Communication equipment, control method of same, and computer program

The present invention relates to a control method for a communication device and a computer program.

In wireless communication, there are many setting items that must be set before use, which is complicated. For example, in wireless communication represented by a wireless LAN compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series, setting items include SSID (Service Set Identifier) as a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, an authentication key, and the like. Therefore, various manufacturers have devised a mechanism for easily setting communication parameters. It is also standardized as WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) by the Wi-Fi Alliance.

Since these communication parameter setting methods (hereinafter referred to as setting methods) are executed by a unique protocol, there is no compatibility between different types of setting methods. Therefore, when parameter setting is performed by a wireless communication device that supports a plurality of setting methods, the user causes the providing device that provides the communication parameter and the receiving device that receives the communication parameter from the providing device to execute the same setting method. There is a need. Therefore, in order to improve the convenience of the user, there is a method (hereinafter referred to as a setting method selection method) in which the communication parameter receiving device automatically selects the setting method provided by the providing device. This setting method selection method is implemented in infrastructure communication that communicates via an access point.

In Patent Document 1, a network ID is assigned to each setting method, the access point constructs a network with the network ID of the setting method to be implemented, and the wireless communication device automatically sets communication parameters using the method corresponding to the network ID. are doing.<patcit num="1"><text>JP-A-2007-143117</text></patcit>

<p> In an ad hoc network in which wireless communication devices communicate directly with each other, there is no wireless communication device that manages the network. Therefore, it is difficult for the wireless communication devices to accurately grasp the correspondence information to each other's communication parameter setting method and the number of wireless communication devices. Therefore, it was not possible to determine which communication parameter setting method should be automatically selected and executed in the communication parameter setting in the ad hoc mode. In addition, since the communication parameter setting method to be executed cannot be automatically selected, it is not possible to determine which network the communication parameter setting should be performed on.</p><p> Further, since the setting process differs depending on each setting method, it is possible that the setting process may not be performed normally even if the setting method can be selected. For example, some setting methods execute the setting process on a dedicated setting network that performs the setting process, but some setting methods do not. When using the setting network, each device must migrate to that network, but when not using the setting network, it is not necessary to move the network. That is, depending on which setting method is executed, it may or may not be necessary to move the network, and the setting process cannot be performed unless each device is in the same network.</p><p> An object of the present invention is to solve a problem when a plurality of setting methods for setting communication parameters can be used. As an example, it is possible to select a setting method that can be commonly executed by devices that execute setting processing. Further, even if the selected setting method is a method that requires the movement of the network, the setting process can be executed even if the movement is not necessary.</p>

<p> The present invention is a first communication device, in which both the first communication device and the second communication device are used as a determination means for determining a communication parameter setting method that can be executed by the second communication device. Communication parameters to execute the communication parameter setting process by the selection means that selects one of the setting methods that can be executed from the setting methods determined by the determination means and the setting method selected by the selection means. A determination means for determining whether or not to switch to the setting network for executing the setting process of the above, and a setting means for switching to the setting network and executing the communication parameter setting process according to the determination result by the determination means. Provided is a first communication device characterized by having.</p>

<p> According to the present invention, even when a plurality of setting methods for setting communication parameters can be used, the communication parameter setting process can be executed.</p>

(Embodiment 1) First, a hardware configuration suitable for carrying out the present invention will be described.

Hereinafter, the wireless communication device 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 mode is not necessarily limited to the wireless LAN compliant with IEEE 802.11.

In FIG. 1, 100 and 101 are wireless communication devices, and in this embodiment, they are a digital camera 100 (communication device A) and a printer 101 (communication device B), respectively. The communication device A, which is the first communication device, has a wireless LAN in the communication function 104. The communication device A has an execution button 102 for automatically selecting a communication parameter setting method for the wireless network and automatically setting the communication parameter using the selected method. By pressing the execution button 102, it is possible to configure a network for collecting information on peripheral wireless communication devices and a network for executing the setting of communication parameters.

Further, the communication device B, which is the second communication device, also has a wireless LAN in the wireless communication function 105. The communication device B also has an execution button 102 for automatically selecting a setting method and automatically setting communication parameters using the selected method. By pressing the execution button 103, it is possible to configure a network for collecting information on peripheral wireless communication devices and a network for executing the setting of communication parameters. In the present embodiment, the communication device A and the communication device B can execute a plurality of communication parameter setting methods.

The communication device A executes a communication parameter setting method A for setting communication parameters for each wireless communication device and a communication parameter setting method B for collectively setting communication parameters for a plurality of wireless communication devices. it can. The communication device B can execute the same communication parameter setting method A as the communication device A and the communication parameter setting method C for collectively setting the communication parameters. Method B and method C have the same effect but are different communication parameter setting methods.

