JP2014135737A - Communication device, control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the connectibility between communication devices.SOLUTION: A communication device receives a search request where the apparatus attributes searched by other communication device, out of a plurality of apparatus attributes, are specified from other communication device by radio. When having the apparatus attributes specified in the search request thus received, the communication device performs sharing processing for sharing the connection parameters, including SSID(Service Set ID) for wireless connection, with other communication device, otherwise does not perform sharing processing with other communication device.

Description

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

  With the widespread use of wireless LANs (Local Area Networks), the functions of communication terminals that support wireless LANs are diversified. For example, a dual mode terminal has been developed that has both functions of a wireless LAN access point (hereinafter abbreviated as AP) and a station (hereinafter abbreviated as STA).

  The dual mode terminal is characterized in that the radio band can be used effectively. For example, when a dual mode terminal communicates with an STA under the same AP, the connection with the AP is disconnected, the AP mode is activated to form another network, and the communication partner's STA is connected without the AP. A technology for communicating with the Internet has been proposed. In addition, as a technique for the STA to acquire network connection parameters, a technique has been proposed in which a server device on the network transmits connection parameters necessary for connection with an AP in response to a request from the STA (Patent Document 1). .

JP 2005-191721 A

  Here, FIG. 1 shows a network configuration in which a dual mode terminal exists.

  DISPLAY 101 and PRINTER 103 are dual mode terminals that operate in the STA mode, and DVC 102 and PC 104 are STAs. The DISPLAY 101, the PRINTER 103, the DVC 102, the PC 104, the parameter storage device 106, and the management device 105 are connected to a network that can communicate with the AP 100. Here, a network that can communicate with the AP 100 is referred to as a home network.

  The management device 105 manages the communication bandwidth of the home network. Here, consider a case where the DVC 102 starts communication with the DISPLAY 101 and the PC 104 starts communication with the PRINTER 103. Assume that the management apparatus 105 instructs a terminal under the AP 100 to form another network different from the home network in order to effectively use the communication band. A network configuration in this case is shown in FIG. The DISPLAY 101 and the PRINTER 103 are switched from the STA mode to the AP mode, and form separate networks. In this state, it is assumed that the DSC 200 wishes to communicate with the DVC 102 and connects to the home network. In this case, since the DVC 102 is connected to another network, the DSC 200 cannot communicate with the DVC 102.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve connectivity between communication devices.

  In order to achieve the above object, a communication device according to an aspect of the present invention wirelessly receives a search request in which a device attribute to be searched by another communication device among a plurality of device attributes is specified from the other communication device. And a communication parameter including an SSID (Service Set ID) for wireless connection when the communication device has a device attribute specified in the search request received by the receiving device. An execution unit that does not execute the sharing process with the other communication device when the communication device does not have the device attribute specified by the search request received by the receiving unit. Have.

  According to the present invention, connectivity between communication devices can be improved.

1 is a first diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a 2nd figure which shows an example of the whole structure of the communication system concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the management apparatus 105 shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2. It is a figure which shows an example of a data structure of the connection parameter information managed by the connection parameter management part 305 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of STA information managed by a STA management unit 307 illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a first sequence chart illustrating an example of a process flow in the communication system illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 is a second sequence chart illustrating an example of a process flow in the communication system illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. 6 is a first flowchart illustrating an example of an operation in the management apparatus 105. 10 is a second flowchart illustrating an example of an operation in the management apparatus 105. 12 is a third flowchart illustrating an example of an operation in the management apparatus 105. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement in a communication terminal. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation in the management apparatus 105 according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation in a communication terminal according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a communication system according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of STA information according to the fourth embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a data structure of the connection parameter information concerning Embodiment 4. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation in the management apparatus 105 according to the fourth embodiment.

  Embodiments of a management apparatus, a communication terminal, a program and method, and a communication system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
1 and 2 are diagrams showing an example of the overall configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the management apparatus 105 and each communication terminal are connected to a home network (hereinafter referred to as a first network). A DISPLAY 101, a DVC 102, a PRINTER 103, and a PC 104 are connected to the AP 100 as STAs. The DISPLAY 101 and the PRINTER 103 are dual mode terminals having functions of both AP and STA. The management device 105 manages the communication band and terminals of the entire network. The parameter storage device 106 stores connection parameters used when the DISPLAY 101 and the PRINTER 103 which are dual mode terminals operate in the AP mode. DISPLAY 101, DVC 102, PRINTER 103, and PC 104 are compatible with UPnP (Universal Plug and Play), which is a device search protocol.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration in which the DISPLAY 101 and the PRINTER 103 activate the AP mode to form a network (hereinafter referred to as a second network) different from the first network formed by the AP 100. The second network is formed based on an instruction from the management apparatus 105. Here, a network formed by the DISPLAY 101 will be described as the second network 201, and a network formed by the PRINTER 103 will be described as the second network 202. It is assumed that the DSC 200 is newly connected to the first network in order to communicate with the DVC 102 after these two second networks (201, 202) are formed.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the management apparatus 105 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

