Communication control device, communication device, computer program product, information processing apparatus, and transmitting method for managing devices in a group

• US 10,715,345 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2015
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Hanatani, Yoshikazu, Kambayashi, Toru, Oba, Yoshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Ulysse, Jael M
• Application Number:
  US14/589,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20150117298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,017 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/065 for group communications cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management involving conference or group key H04L9/0833
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0833 involving conference or group key network architectures or network communication protocols for key management in group communication in a packet data network H04L63/065
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a communication control device is connected to communication devices and includes a storage, a generator, and an output unit. The storage is configured to store group information containing a group ID of a group and device IDs of the communication devices belonging to the group. The generator is configured to generate compressed information in which the device IDs are compressed. The output unit is configured to output, when the group information is updated, to all communication devices identified by the device IDs included in the group information after updating and to a plurality of communication devices including one or more of the communication devices identified by the device IDs not included in the group information after updating, output information containing identification information for identifying the group after updating and compressed information in which the device IDs included in the group information after updating are compressed.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus that manages a group including a plurality of communication devices, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitter configured to send, when one or more of the communication devices participating in the group is changed so that which of the communication devices is participating in the group is changed, to communication devices including all of the communication devices participating in the group after changing, and including one or more of the communication devices not participating in the group after changing, first information containing identification information for identifying all the communication devices participating in the group after changing, and second information in which one or more device IDs is encoded,

the one or more device IDs identifying communication devices participating in the group after changing,

the second information indicating a height of a tree structure indicating one or more pieces of information corresponding to the one or more device IDs.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a group information storage configured to store group information containing a group ID for identifying the group and the one of more device IDs.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the one or more of the communication devices not included in the group after changing is the communication devices participating in the group before changing.

4. An information processing apparatus that manages a group including a plurality of communication devices, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor to generate, when one or more of the communication devices participating in the group is changed so that which of the communication devices participating in the group is changed, first information containing identification information for identifying all the communication devices participating in the group after changing, and second information in which one or more device IDs is encoded, the one or more device IDs identifying all the communication devices participating in the group after changing, the second information indicating a height of a tree structure indicating one or more pieces of information corresponding to the one or more device IDs; and

a transmitter configured to send, when the one or more of the communication devices participating in the group is changed, to communication devices including all of the communication devices participating in the group after changing, and including one or more of the communication devices participating in the group before changing and not participating in the group after changing, the first information and the second information.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a group information storage configured to store group information containing a group ID for identifying the group and the one of more device IDs.

6. A transmitting method comprising:

sending, when one or more of the communication devices included in a group is changed so that which of the communication devices participating in the group is changed, to communication devices including all of the communication devices participating in the group after changing, and including one or more of the communication devices not participating in the group after changing, first information containing identification information for identifying all the communication devices participating in the group after changing, and second information in which one or more device IDs is encoded,

the one or more device IDs identifying communication devices participating in the group after changing,

the second information indicating a height of a tree structure indicating one or more pieces of information corresponding to the one or more device IDs.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

generating the first information, when one or more of the communication devices participating in the group is changed.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein

the one or more of the communication devices not included in the group after changing is the communication devices participating in the group before changing.