U.S. patent application number 13/730546 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-18 for communication system, information processing apparatus, method and computer program.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sony Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Sony Corporation. Invention is credited to Junichi REKIMOTO.
Application Number | 20130182847 13/730546 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34616066 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130182847 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
REKIMOTO; Junichi |
July 18, 2013 |
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD AND
COMPUTER PROGRAM
Abstract
The present invention provides easy and prompt initiation of
wireless communications in which security is ensured requiring
additional hardware. A connection button of a PDA or first device
is operated and a connection request is broadcast. If the PDA and a
portable phone are in near each other, and a reception intensity of
the connection request is equal to or higher than a threshold
value, a request of the PDA is granted by the portable phone. Then,
an encryption key is newly generated by the portable phone, and is
transmitted to the PDA. An encryption key and communication
parameter transmitted from the portable phone are acquired.
Encrypted communications using the encryption key generated by the
portable phone are established based on the communication
parameter.
Inventors: |
REKIMOTO; Junichi;
(Kanagawa, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sony Corporation; |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Sony Corporation
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
34616066 |
Appl. No.: |
13/730546 |
Filed: |
December 28, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10976272 |
Oct 28, 2004 |
8345881 |
|
|
13730546 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
380/270 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 12/04 20130101;
H04L 63/062 20130101; H04L 2209/80 20130101; H04L 9/0891 20130101;
H04W 92/18 20130101; H04L 9/0838 20130101; H04L 63/0442 20130101;
H04W 12/0013 20190101; H04W 12/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
380/270 |
International
Class: |
H04W 12/00 20060101
H04W012/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 31, 2003 |
JP |
2003-373312 |
Claims
1.-14. (canceled)
15. An information providing apparatus comprising: a providing unit
configured to provide connection information and address
information on network to an external device when the external
device is located into proximity to the information providing
apparatus, the connection information is used for a communication
establishment to access a site of the address information.
16. The information providing apparatus according to the claim 15,
wherein the providing unit configured to provide the connection
information and address information to the external device by near
field communication.
17. The information providing apparatus according to the claim 15,
wherein the connection information is key information to establish
a communication with an access point.
18. The information providing apparatus according to the claim 15,
further comprising: a presentation unit capable of showing an
advertisement; and wherein the address information is associated
with the advertisement.
19. The information providing apparatus according to the claim 18,
wherein the address information is a URL to provide a map
information.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The subject matter of application Ser. No. 10/976,272, is
incorporated herein by reference. The present application is a
Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/976,272, filed Oct. 28, 2004, now
U.S. Pat. No. 8,345,881, issued Jan. 1, 2013, which claims priority
to Japanese Patent Application No. JP2003-373312, filed in the
Japanese Patent Office on Oct. 31, 2003, the entire contents of
which being incorporated herein by reference to the extent granted
by law.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a communication system,
information processing apparatus and method, and a computer
program, and particularly to a communication system, information
processing apparatus and method, and a computer program capable of
easily and promptly starting wireless communications in which
security is ensured without additional hardware.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] In recent years, electronics devices equipped with a
wireless communication function typically in accordance with the
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11
communications standard and the Bluetooth (Bluetooth (registered
trademark)) communications standard have been widely used.
[0006] Information which needs to be kept confidential, such as
information relating with privacy etc., is also transmitted and
received between apparatuses having the above-mentioned wireless
communication function, so that there is a need for security
countermeasures to prevent a third party from intercepting,
falsifying such information and carrying out unauthorized network
access.
[0007] For example, in the IEEE 802.11 communications standard, a
user registers beforehand a secret key called a WEP (Wired
Equivalent Privacy) key with a device for communicating, and
performs encrypted communications by using the WEP key, to thereby
secure safety of the communications. Further, a digital certificate
is issued beforehand so as to authenticate a device of a
communication counterpart by using the certificate at the time of
starting communications, to thereby determine whether it is a right
communication counterpart or not, and secure safety.
[0008] By the way, if registration of information on such a key and
issue of the certificate are always performed beforehand in order
to secure safety, it is not possible to promptly respond to
switching of connection parties of wireless communications. It is
not possible to promptly respond to temporary connections, such as
for example, connecting two portable devices temporarily by radio
so as to transmit a certain file, connecting a digital camera
temporarily by radio with a printer installed in a store so as to
print imaged photographs, connecting a video camera with a portable
phone temporarily by radio so as to remotely control the video
camera by using the portable phone, etc.
[0009] Then, in order to specify a connection party easily, and to
promptly start wireless communications with a specified device,
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No 2002-204239, for example,
discloses that a portable phone having a built-in RF tag is brought
into proximity with a personal computer having a built-in
reader/writer, so that identification information data of both
devices are transmitted and received between the RF tag and the
reader/writer. Then, the Bluetooth communications are established
between the portable phone and the personal computer, based on the
transmitted and received identification information data.
[0010] Further, it has been proposed conventionally that a secret
key is shared between two devices in short distance wireless
communications by means of the RF tag and the reader/writer or in
short distance wireless communications by means of infrared modules
provided in both the devices. Therefore, for example, the Bluetooth
communications established in such a way as to be disclosed in
Patent Document 1 are encrypted by using the secret key which is
transmitted and received in the short distance wireless
communications, so that the user may only bring both the devices
into proximity with each other so as to promptly start the
Bluetooth communications in which the security is ensured.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] However, as described above, in order to transmit and
receive the identification information data and the secret key
between both the devices, it is necessary for both the devices to
be provided with short distance wireless communication modules,
such as the RF tag, the reader/writer, or the infrared module, in
addition to the wireless communication module, such as the
Bluetooth communications etc., which can perform communications
even in a relatively distant position.
[0012] Therefore, although the RF tag, the infrared module, etc.
are only for establishing the Bluetooth communications etc. by
means of the wireless communication module provided in addition to
them, it is necessary to prepare them for causing the Bluetooth
communication etc. to start promptly only by bringing the devices
into proximity to each other, which increases the cost
accordingly.
[0013] The present invention has been conceived in view of a
situation as described above, and aims to granting easy and prompt
start of the wireless communications in which security is ensured
without additional hardware, such as the RF tag and the infrared
module.
[0014] A first information processing apparatus of a communication
system in accordance with the present invention includes: a first
transmission means or transmitter for wirelessly broadcasting a
connection request containing a public key; a first reception means
or receptor for receiving a key information which is transmitted
wirelessly from a second information processing apparatus for
judging a reception intensity of an electromagnetic wave which
conveys the connection request broadcast by the first transmission
means is higher than a preset threshold value, the key information
being generated by the second information processing apparatus and
encrypted by the public key; and a first establishment means for
decrypting the key information received by the first reception
means by using a secret key corresponding to the public key and so
that wireless communications encrypted by the key information may
be established with the second information processing
apparatus.
[0015] Further, a second information processing apparatus of the
communication system in accordance with the present invention
includes: a second reception means or receptor for receiving a
connection request transmitted from the first information
processing apparatus; a generation means or generator for
generating a key information when a reception intensity of an
electromagnetic wave which conveys the connection request is higher
than a preset threshold value; a second transmission means for
encrypting by means of a public key and transmitting to the first
information processing apparatus the key information generated by
the generation means; and a second establishment means for
establishing wireless communication, encrypted by the key
information, with the first information processing apparatus.
[0016] The first information processing apparatus of the present
invention further includes: a transmission means or transmitter for
wirelessly broadcasting a connection request containing a public
key; a reception means or receptor for receiving a key information
wirelessly transmitted from another information processing
apparatus which judges a reception intensity of an electromagnetic
wave for conveying the connection request broadcast by the
transmission means is higher than a preset threshold value, the key
information being generated by the other information apparatus and
encrypted by the public key; and an establishing means for
decrypting the key information received by the reception means by
using a secret key corresponding to the public key so as to
establish wireless communications encrypted by the key information
with the other information processing apparatus, wherein the
establishing means establishes the wireless communications with the
other information processing apparatus when the reception intensity
of the electromagnetic wave which conveys the key information
transmitted from the other information processing apparatus is
higher than the preset threshold value.
[0017] A first information processing method in accordance with the
present invention includes: a transmission step of wirelessly
broadcasting a connection request containing a public key; a
reception step of receiving a key information wirelessly
transmitted from another information processing apparatus which
judges a reception intensity of an electromagnetic wave for
conveying the connection request broadcast by processing the
transmission step is higher than a preset threshold value, the key
information being generated by the other information processing
apparatus and encrypted by means of the public key; and an
establishment step of decrypting the key information received by
processing the reception step by using a secret key corresponding
to the public key so as to establish wireless communication,
encrypted by the key information, with the other information
processing apparatus, wherein by processing the establishment step,
the wireless communications are established with the other
information processing apparatus when the reception intensity of
the electromagnetic wave which conveys the key information
transmitted from the other information processing apparatus is
higher than the preset threshold value.
[0018] A first computer program of the present invention includes:
a transmission step of wirelessly broadcasting a connection request
containing a public key; a reception step of receiving a key
information transmitted wirelessly from another information
processing apparatus which judges a reception intensity of an
electromagnetic wave for conveying a connection request broadcast
by processing the transmission step is higher than a preset
threshold value, the key information being generated by the other
information processing apparatus and encrypted by means of the
public key; and an establishment step of decrypting the key
information, received by processing the reception step, by using
the secret key corresponding to the public key so as to establish
wireless communications encrypted by means of the key information
with the other information processing apparatus, wherein by
processing the establishment step, the wireless communications are
established with the other information processing apparatus when
the reception intensity of the electromagnetic wave which conveys
the key information transmitted from the other information
processing apparatus is higher than the preset threshold value.
