JP6570295B2 - COMMUNICATION DEVICE, COMMUNICATION DEVICE CONTROL METHOD, PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication apparatus that registers another communication apparatus as a management apparatus.

  In recent years, communication devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, and printers that are compatible with wireless LAN (Local Area Network) have become widespread. When connecting such a communication apparatus and a base station, it is necessary to perform a connection process after setting the same communication parameter in both the communication apparatus and the base station.

  In Patent Document 1, a management apparatus provides communication parameters of a wireless network constructed by a base station to the base station and the communication apparatus so that the communication apparatus can easily participate in the wireless network constructed by the base station. The structure to perform is disclosed.

JP 2008-160173 A

  However, in such a system, when a plurality of management apparatuses exist for one base station, the following problems occur. In other words, after the first communication parameter is provided to the base station and the communication device from the first management device, the communication device is configured to provide the second communication parameter to the base station from the second management device. Will not be able to connect to the base station.

  On the other hand, if the number of devices serving as management devices for one base station is limited to one, the communication device cannot be easily joined to the wireless network constructed by the base station, which is convenient for the user. Will fall.

  In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to restrict a plurality of devices from becoming management devices capable of changing parameters of a wireless network and to allow a communication device to easily participate in a wireless network.

  In order to solve the above problems, a communication device of the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires first authentication information or second authentication information from another communication device, and the acquisition unit acquires the first authentication information. In this case, the other communication device is registered as a first management device that has the authority to join an external device to the wireless network constructed by the communication device and can change the parameters of the wireless network. When the acquisition unit acquires the second authentication information, the second communication apparatus has the authority to cause the external apparatus to participate in the wireless network, but the change of the parameter is limited. Registration means for registration, and control means for controlling a plurality of other communication devices so as not to become the first management device at the time of registration by the registration means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to restrict a plurality of devices from becoming management devices capable of changing the parameters of the wireless network, and it is possible for the communication device to easily join the wireless network.

The hardware block diagram of a base station. The software functional block diagram of a base station. The figure which shows an example of the network structure of this embodiment. The operation | movement flowchart of the base station of this embodiment. The 1st operation | movement sequence diagram in this embodiment. The 2nd operation | movement sequence diagram in this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the communication apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, 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 a wireless LAN compliant with the IEEE 802.11 series. In other words, the present invention can also be applied to communication devices compliant with other wireless communication systems such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), UWB, NFC, ZigBee, and MBOA. Further, the present invention can also be applied to a communication device compliant with a wired communication system such as a wired LAN. Here, NFC is an abbreviation for Near Field Communication (registered trademark). MBOA is an abbreviation for Multi Band OFDM Alliance. UWB includes wireless USB, wireless 1394, WINET, and the like.

  FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a communication apparatus according to the present embodiment. Reference numeral 101 denotes the entire apparatus. A control unit 102 controls the entire apparatus by executing a control program stored in the storage unit 103. The control unit 102 also performs setting control of wireless LAN parameters (hereinafter referred to as communication parameters) with other communication devices. 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 to be described later are realized by the control unit 102 reading and executing a control program stored in the storage unit 103. Reference numeral 104 denotes a wireless communication unit for performing wireless communication such as wireless LAN conforming to the IEEE802.11 series.

  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. The display unit 105 has a function of outputting at least one of visual information and sound information. The display of the QR code (registered trademark) is also performed on the display unit 105. In addition to displaying the QR code (registered trademark) through the display unit 105, the QR code (registered trademark) may be affixed to the housing of the communication device in the form of a seal or the like. It may be affixed to packaging such as cardboard at the time of sale of the device. Note that a barcode or other two-dimensional code may be used instead of the QR code (registered trademark). Reference numeral 106 denotes a wireless LAN antenna control unit, and reference numeral 107 denotes a wireless LAN antenna. An operation unit 108 is used by the user to perform various inputs and operate the communication apparatus.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of software function blocks for executing a communication control function described later. Reference numeral 201 denotes an entire software function block.

