Radio Communication Device and Radio Communication Method

• US 20080268814A1
• Filed: 04/15/2005
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Asakura, Jun
• Application Number:
  US10/599,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20080268814A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A wireless communication device and a wireless communication method are provided that enable a reliable short-range wireless communication with a wanted wireless communication terminal without requiring a user to determine whether to permit a connection. The control units 30a and 30b of the wireless communication terminals 1a and 1b transmit the short-range wireless communication addresses thereof, respectively, while the infrared communication path being established (step S108, step S111) and the wireless communication terminals 1a and 1b receive the corresponding short-range wireless communication addresses (step S110, step S113). When the short-range wireless communication device 1a designates the short-range wireless communication address of the wireless communication terminal 1b to send a wireless communication connection request thereto (step S120), the control unit 30b of the wireless communication terminal 1b determines whether to grant the connection request by comparing the short-range wireless communication address acquired in step S110 with that of the requesting terminal.

Claims

1. :

A wireless communication device, comprising;

a directional wireless communication unit that performs a directional wireless communication with the other wireless communication device;

a short-range wireless communication unit that performs a short-range wireless communication with the other wireless communication device based on a communication identification information for the short-range wireless communication; and

a control unit that controls the directional wireless communication unit and the short-range wireless communication unit,

wherein the control unit includes;

a portion that establishes a directional wireless communication path to the other wireless communication device;

a portion that transmits the communication identification information to the other wireless communication device through the directional wireless communication path;

a portion that stores the communication identification information of the other wireless communication device when receiving the communication identification information of the other wireless communication device from the other wireless communication device through the directional wireless communication path; and

a portion that determines whether to permit a connection request for the short-range wireless communication, when receiving the connection request for the short-range wireless communication, based on comparison between the communication identification information of a wireless communication device which sends the connection request for the short-range wireless communication and the stored communication identification information.

2. :

The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes;

a portion that stores authentication information when receiving the authentication information for the short-range wireless communication from the other wireless communication unit through the directional wireless communication path; and

a portion that performs authentication for the short-range wireless communication based on the authentication information.

3. :

The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes;

a portion that produces authentication information for performing the short-range wireless communication with the other wireless communication device;

a portion that transmits the authentication information for performing the short-range wireless communication to the other wireless communication device through the directional wireless communication path; and

a portion that performs authentication for the short-range wireless communication based on the authentication information.

4. :

The wireless communication device according to claim 2, wherein while performing the authentication, the authentication information of respective wireless communication devices are required to be the same.

5. :

The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication identification information is assigned uniquely to the short-range wireless communication unit.

10. :

The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the short-range wireless communication is Bluetooth™

or a wireless Local Area Network which enables communication within a predetermined range.

11. :

The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the directional wireless communication is implemented as one of an infrared communication, a visible light communication and a non-contact communication to provide one-to-one communication.

6-9. -9. (canceled)

12. :

A wireless communication method, comprising;

establishing a directional wireless communication path for performing directional wireless communication with the other wireless communication device;

transmitting communication identification information for a short-range communication to the other wireless communication device through the directional wireless communication path;

receiving, from the other wireless communication device through the directional wireless communication path, the communication identification information thereof;

storing the received communication identification information of the other wireless communication device; and

determining whether to permit a connection request for the short-range wireless communication when receiving the connection request for the short-range wireless communication based on comparison between the communication identification information of a wireless communication device which sends the connection request for the short-range wireless communication and the stored communication identification information.

13. :

The wireless communication method according to claim 12, further comprising,

receiving authentication information for the short-range wireless communication from the other wireless communication device through the directional wireless communication path;

storing the authentication information;

establishing a communication path for the short-range wireless communication to the other wireless communication device when the connection request for the short-range wireless communication is permitted; and

performing authentication for the short-range wireless communication through the communication path based on the authentication information.

14. :

The wireless communication method according to claim 12, further comprising;

producing authentication information for performing the short-range wireless communication with the other wireless communication device;

transmitting the authentication information for the short-range wireless communication to the other wireless communication device through the directional wireless communication path; and

performing authentication for the short-range wireless communication based on the authentication information.

15. :

The wireless communication method according to claim 13, wherein while performing the authentication, the authentication information of respective wireless communication devices are required to be the same.

16. :

The wireless communication method according to claim 12, wherein the communication identification information is assigned uniquely to the short-range wireless communication unit.

