Method of Detecting and Authenticating Connection Target for Wireless Communication Apparatus

• US 20080184345A1
• Filed: 10/25/2005
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaechi, Shuya
• Granted Patent: US 7,987,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/5
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent

Abstract

This invention is directed to simplify operation to be performed by an operator and allow authentication processing between two apparatuses while each apparatus uses a single wireless communication unit. For this purpose, when an authentication start instruction button is operated, a host apparatus decreases its RF power to set a communication range to about several ten cm. The host transmits an inquiry signal containing verification data and time interval data. A device which has received this inquiry signal transmits an inquiry response signal containing verification data and information for specifying itself at instructed time intervals. The host transmits authentication information only when this inquiry response is received at the set time intervals, the inquiry response contains verification data, the reception signal intensity changes in a predetermined range, and the inquiry response is sent from one device.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus which has wireless communication means for communicating with a mobile wireless communication device and executes predetermined processing on the basis of received information, comprising:

instructing means for instructing to start authentication processing in order to start communicating with a wireless communication device;

transmission means for transmitting a search signal containing verification data by the wireless communication means when a start of authentication is instructed by said instructing means; and

authentication means for, when a response signal is received by the wireless communication means from one wireless communication device after the search signal is transmitted by said transmission means and when the verification data is contained in the response signal transmitting authentication information to the wireless communication device.

2. A wireless communication apparatus which has wireless communication means for communicating with a mobile wireless communication device and executes predetermined processing on the basis of received information, comprising:

instructing means for instructing to start authentication processing in order to start communicating with a wireless communication device;

transmission means for transmitting a search signal containing response time interval data by the wireless communication means when a start of authentication is instructed by said instructing means; and

authentication means for, when a response signal is received by the wireless communication means from one wireless communication device at the response time intervals after the search signal is transmitted by said transmission means, transmitting authentication information to the wireless communication device.

3. A wireless communication apparatus which has wireless communication means for communicating with a mobile wireless communication device and executes predetermined processing on the basis of received information, comprising:

detection means for detecting an intensity of a signal received by the wireless communication means;

instructing means for instructing to start authentication processing in order to start communicating with a wireless communication device;

transmission means for transmitting a predetermined search signal by using the wireless communication means when a start of authentication is instructed by said instructing means; and

authentication means for, when a response signal is received by the wireless communication means from one wireless communication device a plurality of number of times after the search signal is transmitted by said transmission means and when an absolute value of a reception intensity difference between the response signals is larger than a predetermined threshold T1 and less than a predetermined threshold T2(T2>

T1>

0), transmitting authentication information to the wireless communication device.

4. A wireless communication apparatus which has wireless communication means for communicating with a mobile wireless communication device and executes predetermined processing on the basis of received information, comprising:

instructing means for instructing to start authentication processing in order to start communicating with a wireless communication device;

setting means for setting an authentication area narrower than a communicative area after authentication. with respect to the wireless communication means when a start of authentication is instructed by said instructing means;

transmission means for transmitting a predetermined search signal by the wireless communication means after the authentication area is set by said setting means; and

authentication means for, when a response signal is received by the wireless communication means from one wireless communication device after the search signal is transmitted from said transmitting means, transmitting authentication information to the wireless communication device.

5. A wireless communication apparatus which communicates with a mobile wireless communication device and executes predetermined processing, comprising:

wireless communication means for switching a normal mode based on authentication information and an authentication mode of performing communication in an authentication area range narrower than an area range in the normal mode;

detection means for detecting an intensity of a signal received by the wireless communication means;

instructing means for instructing to start authentication processing in order to start communicating with a wireless communication device;

transmission means for setting the wireless communication means in the authentication mode and transmitting a search signal containing verification data and response time interval data when a start of authentication is instructed by said instructing means; and

authentication means for, when the response signal containing the verification data is received by the wireless communication means from one wireless communication device at the response time intervals after the search signal is transmitted from said transmission means and when an absolute value of a reception intensity difference between the response signals detected by said detection means is larger than a predetermined threshold T1 and less than a predetermined threshold T2(T2>

T1>

0), transmitting authentication information to the wireless communication device.

6. An electronic device including wireless communication means for communicating with a predetermined wireless communication apparatus and transmitting information of a processing target, comprising:

instructing means for instructing to start authentication processing in order to start communicating with a wireless communication apparatus;

first reception means for receiving a search signal by the wireless communication means when a start of authentication is instructed by said instructing means;

transmission means for transmitting a response signal containing verification data contained in received search information through the wireless communication means; and

second reception means for receiving authentication information through the wireless communication means after transmission is performed by said transmission means,

wherein when authentication information is received by said second reception means, communication is subsequently performed with the wireless communication apparatus on the basis of the authentication information.