Further, the communication parameter setting method A is also a method of constructing a network for setting communication parameters and setting communication parameters when setting communication parameters. Further, the above setting method provides a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key as communication parameters from one device to the other device, and is a communication protocol for sharing common communication parameters among the devices. Is.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of communication devices A and B. In the figure, 200 is a communication device A which is a digital camera. 201 is a control unit that controls the digital camera 200, 202 is an image processing unit, 203 is a ROM in which control instructions, that is, programs are stored, and 204 is RAM. 205 is a wireless communication processing unit that controls communication of wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11), 206 is an antenna, and 207 is an antenna control unit. Reference numeral 208 denotes an imaging unit, which captures a pixel signal input from the CCD of 209. 210 is a card interface that controls a recording media card that stores captured images and setting information, 211 is a display unit, and 212 is an operation unit. When the user operates the operation unit 212, various operations such as shooting instruction, playback, and setting are performed.

Reference numeral 213 is a power supply section, and 214 is a communication interface section other than wireless, such as USB or IEEE1394. Reference numeral 215 is an execution button corresponding to the execution button 102 in FIG. 1 for selecting a communication parameter setting method and automatically setting the communication parameter using the selected method. When the user presses the execute button 215, the communication parameter setting method is selected and the mode for automatically setting the communication parameter according to the selected method is activated. Reference numeral 216 is a network construction unit that collects information on peripheral wireless communication devices and constructs a network for selecting a setting method, a network for setting communication parameters, and a network for performing data communication.

Reference numeral 217 is a detection unit for detecting the contents of peripheral communication packets and network ID information. The 218 is a determination unit that determines a communication parameter setting method that can be executed by surrounding devices based on the detection result of the 217. Based on the determination result of 218, 219 is a selection unit that determines a setting method that can be executed in common by the peripheral device and the own device, and selects one of the setting methods from the setting method. 220 determines whether or not the setting method selected by the selection unit 219 constructs a setting network for setting communication parameters, and whether or not to switch to the setting network for automatic setting processing of communication parameters. It is a judgment unit that makes a judgment. 221 is an execution unit that automatically sets communication parameters according to the selected setting method based on the judgment result of 220. 222 is a sharing unit that automatically sets communication parameters and stores communication parameters shared with the other party.

Reference numeral 231 is a communication device B which is a printer. 232 is a control unit that controls the printer 221, 233 is an image processing unit, 234 is a ROM in which control instructions, that is, programs are stored, and 235 is RAM. 236 is a power supply unit, and 237 is a communication interface unit other than wireless, such as USB and IEEE1394. Reference numeral 238 is a paper feed / discharge unit for feeding and discharging printer paper, and reference numeral 239 is a printer engine unit for controlling printing of the printer. 240 is a card interface that controls a recording media card in which images are stored, 241 is a display unit, and 242 is an operation unit. 243 is a wireless communication processing unit that controls communication of wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11), 244 is an antenna, and 245 is an antenna control unit.

Reference numeral 246 is the execution button corresponding to the execution button 103 in FIG. 1, for selecting the communication parameter setting method and automatically setting the communication parameter using the selected method. When the execute button 246 is pressed, the communication parameter setting method is selected, and the mode for automatically setting the communication parameter according to the selected method is activated. Reference numeral 247 is a network construction unit that collects information on peripheral wireless communication devices and constructs a network for selecting a setting method, a network for setting communication parameters, and a network for performing data communication. 248 is a detection unit for detecting the contents of peripheral communication packets and network ID information. The 249 is a determination unit that determines a communication parameter setting method that can be executed by surrounding devices based on the detection result of the 248. The 250 is a selection unit that determines a setting method that can be executed in common by the peripheral device and the own device based on the determination result of 249, and selects one of the setting methods from the setting method. Based on the detection result of 248, 251 is a determination unit that determines which setting method can be used for setting and whether or not to construct a network for setting communication parameters. 252 is an execution unit that automatically sets communication parameters according to the selected setting method based on the judgment result of 251. Reference numeral 253 is a sharing unit that automatically sets communication parameters and stores communication parameters shared with the other party.

The configuration is an example of the embodiment of the present invention, and does not necessarily have to have this configuration.

