JP5458195B2 - COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND ITS CONTROL METHOD - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device in a network constructed by a plurality of communication devices and a control method thereof.

  Conventionally, there are many communication parameters when performing wireless LAN connection based on the so-called IEEE802.11 standard series such as IEEE802.11a / b / g / n / i, and there are many variations of setting values. Therefore, a method for simplifying the communication parameter setting has been proposed.

  In an infrastructure mode network having a specific base station, the wireless communication devices constituting the network are managed by the base station. Therefore, communication parameters for configuring the network are distributed from the base station to the wireless communication device.

  On the other hand, in an ad hoc mode network that does not have a specific base station, all wireless communication devices are in an equal position. Therefore, a technique for determining which wireless communication apparatus is a communication parameter provider is required, and a communication parameter provider determination technique has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

JP 2006-309458 A JP 2006-311138 A

  However, for example, when WPA, which is a wireless LAN encryption method standard, is selected as the communication parameter security setting, the activation direction of the key sharing algorithm is determined as a connection authentication process separately from the direction of communication parameter provision. There must be. WPA is an abbreviation for Wi-Fi Protected Access.

  Therefore, in the case of an ad hoc mode network in which all wireless communication devices do not have a specific base station and are in an equal relationship, there still remains a problem that it is necessary to determine which wireless communication device performs connection authentication processing. ing.

  The present invention provides a communication device, a determination unit that determines whether to operate as a providing device that provides a communication parameter to a receiving device or a receiving device that receives a communication parameter from the providing device, and the determination unit When it is determined to operate as a providing device, a providing unit that provides communication parameters to the first other communication device, and when the determining unit determines to operate as a providing device, a destination of communication parameters provided by the providing unit And transmitting means for transmitting the information indicating the first other communication device to the second other communication device.

It is a block diagram showing the structure of the radio | wireless communication apparatus provided with the communication parameter automatic setting application. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the network comprised by the radio | wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a communication control method executed by terminal A shown in FIG. 2. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a communication control method of terminal B or terminal C shown in FIG. 2. 3 is a sequence chart showing a communication control method in the network configuration shown in FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the communication control method in 2nd Embodiment of the terminal A shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the communication control method in 2nd Embodiment of the terminal B or the terminal C shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
First, a hardware configuration in a case suitable for implementing the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless communication apparatus including a communication parameter automatic setting application. Here, the communication parameters in the present embodiment are a network identifier (SSID), an encryption key, an authentication method, a frequency channel, and the like.

  101 is a wireless communication apparatus, 102 is a control unit that performs communication parameter setting control and wireless function control, and 103 is a storage unit that stores various types of information. Reference numeral 104 denotes a wireless unit for performing wireless communication, and reference numeral 105 denotes a display unit that performs display and the like. The wireless unit 104 has a function capable of outputting visually recognizable information such as an LCD or LED and outputting sound such as a speaker. 106 is a setting button for giving a trigger for starting communication parameter setting, 107 is an antenna control unit, and 108 is an antenna.

  The above is the hardware configuration of the wireless communication apparatus. Note that this hardware configuration is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, and does not necessarily have to have this hardware configuration. Any hardware configuration to which the spirit of the present invention can be applied is within the scope of the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a communication network configured by the wireless communication device illustrated in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a wireless communication device 21 (hereinafter referred to as terminal A), a wireless communication device 22 (hereinafter referred to as terminal B), and a wireless communication device 23 having a wireless LAN wireless communication function compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series. (Hereinafter referred to as terminal C).

  Here, the terminal A, the terminal B, and the terminal C have the function as the wireless communication apparatus shown in FIG. 1, all have the same wireless communication capability, and constitute an ad hoc mode network. Here, the ad hoc mode is a communication mode in which direct communication is performed between terminals without going through a base station (access point). After constructing the network in the ad hoc mode, a role (communication parameter provider terminal or provider terminal) in communication parameter setting processing is determined based on a predetermined communication parameter provider determination algorithm.

