JP5784068B2 - COMMUNICATION DEVICE, COMMUNICATION METHOD, PROGRAM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - Google Patents

Description

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

  In wireless communication represented by a wireless LAN compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series, there are many setting items that must be set before use.

  For example, as setting items, there are communication parameters necessary for wireless communication such as an SSID (Service Set Identifier) as a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key. It is very complicated for the user to set these manually.

  Therefore, various manufacturers have devised automatic setting methods for easily setting communication parameters in wireless devices. In these automatic setting methods, communication parameters are automatically set by providing communication parameters from one device to the other device according to a predetermined procedure and message between connected devices.

  Non-Patent Document 1 discloses an example of automatic setting of communication parameters in wireless LAN infrastructure mode communication (hereinafter referred to as infrastructure communication).

  Patent Document 1 discloses an example of automatic setting of communication parameters in communication in a wireless LAN ad hoc net mode (hereinafter referred to as ad hoc communication).

  In Patent Document 1, a device that performs ad hoc communication defines a device (hereinafter referred to as a providing device) that provides communication parameters from devices participating in a network, and the providing device communicates communication parameters to other devices (hereinafter referred to as receiving devices). I will provide a.

  In this way, by using communication parameter automatic setting, the user can automatically set communication parameters with a simple operation.

JP 2006-352282 A

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED (TM) for Wi-Fi Protected Setup: Easing the User Experience for Home and Small Office Wi-Fi (R) Networks, http: // www. wi-fi. org / wp / wifi-protected-setup

  Here, the contents of communication parameters provided by automatic setting of communication parameters will be considered.

  In infrastructure communication, communication parameters set in an access point, that is, information such as SSID, encryption method, encryption key, authentication method, and authentication key are provided to each terminal. The communication parameters provided to each terminal are always provided with the same contents unless the access point setting is changed.

  On the other hand, in ad hoc communication, if communication parameters having the same contents are always provided to each receiving device from a providing device as in the case of infrastructure communication, there may be a problem in the safety of wireless communication.

  For example, when a communication parameter provided to a receiving device during a certain communication is provided to another receiving device during another communication, the two receiving devices that are not intended to perform direct communication are the same. It can exist on the network.

  As described above, when a device unrelated to communication exists on the network, there is a possibility that communication with an unintended device may occur, and there is a possibility that wireless communication may be intercepted by an unintended device. As one method for solving this problem, it is conceivable to change a communication parameter to be provided every time communication parameters are automatically set.

  On the other hand, there are cases where the providing device wants to provide the same communication parameter to a plurality of receiving devices, such as when communication is performed with three or more devices. In this case, if the communication parameters provided by the providing device to the receiving device are changed each time automatic setting is performed, there is a problem in that two or more receiving devices cannot be joined to the same network, resulting in poor usability. .

  An object of the present invention is to solve a problem that occurs when a providing apparatus performs communication parameter setting processing.

  The present invention is a communication device, the communication means for communicating with another communication device in a predetermined wireless network based on communication parameters shared between the communication device and another communication device, and the other A communication unit that transmits a request to the communication device, a reception unit that receives a response to the request from the other device, and the communication device that is disconnected from the predetermined wireless network. The identification information for identifying the predetermined wireless network that has performed is included in the response received by the receiving unit, and the elapsed time after sharing the communication parameter is predetermined And a joining means for joining the predetermined wireless network when the time is smaller than the time.

  According to the present invention, automatic setting of communication parameters can be performed without impairing convenience.

Block diagram of the terminal Software functional block diagram in the providing apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention Software functional block diagram in the receiving apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention Network configuration diagram in the embodiment The flowchart figure showing operation | movement of the communication parameter selection process of the provision apparatus in embodiment. The flowchart figure showing operation | movement of the presence determination process of the provision apparatus in embodiment. The flowchart figure showing operation | movement of the communication parameter automatic setting process of the provision apparatus in embodiment. The flowchart figure showing operation | movement of the communication parameter automatic setting process of the receiver in embodiment. First sequence diagram showing operations of terminal A, terminal B, and terminal C in the embodiment The 2nd sequence diagram showing operation of terminal A, terminal B, and terminal C in an embodiment

<Embodiment 1>
Hereinafter, the communication apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, an example using a wireless LAN system compliant with the IEEE 802.11 series will be described, but the communication form is not necessarily limited to the wireless LAN compliant with IEEE 802.11.