[0019] A second information processing apparatus of the present
invention includes: a reception means for receiving a connection
request containing a public key transmitted from another
information processing apparatus; a generation means for generating
a key information when a reception intensity of an electromagnetic
wave which conveys the connection request is higher than a preset
threshold value; a transmission means for encrypting the key
information, generated by the generation means, by means of the
public key so as to transmit it to the other information processing
apparatus; and an establishment means for establishing wireless
communications encrypted by means of the key information with the
other information processing apparatus.
[0020] The generation means can generate different key information
each time an electromagnetic wave which conveys the connection
request is received at reception intensity higher than the preset
threshold value.
[0021] A second information processing method of the present
invention includes: a reception step of receiving a connection
request containing a public key transmitted from another
information processing apparatus; a generation step of generating a
key information when a reception intensity of an electromagnetic
wave which conveys the connection request is higher than a preset
threshold value; a transmission step of encrypting the key
information, generated by processing the generation step, by means
of the public key so as to transmit it to another information
processing apparatus; and an establishment step of establishing
wireless communication, encrypted by means of the key information,
with the other information processing apparatus.
[0022] A second computer program of the present invention includes:
a reception step of receiving a connection request containing a
public key transmitted from another information processing
apparatus; a generation step of generating a key information when a
reception intensity of an electromagnetic wave which conveys the
connection request is higher than a preset threshold value; a
transmission step for encrypting by means of a public key and
transmitting to the information processing apparatus the key
information generated by the generation step; and an establishment
step of establishing wireless communications encrypted by the key
information with the other information processing apparatus.
[0023] A third information processing apparatus of the present
invention includes: a reception means for receiving a connection
request containing a public key transmitted from another
information processing apparatus; a generation means for generating
a key information when a reception intensity of an electromagnetic
wave which conveys the connection request is higher than a preset
threshold value; a first transmission means for encrypting the key
information, generated by the generation means, by means the public
key so as to transmit the encrypted key information to the other
information processing apparatus together with an information data
for connecting to a communication management device which manages
wireless communication; and a second transmission means for
transmitting the key information generated by the generation means
to the communication management device by wire.
[0024] A third information processing method of the present
invention includes: a reception step of receiving a connection
request containing a public key transmitted from another
information processing apparatus; a generation step of generating a
key information when a reception intensity of an electromagnetic
wave which conveys the connection request is higher than a preset
threshold value; a first transmission step of encrypting the key
information, generated by processing the generation step, by means
of the public key so as to transmit the encrypted key information
to the other information processing apparatus together with an
information data for connecting to a communication management
device which manages wireless communication; and a second
transmission step of transmitting the key information generated by
processing the generation step to the communication management
device by wire.
[0025] A third computer program of the present invention includes:
a reception step of receiving a connection request containing a
public key transmitted from another information processing
apparatus; a generation step of generating a key information when a
reception intensity of an electromagnetic wave which conveys the
connection request is higher than a preset threshold value; a first
transmission step of encrypting the key information, generated by
processing the generation step, by means of the public key so as to
transmit the encrypted key information to the other information
processing apparatus together with an information data for
connecting to a communication management device which manages
wireless communication; and a second transmission step of
transmitting the key information generated by processing the
generation step to the communication management device by wire.
[0026] In the communication system of the present invention, the
connection request containing the public key is broadcast
wirelessly means, the key information is received which is
transmitted wirelessly from the second information processing
apparatus for judging the reception intensity of the
electromagnetic wave for conveying the broadcast connection request
is higher than the preset threshold value, the key information
being generated by the second information processing apparatus and
encrypted by means of the public key. Further, the received key
information is decrypted by using the secret key corresponding to
the public key. The wireless communications encrypted by the key
information is established with the second information processing
apparatus. Further, when the connection request transmitted from
the first information processing apparatus is received and the
reception intensity of the electromagnetic wave which conveys the
connection request is higher than the preset threshold value, then
the key information is generated. The generated key information is
encrypted by means of the public key so as to be transmitted to the
first information processing apparatus, whereby the wireless
communications encrypted by means of the key information is
established with the first information processing apparatus.
[0027] In the first information processing apparatus and the first
information processing method, and the first computer program of
the present invention, the connection request containing the public
key is broadcast wirelessly means, and the key information is
received which is wirelessly transmitted from another information
processing apparatus for judging the reception intensity of the
electromagnetic wave for conveying the broadcast connection request
is higher than the preset threshold value, the key information
being generated by the other information processing apparatus and
encrypted by means of the public key. Further, the received key
information is decrypted by using the secret key corresponding to
the public key, and the wireless communications encrypted by the
key information is established with the other information
processing apparatus.
[0028] Establishment of the wireless communications is realized
with the other information processing apparatus, when the reception
intensity of the electromagnetic wave which conveys the key
information transmitted from the other information processing
apparatus is higher than the preset threshold value.
[0029] In the second information processing apparatus and the
second information processing method, and the second computer
program of the present invention, when the connection request is
received which contains the public key transmitted from another
information processing apparatus, and when the reception intensity
of the electromagnetic wave which conveys the connection request is
higher than the preset threshold value, then the key information is
generated. Further, the generated key information is encrypted by
means of the public key so as to be transmitted to another
information processing apparatus, whereby the wireless
communications encrypted by means of the key information is
established with another information processing apparatus.
[0030] In the third information processing apparatus and the third
information processing method, and the third computer program of
the present invention, when the connection request is received
which contains the public key transmitted from another information
processing apparatus, and when the reception intensity of the
electromagnetic wave which conveys the connection request is higher
than the preset threshold value, then the key information is
generated. Further, the generated key information is encrypted by
means of the public key, and the encrypted key information is
transmitted to another information processing apparatus together
with the information data for connecting to the communication
management device which manages the wireless communications. The
generated key information is transmitted to the communication
management device by wire.
[0031] Therefore, according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, it is possible to start wireless communications
easily and promptly.
[0032] Further, according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, it is possible to secure wireless communications in
which security is ensured, without requiring a complicated
setup.
[0033] Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, it is possible to prevent the wireless
communications from being performed with a device which is not
intended by a user.
[0034] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent from the following
description of the presently preferred exemplary embodiments of the
invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0035] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are views showing a procedure of
establishing ad hoc communications;
[0036] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a structure
of a PDA;
[0037] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional
structure of the PDA;
[0038] FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining a wireless
communication establishment process performed by the PDA and a
portable phone of FIG. 1;
[0039] FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining an example of a
process in FIG. 4;
[0040] FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining another wireless
communication establishment process performed by the PDA and the
portable phone of FIG. 1;
[0041] FIGS. 7A and 7B are views showing a procedure of
establishing infrastructure communications;
[0042] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a structure
of an access point;
[0043] FIG. 9 is a flow chart for explaining a process performed by
the PDA and the access point;
[0044] FIGS. 10A and 10B are views showing a procedure of
establishing the infrastructure communications by bringing a device
into proximity to a dummy point;
[0045] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of a structure
of the access point and the dummy point;
[0046] FIG. 12 is a flow chart for explaining a communication
establishment process performed by the PDA, the access point, and
the dummy point;
[0047] FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of a structure of a
communication system to which the present invention is applied;
[0048] FIGS. 14A and 14B are views showing an example of a spatial
relationship between the dummy point and the PDA;
[0049] FIG. 15 is a flow chart for explaining a process at the
access point; and
[0050] FIG. 16 is a view showing a situation where a portable dummy
point and a personal computer are in proximity to each other.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT
INVENTION
[0051] Hereafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention
will be described. The description is for confirming that the
preferred embodiments which support the invention recited in a
claim is described in the present specification. Therefore, if
there is an embodiment which is described in the preferred
embodiments of the invention and not described herein as one
corresponding to the invention, it does not mean that the
embodiment does not correspond to the invention. In contrast, if
the embodiment is described as one corresponding to the invention,
it does not mean that the embodiment does not correspond to any
invention other than the presently described invention.
[0052] Further, this description does not mean the entire invention
as described in the present specification. In other words, this
description does not deny existence of the invention which is
described in the present specification but not claimed in this
application, i.e. existence of the invention to be divided into a
divisional application or to be added through amendments in the
future.
[0053] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a communication system is provided. The communication
system is a communication system which includes a first information
processing apparatus (for example, a PDA 1 of FIG. 1A) and a second
information processing apparatus (for example, a portable phone 2
of FIG. 1A, an access point 51 of FIG. 7A). The first information
processing apparatus includes: a first transmission means (for
example, a connection request transmission unit 41 of FIG. 3) for
wirelessly broadcasting a connection request containing a public
key (for example, the public key Pk generated in step S2 of FIG.