7. An electronic device including wireless communication means for communicating with a predetermined wireless communication apparatus and transmitting information of a processing target, comprising:

instructing means for instructing to start authentication processing in order to start communicating with a wireless communication device;

setting means for setting an authentication area narrower than a communicative area after authentication with respect to the wireless communication means when a start of authentication is instructed by said instructing means;

first reception means for receiving a predetermined search signal by the wireless communication means after the authentication area is set by said setting means;

transmission means for transmitting a response signal through the wireless communication means in accordance with reception by said first reception means; and

second reception means for receiving authentication information through the wireless communication means after transmission by said transmission means,

wherein when authentication information is received by said second reception means, communication is subsequently performed with the wireless communication apparatus on the basis of the authentication information.

8. An electronic device including wireless communication means for communicating with a predetermined wireless communication apparatus and transmitting information of a processing target, comprising:

instructing means for instructing to start authentication processing in order to start communicating with a wireless communication device;

setting means for setting an authentication area narrower than a communicative area after authentication with respect to the wireless communication means when a start of authentication is instructed by said instructing means;

first reception means for receiving a predetermined search signal by the wireless communication means after the authentication area is set by said setting means;

transmission means for transmitting a response signal, containing verification data contained in received search information, through the wireless communication means at time intervals based on time interval instruction information contained in the search information; and

second reception means for receiving authentication information through the wireless communication means after transmission by said transmission means,

wherein when authentication information is received by said second reception means, communication is subsequently performed with the wireless communication apparatus on the basis of the authentication information.

9. A control method for a wireless communication apparatus which has wireless communication means for communicating with a mobile wireless communication device and executes predetermined processing on the basis of received information, comprising:

an instructing step of instructing to start authentication processing in order to start communicating with a wireless communication device;

a transmission step of transmitting a search signal containing verification data by the wireless communication means when a start of authentication is instructed in the instructing step; and

an authentication step of, when a response signal is received by the wireless communication means from one wireless communication device after the search signal is transmitted in the transmission step and when the verification data is contained in the response signal transmitting authentication information to the wireless communication device.

10. A control method for a wireless communication apparatus which has wireless communication means for communicating with a mobile wireless communication device and executes predetermined processing on the basis of received information, comprising:

an instructing step of instructing to start authentication processing in order to start communicating with a wireless communication device;

a transmission step of transmitting a search signal containing response time interval data by the wireless communication means when a start of authentication is instructed in the instructing step; and

an authentication step of, when a response signal is received by the wireless communication means from one wireless communication device at the response time intervals after the search signal is transmitted in the transmission step, transmitting authentication information to the wireless communication device.

11. A control method for a wireless communication apparatus which has wireless communication means for communicating with a mobile wireless communication device and executes predetermined processing on the basis of received information, comprising:

a detection step of detecting an intensity of a signal received by the wireless communication means;

an instructing step of instructing to start authentication processing in order to start communicating with a wireless communication device;

a transmission step of transmitting a predetermined search signal by using the wireless communication means when a start of authentication is instructed in the instructing step; and

an authentication step of, when a response signal is received by the wireless communication means from one wireless communication device a plurality of number of times after the search signal is transmitted in the transmission step and when an absolute value of a reception intensity difference between the response signals is larger than a predetermined threshold T1 and less than a predetermined threshold T2(T2>

T1>

0), transmitting authentication information to the wireless communication device.

12. A control method for a wireless communication apparatus which has wireless communication means for communicating with a mobile wireless communication device and executes predetermined processing on the basis of received information, comprising:

an instructing step of instructing to start authentication processing in order to start communicating with a wireless communication device;

a setting step of setting an authentication area narrower than a communicative area after authentication with respect to the wireless communication means when a start of authentication is instructed in the instructing step;

a transmission step of transmitting a predetermined search signal by the wireless communication means after the authentication area is set in the setting step; and

an authentication step of, when a response signal is received by the wireless communication means from one wireless communication device after the search signal is transmitted in the transmitting step, transmitting authentication information to the wireless communication device.

