Communication system and method

• US 20040259499A1
• Filed: 01/16/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Oba, Haruo, Rekimoto, Junichi, Sugawara, Taku, Ayatsuka, Yuji, Suzuki, Toru, Matsushita, Nobuyuki, Inagaki, Takeo
• Granted Patent: US 8,326,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0869 for achieving mutual authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for mutual authentication H04L9/3273
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A communication system and method capable of easily identifying a communication mate. A cellular telephone (52) has a non-contact IC card communicating with a reader/writer of a personal computer (51) by an electromagnetic wave. When an electromagnetic wave radiated from the reader-writer is received by the non-contact IC card, the cellular telephone (52) reports the card ID set in the non-contact IC card to the personal computer (51). This card ID includes a Bluetooth address of the cellular telephone (52). When the personal computer (51) fetches the Bluetooth address of the cellular telephone (52) and a PDA (53) upon query, the personal computer (51) identifies the cellular telephone (52) as a Bluetooth device to establish synchronization according to the Bluetooth address reported in advance. The present invention can be applied to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer and a cellular telephone.

Claims

1-32. -32 (Cancelled)

33. A communication system in a ubiquitous network comprising an information processing apparatus and a plurality of communication terminals, characterized in that

the information processing apparatus comprises:

first acquisition processing means for acquiring the identification information of a communication terminal located close by using a first wireless communication block for transferring electric power and for transmitting and receiving data by a loop antenna for the communication terminal;

second acquisition processing means for acquiring the attribute information of each of the plurality of communication terminals, which include the communication terminal, from the plurality of communication terminals by using a second wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving data;

specifying processing means for searching the attribute information acquired by the second acquisition processing means and for specifying a communication terminal having the identification information acquired by the first acquisition processing means as the partner of communication; and

first synchronization establishment processing means for establishing synchronization for wireless communication performed by using the communication terminal specified by the specifying processing means and the second wireless communication block, and

the communication terminal comprises;

first providing processing means for providing the information processing apparatus with the identification information of the communication terminal by using a third wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving data by using at least part of induced electric power obtained through a loop antenna;

second providing processing means for providing the attribute information of the communication terminal by using a fourth wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving data, in response to a request sent from the information processing apparatus through the second wireless communication block; and

second synchronization establishment processing means for establishing synchronization by transmitting and receiving a predetermined signal through the fourth wireless communication block, in response to a request sent from the information processing apparatus when synchronization is established for wireless communication performed by the second wireless communication block.

34. A communication method for a communication system in a ubiquitous network comprising an information processing apparatus and a plurality of communication terminals, characterized in that

an information processing method for the information processing apparatus comprises:

a first acquisition processing step of acquiring the identification information of a communication terminal located close by using a first wireless communication block for transferring electric power and for transmitting and receiving data by a loop antenna for the communication terminal;

a second acquisition processing step of acquiring the attribute information of each of the plurality of communication terminals, which include the communication terminal, from the plurality of communication terminals by using a second wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving data;

a specifying processing step of searching the attribute information acquired in the second acquisition processing step and of specifying a communication terminal having the identification information acquired in the first acquisition processing step as the partner of communication; and

a first synchronization establishment processing step of establishing synchronization for wireless communication performed by using the communication terminal specified in the specifying processing step and the second wireless communication block, and

an information processing method for the communication terminal comprises;

a first providing processing step of providing the information processing apparatus with the identification information of the communication terminal by using a third wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving data by using at least part of induced electric power obtained through a loop antenna;

a second providing processing step of providing the attribute information of the communication terminal by using a fourth wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving data, in response to a request sent from the information processing apparatus through the second wireless communication block; and

a second synchronization establishment processing step of establishing synchronization by transmitting and receiving a predetermined signal through the fourth communication block, in response to a request sent from the information processing apparatus when synchronization is established for wireless communication performed by the second wireless communication block.

35. An information processing apparatus characterized by comprising:

first acquisition processing means for acquiring identification information from a communication terminal by using a first wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving predetermined data;

second acquisition processing means for acquiring the attribute information of each of a plurality of communication terminals, which include the communication terminal, from the plurality of communication terminals by using a second wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving desired data;

specifying processing means for searching the attribute information acquired by the second acquisition processing means and for specifying a communication terminal having the identification information acquired by the first acquisition processing means as the partner of communication; and

synchronization establishment processing means for establishing synchronization for wireless communication performed by using the communication terminal specified by the specifying processing means and the second wireless communication block.

36. An information processing apparatus according to claim 35, characterized in that

the distance at which the first wireless communication block can perform wireless communication is shorter than the distance at which the second wireless communication block can perform wireless communication.