4); a first reception means (for example, a wireless communication
control unit 31 of FIG. 3 for performing a process of step S4 of
FIG. 4) for receiving key information (for example, a session key
S) transmitted wirelessly from the above-mentioned second
information processing apparatus (for example, a portable phone 2
of FIG. 1A) which judges a reception intensity of an
electromagnetic wave for conveying the above-mentioned connection
request broadcast by the above-mentioned first transmission means
is higher than a preset threshold value, a key information being
generated by the above-mentioned second information processing
apparatus and encrypted by the above-mentioned public key; and a
first establishment means (for example, the wireless communication
control unit 31 of FIG. 3 for performing a process in step S6 of
FIG. 4) for decrypting the above-mentioned key information received
by the above-mentioned first reception means by using a secret key
(for example, a secret key Sk generated in step S2 of FIG. 4)
corresponding to the above-mentioned public key so as to establish
wireless communications (for example, wireless communications in
accordance with the IEEE 802.11 communications standard or the
Bluetooth communications standard), encrypted by the
above-mentioned key information, with the above-mentioned second
information processing apparatus.
[0054] Further, the second information processing apparatus
includes: a second reception means (for example, the wireless
communication control unit 31 of FIG. 3 for performing a process in
step S21 of FIG. 4) for receiving the above-mentioned connection
request transmitted from the above-mentioned first information
processing apparatus; a generation means for generating the
above-mentioned key information (for example, key information
management unit 34 of FIG. 3) when the reception intensity of an
electromagnetic wave for conveying the above-mentioned connection
request is higher than a preset threshold value; a second
transmission means (for example, the wireless communication control
unit 31 of FIG. 3 for performing a process in step S26 of FIG. 4)
for encrypting the above-mentioned key information, generated by
the above-mentioned generation means, by means of the
above-mentioned public key so as to transmit key information to the
above-mentioned first information processing apparatus; and a
second establishment means (for example, the wireless communication
control unit 31 of FIG. 3 for performing a process in step S27 of
FIG. 4) for establishing wireless communications, encrypted by
means of the above-mentioned key information (for example, a
wireless communications in accordance with the IEEE 802.11
communications standard or the Bluetooth communications standard),
with the above-mentioned first information processing
apparatus.
[0055] Also, according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a first information processing apparatus is provided.
The information processing apparatus (for example, the PDA 1 of
FIG. 1A) includes: a transmission means (for example, the
connection request transmission unit 41 of FIG. 3) for wirelessly
broadcasting a connection request containing a public key (for
example, the public key Pk generated in step S2 of FIG. 4); a
reception means (for example, the wireless communication control
unit 31 of FIG. 3 for performing a process in step S4 of FIG. 4)
for receiving key information (for example, the session key S)
transmitted wirelessly from another information processing
apparatus (for example, the portable phone 2 of FIG. 1A) which
judges the reception intensity of an electromagnetic wave for
conveying the above-mentioned connection request broadcast by the
above-mentioned transmission means is higher than a preset
threshold value, the key information being generated by the
above-mentioned other information processing apparatus and
encrypted with the above-mentioned public key; an establishment
means (for example, the wireless communication control unit 31 of
FIG. 3 for performing the process in step S6 of FIG. 4) for
decrypting the above-mentioned key information, received by the
above-mentioned reception means, by using a secret key (for
example, the secret key Sk generated in step S2 of FIG. 4)
corresponding to the above-mentioned public key so as to establish
wireless communications, encrypted by the above-mentioned key
information (for example, the wireless communications in accordance
with the IEEE 802.11 communications standard or the Bluetooth
communications standard), with the above-mentioned other
information processing apparatus, wherein the above-mentioned
establishment means establishes the above-mentioned wireless
communications with the above-mentioned other information
processing apparatus when the reception intensity of an
electromagnetic wave which conveys the above-mentioned key
information transmitted from the above-mentioned other information
processing apparatus is higher than a preset threshold value (for
example, the PDA 1 of FIG. 1A for performing the process in FIG.
6).
[0056] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a first information processing method is provided. The
information processing method includes: a transmission step (for
example, step S3 of FIG. 4) of broadcasting a connection request
containing a public key (for example, the public key Pk generated
in step S2 of FIG. 4) wirelessly means; a reception step (for
example, step S4 of FIG. 4) of receiving key information (for
example, the session key S) generated by the above-mentioned other
information processing apparatus (for example, the portable phone 2
of FIG. 1A) which judges the reception intensity of an
electromagnetic wave for conveying the above-mentioned connection
request broadcast by processing the above-mentioned transmission
step is higher than a preset threshold value; and an establishment
step (for example, step S6 of FIG. 4) of decrypting the
above-mentioned key information received by processing the
above-mentioned reception step by using a secret key (for example,
the secret key Sk generated in step S2 of FIG. 4) corresponding to
the above-mentioned public key, so as to establish wireless
communications, encrypted by the above-mentioned key information
(for example, the wireless communications in accordance with the
IEEE 802.11 communications standard or the Bluetooth communications
standard), with the other information processing apparatus, wherein
the wireless communications is established with the above-mentioned
other information processing apparatus, when the reception
intensity of the electromagnetic wave for conveying the key
information transmitted from other information processing
apparatuses is higher than the preset threshold value.
[0057] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a first computer program is provided. Also in the first
computer program, the preferred embodiment to which each step
corresponds (however, an example) is similar to the first
information processing method of the present invention.
[0058] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a second information processing apparatus is provided.
The information processing apparatus (for example, the portable
phone 2 of FIG. 1A, the access point 51 of FIG. 7A) includes: a
reception means (for example, the wireless communication control
unit 31 of FIG. 3 for performing the process in step S21 of FIG. 4)
for receiving a connection request containing a public key (for
example, the public key Pk generated in step S2 of FIG. 4)
transmitted from another information processing apparatus (for
example, the PDA 1 of FIG. 1A); a generation means for generating
key information (for example, the key information management unit
34 of FIG. 3) when the reception intensity of an electromagnetic
wave which conveys the above-mentioned connection request is higher
than a preset threshold value; a transmission means for encrypting
the above-mentioned key information, generated by the
above-mentioned generation means, with the above-mentioned public
key so as to be transmitted to the above-mentioned other
information processing apparatus (for example, the wireless
communication control unit 31 of FIG. 3 for performing the process
in step S26 of FIG. 4); and an establishment means (for example,
the wireless communication control unit 31 of FIG. 3 for performing
the process in step S27 of FIG. 4) for establishing wireless
communications with the above-mentioned other information
processing apparatus, the wireless communications being encrypted
by the above-mentioned key information (for example, the wireless
communications in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 communications
standard or the Bluetooth communications standard).
[0059] The above-mentioned generation means can generate different
key information each time an electromagnetic wave which conveys the
above-mentioned connection request is received at a reception
intensity higher than the preset threshold value.
[0060] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a second information processing method is provided. The
information processing method includes: a reception step (for
example, step S21 of FIG. 4) of receiving a connection request
containing a public key (for example, the public key Pk generated
in step S2 of FIG. 4) transmitted from another information
processing apparatus (for example, the PDA 1 of FIG. 1A); a
generation step (for example, step S24 of FIG. 4) of generating key
information when the reception intensity of an electromagnetic wave
which conveys the above-mentioned connection request is higher than
a preset threshold value; a transmission step (for example, step
S26 of FIG. 4) of encrypting the above-mentioned key information,
generated by processing the above-mentioned generation step, by the
above-mentioned public key, so as to be transmitted to the
above-mentioned other information processing apparatus; and a
establishment step (for example, step S27 of FIG. 4) of
establishing wireless communications with the above-mentioned other
information processing apparatus, the wireless communications being
encrypted by means of the above-mentioned key information (for
example, the wireless communications in accordance with the IEEE
802.11 communications standard or the Bluetooth communications
standard).
[0061] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a second computer program is provided. Also in the
second computer program, the preferred embodiment (however, one
example) to which each step corresponds is similar to the second
information processing method of the present invention.
[0062] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a third information processing apparatus is provided.
The third information processing apparatus (for example, a dummy
point 101-1 of FIG. 10A) includes: a reception means (for example,
a wireless communication control unit 121 of FIG. 11 for performing
a process in step S161 of FIG. 12) for receiving a connection
request containing a public key (for example, the public key Pk
generated in step S182 of FIG. 12) transmitted from another
information processing apparatus (for example, the PDA 1 of FIG.
1A); a generation means (for example, key information management
unit 124 of FIG. 11) for generating key information when the
reception intensity of a electromagnetic wave which conveys the
above-mentioned connection request is higher than a preset
threshold value; a first transmission means (for example, the
wireless communication control unit 121 of FIG. 11 for performing a
process in step S166 of FIG. 12) for encrypting the above-mentioned
key information, generated by the above-mentioned generation means,
by means of the above-mentioned public key so as to transmit the
above-mentioned encrypted key information to the above-mentioned
other information processing apparatus together with information
for connecting to a communication management device (for example,
an access point 51 of FIG. 10A) which manages wireless
communication; and a second transmission means (for example, a
cable communication control unit 125 of FIG. 11 for performing a
process in step S167 of FIG. 12) for transmitting the
above-mentioned key information generated by the above-mentioned
generation means to the above-mentioned communication management
device by wire.
[0063] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a third information processing method is provided. The
third information processing method includes: a reception step (for
example, step S161 of FIG. 12) of receiving a connection request
containing a public key (for example, the public key Pk generated
in step S182 of FIG. 12) transmitted from another information
processing apparatus (for example, the PDA 1 of FIG. 1A); a
generation step (for example, step S164) of generating key
information when the reception intensity of an electromagnetic wave
which conveys the above-mentioned connection request is higher than
a preset threshold value; a first transmission step (for example,
step S166 of FIG. 12) of encrypting the above-mentioned key
information, generated by processing the above-mentioned generation
step, by means of the above-mentioned public key so as to transmits
the above-mentioned encrypted key information to the
above-mentioned other information processing apparatus together
with information for connecting to a communication management
device (for example, the access point 51 of FIG. 10A) which manages
wireless communication; and a second transmission step (for
example, step S167 of FIG. 12) of transmitting the above-mentioned
key information generated by processing the above-mentioned
generation step to the above-mentioned communication management
device by wire.
