that enable a voice output unit 130 to perform data communication with an external network, a telephone call via a public wireless network, connection to the Internet, and the like A program memory 160 for storing applications, programs, etc., a data memory 170 for storing audio data, video data, map data, and the like, and a bus 180 for connecting the respective units.

  The program memory 160 stores various applications and programs. For example, an application for reproducing audio data and video data, an application for executing a game, a program for making a voice call, a program for browsing information on the Internet via the communication unit 140, and the like are stored. Further, in the program memory 160, when the information terminal 20 and the vehicle-mounted device 30 are connected via the Bluetooth connection 40, an extension for decoding a command signal transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device 30 and executing an application using the command signal A program is included.

  The data memory 170 stores one or more Bluetooth service profiles corresponding to the information terminal. The information terminal 20 and the vehicle-mounted device 30 can be paired according to a profile that they have in common. As described above, the information terminals 20b and 20c have a DUN profile that enables at least the vehicle-mounted device 30 to be connected to the Internet by dial-up. In the information terminal equipped with the DUN profile, when a request for connection from the in-vehicle device 30 to a specific site on the Internet is made, a dial-up connection is made to the Internet network via the contracted telephone carrier line network, and a request is made to the target site. And the response is returned to the vehicle-mounted device 30.

  Next, FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a typical configuration of the vehicle-mounted device 30. As shown in the figure, the vehicle-mounted device 30 includes an input unit 200 that receives input from a user, a communication connection unit 210 that enables connection to the information terminal 20 through a Bluetooth connection 40, reproduction information, navigation information, and the like of various media. Display unit 220 for displaying various information related to the application to be executed, audio output unit 230 for outputting audio, multimedia unit 240 for executing reproduction of various media, control unit 250, program for executing application, etc. A program memory 260 for storing the data, a data memory 270 for storing data such as audio data, video data, and map data, and a bus 280 for connecting each part.

  The multimedia unit 240 has a function of reproducing audio data and video data recorded on a CD, DVD, Blu-ray disc, memory medium, data memory 270, etc., a function of receiving a television broadcast or a radio broadcast, and the like. The program memory 260 stores an application for executing a navigation function, a program for controlling the multimedia unit 240, a program for controlling communication connection with the information terminal 20, and the like. The vehicle-mounted device 30 can receive GPS positioning information, vehicle speed information, direction information, and the like necessary for navigation operations. The data memory 270 stores one or more Bluetooth service profiles corresponding to the vehicle-mounted device 30. Information about the slave device that has established pairing by Bluetooth is stored and held in the data memory 270. The stored information about the slave device includes at least the identification ID, address, and last connection date / time information. In the embodiment, the vehicle-mounted device 30 has at least a DUN profile. Here, the navigation application stored in the program memory 260 is connected to a server of a specific navigation service that develops the service on the Internet, and receives facility information, traffic jam information, route information, and other driving support information in the vicinity of the vehicle position. It has the function to acquire and display on the display. The use of this navigation service in the in-vehicle device 30 is realized through pairing by the DUN profile with the information terminal 20 having a function of connecting to the Internet.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the communication connection unit 110 of the information terminal 20 and the communication connection unit 210 of the vehicle-mounted device 30. In the figure, only the functional blocks for realizing the pairing by Bluetooth between the two communication devices with the in-vehicle device 30 functioning as the master side and the information terminal 20 functioning as the slave side are shown. In other words, both communication devices have the same function so that they can be used on both the master side and the slave side for pairing with Bluetooth, but only the configuration blocks on the respective responsible side are shown in the figure.

  In the in-vehicle device 30, the communication connection unit 210 selects a slave device to be paired from the registration list as a function on the master side, the connection device determination unit 211 to determine, and the user selects the selected slave device. A connection request unit 212 for requesting connection by a desired service profile, a connection request result notification unit 213 for notifying a user of a result of a connection request to a slave device, and searching for one or a plurality of slave devices existing within a communicable range by Bluetooth Slave device search unit 214 to perform, BT profile request unit 215 to request a service profile that can be used for the discovered slave device, and slave device information display control to display information on the discovered slave device on the display 216, and a connection establishment execution unit 218 to establish a pairing between the connecting device switch 217 and the particular slave device, switch the slave device to pair based on the choice of the user.