  A hardware configuration in a case suitable for the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of each terminal described below. Reference numeral 101 denotes the entire terminal. Reference numeral 102 denotes a control unit that controls the entire terminal by executing a control program stored in the storage unit 103. The control unit 102 also performs communication parameter setting control with other terminals. A storage unit 103 stores a control program executed by the control unit 102 and various types of information such as communication parameters. Various operations described later are performed by the control unit 102 executing a control program stored in the storage unit 103.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes a wireless unit for performing wireless communication. Reference numeral 105 denotes a display unit that performs various displays, and has a function capable of outputting visually recognizable information such as an LCD or LED, or outputting sound such as a speaker.

  Reference numeral 106 denotes a setting button for giving a trigger for starting communication parameter setting. When the control unit 102 detects an operation of the setting button 106 by the user, the control unit 102 starts a communication parameter setting operation described later. Reference numeral 107 denotes an antenna control unit, and reference numeral 108 denotes an antenna.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of software function blocks executed by a terminal (hereinafter, a providing apparatus) that provides communication parameters in a communication parameter setting operation described later.

  Reference numeral 201 denotes the entire terminal. A communication parameter providing unit 202 performs communication parameter providing processing.

  In this embodiment, communication parameters necessary for performing wireless communication such as an SSID as a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key are provided to other terminals.

  In this embodiment, when the communication parameter is provided to another terminal, the providing device stores the provided communication parameter in the storage unit 103 as the latest communication parameter provided to the receiving device (hereinafter, provided parameter). To do. The provided parameter stored in the storage unit 103 can also be referred to as the last provided communication parameter among the communication parameters already provided by the providing apparatus.

  A packet receiving unit 203 receives packets related to various types of communication. A packet transmission unit 204 transmits packets related to various types of communication.

  A search signal transmission unit 205 controls transmission of a device search signal such as a probe request. The probe request can also be referred to as a network search signal for searching for a desired network. Transmission of a probe request to be described later is performed by the search signal transmission unit 205. Further, the search signal transmission unit 205 also transmits a probe response that is a response signal to the received probe request.

  A search signal receiving unit 206 controls reception of a device search signal such as a probe request from another terminal. The search signal receiving unit 206 receives a probe request described later. The search signal receiving unit 206 also receives a probe response. Various information (self information) of the transmission source device is added to the device search signal and the response signal.

  A network control unit 207 controls the establishment, participation, and withdrawal of the network. The network control unit 207 establishes, joins, and leaves the wireless LAN network described later. Note that establishment of a network can also be referred to as construction or formation of a network. In ad hoc communication, a network is established by starting transmission of a beacon.

  A communication parameter creation unit 208 creates a new communication parameter. In this embodiment, communication parameters necessary for wireless communication such as SSID as a network identifier, encryption method, encryption key, authentication method, and authentication key are newly created. The communication parameter creation unit 208 performs a new communication parameter creation process described later.

  Reference numeral 209 denotes a presence determination unit that determines whether a network established by the providing apparatus exists. The presence determination process described later is performed by the presence determination unit 209. Note that the presence determination unit 209 can also determine whether or not the receiving device to which the providing device has provided the communication parameter still exists in the network.

  A communication parameter selection unit 210 selects a communication parameter to be provided to the receiving device. The communication parameter selection process described later is performed by the communication parameter selection unit.

  Reference numeral 211 denotes an elapsed time determination unit that measures the time elapsed since the communication parameter was last provided to the receiving apparatus and determines whether or not the time is greater than a predetermined maximum elapsed time. The maximum elapsed time may be stored in advance in the device, or may be configured to be set by the user. The elapsed time determination process described later is performed by the elapsed time determination unit 211.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of software function blocks executed by a terminal (hereinafter, a receiving device) that receives communication parameters in a communication parameter setting operation described later.

  Reference numeral 301 denotes the entire terminal. A communication parameter receiving unit 302 performs communication parameter reception processing. In the present embodiment, communication parameters necessary for performing wireless communication such as an SSID as a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key are received from a providing device.

