Electromagnetic wave communication system, apparatus, method and program

• US 10,587,311 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2018
• Issued: 03/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takayama, Yoshihisa, Kusakabe, Susumu
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Titus
• Application Number:
  US16/196,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20190109616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 710 1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A communication system, a communication apparatus, a communication method, and a program for acquiring the advantage of a plurality of communication protocols is provided. A random number and a first communication information including first identification information of a communication apparatus is sent to another communication apparatus by using near field communication. Second communication information is received by the communication apparatus from the other communication apparatus by using near field communication. The second communication information includes second identification information of the other communication apparatus necessary to a second communication. The second communication is performed between the communication apparatus and the other communication apparatus by using the second communication information received by using the near field communication.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

a carrier wave generator configured to generate a first electromagnetic wave using an antenna;

a modulator configured to modulate the first electromagnetic wave for transmitting a first message to an external communication device;

a load modulator configured to modulate a second electromagnetic wave generated by the external communication device for transmitting a second message from the communication apparatus to the external communication device; and

a controller configured to cause the communication apparatus to;

transmit the first message when the second electromagnetic wave is not detected and,

transmit the second message, which is different from the first message, when the second electromagnetic wave is detected,

wherein the first message is a first inquiry for identification information of the external communication device,

wherein the communication apparatus is configured to receive a first response in response to the first inquiry, and after receiving the first response, the controller is configured to cause the communication apparatus to transmit a third message and receive a second response to the third message from the external communication device, the second response including protocol information from the external communication device, and

wherein in response to receiving the second response, the communication apparatus is configured to switch a communication protocol to communicate at a higher transmission rate.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second message includes a third response associated with a second inquiry for identification information of the communication apparatus.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein as a result of the communication apparatus transmitting the first message or the second message, mutual authentication is executed between the communication apparatus and the external communication device.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the carrier wave generator not to generate the first electromagnetic wave when the second electromagnetic wave is detected.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second message includes a third response associated with a second inquiry for identification information of the communication apparatus, and wherein the communication apparatus is configured to receive the second inquiry from the external communication device.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first response includes a first random number and the third response includes a second random number.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus is configured to perform a near field communication with the external communication device when the external communication device is near the communication apparatus.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a transmission rate of the communication apparatus is lower than the external communication device.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protocol information is indicative of a communication protocol which is available by the external communication device.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third message is a second inquiry for available protocol information indicative of a communication protocol which is available by the external communication device.

11. A communication method for a communication apparatus, the communication method comprising:

generating a first electromagnetic wave by a carrier wave generator using an antenna;

modulating the first electromagnetic wave for transmitting a first message to an external communication device by a modulator, wherein the first message is a first inquiry for identification information of the external communication device;

modulating, by a load modulator, a second electromagnetic wave generated by the external communication device for transmitting a second message from the communication apparatus to the external communication device;

transmitting the first message when the second electromagnetic wave is not detected;

transmitting the second message, which is different from the first message, when the second electromagnetic wave is detected;

receiving a first response in response to the first inquiry;

after receiving the first response, transmitting a third message;

receiving a second response to the third message from the external communication device, the second response including protocol information from the external communication device; and

in response to receiving the second response, switching a communication protocol to change data transmission from a lower transmission rate to a higher transmission rate.

12. The communication method according to claim 11, wherein the second message includes a third response associated with a second inquiry for identification information of the communication apparatus.

13. The communication method according to claim 11, wherein as a result of transmitting the first message or the second message, mutual authentication is executed between the communication apparatus and the external communication device.

14. The communication method according to claim 11, further comprising controlling the carrier wave generator not to generate the first electromagnetic wave when the second electromagnetic wave is detected.

15. The communication method according to claim 11, wherein the second message includes a third response associated with a second inquiry for identification information of the communication apparatus, wherein the second inquiry is received from the external communication device.

16. The communication method according to claim 15, wherein the first response includes a first random number and the third response includes a second random number.

17. The communication method according to claim 11, further comprising performing a near field communication with the external communication device when the external communication device is near the communication apparatus.

18. The communication method according to claim 11, wherein a transmission rate of the communication apparatus is lower than the external communication device.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions, which when executed by a communication apparatus is configured to cause the communication apparatus to:

generate a first electromagnetic wave by a carrier wave generator using an antenna;

modulate the first electromagnetic wave for transmitting a first message to an external communication device by a modulator, wherein the first message is a first inquiry for identification information of the external communication device;

modulate, by a load modulator, a second electromagnetic wave generated by the external communication device for transmitting a second message from the communication apparatus to the external communication device;

transmit the first message when the second electromagnetic wave is not detected;

transmit the second message, which is different from the first message, when the second electromagnetic wave is detected;

receive a first response in response to the first inquiry;

after receiving the first response, transmit a third message;

receive a second response to the third message from the external communication device, the second response including protocol information from the external communication device; and

in response to receiving the second response, switching a communication protocol to change data transmission from a lower transmission rate to a higher transmission rate.