JP2023006903A - Communication device, communication system, and communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

To efficiently and simply perform an initial setting work for wireless communication.SOLUTION: A communication device 1 includes a storage unit 32 for holding a predetermined unique initial SSID and wireless initial setting information that is initial setting information necessary for wireless communication, a beacon generation unit 34 for generating a setting beacon where the wireless initial setting information is stored in a beacon frame, a wireless communication unit 31 for notifying the surroundings of the device itself of the setting beacon using the initial SSID, a communication mode switching unit 33 for switching a communication mode between a normal mode and a notification mode according to a user's instruction, a determination unit 35 for determining whether or not the communication mode of the communication mode switching unit 33 is set to the notification mode, and a control unit 36 for changing a transmission output value of radio waves used for wireless communication from a first transmission output value to a second transmission output value on the basis of the notification that the notification mode is set by the determination unit 35 and performing control so that the wireless communication unit 31 is notified of the setting beacon at the second transmission output value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to initial settings for wireless connections in wireless communications.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, wireless LANs (Local Area Networks) have become widespread, and wireless communication devices are operated by exchanging information by wireless communication in many places. 2. Description of the Related Art In an infrastructure scheme, which is one of schemes for constructing a wireless LAN, a wireless network has a configuration in which a plurality of wireless communication devices are centrally connected to a relay station (or access point).

2. Description of the Related Art In an infrastructure-based wireless network environment, when a wireless communication device is set to be able to wirelessly communicate with an access point, it is necessary to perform initial settings for wireless communication in the wireless communication device in advance. As a result, wireless communication becomes possible via the wireless communication device and the access point. The initial settings include, for example, a network identifier SSID (Service Set Identifier), security information, and the like, which are necessary when constructing a wireless network.

In this way, the initial settings must be set for each wireless communication device, and if a plurality of devices (for example, tens or hundreds) are to be set, the user will spend a lot of time and effort. Therefore, several improvement techniques have been conventionally proposed, for example, as described in Patent Literature 1 below.

JP 2015-056778 A

Patent Literature 1 discloses a method for efficiently setting wireless communication settings for a plurality of electronic devices. However, it is necessary to use a relay station to set up the wireless communication, which increases the cost. Also, when performing wireless communication settings for multiple electronic devices, the setting procedure is performed for each electronic device, so it takes a considerable amount of time to complete the wireless communication settings for all electronic devices. Become. In this way, user convenience may be impaired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems, and to efficiently and simply perform initial setting work for wireless communication for a plurality of communication devices.

In order to solve the above problems, a communication device according to one aspect of the present invention is a communication device that functions as a master device and performs initial settings for wireless communication with another communication device. , a storage unit that holds a predetermined unique initial SSID and wireless initial setting information that is initial setting information necessary for wireless communication; and a beacon that generates a setting beacon in which the wireless initial setting information is stored in a beacon frame. a generation unit, a wireless communication unit that uses the initial SSID to broadcast a setting beacon around the device itself, and a communication mode switching unit that switches the communication mode between the normal mode and the notification mode according to the user's instruction; , a determination unit for determining whether the communication mode of the communication mode switching unit is set to the notification mode, and a transmission output of radio waves used for wireless communication based on the notification that the notification mode is set by the determination unit a control unit that changes the value from the first transmission output value to the second transmission output value, and controls the wireless communication unit to notify the setting beacon with the second transmission output value.

According to this, a communication device functioning as a parent device generates a setting beacon in which wireless initial setting information is stored in a beacon frame, and sends information to another communication device (a communication device functioning as a child device) of the communication system from the own device. can be notified of the setting beacon. In this way, the communication device can efficiently and simply perform initial setting work for wireless communication of the communication device functioning as a slave device.

Further, the determination unit determines whether or not the number of times the wireless communication unit notifies the surroundings of the setting beacon has reached a predetermined number of times, and the determination unit notifies that the predetermined number of times has been reached. Based on this, the control unit may notify the wireless communication unit of an instruction to stop notification of the setting beacon, and the communication mode switching unit may switch the communication mode to the normal mode.

