Electronic device with relay function of wireless data communication

• US 20030051132A1
• Filed: 08/13/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Takero, Ishibashi, Yasuhiro
• Application Number:
  US10/216,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20030051132A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/153
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

The invention relates to an access point having a function of checking application/non-application of an encryption function in each of radio communication packets, and determining a communication service for a packet on the basis of the application/non-application. The access point has a radio LAN packet process section having a function of checking application/non-application of WEP to a packet received from a radio terminal.

Claims

1. An electronic device which communicates with a first device and a second device, comprising:

a first communication module configured to communicate with the first device;

a second communication module configured to communicate the second device;

a relay function configured to communicate data between the first device and the second device;

means for determining whether data sent from the first device is encrypted; and

a processor configured to control the relay function to allow transmission of the data sent from the first device to the second device according to the determining means.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first communication module performs radio communication with the first device.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the determining means determines whether the data sent from the first device is encrypted in each packet, and the processor controls the relay function to limit the transmission of the each packet according to the determining means.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the processor discards the packet included in the data sent from the first device when the packet is not encrypted.

5. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a wired LAN port connected to the relay function,

wherein the processor prohibits transmission of the data to the wired LAN port when the data is not encrypted.

6. The device according to claim 2, further comprising

a wired LAN port connected to the relay function configure to communicate with a device connected to the LAN, and

a public port connected to the relay function configured to communicate with a public network,

wherein the processor prohibits transmission of the data to the wired LAN port when the data is not encrypted.

7. The device according to claim 2, wherein the processor permits the relay function to transmit the data including an authentication process nevertheless the data is not encrypted.

8. A communication method applied to an electronic device which communicates with a first device and a second device, the method comprising;

receiving data transmitted from the first device;

determining whether the data sent from the first device is encrypted; and

deciding whether the data sent from the first device is transmitted to the second device according to the determining step.

9. A communication method applied to an electronic device which communicates with a first device and a second device, the method comprising;

receiving data transmitted from the first device;

determining whether the data sent from the first device is encrypted; and

controlling the data whether discarding the packet when the packet is not encrypted or executing a predetermined process communication process for the packet when the packet is encrypted according to the determined result.

10. An electronic device having a first device with a radio communication function, comprising:

a relay function configured to communicate data between the first device and a second device;

a radio section which performs radio communication with the first device;

first communication means for performing communication with said second device;

second communication means, different from said first communication means, for performing communication with said second device;

determination means for determining whether data sent from the first device via the radio section is encrypted; and

communication processor for prohibiting, when said determination means determines that the data is encrypted, transmission of the data to the first communication means and permitting transmission of the data to the second communication means.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein said determination means determines whether the data sent from the first device is encrypted in each packet, and

said processor controls the relay function to limit the transmission of the each packet according to the determination means.