[0064] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a third computer program is provided. Also in the third
computer program, the preferred embodiment (however, one example)
to which each step corresponds is similar to the third information
processing method of the present invention.
[0065] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present
invention will be described with reference to the attached
figures.
[0066] In the communication system to which the present invention
is applied, FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are views showing a procedure of
establishing ad hoc communications between devices.
[0067] In the PDA 1 and the portable phone 2, for example, modules
are included respectively which are capable of performing the
wireless communications by means of the electromagnetic wave and
which are complying with the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers) 802.11 communications standard (IEEE
802.11a/b/g etc.) or the Bluetooth (Bluetooth) communications
standard.
[0068] For example, when a user operates a button provided on a
surface of the PDA 1 and instructs the PDA 1 to be connected, the
connection request containing an address of the PDA 1 etc. is
broadcast from the PDA 1. As shown in FIG. 1A, when the FDA 1 and
the portable phone 2 are in proximity with each other, and when it
is determined that the reception intensity of the electromagnetic
wave (electromagnetic wave which conveys the connection request)
from the PDA 1 is equal to or higher than a preset threshold value,
the portable phone 2 grants the request from the PDA 1 and
communicates with the PDA 1.
[0069] At this event, the portable phone 2 newly generates an
encryption key used for the communications with the PDA 1, and
transmits the generated encryption key and a communication
parameter, such as the address of the portable phone 2 to the PDA
1. In addition, in the connection request from the PDA 1, the
public key generated by the PDA 1 is also contained, the encryption
key (encryption key generated by means of the portable phone 2)
encrypted by means of the public key and the communication
parameter are transmitted from the portable phone 2 to the PDA
1.
[0070] Since the PDA 1 has a secret key (an individual key)
corresponding to the public key which is broadcast and included in
the connection request, the encryption key and the communication
parameter which are transmitted from the portable phone 2 are
acquired by using the secret key. As shown in a solid line arrow of
FIG. 1B, the wireless communications complying with the IEEE 802.11
communications standard or the Bluetooth communications standard is
established with the portable phones 2. Then, encrypted
communications by using the encryption key generated by the
portable phone 2 are performed with the PDA 1 and the portable
phones 2.
[0071] As described above, only when the reception intensity of the
connection request broadcast from one apparatus is equal to or
higher than a threshold value, peer-to-peer type ad hoc
communications not via the access point are started between both
the devices. Therefore, without performing complicated setups, the
user can establish communications promptly by means of an intuitive
operation of bringing the device held by the user into proximity to
a device by which the user intends to perform the wireless
communications.
[0072] Further, since the encrypted communications are carried out
by means of the encryption key generated by the portable phone 2
which is a device having received the connection request, even when
there is another device within an electromagnetic wave covering
area, the apparatus cannot intercept the information transmitted
and received between the PDA 1 and the portable phone 2. In other
words, the user can promptly establish the wireless communications
in which safety is also secured. The processing before the
communications are established between the PDA 1 and the portable
phone 2 will be described later referring to a flow chart.
[0073] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example a structure of
the PDA 1.
[0074] A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 performs various types of
processes according to a computer program loaded from a ROM (Read
Only Memory) 12 or a storage unit 18 into a RAM (Random Access
Memory) 13. In the RAM 13, data etc. are suitably stored which are
necessary for the CPU 11 to perform various types of processes.
[0075] The CPU 11, the ROM 12, and the RAM 13 are mutually
connected through a bus 14, and an input/output interface 15 is
also connected with the bus 14.
[0076] Connected to the input/output interface 15 are various types
of buttons and jog dials; an input unit 16 which is a touch panel
etc. and superposed on, for example an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
constituting an output unit 17; a display unit which is an LCD
etc.; the output unit 17 which is a speaker, etc; and the storage
unit 18 which is a flash memory etc.
[0077] Further, a wireless communication unit 19 which is a
wireless communication module complying with the IEEE 802.11
communications standard or the Bluetooth communications standard is
also connected to the input/output interface 15. The wireless
communication unit 19 performs the wireless communications,
complying with the IEEE 802.11 communications standard, for
example, with the portable phones 2, under control of the CPU 11
through the bus 14 and the input/output interface 15.
[0078] A drive 20 is also connected to the input/output interface
15 as needed. A magnetic disk 21, an optical disc 22, an optical
magnetic disc 23, a semiconductor memory 24, etc. are suitably
installed in the drive 20.
[0079] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional
structure of the PDA 1. Each function in FIG. 3 is realized by
executing a control program by means of the CPU 11 of FIG. 2.
[0080] The wireless communication control unit 31 establishes the
wireless communications with another device at the wireless
communication unit 19 of FIG. 2 and controls the established
wireless communications. Further, the wireless communication
control unit 31 has a connection request transmission unit 41 and
an intensity judgment unit 42. The connection request transmission
unit 41 broadcasts the connection request containing the public key
and an address of the PDA 1 etc., according to instructions from
the user. The public key broadcast by the connection request
transmission unit 41 is generated and supplied by the key
information management unit 34. The intensity judgment unit 42
measures the reception intensity of the electromagnetic wave
emitted, for example, by an external device in the wireless
communication unit 19, and determines whether or not the reception
intensity is equal to or higher than the threshold value.
[0081] By using the key information supplied from the key
information management unit 34, an encryption/decryption processing
unit 32 encrypts an information data to be transmitted to another
device, and decrypts the information data when the information data
received from another device is encrypted.
[0082] A communication parameter management unit 33 manages various
types of parameters required for performing communications, for
example, an ESSID (Extended Service Set ID) in the IEEE 802.11
communications, or a Bluetooth address, a Bluetooth clock, etc. in
the Bluetooth communications.
[0083] The key information management unit 34 manages the
encryption key provided by the device of a communication
counterpart, generates the public key and the secret key
corresponding to the public key as needed, and manages their key
information. The key information managed by the key information
management unit 34 is suitably provided for the
encryption/decryption processing unit 32.
[0084] In addition, also the portable phone 2 of FIG. 1
fundamentally has the same structure as the structures of FIG. 2
and FIG. 3, except that a processing unit for a sound signal which
is inputted when the user speaks and a communication unit for
performing communications with a base station are added further.
Therefore, hereafter, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are suitably referred to
the structure of the portable phone 2.
[0085] Next, referring to a flow chart of FIG. 4, a wireless
communication establishment process performed by the PDA 1 and the
portable phone 2 of FIG. 1 will be described.
[0086] For example, when a connection button provided on a surface
is depressed, the input unit 16 of the PDA 1 receives an input
(operation of the connection button) from the user in step S1.
[0087] In step S2, the key information management unit 34 generates
and manages a pair of the public key Pk and the secret key Sk
(secret key Sk which can decrypt the information data encrypted by
means of the public key Pk) corresponding to the public key Pk. The
key information management unit 34 supplies the generated public
key Pk to the wireless communication control unit 31. Then, the
communication parameter containing the address of the PDA 1 etc. is
also supplied from the communication parameter management unit 33
to the wireless communication control unit 31.
[0088] In step S3, the connection request transmission unit 41
controls the wireless communication unit 19 and broadcasts the
connection request containing the public key Pk and the
communication parameter. Since the connection request is not
encrypted, a device which exists within a coverage area of the
electromagnetic wave emitted from the wireless communication unit
19 of a PDA 11 can receive the connection request and acquire the
public key Pk, etc.
[0089] When the portable phone 2 is within the coverage area of the
electromagnetic wave from the PDA 1, in step S21 the wireless
communication control unit 31 of the portable phone 2 receives the
connection request transmitted from the PDA 1, and outputs the
public key Pk contained in the connection request to the
encryption/decryption processing unit 32. In step S22 the intensity
judgment unit 42 of the portable phone 2 measures the reception
intensity (reception intensity of the electromagnetic wave which
conveys the connection request) of the connection request, moves
the process to step S23, and determines whether or not the
reception intensity is equal to or higher than the threshold
value.
[0090] In step S23, when it is determined that the reception
intensity of the connection request is lower than or equal to the
threshold value, then the intensity judgment unit 42 terminates the
process. Therefore, when a distance between the PDA 1 and the
portable phone 2 is comparatively large, even if the portable phone
2 has received the connection request, subsequent communications
are not performed between the PDA 1 and the portable phone 2.
[0091] On the other hand, in step S23 when it is determined that
the reception intensity of the connection request is equal to or
higher than the threshold value, the intensity judgment unit 42
grants the request from the PDA 1, and specifies the PDA 1 as a
device of the communication counterpart. Therefore, as shown in
FIG. 1A, when the connection request is broadcast from the PDA 1 in
proximity with the portable phone 2, the PDA 1 is specified as the
device of the communication counterpart of the portable phone
2.
[0092] A field intensity of the electromagnetic wave (electric
power density per unit area) decreases inversely proportionally to
the square of a distance from a transmission source, therefore, a
device having received the connection request can determine whether
the device broadcasting the connection request is the one in
proximity or the one located in a comparatively distant position,
based on the field intensity of the received electromagnetic
wave.