  In the exemplary embodiment, the connection device determination unit 211 can determine the most recently connected device as a device to be connected from among a plurality of slave devices recorded in the data memory 270. However, other determination algorithms, for example, an algorithm that selects a device having the largest number of connections in a specific period may be adopted, or a plurality of determination algorithms may be weighted and a device may be selected by comprehensive evaluation. Good. The connection request unit 212 activates a navigation application for a user to use a navigation service on the Internet, inputs user authentication information for the connection via a display, and executes a connection request. Executed. In response to this, the connection request unit 212 requests the previously determined slave device to perform pairing using the DUN profile. When pairing is established, as will be described later, the information terminal 20, which is one slave device, connects to the Internet by dial-up connection and issues a request with this authentication information to the target site.

  The connection request result notifying unit 213 displays information on the result of the connection request received from the slave device on the display unit 220 to allow the user to recognize the result. At least three types of information on the result are included. is there. That is, there are (1) a notification that authentication has succeeded and the service can be used, (2) a notification that authentication has failed, and (3) a notification that the slave device does not support the DUN profile. In the vehicle-mounted device 30, the subsequent processing is determined and notified in accordance with the result notification from the slave device. The slave device search unit 214 is activated when the information terminal 20 connected first does not support the DUN profile, and waits for an identification signal transmitted from one or a plurality of slave devices. Discover the device. The BT profile request unit 215 polls and transmits a signal for requesting a BT profile at a predetermined cycle via an SDP (Service Discovery Protocol) protocol to the address of the slave device discovered by the slave device search unit 214, and a response signal thereof Waiting for you to get this. The slave device information display control unit 216 displays a list of the identification IDs of one or more discovered slave devices together with their corresponding profile icons. When another information terminal 20 having a DUN profile is found, the connection device switching unit 217 presents the fact to the user, and when the user desires to connect to the terminal, the connection device switching unit 217 selects a device that attempts pairing. Execute the switching process.

  On the other hand, in the information terminal 20 on the slave side, the communication connection unit 110 has, as its slave side function, a BT device identification information transmission unit 112 that sends identification information for causing the master side to recognize its own device, Based on the profile request, it confirms whether or not its own device is compatible with the profile, and processes the authentication request for the service on the Internet from the master side, the BT profile processing unit 114 for transmitting the result to the master side An authentication request processing unit 116 for connecting to the master device and a connection establishment executing unit 118 for establishing pairing with the master device. The BT device identification information transmission unit 112 is transmitted when the information terminal 20 shifts to the pairing mode by a user operation, and the signal includes the identification ID and connection address of the own device. However, it is also possible to automatically shift to the pairing mode and send out this identification signal at the timing when the device is turned on.

  Next, a procedure executed when the user starts a navigation application in the vehicle-mounted device 30 and uses a navigation service on the Internet via the dial-up connection function of the information terminal 20 will be described. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, there are three information terminals 20a to 20c that can be connected to the vehicle-mounted device 30 in accordance with the Bluetooth standard, and the information terminal 20a is used most recently. However, it is assumed that only the other information terminals 20b and 20c are compatible with the DUN profile.

  5 and 6 are diagrams showing the timing of signal transmission / reception between the information terminal 20 and the vehicle-mounted device 30 during pairing. Here, FIG. 5 shows an example in which the information terminal 20 to which the in-vehicle device 30 is first connected corresponds to the DUN profile, and as a result, dial-up connection to the Internet via the terminal becomes possible. Show. On the other hand, FIG. 6 shows an example in which the information terminal 20 to which the vehicle-mounted device 30 is first connected does not support the DUN profile and as a result cannot be connected to the Internet.

  In FIG. 5, when the navigation application is started on the vehicle-mounted device 30 side based on the user operation, the system selects one slave-side device (information terminal 20) from the registration list in order to realize dial-up connection. Select 502 and request 504 pairing with the DUN profile for this device. When the user inputs authentication information to the system, the authentication information 506 is transmitted to the selected information terminal 20. When it is confirmed on the information terminal 20 side that the own device is compatible with the DUN profile, this is notified to the in-vehicle device 30 side, connection establishment processing 508 and 510 is executed between both terminals, Pairing 512 is performed based on the DUN profile. In the information terminal 20, a dial-up connection 514 to the Internet is started, and a request with the authentication information 516 is issued to a site that provides a target navigation service. The response 518 from the site is processed 520 by the information terminal 20, returned to the vehicle-mounted device 30 as response information 522, and notified to the user 524.

