Method, apparatus, system and information storage medium for wireless communication

• US 6,167,514 A
• Filed: 03/26/1998
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Matsui, Tetsuya, Hoshina, Masaki, Kobayashi, Michio
• Primary Examiner(s): Peeso, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US09/029,719
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 380/255, 380/258, 380/264, 380/270, 380/277, 380/278, 713/168, 713/169, 713/170, 713/171, 713/150
• US Class Current: 713/150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0017 Preparing data for the controlling system, e.g. status, memory data
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0082 Architecture adapted for a particular function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0847 involving identity based encryption [IBE] schemes

Abstract

Wireless communication method and apparatus which can perform the wireless transmission/reception of encrypted data without previous provision of a cryptographic key and without any system for registering a cryptographic key. Under control of a communication control section 504 in PC 1, the PC 1 transmits its own identification information to a printer 2 and receives identification information of the printer 2. The PC 1 has an encrypting/decrypting section 502 which generates a cryptographic key by using the identification information of the printer 2 and its own secret algorithm read out of an identification information storage section 510. According to a cryptographic program using such a cryptographic key, data is encrypted and transmitted toward the printer 2.

Claims

1. A wireless communication method for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data among a plurality of electronic instruments, each of said electronic instruments having identification information and a secret algorithm, said wireless communication method comprising:

a first step of exchanging identification information between two electronic instruments in said plurality of electronic instruments, before data communication is performed between said two electronic instruments; and

a second step of transmitting and receiving data between said two electronic instruments;

wherein said second step includes;

a conversion/transmission step in which one of said two electronic instruments converts data to be transmitted by using a secret algorithm of the one of said two electronic instruments and identification information of the other electronic instrument, and sends the converted data to the other electronic instrument; and

a reception/reconversion step in which the other electronic instrument receives and reconverts the converted data by using a secret algorithm of the other electronic instrument and identification information of the one of said two electronic instruments.

2. The wireless communication method as defined in claim 1, wherein the converted data is encrypted data.

3. The wireless communication method as defined in claim 2,

wherein, in said conversion/transmission step, the one of said two electronic instruments generates a cryptographic key by using a secret algorithm of the one of said two electronic instruments and identification information of the other electronic instrument to encrypt data by a cryptographic program which utilizes the cryptographic key;

and

wherein, in said reception/reconversion step, the other electronic instrument generates the same cryptographic key as the cryptographic key generated in the one of said two electronic instruments by using a secret algorithm of the other electronic instrument and identification information of the one of said two electronic instruments to decrypt said encrypted data by a cryptographic program which utilizes the cryptographic key.

4. The wireless communication method as defined in claim 3,

wherein the one of said two electronic instruments is a computer which encrypts data for printing before transmission;

and

wherein the other electronic instrument is a printer which decrypts said encrypted data before printing.

5. The wireless communication method as defined in claim 3,

wherein said two electronic instruments are computers which encrypt data, and transmit and receive the encrypted data.

6. The wireless communication method as defined in claim 3,

wherein said encrypted data is wirelessly exchanged between an electronic instrument belonging to a first wireless network and another electronic instrument which does not belongs to said first wireless network.

7. The wireless communication method as defined in claim 6, wherein said first step includes:

a network information transmission step in which network information including identification information of said electronic instrument which belongs to said first wireless network is wirelessly transmitted through an access point for said first wireless network repeatedly;

an identification information obtaining step in which the other electronic instrument which does not belongs to said first wireless network receives said network information to obtain identification information of said electronic instrument which is a partner for wireless communication and belongs to said first wireless network; and

an identification information provision step in which said electronic instrument which does not belongs to said first wireless network transmits its own identification information to said partner electronic instrument belonging to said first wireless network.

8. The wireless communication method as defined in claim 7, wherein said identification information provision step is carried out through an electronic instrument which functions as said access point.

9. The wireless communication method as defined in claim 7, wherein said second step is carried out directly between said two electronic instruments.

10. The wireless communication method as defined in claim 7,

wherein said network information includes identification information of an electronic instrument which belongs to the other wireless network connected to said first wireless network through an access point;

wherein, in said identification information obtaining step, said electronic instrument not belonging to said first wireless network obtains identification information of an electronic instrument of the other wireless network from said network information;

wherein, in said identification information provision step, said electronic instrument not belonging to said first wireless network transmits its own identification information to the electronic instrument of the other wireless network; and

wherein, in said second step, encrypted data is mutually transmitted and received by said two electronic instruments which has obtained mutual identification information.

11. The wireless communication method as defined in claim 1, wherein identification information is one of a medium access control (MAC) address and an internet protocol (IP) address.

