WO2017169957A1

WO2017169957A1 - Communication unit, extension, and base unit

Info

Publication number: WO2017169957A1
Application number: PCT/JP2017/011128
Authority: WO
Inventors: 隆明青木; 誠示二村
Original assignee: パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社
Priority date: 2016-03-28
Filing date: 2017-03-21
Publication date: 2017-10-05
Also published as: JP2017183790A

Abstract

This communication system is provided with an extension (2) and a base unit (1) for performing paring with the extension (2) by a first protocol, the extension (2) supporting a first protocol and a second protocol different from the first protocol as pairing protocols, and notifying the base unit (1) of extension protocol information indicating that the extension (2) supports the second protocol after a communication path in pairing is established.

Description

Communication system, slave unit and master unit

The present invention relates to a communication system, a child device, and a parent device that perform pairing between devices.

In recent years, specifications using IEEE 802.15.4 using sub-gigahertz radio waves such as the 920 MHz band are becoming widespread as specifications for wireless communication such as home networks (see Non-Patent Document 1). When pairing between devices in such specifications, it may be necessary to input a long ID or password by the user. For this reason, there is a demand for a new method that allows easy pairing using a push button or the like, and it is predicted that a plurality of methods will be mixed in the market in the future. Moreover, in such a specification, it is assumed that a repeater may exist between the devices that perform pairing.

On the other hand, in Patent Literature 1, information indicating that WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), which is a connection setting standard in Wi-Fi (registered trademark), is transmitted and received between devices using a beacon signal. Disclosed.

JP-A-2015-167322

However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when there is another parent device (repeater) between the parent device and the child device that is to communicate with the parent device, the parent device and the child device are different from each other. Pairing cannot be performed via the master unit.

In the specification of Non-Patent Document 1, if each device that performs pairing supports a plurality of types of pairing methods, one device cannot recognize the method supported by the other device. For this reason, there is a possibility that pairing between devices may not be performed by an optimal method.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication system, a child device, and a parent device that can recognize a pairing method supported by a partner device even when a repeater is present. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication system including a slave unit and a master unit that performs pairing with the slave unit according to the first scheme. Supporting the second method different from the first method and the first method, and notifying the parent device of the child device method information indicating that the child device supports the second method after the communication path in the pairing is determined It is characterized by.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a slave unit that performs pairing with a master unit by a first method, and as a pairing method, an authentication unit that supports a second method different from the first method and the first method; And a notification means for notifying the master unit of slave unit method information indicating that the slave unit supports the second method after the communication path in the pairing is determined.

A third aspect of the present invention is a parent device that performs pairing with a child device by the first method, and after the communication path in the pairing is determined, the child device supports a second method different from the first method. It is characterized in that it is determined that the slave unit supports the second scheme based on the fact that the slave unit method information indicating the above is received from the slave unit.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a communication system, a slave unit, and a master unit capable of recognizing a pairing method supported by an authentication partner device even when a repeater is present.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of processing according to the second method of the communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of processing according to the first method of the communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation example when the slave does not support the second method in the communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation example when the parent device does not support the second method in the communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation example when a repeater is present in the communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation example of a communication system according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the data structure of a PCI message in a communication system according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the data structure of a PAR message in a communication system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Next, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

(Communications system)
As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system according to the present embodiment includes a parent device 1 and a child device 2 that performs pairing with the parent device 1. The base unit 1 is, for example, a smart meter that measures the amount of power consumed by a consumer. The subunit | mobile_unit 2 is a home energy management system (HEMS) controller which manages the electric power consumption of the apparatus which a consumer owns, the power generation surplus electric energy, etc., for example. In this case, the parent device 1 and the child device 2 perform pairing between each other (B route: Route B) and perform encrypted communication.

In this embodiment, “pairing” means a series of processes for establishing a connection between devices that perform encrypted communication. Specifically, the pairing is performed by confirming the communication path, exchanging information for determining whether to connect to the partner device, and exchanging keys used for encrypted communication with the partner device. Including sharing. The communication path is determined by acquiring the address or communication channel of the counterpart device.

