Communication apparatus, communication system, and method for setting communication parameters of the communication apparatus

• US 20060246946A1
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sakai, Tatsuhiko, Moritomo, Kazuo, Fujii, Kenichi, Watanabe, Mitsuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,720,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/4045 Managing the interface to the data source, e.g. choosing an interface for data reception
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0435 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply symmetric encryption, i.e. same key used for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for symmetric key encryption H04L9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/162 at the data link layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00251 with an apparatus for taking photographic images, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• 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 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A device capability attribute regarding a setting on communication parameters, and provision attribute information indicative of whether or not a communication terminal is in a state that it can provide communication parameters to another communication terminal are stored in advance. The communication terminal, where the device capability attribute has at least a provision capability of the communication parameters, is selected as a provision device. In a case where there are plural communication terminals where the device capability attribute has a communication parameter provision capability, a communication terminal where the device capability attribute has the communication parameter provision capability only is preferentially selected. In a case where the device capability attributes of respective communication terminals are equal, a communication terminal storing the provision attribute information indicative of the state that it can provide the communication parameters is selected as a provision device.

Claims

1. A communication system having communication terminals, wherein each communication terminal comprising:

a storage unit configured to stored a device capability attribute regarding a setting on communication parameters, and provision attribute information indicative of whether or not a terminal is in a state that it can provide communication parameters to another terminal;

a unit configured to select, as a provision device, a communication terminal where the device capability attribute has at least a provision capability of the communication parameters;

a unit configured to preferentially select, as a provision device, a communication terminal where the device capability attribute has only a provision capability of the communication parameters, in a case where there are a plurality of communication terminals where the device capability attribute has a provision capability of the communication parameters; and

a unit configured to select, as a provision device, a communication terminal storing the provision attribute information indicative of a state that it can provide the communication parameters, in a case where the device capability attribute of each communication terminal is equal.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said storage unit further stores a setting identifier of the communication parameters, which is unique to the each communication terminal.

3. A system according to claim 2, further comprising a unit configured to select a communication terminal to be a provision device for providing the communication parameters based on a comparison of setting identifiers of the communication parameters, in a case where the device capability attribute of each communication terminal is equal.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein the each communication terminal comprises a setting unit configured to input and set a setting identifier of the communication parameters.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a unit configured to prohibit each communication terminal from allocating a capability other than the one defined by the device limitation item, in a case where the device capability attribute includes a device limitation item.

6. A communication apparatus comprising:

a storage unit configured to store a device capability attribute regarding a setting on communication parameters, and provision attribute information indicative of whether or not a terminal is in a state that it can provide communication parameters to another terminal;

an identifying unit configured to identify the device capability attribute and the provision attribute information of a target device;

a first setting unit configured to set in accordance with the provision attribute information a self device as a provision device for providing the communication parameters, in a case where it is determined based on the device capability attribute that the target device has a capability as a reception device of the communication parameters; and

a second setting unit configured to set the target device as a provision device, in a case where it is determined based on the device capability attribute that the target device does not have a capability as a reception device of the communication parameters.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said storage unit further stores a setting identifier of the communication parameters, which is unique to said each communication terminal.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a unit configured to decide the provision device based on a comparison of setting identifiers of the communication parameters, in a case where the device capability attribute of the target device is equal to a device capability attribute of a self device.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a setting unit configured to input and set a setting identifier of the communication parameters.

10. An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a unit configured to prohibit allocation of a capability other than the one defined by the device limitation item, in a case where the device capability attribute includes a device limitation item.

11. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said communication apparatus performs direct communication with another communication apparatus without an intermediation of a specific base station which serves as a main body of network administration.

12. An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an informing unit configured to inform the target device of the device capability attribute and the provision attribute information,

wherein the target device can also perform setting of the provision device or the reception device.

17. A method according to claim 12, further comprising, in a case where the device capability attribute includes a device limitation item, a step of prohibiting each communication terminal from allocating a capability other than the one defined by the device limitation item.

13. A method of receiving communication parameters via a network from a communication terminal to set the communication parameters of a communication apparatus, the method comprising:

a step of storing in a memory a device capability attribute regarding a setting on communication parameters, and provision attribute information indicative of whether or not a terminal is in a state that it can provide communication parameters to another terminal;

a step of selecting, as a provision device, a communication terminal where the device capability attribute has at least a provision capability of the communication parameters;

in a case where there are a plurality of communication terminals where the device capability attribute has a provision capability of the communication parameters, a step of preferentially selecting, as a provision device, a communication terminal where the device capability attribute has only a provision capability of the communication parameters; and

in a case where the device capability attributes of the plurality of communication terminals are equal, a step of selecting, as a provision device, a communication terminal storing the provision attribute information indicative of a state that it can provide the communication parameters.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the memory further stores a setting identifier of the communication parameters, which is unique to said each communication terminal.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising, in a case where the device capability attributes of the plurality of communication terminals are equal, a step of selecting a communication terminal to be a provision device for providing the communication parameters based on a comparison of setting identifiers of the communication parameters.

16. A method according to claim 14, further comprising a setting step of inputting and setting a setting identifier of the communication parameters.