  For example, the ROM 300 stores a program for operating the management apparatus 105. The RAM 301 has an area for developing the above-described program. The communication unit 303 performs communication using the first network via the communication I / F 302, for example. The CPU 304 controls the management device 105 as a whole. An example of a functional configuration realized by the CPU 304 is shown in the CPU 304. The functional configuration realized by the CPU 304 is mainly realized by the CPU 304 reading and executing a program stored in the ROM 300 or the like.

  In the CPU 304, a connection parameter management unit 305, a bandwidth management unit 306, an STA management unit 307, and a communication management unit 308 are realized as functional configurations. The connection parameter management unit 305 manages information related to connection parameters used in the second network (hereinafter referred to as connection parameter information), and the bandwidth management unit 306 includes information related to communication bands in the network (hereinafter referred to as bandwidth). Information). The STA management unit 307 manages information related to each communication terminal (hereinafter referred to as STA information). The connection parameter management unit 305, the bandwidth management unit 306, and the STA management unit 307 store the connection parameter information, bandwidth information, STA information, and the like, for example, by storing them in the RAM 301 or the like. The communication management unit 308 performs overall management of communication processing in each communication terminal.

  The above is the description of the management apparatus 105. Note that, in the communication terminal such as the DISPLAY 101, the DVC 102, the PRINTER 103, and the PC 104, a computer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a communication I / F, and the like is incorporated as in the management apparatus 105.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a data configuration of connection parameter information managed by the connection parameter management unit 305 shown in FIG. The parameter number is a serial number of the connection parameter. The connection parameter management unit 305 stores and manages the SSID 402, the channel 403, the encryption method 404, and the encryption key 405 in the RAM 301 or the like corresponding to the serial number 401. In the example shown in FIG. 4, connection parameters corresponding to serial numbers “1” and “2” are managed as connection parameters for the second network, and a plurality of connection parameters are managed.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the data structure of STA information managed by the STA management unit 307 shown in FIG. Terminal number 500 is a serial number of a communication terminal in the network. The STA management unit 307 stores and manages STA information corresponding to the terminal number 500 in the RAM 301 or the like. UUID 501 and Device Description 502 are information elements of the UPnP message. In addition, a MAC address 503, an IP address 504, and a parameter number 505 are stored. The parameter number 505 manages the parameter number 401 corresponding to the connection parameter used by the communication terminal when the communication terminal is connected to the second network. That is, the parameter number 505 corresponds to the parameter number 401 managed by the connection parameter management unit 305 shown in FIG.

  Here, FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of a processing flow in the communication system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

  First, the flow of processing when the network configuration shown in FIG. 1 is changed to the network configuration shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The DISPLAY 101 makes a connection request (hereinafter referred to as an association request) to the AP 100 (S601), and the AP 100 transmits an association response (= success) to the DISPLAY 101 (S602). Then, the DISPLAY 101 transmits ADVERTISE, which is a UPnP message, by multicast (S603), and notifies its network device information to the network.

  When the management apparatus 105 receives ADVERTISE transmitted from the DISPLAY 101, the STA management unit 307 manages the UUID, Device Description, MAC address, and IP address of the DISPLAY 101 as STA information. The parameter number 505 is an item updated when the communication terminal forms the second network (in response to an instruction from the management apparatus 105), and nothing is stored at this time. After transmitting ADVERTISE, DISPLAY 101 transmits a search request (hereinafter referred to as a DISCOVERY request) to search for a device corresponding to the UPnP protocol in the network (S604).

  In addition, the DVC 102 makes an association request to the AP 100 in the same manner as the DISPLAY 101 described above. In addition, about the same part as DISPLAY101 by operation | movement of DVC102, description is abbreviate | omitted by providing the same code | symbol. After receiving the association response from the AP 100, the DVC 102 transmits ADVERTISE by multicast. In response to this, the management apparatus 105 manages the UUID, Device Description, MAC address, and IP address of the DVC 102 as STA information in the STA management unit 307 as in the case of the DISPLAY 101 described above.

