JP5769777B2 - Communication device, control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device, a control method, and a program for communicating between a plurality of communication devices via a wireless network.

  In recent years, networking of computer peripheral devices has advanced remarkably, and it is no exaggeration to say that there are no devices that cannot be connected via a network. On the other hand, in devices that have already been networked, wired cables are used as a communication medium, but they are in a transitional period that changes to wireless communication.

  However, in wireless communication, for example, in the case of a wireless LAN compliant with IEEE 802.11x, there are many setting items that must be set before use, which is complicated. Various manufacturers have proposed a mechanism for easily setting wireless communication parameters such as SSID (Service Set Identifier) and encryption method.

  For example, a mechanism for setting wireless communication parameters using an ad hoc network in which wireless communication devices directly communicate with each other via a wireless LAN without using an access point (base station) as in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. Yes.

JP 2003-163668 A

  When setting wireless communication parameters by wireless communication, it is necessary to strengthen the countermeasure against impersonation by a third party who does not need to know the setting information or a malicious third party.

The present invention is a communication apparatus, and which of the communication apparatus and another communication apparatus is a providing apparatus that provides communication parameters for performing wireless communication conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series, or the providing apparatus Determining means for determining whether to be a receiving device for receiving the communication parameter from, generating means for generating a random number for generating an encryption key for encrypting the communication parameter, and generated by the generating means A generating unit that generates an encryption key for encrypting the communication parameter based on a random number, and an encryption key generated by the generating unit when the determining unit determines that the communication device is the providing device transmitting means for transmitting the communication parameters encrypted to the other communication device based on the information of the random number by the other communication device caused Possess an acquisition unit Tokusuru, wherein the generating means includes a random number generated by said generating means, is generated by the other communication apparatus, and the random number information obtained by the obtaining unit, based on the An encryption key for encrypting communication parameters is generated .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a communication parameter can be shared with the other communication apparatus which requested | required sharing of a communication parameter by the communication apparatus determined from the some communication apparatus. Therefore, even in an environment where there is no specific server such as an ad hoc network, communication devices that share communication parameters can be restricted.

It is a figure which shows the step which builds the communication parameter setting network in an ad hoc network. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the ad hoc network by two radio | wireless communication apparatuses. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the digital camera 200 (apparatus A). 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a printer 201 (device B). FIG. It is a figure which shows a sequence in case there are two apparatuses which have a communication parameter setting control function. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the ad hoc network by three radio | wireless communication apparatuses. It is a figure which shows a sequence in case there are three apparatuses which have a communication parameter setting control function. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of the apparatus in 1st Embodiment construct | assembles a communication parameter setting network. It is a figure which shows the sequence from the master apparatus determination step of an apparatus which has a communication parameter setting control function in 2nd Embodiment to an apparatus capability collection step. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the master side apparatus which has a communication parameter setting control function in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the slave side apparatus which has a communication parameter setting control function in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the sequence from the master apparatus determination step of an apparatus which has a communication parameter setting control function in 3rd Embodiment to an apparatus capability collection step. It is a figure which shows the sequence of three apparatuses which have a communication parameter setting control function from a master apparatus determination step to an apparatus capability collection step in case two slave apparatuses are each changing to an apparatus capability collection step. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the master side apparatus in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the sequence from the master apparatus determination step of an apparatus which has a communication parameter setting control function in 4th Embodiment to an apparatus capability collection step. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the master side apparatus of the apparatus which has a communication parameter setting control function in 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the sequence from the master apparatus determination step of an apparatus which has a communication parameter setting control function in 5th Embodiment to an apparatus capability collection step. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the master apparatus which has a communication parameter setting control function in 5th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the slave apparatus which has a communication parameter setting control function in 5th Embodiment.

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

[First Embodiment]
First, a case will be described where an ad hoc mode communication parameter setting network in an IEEE 802.11x-compliant wireless LAN is constructed between two wireless communication devices.

  FIG. 1 shows steps for setting communication parameters in the ad hoc mode. Each step in FIG. 1 is composed of six steps having different purposes. Here, the steps are a communication parameter setting network formation step 101, a master device determination step 102, a device capability collection step 103, a communication parameter transfer direction determination step 104, a communication parameter transfer step 105, and a communication parameter setting network end step 106. Below, the function in each step will be briefly described.

<Communication Parameter Setting Network Formation Step 101>
Here, processing for forming a communication parameter setting network between the devices A and B by ad hoc connection is performed.

<Master device determination step 102>
Here, the process of determining which device is the master device of the communication parameter setting network between device A and device B and which device is the slave device, and each device is on the same network The monitoring process of whether or not to perform is continuously performed.

<Equipment Capability Collection Step 103>
Here, the master device determined in step 102 performs processing for inquiring and collecting the device capability attribute value owned by the slave device existing on the same network.