According to this, the communication device restricts the number of times the setting beacon is broadcast to the surroundings to a predetermined number, thereby suppressing unnecessary spreading of the setting beacon transmitted in the open security state and This reduces the risk of being intercepted by other terminals.

Further, the first transmission output value is a transmission output value of radio waves used for wireless communication when the communication mode is set to the normal mode, the second transmission output value is smaller than the first transmission output value, and It may be the minimum value at which radio waves reach all other target communication devices in the communication system.

According to this, by suppressing the transmission output value, the communication apparatus can suppress the risk of being intercepted by another person's terminal because radio waves can only reach a limited range.

In order to solve the above problems, a communication device according to another aspect of the present invention is a communication device that functions as a slave device, and performs initial settings for wireless communication by wireless communication with another communication device. a wireless communication unit that searches for and receives a setting beacon in which wireless initial setting information, which is initial setting information necessary for wireless communication, is stored in a beacon frame; A communication mode switching unit for switching a mode between a normal mode and a learning mode, determining whether or not the communication mode of the communication mode switching unit is set to the learning mode, and determining whether the wireless communication unit has received a setting beacon and based on the notification that the learning mode is set by the determination unit, the wireless communication unit is controlled to search for and receive the setting beacon, and the determination unit controls the setting beacon. A control unit that extracts wireless initial setting information from the setting beacon based on the notification received by the wireless communication unit, and uses the wireless initial setting information to perform initial settings necessary for wireless communication of the device itself Prepare.

According to this, a communication device functioning as a slave device receives a setting beacon and extracts wireless initial setting information from the setting beacon, thereby performing initial settings necessary for wireless communication of the own device. be able to. In this way, the communication device can efficiently and simply perform initial setting work for wireless communication of the communication device by functioning as a child device.

A communication system according to an aspect of the present invention is a communication system including a plurality of communication devices, one of which is a communication device that functions as a parent device by storing wireless initial setting information, and the remaining communication device is a communication device that functions as a child device.

According to this, the communication system can easily perform initial settings for wireless communication common to a plurality of communication devices.

A communication method according to an aspect of the present invention is a communication method for a communication system that performs initial settings for wireless communication with another communication device, and includes a predetermined unique initial SSID and an initial SSID for wireless communication. a storage step of storing wireless initial setting information, which is initial setting information required for the wireless communication, a beacon generating step of storing the wireless initial setting information in a beacon frame and generating a setting beacon, and an initial SSID to generate a setting beacon A wireless communication step of notifying the surroundings of the own device, a communication mode switching step of switching the communication mode between the normal mode and the notification mode according to the user's instruction, and a determination whether the communication mode is set to the notification mode. and the transmission output value of radio waves used for wireless communication is changed from the first transmission output value to the second transmission output value based on the notification that the notification mode is set, and at the second transmission output value and a control step of controlling to notify the setting beacon.

According to this, the same effect as that of the communication device according to one aspect of the present invention can be obtained.

Another communication method according to an aspect of the present invention is a communication method of a communication system that performs initial settings for wireless communication by wireless communication with another communication device, A wireless communication step of searching for and receiving a setting beacon in which wireless initial setting information as setting information is stored in a beacon frame, and a communication mode of switching a communication mode between a normal mode and a learning mode according to a user's instruction. a switching step, determining whether or not the communication mode is set to the learning mode, determining whether or not the wireless communication unit has received the setting beacon, and notifying that the learning mode is set. based on the setting beacon and control to receive it, extract the wireless initial setting information from the setting beacon based on the notification that the wireless communication unit has received the setting beacon, and transmit the wireless initial setting information and a control step of performing initial settings necessary for wireless communication of the device itself.

According to this, the same effect as the communication device according to another aspect of the present invention can be obtained.