[0093] For example, on the reception intensity in the portable
phone 2, there is a ten times difference between a packet
transmitted from the device in a position 10 cm away from the
portable phone 2 and a packet transmitted from the device in a
position 1 m away from the portable phone 2 (the intensity of the
packet transmitted from the device which is located in the position
10 cm away from the portable phone 2 is ten times higher), so that
the device which receives the connection request can substantially
reliably determine whether or not the device which transmits it is
the one in proximity, even if there are somewhat irregularities in
the output.
[0094] Turning back to FIG. 4, when the PDA 1 is specified as the
device of the communication counterpart, the key information
management unit 34 of the portable phone 2, in step S24, generates
the session key S which is a common key. After the wireless
communications are established with the PDA 1, the session key S is
used for encrypting the transmitted and received information data
and for decrypting the encrypted information data. In addition, the
session key S is generated at random for connection at this event.
A different key is generated for each set of the processes of FIG.
4. The session key S generated by the key information management
unit 34, and the communication parameters, such as the address of
the portable phone 2, managed by the communication parameter
management unit 33 are outputted to the encryption/decryption
processing unit 32.
[0095] In step S25, the encryption/decryption processing unit 32
encrypts the session key S and the communication parameter (Z=(the
session key S, the communication parameter)) by using the public
key Pk provided by the PDA 1, and supplies the encrypted
information data to the wireless communication control unit 31. In
step S26, the wireless communication control unit 31 returns the
session key S encrypted by means of the public key Pk and the
communication parameter to the PDA 1 as an ack (Z) (acknowledge
(Z)). Thus, the session key S generated by the portable phone 2 is
encrypted by means of the public key Pk and returned to the PDA 1,
so that only the PDA 1 having the secret key Sk can decrypt and
acquire the session key S.
[0096] The wireless communication control unit 31 of the PDA 1, in
step S4, receives the ack (Z) returned from the portable phone 2,
and outputs the received ack (Z) to the encryption/decryption
processing unit 32.
[0097] In step S5, the encryption/decryption processing unit 32 of
the PDA 1 decrypts the ack (Z) returned from the portable phone 2
by using the secret key Sk managed by the key information
management unit 34, and acquires the communication parameter and
the session key S generated by the portable phone 2.
[0098] In step S6, by using the communication parameter acquired by
the encryption/decryption processing unit 32, the wireless
communication control unit 31 establishes the wireless
communications with the portable phones 2, complying with the IEEE
802.11 communications standard or the Bluetooth communications
standard. On the other hand, in step S27, based on the
communication parameter contained in the connection request from
the PDA 1, the portable phone 2 establishes the wireless
communications with the PDA 1, complying with the IEEE 802.11
communications standard or the Bluetooth communications
standard.
[0099] At this event, in the case of the wireless communications
complying with the IEEE 802.11 communications standard, a MAC
(Media Access Control) address, an IP address, the ESSID, etc. of
both the devices are set up between the PDA 1 and the portable
phones 2, and a setup by using the session key S as a WEP (Wired
Equivalent Privacy) key etc. are performed. Further, in the case of
the wireless communications complying with the Bluetooth
communications standard, a setup based on the Bluetooth address or
a Bluetooth clock, a setting by using the session key S as an
encryption key etc. are performed.
[0100] After various types of setups are performed, the wireless
communications encrypted by means of the session key S are started
between the PDA 1 and the portable phone 2. In addition, the
wireless communications started here do not necessarily require
both the devices to be in proximity to each other, but are
effective within the coverage area of the electromagnetic wave.
[0101] As described above, based on the reception intensity of the
electromagnetic wave, it is arranged to determine whether or not a
device is a communication counterpart, so that the user can start
the wireless communications only by bringing the devices into
proximity.
[0102] Further, by using the wireless communication module (the
wireless communication unit 19 of FIG. 2) in accordance with the
IEEE 802.11 communications standard or the Bluetooth communications
standard, it is arranged to determine whether or not the device is
in proximity and to transmit and receive the communication
parameter, so that it is not necessary to provide the device with a
dedicated module, such as the RF tag, the reader/writer, the
infrared module, etc. only for detecting a neighboring device and
for transmitting and receiving an information data required for
establishing communications. Therefore, as compared with the case
of preparing such a dedicated module, production costs of the
device can be reduced.
[0103] Further, since the wireless communications encrypted by
means of the newly generated session key are carried out, an
interception, a falsification etc. by a third party can be
prevented.
[0104] FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining a process before the
wireless communications complying with the IEEE 802.11
communications standard between the PDA 1 and a portable phone 2 of
FIG. 1 are established. A process in FIG. 5 is basically similar to
the process in FIG. 4, and its detailed description will be
properly omitted.
[0105] In step S41 when the operation, by the user, of the
connection button is received by the input unit 16, then in step
S42 the key information management unit 34 of the PDA 1 generates
the pair of the public key Pk and the secret key Sk. In step S43
the connection request transmission unit 41 broadcasts the
connection request containing the public key Pk generated by the
key information management unit 34 and the communication parameter
managed by the communication parameter management unit 33.
[0106] In step S61 the wireless communication control unit 31 of
the portable phone 2 which exists within the coverage area of the
electromagnetic wave from the PDA 1 receives the connection
request. In step S62 the intensity judgment unit 42 measures the
reception intensity of the connection request, moves the process to
step S63, and determines whether or not the reception intensity is
equal to or higher than a threshold value.
[0107] In step S63 when it is determined that the reception
intensity of the connection request is lower than the threshold
value, the intensity judgment unit 42 terminates the process. On
the other hand, when it is determined that it is equal to or higher
than the threshold value, the PDA 1 is specified as the device of
the communication counterpart. When the PDA 1 is specified as the
device of the communication counterpart, in step S64 the key
information management unit 34 of the portable phone 2 newly
generates a WEP key to be used for the wireless communications with
the PDA 1 in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 communications
standard, and the communication parameter management unit 33 newly
generates an ESSID which identifies the communications. The thus
generated ESSID and the WEP key are outputted to the
encryption/decryption processing unit 32.
[0108] In step S65 the encryption/decryption processing unit 32
encrypts the ESSID and the WEP key (Z=(the ESSID, the WEP key)) by
using the public key Pk, the encrypted information data is supplied
to the wireless communication control unit 31. In step S66 the
wireless communication control unit 31 returns the ack (Z)
containing the encrypted ESSID and WEP key to the PDA 1. In this
way the newly generated ESSID and WEP key are encrypted by means of
the public key Pk provided by the PDA 1 and returned to the PDA 1,
so that only the PDA 1 having the secret key Sk can decrypt and
acquire the ESSID and the WEP key.
[0109] In step S44 the wireless communication control unit 31 of
the PDA 1 receives the ack (Z) returned from the portable phone 2.
In step S45 the encryption/decryption processing unit 32 decrypts
the ack (Z) by using the secret key Sk managed by the key
information management unit 34, and acquires the ESSID and the WEP
key generated by the portable phone 2.
[0110] In step S46, based on the acquired ESSID and the WEP key,
the wireless communication control unit 31 establishes the wireless
communications with the portable phones 2, complying with the
IEEE802.11 communications standard. On the other hand, in step S67,
similar to the wireless communication control unit 31 of the PDA 1,
based on the information included in the connection request, the
wireless communication control unit 31 of the portable phone 2
establishes the wireless communications with the PDA 1, complying
with the IEEE 802.11 communications standard.
[0111] As described above, by bringing devices into proximity to
each other, the user can establish the wireless communications
between the devices, complying with the IEEE 802.11 communications
standard in which security is ensured. Further, in order to
establish the wireless communication, it is not necessary to
provide both the devices with modules for short distance
communications other than the communication modules in accordance
with the IEEE 802.11 communications standard.
[0112] Referring now to a flow chart of FIG. 6, another wireless
communication establishment process performed by the PDA 1 and the
portable phone 2 of FIG. 1 will be described.
[0113] The process in FIG. 6 is similar to the process as described
above with reference to FIG. 4, except that the PDA 1 determines
whether or not the reception intensity of the ack (Z) returned from
the portable phone 2 to the PDA 1 is equal to or higher than the
threshold value. Thus, possible double descriptions will be
suitably omitted.
[0114] In step S84 when the ack (Z) containing the session key S
and the communication parameter which are encrypted by the public
key Pk are received by the wireless communication control unit 31
of the PDA 1, then in step S85 the intensity judgment unit 42 of
the PDA 1 determines whether or not the reception intensity of the
electromagnetic wave which conveys the ack (Z) is equal to or
higher than the threshold value. In step S85 when it is determined
that the reception intensity is lower than or equal to the
threshold value, the intensity judgment unit 42 notifies the
portable phone 2, for example, that communications cannot be
carried out, and terminates the process.
[0115] Thus, they are in proximity when transmitting the connection
request (at the time of carrying out the process in step S83). For
example, if they are separated immediately after that, the wireless
communications are not performed between the PDA 1 and the portable
phone 2.
[0116] In step S85, when it is determined that the reception
intensity of a reply from the portable phone 2 is equal to or
higher than the threshold value, i.e., when it is determined that a
status is continuing where the PDA 1 and the portable phone 2 are
in proximity to each other, it moves the process to step S86. The
encryption/decryption processing unit 32 of the PDA 1 decrypts the
ack (Z) by using the secret key Sk, and acquires the session key S
and communication parameter which are generated by the portable
phone 2. Then, by using the session key S and the communication
parameter which are acquired by the encryption/decryption
processing unit 32, the wireless communication control unit 31
establishes the wireless communications with portable phones 2.