  The DISPLAY 101 transmits a DISCOVERY response to the DISCOVERY request transmitted by the DVC 102 by multicast in S605 (S606). The DISCOVRY response includes UPnP information elements such as the UUID of the DISPLAY 101 and the Device Description. Thereby, the DVC 102 recognizes the presence of the DISPLAY 101. Similarly to the DISPLAY 101 and DVC 102 described above, the PC 104 and the PRINTER 103 also transmit ADVERTISE after connecting to the AP 100. Further, the PC 104 and the PRINTER 103 transmit a DISCOVERY request and receive a DISCOVERY response to the request (S607 to S613).

  Here, it is assumed that the DVC 102 requests a communication band from the management apparatus 105 in order to execute an application with the DISPLAY 101, for example (S614). Upon receiving this request, the management apparatus 105 calculates in the communication management unit 308 whether the requested communication band can be allocated (S615). This calculation is performed based on the band information managed by the band management unit 306. Here, it is assumed that the management apparatus 105 determines that the communication management unit 308 can allocate a communication band, but the DISPLAY 101 needs to newly form a second network. In this case, the management apparatus 105 requests the connection parameter used in the second network 201 from the parameter storage apparatus 106 (S616), and receives the connection parameter (S617).

  The management apparatus 105 that has received the connection parameter manages the received connection parameter as connection parameter information in the connection parameter management unit 305 (S618). Here, it is assumed that the connection parameter of the second network 201 corresponds to “1” of the parameter number 401 shown in FIG. Upon receiving the connection parameter, the management apparatus 105 notifies the DVC 102 of the communication band response (S619), notifies the shift to the second network (S620), and shifts the DVC 102 to the second network 201.

  Also, the management apparatus 105 notifies the DISPLAY 101 of the transition to the second network 201 (S622), and notifies the DVC 102 and the DISPLAY 101 of connection parameters (S621, S623). At this time, the connection parameter notified to the DVC 102 and the DISPLAY 101 corresponds to “1” of the parameter number 401 shown in FIG. Thereafter, the management apparatus 105 writes “1”, which is the parameter number 401 of the second network 201, in the parameter number 505 of the DVC 102 and DISPLAY 101 in the STA management unit 307.

  The DISPLAY 101 that has received the connection parameter activates the AP mode and transmits a beacon (S624). When the DVC 102 receives the beacon, the DVC 102 makes an association request to the DISPLAY 101 (S625), receives a response (= success) to the DISPLAY 101 (S626), and establishes a connection with the DISPLAY 101. After establishing the connection, the DVC 102 starts data communication with the DISPLAY 101 (S627).

  Here, it is assumed that the PC 104 requests a communication band from the management apparatus 105 in order to execute an application with the PRINTER 103, for example (S628). Upon receiving this request, the management apparatus 105 uses the communication management unit 308 to calculate whether the requested communication band can be allocated (S629). Here, it is assumed that the management apparatus 105 determines that the communication management unit 308 can allocate a communication band, but the PRINTER 103 needs to newly form the second network 202. In this case, the management device 105 requests the connection parameter used in the second network 202 from the parameter storage device 106 in the communication management unit 308 (S630), and receives the connection parameter (S631).

  The management apparatus 105 that has received the connection parameter manages the received connection parameter as connection parameter information in the connection parameter management unit 305 (S632). Here, it is assumed that the connection parameter of the second network 202 corresponds to “2” of the parameter number 401 shown in FIG. Thereafter, the management apparatus 105, the PC 104, and the PRINTER 103 perform the same processing as that from S619 to S623 described above. That is, the management apparatus 105 responds to the PC 104 with the communication band, notifies the PC 104 and the PRINTER 103 of the transition to the second network 202, and then notifies the connection parameters of the second network 202. When the PC 104 and the PRINTER 103 receive this connection parameter, the PC 104 and the PRINTER 103 start the data communication after performing the same processing as the above-described S624 to S626 (S633, S634). At this time, the management apparatus 105 writes “2” that is the parameter number 401 of the second network 202 to the parameter number 505 of the PC 104 and the PRINTER 103 in the STA management unit 307.

  Next, the flow of processing when the DSC 200 communicates with the DVC 102 in the case of the network configuration shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. That is, a case will be described in which communication is performed between the DVC 102 whose connection has been changed from the first network to the second network 201 and the DSC 200 that has newly joined the first network after the connection change.

  Here, it is assumed that the DSC 200 is connected to the AP 100 in order to execute an application with the DVC 102, for example (S701). When the DSC 200 receives the association response (= success) from the AP 100 (S702), the DSC 200 transmits ADVERTISE by multicast (S703). The management apparatus 105 that has received the ADVERTISE manages the UUID 501, Device Description 502, MAC address 503, and IP address 504 of the DSC 200 as STA information in the STA management unit 307.

