COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS

• US 20090262716A1
• Filed: 03/03/2009
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kawakami, Daisuke
• Granted Patent: US 8,942,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

A communication system includes: a service terminal configured to have a wireless LAN access point capability and a proximity communication capability, the wireless LAN access point capability enabling the service terminal to act as a wireless LAN access point to be connected via a network to a service provider providing a network connection service on a chargeable basis, the service terminal thereby offering the chargeable network connection service; and a user terminal configured to have a wireless LAN terminal capability and a proximity communication capability, the wireless LAN terminal capability enabling the user terminal to connect with the wireless LAN access point, the user terminal further connecting to the network using the chargeable network connection service.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a service terminal configured to have a wireless LAN access point capability and a proximity communication capability, said wireless LAN access point capability enabling said service terminal to act as a wireless LAN access point to be connected via a network to a service provider providing a network connection service on a chargeable basis, said service terminal thereby offering the chargeable network connection service; and

a user terminal configured to have a wireless LAN terminal capability and a proximity communication capability, said wireless LAN terminal capability enabling said user terminal to connect with said wireless LAN access point, said user terminal further connecting to said network using said chargeable network connection service.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the proximity communication capabilities of said service terminal and said user terminal are each capable of conducting proximity communications in accordance with a near field communication scheme;

and

said wireless LAN access point capability of said service terminal and said wireless LAN terminal capability of said user terminal are capable of setting up a wireless LAN connection therebetween in accordance with a Wi-Fi protected setup near field communication scheme, said wireless LAN access point capability and said wireless LAN terminal capability further working together to allow the charge of said network connection service to be settled on said network by use of near field communication based electronic money technology.

3. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein, upon authentication with the Wi-Fi protected setup, identification information unique to said wireless LAN terminal capability of said user terminal and identification information of said user terminal for use in charge settlement are used in combination as identification information of said user terminal.

4. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein, upon completion of the wireless LAN connection setup in accordance with said Wi-Fi protected setup near field communication scheme, said service terminal sends the identification information of said user terminal to said service provider;

and

said service provider receives the identification information of said user terminal and, upon completion of settlement of the service charge, allows said user terminal to connect to said network within a time limit corresponding to the service charge having been settled.

5. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein, with said wireless LAN connection disconnected, said user terminal sends a connection request over a wireless LAN to the service terminal that has said wireless LAN connection setup stored therein, without following predetermined steps to set up said wireless LAN connection in accordance with said Wi-Fi protected setup near field communication scheme;

said service terminal sends the identification information of said user terminal to said service provider; and

said service provider receives the identification information of said user terminal and allows said user terminal to connect to said network while said time limit corresponding to the service charge having been settled has yet to be exhausted.

6. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein, with said wireless LAN connection disconnected, said user terminal sends a connection request over a wireless LAN to the service terminal that has said wireless LAN connection setup stored therein, without following predetermined steps to set up said wireless LAN connection in accordance with said Wi-Fi protected setup near field communication scheme;

said service terminal sends the identification information of said user terminal to said service provider; and

said service provider receives the identification information of said user terminal and, if said time limit corresponding to the previously settled service charge is found exhausted, allows said user terminal to connect to said network within the remaining time limit corresponding to the service charge which is settled thereafter.

7. A communication apparatus for use as a service terminal of the communication system according to claim 1, said communication apparatus comprising:

network connection means for making a network connection with a service provider offering a network connection service on a chargeable basis;

wireless communication means for acting as an access point of a wireless LAN; and

proximity communication means for conducting proximity communications in accordance with a near field communication scheme;

wherein said communication apparatus uses said-proximity communication means to set up a wireless LAN connection with said user terminal in accordance with a Wi-Fi protected setup near field communication scheme and utilizes said wireless connection means to settle the charge of said network connection service by use of near field communication based electronic money technology.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, upon authentication with regard to said user terminal by use of Wi-Fi protected setup, identification information unique to said wireless LAN terminal capability of said user terminal and identification information of said user terminal for use in charge settlement are used in combination as identification information of said user terminal.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, upon completion of the wireless LAN connection setup in accordance with said Wi-Fi protected setup and near field communication scheme, said communication apparatus sends the identification information of said user terminal to said service provider.

10. A communication apparatus for use as a user terminal of the communication system according to claim 1, said communication apparatus comprising:

wireless communication means for acting as a wireless LAN terminal to connect with said wireless LAN access point; and

proximity communication means for conducting proximity communications in accordance with a near field communication scheme;

wherein said communication apparatus uses said proximity communication means and said service terminal to set up a wireless LAN connection in accordance with a Wi-Fi protected setup near field communication scheme and utilizes said wireless communication means to settle the charge of said network connection service with regard to said service provider by use of near field communication based electronic money technology, said communication apparatus further using said network connection service within a time limit granted by said service provider.

11. The communication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, upon authentication with regard to said service terminal by use of Wi-Fi protected setup, identification information unique to said wireless LAN terminal capability of said user terminal and identification information of said user terminal for use in charge settlement are used in combination as identification information of said user terminal.

12. The communication apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

storage means for storing the service terminal with which the wireless LAN connection setup was made previously;

wherein, with said wireless LAN connection disconnected, said communication apparatus sends a connection request over a wireless LAN to the service terminal that has said wireless LAN connection setup stored therein, without following predetermined steps to set up said wireless LAN connection in accordance with said Wi-Fi protected setup near field communication scheme.

13. A communication apparatus for use as a service terminal of the communication system according to claim 1, said communication apparatus comprising:

a network connection section configured to make a network connection with a service provider offering a network connection service on a chargeable basis;

a wireless communication section configured to act as an access point of a wireless LAN; and

a proximity communication section configured to conduct proximity communications in accordance with a near field communication scheme;

wherein said communication apparatus uses said proximity communication section to set up a wireless LAN connection with said user terminal in accordance with a Wi-Fi protected setup near field communication scheme and utilizes said wireless connection section to settle the charge of said network connection service by use of near field communication based electronic money technology.

14. A communication apparatus for use as a user terminal of the communication system according to claim 1, said communication apparatus comprising:

a wireless communication section configured to act as a wireless LAN terminal to connect with said wireless LAN access point; and

a proximity communication section configured to conduct proximity communications in accordance with a near field communication scheme;

wherein said communication apparatus uses said proximity communication section and said service terminal to set up a wireless LAN connection in accordance with a Wi-Fi protected setup a near field communication scheme and utilizes said wireless communication section to settle the charge of said network connection service with regard to said service provider by use of a near field communication based electronic money technology, said communication apparatus further using said network connection service within a time limit granted by said service provider.