[0117] As described above, the PDA 1 is caused to determine the
reception intensity of the reply to the connection request, to
thereby reliably specify the device which establishes the wireless
communications and prevent the wireless communications from being
established with the devices which are not intended by the
user.
[0118] Further, the communication is not performed even with a
device which is not actually in proximity but broadcasts the
connection request at a high output level from a distant position.
In other words, when the judgment of the reception intensity of the
reply to the connection request is not carried out in the PDA 1,
the PDA 1 broadcasts the connection request at a high output level
from the position distant from the portable phone 2, so that the
portable phone 2 determines that the PDA 1 is in proximity (the
process in step S103 determines that the reception intensity is
equal to or higher than the threshold value). Then, the wireless
communications are established between the PDA 1 and the portable
phone 2. The PDA 1 may also be caused to determine the reception
intensity of the electromagnetic wave, to thereby prevent the
wireless communications as described above from being established.
That is to say, the communications are established only between the
devices which are actually in proximity to each other.
[0119] In addition, when both devices transmit the connection
request and the reply (ack (Z)) corresponding to it at a high
output level, the communications are established between the
devices even when they are not in proximity to each other, so that
the broadcast connection request and the reply corresponding
thereto may include an information data indicating an output level
of the electromagnetic wave.
[0120] Further, the PDA 1 having transmitted the connection request
may not measure the reception intensity of the reply from the
portable phone 2 so as to determine whether or not to carry out
communications, but the output of the reply from the portable phone
2 may be restricted in order for the electromagnetic wave which
conveys ack (Z) to cover only a small area. This may prevent the
communications from being established between the device which
broadcasts the connection request from the distant position at a
high output level and the device which receives it.
[0121] A case has been described above where the ad hoc
communications are established by bringing the devices into
proximity to each other. Similarly, infrastructure communications
can also be established by bringing a device into proximity to an
access point.
[0122] FIGS. 7 A and 7B are views for explaining a procedure of
establishing the infrastructure communications in the communication
system to which the present invention is applied.
[0123] Similar to the PDA 1, the access point 51 includes therein
the wireless communication module complying with the IEEE 802.11
communications standard or the Bluetooth communications standard,
for example.
[0124] For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the user instructs
the PDA 1 held by the user to connect to the access point 51, with
the FDA 1 being brought into proximity to the access point 51, the
connection request is broadcast from the PDA 1. When the access
point 51 determines that the reception intensity is equal to or
higher than a preset threshold value, the communication parameter,
such as the ESSID, and the WEP keys, are generated by the access
point 51. The generated communication parameter and the WEP key are
encrypted by the public key which is included in the connection
request and supplied from the PDA 1 to the access point 51, then
returned to the PDA 1. Based on the ESSID and WEP key, the PDA 1
connects to the access point 51.
[0125] Further, before the PDA 1 connects to the access point 51,
when the network to which another device belongs to is already
managed by the access point 51, the device is notified of the newly
generated ESSID and the WEP key, the setup is changed in each
device. In this way, the network is formed containing the device
already connected to the access point 51 and the PDA 1 newly
connected to the access point 51.
[0126] For example, as shown in FIG. 7B, before the PDA 1 connects
to the access point 51, when the network constituted by a device 52
and a device 53 is managed by the access point 51, the ESSID and
the WEP key newly generated corresponding to receiving a connection
request from the PDA 1 are notified also to the device 52 and the
device 53, thus changing the setup in each device. In this way, a
network 61 is newly formed by the PDA 1, the device 52, and the
device 53 (an infrastructure connection type wireless
communications are established).
[0127] Therefore, the user can cause the PDA 1 to participate in
the network promptly by just bringing the PDA 1 into proximity to
the access point 51, without performing complicated operations,
such as setting the same ESSID and the same WEP key as those set in
another device to, the PDA 1.
[0128] Further, since a network setup is changed in each device by
means of the ESSID and the WEP key having newly generated by the
access point 51, a more secure network can be formed. For example,
even when the ESSID and the WEP key are known to those who are
malicious, each time a new device participates in the network, the
ESSID and the WEP key are updated, so that the ESSID and the WEP
key known to those who are malicious cannot intercept the
information data transmitted and received in the network where the
setup is updated.
[0129] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional
structure of the access point 51. In addition, the access point 51
has substantially the same structure as the structure of the PDA 1
as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, FIG. 2 is suitably referred to as a
structure for the access point 51.
[0130] The wireless communication control unit 71 of FIG. 8
controls the wireless communications with another device performed
in the wireless communication unit 19 of FIG. 2. The wireless
communication control unit 71 has a network management unit 81 and
an intensity judgment unit 82. The network management unit 81
provides a router function or a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration
Protocol) function to the devices which participate in the network,
and performs a process of notifying the devices having already
participated in the network of the newly generated ESSID and the
WEP key. Similar to the intensity judgment unit 42 of the PDA 1 of
FIG. 3, the intensity judgment unit 82 measures the reception
intensity of the electromagnetic wave emitted by an external
device, and determines whether or not the reception intensity is
equal to or higher than the preset threshold value.
[0131] An encryption/decryption processing unit 72 encrypts the
information data to be transmitted to another device, and decrypts
the information received from another device when it is
encrypted.
[0132] A communication parameter management unit 73 manages various
types of parameters required for performing communications, for
example, the ESSID in the IEEE 802.11 communications or the
Bluetooth address, the Bluetooth clock etc. in the Bluetooth
communications.
[0133] Key information management unit 74 generates encryption
keys, such as the WEP key provided for the device participating in
the network.
[0134] Next, referring to a flow chart of FIG. 9, the wireless
communication establishment process performed between the PDA 1 and
the access point 51 of FIG. 7A will be described.
[0135] When the operation button is depressed and the PDA 1 is
instructed by the user to participate in the network, in step S121,
the input unit 16 of the FDA 1 receives such instructions. In step
S122, the key information management unit 34 generates the public
key Pk and the secret key Sk corresponding to the public key Pk. In
step S123, the connection request transmission unit 41 broadcasts
the connection request containing the public key Pk and the
communication parameter.
[0136] The wireless communication control unit 71 of the access
point 51 which exists within the coverage area of the
electromagnetic wave from the PDA 1 receives the connection request
broadcast by the PDA 1, in step S141. In step S142, the intensity
judgment unit 82 of the access point 51 measures the reception
intensity of the connection request, and moves the process to step
S143 so as to determine whether or not the measured reception
intensity is equal to or higher than the threshold value.
[0137] In step S143, when it is determined that the reception
intensity of the connection request is lower than or equal to the
threshold value, the intensity judgment unit 82 terminates the
process. On the other hand, when it is determined that is equal to
or higher than the threshold value, it grants the request from the
PDA 1, and allows participation in the network.
[0138] In step S144, the communication parameter management unit 73
and the key information management unit 74 of the access point 51
newly generates an ESSID and a WEP key respectively, and outputs
the generated ESSID and WEP key to the encryption/decryption
processing unit 72.
[0139] In step S145, the encryption/decryption processing unit 72
encrypts the ESSID and the WEP key (Z=(the ESSID. the WEP key)) by
using the public key Pk provided by the PDA 1, and outputs the
encrypted information data to the wireless communication control
unit 71. In step S146, the network management unit 81 returns the
encrypted ESSID and the encrypted WEP key as the ack (Z) to the PDA
1.
[0140] Further, when the network constituted by a plurality of
devices is already managed, the network management unit 81, in step
S147, provides the ESSID and the WEP key generated in step S144 to
all the devices participating in the network, and updates the setup
in each device. For example, since the newly generated ESSID and
WEP key are transmitted to each device by encrypting by means of
the WEP key having so far used in the network, the newly generated
ESSID and WEP key are not intercepted by a third party.
[0141] On the other hand, the wireless communication control unit
31 of the PDA 1, in step S124, receives the ack (Z) returned from
the access point 51. In step 125, the encryption/decryption
processing unit 32 decrypts the ack (Z) by using the secret key Sk,
to thereby acquire the ESSID and the WEP key generated by the
access point 51.
[0142] In step S126, based on the ESSID and the WEP key acquired by
the encryption/decryption processing unit 32, the wireless
communication control unit 31 connects to the access point 51 so as
to participate in the network managed by the access point 51.
[0143] In this way, the infrastructure connection type network is
formed which is constituted by devices identified by the ESSID
which is newly generated by the access point 51, so that it becomes
possible to transmit and receive the information through the access
point 51 between those devices.
[0144] As described above, the user can establish even
infrastructure communications by just bringing the device held by
the user into proximity to the access point and build a network,
without preparing modules, such as the RF tag, the reader/writer,
etc., in addition to the modules in accordance with the IEEE 802.11
communications standard etc. Further, since the ESSID and the WEP
key are newly generated so as to change the setup in each device
participating in the network, the user can build a more secure
network.
[0145] As described above, the user brings the device held by the
user into proximity to the access point, so as to cause the device
to participate in the network. However, a case often occurs in
which the access point is provided in a position to which the user
cannot bring the device into proximity, such as the vicinity of
ceiling indoors, for example. Therefore, apart from the access
point provided in the vicinity of the ceiling etc., the user may
provide a dummy point which does not have the function of managing
the network, only by providing the newly generated ESSID and the
WEP key in a position to which the user can easily bring the device
into proximity. In this case, by bringing the device held by the
user into proximity to the dummy point, the user can cause the
device to participate in the network managed by the access
point.