  The DSC 200 transmits a DISCOVERY request to the first network by multicast (S704). The management apparatus 105 that has received the DISCOVERY request refers to the connection parameters used in the second network in the connection parameter management unit 305. In this case, the connection parameter management unit 305 manages the connection parameters of the second network (201, 202) as the connection parameters of the second network. Here, the management apparatus 105 notifies the DISCOVERY request source DSC 200 of connection parameters relating to all the second networks in the communication management unit 308 (S705). In this case, the connection parameters of the second network (201, 202) are transmitted to the DSC 200 as all connection parameters.

  The DSC 200 connects to each of the second networks (201, 202) using the connection parameters received in S705, and transmits a DISCOVERY request on each network. More specifically, the DSC 200 first connects to the second network 202 where the PRINTER 103 is an AP (S706, S707), and transmits a DISCOVERY request (S708). The PRINTER 103 and the PC 104 transmit a DISCOVERY response in response to the DISCOVERY request (S709, S710). Subsequently, the DSC 200 connects to the second network 201 in which the DISPLAY 101 is an AP (S711, S712), and transmits a DISCOVERY request (S713). The DISPLAY 101 and the DVC 102 transmit a DISCOVERY response in response to the DISCOVERY request (S714, S715).

  Here, the DSC 200 recognizes that the DVC 102 exists in the second network 201 based on the DISCOVERY response from the DVC 102 in S715. Then, the DSC 200 connects to the AP 100 of the first network in order to secure a communication band with the DVC 102 (S716, S717), and requests the management apparatus 105 for a band between itself and the DVC 102 (S718). .

  The management apparatus 105 that has received the bandwidth request calculates the bandwidth in the communication management unit 308 (S719). Further, the management apparatus 105 writes the same “1” as the parameter number 505 of the DVC 102 in the parameter number 505 of the terminal number 500 of “5 (DSC200)” in the STA management unit 307. After this writing, the communication band is returned to the DSC 200 (S720).

  The DSC 200 that has received the band response connects again to the second network 201 (S721, S722), and starts data communication with the DVC 102 (S723). When the data communication with the DVC 102 ends, the DSC 200 connects to the first network (S724, S725), and then transmits a return notification to the management apparatus 105 (S726).

  In the management apparatus 105 that has received the return notification, the band management unit 306 releases the communication band between the DSC 200 and the DVC 102. Further, the STA management unit 307 changes the parameter number 505 of the terminal number 500 “5 (DSC200)” to “0” and updates the STA information (S727). Here, “0” indicates that the connection parameter of the second network is not used.

  Thereafter, the management apparatus 105 determines in the communication management unit 308 whether the second network has disappeared based on the updated information. The determination as to whether or not the second network has disappeared is made based on reference to the parameter number 505 of the STA information. In the case of FIG. 5, the parameter number 505 of the DSC 200 before the change is “1”. This number is used when the terminal number 500 is “1 (DISPLAY 101)” and “2 (DVC 102)”. Therefore, there is a communication terminal that performs communication using the connection parameter having the parameter number 505 of “1”. In this case, it can be determined that there is a network corresponding to the parameter number “1”. If the DVC 102 ends communication with the DISPLAY 101 and the DVC 102 and the DISPLAY 101 return to the first network, the terminal number 500 is “1 (DISPLAY 101)” and the parameter number 505 “2 (DVC 102)” is “0”. " In this case, since there is no communication terminal that performs communication using the connection parameter with the parameter number 505 “1”, the management apparatus 105 determines that the network corresponding to the parameter number “1” has disappeared. At this time, the management apparatus 105 deletes the connection parameter whose parameter number 401 is “1” in the connection parameter management unit 305. By doing so, the management apparatus 105 can manage the formation or disappearance of the second network.

  Here, an example of the operation in the management apparatus 105 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the operation of the management apparatus 105 when a bandwidth request is received will be described using FIG.

  When the management device 105 receives the bandwidth request (S800), the communication management unit 308 determines whether the communication bandwidth can be allocated to the request source terminal. If the communication band cannot be allocated (NO in S801), a notification that the allocation is impossible is made (S810), and the process is terminated. If the communication band can be allocated (YES in S801), the management apparatus 105 determines in the communication management unit 308 whether it is necessary to form the second network. That is, in consideration of effective use of the bandwidth, it is determined whether the second network needs to be formed in order to perform data communication between the bandwidth request source terminal and the communication destination terminal.

