Communication device, communication control method, and program

• US 20050043019A1
• Filed: 08/20/2003
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Hitoshi, Miki, Satoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,949,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

The present invention relates to a communication apparatus, communication control method and program adapted for carrying out wireless LAN communications without imposing a troublesome feeling upon the user. A television receiver carries out communications with another apparatus through a predetermined network. Meanwhile, the television receiver, when inserted by a memory card 13 in its card slot 10, reads wireless LAN information out of the memory card 13 and sets the wireless LAN information to the television receiver. The present invention is applicable to a television receiver or the like having a wireless LAN function, for example.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus characterized by comprising:

communication control means for carrying out communications with another apparatus through a predetermined network;

recording-medium reading means for reading communication control information that setting is required for accessing the network, from a recording medium capable of being inserted/removed to/from the communication apparatus; and

communication control information setting means for setting communication control information read out of the recording medium to the communication control means.

2. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing the communication control information,

the communication control information setting means determining whether or not the communication control information is stored in the storage means wherein, in a case that the communication control information is not stored in the storage means, communication control information read out of the recording medium is set to the communication control means.

3. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication control information setting means, in a case the recording medium is not inserted on the recording-medium reading means when setting communication control information, makes a predetermined display prompting a user to insert a recording medium recording communication control information to the recording-medium reading means.

4. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication control information setting means, in a case communication control information is not recorded on the recording medium inserted on the recording-medium reading means when setting communication control information, makes a predetermined display prompting a user to insert another recording medium recording communication control information to the recording-medium reading means.

5. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication control information setting means, in a case communication control information read out of the recording medium is set to the communication control means thus resulting in communication control error occurrence, makes a predetermined display prompting a user to insert another recording medium recording communication control information to the recording-medium reading means.

6. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

communication control information change means for changing the communication control information set in the communication control information setting means, and

recording-medium writing means for recording the communication control information changed to the recording medium.

7. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the communication control means is configured for accessing the network under a wireless communication scheme.

8. A communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the communication control means carries out communications under a wireless communication scheme conforming to a rating of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11.

9. A communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the communication control information includes information for identifying the network in the wireless communication scheme.

10. A communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the communication control information includes information concerning encryption of data to be exchanged by wireless communications or information concerning a method of wireless connection with the other apparatus.

11. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus is a television receiver.

12. A communication control method characterized by comprising:

a recording-medium reading step of reading communication control information that setting is required for accessing a predetermined network, from a recording medium capable of being inserted/removed to/from the communication apparatus;

a communication control information setting step of setting communication control information read out of the recording medium to predetermined communication control means; and

a communication control step of carrying out communications with another apparatus through the network, according to the communication control information.

13. A communication control method according to claim 12, wherein the communication control information setting step, in a case the recording medium is not inserted when setting communication control information, makes a predetermined display prompting a user to insert a recording medium recording communication control information to the recording-medium reading means.

14. A communication control method according to claim 12, wherein the communication control information setting step, in a case communication control information is not recorded on the recording medium when setting communication control information, makes a predetermined display prompting a user to insert another recording medium recording communication control information to the recording-medium reading means.

15. A communication control method according to claim 12, wherein the communication control information setting step, in a case that a communication control error occurs as a result of communications based on communication control information read out of the recording medium, makes a predetermined display prompting a user to insert another recording medium recording communication control information to the recording-medium reading means.

16. A program for a computer to carry out communication control of a communication apparatus for communication through a predetermined network, the program characterized by comprising:

a recording-medium reading step of reading communication control information that setting is required for accessing a predetermined network, from a recording medium capable of being inserted/removed to/from the communication apparatus;

a communication control information setting step of setting communication control information read out of the recording medium to predetermined communication control means; and

a communication control step of carrying out communications with another apparatus through the network, according to the communication control information.