Alternatively, the base unit 1 may be a HEMS controller (coordinator). In this case, the subunit | mobile_unit 2 is power supply apparatuses, such as load apparatuses, such as an air conditioner, a refrigerator, and an illuminating device, a solar cell, and a storage battery, for example. The parent device 1 forms a personal area network (PAN) together with one or more child devices 2 that have been paired. The HEMS controller can be the parent device 1 in the PAN at the same time as the child device 2 in the B route. As described above, the configuration of the parent device 1 and the child device 2 differs depending on the network located.

The master unit 1 and the slave unit 2 have a function of performing pairing by a method using, for example, IEEE 802.15.4g, which can use a sub-gigahertz band radio wave having excellent propagation characteristics, as a physical layer specification.

The master unit 1 includes a processing device 10, a communication interface (I / F) 11, an input I / F 12, and a storage device 13. The communication I / F 11 communicates with other devices according to control by the processing device 10. Communication performed by the communication I / F 11 may be wireless communication or wired communication. The input I / F 12 inputs a signal corresponding to a user operation to the processing device 10. The input I / F 12 includes an input device such as a push button or a pointing device. Alternatively, the input I / F 12 may be a device that can input a character string or the like, or may be an interface that can input information from an external device. The storage device 13 stores information such as programs and various data used for pairing with the slave unit 2.

The processing apparatus 10 has an authentication processing unit 101 and a notification processing unit 102 as a logical structure. The processing device 10 is composed of an integrated circuit (not shown) including, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and the like. For example, the authentication processing unit 101 and the notification processing unit 102 are configured by the central processing unit in the processing device 10 executing a computer program installed in advance in a memory in the processing device 10. The authentication processing unit 101 and the notification processing unit 102 may be configured by dedicated hardware. The authentication processing unit 101 and the notification processing unit 102 may be configured by one or a plurality of hardware, and may also be used as another processing device used for other control.

The authentication processing unit 101 performs pairing with the child device 2 by performing mutual authentication with the child device 2 using the information stored in the storage device 13. The child device 2 that has been successfully authenticated by the authentication processing unit 101 is registered by the processing device 10. The registered child device 2 performs encrypted communication with the parent device 1. The processing device 10 performs encryption and decryption in encrypted communication with the slave unit 2.

The authentication processing unit 101 supports, for example, a first method and a second method different from the first method as a pairing method with the child device 2. The first method is a method in which pairing is started using an identifier (ID) and a password input by a user (or a contractor) via the input I / F 12. In the first method, the ID and password input by the user are stored in the storage device 13 and used as information for determining whether or not connection with the counterpart device is possible.

The second method is a method that requires less man-hours for the user than the first method. The second method is a method in which pairing is started by a simple operation by a user such as pressing a button, and does not require input of an ID and a password. In the second method, the ID and password are automatically shared by communication with a partner device for pairing, and are used as information for determining whether or not connection with the partner device is possible.

The notification processing unit 102 notifies the child device 2 of parent device method information indicating that the parent device 1 supports the second method in accordance with the child device method information transmitted from the child device 2. The slave unit method information is information indicating that the slave unit 2 supports the second method. The slave unit method information is transmitted from the slave unit 2 after the communication path in the pairing between the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2 is determined.

The subunit | mobile_unit 2 is provided with the processing apparatus 20, communication I / F21, input I / F22, and the memory | storage device 23. FIG. The communication I / F 21 communicates with other devices according to control by the processing device 20. Communication performed by the communication I / F 21 may be wireless communication or wired communication. The input I / F 22 inputs a signal corresponding to a user operation to the processing device 20. The input I / F 22 includes an input device such as a push button and a pointing device. Alternatively, the input I / F 22 may be a device that can input a character string or the like, or may be an interface that can input information from an external device. The storage device 23 stores information such as programs and various data used for pairing with the parent device 1.