13. A control method for a wireless communication apparatus which communicates with a mobile wireless communication device and executes predetermined processing, comprising:

a wireless communication switching step of switching predetermined wireless communication means between a normal mode based on authentication information and an authentication mode of performing communication in an authentication area range narrower than an area range in the normal mode;

a detection step of detecting an intensity of a signal received by the wireless communication means;

an instructing step of instructing to start authentication processing in order to start communicating with a wireless communication device;

a transmission step of setting the wireless communication means in the authentication mode and transmitting a search signal containing verification data and response time interval data when a start of authentication is instructed in the instructing step; and

an authentication step of, when the response signal containing the verification data is received by the wireless communication means from one wireless communication device at the response time intervals after the search signal is transmitted in the transmission step and when an absolute value of a reception intensity difference between the response signals detected in the detection step is larger than a predetermined threshold T1 and less than a predetermined threshold T2(T2>

T1>

0), transmitting authentication information to the wireless communication device.

14. A control method for an electronic device including wireless communication means for communicating with a predetermined wireless communication apparatus and transmitting information of a processing target, comprising:

an instructing step of instructing to start authentication processing in order to start communicating with a wireless communication apparatus;

a first reception step of receiving a search signal by the wireless communication means when a start of authentication is instructed in the instructing step;

a transmission step of transmitting a response signal containing verification data contained in received search information through the wireless communication means; and

a second reception step of receiving authentication information through the wireless communication means after transmission is performed in the transmission step,

wherein when authentication information is received in the second reception step, communication is subsequently performed with the wireless communication apparatus on the basis of the authentication information.

15. A control method for an electronic device including wireless communication means for communicating with a predetermined wireless communication apparatus and transmitting information of a processing target, comprising:

an instructing step of instructing to start authentication processing in order to start communicating with a wireless communication apparatus;

a setting step of setting an authentication area narrower than a communicative area after authentication with respect to the wireless communication means when a start of authentication is instructed in the instructing step;

a first reception step of receiving a predetermined search signal by the wireless communication means after the authentication area is set in the setting step;

a transmission step of transmitting a response signal through the wireless communication means in accordance with reception in the first reception step; and

a second reception step of receiving authentication information through the wireless communication means after transmission in the transmission step,

wherein when authentication information is received in the second reception step, communication is subsequently performed with the wireless communication apparatus on the basis of the authentication information.

16. A control. method for an electronic device including wireless communication means for communicating with a predetermined wireless communication apparatus and transmitting information of a processing target, comprising:

an instructing step of instructing to start authentication processing in order to start communicating with a wireless communication apparatus;

a setting step of setting an authentication area narrower than a communicative area after authentication with respect to the wireless communication means when a start of authentication is instructed in the instructing step;

a first reception step of receiving a predetermined search signal by the wireless communication means after the authentication area is set in the setting step;

a transmission step of transmitting a response signal, containing verification data contained in received, search information, through the wireless communication means at time intervals based on time interval instruction information contained in the search information; and

a second reception step of receiving authentication information through the wireless communication means after transmission in the transmission step,

wherein when authentication information is received in the second reception step, communication is subsequently performed with the wireless communication apparatus on the basis of the authentication information.

17. A computer program for a wireless communication apparatus which communicates with a mobile wireless communication device and executes predetermined processing, serving as:

wireless communication means for switching a normal mode based on authentication information and an authentication mode of performing communication in an authentication area range narrower than an area range in the normal mode;

detection means for detecting an intensity of a signal received by the wireless communication means;

instructing means for instructing to start authentication processing in order to start communicating with a wireless communication device;

transmission means for setting the wireless communication means in the authentication mode and transmitting a search signal containing verification data and response time interval data when a start of authentication is instructed by the instructing means; and

authentication means for, when the response signal containing the verification data is received by the wireless communication means from one wireless communication device at the response time intervals after the search signal is transmitted from the transmission means and when an absolute value of a reception intensity difference between the response signals detected by the detection means is larger than a predetermined threshold T1 and less than a predetermined threshold T2(T2>

T1>

0), transmitting authentication information to the wireless communication device.

19. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program defined in claim 17.

18. A computer program for an electronic device including wireless communication means for communicating with a predetermined wireless communication apparatus and transmitting information of a processing target, serving as:

instructing means for instructing to start authentication processing in order to start communicating with a wireless communication device;

setting means for setting an authentication area narrower than a communicative area after authentication with respect to the wireless communication means when a start of authentication is instructed by the instructing means;

first reception means for receiving a predetermined search signal by the wireless communication means after the authentication area is set by the setting means;

transmission means for transmitting a response signal containing verification data contained in received search information through the wireless communication means at time intervals based on time interval instruction information contained in the search information; and

second reception means for receiving authentication information through the wireless communication means after transmission by the transmission means,

wherein when authentication information is received by the second reception means, communication is subsequently performed with the wireless communication apparatus on the basis of the authentication information.