  In the present embodiment, as a communication parameter provider determination algorithm, for example, a protocol described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-311138 can be used, but the present invention is not limited to this method. It is assumed that terminal A is determined as a communication parameter providing source terminal, and terminal B and terminal C are determined as communication parameter providing destination terminals. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the terminal B and the terminal C are shown to be provided with communication parameters from the terminal A.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a communication control method executed by terminal A shown in FIG. First, when the user presses the setting button 106, the communication parameter setting function is validated. Specifically, in order to indicate that the communication parameter setting function has been enabled in the own terminal, for example, a specific identifier is assigned to beacon information used in a wireless LAN. In addition, in order to notify the user that the communication parameter setting function has been enabled, a message such as “communication parameter setting work in progress” is displayed on the display unit 105 (F301). This improves the convenience for the user.

  Next, the terminal A performs a predetermined communication parameter providing direction determination process between the terminal B and the terminal C in which the communication parameter setting function is enabled. It is assumed that terminal A is determined as the communication parameter provider terminal terminal by this processing (F302).

  Next, the terminal A determined as the communication parameter providing source terminal receives a communication parameter setting start request as a communication start request from the terminal B or terminal C determined as the communication parameter providing destination terminal (F303).

  Here, the terminal A negotiates with the partner apparatus (for example, the terminal B) about the encryption method and the authentication method that are used in data communication after setting the communication parameters (that is, after network construction). (F304). There are several variations of encryption / authentication methods in a wireless LAN, but these encryption / authentication methods can be broadly classified into two. First, the encryption key provided as a communication parameter from the communication parameter provider terminal is used as it is as an encryption key for encrypting transmission data (first encryption / authentication method).

  Next, using the encryption key delivered as a communication parameter as a seed, the receiver and the sender perform authentication processing, generate a new session key, and encrypt the transmission data using the session key. (Second encryption / authentication method).

  In any case, it is desirable that the key for encrypting communication parameters when providing communication parameters and the encryption key used for actual data communication after the communication parameter setting process is completed.

  In the IEEE802.11i standard series, the first method corresponds to a conventional WEP key, and the second method corresponds to TKIP and CCMP. Here, WEP is an abbreviation for Wired Equivalent Privacy. TKIP is an abbreviation for Temporal Key Integrity Protocol, which has a user authentication function, can change the encryption key for each packet or periodically, and has a message tampering prevention function. CCMP (Counter mode with Cipher block chaining Message authentication code Protocol) can detect data tampering.

  When a new session key is generated as a result of the negotiation, a group key sharing process is also performed between terminals. Therefore, in the first embodiment, in order to distinguish the encryption / authentication method, it is assumed that whether or not a group key sharing process is performed is used as a criterion (F305). Actually, the encryption / authentication method to be used is determined by the negotiation, and therefore it is determined based on the determined encryption / authentication method whether the processing from F306 onward is performed or the processing of F314 is performed. Is done.

  In the description of the present embodiment, the above determination is made based on the negotiation result of the encryption / authentication method. However, the above determination may be made based on either the encryption method or the authentication method.

  Here, the session key is an encryption key mainly used for unicast communication, and a different session key may be used for the set of terminal A and terminal B and the set of terminal A and terminal C, or the same A session key may be used.

  On the other hand, the group key is an encryption key used for multicast communication and broadcast communication, and is the same for all terminals (terminal A, terminal B, and terminal C in the present embodiment) constituting the network. The session key and the group key may be the same key, and all communications may be performed using the group key.

  A group key may be provided for each terminal that can be a packet transmission source. In this embodiment, since there are three terminals constituting the network, each terminal may have three group keys. Further, the network may have a unique group key.

  First, a description will be given of a case where a method for performing group key sharing processing is adopted in the determination processing shown in F305.

  In the case of the method for performing the group key sharing process, it is necessary for the terminal A and the terminal B to determine the role (connection authentication side or connected authentication side) in the connection authentication process. Here, the connection authentication side is referred to as an authenticator, and the connected authentication side is referred to as a supplicant.

  In the first embodiment, the terminal A determined as the communication parameter providing source terminal by the communication parameter providing direction determination process becomes the authenticator in charge of the connection authentication side function. Then, the terminal B or the terminal C determined as the communication parameter providing destination terminal becomes a supplicant responsible for the connected authentication side function.

