COMMUNICATION DEVICE, WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE, AND CONTROL METHOD

• US 20080299966A1
• Filed: 08/14/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Client Computing Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: MASUDA, Yasuhiko
• Granted Patent: US 8,203,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/22 Manipulation of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A communication device that includes an authentication unit that authenticates a wireless communication device depending on whether a predetermined authentication condition is satisfied, and a relay unit that relays communication performed by the wireless communication device when the authentication unit successfully authenticates the wireless communication device, comprising: an information transmission and reception unit receiving connected-terminal information, which includes identification information identifying the wireless communication device whose communication is being relayed, held by other communication devices; a recording unit recording the received connected-terminal information; a judging unit judging, when a connection request is received from the wireless communication device, whether the identification information identifying the wireless communication device is included in the recorded connected-terminal information; and a permitting unit permitting relaying of communication performed by the wireless communication device when the identification information of the wireless communication device is included in the recorded connected-terminal information.

Claims

1. A communication device that includes an authentication unit that authenticates, when a connection request is received from a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device depending on whether a predetermined authentication condition is satisfied, and a relay unit that relays communication performed by the wireless communication device when the authentication unit successfully authenticates the wireless communication device, comprising:

an information transmission and reception unit receiving connected-terminal information, which includes identification information identifying the wireless communication device whose communication is being relayed, held by other communication devices;

a recording unit recording the received connected-terminal information;

a judging unit judging, when the connection request is received from the wireless communication device, whether the identification information identifying the wireless communication device is included in the recorded connected-terminal information; and

a permitting unit permitting relaying of communication performed by the wireless communication device when the identification information of the wireless communication device is included in the recorded connected-terminal information.

2. A wireless communication device that performs communication via a communication device, comprising:

a providing unit providing the communication device with information which includes a predetermined authentication condition when a connection request is sent to the communication device;

a reception unit receiving identification information identifying other communication devices from the communication device which has permitted a connection in response to the connection request;

a collecting unit collecting communication qualities of information provided by the other communication devices identified by the received identification information identifying the other communication devices, and communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection;

a comparing unit comparing the communication qualities of information collected from the other communication devices with the communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection;

a determining unit determining, based on a result obtained by the comparing unit, one of the other communication devices which provide information with the communication quality better than the communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection; and

a connection request unit sending the connection request to the determined one of the other communication devices.

3. The wireless communication device according to claim 2, wherein the reception unit receives a predetermined authentication condition of the other communication devices from the communication device which has permitted a connection in response to the connection request,

the wireless communication device further comprises a judgment unit judging whether the received predetermined authentication condition of the other communication devices matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device;

and

the collecting unit collects communication quality of information provided by the other communication devices having the authentication condition that matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device based on a judgment result obtained by the judgment unit.

4. A control method for a wireless communication device, comprising:

a providing step of providing the communication device with information which includes a predetermined authentication condition when a connection request is sent to a communication device;

a reception step of receiving identification information identifying other communication devices from the communication device which has permitted a connection in response to the connection request;

a collecting step of collecting communication qualities of information provided by the other communication devices identified by the received identification information identifying the other communication devices,

a comparing step of comparing the communication qualities of information collected from the other communication devices with a communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection;

a determining step of determining, based on a result obtained in the comparing step, one of the other communication devices which provide information with a the communication quality better than the communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection; and

a sending step of sending the connection request to the determined one of the other communication devices.

5. The control method for a wireless communication device according to claim 4, wherein, in the receiving step, a predetermined authentication condition of the other communication devices from the communication device which has permitted a connection in response to the connection request is received,

the control method further comprises a judgment step of judging whether the received predetermined authentication condition of the other communication devices matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device;

in the collecting step, communication quality of information provided by the other communication devices having the authentication condition that matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device based on a judgment result obtained in the judgment step is collected.

6. A recording medium recorded with a wireless communication device control program which causes a wireless communication device to execute:

a providing step of providing the communication device with information which includes a predetermined authentication condition when a connection request is sent to a communication device;

a reception step of receiving identification information identifying other communication devices from the communication device which has permitted a connection in response to the connection request;

a collecting step of collecting communication qualities of information provided by the other communication devices identified by the received identification information identifying the other communication devices;

a comparing step of comparing the communication qualities of information collected from the other communication devices with a communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection;

a determining step of determining, based on a result obtained in the comparing step, one of the other communication devices which provide information with the communication quality better than the communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection; and

a sending step of sending the connection request to the determined one of the other communication devices.

7. The recording medium recorded with a wireless communication device control program according to claim 6, wherein, in the reception step, a predetermined authentication condition of the other communication devices from the communication device which has permitted a connection in response to the connection request is received,

the control method further comprises a judgment step of judging whether the received predetermined authentication condition of the other communication devices matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device;

in the collecting step, communication quality of information provided by the other communication devices having the authentication condition that matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device based on a judgment result obtained in the judgment step is collected.