The present invention can be realized not only as an apparatus, but also as a method in which processing means constituting the apparatus are used as steps, as a program for causing a computer to execute the steps, or as a computer-readable program in which the program is recorded. It can also be implemented as a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, or as information, data, or signals indicating the program. These programs, information, data and signals may then be distributed over a communication network such as the Internet.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, common initial settings for wireless communication can be easily performed for a plurality of communication devices in a wireless communication system.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the communication device according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is an example of an operational flow when the communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention functions as a parent device. FIG. 4 is an example of an operational flow when the communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention functions as a child device. FIG. 5 is an example of a beacon frame (setting beacon) transmitted by the communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a series of processes for performing initial settings for wireless communication in a plurality of communication devices of the communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

All of the embodiments described below represent preferred specific examples of the present invention. Numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions and connection forms of components, steps, order of steps, and the like shown in the following embodiments are examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments, constituent elements that are not described in independent claims representing the highest level concept of the present invention will be described as arbitrary constituent elements constituting more preferred embodiments. In addition, the same code|symbol may be attached|subjected to the same component and description may be abbreviate|omitted.

(Embodiment)
In this embodiment, a communication system will be described in which initial settings for each of a plurality of communication apparatuses to perform wireless communication can be easily performed.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a communication system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 100 includes a communication device 1a, a communication device 1b, a communication device 1c, a communication device 1d, a terminal device 2, a wireless network 10, and a communication link 15. . Here, hereinafter, the communication device 1a, the communication device 1b, the communication device 1c, and the communication device 1d are collectively referred to as the communication device 1 as well. The communication device 1 a is connected to the terminal device 2 via the communication link 15 . The communication link 15 is realized by, for example, wireless communication that conforms to the IEEE802.11n or ac standard, or wired communication that conforms to the IEEE802.3 standard. Further, the communication link 15 may realize communication by a wired cable conforming to the communication interface (for example, USB standard) provided in the communication device 1a. A communication device 1 is connected to a wireless network 10 . The wireless network 10 is realized by wireless communication complying with IEEE802.11n, ac standards, etc., for example.

The communication device 1 includes a wireless communication circuit, and can realize wireless communication complying with IEEE802.11n, ac standards, and the like. Further, the communication device 1a communicates with the terminal device 2 by wireless communication or wired communication. The communication device 1 is a communication device that performs wireless communication with each of the other communication terminals 1 via the wireless network 10 . Specifically, the communication device 1 is a printer, a scanner, a camera, etc., which are peripheral devices of a personal computer. In the present invention, one of the plurality of communication devices 1 is written with initial setting information and becomes a master device, and transmits the setting information to the other remaining communication devices (functioning as slave devices). In the following embodiments, the communication device 1a will be described as a master device, and the other communication devices 1b, 1c, and 1d will be described as slave devices.

The terminal device 2 is, for example, a personal computer, a tablet terminal, or a smartphone operated by a user, and communicates with the communication device 1a via the communication link 15 . An application program is installed in the terminal device 2 for setting initial setting information (hereinafter also referred to as wireless initial setting information) for each of the communication terminals 1 to perform wireless communication with each other via the wireless network 10 . . By operating this application program, the wireless initial setting information is written from the terminal device 2 to the communication device 1a via the communication link 15 shown in FIG.

It should be noted that the number of components of communication system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is merely an example. In this embodiment, for example, four communication devices 1 will be described, but the number is not limited to this.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the communication device 1 according to the embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the communication device 1 includes a wireless communication section 31 , a storage section 32 , a communication mode switching section 33 , a beacon generation section 34 , a determination section 35 and a control section 36 . Each function provided in the communication device 1 is implemented as a known computer having, for example, a CPU, ROM, RAM, HDD, etc. (not shown). The ROM, RAM, and HDD store various programs, data related to control data, and the like.

The wireless communication unit 31 transmits and receives various control information, data, and other information required for communication as wireless frames in communication between the terminal device 2 and the other communication device 1 . Specifically, the wireless communication unit 31 transmits and receives various wireless frames to and from the terminal device 2 and the other communication device 1 by wireless communication conforming to the IEEE802.11n, ac standard, or the like, for example.