<Communication Parameter Transfer Direction Determination Step 104>
Here, the device capability attribute value of each slave device collected by the master device in step 103 is compared with the device capability attribute value of the own master device. As a result, the master device determines which device to transfer communication parameters from which device, and the destination and source information required to transfer communication parameters to each slave device. Forward instructions.

<Communication parameter transfer step 105>
Here, the communication parameters are transferred from a device having communication parameter provision capability to a device having communication parameter reception capability according to the communication parameter transfer direction determined in step 104.

<Communication Parameter Setting Network Ending Step 106>
Here, the processing necessary for terminating the communication parameter setting network is performed after the completion of the transfer in step 105. In addition, after the communication parameter setting network end step 106 is completed, a new network is constructed using the communication parameters transferred in the communication parameter transfer step 105.

  By performing the above six steps, communication parameters can be easily set in ad hoc wireless communication.

  The processing described below is processing from the communication parameter setting network formation step 101 to the master device determination step 102 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an ad hoc network including two wireless communication devices. In FIG. 2, the wireless communication device A is a digital camera 200 having a wireless communication function 210 having a wireless LAN compliant with IEEE 802.11x, and a communication parameter setting mode network is constructed by pressing a communication parameter setting button 220. Is possible. The wireless communication device B is a printer 201 having an IEEE 802.11x-compliant wireless LAN in the wireless communication function 211, and a communication parameter setting mode network can be constructed by pressing the communication parameter setting button 221. .

  Then, wireless communication parameter setting in ad hoc mode is performed between the digital camera 200 (device A) and the printer 201 (device B).

  Here, the configuration of the digital camera 200 (device A) and the printer 201 (device B) will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the digital camera 200 (device A). In FIG. 3, 301 is a control unit for controlling the digital camera 200, 302 is an image processing unit, 303 is a ROM storing control commands (programs) and control data, and 304 is a RAM. The RAM 304 stores in advance communication parameters for setting for forming a communication parameter setting network. A wireless communication processing unit 305 performs communication control in the wireless LAN. Reference numeral 306 denotes an antenna, and reference numeral 307 denotes an antenna control unit.

  Reference numeral 308 denotes an imaging unit that captures a pixel signal input from the CCD 309. A card interface 310 controls a recording media card that stores captured images and setting information. Reference numeral 311 denotes a display unit that displays an error message or the like. Reference numeral 312 denotes an operation unit which includes buttons for instructing photographing, reproduction, setting, and the like. Reference numeral 313 denotes a power supply unit including a secondary battery. Reference numeral 314 denotes a communication interface unit other than wireless, for example, a wired interface such as USB or IEEE1394. Reference numeral 315 denotes a communication parameter setting button for starting communication parameter setting.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the printer 201 (device B). In FIG. 4, 401 is a control unit for controlling the printer 201, 402 is an image processing unit, 403 is a ROM storing control commands (programs) and control data, 404 is a RAM, and 405 is a power supply unit. The RAM 404 stores setting communication parameters for forming a communication parameter setting network in advance. Reference numeral 406 denotes a non-wireless communication interface unit, for example, a wired interface such as USB or IEEE1394.

  Reference numeral 407 denotes a paper feed / discharge unit that feeds and discharges printer paper. Reference numeral 408 denotes a printer engine which performs printing control such as an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. Reference numeral 409 denotes a card interface that controls a recording media card in which images are stored. A display unit 410 displays an error message or the like. Reference numeral 411 denotes an operation unit, which includes buttons such as menus and settings. A wireless communication processing unit 412 performs communication control in the wireless LAN. Reference numeral 413 denotes an antenna, and 414 denotes an antenna control unit. Reference numeral 415 denotes a communication parameter setting button for starting communication parameter setting.

  The above-described hardware configuration is an example of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, and does not necessarily have the same hardware configuration. The hardware configuration to which the spirit of the present invention can be applied. Needless to say, if that is the case.

  Further, although the digital camera and the printer have been described as examples of the wireless communication device, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to a personal computer (PC), a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine, a notebook PC, and the like. Needless to say.

  In the configuration described above, when the communication parameter setting button 220 is first pressed on the digital camera 200 (device A) and then the communication parameter setting button 221 is pressed on the printer 201 (device B), communication in the ad hoc mode is performed. A sequence for constructing a parameter setting network will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a sequence when there are two devices having the communication parameter setting control function. First, when the user presses the communication parameter setting button 220 of the digital camera 200 (device A) and starts the communication parameter setting control function, the device A starts forming a communication parameter setting network. As a result, the device A sends a probe request (S501: Probe Request) toward the wireless section. In the example shown in FIG. 5, since there is no wireless device in the vicinity, device A transmits a beacon (S502: Beacon) and becomes an IBSS (Independent Basic Service Set) creator of an ad hoc network.

  Subsequently, as with the device A, when the device B is activated, the device B sends a probe request (S503). Since device A already exists as an IBSS creator, a probe response (S504: Probe Response) is sent from device A to device B as a response to the probe request. Thereby, a communication parameter setting network is formed between the devices A and B.