[0146] FIGS. 10A and 10B are views showing a procedure of
establishing the infrastructure communications by bringing the
device into proximity to the dummy point in the communication
system to which the present invention is applied.
[0147] Unlike the access point 51, the dummy point 101-1 and the
dummy point 101-2 of FIG. 10A are provided in positions to which
the user can easily bring the PDA 1 into proximity, and
respectively connected to the access point 51 by wire through a
cable 111-1 and a cable 111-2.
[0148] The dummy point 101-1 and the dummy point 101-2 have the
wireless communication functions complying with the IEEE 802.11
communications standard or the Bluetooth communications standard,
and provide the PDA 1 with the newly generated ESSID and the WEP
key when it is determined that the PDA 1 is brought into proximity
according to the reception intensity of the electromagnetic wave.
Further, at this event, the dummy point 101-1 and the dummy point
101-2 transmit the same ESSID and the WEP key as those provided by
the PDA 1, to the access point 51 through the cable 111-1 and the
cable 111-2.
[0149] The subsequent processes are similar to those in the case of
FIGS. 7A and 7B. In other words, the access point 51 notifies the
ESSID and the WEP key notified by the dummy point 101-1 or the
dummy point 101-2 to all the devices having already participated in
the network, causes them to update the setups, and grants the
connection of the PDA 1 having acquired the ESSID and the WEP key
from the dummy point 101-1 or the dummy point 101-2, whereby the
network 61 containing the PDA 1 is formed as shown in FIG. 10B.
[0150] In this way, even when the access point 51 is provided in a
position to which the PDA 1 cannot be brought into proximity, the
user can cause the PDA 1 to participate in the network managed by
the access point 51, by bringing the PDA 1 into proximity to the
dummy point 101-1 or the dummy point 101-2.
[0151] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of a
functional structure of the access point 51 and the dummy point
101-1. In addition, also the dummy point 101-2 has the same
structure of the dummy point 101-1 as shown in FIG. 11, and is
connected with the access point 51. The same reference numerals are
used for the same parts as in the access point 51 of FIG. 8.
[0152] Also the dummy point 101-1 has the same structure as that of
the access point 51 of FIG. 8, except that a functional unit for
managing the network is not provided. That is to say, the wireless
communication control unit 121 controls the wireless communications
complying with the IEEE 802.11 communications standard or the
Bluetooth communications standard performed between the devices
which are in proximity to each other; an intensity judgment unit
131 measures the reception intensity of the electromagnetic wave
emitted from the external device and determines whether or not the
reception intensity is equal to or higher than the preset threshold
value.
[0153] By using the public key Pk which is included in the
connection request and provided by the PDA 1, an encryption
processing unit 122 encrypts the ESSID generated by a communication
parameter management unit 123 and the WEP key generated by the key
information management unit 124, so as to be provided from the
wireless communication control unit 121 to the PDA 1.
[0154] The communication parameter management unit 123 manages the
communication parameters, such as the ESSID etc. The key
information management unit 124 generates the WEP key to be
provided for the PDA 1, etc., which is in proximity. The ESSID
managed by the communication parameter management unit 123 and the
WEP key managed by the key information management unit 124 are
outputted to the encryption processing unit 122, and also to the
cable communication control unit 125.
[0155] The cable communication control unit 125 manages wired
communications with the access points 51, and transmits the ESSID
supplied from the communication parameter management unit 123 and
the WEP key supplied from the key information management unit 124,
to the access point 51 through the cable 111-1.
[0156] A cable communication control unit 141 of the access point
51 receives the ESSID and the WEP key which are transmitted from
the dummy point 101-1, and outputs them to the wireless
communication control unit 71. The network management unit 81 of
the wireless communication control unit 71 transmits the ESSID and
the WEP key which are transmitted from the dummy point 101-1, to
all the devices that have participated in the network wirelessly
means so as to update the setup. Further, the network management
unit 81 grants the connection from the PDA 1 having acquired the
ESSID and the WEP key provided through the dummy point 101-1, and
causes the PDA 1 to participate in the network.
[0157] Next, referring to a flow chart of FIG. 12, the
communication establishment process performed by the PDA 1, the
access point 51, and the dummy point 101-1 of FIG. 10A will be
described.
[0158] By bringing the PDA 1 into proximity to the dummy point
101-1, the process performed between the PDA 1 and the dummy point
101-1 is similar to the processing performed between the PDA 1 and
the access points 51 as described with reference to the FIG. 5,
FIG. 9, etc.
[0159] In other words, in step S181, the input unit 16 of the PDA
1, for example, receives the operation of the connection button
performed by the user, with the FDA 1 being in proximity to the
dummy point 101-1. In step S182, the key information management
unit 34 generates the public key Pk and the secret key Sk
corresponding to the public key Pk. The connection request
transmission unit 41, in step S183, broadcasts the connection
request containing the public key Pk and the communication
parameter.
[0160] The wireless communication control unit 121 of the dummy
point 101-1, in step S161, receives the connection request
broadcast from the PDA 1. In step S162, the intensity judgment unit
131 measures the reception intensity of the connection request,
then moves the process to step S163 so as to determine whether or
not the reception intensity is equal to or higher than the
threshold value.
[0161] In step S163, if it is determined that the reception
intensity of the connection request is lower than the threshold
value, the intensity judgment unit 131 terminates the process. On
the other hand, if it is determined that the intensity is equal to
or higher than the threshold value, the process moves to step
S164.
[0162] In step S164 the communication parameter management unit 123
of the dummy point 101-1 newly generates an ESSID, and outputs the
generated ESSID to the encryption processing unit 122 and the cable
communication control unit 125. Further, the key information
management unit 124 newly generates a WEP key, and outputs the
generated WEP key to the encryption processing unit 122 and the
cable communication control unit 125.
[0163] In step S165, the encryption processing unit 122 encrypts
the ESSID and the WEP key (Z=(the ESSID, the WEP key)) by means of
the public key Pk, and outputs the encrypted information data to
the wireless communication control unit 121. In step S166, the
wireless communication control unit 121 returns the encrypted ESSID
and WEP key as the ack (Z) to the PDA 1.
[0164] In step S167, the cable communication control unit 125
transmits the ESSID supplied from the communication parameter
management unit 123 and the WEP key supplied from the key
information management unit 124, to the access point 51 by the
cable through the cable 111-1. At this event, the information data
other than the ESSID and the WEP key, such as the MAC address of
the PDA 1 is also transmitted to the access point 51 and used for
the access control in the access point 51.
[0165] On the other hand, in step S184, the wireless communication
control unit 31 of the PDA 1 receives the ack (Z) returned from the
dummy point 101-1. In step S185, the encryption/decryption
processing unit 32 decrypts the ack (Z) by using the secret key Sk
so as to acquire the ESSID and the WEP key.
[0166] In step S186, based on the ESSID and the WEP key acquired by
the encryption/decryption processing unit 32, the wireless
communication control unit 31 establishes the wireless
communications complying with the IEEE 802.11 communications
standard and connects to the access point 51. At this event, having
received the ESSID and the WEP key transmitted by wire in step
S201, the network management unit 81 of the access point 51 moves
to a process in step S202, transmits the ESSID and the WEP key
wirelessly means to the device which has already participated in
the network and updates the setup.
[0167] In this way, the infrastructure connection type network is
constituted by a group of the devices containing the PDA 1 which is
identified by the ESSID newly generated by the dummy point 101-1,
and the transmission and reception of the information data through
the access point 51 are performed between networks.
[0168] According to the above processing, even when the access
point 51 is provided in a position to which the PDA 1 cannot
directly be brought into proximity, the user can cause the PDA 1 to
participate in the network managed by the access point 51, by
bringing the PDA 1 into proximity to the dummy point 101-1 etc.
[0169] In addition, when the PDA 1 is brought into proximity to the
dummy point, the PDA 1 is provided with a URL (Uniform Resource
Locator) of a certain site through the dummy point, other than the
information data, such as the ESSID and the WEP key. After the PDA
1 is connected to the access point 51 by performing the process of
FIG. 12, the PDA 1 may have access to a site specified by the URL
through the access point 51.
[0170] FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of a structure of the
communication system in which the connection to the access point 51
is made by the PDA 1 based on URL provided through the dummy point,
and then subsequently the access to the site specified by the URL
is carried out.
[0171] In FIG. 13, presentation units 151-1 through 151-3
constituted by a display, such as an LCD, a poster, etc., are
provided on a wall surface. For example, an advertisement of a
camera is presented by the presentation unit 151-1, a map is
presented by the presentation unit 151-2, and an advertisement of a
personal computer is presented by the presentation unit 151-3.
[0172] The dummy points 101-1 through 101-3 connected to the access
point 51 through a cable (not shown) are respectively provided
directly below the presentation units 151-1 through 151-3. In
addition, the access point 51 is provided in the position, above
the wall surface, to which it is difficult for the user to bring
the PDA 1 into proximity.
[0173] In addition to the ESSID and the WEP key for connecting to
the access point 51, the dummy point 101-1 provides the PDA 1 with
a URL of an advertising site which provides detailed information on
the camera presented by the presentation unit 151-1. In addition to
the ESSID or the WEP key, the dummy point 101-2 provides the PDA 1
with a URL of a site which provides detailed information on the map
presented by the presentation unit 151-2. Further, in addition to
the ESSID or the WEP key for connecting to the access point 51, the
dummy point 101-3 provides the PDA 1 with a URL of an advertising
site which provides detailed information on the personal computer
presented by the presentation unit 151-3.