  In providing communication parameters, in order to maintain security, encryption of communication parameters and authentication processing between a communication parameter provider and a provider terminal are performed. Therefore, the terminal A generates a random number necessary for encryption / authentication processing (F306). The random number generated here is stored for use as a random number used for session key generation.

  Subsequently, terminal A performs encryption key sharing processing and authentication processing for encrypting communication parameters to be provided with terminal B (F307). In the process indicated by F307, a random number necessary for encryption / authentication processing at the time of providing communication parameters generated by the terminal B is transmitted from the terminal B. Terminal A and terminal B perform communication key sharing encryption key sharing processing using random numbers generated from each other.

  As will be described later, the terminal B uses the encryption key shared with the terminal A to decrypt the provided communication parameters. That is, the encryption key sharing process here has an encryption key for encrypting the communication parameter provided by the terminal A, and has an encryption key for decrypting the communication parameter provided by the terminal B. , A predetermined protocol process is performed between the terminal A and the terminal B.

  Next, a communication session key is generated based on the random number generated by terminal A itself, the random number received from terminal B, and the type of encryption key held by terminal A (F308).

  Then, the terminal A encrypts communication parameters necessary for configuring the ad hoc mode network using the encryption key shared with the terminal B in F307 and transmits the encrypted communication parameter to the terminal B (F309). At that time, the session key generated in F308 is also transmitted. Thus, the session key is shared between terminal A and terminal B. The session key sharing process used in the following description refers to a process in which the session key generated by the terminal A is transmitted to the terminal B, and the terminal B receives it.

  However, even if the session key is transmitted to the terminal B here, there may be a case where the terminal B does not have the function necessary for the first embodiment. In that case, the terminal B reads out the session key transmitted from the terminal A and performs the processing as before.

  The session key transmitted in F309 is an effective encryption key when performing unicast communication between the terminal A and the terminal B. Next, terminal A encrypts a group key that is valid for all terminals constituting the network in the ad hoc mode with the session key, and transmits it to terminal B (F310). Thus, the group key is shared between terminal A and terminal B. As described above, the group key sharing process indicates a process in which the terminal A transmits the group key encrypted with the session key to the terminal B, and the terminal B receives the group key. In the first embodiment, only the group key is transmitted to the terminal B, but when the terminal A has already performed the communication parameter setting process with another terminal, the terminal that has performed the parameter setting process The group key is shared with all of them.

  At this point, the communication parameters necessary for the wireless connection are complete. Therefore, since the setting completion notification is transmitted from the terminal B, the terminal A receives it (F311). At this time, a message such as “completion of connection to wireless network” may be displayed on the display unit 105. This improves the convenience for the user.

  Through the above processing, communication in the ad hoc mode network is established between the terminal A and the terminal B.

  Next, the communication parameter setting process is continued, and it is determined whether to provide communication parameters to other terminals (F312). If it is determined to continue, the process flow is transferred from F303 to another terminal. carry out. If not continued, the display indicating that the communication parameter setting function set in F301 is enabled is terminated (F313).

  Here, a case will be described in which the group key sharing process is not adopted in the determination process shown in F305.

  In the case of a method in which the group key sharing process is not performed, it is only necessary to apply the encryption key provided as a communication parameter from the terminal A to the terminal B as it is. That is, it is not particularly necessary to determine whether the terminal A and the terminal B are the connection authentication side or the connected authentication side in the connection authentication process. When providing communication parameters, communication parameters are encrypted and authentication processing is performed between the providing terminal and the providing terminal. Therefore, the terminal A generates a random number necessary for the encryption / authentication process (F314).

  Next, terminal A performs encryption key sharing processing and authentication processing for encrypting communication parameters to be provided with terminal B (F315). Subsequently, the terminal A encrypts communication parameters necessary for configuring the ad hoc mode network using the encryption key shared with the terminal B in F315, and transmits it to the terminal B (F316).

