Wireless communication terminal, air interface apparatus and method for participating in wireless network

• US 20050250487A1
• Filed: 05/06/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Tetsuo, Komaki, Kenjiro, Miwa, Yasutaka
• Granted Patent: US 8,249,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/422.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/021 adapted for Wireless Local Loop operation

Abstract

A game device is provided with a processor and an air interface apparatus. In a wireless communication environment such as that of IEEE802.11, a CPU of the air interface apparatus selects, in a search process, an SSID that includes at least in a portion thereof a predetermined pattern. Network information including the selected SSID is retained in a memory unit as a BSS list registering wireless networks that are targets, for connection. The processor refers to the BSS list and determines a wireless network to participate in.

Claims

1. A method of participating in a wireless network comprising;

acquiring and listing network identifiers each including a predetermined pattern, from among network identifiers which identify wireless networks and which are received as a result of a search for wireless networks in a neighborhood; and

selecting a wireless network corresponding to one of the listed network identifiers, and participating in the selected wireless network.

2. A wireless communication terminal comprising a processor and an air interface apparatus, wherein

the air interface apparatus comprises:

a selection unit which selects a first network identifier acquired as a result of a search and including at least in a portion thereof a predetermined pattern; and

a first memory unit which stores network information related to a wireless network specified by the first network identifier selected by the selection unit, and wherein

the processor comprises;

a second memory unit which stores the network information read from the first memory unit; and

a determination unit which determines a wireless network to participate in, from among wireless networks corresponding to the network information stored in the second memory unit.

3. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 2, wherein the network information includes a second network identifier for uniquely identifying a wireless network, and the determination unit determines a wireless network to participate in, on the basis of the second network identifier.

4. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 2, wherein the selection unit selects the first network identifier, on the basis of a predetermined pattern set by a user.

5. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 2, wherein it is allowed to assign the same first network identifier to a plurality of wireless networks.

6. A wireless communication terminal comprising:

a selection unit which selects a first network identifier acquired as a result of a search and including at least in a portion thereof a predetermined pattern;

a memory unit which stores network information related to a wireless network specified by the first network identifier selected by the selection unit; and

a determination unit which determines a wireless network to participate in, from among wireless networks corresponding to the network information stored in the memory unit.

7. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein the network information includes a second network identifier for uniquely identifying a wireless network, and the determination knit determines a wireless network to participate in, on the basis of the second network identifier.

8. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein the selection unit selects the first network identifier, on the basis of a predetermined pattern set by a user.

9. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein it is allowed to assign the same first network identifier to a plurality of wireless networks.

10. An air interface apparatus comprising:

a selection unit which selects a network identifier acquired as a result of a search and including at least in a portion thereof a predetermined pattern; and

a memory unit which stores network information related to a wireless network specified by the network identifier selected by the selection unit.

11. A wireless communication terminal comprising:

a memory unit which stores a network identifier for identifying a wireless network to which the terminal belongs; and

an identifier modifying unit which generates a new network identifier by appending a character string to the network identifier stored in the memory unit.

12. A wireless communication terminal comprising;

a memory unit which stores a network identifier for identifying a wireless network to which the terminal belongs; and

an identifier modifying unit which generates a new network identifier in which common portion included in the network identifier stored in the memory unit is excluded.

13. A program for causing a computer capable of executing a wireless communication function to carry out the steps of:

acquiring a predetermined pattern; and

searching for a wireless network in a neighborhood and selecting a network identifier that includes the predetermined pattern.