Also, based on the notification from the control unit 36, the wireless communication unit 31 uses a predetermined unique initial SSID to broadcast a setting beacon to the surroundings. The configuration beacon will be described in detail later in the description of FIG.

Further, based on the notification from the control unit 36, the wireless communication unit 31 searches for and receives a setting beacon using a predetermined unique initial SSID (for example, @@@teaching@@@). When the wireless communication unit 31 receives the setting beacon, it notifies the control unit 36 to that effect.

The storage unit 32 holds a unique initial SSID (for example, @@@teaching@@@) predetermined by the system. The unique initial SSID may be set at the time of shipment from the factory, or may be determined by a user using a setting tool or the like and held. The storage unit 32 of the communication device 1a functioning as a parent device stores wireless initial data necessary for wireless communication, which are input by the user from the input unit (not shown) of the terminal device 2 and transmitted via the communication link 15. Holds configuration information. On the other hand, in the communication device (such as 1b) functioning as a child device, the storage unit stores and retains the wireless initial setting information extracted from the received setting beacon.

Further, the storage unit 32 also stores device information of its own device (eg, MAC address, IP address, channel used for wireless communication, authentication method, encryption method, etc.).

The communication mode switching unit 33 has three communication modes, a normal mode, a notification mode, and a learning mode, and appropriately switches between the communication modes based on a notification from the control unit 36 . The normal mode is a mode for transmitting and receiving normal data and control signals, the notification mode is a mode for notifying the wireless initial setting information by the setting beacon, and the learning mode is a mode for receiving the setting beacon and learning the wireless initial setting information. . More specifically, when the communication device functions as a parent device, the communication mode switching unit 33 switches the device from the normal mode to the notification mode in response to the user's mode switching instruction (for example, long press of the switch). On the other hand, when the communication device functions as a child device, the communication mode switching unit 33 switches the self device from the normal mode to the learning mode according to the user's instruction (for example, pressing the switch once). Note that the normal mode is a mode provided to distinguish from the notification mode and the learning mode, and is set to the normal mode when shipped from the factory.

Also, when the communication device functions as a parent device, the communication mode switching unit 33 switches the communication mode from the notification mode to the normal mode based on the notification from the control unit 36 .

The beacon generation unit 34 receives the notification from the control unit 36, acquires the pre-stored wireless initial setting information necessary for wireless communication from the storage unit 32, stores it in a part of the normal beacon frame, and performs the setting. Generate beacons for The configuration beacon will be described in detail later.

The determination unit 35 determines whether or not the communication mode of the communication mode switching unit 33 is set to the notification mode. When it is determined that the notification mode has been set, it notifies the beacon generation unit 34 and the control unit 36 to that effect.

The determination unit 35 determines whether or not the communication mode of the communication mode switching unit 33 is set to the learning mode. When it is determined that the learning mode has been set, it notifies the control unit 36 to that effect.

Further, the determination unit 35 determines whether or not the number of times the setting beacon is notified to the surroundings has reached a predetermined number of times. For example, the number of setting beacons notified by the wireless communication unit 31 is counted, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined number of times (for example, three times) has been performed. When it has been performed a predetermined number of times, it is notified to the control unit 36 and the value of the counter is reset. The reason why the number of times of beacon notification is limited to a predetermined number is to suppress unnecessary diffusion of the wireless initial setting information contained in the setting beacon, which is transmitted in an open security state, as will be described later. be.

The determination unit 35 determines whether the beacon received by the wireless communication unit 31 is a setting beacon. When the setting beacon is received, the control unit 36 is notified to that effect. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the received beacon includes wireless initial setting information. If it is determined that the initial setting information is included, it notifies the control unit 36 that the setting beacon has been received.