  With the above processing, the communication parameter setting process when the group key sharing process is not performed is completed, and the same communication parameter can be shared between the terminal A and the terminal B, and the network is constructed using the parameter. can do.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a communication control method of terminal B or terminal C shown in FIG. Here, the terminal B will be described.

  First, in the terminal B as well, as in the case of the terminal A, the communication parameter setting function is validated by pressing the setting button 106. As described above, a specific identifier is assigned to beacon information used in, for example, a wireless LAN, in order to indicate that the communication parameter setting function is enabled in the terminal itself. In addition, in order to notify the user that the communication parameter setting function has been enabled, a message such as “communication parameter setting work in progress” is displayed on the display unit 105 (F401). This improves the convenience for the user.

  Next, the terminal B performs a predetermined communication parameter providing direction determination process between the terminal A and the terminal C in which the communication parameter setting function is enabled. When terminal A is determined to be a communication parameter provider terminal by this providing direction determination process, terminal B is determined to be a communication parameter provider terminal (receiving terminal) (F402).

  Next, the terminal B determined as the communication parameter receiving terminal by the above-described providing direction determination process transmits a communication parameter setting start request to the terminal A determined as the communication parameter providing source terminal (F403).

  Here, when the terminal B starts the communication parameter setting process, first, the terminal B negotiates with the terminal A about the encryption / authentication method used for data communication after setting the communication parameter (F404). . Similar to the flowchart of terminal A, in terminal B as well, in order to distinguish the encryption / authentication method, it is determined whether or not the group key sharing process is performed (F405).

  First, a case will be described in which the group key sharing process is adopted in the determination process shown in F405.

  In the case of a method for performing group key sharing processing, it is necessary to determine whether the terminal A and the terminal B are the connection authentication side or the connection authentication side in the connection authentication process. Here, by the communication parameter providing direction determination processing, the terminal A determined as the communication parameter providing source terminal becomes an authenticator in charge of the connection authentication side function. Then, the terminal B or the terminal C determined as the communication parameter providing destination terminal becomes a supplicant responsible for the connected authentication side function.

  When terminal A provides communication parameters, communication parameters are encrypted and authentication processing is performed between the communication parameter provider and the provider terminal. Therefore, the terminal B generates a random number necessary for the encryption / authentication process (F406).

  Subsequently, the terminal B performs encryption key sharing processing and authentication processing for decrypting the provided communication parameters with the terminal A (F407). In the process indicated by F407, a random number required for encryption / authentication processing at the time of providing communication parameters generated by the terminal A is transmitted from the terminal A. Terminal A and terminal B perform communication key sharing encryption key sharing processing using random numbers generated from each other.

  Thereafter, since the communication parameters necessary for configuring the ad hoc mode network are transmitted from the terminal A to the terminal B, the terminal B receives it (F408). The communication parameter is encrypted with the encryption key shared between the terminal A and the terminal B in F407.

  Further, from terminal A, a session key that is valid only between terminal B and terminal A (generated by terminal A at F308 in FIG. 3) is also transmitted as a communication parameter.

  The session key received in F408 is an encryption key that is effective when unicast communication is performed between terminal A and terminal B. Next, the terminal B receives from the terminal A a group key that is valid for all terminals constituting the ad hoc mode network (F409). The group key is encrypted with the session key provided from terminal A in F408. Thus, the group key is shared between terminal A and terminal B.

  At this point, since all the communication parameters necessary for wireless communication are complete, terminal B transmits a setting completion notification to terminal A (F410). At this time, a message such as “completion of connection to wireless network” may be displayed on the display unit 105. This improves user convenience.

  As a result of the above processing, the communication in the ad hoc mode network is established between the terminal A and the terminal B, and thus the display indicating that the communication parameter setting function set in F401 is enabled is ended (F411).

  Here, a case will be described in which the group key sharing process is not employed in the determination process shown in F405.

  In the case of a method in which the group key sharing process is not performed, it is only necessary to apply the encryption key provided as a communication parameter from the terminal A to the terminal B as it is. That is, it is not particularly necessary to determine whether the terminal A and the terminal B are the connection authentication side or the connected authentication side in the connection authentication process.