37. An information processing apparatus according to claim 35, characterized in that

the first acquisition processing means acquires the identification information of a communication terminal located close by using the first wireless communication block for transferring electric power and for transmitting and receiving data by a loop antenna for the communication terminal.

38. An information processing apparatus according to claim 35, characterized in that

the attribute information comprises address information which can identify each of the plurality of communication terminals and clock information managed by the communication terminal.

39. An information processing apparatus according to claim 35, characterized by

further comprising activation processing means for activating the second wireless communication block in response to the acquisition of the identification information by the first acquisition processing means.

40. An information processing apparatus according to claim 35, characterized in that

the identification information comprises at least the Bluetooth address of the communication terminal;

the second acquisition processing means acquires a plurality of FHS packets returned respectively by the plurality of communication terminals in response to IQ packets sent by using the second wireless communication block; and

the synchronization establishment processing means sends an ID packet to the communication terminal specified by the specifying processing means, by using the second wireless communication block, and further sends an FHS packet of the information processing apparatus when the communication terminal responds to the transmission of the ID packet.

65. An information processing apparatus according to claim 35, characterized in that

the first acquisition processing means operates when it is determined according to a load change of the first wireless communication block that a communication terminal is located close.

41. An information processing method characterized by comprising:

a first acquisition processing step of acquiring identification information from a communication terminal by using a first wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving predetermined data;

a second acquisition processing step of acquiring the attribute information of each of a plurality of communication terminals, which include the communication terminal, from the plurality of communication terminals by using a second wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving desired data;

a specifying processing step of searching the attribute information acquired in the second acquisition processing step and of specifying a communication terminal having the identification information acquired in the first acquisition processing step as the partner of communication; and

a synchronization establishment processing step of establishing synchronization for wireless communication performed by using the communication terminal specified in the specifying processing step and the second wireless communication block.

42. An information processing method according to claim 41, characterized in that

the distance at which the first wireless communication block can perform wireless communication is shorter than the distance at which the second wireless communication block can perform wireless communication.

43. An information processing method according to claim 41, characterized in that

in the first acquisition processing step, the identification information of a communication terminal located close is acquired by using the first wireless communication block for transferring electric power and for transmitting and receiving data by a loop antenna for the communication terminal.

44. An information processing method according to claim 41, characterized in that

the attribute information comprises address information which can identify each of the plurality of communication terminals and clock information managed by the communication terminal.

45. An information processing method according to claim 41, characterized in that

in the second acquisition processing step, a plurality of FHS packets returned respectively by the plurality of communication terminals in response to IQ packets sent by using the second wireless communication block are received;

and

in the synchronization establishment processing step, an ID packet is sent to the communication terminal specified in the specifying processing step, by using the second wireless communication block, and an FHS packet of the information processing apparatus is further sent when the communication terminal responds to the transmission of the ID packet.

66. An information processing method according to claim 41, characterized in that

the process of the first acquisition processing step is performed when it is determined according to a load change of the first wireless communication block that a communication terminal is located close.

46. A communication terminal characterized by comprising:

first providing processing means for providing its own identification information by using a first wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving predetermined data, in response to a predetermined request sent from an information processing apparatus;

second providing processing means for providing its own attribute information by using a second wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving data, in response to a predetermined request sent from the information processing apparatus; and

synchronization establishment processing means for establishing synchronization by transmitting and receiving a predetermined signal through the second wireless communication block, in response to a request sent from the information processing apparatus when synchronization is established for wireless communication performed by the second wireless communication block.

47. A communication terminal according to claim 46, characterized in that

the distance at which the first wireless communication block can perform wireless communication is shorter than the distance at which the second wireless communication block can perform wireless communication.

48. A communication terminal according to claim 46, characterized in that

the first providing processing means provides the identification information of the communication terminal by using the first wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving data by using at least part of induced electric power obtained through a loop antenna, in response to a predetermined request sent from the information processing apparatus.

49. A communication terminal according to claim 46, characterized in that

the identification information comprises at least address information which can identify the communication terminal.

50. A communication terminal according to claim 49, characterized in that

the attribute information comprises the address information and clock information managed by the communication terminal.

51. A communication terminal according to claim 46, characterized by

further comprising activation processing means for activating the second wireless communication block in response to the provision of the identification information by the first providing processing means.

52. A communication terminal according to claim 46, characterized in that

the identification information comprises at least Bluetooth address information;

the second providing processing means sends an FHS packet in response to an IQ packet received by using the second wireless communication block; and

the synchronization establishment processing means returns, in response to an ID packet received by using the second wireless communication block, the ID packet, and returns the ID packet again when an FHS packet is further received.