  Next, it is notified that the communication parameter setting network is formed in each of the devices A and B by the function of the wireless driver. When the notification is delivered to the communication parameter setting control function, the device A and the device B perform encryption (S505 and S506). The encryption algorithm is not particularly defined, but for example, the encryption process may be performed based on a common key unique to the device. Also, the encryption processing may be performed by the wireless communication processing units 305 and 412, or may be performed by the control units 301 and 401.

  Then, when the communication parameter setting network is constructed, the master device determination step 102 shown in FIG. 1 is started. Here, the IBSS creator and Joiner continue to send beacons (S507, S508) to each other. Thereafter, when it is determined which device will be the master device by a predetermined algorithm, a master declaration (S509) is transmitted from the master device.

  Note that since the communication between the devices A and B is encrypted in the above-described S505 and S506, the communication is performed safely after the master device determination step 102.

  Next, encryption is performed when constructing an ad hoc mode communication parameter setting network in an IEEE 802.11x-compliant wireless LAN among the three wireless communication devices, and the third device is not assumed. A process for preventing participation in the network will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an ad hoc network including three wireless communication devices. As shown in FIG. 6, the devices A and B are the digital camera 200 and the printer 201 shown in FIG. Similarly to the device A, the device C is a digital camera 600 having a wireless communication function 610 having an IEEE 802.11x-compliant wireless LAN, and a communication parameter setting mode network is constructed by pressing the communication parameter setting button 620. It is possible.

  The configuration of the digital camera 600 (device C) is the same as that of the digital camera 200 (device A) shown in FIG.

  In the configuration described above, first, the communication parameter setting button 220 is pressed on the digital camera 200 (device A), and then the communication parameter setting button 221 is pressed on the printer 201 (device B) to set the wireless communication parameter in the ad hoc mode. A sequence when the communication parameter setting button 620 is pressed on the digital camera 600 (device C) after the network is constructed will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a sequence when there are three devices having the communication parameter setting control function. First, the communication parameter setting network is constructed (S701 to S706) in the same manner as the formation of the communication parameter setting network (S501 to S506) performed between the devices A and B shown in FIG.

  Here, the power of the unexpected device C, which is the third device, is turned on, and the communication parameter setting control function is started in the same manner as the devices A and B. First, a probe request (S707) is sent, and since device A already exists as an IBSS creator, a probe response (S708) is sent from device A to device C as a response to the probe request. As a result, the device C participates in the wireless parameter setting network.

  However, since the device C is a third party that is not assumed, encryption is not performed as between the devices A and B. Therefore, after the wireless communication parameter setting network is constructed, the master declaration (S711) from the master device determined in the master device determination step 102 cannot be recognized.

  In this way, by performing communication encryption, it is possible to prevent participation of a device by a third party that is not assumed for the communication parameter setting network.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 8, a sequence (FIG. 7) for constructing a communication parameter setting network by the devices A, B, and C will be described from the viewpoint of processing performed by the devices.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing when the device according to the first embodiment constructs a communication parameter setting network. First, when the power supply or wireless communication function is turned on in the device, a random timer is activated and waits for a timeout (S801). This process is a process for avoiding a conflict of probe requests that occurs when a plurality of devices are powered on simultaneously. When this random timer times out, the device transmits a probe request (S802). Then, it waits for a response to this probe request (S803).

  Next, when a probe response is returned in response to the probe request (there is a response in S803), this device is set as a joiner (S804). In the case of a joiner, if the number of devices participating in the communication parameter setting network is within a specified number, an encryption instruction from the IBSS creator is received. Here, when the encryption instruction is received (YES in S805), this device, that is, the device B enables the encryption (S806).

  If the encryption instruction from the IBSS creator is not received (NO in S805), it means that the communication parameter setting network cannot be joined, and the process is terminated as it is.

  On the other hand, if no probe response is returned in response to the probe request (no response in S803), it is determined that no communication parameter setting network exists in the vicinity of this device. Thereby, this device, that is, the device A performs setting as an IBSS creator (S807). Thereafter, a probe request from another device is awaited as a function of the IBSS creator (S808).

  Next, when the device set as the IBSS creator confirms a probe request from another device (YES in S808), a probe response is transmitted to the other device (S809). Here, the IBSS creator stores the number of devices that have transmitted the probe response, and determines whether or not the number of devices has reached a predetermined number (S810). Here, when the specified number is reached (YES in S810), the processing is terminated as it is.

  If the specified number is not reached (NO in S810), the IBSS creator issues an encryption instruction to the subordinate joiner (S811). Next, when the encryption instruction is completed, the IBSS creator validates its own encryption (S812).

  According to the first embodiment, the IBSS creator counts the number of devices participating in the communication parameter setting network. When the number exceeds the specified number, the encryption instruction is sent to other devices that want to participate thereafter. By not transmitting, it is possible to refuse participation by a third party or a malicious third party in the communication parameter setting network.