  When the terminal A provides communication parameters, communication parameters are encrypted and authentication processing is performed between the provider and the provider terminal. Therefore, the terminal B generates a random number necessary for the encryption / authentication process (F412).

  Next, the terminal B performs encryption key sharing processing and authentication processing for decrypting the provided communication parameters with the terminal A (F413).

  And since the communication parameter required for comprising the network of an ad hoc mode is transmitted toward the terminal B from the terminal A, the terminal B receives it (F414). Note that the communication parameter is encrypted with an encryption key shared between the terminal A and the terminal B in F413.

  With the above processing, the communication parameter setting process when the group key sharing process is not performed is completed, and the same communication parameter can be shared between the terminal A and the terminal B. Therefore, a network is constructed using the parameter. Can do.

  FIG. 5 is a sequence chart showing a communication control method in the network configuration shown in FIG. First, the setting button 106 is pressed in each of the terminal A, the terminal B, and the terminal C in order to validate the communication parameter setting function. When the setting button 106 is pressed, the communication parameter setting function is enabled, and a predetermined communication parameter providing direction determination process is performed (S501).

  By this communication parameter providing direction determination process, terminal A is determined as a communication parameter providing terminal (S503), and terminal B and terminal C are determined as communication parameter receiving terminals (S502, S504).

  Next, a communication parameter setting start request is transmitted from the terminal B determined as the communication parameter receiving terminal to the terminal A determined as the communication parameter providing terminal (S505). Subsequently, a communication parameter setting start procedure is performed between the terminal A and the terminal B (S506).

  Following the communication parameter setting start procedure, the terminal A and the terminal B negotiate on the encryption / authentication method used at the time of data communication after setting the communication parameters (that is, after network construction) (S507). Here, the processing is distinguished depending on whether or not the group key sharing processing described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 is performed.

  In S507, when an encryption / authentication method for performing group key sharing processing is selected, the connection authentication processing and session key sharing processing, which are originally performed following the communication parameter setting processing, are changed to communication parameter setting processing. (S508). As a result, it is possible to reduce the time required for network formation as compared with the case where the connection authentication process and the session key sharing process are performed after the communication parameter setting process.

  When the session key is determined, the group key used for multicast communication and group cast communication in the ad hoc mode network is distributed from terminal A to terminal B using the session key (S509).

  Through the above processing, communication parameters necessary for wireless connection are shared between the terminal A and the terminal B, so that a communication parameter setting completion notification is transmitted from the terminal A to the terminal B (S510). In this way, common communication parameters are set between the terminal A and the terminal B, and an ad hoc mode network is established.

  Next, the case where the terminal C joins the network after the communication parameter setting and the new network construction are completed between the terminal A and the terminal B will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, since the terminal C is already determined as the communication parameter receiving terminal in the above-described S504, the terminal for which the communication parameter setting start request is determined as the communication parameter providing terminal from the terminal C determined as the communication parameter receiving terminal. A is transmitted to A (S511). Next, a communication parameter setting start procedure is performed between the terminal A and the terminal C (S512).

  Following the communication parameter setting start procedure, the terminal A and the terminal C negotiate about the encryption / authentication method used at the time of data communication after setting the communication parameters (that is, after network construction) (S513). Again, the processing is distinguished depending on whether or not the group key sharing processing described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 is performed.

  A case will be described where an encryption / authentication method for performing group key sharing processing is selected in S513. In this case, the connection authentication process and the session key sharing process that are originally performed following the communication parameter setting process are simultaneously executed in the communication parameter setting process (S514). As a result, it is possible to reduce the time required for network formation as compared with the case where the connection authentication process and the session key sharing process are performed after the communication parameter setting process.

  When the session key is determined, the group key used for multicast communication and group cast communication in the ad hoc mode network is distributed from terminal A to terminal C using the session key (S515).

  Through the above processing, communication parameters necessary for wireless connection are shared between the terminal A and the terminal C. Therefore, a communication parameter setting completion notification is transmitted from the terminal A to the terminal C (S516), and the terminal C participates in the ad hoc mode network constructed by the terminal A and the terminal B.