  Reference numeral 303 denotes a packet receiving unit that receives packets related to various types of communication. A packet transmission unit 304 transmits packets relating to various types of communication.

  A search signal transmission unit 305 controls transmission of a device search signal such as a probe request. The probe request can also be referred to as a network search signal for searching for a desired network. The search signal transmission unit 305 transmits a probe request to be described later. The search signal transmission unit 305 also transmits a probe response that is a response signal to the received probe request.

  A search signal receiving unit 306 controls reception of a device search signal such as a probe request from another terminal. The search signal receiving unit 306 receives a probe request described later. The search signal reception unit 306 also receives a probe response.

  Reference numeral 307 denotes a network control unit for controlling participation and withdrawal from the network. The network control unit 307 joins and leaves the network, which will be described later.

  All software function blocks have a mutual relationship in terms of software or hardware. Further, the functional block is an example, and a plurality of functional blocks may constitute one functional block, or any functional block may be further divided into blocks that perform a plurality of functions.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a terminal A 401 (hereinafter, terminal A), a terminal B 402 (hereinafter, terminal B), and a terminal C 403 (hereinafter, terminal C).

  Terminal A, terminal B, and terminal C have an IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN communication function, and perform wireless communication by ad hoc communication between the terminals.

  The terminal A is a providing device and has the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 described above. Terminals B and C are receiving devices and have the configurations shown in FIGS.

  Here, a case is considered in which communication parameters are automatically set between the terminal A and the terminal B, and then communication parameters are automatically set between the terminal A and the terminal C.

  FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart illustrating processing for selecting a communication parameter to be provided to the receiving device when the providing device executes communication parameter automatic setting processing. When the setting button 106 is operated in the providing apparatus, the processing illustrated in FIG. 5 is started.

  The communication parameter selection unit 210 refers to the storage unit 103 and confirms whether the provided parameter is stored (S501). When the provided parameter is not stored in the storage unit 103, the communication parameter selection unit 210 activates the communication parameter creation unit 208 and creates a new communication parameter to be provided to the receiving device (S502).

  When the provided parameter is stored in the storage unit 103, the communication parameter selection unit 210 activates the presence determination unit 209 (S503).

  The presence determination unit 209 executes presence determination processing in FIG. 6 described later, and determines whether there is a network established by the providing apparatus using the provided parameters (S504).

  If the network exists as a result of the presence determination process, the communication parameter selection unit 210 causes the elapsed time determination unit 211 to determine the elapsed time (S505).

  The elapsed time determination unit 211 determines whether or not the elapsed time since the provision of the provided parameter to the receiving device is greater than a predetermined maximum elapsed time (S506).

  When the time elapsed since the provision of the provided parameter is smaller than the maximum elapsed time, the communication parameter selection unit 210 selects the provided parameter stored in the storage unit 103 as the communication parameter to be provided (S507).

  If the elapsed time since the provision of the provided parameter is larger than the maximum elapsed time, the communication parameter selection unit 210 activates the communication parameter creation unit 208 and creates a new communication parameter to be provided to the receiving device (S502).

  Here, the reason why the determination process of S506 is performed will be described. For example, after providing communication parameters, the receiving device forgets the operation and continues to participate in the network as it is, even though the providing device has left the network due to a user operation such as turning off the power. It is done. In such a situation, it is assumed that the setting button is pressed in order for the providing apparatus to communicate with another receiving apparatus after several hours have elapsed. In this case, if it is determined that the network established by the provided parameter continues to exist and the provided parameter is provided to the other receiving device, a plurality of receiving devices that are not intended for communication are the same. Will exist in the network. As a countermeasure against such a situation, even when there is a network established by the providing apparatus using the provided parameters, the newly created communication parameter is selected as a parameter for providing the communication parameter after a certain time has elapsed. Thereby, it is possible to prevent a decrease in security due to the use of the same communication parameter for a long time.

  If the user has left the network, after selecting the provided parameter in S507, the network control unit 207 joins the network using the provided parameter (S508).

  If the network does not exist as a result of the presence determination process in S504, the communication parameter selection unit 210 activates the communication parameter creation unit 208 and creates a new communication parameter to be provided to the receiving device (S502).