  On the other hand, the processing when the first information terminal 20a does not support the DUN profile in FIG. 6 will be described. As in the case of FIG. 5, the navigation application is activated on the vehicle-mounted device 30 side based on the user operation. Then, in order to realize the dial-up connection, the system selects 602 one slave device (information terminal 20a) from the registration list, and requests 604 pairing with the DUN profile for this device. When the user inputs authentication information to the system, the authentication information 606 is transmitted to the selected information terminal 20a. Here, when it is confirmed on the information terminal 20a side that the own device is incompatible with the DUN profile 608, this information 610 is immediately notified to the vehicle-mounted device 30 side. The vehicle-mounted device 30 processes this information and notifies the user that the owned information terminal 20a is not compatible with the DUN profile 612.

  Next, in the vehicle-mounted device 30, a search 614 for other slave devices in the vehicle is started. Here, when information terminals 20b and 20c that can be connected in accordance with the Bluetooth standard exist in the vehicle, the identification information 616 of the terminal is received on the vehicle-mounted device 30 side. The in-vehicle device 30 requests information 618 of the corresponding profile from these information terminals 20 and receives the response 620. The information is presented to the user 622 so that the user can select 624 the information terminal 20b corresponding to the DUN profile. Based on the user's instruction, the in-vehicle device 30 and the information terminal 20b execute connection establishment processing 626 and 628, and the both terminals are paired 630 based on the DUN profile.

  Next, the flow of processing in the vehicle-mounted device 30 and the information terminal 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are flowcharts showing a processing procedure on the vehicle-mounted device 30 side when pairing with the information terminal 20 is executed. This process is started when the user activates the navigation application in the vehicle-mounted device 30 (step S700). When the application is activated, the system first selects one slave-side device attempting dial-up connection from the registration list and identifies it as a connection destination device (step S702). A screen for inputting authentication information of the connection destination site is displayed on the display of the system, and the user is requested to input the information (step S704). When the authentication information is input by the user, the system requests pairing by the DUN profile to the previously specified slave device (information terminal 20) (step S707), and transmits the user authentication information (step S708). .

  If there is a response from the information terminal 20 in response to this connection request (step S710), the content is determined (step S712), and if it is a connection permitting connection to the slave device using the DUN profile. Executes a predetermined pairing process to establish a connection with the information terminal 20 (step S714), and the process ends. As a result, the user can access the target site on the Internet via the dial-up connection of the information terminal 20 from the vehicle-mounted device 30 and can use the service.

  On the other hand, if the response from the information terminal 20 rejects the connection, the reason is determined (step S716). If the reason for the connection refusal is that the authentication information is invalid, the fact is displayed on the display to notify the user (step S718), and the user is re-authenticated. Is obtained (step S720). On the other hand, when the user issues an instruction for the re-authentication procedure, the process returns to step S704, and a series of procedures S704 to S714 from a new authentication information input request is executed.

  If the reason for the connection refusal in step 716 is that the connection destination information terminal 20 is not compatible with the DUN profile, the fact is displayed on the display to notify the user (step S722). The process proceeds to a series of processes shown in FIG. Moving to FIG. 8, first, a search for another slave device that can communicate in the vehicle is started (step S802). If another slave device is not found, the process ends here (step S804). On the other hand, if there are devices (information terminals 20b and 20c) that can be connected in accordance with the Bluetooth standard in the vehicle, their identification information is acquired (step S806), and information on the corresponding profile is requested from these devices. (Step S808).

  Upon receiving a response from the information terminal 20, it is determined whether or not they correspond to the DUN profile (step S810). If there is a device corresponding to the DUN profile, the information is displayed on the display. The user is notified (step S812). In a preferred embodiment, it is preferable to list the identification information of one or more discovered devices and their profile information on the display so that the user can select a device corresponding to the DUN profile. . If the user desires connection by another device corresponding to the DUN profile (step S814), the system sets this device as a connection destination device (step S816), returns the processing to step 704 in FIG. The authentication information is requested to be input, and a series of subsequent procedures S706 to S714 are executed. If no device corresponding to the DUN profile is found in step S810, the fact is displayed on the display and notified to the user, and the process ends (step S818).