The processing device 20 has an authentication processing unit 201 and a notification processing unit 202 as a logical structure. The processing device 20 is composed of an integrated circuit (not shown) including, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and the like. An authentication processing unit 201 and a notification processing unit 202 are configured by the central processing unit in the processing device 20 executing a computer program installed in advance in a memory in the processing device 20. The authentication processing unit 201 and the notification processing unit 202 may be configured by dedicated hardware. Each of the authentication processing unit 201 and the notification processing unit 202 may be configured by one or a plurality of hardware, and may also be used as another processing device used for other control.

The authentication processing unit 201 performs pairing with the parent device 1 by performing mutual authentication with the parent device 1 using the information stored in the storage device 23. The parent device 1 that has been successfully authenticated by the authentication processing unit 201 is registered by the processing device 20. The registered parent device 1 performs encrypted communication with the child device 2. The processing device 20 performs encryption and decryption in encrypted communication with the parent device 1. For example, the authentication processing unit 201 supports a first method and a second method as a pairing method with the parent device 1.

The notification processing unit 202 notifies the base unit 1 of handset mode information indicating that the handset 2 supports the second mode after the communication path for pairing with the base unit 1 is determined. That is, the notification processing unit 202 does not notify the base unit 1 of the slave unit method information until the communication path with the base unit 1 is determined in the pairing with the base unit 1. The time when the communication path with the parent device 1 is determined is the time when the child device 2 acquires the address of the parent device 1, or the device that relays communication with the parent device 1 and the address of the parent device 1. The communication path with the main | base station 1 is decided by the beacon based on IEEE802.15.4, for example. The communication path may be determined by a communication channel in addition to the communication partner address.

(Pairing method)
An example of the pairing method according to the second method in the communication system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the sequence diagrams of FIGS.

In step S101, the authentication processing unit 101 of the base unit 1 shifts to the registration mode for a predetermined time according to a simple operation on the input I / F 12 by the user. In the registration mode, the communication I / F 11 waits for a beacon request transmitted from the child device 2. The beacon request is a message requesting the address of the parent device 1 or the device that relays communication with the parent device 1 and the address of the parent device 1. The beacon request is transmitted as a MAC (MediaＭＡＣAccess Control) layer command frame.

In step S102, the authentication processing unit 201 of the child device 2 shifts to the registration mode for a predetermined time according to a simple operation on the input I / F 22 by the user. In the registration mode, the communication I / F 21 waits for a beacon transmitted from the parent device 1. A beacon is a response message to a beacon request.

In step S103, the authentication processing unit 201 transmits a beacon request to the parent device 1 via the communication I / F 21 in response to a user operation in step S102. Specifically, the authentication processing unit 201 broadcasts a beacon request that stores the address of the slave unit 2 as a transmission source address.

In step S104, the authentication processing unit 101 receives the beacon request transmitted from the slave unit 2 via the communication I / F 11. In response to the beacon request received in the registration mode, the authentication processing unit 101 transmits a beacon that stores the address of the parent device 1 as a transmission source address to the child device 2 via the communication I / F 11. The subunit | mobile_unit 2 acquires the communication path | route to the main | base station 1 by receiving a beacon, and the communication path | route in pairing is decided.

In step S105, the notification processing unit 202 transmits, to the parent device 1, a message storing child device method information indicating that the child device 2 supports the second method via the communication I / F 21. The message in step S105 is, for example, a data frame in the MAC layer defined in IEEE 802.15.4e, and the slave unit method information is stored as payload data.

In step S106, the authentication processing unit 101 receives the message transmitted from the slave unit 2 in step S105 via the communication I / F 11. That is, the master unit 1 is notified of slave unit method information from the slave unit 2. The authentication processing unit 101 determines that the child device 2 supports the second method based on the child device method information acquired from the received message.

