NETWORK CONSTRUCTING METHOD AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS

• US 20090044014A1
• Filed: 10/06/2008
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Tetsuya
• Granted Patent: US 8,181,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/171
• 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: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/00 Network planning, e.g. coverage or traffic planning tools; Network deployment, e.g. resource partitioning or cells structures

Abstract

In a wireless network communication device, multiple items of network identification information, which are for identifying wireless network systems, are read out of a memory and displayed on a display unit. Network identification information of a wireless network system, which is capable of being constructed anew, is selected from the multiple items of network identification information displayed and a wireless network system corresponding to the network identification information selected is constructed.

Claims

1-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A method of constructing a wireless network using a wireless communication apparatus storing in a memory a plurality of network identification information for identifying a wireless network and a plurality of encryption keys for encrypting communication data, the method comprising:

detecting network identification information being used in the vicinity by receiving a signal transmitted from another wireless communication apparatus;

discriminating network identification information being used in the vicinity from among the plurality of network identification information stored in the memory by comparing the network identification information detected in the detecting step with the plurality of network identification information stored in the memory;

distinctly displaying network identification information discriminated as being used in the vicinity and network identification information not discriminated as being used in the vicinity on a display unit such that a user can select network identification information not used in the vicinity from among the plurality of network identification information stored in the memory when the plurality of network identification information is read from the memory and is displayed on the display unit;

newly constructing a wireless network using the network identification information, which has been displayed in the displaying step and has been selected by the user;

causing the display unit to display the plurality of encryption keys without discriminating between an encryption key being used in the vicinity and an encryption key not used in the vicinity when the plurality of encryption keys is read from the memory and is displayed; and

setting an encryption key selected by the user from among the plurality of encryption keys displayed on the display unit.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the displaying step displays the network identification information discriminated as being used in the vicinity in the discriminating step with a message representing that the network identification information is being used in the vicinity.

26. The method according to claim 24, further comprising:

setting communication modes of the wireless network system; and

displaying a list of communication channels and selecting, from the list of communication channels, a communication channel used for communication in a communication mode set in the setting step.

27. A wireless communication apparatus storing in a memory a plurality of network identification information for identifying a wireless network and a plurality of encryption keys for encrypting communication data, said apparatus comprising:

a detection unit adapted to detect network identification information being used in the vicinity by receiving a signal transmitted from another wireless communication apparatus;

a discrimination unit adapted to discriminate network identification information being used in the vicinity from among the plurality of network identification information stored in the memory by comparing the network identification information detected by said detection unit with the plurality of network identification information stored in the memory;

a display control unit adapted to distinctly display network identification information discriminated as being used in the vicinity and network identification information not discriminated as being used in the vicinity on a display device such that a user can select network identification information not used in the vicinity from among the plurality of network identification information stored in the memory when the plurality of network identification information is read from the memory and is displayed on the display device;

a constructing unit adapted to newly construct a wireless network using the network identification information, which has been displayed on the display device and has been selected by the user;

a unit adapted to cause the display device to display the plurality of encryption keys without discriminating between an encryption key being used in the vicinity and an encryption key not used in the vicinity when the plurality of encryption keys is read from the memory and is displayed; and

a unit adapted to set an encryption key selected by the user from among the plurality of encryption keys displayed on the display device.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said display control unit displays the network identification information discriminated as being used in the vicinity by said discrimination unit with a message representing that the network identification information is being used in the vicinity.

29. The apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising:

a setting unit adapted to set communication modes of the wireless network system; and

a selection unit adapted to display a list of communication channels and select, from the list of communication channels, a communication channel used for communication in a communication mode set by said setting unit.