  After creating a new communication parameter in S502, the network control unit 207 establishes a network using the created communication parameter (S509).

  After establishing the network, the network control unit 207 stores BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier) information of the established network in the storage unit 103 as established BSSID information (S510). Here, the BSSID is a random network identifier generated by a device that establishes a network. Accordingly, even if the same communication parameters such as SSID, encryption method, encryption key, authentication method, and authentication key are set, a different BSSID is set every time a network is established. Accordingly, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 6, the BSSID can be used to determine whether or not a network established using the provided parameters continues to exist. The SSID is a network identifier that can be set in advance in the device or can be set by the user to an arbitrary value, and is different from the BSSID. Further, as is clear from the above description, the BSSID is not a communication parameter provided from the providing device to the receiving device by the automatic setting process.

  As described above, when the setting button is operated, the receiving apparatus that has already provided the communication parameter by checking whether or not the network established by the providing apparatus using the provided parameter continues to exist. It is determined whether or not it has left the network.

  If the network continues to exist, the communication parameter with another receiving device is instructed automatically, or it has temporarily left the network due to radio interference on the providing device side. There are cases. According to this process, in either case, the provided parameter is selected as the communication parameter to be provided. When an automatic setting of communication parameters with another receiving device is instructed, the provided parameters are provided to the other receiving device, and data communication is performed with three or more devices. It becomes possible. If the provider temporarily leaves the network due to radio wave interference or the like on the providing device side, it can be prepared for when a new communication device joins the network.

  In addition, when there is no network established by the providing device using the provided parameter, there may be a case where data communication on the network using the provided parameter has been completed or the receiving device has left the network. It is done. In this case, the providing apparatus newly creates a communication parameter to be provided, so that the providing apparatus can join only the communication apparatus related to the desired communication processing to the network. In other words, by providing the same communication parameters to a plurality of devices that are not intended for communication, it is possible to prevent (prevent) the presence of devices unrelated to communication in the network, and to ensure communication safety. Can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the processing in FIG. 5 is started when the setting button 106 is operated. However, the same effect can be obtained by performing the processing in FIG. 5 when the wireless communication unit of the providing apparatus is activated. can get.

  Further, the processing of S505 and S506 may be omitted. As a result, it is possible to determine whether the provided parameter or the newly created parameter is used as the provided parameter simply by determining whether or not the network established using the provided parameter continues to exist. Further, when the processes of SS505 and S506 are omitted, the provided parameters may be disabled after a predetermined time has elapsed since the provided parameters are stored. In this case, even if a provided parameter is stored, if it is set to be unusable, a newly created communication parameter is determined as a parameter to be provided. By doing so, it is possible to prevent a decrease in security.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing (S504 in FIG. 5) for determining whether there is a network established by the providing apparatus using the provided parameters.

  The presence determination unit 209 confirms the storage unit 103 and confirms whether the established BSSID information is stored (S601).

  If the established BSSID information is not stored, the presence determination unit 209 determines that there is no network established by the providing apparatus using the provided parameters, and ends the process (S602).

  When the established BSSID information is stored, the presence determination unit 209 scans the network to obtain BSSID information of the network existing in the vicinity. (S603). Specifically, the providing apparatus acquires a BSSID information of a network existing in the vicinity by transmitting a probe request and receiving a probe response from the surrounding devices.

  After scanning, the presence determination unit 209 compares the BSSID information acquired in S603 with the established BSSID information (S604).

  If there is BSSID information that matches the established BSSID information in the BSSID information acquired in S603, the presence determination unit 209 determines that there is a network established using the provided parameters (S605).

  If there is no BSSID information that matches the established BSSID information in the BSSID information acquired in S603, the presence determination unit 209 determines that there is no network established using the provided parameters (S602).

  In this way, by performing the determination process using the BSSID, it is possible to reliably determine whether or not the network established by the providing apparatus using the provided parameters continues.

  Note that when the scan is executed in step S603, the communication unit of the surrounding device may be in a power saving state (power save mode) and may not be able to respond to the probe request transmitted by the providing apparatus. In order to cope with such a situation, before executing step S603, the providing device releases a power saving state of surrounding devices by transmitting a signal for releasing the power saving state to the surrounding devices. A scan may be performed later.

  FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart for explaining processing for providing communication parameters to the receiving device when the providing device executes communication parameter automatic setting processing. When the communication parameter selection process shown in FIG. 5 is completed in the providing apparatus, the process shown in FIG. 7 is started.

  The providing device waits for a certain period of time until a wireless signal is transmitted from the surrounding devices (S701). If a desired signal is not received even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the process ends (S702). If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S701 to wait for a radio signal.

  When the wireless signal is received, the search signal receiving unit 206 checks whether or not the received signal is a probe request (S703).

  If the signal received in step S703 is not a probe request, the communication parameter providing unit 202 confirms whether the received signal is a communication parameter automatic setting start message (S704).

  If the received signal is a communication parameter automatic setting start message, the communication parameter providing unit 202 provides the communication parameter to the receiving apparatus that has transmitted the start message (S705).

  In step S705, when the communication parameter providing unit 202 completes the provision of the communication parameter to the receiving device, the provided communication parameter is recorded in the storage unit 103 as the latest communication parameter provided to the receiving device (the above-described provided parameter). To do. At this time, the elapsed time determination unit 211 is activated, and measurement of the elapsed time after storing the provided parameters is started.

  If the received signal is not a communication parameter automatic setting start message, the process returns to step S701 to wait for a radio signal again.

  If it is determined that the signal received in step S703 is a probe request, the search signal transmission unit 205 returns a probe response carrying additional information indicating communication parameter automatic setting (S706). Note that the probe response to which additional information indicating communication parameter automatic setting is added is a probe response returned during execution of the automatic setting process. When the automatic setting process is not being executed, a probe response not including additional information indicating communication parameter automatic setting is returned.

  FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart for explaining processing when the receiving apparatus executes communication parameter automatic setting processing. When the setting button 106 is operated by the user in the receiving apparatus, the processing illustrated in FIG. 8 is started.

  After the start of processing, the search signal transmission unit 305 of the reception device transmits a probe request (S801).

  After that, the search signal receiving unit 306 waits for a certain period of time for a probe response carrying additional information indicating communication parameter automatic setting to be transmitted from the providing device (S802).

  If a probe response with additional information is not received after a lapse of a certain time, the process returns to step S801, and the probe request transmission is repeated again (S803).

  When the probe response with additional information is received, the communication parameter receiving unit 302 specifies the identifier of the network established by the providing device from the probe response. After the identification, the communication parameter 302 joins the network and requests the providing apparatus to provide the communication parameter. This request is made by transmitting a communication parameter automatic setting start message. Then, the communication parameter is received from the providing device and stored in the storage unit 103 (S804).

  FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of the operation of each terminal in the present embodiment.

  FIG. 9 shows an example in which terminal A, terminal B, and terminal C participate in the same network by providing the same communication parameter from terminal A to terminal B and terminal C by automatic setting of communication parameters.

  When the setting buttons 106 of the terminal A and the terminal B are operated by the user, the terminal A establishes a network (F901) by the processes of FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8, and the terminal A changes to the terminal B. Communication parameters are provided (F902). Thereafter, terminal B joins the network (F903). In the example of FIG. 9, it is assumed that the terminal A provides the newly created communication parameter to the terminal B. In terminal A, the communication parameter provided to terminal B is stored as the provided parameter, and the BSSID of the network established in F901 is stored as the established BSSID.

  After providing the communication parameters to terminal B, when the setting button of terminal A is operated by the user, terminal A starts the processes of FIGS. Terminal A executes a scan (F904) and receives a probe response from terminal B (F905). Then, the terminal A compares the BSSID information included in the received probe response with the stored BSSID information, thereby confirming that the network of communication parameters provided to the terminal B in F902 exists continuously. Thereby, the terminal A selects the communication parameter stored as the provided parameter, that is, the same communication parameter as the communication parameter provided to the terminal B as the communication parameter to be provided (F906).