[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, by restricting the number of participants when the communication parameter setting network is constructed, the participation of third parties in the communication parameter setting network is prevented. However, in the second embodiment, up to the master device determination step 102 Performs the existing processing described in the prior art, and prevents the participation of a third party in the next device capability collection step 103.

  In the second embodiment as well, when a communication parameter setting network is constructed in an ad hoc network composed of the three wireless communication devices shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to prevent an unexpected third party from participating in the network. Processing will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a sequence from a master device determination step to a device capability collection step for a device having a communication parameter setting control function according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 9, it is assumed that the communication parameter setting network forming step 101 in FIG. 1 has already been completed between the devices A and B, and that the device A is an IBSS creator, and the devices B and C are joiners.

  The device A transmits a master inquiry message (S901) as a broadcast message. At this point, since the master device determination step 102 has just started and there is no master device, a response to this master inquiry message (S901) is not returned.

  Accordingly, the device A sets itself as the master device, stops transmitting the master inquiry message (S901), and starts transmitting the master declaration message (S902). At the time when the first master declaration message is transmitted, the participation acceptance state held internally is set to allow (S903).

  Next, after a random interval has elapsed, device B transmits a master inquiry message (S904). Here, the device A transmits a master declaration message (S905) when it is confirmed that the master inquiry message (S904) is transmitted from the device B. On the other hand, when device B receives the master declaration message (S905) transmitted from device A, device B transmits a slave declaration message (S906).

  In this example, it is assumed that the number of configuration specifying devices of the communication parameter setting network preset in the device A is two.

  Here, when the device A receives the slave declaration message (S906) from the device B, the device A changes the participation acceptance state held internally to non-permitted (S907). As a result, since the participation acceptance state of the master device is not permitted, the processing after the device capability collection step 103 is performed only between the device A and the device B in the second embodiment.

  For example, a case is assumed where the third device C attempts to enter. First, similarly to the devices A and B, the device C transmits a master inquiry message (S908). The device A that is already a master device in the communication parameter setting network receives the master inquiry message (S908) from the device C.

  Here, the device A refers to the participation reception state held internally. In this example, since the participation acceptance state is already unacceptable, device A transmits a participation rejection notification message (S909) to device C. This participation rejection notification message (S909) is transmitted only to the device C, communication with the device B is continued, and the slave declaration message (S910) is periodically transmitted from the device B.

  Next, following the description of the sequence between the devices described above, processing performed by the master device and the slave device will be described. Since the master device and slave device determination method in the master device determination step 102 is known, the description thereof is omitted here. First, processing performed by the master side device will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing of a master side device having a communication parameter setting control function in the second embodiment. It is assumed that the device having the communication parameter setting control function determines the device type determined in the master device determination step 102 and recognizes that it is the master device.

  The master side device receives a master inquiry message from another network participating device (S1001). Then, the master side device that has received the master inquiry message refers to the participation acceptance state held therein (S1002).

  If the participation acceptance state is not permitted (NO in S1002), a participation rejection notification message is transmitted to the master inquiry message transmission source device at this time (S1007), and the master inquiry message transmission source device is connected. End communication.

  On the other hand, when the participation acceptance state is permissible (YES in S1002), the number of slaves held in the RAM 304 is added (S1003). Then, it is determined whether or not the added number of slaves has reached the upper limit (S1004). If the number of slaves has reached the upper limit (YES in S1004), the master device changes the participation acceptance state held in the RAM 304 from permissible to not permissible (S1005). By this processing, it is possible to refuse the participation of new slave devices thereafter to this network.

  If the above-mentioned number of slaves has not reached the upper limit (NO in S1004), this participation acceptance state is left as it is. Thereafter, this master device exchanges the sequence of the next device capability collection step 103 with the slave device group (S1006).

  Next, following the process of the master device, the process of the slave device will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a slave device having a communication parameter setting control function according to the second embodiment. It is assumed that the device having the communication parameter setting control function determines the device type determined in the master device determination step 102 and recognizes that it is a slave device.

  The slave side device transmits a master inquiry message to the master side device (S1101). Here, a master declaration message periodically transmitted from the master side device is received (S1102). As a result, the slave device recognizes the presence of the master device.

  Thereafter, it is confirmed whether or not a participation rejection notification message has been transmitted from the master side device (S1103). Here, when the participation rejection notification message is not transmitted from the master side device (NO in S1103), it is determined whether or not a device capability collection request is continuously transmitted (S1104). The reason for performing this determination processing is that it is assumed that the participation refusal notification is missed depending on the propagation state of the communication path.

  Here, the slave device that has received the device capability collection request transmits a device capability collection response to the master device that is the transmission source of the device capability collection request (S1105).

  On the other hand, when the reception of the participation refusal notification message is confirmed from the master device (YES in S1103) or the reception of the device capability collection request cannot be confirmed (NO in S1104), the slave device itself sets communication parameters. It is determined that participation in the network is rejected, communication with the communication parameter setting network is terminated, and the wireless communication function is stopped.