Based on the notification from the determination unit 35, the control unit 36 changes the transmission power of radio waves used for wireless communication. More specifically, the currently set transmission output value (first transmission output value) of the radio wave is changed to a predetermined smaller transmission output value (second transmission output value). The predetermined small transmission output value may be determined in advance by the user using a setting tool or the like from a PC or the like and stored in the storage unit 32, or may be determined in advance at the time of shipment from the factory. Here, the predetermined small transmission output value is a set value at which radio waves reach the vicinity of the device itself (for example, about 1 to 5 meters), and is the target for transmitting the wireless initial setting information placed in the vicinity. A minimum value that allows radio waves to reach all communication devices is preferable. Setting information related to security is also included in the setting beacon, and by suppressing the transmission power value in this way, the setting beacon can only reach a limited range and can be intercepted by other people's terminals and sent to the network. 10 can be suppressed.

The control unit 36 notifies the wireless communication unit 31 to notify the surroundings of the setting beacon generated by the beacon generation unit 34 with the second transmission output value of the radio wave transmission output value. More specifically, based on the second transmission output value, the control unit 36 notifies the setting beacon to the surroundings of the device at a constant cycle (for example, 100 ms) (only within the reach of radio waves). to that effect) is notified to the wireless communication unit 31 .

The control unit 36 stops reporting the setting beacon to the wireless communication unit 31 based on the notification from the determination unit 35 that the number of times the setting beacon has been reported to the surrounding area has reached a predetermined number of times. It notifies the communication mode switching unit 33 of the instruction to switch the communication mode from the notification mode to the normal mode.

Based on the notification from the determination unit 35, the control unit 36 notifies the wireless communication unit 31 to search for and receive the setting beacon when the communication mode is the learning mode.

The control unit 36 extracts the wireless initial setting information from the setting beacon based on the notification from the determining unit 35 that the setting beacon has been received, and notifies the storage unit 32 to store the extracted wireless initial setting information. Then, using the wireless initial setting information, initial settings necessary for wireless communication of the own device are performed. Then, the control unit 36 notifies the communication mode switching unit 33 of an instruction to switch the communication mode from the learning mode to the normal mode.

FIG. 3 is an example of an operation flow of a communication device 1a (a communication device operating as a parent device) to which wireless initial setting information is input by a user among the communication devices 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the communication device 1, initial setting information necessary for wireless communication is set in advance from the terminal device 2 or the like using a setting tool or the like.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 3, after the wireless initial setting information necessary for wireless communication is set in the communication device 1a (master device) according to the embodiment of the present invention, the communication device 1a switches to the notification mode and then A setting beacon is broadcast to the surroundings of the device, and the process from switching to the normal mode will be described in detail.

In step S301, the determination unit 35 determines whether or not the communication mode of the communication mode switching unit 33 is set to the notification mode. When the communication mode is set to the notification mode, the determination unit 35 notifies the beacon generation unit 34 and the control unit 36 to that effect, and transitions to step S302 (Yes in step S301). On the other hand, if it is not set, step S301 is repeated and waits (No in step S301).

In step S302, the control unit 36 changes the transmission power of radio waves used for wireless communication based on the notification from the determination unit 35 (Yes in step S301). Specifically, the control unit 36 changes the first transmission power value to the second transmission power value.

In step S303, the beacon generation unit 34 receives the notification from the control unit 36, acquires the wireless initial setting information necessary for wireless communication stored in advance in the storage unit 32, and generates one of the normal beacon frames. store it in the unit and generate a setting beacon.

In step S304, the control unit 36 notifies the wireless communication unit 31 to notify the surroundings of the setting beacon generated by the beacon generation unit 34 with the second transmission output value of the radio wave transmission output value, and transmits the notification. First, the wireless communication unit 31 notifies the surroundings of the setting beacon at the second transmission output value.

In step S305, the determination unit 35 determines whether or not the number of times the setting beacon is notified to the surroundings by the wireless communication unit 31 has reached a predetermined number of times. When the predetermined number of times has been reached, the control unit 36 is notified to that effect, and the process proceeds to step S306 (Yes in step S305). On the other hand, if the predetermined number of times has not been reached, the process returns to step S304 and the beacon transmission is repeated (No in step S305).