  Next, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing on the information terminal 20 side when pairing with the vehicle-mounted device 30 is executed. This process starts when the information terminal 20 is set to the pairing mode (step S900). In this state, when a connection request is made to the device by the DUN profile from the vehicle-mounted device 30, this is received on the terminal side (step S902), and it is confirmed whether the own device is compatible with the DUN profile (step S904). ). If it is determined in step S906 that the device does not support the DUN profile, the information is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 30 (step S908), and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the own device is compatible with the DUN profile, an authentication request is issued to the server at the target site on the Internet using the authentication information received from the in-vehicle device 30 (step). S910). When a response to the authentication request from the server is received and the content is that the authentication has failed (step S912), the information is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 30 and the process is terminated (step S918). On the other hand, when the user authentication is successful in the server, the information is transmitted to the vehicle-mounted device 30 (step S914), a predetermined pairing process is executed, and the connection with the vehicle-mounted device 30 is established (step S916). ), This process ends. As a result, the user can access the target site on the Internet via the dial-up connection of the information terminal 20 from the vehicle-mounted device 30 and can use the service.

  Next, an example of screen transition displayed on the display of the vehicle-mounted device 30 in the present embodiment when performing the pairing will be described. FIGS. 10A to 10F are diagrams illustrating an example of screen transition when pairing is executed. FIG. 3A shows a screen for starting the navigation application and requesting the user to input authentication information to the server, that is, a login ID and a password. When the user inputs such information and clicks the completion button 1002, the screen changes to the state shown in FIG. FIG. 5B shows a screen when dial-up connection is made to the Internet via the information terminal 20, accessing the target server and making an authentication request, and a dialog box 1004 with a message is displayed to display the user. Is informed that the result is a standby state. FIG. 6C shows a screen in which information indicating that the authentication to the target server has failed is displayed in a dialog box 1006. FIG. 4D shows a screen on which information indicating that the information terminal attempting pairing is incompatible with the DUN profile is displayed in a dialog box 1008. If the information terminal that attempted to connect does not support the DUN profile, the system searches for other slave devices as described above, and if they are found, lists the information. FIG. 5E shows an example of a device information list 1010 displayed on such a display. In order to make the item of the device corresponding to the DUN profile stand out in the display, the display color is different from others (indicated by hatching in the figure). FIG. 8F shows a screen on which information on the device selected by the user is displayed and a dialog box 1011 for prompting the use of the device is displayed in order to realize connection using the DUN profile. These screens are a preferred embodiment for carrying out the present invention, but the screen configuration is merely an example for explanation, and various screen configuration modes by existing methods are conceivable.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention described in the claims. Deformation / change is possible. In the above embodiment, the pairing procedure based on the Bluetooth standard is taken as an example, but the technology of the present invention can naturally be used in pairing based on another short-range wireless communication standard.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10: Communication system 20a-20c: Information terminal 30: Onboard equipment 40: Bluetooth connection 100: Input part 110: Communication connection part 112: BT device identification information transmission part 114: BT profile process part 116: Authentication request process part 118: Connection Establish execution unit 120: display unit 130: audio output unit 140: communication unit 150: control unit 160: program memory 170: data memory 180: bus 200: input unit 210: communication connection unit 211: connection device determination unit 212: connection request Unit 213: Connection request result notification unit 214: Slave device search unit 215: BT profile request unit 216: Slave device information display control unit 217: Connection device switching unit 218: Connection establishment execution unit 220: Display unit 230: Audio output unit 240 : Multimedia unit 250: Control unit 26 0: Program memory 270: Data memory 280: Bus

Claims (22)