In step S107, the notification processing unit 102 transmits, to the child device 2, a message storing parent device method information indicating that the parent device 1 supports the second method, in accordance with the child device method information acquired in step S105. To do. The message in step S107 is, for example, a data frame in the MAC layer defined in IEEE 802.15.4e, and the slave unit method information is stored as payload data.

In step S108, the authentication processing unit 201 receives the message transmitted from the parent device 1 in step S107 via the communication I / F 21. That is, the slave unit 2 is notified of the master unit method information from the master unit 1. The authentication processing unit 201 determines that the parent device 1 supports the second method based on the parent device method information acquired from the received message.

In step S109, the authentication processing unit 201 transmits an authentication start request, which is a message requesting the start of the authentication process, to the parent device 1 via the communication I / F 21. The authentication start request is a PCI (PANA-Client-Initiation) message in the network access authentication protocol (PANA) defined in RFC5191. In this case, the parent device 1 corresponds to PAA (PANA Authentication Agent), and the child device 2 corresponds to PaC (PANA Client).

In step S110, the authentication processing unit 101 receives the PCI message transmitted from the child device 2 via the communication I / F 11. The authentication processing unit 101 transmits a PAR (PANA-Auth-Request) message in PANA to the child device 2 as an acknowledgment response to the received PCI message. The PAR message includes the type of authentication algorithm that can be used by the base unit 1.

In step S111, the authentication processing unit 201 transmits a PAN (PANA-Auth-Answer) message in PANA to the parent device 1 as a response to the PAR message in step S110 via the communication I / F 21. The PAN message includes the type used in the subsequent authentication processing among the types of authentication algorithms included in the PAR message in step S110.

Through the processing of steps S109 to S111, the base unit 1 and the handset 2 share the algorithm and the shared key used for the immediately subsequent authentication. The shared key may be shared by, for example, Diffie-Hellman key sharing (DH). The public key used for DH may be exchanged in steps S109 to S110 or steps S110 to S111. Alternatively, as long as it is before steps S112 to S115, the public key may be exchanged by a packet other than the packets of S109 to S111.

In steps S112 to S115, the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2 perform mutual authentication using the authentication algorithm and the shared key shared in steps S109 to S111. Mutual authentication may be performed by an authentication protocol such as EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) supported by PANA.

In step S116, the authentication processing unit 101 generates an ID and password in the first method. The authentication processing unit 101 encrypts the ID and password, and transmits the encrypted ID and password to the handset 2 via the communication I / F 11 as a PAR message. The ID and password may be generated by the slave unit 2 and transmitted from the slave unit 2 to the master unit 1.

In step S117, the authentication processing unit 201 decrypts the ID and password acquired from the PAR message in step S116. The authentication processing unit 101 transmits a PAN message indicating that sharing of the ID and password has been completed to the parent device 1 via the communication I / F 21.

The series of processes in steps S109 to S117 is a pre-sequence S10 with respect to the standard sequence S20 (see FIG. 3), which is a series of processes of the first method excluding ID and password input operations and beacon requests and beacon transmissions. The pre-sequence S10 is performed before the standard sequence S20. The standard sequence S20 is, for example, “TTC Technical Report TR-1052 HEMS-Smart Meter (B Route) Communication Interface Implementation Detailed Guidelines” (General Incorporated Association Information and Communication Technology Committee, March 17, 2014, Version 1.0) ) Is a known sequence.

When pairing is performed by the second method, the parent device 1 and the child device 2 each transmit and receive method information according to a simple operation by the user, and share the ID and password in the pre-sequence S10. The master unit 1 and the slave unit 2 share the ID and password in the pre-sequence S10, and then automatically shift to the standard sequence S20.

Note that, when performing pairing by the first method, the base unit 1 enters the ID and password of the handset 2 by the user's operation on the input I / F 12 in step S201, and shifts to the registration mode. The subunit | mobile_unit 2 transfers to registration mode according to operation with respect to a user's input I / F22 in step S202. In step S203, the subunit | mobile_unit 2 broadcasts the beacon request which stores the address of the subunit | mobile_unit 2 as a transmission source address. In step S204, base unit 1 transmits a beacon that stores the address of base unit 1 as a transmission source address to handset 2 in response to the beacon request. Thereafter, the standard sequence S20 is started. When pairing is performed by the second method, the processing of steps S201 to S204 can be omitted.