8. A system comprising a communication device and a wireless communication device, the communication device including an authentication unit that authenticates, when a connection request is received from the wireless communication device, the wireless communication device depending on whether a predetermined authentication condition is satisfied, and a relay unit that relays communication performed by the wireless communication device when the authentication unit successfully authenticates the wireless communication device, the wireless communication device performing communication via the communication device, wherein:

the communication device includes;

an information transmission and reception unit receiving connected-terminal information, which includes identification information identifying the wireless communication device whose communication is being relayed, held by other communication devices;

a recording unit recording the received connected-terminal information;

a receiving unit receiving, from the other communication devices, condition information which includes a predetermined authentication condition and identification information identifying the other communication devices;

a judging unit judging, when the connection request is received from the wireless communication device, whether the identification information identifying the wireless communication device is included in the recorded connected-terminal information;

a permitting unit permitting relaying of communication performed by the wireless communication device when the identification information of the wireless communication device is included in the recorded connected-terminal information; and

an information providing unit providing the received identification information identifying the other communication devices to the wireless communication device whose communication is permitted relaying by the permitting unit; and

the wireless communication device includes;

a providing unit providing the communication device with information which includes a predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device when a connection request is sent to the communication device;

a reception unit receiving identification information identifying other communication devices from the communication device which has permitted a connection in response to the connection request;

a collecting unit collecting communication qualities of information provided by the other communication devices identified by the received identification information identifying the other communication devices;

a comparing unit comparing the communication qualities of information collected form the other communication devices with a communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection;

a determining unit determining, based on a result obtained by the comparing unit, one of the other communication devices which provide information with the communication quality better than the communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection; and

a connection request unit sending the connection request to the determined one of the other communication devices.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the judging unit judges whether the condition information received from the other communication devices matches the predetermined authentication condition of the communication device, and

the information transmission and reception unit includes a recording control unit recording the connected-terminal information received from the other communication devices when the condition information received from the other communication devices matches the predetermined authentication condition of the communication device.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the receiving unit records the identification information identifying the other communication devices when the condition information received from the other communication devices matches the predetermined authentication condition of the communication device.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the information providing unit includes a providing control unit providing the identification information identifying the other communication devices for the wireless communication device whose communication is permitted relaying by the permitting unit when the identification information identifying the other communication devices is recorded.

12. The system according to claim 8, wherein the judging unit judges whether the received condition information matches the recorded connected-terminal information, and

the information transmission and reception unit includes a transmission control unit sending, when the received condition information matches the recorded connected-terminal information, the connected-terminal information to the other communication devices, which are transmission sources of the received condition information.

13. A system comprising a communication device and a wireless communication device, the communication device including an authentication unit that authenticates, when a connection request is received from the wireless communication device, the wireless communication device depending on whether a predetermined authentication condition is satisfied, and a relay unit that relays communication performed by the wireless communication device when the authentication unit successfully authenticates the wireless communication device, the wireless communication device performing communication via the communication device, wherein:

the communication device includes;

an information transmission and reception unit receiving connected-terminal information, which includes identification information identifying the wireless communication device whose communication is being relayed, held by other communication devices;

a recording unit recording the received connected-terminal information;

a receiving unit receiving, from the other communication devices, condition information which includes a predetermined authentication condition and identification information identifying the other communication devices;

a judging unit judging, when the connection request is received from the wireless communication device, whether the identification information identifying the wireless communication device is included in the recorded connected-terminal information;

a permitting unit permitting relaying of communication performed by the wireless communication device when the identification information of the wireless communication device is included in the recorded connected-terminal information; and

an information providing unit providing the received condition information to the wireless communication device whose communication is permitted relaying by the permitting unit; and

the wireless communication device includes;

a providing unit providing the communication device with information which includes a predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device when a connection request is sent to the communication device;

a reception unit receiving the condition information from the communication device which has permitted a connection in response to the connection request;

a judgment unit judging whether the condition information received from the communication device which has permitted the connection matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device;

a recording control unit recording the identification information identifying the other communication devices when the condition information received from the communication device which has permitted the connection matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device;

a collecting unit collecting communication qualities of information provided by the other communication devices identified by the recorded identification information identifying the other communication devices;

a comparing unit comparing the communication qualities of information collected from the other communication devices with a communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection;

a determining unit determining, based on a result obtained by the comparing unit, one of the other communication devices which provide information with the communication quality better than the communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection; and

a connection request unit sending the connection request to the determined one of the other communication devices.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein, in the communication device;

the recording unit records the condition information received from the other communication devices;

the judging unit judges whether the recorded condition information matches the recorded connected-terminal information; and

the information transmission and reception unit includes a transmission control unit sending, when the recorded condition information matches the recorded connected-terminal information, the connected-terminal information to the other communication devices, which are the transmission sources of the recorded condition information.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the communication device further includes a providing unit providing the recorded condition information to the wireless communication device whose communication is permitted relaying by the permitting unit.

16. A wireless communication system which comprises a plurality of communication devices and a wireless communication device that performs communication via the communication devices, wherein:

each of the communication devices includes;

a management unit manages other communication devices having an authentication condition which matches an authentication condition of the own communication device; and

a transmission unit that sends information of the other communication devices, which are managed, to the wireless communication device for which a connection is permitted, and

the wireless communication device includes an execution unit that executes roaming processing based on the information received from the communication devices.