A communication system for establishing a connection between a master and a slave communication device connectable by a predetermined short-range wireless communication protocol,
Means for requesting connection by any service on the protocol from a communication device on the master side to a communication device on the specific slave side;
Means for receiving a connection request from the master side communication device and determining whether the connection by the service is possible in the slave side communication device that has received the request;
When it is determined that the connection by the service is impossible in the slave communication device, means for transmitting the fact to the master communication device;
In the communication device on the master side, the fact that connection by the service is impossible,
Means to notify the user;
A communication system. Means for searching for other slave-side communication devices when it is determined that connection by the service is impossible in the slave-side communication device;
Means for requesting connection by the service to the communication device when another slave communication device is found by the search;
The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising: When another slave side communication device is discovered by the search, information on the slave side communication device is presented to the user, and the necessity of connection by the service with the slave side communication device is determined. The communication system according to claim 2, further comprising means for obtaining. The apparatus further comprises means for acquiring, from the slave communication device, information for determining whether or not connection by the service is possible when another slave communication device is found by the search. 4. The communication system according to 3. The communication system according to claim 4, further comprising means for notifying a user when no other slave communication device is found by the search. Means for presenting information about the communication device on the slave side to the user and determining whether or not connection by the service is necessary is performed along with the information on the communication device on the slave side to determine whether connection by the service is possible. The communication system according to claim 4 or 5, which presents information to be determined. When it is determined that there is no communication device that can be connected by the service, based on the information acquired from the slave-side communication device to determine whether connection by the service is possible, The communication system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, further comprising means for notifying that effect. The master side communication device further has means for storing information of a slave side communication device connected by the protocol,
The means for requesting connection by an arbitrary service to the specific slave communication device determines the slave communication device based on the stored communication device information. The communication system as described in any one. The means for requesting connection by the arbitrary service to the specific slave-side communication device selects the last connected communication device as the slave-side communication device based on the stored communication device information. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for receiving an authentication request for using the service from the master side communication device and executing the authentication request in the slave side communication device. The communication system described. A communication device in a communication system for establishing a connection between a master and a slave communication device connectable by a predetermined short-range wireless communication protocol,
Means for requesting a connection by an arbitrary service on the protocol to a communication device on a specific slave side;
Means for receiving information on whether or not connection by the service is possible from the communication device on the specific slave side;
Based on the information on whether connection by the service is possible or not, when it is determined that the connection by the service is impossible in the slave communication device, means for notifying the user to that effect;
Communication equipment having. Means for searching for other slave-side communication devices when it is determined that connection by the service is impossible in the slave-side communication device;
Means for requesting connection by the service to the communication device when another slave communication device is found by the search;
The communication device according to claim 11, further comprising: When another slave side communication device is discovered by the search, information on the slave side communication device is presented to the user, and the necessity of connection by the service with the slave side communication device is determined. The communication device according to claim 12, further comprising means for obtaining. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: a unit configured to acquire, from the slave communication device, information for determining whether or not connection by the service is possible when another slave communication device is found by the search. 13. The communication device according to 13. A communication program for establishing a connection between a master and a slave communication device connectable by a predetermined short-range wireless communication protocol,
Requesting a connection from an arbitrary service on the protocol from a master communication device to a specific slave communication device;
Receiving a connection request from the master-side communication device, and determining whether the connection by the service is possible in the slave-side communication device that has received the request;
When it is determined that the connection by the service is impossible in the communication device on the slave side, transmitting the fact to the communication device on the master side,
In the communication device on the master side, the fact that connection by the service is impossible,
Notifying the user;
A communication program. When it is determined that connection by the service is impossible in the slave communication device, searching for another slave communication device;
Requesting a connection by the service to the communication device when another slave communication device is found by the search; and
The communication program according to claim 15, further comprising: When another slave side communication device is discovered by the search, information on the slave side communication device is presented to the user, and the necessity of connection by the service with the slave side communication device is determined. The communication program according to claim 16, further comprising a step of obtaining. The information processing device further comprises a step of acquiring, from the slave communication device, information for determining whether or not connection by the service is possible when another slave communication device is found by the search. The communication program according to 17. A communication method for establishing a connection between a master and a slave communication device connectable by a predetermined short-range wireless communication protocol,
Requesting a connection from an arbitrary service on the protocol from a master communication device to a specific slave communication device;
Receiving a connection request from the master-side communication device, and determining whether the connection by the service is possible in the slave-side communication device that has received the request;
When it is determined that the connection by the service is impossible in the communication device on the slave side, transmitting the fact to the communication device on the master side,
In the communication device on the master side, the fact that connection by the service is impossible,
Notifying the user;
A communication method comprising: When it is determined that connection by the service is impossible in the slave communication device, searching for another slave communication device;
Requesting a connection by the service to the communication device when another slave communication device is found by the search; and
The communication method according to claim 19, further comprising: When another slave side communication device is discovered by the search, information on the slave side communication device is presented to the user, and the necessity of connection by the service with the slave side communication device is determined. The communication method according to claim 20, further comprising a step of obtaining. 21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising: acquiring, from the slave communication device, information for determining whether or not connection by the service is possible when another slave communication device is found by the search. 21. The communication method according to item 21.

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