In step S306, the control unit 36 notifies the wireless communication unit 31 of an instruction to stop notification of the setting beacon based on the notification of the determination unit 35 (notification of step S305), and instructs the communication mode switching unit 33 to stop notification of the setting beacon. Sends an instruction to switch the communication mode from notification mode to normal mode.

In step S307, the communication mode switching unit 33 switches the communication mode from the notification mode to the normal mode based on the notification from the control unit 36 (the notification in step S306). At this time, the device uses the initial setting information stored in the storage unit to perform initial settings necessary for wireless communication in the normal mode of the device itself.

FIG. 4 is an example of an operation flow of a communication device 1 (a communication device operating as a child device) other than the communication device 1a among the communication devices 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

After the communication device (slave device) according to the embodiment of the present invention is powered on, it receives wireless initial setting information necessary for wireless communication from the parent device (communication device 1a), and transmits the wireless initial setting information to its own device. will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In step S401, the determination unit 35 determines whether or not the communication mode of the communication mode switching unit 33 is set to the learning mode. When determining that the learning mode is set, the determination unit 35 notifies the control unit 36 to that effect, and transitions to step S402 (Yes in step S401). On the other hand, if it is determined that the learning mode has not been set, step S401 is repeated and waits (No in step S401).

In step S402, the control unit 36 receives the notification from the determination unit 35 (Yes in step S401) and notifies the wireless communication unit 31 to search and receive the setting beacon. Based on the notification from the unit 36, a setting beacon (for example, a beacon frame including @@@teaching@@@) is searched for and received. At this time, the security setting for wireless communication is "open (not set)". In other words, the communication apparatuses 1b, 1c, and 1d can establish a wireless connection immediately upon discovering a predetermined unique initial SSID.

In step S403, the determination unit 35 determines whether the wireless frame received by the wireless communication unit 31 is a setting beacon. When the setting beacon is received, the determination unit 35 notifies the control unit 36 to that effect (Yes in step S403). On the other hand, if the setting beacon has not been received, step S402 is repeated (No in step S403).

In step S404, the control unit 36 extracts initial setting information from the setting beacon based on the notification from the determination unit 35 (Yes in step S403).

In step S405, the control unit 36 notifies the storage unit 32 to store the extracted initial setting information, and uses the initial setting information to perform initial settings necessary for wireless communication of the device itself. Then, the control unit 36 notifies the communication mode switching unit 33 of an instruction to switch the communication mode from the learning mode to the normal mode.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a partial configuration of a beacon frame 500 (setting beacon frame) including wireless initial setting information by the communication device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, the beacon frame 500 is composed of ElementID 51, Length 52, OUI 53, and variable data area 54 (including setting information 55).

ElementID51 is a number indicating that the data stored after ElementID51 in the beacon frame (specifically, from Length52 to variable data area 54 in FIG. 5) is data unique to the vendor.

Length52 is the length of the entire beacon frame.

The OUI 53 is managed by the IEEE and assigned different values for each manufacturer. Normally, the same value is stored for the same manufacturer.

The variable data area 54 may be communication information (transmission/reception time, data size, address, etc.) that can be obtained by transmitting/receiving data, or may include received actual data (the data itself). Also, the variable data area 54 includes setting information 55 . The variable data area 54 also includes an area in which manufacturer-specific specifications can be set and used.

Configuration information 55 further includes second SSID 56 , security scheme 57 and key information 58 .

Unlike the initial SSID, the second SSID 56 is included in the wireless initial setting information input from the terminal device 2 to the communication device 1, and is the SSID set by the user for wireless communication in the communication device 1 (for example, "Infra1"). string).

The security method 57 is wireless initial setting information input from the terminal device 2 to the communication device 1, and is a security method (for example, WPA2-PSK) set in the communication device 1 by the user for wireless communication. Here, the security method is a method of generating an encryption key based on a secret code shared in advance by another means when encrypting communication, and a method of performing connection authentication using such a code. be.