21. :

The wireless communication method according to claim 12, wherein the short-range wireless communication is Bluetooth™

or a wireless Local Area Network which enables communication within a predetermined range.

22. :

The wireless communication method according to claim 12, wherein the directional wireless communication is implemented as one of an infrared communication, a visible light communication and a non-contact communication to provide one-to-one communication.

17-19. -19. (canceled)

23. :

A wireless communication device, comprising;

a directional wireless communication unit that performs a directional wireless communication with the other wireless communication device;

a short-range wireless communication unit that performs a short-range wireless communication with the other wireless communication device based on a communication identification information for the short-range wireless communication; and

a control unit that controls the directional wireless communication unit and the short-range wireless communication unit,

wherein the control unit includes;

a portion that establishes a directional wireless communication path to the other wireless communication device;

a portion that transmits the communication identification information to the other wireless communication device through the directional wireless communication path;

a portion that stores the communication identification information of the other wireless communication device when receiving the communication identification information of the other wireless communication device from the other wireless communication device through the directional wireless communication path; and

a portion that performs a connection request of the short-range wireless communication by using the communication identification information received from the other wireless communication device through the directional wireless communication path in a case of performing the connection request of the short-range wireless communication.

25. :

The wireless communication device according to claim 23, wherein the control unit includes;

a portion that stores authentication information when receiving the authentication information for the short-range wireless communication from the other wireless communication unit through the directional wireless communication path; and

a portion that performs authentication for the short-range wireless communication based on the authentication information.

26. :

The wireless communication device according to claim 23, wherein the control unit includes;

a portion that produces authentication information for performing the short-range wireless communication with the other wireless communication device;

a portion that transmits the authentication information for performing the short-range wireless communication to the other wireless communication device through the directional wireless communication path; and

a portion that performs authentication for the short-range wireless communication based on the authentication information.

27. :

The wireless communication device according to claim 25, wherein while performing the authentication, the authentication information of respective wireless communication devices are required to be the same.

28. :

The wireless communication device according to claim 23, wherein the communication identification information is assigned uniquely to the short-range wireless communication unit.

29. :

The wireless communication device according to claim 23, wherein the short-range wireless communication is Bluetooth™

or a wireless Local Area Network which enables communication within a predetermined range.

30. :

The wireless communication device according to claim 23, wherein the directional wireless communication is implemented as one of an infrared communication, a visible light communication and a non-contact communication to provide one-to-one communication.

24. :

A wireless communication method, comprising;

establishing a directional wireless communication path for performing directional wireless communication with the other wireless communication device;

transmitting communication identification information for a short-range communication to the other wireless communication device through the directional wireless communication path;

receiving, from the other wireless communication device through the directional wireless communication path, the communication identification information thereof;

storing the received communication identification information of the other wireless communication device; and

performing a connection request of the short-range wireless communication by using the communication identification information of the other wireless communication device received from the other wireless communication device through the directional wireless communication path in a case of performing the connection request of the short-range wireless communication.

31. The wireless communication method according to claim 24, further comprising,

receiving authentication information for the short-range wireless communication from the other wireless communication device through the directional wireless communication path;

storing the authentication information;

establishing a communication path for the short-range wireless communication to the other wireless communication device when the connection request for the short-range wireless communication is permitted; and

performing authentication for the short-range wireless communication through the communication path based on the authentication information.

32. :

The wireless communication method according to claim 24, further comprising;

producing authentication information for performing the short-range wireless communication with the other wireless communication device;

transmitting the authentication information for the short-range wireless communication to the other wireless communication device through the directional wireless communication path; and

performing authentication for the short-range wireless communication based on the authentication information.

33. :

The wireless communication method according to claim 31, wherein while performing the authentication, the authentication information of respective wireless communication devices are required to be the same.

34. :

The wireless communication method according to claim 24, wherein the communication identification information is assigned uniquely to the short-range wireless communication unit.

35. :

The wireless communication method according to claim 24, wherein while performing the authentication, the authentication information of respective wireless communication devices are required to be the same.

36. :

The wireless communication method according to claim 24, wherein the short-range wireless communication is Bluetooth™

or a wireless Local Area Network which enables communication within a predetermined range.

37. :

The wireless communication method according to claim 24, wherein the directional wireless communication is implemented as one of an infrared communication, a visible light communication and a non-contact communication to provide one-to-one communication.