When the setting button of the terminal C is operated by the user, the communication parameters are provided from the terminal A to the terminal C by the processes of FIGS. 7 and 8 (F907). Here, the terminal A provides the same communication parameter to the terminal C as the communication parameter provided to the terminal B. When the terminal C receives the communication parameter, it joins the network using the communication parameter (F908).
FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation of each terminal in the present embodiment.

  FIG. 10 shows an example in which communication parameters are provided from terminal A to terminal B, and communication parameters are provided from terminal A to terminal C after data communication between terminal A and terminal B is completed.

  When the setting buttons of the terminal A and the terminal B are operated by the user, the terminal A establishes a network (F1001) and communicates from the terminal A to the terminal B by the processes of FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8. Parameters are provided (F1002). Thereafter, the terminal B joins the network (F1003). In the example of FIG. 10, a newly created communication parameter is provided to terminal B. In terminal A, the communication parameter provided to terminal B is stored as the provided parameter, and the BSSID of the network established in F901 is stored as the established BSSID.

  After providing communication parameters to terminal B, data communication is performed between terminal A and terminal B (F1004). After the data communication is completed, the terminal A and the terminal B leave the network that performed the data communication (F1005, F1006).

  Thereafter, when the setting button of the terminal A is operated, the terminal A starts the processes of FIGS. The terminal A executes a scan (F1007), and confirms that there is no network of communication parameters provided to the terminal B in F1002.

  As a result, the terminal A selects a newly created communication parameter as the communication parameter to be provided, and establishes a network using the created communication parameter (F1008).

  When the setting button of the terminal C is operated by the user, the communication parameters are provided from the terminal A to the terminal C by the processes of FIGS. 7 and 8 (F1009). Here, the terminal A provides the newly created communication parameter to the terminal C. When the terminal C receives the communication parameter, it joins the network using the communication parameter (F908).

  In this way, depending on whether or not there is a network established using the provided parameters, the provided parameters that are the first communication parameters are used as the provided communication parameters, or the second communication parameters are used. Select whether to use a certain newly created parameter.

  If there is a network established using the provided parameters, select the provided parameters to provide communication parameters for one receiving device and then the same for the other receiving device. Communication parameters can be provided. Further, even after the communication parameter is provided, even if the providing device temporarily leaves the network due to radio interference or the like, it is possible to rejoin the network and provide the communication parameter of the network. Therefore, it is not necessary to redo the automatic setting process from the beginning with all receiving apparatuses.

  If there is no network established using the provided parameters, selecting the newly created communication parameter provides the same communication parameter to a plurality of receiving devices not intended for data communication. Can be prevented. Thereby, it is possible to prevent a decrease in security due to an unintended device participating in the same network.

  As described above, the providing apparatus can appropriately allow only the communication apparatus related to the communication process to participate in the network according to the situation.

  That is, it is possible to appropriately prevent (prevent) the presence of devices unrelated to communication in the network according to the situation, and improve communication safety without impairing convenience.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the provided parameter is not provided has been described as providing the newly created communication parameter. However, it is not always necessary to newly create the parameter. For example, default communication parameters may be prepared and provided.

  In the above embodiment, the communication parameter for performing communication on the network established by the providing device has been described as being provided to the receiving device. However, another communication parameter is provided. It may be. That is, the network that provides communication parameters may be different from the network that performs data communication after setting the communication parameters. In this case, in the above-described presence determination process, it is determined whether or not there is a continuous network established using the provided parameters for data communication. Note that a network for performing data communication may be established by either the providing device or the receiving device. Further, in the elapsed time determination process in this case, the elapsed time after providing the parameter may be determined, or the elapsed time after setting the provided communication parameter may be determined.

  In the above-described embodiment, the roles of the providing device and the receiving device have been described as fixed. However, the roles can be changed according to the situation. For example, after receiving a communication parameter from a providing device, the receiving device can provide the communication parameter as a providing device to a device that wishes to newly join the network. In this case, it is determined whether there is a network established by the communication parameter that has received the provision, and based on the determination result, the communication parameter that has been provided is used as the communication parameter to be provided, or a new creation Determine whether to use the communication parameters. In the elapsed time determination process in this case, the elapsed time after receiving the communication parameter may be determined, or the elapsed time after setting the received communication parameter may be determined. Also good.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not there is a network established using communication parameters that have been set by communication parameter setting processing performed with another communication device. Then, based on the determination result, the set communication parameter or a communication parameter different from the set communication parameter is provided.