  If the slave device refuses to participate in the communication parameter setting network, a message to that effect may be displayed via the user interface.

  As described above, the number of devices that can participate in the wireless parameter setting network can be limited by the series of processes described above.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the first and second embodiments, a state in which a specified number of devices participate as a participation state in which participation of a new device in the communication parameter setting network is rejected, and a state in which participation of a specified number of devices is accepted. In the third embodiment, a device capability collection request is set to a timeout state after transmission.

  Even in the third embodiment, when a communication parameter setting network is constructed in an ad hoc network composed of the three wireless communication devices shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to prevent an unexpected third party from participating in the network. Processing will be described.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a sequence from a master device determination step to a device capability collection step of a device having a communication parameter setting control function according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 12, it is assumed that the communication parameter setting network formation step 101 has already been completed between the device A and the device B, and the device A is an IBSS creator, and the devices B and C are joiners.

  Device A transmits a master inquiry message (S1201) as a broadcast message. At this time, since the master device determination step 102 has just started and there is no master device, a response to this master inquiry message (S1201) is not returned.

  Accordingly, the device A sets itself as the master device, stops transmitting the master inquiry message (S1201), and starts transmitting the master declaration message (S1202).

  Next, after a random interval has elapsed, device B transmits a master inquiry message (S1203) as a broadcast message. Here, when the device A confirms that the master inquiry message (S1203) is transmitted from the device B, the device A transmits a master declaration message (S1204). On the other hand, device B transmits a slave declaration message (S1205) upon receiving the master declaration message (S1204) transmitted from device A.

  Next, upon receiving the slave declaration message (S1205) from the device B, the device A starts the device capability collection step 103 shown in FIG. That is, a device capability collection request (S1206) is transmitted. Simultaneously with the transmission, the master side device starts a participation reception timer. When the participation reception timer is activated, the state transitions to the next communication parameter transfer direction determination step 104 by receiving a device capability collection response (S1207) from the device B.

  Thereafter, when the timeout of the participation reception timer occurs (S1208), the device A changes the participation reception state to participation rejection. Thereby, new participation in the future communication parameter setting network becomes impossible.

  At this time, for example, when the device C transmits a master inquiry message (S1209), the device A transmits a participation rejection notification message (S1110) to the device C and rejects participation in the communication parameter setting network. .

  In FIG. 12, the case where the device A and the device B have already made a transition to the device capability collection step 103 and a new slave device (device C) is about to enter has been described. The present invention can be applied even when (device B and device C) exist and are each in the state of transition to the device capability collection step 103.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a sequence of three devices having a communication parameter setting control function from a master device determination step to a device capability collection step when two slave devices are transiting to the device capability collection step. In FIG. 13, it is assumed that the communication parameter setting network formation step 101 in FIG. 1 has already been completed among the devices A, B, and C, and that the device A is an IBSS creator, and the devices B and C are joiners.

  Device A transmits a master inquiry message (S1301) as a broadcast message. At this point, since the master device determination step 102 has just started and there is no master device, a response to this master inquiry message (S1301) is not returned.

  Accordingly, the device A sets itself as a master device, stops transmitting the master inquiry message (S1301), and starts transmitting the master declaration message (S1302).

  Next, after a random interval has elapsed, device B transmits a master inquiry message (S1303) as a broadcast message. Similarly to the device B, the device C also transmits a master inquiry message (S1304). Here, the device A transmits a master declaration message (S1305) upon confirming that the master inquiry messages (S1303 and S1304) have been transmitted from the devices B and C.

On the other hand, the device B receives the master declaration message (S1305) transmitted from the device A and transmits a slave declaration message (S1306). Similarly to the device B, the device C transmits the slave declaration message (S1307) by receiving the master declaration message (S1305) transmitted from the device A. Next, the device A receives the device declaration from the devices B and C. Device capability collection step 103 is started by receiving the slave declaration message (S1306 and S1307). That is, a device capability collection request (S1308) is transmitted as a broadcast message. Simultaneously with this transmission, the master device starts a participation reception timer. When the participation acceptance timer is activated, the state transitions to the next communication parameter transfer direction determination step 104 by receiving a device capability collection response (S1309) from the device B.

  Thereafter, when the timeout of the participation reception timer occurs (S1310), the device A changes the participation reception state to participation rejection. Thereby, new participation in the future communication parameter setting network becomes impossible.

  For example, when the device C transmits a device capability collection response (S1311) after the participation reception timer has timed out, the device A transmits a participation rejection notification message (S1312) to the device C, and sends the information to the communication parameter setting network. Reject participation.

  In the third embodiment, the case where only the device C times out has been described. However, even when the device B can transmit a device capability collection response only after the timeout, the participation acceptance is rejected. .

  Next, a device process for realizing the above-described sequence will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating processing of the master side device according to the third embodiment. Note that the processing of the slave side device is not different from that of the second embodiment, and a description thereof is omitted here.