In the first embodiment, the process until the communication device A and the communication device B make an ad hoc connection will be described. At that time, a network for determining the communication parameter setting method is constructed, information on the communication parameter setting method supported by the peripheral wireless communication device is collected, and the communication parameter setting method to be executed is determined. Further, by referring to the communication parameter setting method to be executed, it is determined in which network the communication parameter is set, and whether or not to switch the network is determined.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation processing flowchart of the communication devices A and / and B in the first embodiment. When the execution buttons 215 and 236 of the communication device A or / and B (hereinafter referred to as the communication device) are operated, the process shown in FIG. 3 is started. The process shown in FIG. 3 may be automatically started when the power is turned on.

When the process is started, the communication device constructs a selection network for selecting a communication parameter setting method and participates in the network (S301). The construction of the selection network is executed by the network construction unit 216 (247). The communication device constructs an ad hoc network as a selection network using a unique network ID. By using a unique network ID for each device, it is possible to prevent duplication with the network constructed by peripheral wireless communication devices.

As a result, the communication device can reliably return a response to a search signal such as a probe request transmitted from a peripheral wireless communication device, and the other device can reliably detect its existence. .. As the selection network, an ad hoc network may be constructed by using a network ID common to each device defined in advance. If each device participates in a common network, when searching for other devices, it is sufficient to search for the network in which it participates, so there is no need to search for other devices while switching networks. Good.

When the selection network is constructed, the control unit 201 (232) of the communication device determines the period for determining the communication parameter setting method, and sets the timer for that period (S302). The detection unit 217 (248) of the communication device performs a wireless LAN scan in order to acquire information on a communication parameter setting method that can be executed by a peripheral wireless communication device and basic device information (S303). In this wireless LAN scan, the communication device transmits a probe request, which is a search request signal. Then, the communication device that has received the probe request stores and transmits the information on the setting method (hereinafter, setting method information) and the basic device information in the communication parameters that can be executed by the probe response that is returned as the response signal.

By receiving this response, the communication device collects the setting method information and the basic device information of the peripheral wireless communication devices. The setting method information includes information indicating the setting method of the communication parameter corresponding to itself. If the communication parameter setting process is being executed, information indicating that the communication parameter is being executed is also stored. The basic device information is unique information of each communication device, and for example, a MAC address or the like is stored. Although the method of adding information to the probe request and the probe response has been described in the first embodiment, the information may be transmitted and received using other messages.

The determination unit 218 (249) of the communication device analyzes the collected information and determines the setting method that can be executed by the surrounding wireless communication devices. Then, the selection unit 219 (250) of the communication device determines whether or not there is a setting method that can be executed in common between the surrounding wireless communication device and the own device (S304). In step S304, if there is no setting method that can be executed in common between the peripheral wireless communication device and the own device, the communication device determines whether the timer set in S302 has timed out (S305). If it has timed out, the setting method determination process ends. If it has not timed out, it returns to the processing of S303.

In step S304, if there is a setting method that can be executed in common between the peripheral wireless communication device and the own device, the selection unit 219 (250) of the communication device is set to execute from the setting methods that can be executed in common. Select a method (S306).

In step S306, when there are a plurality of setting methods that can be executed in common, the communication device preferentially selects the setting method in which the peripheral wireless communication device is executing. If there is no setting method in which the peripheral wireless communication device is running, the selection method is selected based on a predetermined priority. As the priority, for example, there are a method of giving priority to a setting method having high security strength, a method of giving priority to a method capable of executing the setting process at high speed, and the like. There is also a method of giving priority to the setting method that is most supported among the peripheral wireless communication device groups. Which of these methods should be adopted shall be determined in advance.

The determination unit 220 (251) of the communication device determines whether or not the setting method selected in S306 is a method of performing the setting process on a network different from the network constructed in step S301 (S307). .. Another network is, for example, a case where the setting process is performed on a network peculiar to the communication parameter setting method. It also includes the case where the own device receives the communication parameter (when it receives the provision from the providing device) and participates in the network constructed by the communication parameter providing device. In the case of a setting method in which another network is constructed, the execution unit 221 (252) of the communication device switches to the network for setting the communication parameter (S308).

If the setting method is not performed by constructing another network, the execution unit 221 (252) of the communication device proceeds to step S309 with the network as it is without switching the network. In the present embodiment, when switching to the setting network, the providing device that provides the communication parameter constructs the setting network for setting the communication parameter. Further, the receiving device that receives the communication parameter provided by the providing device participates in the setting network constructed by the providing device in order to receive the provision of the communication parameter. It is assumed that the setting network is a network unique to the setting method and has a unique network ID (network identification information). By making the setting network a network peculiar to the setting method, the receiving device can easily search for a participating network.