53. A communication method characterized by comprising:

a first providing processing step of providing its own identification information by using a first wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving predetermined data, in response to a predetermined request sent from an information processing apparatus;

a second providing processing step of providing its own attribute information by using a second wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving data, in response to a predetermined request sent from the information processing apparatus; and

a synchronization establishment processing step of establishing synchronization by transmitting and receiving a predetermined signal through the second wireless communication block, in response to a request sent from the information processing apparatus when synchronization is established for wireless communication performed by the second wireless communication block.

54. A communication method according to claim 53, characterized in that

in the first providing processing step, its own identification information is provided by using the first wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving data by using at least part of induced electric power obtained through a loop antenna, in response to a predetermined request sent from the information processing apparatus.

55. A communication method according to claim 53, characterized in that

the identification information comprises at least address information which identifies its own terminal.

56. A communication method according to claim 55, characterized in that

the attribute information comprises the address information and clock information managed by its own terminal.

57. A communication method according to claim 53, characterized by

further comprising an activation processing step of activating the second wireless communication block in response to the provision of the identification information in the first providing processing step.

58. A communication method according to claim 53, characterized in that

the identification information comprises at least Bluetooth address information;

in the second providing processing step, an FHS packet is sent in response to an IQ packet received by using the second wireless communication block; and

in the synchronization establishment processing step, in response to an ID packet received by using the second wireless communication block, the ID packet is returned, and the ID packet is returned again when an FHS packet is further received.

59. An extension apparatus capable of being installed in an information processing apparatus, characterized by comprising:

a connection terminal electrically connected to the information processing apparatus, for transmitting and receiving data;

first acquisition processing means for acquiring identification information from a communication terminal by using a first wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving predetermined data;

second acquisition processing means for acquiring the attribute information of each of a plurality of communication terminals from the plurality of communication terminals by using a second wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving desired data;

specifying processing means for searching the attribute information acquired by the second acquisition processing means and for specifying a communication terminal having the identification information acquired by the first acquisition processing means as the partner of communication; and

synchronization establishment processing means for establishing synchronization for wireless communication performed by using the communication terminal specified by the specifying processing means and the second wireless communication block.

60. An extension apparatus capable of being installed in a communication terminal, characterized by comprising:

a connection terminal electrically connected to the communication terminal, for transmitting and receiving data;

first providing processing means for providing its own identification information by using a first wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving predetermined data, in response to a request sent from an information processing apparatus;

second providing processing means for providing its own attribute information by using a second wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving data, in response to a request sent from the information processing apparatus; and

synchronization establishment processing means for establishing synchronization by transmitting and receiving a predetermined signal through the second wireless communication block, in response to a request sent from the information processing apparatus when synchronization is established for wireless communication performed by the second wireless communication block.

61. A program for making an information processing apparatus execute:

a first acquisition processing step of acquiring identification information from a communication terminal by using a first wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving predetermined data;

a second acquisition processing step of acquiring the attribute information of each of a plurality of communication terminals, which include the communication terminal, from the plurality of communication terminals by using a second wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving desired data;

a specifying processing step of searching the attribute information acquired in the second acquisition processing step and of specifying a communication terminal having the identification information acquired in the first acquisition processing step as the partner of communication; and

a synchronization establishment processing step of establishing synchronization for wireless communication performed by using the communication terminal specified in the specifying processing step and the second wireless communication block.

62. A program for making a communication terminal execute:

a first providing processing step of providing its own identification information by using a first wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving predetermined data, in response to a predetermined request sent from an information processing apparatus;

a second providing processing step of providing its own attribute information by using a second wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving data, in response to a predetermined request sent from the information processing apparatus; and

a synchronization establishment processing step of establishing synchronization by transmitting and receiving a predetermined signal through the second wireless communication block, in response to a request sent from the information processing apparatus when synchronization is established for wireless communication performed by the second wireless communication block.

63. An information processing apparatus, characterized by comprising:

first acquisition processing means for acquiring identification information from a communication terminal by using a first wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving predetermined data;

storage processing means for storing, as history information, information related to a plurality of communication terminals with which communication were performed by using a second wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving desired data;

specifying processing means for searching the history information stored by the storage processing means and for specifying a communication terminal having the identification information acquired by the first acquisition processing means as the partner of communication; and

synchronization establishment processing means for establishing synchronization for wireless communication performed by using the communication terminal specified by the specifying processing means and the second wireless communication block.

64. An information processing apparatus according to claim 63, characterized in that

the history information comprises at least Bluetooth address information;

and

the synchronization establishment processing means sends an ID packet generated according to the Bluetooth address information to the communication terminal specified by the specifying processing means, and when a response to the ID packet is made by the communication terminal, further sends its own FHS packet.