  First, when a device having a communication parameter setting control function determines that it is a master device, the participation acceptance state is initially set to “permitted” (S1401). Subsequently, it waits for reception of a master inquiry from another device having a communication parameter setting control function as a slave device, and receives a master inquiry from another device (S1402). Next, when the master inquiry is received, the master declaration is transmitted to the master inquiry transmission source device (S1403).

  On the other hand, the master inquiry transmission source device determines itself as a slave device upon receipt of the master declaration. Then, the slave declaration is transmitted to the master declaration transmission source device. The master device that receives this slave declaration determines whether or not a slave declaration has been received from one or more communication devices (S1404). Here, if no slave declaration has been received from one device (NO in S1404), it means that there is no slave device held by this master device, so the master inquiry is made until the slave device appears. The process returns to the standby state (S1402).

  When a slave declaration is received from one or more devices (YES in S1404), the master device transmits a device capability collection request (S1405). After transmitting this device capability collection request, the participation acceptance timer is started (S1406). Thereafter, after transmitting the device capability collection request and receiving a device capability collection response from the slave side device (S1407), the master side device transitions to the communication parameter transfer direction determination step 104.

  Thereafter, the timer value of the participation reception timer is determined. If the timer value has expired (YES in S1408), the participation reception state is changed to “non-permitted” (S1409).

  If the timer value is less than end (NO in S1408), the process again shifts to the master inquiry message reception wait state (S1402).

  In the third embodiment, the participation reception timer is configured to be activated after the transmission of the device capability collection request. However, after the communication parameter setting network is constructed, the participation reception timer is activated upon entry of the first slave device. It may be configured. In that case, S1405 and S1406 shown in FIG.

  Further, it is possible to configure the above-described participation reception timer to be activated next to S1403 shown in FIG.

  In addition, when the timer expires, it is possible to extend the function so that the participation reception time is extended by the user's judgment through a predetermined user interface.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In a device having a communication parameter setting control function, as a form for preventing unnecessary devices from participating in the communication parameter setting network, in addition to the methods from the first embodiment to the third embodiment described so far, different viewpoints are used. There is also a method based on the capabilities of the equipment. In the fourth embodiment, the device capability of a device to be joined in advance is determined when participating in the communication parameter setting network.

  Even in the fourth embodiment, when a communication parameter setting network is constructed in an ad hoc network composed of the three wireless communication devices shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to prevent an unexpected third party from participating in the network. Processing will be described.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a sequence from a master device determination step to a device capability collection step of a device having a communication parameter setting control function according to the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 15, it is assumed that the communication parameter setting network formation step 101 has already been completed between the device A and the device B, the device A is an IBSS creator, and the device B and the device C are joiners.

  Device A transmits a master inquiry message (S1501) as a broadcast message. At this point, since the master device determination step 102 has just started and there is no master device, a response to this master inquiry message (S1501) is not returned.

  Accordingly, the device A sets itself as the master device, stops transmitting the master inquiry message (S1501), and starts transmitting the master declaration message (S1502).

  Next, after a random interval has elapsed, device B transmits a master inquiry message (S1503) as a broadcast message. Here, the device A transmits a master declaration message (S1504) when it is confirmed that the master inquiry message (S1503) is transmitted from the device B. On the other hand, the device B transmits the slave declaration message (S1505) upon receiving the master declaration message (S1504) transmitted from the device A.

  Next, when the device A receives the slave declaration message (S1505) from the device B, the device A starts the device capability collection step 103. That is, a device capability collection request (S1506) is transmitted. On the other hand, upon receiving the device capability collection request (S1506), device B sets its own device capability and transmits a device capability collection response (S1507) to device A.

  Next, device A receives a device capability collection response (S1507) from device B, compares it with the device capability information held in RAM 304, and determines whether or not device B satisfies the device capability requested by device A. judge. If it is determined that the device capability is satisfied, a communication parameter receiver request (S1508) is transmitted to the device B.

  Furthermore, after a random interval has elapsed, device C transmits a master inquiry message (S1509). The device A transmits a master declaration message (S1510) upon confirming that the master inquiry message has been transmitted from the device C.

  On the other hand, the device C receives the master declaration message (S1510) transmitted from the device A, and transmits a slave declaration message (S1511).

  Next, when the device A receives the slave declaration message (S1511) from the device C, the device A starts the device capability collection step 103. That is, a device capability collection request (S1512) is transmitted. On the other hand, upon receiving the device capability collection request (S1512), device C sets its own device capability and transmits a device capability collection response (S1513) to device A.

  Next, the device A receives the device capability collection response (S1513) from the device C, compares it with the device capability information held in the RAM 304, and determines whether or not the device C satisfies the device capability requested by the device A. judge. Here, unlike the device B, when it is determined that the device C does not satisfy the device capability, a participation non-permission notification message (S1514) is transmitted to the device C. The device C receiving this participation non-permission notice ends the communication parameter setting control function.