  If it is not necessary to form the second network (NO in S802), the management apparatus 105 returns a communication band to the band request source terminal in the communication management unit 308 (S811), and ends this process. If it is necessary to form the second network (YES in S802), the management device 105 requests the connection parameter used in the second network from the parameter storage device 106 in the communication management unit 308 (S803). Then, the connection parameter is received from the parameter storage device 106 (S804).

  The management apparatus 105 that has received the connection parameter manages the received connection parameter in the connection parameter management unit 305 (S805). After that, the management apparatus 105 responds to the bandwidth request source terminal with the communication management unit 308 in response to the communication bandwidth (S806) and notifies the shift to the second network (S807). The transition notification in S807 is sent not only to the bandwidth request source terminal but also to the communication terminal that is the communication destination.

  Subsequently, the management apparatus 105 notifies the bandwidth request source terminal and the communication destination terminal of the connection parameters in the communication management unit 308 (S808), and then updates the STA information in the STA management unit 307 (S809). ). Then, this process ends.

  Next, the operation of the management apparatus 105 when a DISCOVERY request is received will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the management apparatus 105 receives the DISCOVERY request (S900), the connection parameter management unit 305 refers to the connection parameters used in the second network. Here, if there is no connection parameter, that is, if there is no second network (NO in S901), this process is terminated as it is. On the other hand, if there is the second network (YES in S901), the management apparatus 105 notifies the DISCOVERY request source terminal of connection parameters related to all the second networks in the communication management unit 308 (S902). Exit. That is, a connection parameter for connecting to all existing second networks is notified.

  Next, the operation of the management apparatus 105 when a return notification is received will be described using FIG.

  When the management apparatus 105 receives the return notification (S1000), first, the bandwidth management unit 306 releases the communication band used by the return notification request source terminal (S1001). Subsequently, the management apparatus 105 updates the STA information in the STA management unit 307 (S1002). In this update, the information is changed so that the return notification request source terminal returns to the original network.

  When the STA information is updated, the management apparatus 105 determines in the communication management unit 308 whether the second network has disappeared based on the updated STA information. If there is no second network that has disappeared (NO in S1003), this process is terminated. On the other hand, if there is a second network that has disappeared (YES in S1003), the connection parameter management unit 305 deletes the connection parameter of the second network (S1004), and the process ends.

  Next, an example of the operation in the communication terminal will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the operation in the communication terminal after transmitting the DISCOVERY request will be described. It is assumed that the second network already exists when the DISCOVERY request is transmitted from the communication terminal.

  The communication terminal transmits a DISCOVERY request to the first network by multicast (S1100). Then, the connection parameter used in the second network is returned from the management apparatus 105 that has received this request. As described above, connection parameters related to all existing second networks are returned.

  The communication terminal that has received the connection parameter connects to the second network using the connection parameter (S1101, S1102). When there are a plurality of second networks and a plurality of connection parameters are responded, one of the connection parameters is selected based on a predetermined rule or the like and connected to any one of the second networks. That's fine.

  After connecting to the second network, the communication terminal transmits a DISCOVERY request toward the network, and checks whether a desired communication destination terminal exists in the network. If the communication destination terminal is not found (NO in S1103), the process returns to S1102, and the above-described process is repeated again using another connection parameter.

  If a desired communication destination terminal is found (YES in S1103), the communication terminal secures a communication band, and then reconnects to the second network and establishes communication with the communication destination terminal. The communication is started (S1104). Thereafter, when the communication ends (S1105), the communication terminal returns to the first network and transmits a return notification to the management apparatus 105 (S1106), and the process ends.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when a DISCOVERY request is transmitted from the communication terminal to the management apparatus in a state where one or more second networks exist, the management apparatus 105 causes all the second networks to be transmitted. Notify the request source terminal of connection parameters related to the network. Thereby, between the communication terminal connected to the 2nd network formed by the communication terminal which left | separated the 1st network, and the communication terminal connected to the 1st network (especially newly joined) Communication can be enabled. Further, the management apparatus 105 can manage the formation and disappearance of the second network by the communication terminal of the first network.

  In the first embodiment, the return notification is transmitted from the communication terminal to the management apparatus 105 when returning to the first network. However, the return notification is transmitted by ADVERTISE that is first transmitted from the communication terminal after the AP 100 is connected. May be substituted. In this case, the management apparatus 105 can determine the return of the communication terminal that has transmitted the ADVERTISE by receiving ADVERTISE transmitted by the terminal (which can be identified by the parameter number of the STA management unit 307) that has migrated to the second network.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, Embodiment 2 will be described. In the second embodiment, a case will be described in which a device attribute to be searched is specified when a DISCOVERY request is made. Note that the configurations of the communication system and the management apparatus 105 in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Also, with regard to the operations in the communication system and the management apparatus 105, the description of the same parts as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and only the differences will be described.

