Communication apparatus and method having function of transmitting notification signal while hiding group identification information

• US 20060171388A1
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ikeda, Nobuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,554,979 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A communication apparatus is configured to receive a search message from an additional communication apparatus while transmitting beacon information while hiding a group identifier. Then, the communication apparatus is configured to determine whether the additional communication apparatus is already registered. Alternatively, the communication apparatus determines whether predetermined information is included in a search signal from the additional communication apparatus. According to the determination, the communication apparatus transmits a response signal including group identification information to the additional communication apparatus.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

a hiding unit configured to hide group identification information;

a receiving unit configured to receive a search signal from an additional communication apparatus when the group identification information is hidden by the hiding unit;

a determination unit configured to, based on information included in the search signal received by the receiving unit, determine whether to notify the additional communication apparatus of the group identification information; and

a notifying unit configured to notify the additional communication apparatus of the group identification information according to determination performed by the determination device.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit is configured to, based on the information included in the search signal, determine whether the additional communication apparatus is already registered as a connection permittee apparatus.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a transmitting unit configured to, when it is determined by the determination unit that the additional communication apparatus is not already registered, transmit a response signal while hiding the group identification information.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit is configured to, based on identification information of the additional communication apparatus included in the search signal and on registered terminal information stored in the communication apparatus, determine whether the additional communication apparatus is already registered.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit is configured to, based on identification information of the additional communication apparatus included in the search signal and on registered terminal information stored in an additional network apparatus connected to the communication apparatus, determine whether the additional communication apparatus is already registered.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, if the determination unit determines that the additional communication apparatus is not already registered, the notifying device does not respond to the search signal.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit is configured to, according to whether predetermined information is included in a first group identification information included in the search signal, determine whether to notify the additional communication apparatus of the group identification information.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the notifying unit is configured to notify the additional communication apparatus of a second group identification information different from the group identification information according to determination performed by the determination unit.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined information is at least one of information for requesting registration from the additional communication apparatus to the communication apparatus, information based on identification information of the additional communication apparatus, and information based on identification information of the communication apparatus.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined information is used to identify a network constructed by the communication apparatus.

11. The communication apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising,

a storage unit configured to store a number of times that the determination unit has determined that the predetermined information is not included in the search signal from the additional communication apparatus;

and

a limiting unit configured to limit access from the additional communication apparatus according to the number of times.

12. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit encrypts the group identification information and notifies the additional communication apparatus of the encrypted group identification information.

13. A communication system comprising a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus, the system further comprising:

wherein the first communication apparatus includes,

a first transmitting unit configured to transmit a notification signal while hiding group identification information;

a determination unit configured to, based on information included in a predetermined message received from the second communication apparatus, determine whether to notify the second communication apparatus of the group identification information; and

a notifying unit configured to notify the second communication apparatus of the group identification information according to the determination performed by the determination unit; and

wherein the second communication apparatus includes,

a second transmitting unit configured to transmit the predetermined message; and

a selecting unit configured to, when the group identification information is included in a response message from the first communication apparatus, select desired group identification information.

14. A communication method between a first and second communication apparatus, wherein the first communication has affiliated group identification information, the method comprising:

causing the first communication apparatus to determine to whether to notify the second communication apparatus of the group identification information based on information included in a search signal sent from the second communication apparatus when the group identification information is hidden; and

causing the first communication apparatus notify the second communication apparatus of the group identification information according to the determination.

15. A communication method comprising:

transmitting a predetermined message from a second communication apparatus to a first communication apparatus when the first communication apparatus hides group identification information;

causing the first communication apparatus to, based on information included in the predetermined message, determine whether to notify the second communication apparatus of the group identification information;

causing the first communication apparatus to transmit a response signal including the group identification signal to the second communication apparatus according to determination performed; and

causing the second communication apparatus to determine whether the group identification information is included in the response signal and to display the group identification information.

16. A computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for controlling a communications system, the computer readable medium comprising:

computer-executable instructions for transmitting a predetermined message from a second communication apparatus to a first communication apparatus when the first communication apparatus hides group identification information;

computer-executable instructions for causing the first communication apparatus to, based on information included in the predetermined message, determine whether to notify the second communication apparatus of the group identification information;

computer-executable instructions for causing the first communication apparatus to transmit a response signal including the group identification signal to the second communication apparatus according to determination performed; and

computer-executable instructions for causing the second communication apparatus to determine whether the group identification information is included in the response signal and to display the group identification information.