  In FIG. 15, a case has been described in which the device A and the device B have already transitioned to the device capability collection step 103 and a new slave device (device C) is about to enter, but there are already two slave devices. The present invention can be applied even when (device B and device C) exist and are each in the state of transition to the device capability collection step 103.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 16, processing of the device for realizing the above-described sequence shown in FIG. 15 will be described. Here, only the processing of the master side device will be described, and the processing of the slave side device is not different from that of the second embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating processing in a master device of a device having a communication parameter setting control function according to the fourth embodiment. The master device receives the slave declaration message from the slave device (S1601). The master device that has received the slave declaration message transmits a device capability collection request to the slave device and receives a device capability collection response from the slave device, thereby exchanging the device capabilities (S1602).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the exchange of the device capability has succeeded. If the exchange has failed (NO in S1603), the master device transmits a participation rejection notification message to the slave device at this time. (S1605).

  If the exchange of the device capabilities is successful (YES in S1602), the master device determines the device capabilities obtained from the slave device and the device capabilities owned by the master device, and is obtained from the slave device. It is determined whether or not the device capability satisfies the device capability possessed by itself (S1603). Here, if they do not match (NO in S1603), the master device transmits a participation rejection notification message to the slave device as in the case where the device capability exchange has failed (S1605).

  If the device capabilities match or are sufficient as a result of the determination (YES in S1603), the communication parameter transfer direction determination step 104 of the communication parameter setting control function is executed (S1604).

  In addition, although the apparatus capability in 4th Embodiment assumes the encryption system and the authentication system, it can also be determined by other capabilities.

[Fifth Embodiment]
Next, a fifth embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The fifth embodiment is characterized in that a random number is used for the request signal and the response signal in the master device determination step 102, and the sequence after the device capability collection step is encrypted using the random value as an element.

  Even in the fifth embodiment, when a communication parameter setting network is constructed in an ad hoc network composed of the three wireless communication devices shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to prevent an unexpected third party from participating in the network. Processing will be described.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a sequence from a master device determination step to a device capability collection step of a device having a communication parameter setting control function according to the fifth embodiment. In FIG. 17, it is assumed that the communication parameter setting network formation step 101 has already been completed between the device A and the device B, and the device A is an IBSS creator and the devices B and C are joiners.

  Device A transmits a master inquiry message as a broadcast message (S1701). At this time, since the master device determination step has just started and there is no master device, a response to the master inquiry message (S1701) is not returned.

  Accordingly, the device A sets itself as a master device, stops transmitting the master inquiry message (S1701), and starts transmitting the master declaration message (S1702). The master declaration message (S1702) is assigned a random number (M Nonce) generated by the master side device.

  Next, after a random interval has elapsed, device B transmits a master inquiry message (S1704) as a broadcast message. Note that if the device B has received the master declaration message (S1702) from the device A before the transmission of the master inquiry message (S1704), the device B generates the random number (M Nonce) described above and the device B. A session key is generated with the random number (S Nonce) and the device-specific seed (S1703).

  Here, after confirming that the master inquiry message (S1704) is transmitted from the device B, the device A, the random number (M Nonce), the random number (S Nonce) given to the master inquiry message, and the device-specific With Seed, a session key is generated (S1705).

  Next, after generating the session key, device A transmits a master declaration message (S1706) to device B in plain text. Thereafter, the device A applies the generated session key to the transmission source of the master inquiry message (S1707).

  On the other hand, the device B applies the generated session key by receiving the master declaration message (S1706) transmitted from the device A (S1708). After applying this session key, device B performs encryption using this session key and transmits a slave declaration message (S1709) to device A. Thereafter, communication between the device A and the device B is encrypted.

  Thereafter, for example, it is assumed that the third terminal device C appears. In addition, it is assumed that the device C has intercepted the master declaration message (S1706) transmitted from the device A and has generated a session key (S1710) in the same manner as the device B.

  First, the device C transmits a master inquiry message (S1711) to the device A. On the other hand, since device A has already confirmed encryption with device B, device A cannot receive the master inquiry message (S1711) transmitted from device C.

  Accordingly, the device C cannot receive a response to the master inquiry message (S1711), and therefore a timeout occurs (S1712). When the timeout occurs, the device C ends the process related to the communication parameter setting network.

  Next, following the description of the sequence between the devices described above, processing performed by the master device and the slave device will be described. First, processing performed by the master side device will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing processing of a master device having a communication parameter setting control function in the fifth embodiment. The master device sends a master declaration message with the random number generated within itself (S1801). After the transmission, a master inquiry message from the slave candidate device is awaited (S1802). When the master inquiry message is not received in this master inquiry message standby, the master device repeats this standby processing.

  After that, when a master inquiry message is received from the slave device (YES in S1802), the master device generates the random number (M Nonce) generated in itself and the slave device attached to the master inquiry message. An effective session key in the communication parameter setting network is generated from the random number (S Nonce) and the Seed held in the master device (S1803).