12. A wireless communication apparatus provided in each of a plurality of electronic instruments for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data among said plurality of electronic instruments, said wireless communication apparatus comprising:

communication means for performing wireless data transmission and reception with a communication apparatus of other electronic instrument;

storage means for storing identification information and a secret algorithm of an electronic instrument to which said wireless communication apparatus belongs;

conversion means for converting data by using identification information of the other electronic instrument and a secret algorithm of the electronic instrument to which said wireless communication apparatus belongs to transmit the converted data to the other electronic instrument through said communication means, and for reconverting another converted data transmitted from the other electronic instrument to said communication means into an original form by using identification information of the other electronic instrument and a secret algorithm of the electronic instrument to which said wireless communication apparatus belongs; and

control means for sending identification information of the electronic instrument to which said wireless communication apparatus belongs toward the other electronic instrument and for receiving identification information of the other electronic instrument through said communication means before the transmission and reception of the converted data.

13. The wireless communication apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said conversion means comprises:

encrypting means for encrypting data by using identification information of the other electronic instrument and a secret algorithm of the electronic instrument to which said wireless communication apparatus belongs; and

decrypting means for decrypting encrypted data from the other electronic instrument by using identification information of the other electronic instrument and a secret algorithm of the electronic instrument to which said wireless communication apparatus belongs.

14. The wireless communication apparatus as defined in claim 13,

wherein said encrypting means generates a cryptographic key from identification information of the other electronic instrument and a secret algorithm of the electronic instrument to which said wireless communication apparatus belongs, and encrypts data by a cryptographic program utilizing the cryptographic key;

and

wherein said decrypting means generates the same cryptographic key as the cryptographic key generated by said encrypting means from identification information of the other electronic instruments and a secret algorithm of the electronic instrument to which said wireless communication apparatus belongs, and decrypts encrypted data by a cryptographic program utilizing the cryptographic key.

15. The wireless communication apparatus as defined in claim 12, said wireless communication apparatus being included in an electronic instrument.

16. The wireless communication apparatus as defined in claim 12, said wireless communication apparatus being removably mounted in an electronic instrument.

17. The wireless communication apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the identification information is one of a medium access control (MAC) address and an internet protocol (IP) address.

18. A wireless communication system for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data among a plurality of electronic instruments, each of said electronic instruments having identification information and a secret algorithm,

wherein each of said electronic instruments comprises:

first means for mutually exchanging identification information with other electronic instrument which is a partner of wireless communication before performing data communication; and

second means for performing transmission and reception of encrypted data with said partner electronic instrument with which identification information has been mutually exchanged; and

wherein said second means includes;

conversion/transmission means for generating a cryptographic key by using identification information of said partner electronics instrument and a secret algorithm of each of said electronic instruments to encrypt data by a cryptographic program utilizing the cryptographic key into encrypted data which is in turn transmitted to said partner electronic instrument; and

reception/decryption means for generating the same cryptographic key as the cryptographic key generated by said conversion/transmission means by using identification information of said partner electronic instrument and a secret algorithm of each of said electronic instruments to decrypt encrypted data from said partner electronic instrument by a cryptographic program utilizing the cryptographic key.

19. The wireless communication system as defined in claim 18, wherein each of said electronic instruments is a computer which encrypts data for transmission and reception.

20. The wireless communication system as defined in claim 18, further comprising a first wireless network including a plurality of electronic instruments, and an electronic instrument not belonging to said first wireless network;

wherein said first wireless network includes an access point for repeatedly transmitting network information which includes identification information of electronic instruments belonging to said first wireless network;

wherein said electronic instrument not belonging to said first wireless network includes means for obtaining identification information of an electronic instrument which is a partner of wireless communication and for transmitting its own identification information to this partner electronic instrument; and

wherein said partner electronic instrument includes means for receiving identification information of said electronic instrument not belonging to said first wireless network.

21. The wireless communication system as defined in claim 18, wherein identification information is one of a medium access control (MAC) address and an internet protocol (IP) address.

22. An information storage medium provide din an electronic instrument which wirelessly transmits and receives encrypted data relating to other electronic instrument, storing:

first information including identification information and a secret algorithm of the electronic instrument to which said information storage medium is included;

second information for exchanging mutually identification information with the other electronic instrument before wireless communication; and

third information for carrying out transmission and reception of encrypted data between the electronic instrument to which said information storage medium is included and the other electronic instrument;

wherein said third information includes;

information for generating a cryptographic key from identification information of the other electronic instrument and a secret algorithm of the electronic instrument to which said information storage medium is included, and for encrypting data by a cryptographic program utilizing the cryptographic key to transmit encrypted data to the other electronic instrument; and

information for generating the same cryptographic key from identification information of the other electronic instrument and a secret algorithm of the electronic instrument to which said information storage medium is included, and for decrypting encrypted data from the other electronic instrument by a cryptographic program utilizing the cryptographic key.

23. The information storage medium as defined in claim 22, wherein identification information is one of a medium access control (MAC) address and an internet protocol (IP) address.