In step S205, the authentication processing unit 201 transmits an authentication start request, which is a message requesting the start of authentication processing, to the parent device 1 via the communication I / F 21. The authentication start request is a PCI message in PANA.

In step S206, the authentication processing unit 101 receives the PCI message transmitted from the slave unit 2 via the communication I / F 11. The authentication processing unit 101 transmits a PAR message in PANA to the child device 2 as an acceptance response to the PCI message. The PAR message includes the type of authentication algorithm that can be used by the base unit 1.

In step S207, the authentication processing unit 201 transmits a PAN message in PANA to the parent device 1 as a response to the PAR message in step S110 via the communication I / F 21. The PAN message includes the type used in the subsequent authentication processing among the types of authentication algorithms included in the PAR message in step S206.

When the communication I / F 11 receives the PAN message in step S207, the authentication processing unit 101 starts mutual authentication with the slave unit 2. That is, the pairing between the parent device 1 and the child device 2 shifts to an authentication phase (Authentication Phase) in PANA. Mutual authentication is performed by an authentication protocol such as EAP, for example. Note that state transition in PANA is defined in RFC5609.

As described above, in steps S208 to S211, the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2 perform mutual authentication using the authentication algorithm and the shared key shared in steps S205 to S207. The authentication processing unit 101 generates session information such as an encryption key used for encrypted communication with the child device 2 and a session validity period.

In step S212, the authentication processing unit 101 encrypts the session information and transmits it as a PAR message to the handset 2 via the communication I / F 11.

In step S213, the authentication processing unit 201 decrypts the session information included in the PAR message in step S212, and transmits a PAN message indicating that the authentication processing is completed to the parent device 1.

Thereafter, base unit 1 and handset 2 perform encrypted communication using the session key included in the session information. Encrypted communication is performed based on, for example, the ECHONET Lite (registered trademark) standard.

(First operation example)
With reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. 4, an operation example of the communication system when the slave unit 2 is a slave unit 2P that does not support the second method and does not have the notification processing unit 202 will be described.

First, the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2P each shift to a registration mode in accordance with a user operation. The subunit | mobile_unit 2P transmits a beacon request to the main | base station 1 in step S31. In step S32, base unit 1 transmits a beacon as a response to the beacon request.

In step S33, the slave unit 2P does not support the second method and determines that pairing by the first method is started, and therefore transmits the PCI message in the standard sequence S20 to the master unit 1. .

In step S34, the base unit 1 determines that the handset 2P does not support the second mode in response to receiving the PCI message instead of the message including the handset mode information. Therefore, base unit 1 determines that pairing by the first method has been started, and proceeds to standard sequence S20 including the reception of the PCI message in step S33.

Note that ID and password entry is required for pairing using the first method. Therefore, base unit 1 may notify the user that pairing by the second method is impossible in step S34 and prompt the user to input an ID and password. After the ID and password are input, the process may proceed immediately to the standard sequence S20, or may be performed after the processes of steps S201 to S202 are performed.

(Second operation example)
With reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. 5, an operation example of the communication system when the parent device 1 is the parent device 1P that does not support the second method and does not have the notification processing unit 102 will be described.

First, the master unit 1P and the slave unit 2 each shift to a registration mode in accordance with a user operation. The subunit | mobile_unit 2 transmits a beacon request to the main | base station 1P in step S41. In step S42, base unit 1P transmits a beacon as a response to the beacon request.

In step S43, handset 2 transmits a message storing base unit information indicating that handset 2 supports the second mode to base unit 1. However, since the parent device 1P does not support the second method, the parent device 1P cannot understand the message in step S33 and does not transmit an appropriate response to the child device 2.