  Next, the master device transmits a master declaration message to the slave device without performing encryption (S1804). Then, after transmitting the master declaration message, the generated session key is applied (S1805), and a slave declaration message from the slave device is awaited. When this slave declaration message is received (S1806), the master device decrypts the slave declaration message with the session key (S1807). If decoding fails (NO in S1807), the process returns to the slave declaration message reception waiting process (S1806).

  On the other hand, if the above-described slave declaration message has been successfully decoded (YES in S1807), the process proceeds to the device capability collection step 103, which is the next step of the communication parameter setting control function (S1808).

  Next, following the process of the master side device described above, the process of the slave side device will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a slave device having a communication parameter setting control function according to the fifth embodiment. First, a device having a communication parameter setting control function receives a master declaration message when a master side device already exists in the vicinity (S1901). The master declaration message includes a random number (M Nonce) of the master device. A session key used in the communication parameter setting network is generated from the random number (M Nonce), the random number (S Nonce) of the slave side device generated within itself, and Seed (S1902).

  After generating the session key, the slave device transmits a master inquiry by broadcast (S1903). After transmitting this master inquiry, the system waits until a master declaration is transmitted from the master side device (S1904). Thereafter, when a master declaration message is received from the master side device (YES in S1904), the random number (M Nonce) at the time of generating the session key and the random number (M Nonce) included in the received master declaration message are obtained. If they are the same, the generated session key is applied (S1905).

  Next, the slave side device transmits the slave declaration encrypted using the session key to the master side device (S1906). If the slave declaration is correctly transmitted to the master device, a device capability collection request is transmitted from the master device, and the device capability collection request is awaited (S1907). Here, when the device capability collection request that can be decoded from the master side cannot be received (NO in S1907), the slave side device ends the processing related to the communication parameter setting network (S1909).

  When a device capability collection request is received from the master side device (YES in S1907), the slave side device performs the processing of the device capability collection step 103, which is the next step of the communication parameter setting control function (S1908).

  According to the fifth embodiment, communication parameter setting can be performed between the master device and the slave device by encryption processing stronger than that of the first embodiment.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (7)

A communication device,
Which of the communication device and the other communication device is a providing device that provides communication parameters for performing wireless communication conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series, or a receiving device that receives the communication parameters from the providing device; A determination means for determining whether or not
Generating means for generating a random number to generate an encryption key for encrypting the communication parameter;
Generating means for generating an encryption key for encrypting the communication parameter based on the random number generated by the generating means;
A transmission unit configured to transmit the communication parameter encrypted based on the encryption key generated by the generation unit to the other communication device when the communication unit is determined to be the providing device by the determination unit;
Obtaining means for obtaining random number information generated by the other communication device ;
I have a,
The generating means encrypts the communication parameter based on the random number generated by the generating means and the random number information generated by the other communication device and acquired by the acquiring means. Generate a key,
A communication device. The communication parameters include SSID (Service Set Identifier) and encryption method information.
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. When the determination unit determines that the communication device is the providing device, the communication unit further includes an encryption unit that encrypts the communication parameter based on the encryption key generated by the generation unit.
The communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein A timer used when transmitting the communication parameter;
The transmission means transmits the communication parameter to a device detected before the timer times a predetermined time.
The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The determining means determines which of the communication device and the other communication device is the providing device or the receiving device based on the information on the communication device and the information on the other communication device. To decide,
The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the communication apparatus is characterized in that: A communication device control method comprising:
Which of the communication device and the other communication device is a providing device that provides communication parameters for performing wireless communication conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series, or a receiving device that receives the communication parameters from the providing device; A decision process to decide whether or not
A generating step of generating a random number to generate an encryption key for encrypting the communication parameter;
An acquisition step of acquiring information of a random number generated by the other communication device ;
A generating step for generating an encryption key for encrypting the communication parameter based on the random number generated in the generating step, the random number generated in the generating step and generated by the other communication device; A generation step of generating an encryption key for encrypting the communication parameter based on the random number information acquired in the acquisition step ;
A transmission step of transmitting the communication parameter encrypted based on the encryption key generated in the generation step to the other communication device when the communication device is determined to be the providing device in the determination step;
A control method characterized by comprising: In the computer equipped with the communication device,
Which of the communication device and the other communication device is a providing device that provides communication parameters for performing wireless communication conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series, or a receiving device that receives the communication parameters from the providing device; A decision process to decide whether or not
A generating step of generating a random number to generate an encryption key for encrypting the communication parameter;
An acquisition step of acquiring information of a random number generated by the other communication device ;
A generating step for generating an encryption key for encrypting the communication parameter based on the random number generated in the generating step, the random number generated in the generating step and generated by the other communication device; A generation step of generating an encryption key for encrypting the communication parameter based on the random number information acquired in the acquisition step ;
A transmission step of transmitting the communication parameter encrypted based on the encryption key generated in the generation step to the other communication device when the communication device is determined to be the providing device in the determination step;
A program for running

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