  Here, processing different from that of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7 described above. Here, a case where the DSC 200 makes a DISCOVERY request in S704 and designates a device attribute to be searched will be described as an example.

  When the DSC 200 makes a DISCOVRY request in step S704, the DSC 200 designates “DVC 102 in UUID 501” as a device attribute to be searched. The management apparatus 105 that has received this DISCOVERY request refers to the connection parameter information managed by the connection parameter management unit 305 and determines whether or not the second network exists. According to FIG. 4, there are two second networks. In this case, the management apparatus 105 extracts device attribute designation information (in this case, the DVC 102 in the UUID 501) from the DISCOVERY request, and compares the extracted information with the STA information. If there is STA information that matches the extracted information as a result of the comparison, all terminal numbers 500 corresponding to the matching information are selected, and further all the parameter numbers 505 corresponding thereto are selected.

  This comparison reveals that the extracted device designation information (UUID 501 is DVC102) matches the UUID 501 having the terminal number 500 of “2”. Then, the management apparatus 105 selects the parameter number 505 corresponding to the terminal number 500 “2”, that is, “1”. Then, a connection parameter corresponding to the selected parameter number 505 of “1” is acquired from the connection parameter management unit 305 and transmitted to the DSC 200.

  In the above description, the terminal number 500 corresponding to the matching information is only one of the terminal numbers 500 of “2 (DVC102)”. If there are a plurality of terminal numbers 500, the management apparatus 105 selects all of them. And you will be notified.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of the operation in the management apparatus 105 according to the second embodiment. Here, an operation in the management apparatus 105 when a DISCOVERY request including device attribute designation information is received will be described.

  When the management apparatus 105 receives a DISCOVERY request including the device attribute designation information (S1200), the connection parameter management unit 305 first refers to the connection parameters used in the second network. Here, if there is no connection parameter, that is, if there is no second network (NO in S1201), this process is terminated as it is.

  On the other hand, if there is the second network (YES in S1201), the management apparatus 105 extracts device attribute designation information from the received DISCOVERY request in the communication management unit 308 (S1202), and extracts the extracted information and STA information. Compare As a result of the comparison, if there is no STA information that matches the extracted information (NO in S1203), this process is terminated as it is. If there is STA information that matches the extracted information (YES in S1203), the management apparatus 105 selects all communication terminals corresponding to the matching information in the communication management unit 308, and the selected STA performs communication. A connection parameter to be used is acquired (S1204).

  When the connection parameters are acquired, the management apparatus 105 notifies the DISCOVERY request source terminal of the acquired connection parameters related to the second network in the communication management unit 308 (S1205), and ends this process.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, in order to specify a device attribute to be searched for in a DISCOVERY request, the management apparatus 105 selectively selects only a connection parameter related to the second network based on the specification information. Can be notified. As a result, the DISCOVERY request source terminal does not need to be connected to the second network in which the desired communication destination terminal does not exist, so that unnecessary processing is omitted and communication can be started early.

  In the second embodiment, the case where the device attribute to be searched for is specified by UUID has been described as an example. However, the device attribute may be specified using another UPnP information element. In addition, device attributes may be specified using address information such as a MAC (Media Access Control) address or an IP (Internet Protocol) address.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, Embodiment 3 will be described. In the third embodiment, a case will be described in which a return notification is not necessarily transmitted when returning from the second network to the first network but is not transmitted depending on the situation. Note that the configurations of the communication system and the management apparatus 105 in the third embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Also, with regard to the operations in the communication system and the management apparatus 105, the description of the same parts as in the third embodiment will be omitted, and only the differences will be described.

Here, a case where the communication terminal temporarily returns to the first network can be considered. For example, in the second network 201, it is assumed that the DSC 200 ends communication with the DVC 102 and tries to newly start communication with the DISPLAY 101. In this case, the DSC 200 needs to return to the first network and secure a communication band for communication with the DISPLAY 101 by requesting the management apparatus 105. However, since there is a high possibility that the return to the first network is temporary, the DVC 102 should not perform the return notification. This is because the processing load on the management apparatus 105 increases when the connection to the second network is made again after performing the return notification. That is, the management apparatus 105 that has received the return notification must update the STA information again in order for the DSC 200 to connect to the second network after performing the STA information update process and the bandwidth response. If the return notification is not performed in the DSC 200, the management apparatus 105 can omit the STA information update process and the like.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of the operation in the communication terminal according to the third embodiment. Here, the operation in the communication terminal performed when returning to the first network after the communication in the second network is completed will be described.