In step S44, the slave unit 2 receives the response to the slave unit method information for a predetermined time t from the time when the message of step S43 is transmitted, that is, when the slave unit method information is notified. Is determined not to support the second method. Therefore, the subunit | mobile_unit 2 judges that the pairing by a 1st system is started, and transfers to standard sequence S20. The subunit | mobile_unit 2 notifies a user that pairing by a 2nd system is impossible in step S44, and prompts a user to input ID and a password. After the ID and password are input, the process may proceed immediately to the standard sequence S20, or may be performed after the processes of steps S201 to S202 are performed.

(Third operation example)
With reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. 6, an operation example of the communication system when the repeater 3 exists between the parent device 1 and the child device 2 and the parent device 1 and the child device 2 perform multi-hop communication will be described. To do.

In step S51, the authentication processing unit 201 broadcasts a beacon request that stores the address of the slave unit 2 as a transmission source address via the communication I / F 21 in response to a user operation on the input I / F 22.

In step S52, the repeater 3 receives the beacon request, and transmits a beacon storing the address of the repeater 3 as a transmission source address to the slave unit 2 in response to the beacon request. In addition, the beacon stores the address of the parent device 1 that is the coordinator, or the device that relays communication with the parent device 1 and the address of the parent device 1. The subunit | mobile_unit 2 acquires the communication path | route to the main | base station 1 by receiving a beacon, and the communication path | route in pairing is decided.

In step S53, the notification processing unit 202 transmits a message storing the child device method information indicating that the child device 2 supports the second method to the parent device 1. The message in step S53 stores the address of the base unit 1 or the device that relays communication with the base unit 1 and the address of the base unit 1 as a communication path to the base unit 1.

In step S54, the repeater 3 receives the message transmitted from the slave unit 2 in step S53, and transmits it to the master unit 1. That is, the master unit 1 is notified of slave unit method information from the slave unit 2. The authentication processing unit 101 determines that the child device 2 supports the second method based on the child device method information acquired from the received message. The messages in steps S53 to S54 are transmitted by a communication layer higher than the communication layer of the relay process performed by the repeater 3. For example, when the repeater 3 is a router, the slave unit method information is stored in a UDP / IP payload or the like and transmitted.

In step S55, the notification processing unit 102 sends a message storing the parent device method information indicating that the parent device 1 supports the second method to the child device 2 according to the child device method information acquired in step S54. To send. The message in step S55 stores the address of the slave unit 2 or the device that relays communication with the slave unit 2 and the address of the slave unit 2 as a communication path to the slave unit 2.

In step S56, the repeater 3 receives the message transmitted from the parent device 1 in step S56 and transmits it to the child device 2. That is, the slave unit 2 is notified of the master unit method information from the master unit 1. Similar to the messages in steps S53 to S54, the base unit method information is transmitted by a communication layer higher than the communication layer of the relay process performed by the repeater 3.

The repeater 3 can be a repeater, a bridge, a router, or a gateway depending on the communication layer that performs the relay process. That is, when the repeater 3 is a router, the slave unit method information and the master unit method information may be transmitted and received by an IP payload or the like. As described above, the slave unit method information and the master unit method information are transmitted and received by a communication layer higher than the communication layer in which the repeater 3 performs the relay process.

The authentication processing unit 201 determines that the parent device 1 supports the second method based on the parent device method information acquired from the received message. Thereafter, the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2 perform the standard sequence S20 excluding the preliminary sequence S10 and the input operation of the ID and password via the repeater 3.

As described above, according to the communication system according to the present embodiment, the pairing method supported by the counterpart device can be recognized. Therefore, the parent device 1 and the child device 2 can select an optimum method from the possible pairing methods based on the preset priority. When the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2 support the second method that can omit the troublesome operation of inputting an ID and a password, pairing can be automatically performed by a simple operation.