  Here, if the group key used in common by the terminals in the network is always the same, it becomes possible for a malicious third party or a terminal that has previously joined the network to easily join the network. There is a danger of. Therefore, the group key may be updated each time the number of terminals that receive periodic timers or communication parameters is increased or decreased.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, when the terminal C newly joins the network, the terminal A performs group key sharing between the terminal B and the terminal C (S517). As described above, the group key is updated when the number of terminals in the network increases or decreases, so that the group key is updated, so that security can be improved.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, depending on the role of the communication parameter setting process (communication parameter providing source terminal or providing destination terminal), the role in the session key sharing process (authenticating side or authenticated side) To decide. As a result, a session key sharing process that normally needs to be performed after the communication parameter setting process can be executed in the communication parameter setting process, so that the time until the connection is completed can be shortened. Further, since the communication parameter providing source terminal becomes the authentication side terminal, the group key can be easily updated, and the security is improved.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the first embodiment, terminal A and terminal B or terminal C set communication parameters and have been described until connection is completed. In the second embodiment, reconnection in the case where communication parameter setting has already been completed between the terminal A and the terminal B or C will be described.

  The hardware configuration in the second embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 1 used in the first embodiment. Further, the network configuration example in the second embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 2 used in the first embodiment. Since the processing until the network is formed between the terminal A, the terminal B, and the terminal C is the same as that in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the communication control method of the terminal A shown in FIG. 2 in the second embodiment. First, terminal A, which is a communication parameter provider terminal, receives a communication start request from terminal B, which is a communication parameter provider terminal (F601). This communication start request is used not only in communication parameter setting processing but also in normal connection authentication processing. The terminal A that has received the communication start request transmits a process identification request to the transmission source in order to determine whether it has been requested to start the communication parameter setting process or the connection authentication process (F602).

  In response to the process identification request, the terminal B returns a process identification response as a response. Processing branches depending on whether the response type is for communication parameter setting (F603).

  Next, a case where the process identification response indicates a normal connection authentication process will be described. First, in the case of normal connection authentication processing, the terminal A that was the communication parameter transmission source authenticates the terminal B as an authenticator in charge of the connection authentication side function, and performs session key sharing processing with the terminal B. Implement (F604).

  Subsequent to this session key sharing process, terminal A executes a group key sharing process used during multicast communication or broadcast communication with all terminals participating in the ad hoc mode network (F605). Here, since there may be an increase in the number of terminals for which terminal A has newly provided communication parameters, terminal A distributes a list of destination terminals to terminals that have provided communication parameters so far (F606). ). This list is used when determining the terminal that assumes the connection authentication side function after terminal A leaves the network.

  On the other hand, a case where the process identification response indicates communication parameter setting in F603 will be described. In this case, the communication parameter setting process already described with reference to FIG. 3 is performed (F607).

  Next, when the communication parameter setting is completed, the list of the provision destination terminals that provided the communication parameters described above is updated (F608). Thereafter, group key sharing processing is performed with all terminals participating in the network (F609), and the updated list is distributed to each terminal (F610).

  As described above, the group key is updated in all terminals constituting the ad hoc mode network, and the respective terminal information can be held. In addition, the display unit 105 may display “connection to the wireless network” or the like, which improves user convenience.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a communication control method of the terminal B or terminal C shown in FIG. 2 in the second embodiment. Here, the case of the terminal B will be described.

  Terminal B, which is a communication parameter receiving terminal, transmits a communication start request to terminal A, which is a communication parameter provider terminal (F701). The communication start request is used not only in communication parameter setting processing but also in normal connection authentication processing. The terminal B receives a process identification request for determining whether the start of the communication parameter setting process or the start of the connection authentication process is requested from the terminal A that has received the communication start request.

  However, there may be a case where the terminal A that was the communication parameter providing terminal does not already exist on the network. In that case, a retry is performed for a certain period of time and a predetermined number of retransmissions to determine whether or not the terminal A exists on the network (F702).