The key information 58 is wireless initial setting information input from the terminal device 2 to the communication device 1, and is key information set by the user in the communication device 1 for wireless communication. The key information 58 is composed of, for example, a combination of alphanumeric characters such as "123456AB" and symbols.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing a series of processes for initial setting for wireless communication in communication device 1 of communication system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, in communication system 100, a user uses terminal device 2 to input wireless initial setting information to communication device 1a (operating as a base device), and then communication devices 1b, 1c, and 1d ( A series of processes until initial settings necessary for wireless communication are performed in the slave unit) will be described.

In step S601, the wireless initial setting information input by the user through the terminal device 2 is input to the communication device 1a via the communication link 15. FIG.

In step S602, the communication device 1a switches the communication mode from the normal mode to the notification mode according to a user's instruction (for example, using a setting tool, long-pressing a switch provided in the communication device 1a, etc.).

In step S603, the communication device 1a creates a setting beacon. Further, the communication device 1a sets the radio wave transmission output for wireless communication to the second transmission output value.

In step S604, in each of the communication devices 1b, 1c, and 1d, the communication mode is changed from the normal mode to the learning mode by the user's instruction (for example, pressing the switch provided in the communication devices 1b, 1c, and 1d once). switch.

In step S605, each of the communication devices 1b, 1c, and 1d searches for and receives a setting beacon. Specifically, the communication devices 1b, 1c, and 1d search for a beacon with a predetermined unique initial SSID (eg, @@@teaching@@@). At this time, the security setting is set to "open (not set)". In other words, the communication apparatuses 1b, 1c, and 1d can establish a wireless connection as soon as they find a predetermined unique initial SSID by searching.

In step S606, the communication device 1a broadcasts a setting beacon with a predetermined unique initial SSID to the surroundings of the communication device 1a with the lowest radio wave transmission power.

In step S607, each of the communication devices 1b, 1c, and 1d determines whether or not a setting beacon has been received.

In step S608, each of the communication devices 1b, 1c, and 1d extracts the wireless initial setting information included in the setting information 505 of the setting beacon when receiving the setting beacon in step S607, Each setting value (second SSID, security, key information, etc.) necessary for wireless communication of the device is set.

In this way, after the user has input the wireless initial setting information to the communication device 1a, the user can perform the initial settings necessary for wireless communication to other communication devices (communication devices 1b, 1c, and 1c in FIG. 6). 1d), similar wireless initial setting information can be set for a plurality of other communication devices by placing them at a certain distance from the communication device 1a. After that, all the communication devices 1 constituting the system can perform wireless communication with high security using the new SSID (second SSID).

In FIG. 6, the processing order of steps S605 and S606 on the system does not matter.

When describing the embodiments of the present invention, it was explained that among a plurality of communication devices, the communication device to which the terminal device is connected and to which the wireless initial setting information is input is the parent device. is not limited to For example, regardless of the initial setting information from the terminal device, at the time of mode switching (such as when a switch is pressed for a long time), it is determined whether or not the wireless initial setting information is stored in the storage unit of the device itself, and if it is stored. If the present device functions as a parent device and determines that the wireless initial setting information is not stored, it may function as a child device and follow the operation flow shown in FIG. Alternatively, a physical setting means (slide switch or the like) may be used to switch between the parent device and the child device, and the initial setting information may be input in some way to one communication device functioning as the parent device.

The means for switching the communication mode is not limited to the mechanical switch described above, but may be a switching command signal transmitted from the terminal device via the communication link 15, or may be remotely operated using infrared rays or the like.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used to efficiently and simply perform initial setting work for wireless communication for a plurality of wireless communication devices.