  Reference numeral 202 denotes a communication parameter control unit. The communication parameter control unit 202 performs communication of communication parameters used for wireless communication between the communication device and another communication device. Specifically, when the own device is a communication parameter provider, it generates a communication parameter and provides the communication parameter to another communication device. Further, when the own apparatus is a communication parameter receiving side, the communication parameter is received from the communication parameter providing apparatus. Also, relay processing is performed to relay between the communication parameter providing device and the receiving device.

  The network parameter changing process and the parameter providing process described later are performed by the communication parameter control unit 202. Reference numeral 203 denotes a barcode generation control unit. The barcode generation control unit 203 performs control for generating a QR code (registered trademark) and displaying the generated QR code (registered trademark) on the display unit 105. In place of the QR code (registered trademark), a barcode or other two-dimensional code may be generated and displayed.

  A wireless LAN AP function control unit 204 provides an access point function defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard. Specifically, authentication / encryption processing as an access point (hereinafter referred to as AP), management of a communication partner apparatus, and the like are performed. Reference numeral 205 denotes a wireless LAN packet receiving unit, and 206 denotes a wireless LAN packet transmitting unit, which performs wireless LAN communication based on the IEEE 802.11 standard with a communication partner apparatus.

  Reference numeral 207 denotes a management apparatus registration processing unit that performs processing when registering the management apparatus to the base station. The management device registration processing described later is performed by the management device registration processing unit 207. A data storage unit 208 stores and holds software itself, wireless LAN parameters, authentication information, and barcode information.

  All the functional 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. 3 shows a communication device, another communication device, and an external device according to this embodiment. In addition, a wireless LAN network (hereinafter referred to as a wireless network) 304 constructed by a communication device is shown.

  Here, the communication device will be described as AP 301, the other communication devices as smartphone 302 and smartphone 303, and the external device as printer 305. AP 301 is a base station that constructs a wireless network and periodically transmits a beacon as a notification signal. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the group owner (GO) defined in the Wi-Fi Direct standard may be used. Other communication devices and external devices are not limited to the above examples, and may be image input devices such as imaging devices (cameras, video cameras, etc.) and scanners, and images from printers, copiers, projectors, etc. It may be an output device. Further, it may be a storage device such as a hard disk device or a memory device, or may be an information processing device such as a personal computer (PC) or a smartphone.

  In the present embodiment, the AP 301 has the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 described above.

  In addition, the AP 301 holds two types of authentication information (first authentication information and second authentication information) used in a management apparatus registration process described later in the data storage unit 208. The authentication information is encryption key information, certificate information, password information, etc. for securely executing the management apparatus registration process. The authentication information includes at least one of these. Further, public key information may be included as encryption key information.

  The AP 301 displays the first QR code (registered trademark) in which the first authentication information is stored and the second QR code (registered trademark) in which the second authentication information is stored on the display unit 105. Each QR code (registered trademark) is used in a management device registration process described later.

  In the present embodiment, the smartphone 302 reads the first QR code (registered trademark) from the AP 301 via an imaging unit (not shown) included in the own device. Then, a management apparatus registration request message including the first authentication information stored in the first QR code (registered trademark) is transmitted to the AP 301, and registration processing is performed with the AP 301.

  As a result of the registration process, the smartphone 302 is registered as a first management apparatus that can change the settings of the wireless network 304, that is, the parameters of the wireless network 304 can be changed. Here, the first management apparatus is further described as having the authority to newly join an external apparatus to the wireless network 304. However, the first management apparatus may not have the authority.

  In addition, the smartphone 303 reads the second QR code (registered trademark) from the AP 301 via an imaging unit (not illustrated) included in the own device. Then, a management apparatus registration request message including the second authentication information stored in the second QR code (registered trademark) is transmitted to the AP 301, and a registration process is performed with the AP 301.

  As a result of the registration process, the smartphone 303 is registered as a second management apparatus capable of newly adding a terminal to the wireless network 304. That is, the second management apparatus has an authority to newly join an external apparatus to the wireless network 304. However, the second management apparatus is restricted or prohibited from changing the parameters of the wireless network 304.