  Here, if there is no response from the terminal A, it is determined that the terminal A does not exist on the network, and the terminal B refers to the list of communication parameter providing destination terminals received from the terminal A, and transmits a communication start request. Select the destination. For example, the terminal D is set as a new connection destination (F703).

  Then, the terminal B transmits a communication start request to the transmission destination terminal D of the selected communication start request (F704). Thereafter, it waits for reception of a process identification request from terminal D that has received the communication start request. If the terminal D does not exist, the terminal is selected again from the communication parameter providing destination terminal list, and a communication start request is transmitted. Thus, the processing is continued until a processing identification request is received or this list becomes empty.

  Since the process does not change depending on the reception source of the process identification request, the description will be made here assuming that the process identification request is received from the terminal A.

  Terminal B responds as a normal connection authentication process as a process identification response. In this case, the terminal A authenticates the terminal B as an authenticator responsible for the connection authentication function. Then, the terminal B performs a session key sharing process with the terminal A (F705). Subsequent to the session key sharing process, the terminal B executes a group key sharing process with the terminal A for use in multicast communication or broadcast communication over the entire ad hoc mode network (F706).

  Here, since it is possible that the number of terminals to which terminal A has newly provided communication parameters is increasing, a list of destination terminals is received from terminal A (F707).

As described above, the group key is updated in all terminals constituting the ad hoc mode network, and each terminal information is held. At this time, it may be displayed on the display unit 105 as “completion of connection to wireless network” or the like, which improves the convenience for the user.
As described above, the communication parameter provider terminal (authentication side) distributes the list of the provider terminals to the terminals in the network, so that even if the provider terminal leaves the network, a new authentication is performed. The side terminal can be determined.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but this is an example for explaining the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The embodiment can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  Further, the wireless LAN system conforming to the IEEE802.11 series has been described as an example, but it is needless to say that the communication form is not necessarily limited to the wireless LAN conforming to the IEEE802.11.

  In addition, a recording medium in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the program code stored in the recording medium. Read and execute. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by this.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the computer-readable recording medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  In addition, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the following cases are included. That is, based on the instruction of the program code, an OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. .

  Further, the program code 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. After that, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing. Needless to say.

Claims (11)

A communication device,
Determining means for determining whether to operate as a providing device for providing communication parameters to a receiving device or to operate as a receiving device for receiving communication parameters from a providing device;
Providing means for providing a communication parameter to the first other communication device when it is determined by the determining means to operate as a providing device;
A transmission unit that transmits information indicating the first other communication device to which the communication parameter is provided by the providing unit to the second other communication device when the determining unit determines to operate as the providing device. When,
A communication apparatus comprising: When it is determined by the determining means to operate as a receiving device, the receiving device receives a communication parameter from the providing device.
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. The information transmitted by the transmission means is information indicating a provision destination where the communication apparatus has already provided communication parameters as a provision apparatus.
The communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The transmission means transmits the information when providing communication parameters to the second other communication device;
The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The communication parameter is a parameter for connecting to a wireless network.
The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the communication apparatus is characterized in that:   The wireless network is a wireless network compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series.
  The communication apparatus according to claim 5. The communication parameter includes any one of a network identifier, an encryption key, an authentication method, and a frequency channel.
Communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 6, characterized in that. The determination means is determined by communication of a wireless network that conforms to the IEEE 802.11 standard series .
Communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 7, characterized in that.   When it is determined by the determining means to operate as a providing apparatus, it further operates as an authentication apparatus in an authentication process performed with the receiving apparatus, and when the determining means determines to operate as a receiving apparatus, Furthermore, it operates as a device to be authenticated in an authentication process performed with a providing device.
  The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus is configured as described above. A communication device control method comprising:
A determination step of determining whether to operate as a providing device that provides communication parameters to a receiving device or to operate as a receiving device that receives communication parameters from a providing device;
A providing step of providing communication parameters to the first other communication device when it is determined to operate as the providing device in the determining step;
A transmission step of transmitting information indicating the first other communication device to which the communication parameter is provided in the providing step to the second other communication device when it is determined to operate as the providing device in the determining step. When,
A control method characterized by comprising: Program for operating a computer as a communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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