[0174] Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, when the user
brings the PDA 1 into proximity to the dummy point 101-1, the
connection to the access point 51 is made by the performing the
process in FIG. 12 by means of the PDA 1. After that, based on the
URL provided from the dummy point 101-1, the access to the
advertising site of the camera presented by the presentation unit
151-1 is carried out. When the access to the advertising site of
the camera is carried out, the detailed information about the
camera is displayed on a screen of the PDA 1. Thus, the user may
only bring the PDA 1 into proximity to the advertisement (the dummy
point) so as to check the detailed information about an article
introduced by the advertisement on the screen of the PDA 1.
[0175] In addition, the presentation units 151-1 through 151-3 and
the dummy points 101-1 through 101-3 are disposed in different
positions in the example of FIG. 13. However, when the presentation
units 151-1 through 151-3 are the posters of paper media, the dummy
points 101-1 through 101-3 may be provided on the backs
respectively. Thus, the user can check the detail of the articles
by using the PDA 1 by way of more intuitive operation, such as
holding the PDA 1 over the advertisement.
[0176] In the above description, in order to establish the
communications only between the devices which are actually in
proximity to each other, the reception intensity of the reply to
the connection request is measured on the PDA 1 side which is the
device to broadcast the connection request (for example, FIG. 6).
As shown in FIG. 13 and others, based on the reception intensity of
each of the connection requests in the dummy points 101-1 through
101-3, the access point 51 may alternatively determine whether or
not the PDA 1 is actually in proximity to any of the dummy points,
and determine whether or not to grant the connection.
[0177] FIGS. 14A and 14B are views showing an example of a spatial
relationship among the PDA 1 and the dummy points 101-1 through
101-3.
[0178] Having received the connection request broadcast by the PDA
1, the dummy points 101-1 through 101-3 respectively notify the
reception intensity to the access point 51 through the cable 111-1
through 111-3.
[0179] For example, as shown in FIG. 14A, based on the reception
intensity of the connection request received in each of the dummy
points 101-1 through 101-3, the access point 51 grants the request
from the PDA 1 only when the PDA 1 has judged it is in sufficiently
proximity to one dummy point 101-2 as compared with distances to
the other two.
[0180] Therefore, when the PDA 1 is located in a position P1, since
the reception intensity at the dummy point 101-2 is higher than the
reception intensities at the dummy point 101-1 and the dummy point
101-3, the access point 51 judges the PDA 1 is in proximity to the
dummy point 101-2, and grants the connection from the PDA 1. On the
other hand, for example, the PDA 1 is located in the position P2
somewhat above the position P1, and the reception intensities of
the connection requests at the dummy point 101-1 and the dummy
point 101-2 are measured and result in substantially the same, so
that the access point 51 does not allow the connection of the PDA
1.
[0181] As described above, it is possible to determine more
reliably whether the PDA 1 is in proximity to the dummy point by
comparing the reception intensities at respective dummy points.
Further, the PDA 1 broadcasting the connection request at a high
output level can be prevented from connecting even when not in
actual proximity to the dummy point.
[0182] For example, as shown in FIG. 14B, when the PDA 1 is not
brought into proximity to any of the dummy points, the reception
intensities of the connection requests received at the dummy points
101-1 though 101-3 are respectively measured as being of the same
level. In this case, the connection of the PDA 1 to the access
point 51 is not granted.
[0183] When the PDA 1 of FIG. 14B broadcast the connection request
at a high output level and the reception intensity of the
connection request at each dummy point is not compared, if the
reception intensity is equal to or higher than the predetermined
threshold value, then the access to the access point 51 is granted.
However, it can be prevented by comparing the reception intensities
of the connection requests at respective dummy points. That is to
say, it is possible to prevent the device which is not in proximity
to any of the dummy points from gaining access to the access point
51.
[0184] Referring now to a flow chart of FIG. 15, as described
above, based on the reception intensity of the connection request
at each dummy point, a process will be described of the access
point 51 which determines whether or not to grant the
connection.
[0185] In step S211, the network management unit 81 (FIG. 11)
acquires the reception intensities of the connection requests at
the dummy points 101-1 through 101-3, via the cable communication
control unit 141.
[0186] In step S212, as compared with the other two dummy points,
the network management unit 81 determines whether or not there is a
dummy point which provides high reception intensity. For example,
ratios of the reception intensities of the connection requests in
the three dummy points are calculated, and for the highest ratio of
them, it is determined whether or not it is higher than the preset
threshold value.
[0187] When it is determined that there is not such a dummy point
in step S212, the network management unit 81 terminates the
process. Thus, as shown in FIG. 14B, for example, the connection of
a device which is not in proximity to any dummy point is not
granted.
[0188] On the other hand, when it is determined in step S212 that
there is a dummy point which provides high reception intensity as
compared with the other two dummy points, the network management
unit 81 moves the process to step S213, judges the device is in
sufficiently proximity to the dummy point which provides a high
reception intensity, and grants the connection of the device. After
that, based on the ESSID and the WEP key which are provided through
the dummy point, the device granted to be connected is connected
with the access point 51.
[0189] In the above description, although it has been assumed that
the reception intensities of the connection requests at the three
dummy points 101-1 through 101-3 are compared, the number of the
dummy points is not restricted to three. That is to say, by
comparing the reception intensities of the connection requests, any
number of dummy points may be provided, if it is possible to
determine whether or not a device is in proximity to any of the
dummy points.
[0190] Further, in the above description, although it has been
described that the dummy points are provided and fixed to the wall
surface, etc., they may be prepared as portable device as shown in
FIG. 16, for example.
[0191] FIG. 16 is a view showing a situation where a portable dummy
point 121 (hereinafter, referred to as the portable dummy point
121) and a personal computer 122 are in proximity to each
other.
[0192] The portable dummy point 121 is brought into proximity to
the personal computer 122. As described above with reference to
FIG. 12, when it is determined that the reception intensity of the
electromagnetic wave transmitted from the personal computer 122 is
higher than the predetermined threshold value, it generates the
ESSID and the WEP key, etc., and provides them to the personal
computer 122. Further, at this event, the portable dummy point 121
transmits those information data provided for the personal computer
122 also to an access point (not shown), and changes setup of the
access point so that access from the personal computer 122 can be
granted.
[0193] In this way, the personal computer 122 can participate in
the network managed by the access point.
[0194] The portable dummy point 121, for example, is prepared in a
space which provides wireless Internet connection services like
Hotspot (a trademark). In this case, for example, an administrator
of services owns the portable dummy point 121, and the
administrator brings the portable dummy point 121 into proximity to
a personal computer of a user having paid service charges, then the
portable dummy point 121 is utilized by granting connection to the
Internet etc.
[0195] Further, in the case where the portable dummy point 121, for
example, is prepared for a conference room, etc., each participant
at the meeting brings the portable dummy point 121 into proximity
to his or her personal computer, and then the portable dummy point
121 is utilized when building a network constituted by the
participant's personal computer.
[0196] In addition, when transmitting the information data, such as
the ESSID and the WEP key, from the portable dummy point 121 to the
access point, the transmission may be carried out when the portable
dummy point 121 and an access point are in proximity to each other
and when the judgment is performed based on the intensity of the
received electromagnetic wave as described above, so that the
intensity is judged to be equal to or higher than the threshold
value. Naturally, the transmission of the information data, such as
the ESSID and the WEP key, from the portable dummy point 121 to the
access point may be performed by wire through the cable which is
connected to the portable dummy point 121, or wirelessly for
relatively short distances using a contactless IC tag, infrared
rays, etc., whereby, the information data, such as the ESSID and
the WEP key, can be prevented from being known to a third
party.
[0197] A series of processes as described above can be performed by
means of hardware and also by way of software.
[0198] When a series of processes are performed by way of software,
a computer program which constitutes the software is installed,
over the network or from the recording medium, in a computer built
in dedicated hardware or a general purpose personal computer in
which various types of programs are installed so as to execute
various types of functions, for example.
[0199] As shown in FIG. 2, the recording medium may be not only
package media including the magnetic disk 21 (including a flexible
disk), the optical disks 22 (including a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read
Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)), the magneto-optical
disks 23 (including an MD (a registered trademark) (Mini-Disc)), or
the semiconductor memory 24 which are apart from the apparatus
itself, distributed in order to provide the user with the program
and have recorded therein the program, but also the ROM 12 and the
storage unit 18 on which the program is recorded and which are
provided for the user, being pre-installed in the apparatus
itself.
[0200] In addition, in the specification, steps which describe the
computer program recorded in the recording medium include processes
performed in chronological order according to the description but
also processes carried out in parallel or individually, even if
they are not necessarily processed in chronological order.
[0201] Further, in this specification, the word system can be used
to mean a whole arrangement constituted by a plurality of
apparatuses.
[0202] It is therefore to be observed that the present invention is
not limited to the above-mentioned examples of preferred
embodiments, which are merely descriptions of the present invention
in its preferred form under a certain degree of particularity. They
are by no means to be construed so as to limiting the scope of the
present invention and, accordingly, it is to be understood by those
of ordinary skill in the art that many other changes, variations,
combinations, sub-combinations and the like are possible therein
without departing from the scope and spirit of the present
invention.
* * * * *