Also, according to the communication system according to the present embodiment, after a communication path is determined by a beacon compliant with IEEE802.15.4, a supported pairing method is notified to the partner device. Since there is no change in the beacon request and beacon for searching for the coordinator, the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2 can support the IEEE 802.15.4 even if the repeater 3 exists. The pairing method supported by the partner device can be recognized.

(Other embodiments)
Although the embodiment has been described as described above, it should not be understood that the description and drawings constituting a part of this disclosure limit the present invention. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments, examples and operational techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the slave unit method information and the master unit method information are stored in the data frame has been described as an example, and may be stored and transmitted in other types of messages. It may be.

An example of the pairing method according to the second method in the communication system according to another embodiment will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. In the following, the description is the same as the description of the sequence diagram of FIG.

In steps S601 and S602, the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2 each shift to the registration mode in accordance with a simple operation by the user. In step S <b> 603, the child device 2 transmits a beacon request to the parent device 1. In step S604, base unit 1 transmits a beacon to handset 2. Thereby, the communication path in pairing is decided.

In step S605, the authentication processing unit 201 and the notification processing unit 202 transmit a PCI message storing the slave unit method information to the master unit 1. In step S606, the authentication processing unit 101 of the parent device 1 determines that the child device 2 supports the second method based on the child device method information acquired from the PCI message. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the PCI message in step S605 stores system information (child device system information) by AVP (Attribute （Value Pair) defined by PANA.

In step S607, the authentication processing unit 101 and the notification processing unit 102 transmit a PAR message storing the parent device method information to the child device 2. In step S608, the authentication processing unit 201 of the child device 2 determines that the parent device 1 supports the second method based on the parent device method information acquired from the PAR message. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the PAR message in step S607 stores system information (base unit system information) by AVP defined by PANA.

The processing in steps S609 to S615 is the same as the processing in steps S111 to S117 in FIG. Thus, after sharing the ID and password used in the first method, the parent device 1 and the child device 2 automatically shift to the standard sequence S20.

Note that the method information is not necessarily stored in the PCI message in step S605 and the PAR message in step S607. For example, the slave unit method information and the master unit method information may be stored in the PAR message in step S607 and the PAN message in step S609. In addition, the method information may be sent as payload data in another communication layer such as an IP layer or a TCP / UDP layer.

In the above-described embodiment, the communication path may be determined by a beacon request and a beacon that comply with IEEE 802.15.4. In addition, the communication path may be determined by a probe request and a probe response (or beacon) compliant with IEEE 802.11.

Of course, in addition to the above, the present invention includes various embodiments not described herein. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is defined only by the invention specifying matters according to the scope of claims reasonable from the above description.

1 Master device 2

Slave devices

101 and 201 Authentication processing unit (authentication means)
102, 202 Notification processing unit (notification means)

Claims

In a communication system comprising a slave unit and a master unit that performs pairing with the slave unit by the first method,
The slave is
As the pairing method, the second method different from the first method and the first method is supported,
A communication system, characterized in that, after a communication path in the pairing is determined, slave unit method information indicating that the slave unit supports the second scheme is notified to the master unit.
2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the master unit determines that the slave unit supports the second scheme based on the slave unit scheme information.
The base unit is
Support the second method,
3. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein base unit method information indicating that the base unit supports the second mode is notified to the slave unit according to the base unit method information.
The slave unit determines that the master unit does not support the second scheme in response to not receiving a response to the slave unit scheme information for a predetermined time from the time when the slave unit scheme information is notified. The communication system according to claim 1 or 2.
The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the communication path is determined by a beacon compliant with IEEE802.15.4.
A slave unit that performs pairing with the master unit in the first method,
An authentication unit that supports a second method different from the first method and the first method as the pairing method;
A slave unit comprising: notification means for notifying the master unit of slave unit method information indicating that the slave unit supports the second method after the communication path in the pairing is determined.
A parent device that performs pairing with the child device by the first method,
After the communication path in the pairing is determined, the slave unit receives the slave unit method information indicating that the slave unit supports a second method different from the first method. It is determined that the second system is supported.