  The printer 305 connects to the wireless network 304 via the smartphone 302 or the smartphone 303.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart realized when the control unit 102 reads and executes a computer program stored in the storage unit 103 in the AP 301 when performing registration processing of the management apparatus. FIG. 4 is started when a management apparatus registration request message is received from a smartphone.

  When the message is received, the AP 301 analyzes the content of the received management apparatus registration request message, and whether or not the first authentication information or the second authentication information stored in the storage unit 103 is included in the message. (S401). When using a public key as authentication information, the AP 301 may check whether the storage unit 103 stores a secret key corresponding to the public key included in the message.

  When the authentication information is not included (No in S401), the AP 301 notifies the management apparatus registration request message transmission source device of the registration failure and ends the process (S402). When the authentication information is included (Yes in S401), the AP 301 determines whether or not the first authentication information is included in the management apparatus registration request message (S403).

  When the first authentication information is not included (No in S403), that is, when the second authentication information is included, the AP 301 sets the transmission source device of the management device registration request message as the second management device. Register (S404). After registration, the AP 301 notifies the apparatus that the registration has succeeded as the second management apparatus, and ends the process (S405). Note that the AP 301 may notify the user of the successful registration of the second management apparatus.

  In this embodiment, the AP 301 registers the second management device by storing the MAC address of the device that is the transmission source of the management device registration request message in the data storage unit 208 as the MAC address of the second management device (S404). ).

  If the first authentication information is included (Yes in S403), the AP 301 checks whether there is a device registered as the first management device (S406). That is, it is determined whether or not the first management apparatus is registered. Here, the AP 301 determines whether or not the first management device is registered by determining whether or not the MAC address of the first management device is registered in the data storage unit 208.

  When the first management apparatus is registered (Yes in S406), the AP 301 notifies the management apparatus registration request message transmission source apparatus of the registration failure and ends the process (S402). The AP 301 may further notify the user of registration failure.

  When the first management apparatus is not registered (No in S406), the AP 301 registers the apparatus that has transmitted the management apparatus registration request message as the first management apparatus (S407). After registration, the AP 301 notifies the device that the registration has been successful as the first management device, and ends the processing (S408).

  In this embodiment, the AP 301 registers the first management device by storing the MAC address of the device that is the transmission source of the management device registration request message in the data storage unit 208 as the MAC address of the first management device (S407). ).

  As described above, the AP 301 performs the registration process based on the authentication information determination result included in the management apparatus registration request message.

  Note that the AP 301 may cancel the registration of the management apparatus by initializing itself. For example, when the base station receives a reset instruction from the user via the input unit 106, the base station can cancel the management device registration by deleting the MAC address of the management device stored in the data storage unit 208. good.

  When the first management device is registered in step S406 (Yes in S406), the AP 301 may register the device that has transmitted the management device registration request message as the first management device. In this case, the AP 301 may overwrite the MAC address of the first management apparatus stored in the data storage unit 208 with the MAC address of the transmission source apparatus of the management apparatus registration request message.

  When the second authentication information is received (No in S403), if the first management device is not registered, the device that is the transmission source of the management device registration request message is registered as the first management device. You may do it.

  When the first management device is not registered, the barcode generation control unit 203 generates a QR code (registered trademark) including the first authentication information, and the first management device is registered. Alternatively, the barcode generation control unit 203 may generate a QR code (registered trademark) including the second authentication information. This reduces the possibility that the smartphone will read and transmit the QR code (registered trademark) including the first authentication information even though the first management device is registered, resulting in an error. The possibility that it will end up can be reduced. Therefore, user convenience is improved.

  Further, the following may be used. That is, when the first management device is not registered, the barcode generation control unit 203 uses the first QR code (registered trademark) including the first authentication information and the second QR code including the second authentication information. (Registered trademark). On the other hand, when the first management apparatus is registered, the barcode generation control unit 203 generates only a QR code (registered trademark) including the second authentication information. That is, when the first management apparatus is registered, the barcode generation control unit 203 restricts the generation and display of the first QR code (registered trademark) including the first authentication information. Even if it does in this way, there can exist the same effect.

  FIG. 5 shows a management device registration process sequence performed between the AP 301, the smartphone 302, and the smartphone 303.