Then, the execution unit 221 (252) of the communication device executes the communication parameter setting process, shares the communication parameter, and stores it in the sharing unit 222 (253) (S309). After that, when the communication device A and the communication device B perform wireless communication, they join the network using the communication parameters stored in the shared units 220 and 253, and can communicate with each other. In this embodiment, after step S309, the communication parameters automatically stored in the shared units 220 and 253 are used to join the network so that they can communicate with each other.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a sequence in the first embodiment.

In the first embodiment, first, the communication device A and the communication device B start the selection process of the communication parameter setting method (F401, F402). The selection process is started when the execute buttons 215 and 246 are operated. When the selection process is started, the communication device A and the communication device B construct a selection wireless network for selecting the communication parameter setting method (F403, F404). Next, the communication device A transmits a probe request to acquire the setting method information of the peripheral wireless communication device (communication device B) and the basic device information (F405). The communication device B receives the probe request of the communication device A and returns the probe response. The probe response includes the setting method information of the communication device B and the basic device information. In the first embodiment, the information that the setting method A and the setting method C are supported is stored in the probe response (F406).

Further, the communication device B transmits a probe request to acquire the setting method information of the peripheral wireless communication device (communication device A) and the basic device information (F407). The communication device A receives the probe request of the communication device B and returns a probe response. The probe response includes the setting method information of the communication device A and the basic device information. In the first embodiment, the information that the setting method A and the setting method B are supported is stored in the probe response (F408). As a result of collecting the setting method information, the communication device A and the communication device B select a setting method (setting method A) that can be executed in common (F409, F410).

In the first embodiment, the communication device A is a providing device that provides communication parameters. Further, the communication device B is a receiving device that receives communication parameters from the providing device and receives the communication. Further, it is assumed that the selected setting method A is a method in which communication parameter setting processing is performed on a network different from the current network (selection network). Therefore, the communication device A of the providing device constructs a second network (setting network) for performing the communication parameter setting process (F411).

Further, the communication device B of the receiving device joins the network in which the providing device (communication device A) exists from the current network (F412). That is, it participates in the setting network constructed by the communication device A. The communication device A and the communication device B execute the communication parameter setting process and exchange the communication parameters (provide the communication parameters from the providing device to the receiving device) (F413). When the setting process is completed, the communication device A and the communication device B perform the connection process using the communication parameters exchanged by executing the setting process (F414). In the first embodiment, two communication devices have been described, but the same sequence can be obtained even if two or more communication devices are used.

As described above, in the above description, since the wireless communication devices can recognize each other's communication parameter setting information, it is possible to determine which communication parameter setting method is to be executed even in an ad hoc network. Further, by determining the communication parameter setting method to be executed, it is possible to determine in which network the communication parameter setting is performed.

Also, even if multiple setting methods can be executed, a method that can be executed in common is selected, and it is determined whether or not the selected method is a method that constructs another network (setting network) and performs setting processing. .. Then, in the case of the method of constructing the setting network, the setting network is constructed and participated in the setting process. If the method does not build a setting network, the setting process is performed on the selection network. By doing so, it is possible to execute the communication parameter setting process corresponding to various setting methods.

That is, it is possible to solve the problem when a plurality of setting methods for setting communication parameters can be used. For example, it is possible to select a setting method that can be commonly executed by devices that execute setting processing. Further, even if the selected setting method is a method that requires network movement or does not require movement, the setting process can be executed.

The above explanation has been given by taking 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®, UWB, ZigBee and the like. Further, it may be carried out in a wired communication medium such as a wired LAN.

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

Further, although the network identifier, the encryption method, the encryption key, the authentication method, and the authentication key are taken as examples as communication parameters, 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 on which computer program codes of software that realizes the above functions are recorded to a system or device, and the computer (CPU, MPU) of the system or device reads and executes the program code stored in the recording medium. You may try to do it. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function 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 non-volatile memory card, a ROM, a DVD, or the like can be used. it can.

In addition, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the above-mentioned functions are realized, but also a part or all of the actual processing is performed by the OS running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. May be performed to realize the above-mentioned function. OS is an abbreviation for Operating System.

Further, the program code read from the storage medium is written to the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted in the computer or the 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 the function expansion unit may perform a part or all of the actual processing to realize the above-mentioned function.

<figref num="1">Configuration diagram in the first embodiment</figref><figref num="2">Configuration diagram of the device according to the first embodiment</figref><figref num="3">Flow chart diagram in the first embodiment</figref><figref num="4">Sequence diagram in the first embodiment</figref>

Code description

100 Digital camera (communication device A) 101 Printer (Communication Device B) 102 Run button 103 Run button 104 Communication function unit 105 Communication function unit