1 communication device (communication device 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d)
2 terminal device 10 wireless network 15 communication link 100 communication system 31 wireless communication unit 32 storage unit 33 communication mode switching unit 34 beacon generation unit 35 determination unit 36 control unit 51 Element ID
52 Length
53 OUI
54 variable data area 55 setting information 56 second SSID
57 Security method 58 Key information

Claims (7)

In a communication system that is a communication device that functions as a parent device and performs initial settings for wireless communication with another communication device,
a storage unit that holds a predetermined unique initial SSID (Service Set Identifier) and wireless initial setting information that is initial setting information necessary for wireless communication;
a beacon generation unit that generates a setting beacon in which the wireless initial setting information is stored in a beacon frame;
a wireless communication unit that uses the initial SSID to broadcast the setting beacon around the device;
a communication mode switching unit that switches the communication mode between a normal mode and a notification mode according to a user instruction;
a determination unit that determines whether the communication mode of the communication mode switching unit is set to the notification mode;
changing the transmission output value of the radio wave used for wireless communication from the first transmission output value to the second transmission output value based on the notification that the notification mode is set by the determination unit; a control unit that controls to notify the setting beacon with two transmission output values;
A communication device comprising: The determination unit further determines whether or not the number of times the wireless communication unit notifies the surroundings of the setting beacon has reached a predetermined number of times,
Based on the notification from the determination unit that the predetermined number of times has been reached, the control unit notifies the wireless communication unit of an instruction to stop notification of the setting beacon. to normal mode. The first transmission output value is a transmission output value of radio waves used for wireless communication when the communication mode is set to the normal mode,
The second transmission power value is smaller than the first transmission power value, and is the minimum value that radio waves reach all other target communication devices in the communication system,
3. A communication device according to claim 1 or 2. In a communication system that is a communication device that functions as a child device and performs initial settings for wireless communication by wireless communication with another communication device,
a wireless communication unit that searches for and receives a setting beacon in which wireless initial setting information, which is initial setting information necessary for wireless communication, is stored in a beacon frame;
a communication mode switching unit that switches a communication mode between a normal mode and a learning mode according to a user's instruction;
a determination unit that determines whether the communication mode of the communication mode switching unit is set to the learning mode, and determines whether the wireless communication unit has received the setting beacon;
controlling the wireless communication unit to search for and receive a setting beacon based on the notification that the learning mode is set by the determination unit; a control unit that extracts the wireless initial setting information from the setting beacon based on the notification received by and uses the wireless initial setting information to perform initial settings necessary for wireless communication of the device;
A communication device comprising: A communication system comprising a plurality of communication devices, one of which is a communication device functioning as a base unit according to claim 1 by storing wireless initial setting information, and the remaining communication devices are according to claim 4. A communication system that is a communication device that functions as a child device. A communication method for a communication system for performing initial settings for wireless communication with another communication device,
a storage step of holding a predetermined unique initial SSID (Service Set Identifier) and wireless initial setting information, which is initial setting information required for wireless communication;
a beacon generating step of storing the wireless initial setting information in a beacon frame and generating a setting beacon;
a wireless communication step of using the initial SSID to broadcast the setting beacon around the device;
a communication mode switching step for switching a communication mode between a normal mode and a notification mode according to a user's instruction;
a determination step of determining whether the communication mode is set to the notification mode;
changing the transmission output value of radio waves used for wireless communication from the first transmission output value to the second transmission output value based on the notification that the notification mode is set, and setting the setting beacon at the second transmission output value; A control step for controlling to notify
communication methods, including A communication method of a communication system for performing initial settings for wireless communication by wireless communication with another communication device,
a wireless communication step of searching for and receiving a setting beacon in which wireless initial setting information, which is initial setting information necessary for wireless communication, is stored in a beacon frame;
a communication mode switching step for switching a communication mode between a normal mode and a learning mode according to an instruction from a user;
a determination step of determining whether or not the communication mode is set to the learning mode, and determining whether or not the wireless communication unit has received the setting beacon;
Based on the notification that the learning mode has been set, control is performed to search for and receive a setting beacon, and based on the notification that the setting beacon has been received by the wireless communication unit, the setting beacon is sent to the setting beacon. a control step of extracting wireless initial setting information and performing initial settings necessary for wireless communication of the device using the wireless initial setting information;
communication methods, including

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