  After receiving the registration processing start instruction from the user, the smartphone 302 captures the first QR code (registered trademark) of the AP 301 and acquires the first authentication information (F501).

  The smartphone 302 performs a wireless LAN scan (F502, F503) and connects to the detected wireless network 304 of the AP 301 (F504).

  In the first QR code (registered trademark), identification information such as a MAC address for identifying the AP 301 is stored, and the smartphone 302 may be connected based on the identification information.

  After the connection, the smartphone 302 transmits a management device registration request message including the first authentication information to the AP 301 (F505).

  Upon receiving the management device registration request message, the AP 301 activates the management device registration process, and registers the smartphone 302 as the first management device (F506). After registration, the AP 301 transmits a registration success message to the smartphone 302 (F507).

  Upon receiving the registration success message, the smartphone 302 transmits a communication parameter for changing the setting of the wireless network 304 to the AP 301 (F508). The communication parameters include information such as a communication channel, a network identifier (SSID), an encryption method, an encryption key, and an authentication method.

  Upon receiving the communication parameter from the smartphone 302 that is the first management device, the AP 301 changes the setting of the wireless network 304 to the received communication parameter (F509).

  The smartphone 302 does not have to transmit the communication parameter to the AP 301 when receiving the registration success message (F507). Further, when the communication parameter is not transmitted, the smartphone 302 may notify the AP 301 that the existing network setting is used.

  After receiving the registration processing start instruction from the user, the smartphone 303 captures the first QR code (registered trademark) of the AP 301 and acquires the first authentication information (F510).

  The smartphone 303 performs a wireless LAN scan (F511, F512), and connects to the detected wireless network 304 of the AP 301 (F513).

  After the connection, the smartphone 303 transmits a management device registration request message including the first authentication information to the AP 301 (F514).

  Upon receiving the management device registration request message, the AP 301 activates the management device registration process, and terminates the process with an error (F515), assuming that the first management device has already been registered (Yes in step S406). The AP 301 transmits a registration failure message to the smartphone 303 (F516).

  In this way, the AP 301 can prevent setting changes from devices other than the first management device by allowing only one first management device to be registered at the same time.

  FIG. 6 shows a sequence of management apparatus registration processing and parameter provision processing operations performed between the AP 301, the smartphone 303, and the printer 305.

  After receiving the registration process start instruction from the user, the smartphone 303 captures the second QR code (registered trademark) of the AP 301 and acquires the second authentication information (F601).

  The smartphone 303 performs a wireless LAN scan (F602, F603), and connects to the detected wireless network 304 of the AP 301 (F604).

  After the connection, the smartphone 303 transmits a management device registration request message including the second authentication information to the AP 301 (F605).

  Upon receiving the management device registration request message, the AP 301 activates the management device registration process, and registers the smartphone 303 as the second management device (F606). After registration, the AP 301 transmits a registration success message to the smartphone 303 (F607).

  After receiving an instruction for adding the printer 305 to the wireless network 304 from the user, the smartphone 303 transmits a new participation request message to the AP 301 (F608).

  When the AP 301 receives a new participation request transmitted from the smartphone 303 registered as the second management apparatus, the AP 301 activates a parameter provision process (F609). In the present embodiment, communication parameters of the wireless network 304 are provided to the apparatus using Wi-Fi Protected Setup technology (hereinafter, WPS) as parameter providing processing.

  Upon receiving a start instruction from the user, the printer 305 activates parameter reception processing using WPS and receives communication parameters of the wireless network 304 from the AP (F610).

  After receiving the communication parameters, the printer 305 connects to the wireless network 304 using the received parameters (F611).

  In this way, by registering the second management device, the AP 301 can always add a new device to the network regardless of the presence or absence of the first management device.

  In this embodiment, the communication parameter is provided from the AP 301 to the printer 305 in F610. However, the smartphone 302 itself may provide the communication parameter to the printer 305 via the AP 301.

  Further, the PIN code generated by the printer 305 used in the parameter providing process may be included in the new participation request message of F608.