  The communication terminal transmits an association request to the AP 100 (S1300), receives a response to the request (S1301), and determines whether the return to the first network is temporary. As a result of the determination, it is a temporary return to secure the communication band (YES in S1302), and if the communication band is allocated (YES in S1303), the communication terminal This process is terminated without performing the return notification.

  On the other hand, if the return is not temporary (NO in S1302), or if the communication band is not allocated even in the case of temporary return (NO in S1303), the communication terminal transmits a return notification. (S1304), the process is terminated.

  When the management apparatus 105 is installed in the AP 100, the communication terminal may include information indicating whether or not the temporary return is included in the association request.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, since it is determined whether or not it is a temporary return to the first network and whether or not the return notification is transmitted is determined, in some cases, the return notification is not transmitted. That's it. Thereby, the processing load in the management apparatus 105 can be reduced.

(Embodiment 4)
Next, Embodiment 4 will be described. In the fourth embodiment, when the management apparatus 105 notifies the DISCOVERY request source terminal of the connection parameter of the second network, the management apparatus 105 performs notification after determining whether or not the communication terminal can be connected to the second network. The case will be described.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of a communication system according to the fourth embodiment. A PC 2 (1400) is newly provided in the configuration described with reference to FIG.

  The PC 2 (1400) is a communication terminal connected to the first network by wire after the DISPLAY 101 and the PRINTER 103 form the second network (201, 202), respectively.

  In the management apparatus 105, the STA management unit 307 manages the STA information illustrated in FIG. Further, the management apparatus 105 manages the connection parameter information shown in FIG. 16 in the connection parameter management unit 305. As shown in FIG. 15, in the STA management unit 307, STA information related to the PC 2 (1400) is added and managed, and a connection form 1600 is added as a new item.

  FIG. 17 shows an example of the operation in the management apparatus 105 according to the fourth embodiment. Here, an operation in the management apparatus 105 when a DISCOVERY request is received will be described.

  When the communication terminal wired to the first network transmits ADVERTISE to the management apparatus 105 and transmits a DISCOVERY request by multicast and then notifies its own connection form (wired or wireless), this processing is performed. Is started.

  When the management apparatus 105 receives the DISCOVERY request and its connection form from the communication terminal (S1700, S1701), the STA management unit 307 updates the STA information. Here, it is assumed that the terminal number 500 in FIG. 15 corresponds to “6” in the STA information related to the DISCOVRY request source terminal.

  Subsequently, the management apparatus 105 determines in the connection parameter management unit 305 whether there is a connection parameter related to the second network. If there is no connection parameter (NO in S1702), this process ends. If there is a connection parameter (YES in S1702), the management apparatus 105 refers to the STA information and the connection parameter information in the communication management unit 308. This is for determining whether or not the DISCOVRY request source terminal can connect to the second network. According to the STA information shown in FIG. 15, the connection form of the communication terminal having the terminal number 500 of “6” Is "wired". Also, according to the connection parameter information shown in FIG. 16, the connection parameter connection forms 1600 related to the second network are all “wireless”. Therefore, in this case, the management apparatus 105 determines that the communication terminal cannot be connected to the second network (201, 202) (NO in S1703), and does not transmit the connection parameter to the DISCOVRY request source terminal. This process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that connection is possible (YES in S1703), the management apparatus 105 notifies the DISCOVERY request source terminal of connection parameters related to all second networks in the communication management unit 308 (S1704). End the process.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the connection parameter of the second network is notified based on the connection mode of the communication terminal that is the connection parameter notification destination. Thereby, since the connection parameter of the second network to which the communication terminal cannot be connected is not notified, useless connection processing in the communication terminal can be omitted.

  In the fourth embodiment, the case where the connection parameter notification is switched based on the connection form of the communication terminal has been described. However, this process may be performed based on information other than the connection form. For example, the communication terminal side may notify the management apparatus 105 side of the encryption method supported by itself. In this case, the management apparatus 105 performs the above-described processing based on the encryption method supported by the communication terminal.

  The above is an example of a typical embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings, and can be appropriately modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention. .