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

  For example, in the above description of the embodiment, the probe request and the probe response are used. However, the signal to be transmitted is not limited, and any signal may be used as long as it can perform the same role. .

  Also, the above description has been made with reference to an IEEE 802.11-compliant wireless LAN as an example. However, the present invention may be implemented in other wireless media such as wireless USB, MBOA, Bluetooth (registered trademark), UWB, and ZigBee. Moreover, you may implement in power line communication called PLC (Power Line Communications), wired communication media, such as wired LAN.

  Here, MBOA is an abbreviation for Multi Band OFDM Alliance. UWB includes wireless USB, wireless 1394, WINET, and the like.

  In addition, the network identifier, the encryption method, the encryption key, the authentication method, and the authentication key are exemplified as communication parameters, but other information may be used, and other information may be included in the communication parameters. Needless to say.

  The present invention supplies a recording medium recording software program codes for realizing the above functions to a system or apparatus, and a computer (CPU, MPU) of the system or apparatus reads out and executes the program codes stored in the recording medium. You may do it. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage 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, a DVD, or the like is used. it can.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the above-described functions are realized, but also the OS running on the computer based on an instruction of the program code partially or entirely of the actual processing. To realize the above-described function. OS is an abbreviation for Operating System.

  Further, the program code read from the storage 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. Then, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit may perform part or all of the actual processing to realize the above-described function.

201, 301 terminal device 202 communication parameter providing unit 203, 303 packet receiving unit 204, 304 packet transmitting unit 205, 305 search signal transmitting unit 206, 306 search signal receiving unit 207, 307 network control unit 208 communication parameter creating unit 209 existence determination Unit 210 communication parameter selection unit 211 elapsed time determination unit

Claims (13)

A communication device,
Communication means for communicating with other communication devices in a predetermined wireless network based on communication parameters shared between the communication device and the other communication devices;
Transmitting means for transmitting a request to the other communication device;
Receiving means for receiving a response to the request from the other device;
The response received by the receiving means includes identification information for identifying the predetermined wireless network that communicated with the communication means in a state where the communication device is disconnected from the predetermined wireless network. And a joining means for joining the predetermined wireless network when the elapsed time after sharing the communication parameter is smaller than a predetermined time,
A communication apparatus comprising:   And determining means for determining whether or not identification information for identifying the predetermined wireless network with which communication has been performed in the communication means is included in the response received by the receiving means. The apparatus joins the predetermined wireless network when the determination unit determines that the identification information is included in the response in a state where the apparatus is detached from the predetermined wireless network. Item 2. The communication device according to Item 1. Storage means for storing communication parameters shared between the communication device and other communication devices;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the participation unit participates in the predetermined wireless network using a communication parameter stored by the storage unit.   The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication unit performs communication with the other communication device in a wireless network conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series.   5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication parameter includes at least one of a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key.   The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication parameter includes a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key. A determination means for determining whether an elapsed time after sharing the communication parameter is greater than a predetermined time;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the participation unit participates in the predetermined wireless network based on a determination result by the determination unit.   Establishing means for establishing a new wireless network without participating in the predetermined wireless network when the determining means determines that the elapsed time after sharing the communication parameter is greater than a predetermined time. The communication device according to claim 7, further comprising:   The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the participation unit participates in the predetermined wireless network using the communication parameter.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising providing means for providing the communication parameter to the other communication apparatus. A communication method for a communication device, comprising:
Based on communication parameters shared between the communication device and another communication device, a communication step of communicating with another communication device in a predetermined wireless network;
A transmission step of transmitting a request to the other communication device;
Receiving a response to the request from the other device;
In the state where the communication device is disconnected from the predetermined wireless network, identification information for identifying the predetermined wireless network with which communication was performed in the communication step is included in the response received by the receiving step. And a joining step of joining the predetermined wireless network when an elapsed time after sharing the communication parameter is smaller than a predetermined time,
A communication method characterized by comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute the communication method according to claim 11.   A storage medium readable by a computer and storing the program according to claim 12.

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