  The PIN code may be input to the smartphone 302 by the user, or may be transmitted from the printer 305 to the smartphone 302 using communication means such as NFC. Alternatively, the printer 305 may display a QR code (registered trademark) in which the PIN code is stored, and the smartphone 302 may read the QR code (registered trademark) using an imaging function.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the AP 301 registers only one first management apparatus at the same time and enables registration of the second management apparatus.

  As a result, it is possible to prevent a base station setting change that the first management apparatus is not aware of and to always add a new apparatus to the network regardless of the presence or absence of the first management apparatus. Therefore, it leads to improvement of user convenience.

  In addition, a recording medium in which a program code of software that realizes the above-described function is recorded is supplied to the system or apparatus, and a computer (CPU, MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the recording medium. May be. 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.

  In the above-described embodiment, the authentication information is provided by photographing another QR code (registered trademark) by another communication apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the authentication information may be provided using other communication such as NFC, Bluetooth (registered trademark), IEEE 802.11 series, TransferJet (registered trademark), or wired LAN.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Communication apparatus 102 Control part 103 Memory | storage part 104 Wireless communication part 105 Display part 106 Antenna control part 107 Antenna 108 Input part

Claims (16)

A communication device,
Obtaining means for obtaining authentication information from another communication device;
According to the authentication information acquired by the acquisition unit, the other communication device has an authority to join an external device to the wireless network constructed by the communication device, and the parameters of the wireless network can be changed. Registration means for registering as a first management device;
Control means for controlling a plurality of other communication devices not to be the first management device upon registration by the registration means;
A communication apparatus comprising: The registration means includes
1) When the acquisition means acquires the first authentication information, the other communication device is registered as the first management device,
2) When the acquisition unit acquires second authentication information different from the first authentication information, the parameter is changed although the other communication device has authority to join an external device to the wireless network. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus is registered as a restricted second management apparatus.   Even when the acquisition unit acquires the first authentication information, if there is already an apparatus registered by the registration unit as the first management apparatus, the control unit determines that the other communication is performed. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an apparatus is controlled not to be registered as the first management apparatus.   The communication apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising display means for displaying the first authentication information and the second authentication information on a display unit.   The communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display unit displays a QR code (registered trademark) including the first authentication information and the second authentication information on the display unit. When there is no device registered as the first management device, the display means displays a QR code (registered trademark) including the first authentication information on the display unit,
The display unit does not display a QR code (registered trademark) including the first authentication information on the display unit when there is an apparatus registered as the first management apparatus. 5. The communication device according to 5. When there is no device registered as the first management device, the display means displays a QR code (registered trademark) including the first authentication information on the display unit,
The display unit displays a QR code (registered trademark) including the second authentication information on the display unit when there is an apparatus registered as the first management apparatus. 5. The communication device according to 5 or 6. 8. The system according to claim 2, wherein the first authentication information and the second authentication information include at least one of public key information, certificate information, and password information. Item 1. The communication device according to item 1.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a construction unit that constructs a wireless network using the parameter received from the first management apparatus.   10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a joining unit that performs processing for joining an external device to the wireless network in response to an instruction from the first management device. 11. Communication device.   When the first authentication information is acquired from the first other communication device and the first other communication device is registered by the registration unit, the second other communication device has already been in the first management. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising notification means for notifying an error when registered as a device.   The communication device according to claim 11, wherein the notification unit notifies an error to the first other communication device.   The communication device according to claim 11, wherein the notification unit notifies the user of an error. When the first authentication information is acquired from the first other communication device and the first other communication device is registered by the registration unit, the second other communication device has already been in the first management. 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a release unit that cancels registration of the second other communication device as the first management device when the device is registered as a device. The communication device according to item. A communication device control method comprising:
An acquisition step of acquiring authentication information from another communication device;
According to the authentication information acquired in the acquisition step, the other communication device has an authority to join an external device to the wireless network constructed by the communication device, and the parameters of the wireless network can be changed. A registration step of registering as the first management device,
At the time of registration in the registration step, a control step for controlling a plurality of other communication devices not to be the first management device;
A control method characterized by comprising:   The program for operating a computer as a communication apparatus of any one of Claim 1 to 14.

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