  For example, in the first to fourth embodiments, the case where the parameter storage device 106 exists separately from the management device 105 has been described as an example. However, the function performed by the parameter storage device 106 is implemented in the management device 105. May be.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the case where UPnP is used as the device search protocol for the search request has been described as an example. However, other device search protocols may be used.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the connection parameter related to the second network is notified from the management apparatus 105 to the request source terminal in response to the search request from the communication terminal (for example, see FIG. 9). This notification is not necessarily performed in response to the search request. For example, an upper layer connection request may be used for the communication I / F, such as a TCP connection establishment request. That is, connection parameters related to the second network may be notified from the management apparatus 105 to the request source terminal in response to reception of at least one of the search request and the connection request.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the case where the management apparatus 105 exists separately from the AP 100 has been described as an example. However, the function performed by the management apparatus 105 may be implemented in the AP 100. In that case, the return notification may be an association request. The AP 100 can determine the return of the communication terminal by receiving the association request from the communication terminal that has moved to the second network.

  It should be noted that the present invention can take the form of, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, or recording medium. Specifically, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices, or may be applied to an apparatus composed of a single device.

  Further, the present invention achieves the functions of the embodiments by supplying a software program directly or remotely to a system or apparatus, and reading and executing the supplied program code by a computer incorporated in the system or apparatus. This includes cases where In this case, the supplied program is a computer program corresponding to the flowcharts and sequence charts shown in the drawings in the embodiment.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention. In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to an OS (Operating System), or the like.

  Examples of the computer-readable recording medium for supplying the computer program include the following. For example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD- R).

  As another program supply method, a client computer browser is used to connect to a homepage on the Internet, and the computer program of the present invention is downloaded from the homepage to a recording medium such as a hard disk. In this case, the downloaded program may be a compressed file including an automatic installation function. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the present invention.

  Further, the program of the present invention may be encrypted, stored in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, and distributed to users. In this case, a user who has cleared a predetermined condition is allowed to download key information for decryption from a homepage via the Internet, execute an encrypted program using the key information, and install the program on the computer. You can also.

  In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiment being realized by the computer executing the read program, the embodiment of the embodiment is implemented in cooperation with an OS or the like running on the computer based on an instruction of the program. A function may be realized. In this case, the OS or the like performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Furthermore, the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, so that part or all of the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized. May be. In this case, after a program is written to the function expansion board or function expansion unit, the CPU (Central Processing Unit) provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit is a part of the actual processing or based on the instructions of the program. Do everything.

Claims (10)

A communication device,
A receiving unit that wirelessly receives a search request in which a device attribute to be searched by another communication device among a plurality of device attributes is specified from the other communication device;
Sharing process for sharing connection parameters including SSID (Service Set ID) for wireless connection when the communication device has the device attribute specified in the search request received by the receiving unit with the other communication device And when the communication device does not have the device attribute specified by the search request received by the reception unit, the execution unit does not execute the sharing process with the other communication device,
A communication apparatus comprising: If the communication device does not manage connection parameters when receiving a search request by the receiving means, the communication device does not respond to the search request,
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. The connection parameter shared by the sharing process further includes at least one of channel information, an encryption method, and an encryption key.
The communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The connection parameters shared by the sharing process further include an encryption method and an encryption key.
The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The device attribute is specified by at least one of a UUID (Universal Unique ID), a MAC (Media Access Control) address, and an IP (Internet Protocol) address in a search request received by the receiving unit.
The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the communication apparatus is characterized in that: The device attribute is specified in an information element of a UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) message in a search request received by a receiving unit.
The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the communication apparatus is characterized in that: The sharing process is executed when a wireless LAN connection is established with the other communication device.
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The connection parameter shared by the sharing process is a communication partner device that has disconnected from the first wireless network after connecting as a slave station to a first wireless network formed by the communication device as a master station, The communication partner device different from the device is a connection parameter for connecting to a second wireless network formed as a master station.
The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is a device. A control method for a communication device having a receiving means for wirelessly receiving a search request in which a device attribute to be searched by another communication device among a plurality of device attributes is specified from the other communication device,
Sharing process for sharing connection parameters including SSID (Service Set ID) for wireless connection with the other communication device when the execution unit has the device attribute specified by the received search request And when the communication device does not have the device attribute specified by the search request received by the receiving means, the execution step of not executing the sharing process with the other communication device,
A control method characterized by comprising: In a computer provided in a communication device having a receiving means for wirelessly receiving a search request in which a device attribute to be searched by another communication device among a plurality of device attributes is specified from the other communication device,
If the communication device has the device attribute specified in the received search request, execute a sharing process for sharing connection parameters including SSID (Service Set ID) for wireless connection with the other communication device, A program for executing an execution step that does not execute the sharing process with the other communication device when the communication device does not have the device attribute specified by the search request received by the receiving unit.

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