Wireless communication system, terminal, message sending method, and program for allowing terminal to execute the method

• US 7,343,159 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hideyuki, Saito, Shin
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/792,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20050003814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/422, 380/30, 380/278, 380/279, 380/282, 380/258, 713/175, 713/168
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Upon receiving a beacon, a terminal B sends a RTS control message to a terminal A before sending a registration request message to the terminal A. Upon receiving the RTS control message, the terminal A sends a CTS control message. The terminal B measures the time from when the RTS control message is sent to when the CTS control message is received so as to calculate the distance with the terminal A. If the distance with the terminal A is within a predetermined distance X1, the terminal B sends a registration request message to the terminal A. Similarly, the terminal A measures the distance with the terminal B, and sends a registration request acknowledgement message to the terminal B when the distance with the terminal B is within a predetermined distance X2.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system including a plurality of terminals, comprising:

a first terminal configured to send a signal including beacon information; and

a second terminal configured to perform ranging to determine a distance with the first terminal in response to the signal, and to make a registration request to the first terminal when the determined distance is within a first predetermined range,

wherein the first terminal is configured to perform ranging to determine a distance with the second terminal in response to the registration request, and to return an acknowledgement of the registration request to the second terminal when the determined distance is within a second predetermined range,

the second terminal is configured to perform ranging to determine the distance with the first terminal in response to the acknowledgement, and to make an issuance request to issue a certificate of privilege to the first terminal when the determined distance is within a third predetermined range, and

the first terminal is configured to perform ranging to determine the distance with the second terminal in response to the issuance request, and to issue a certificate of privilege to the second terminal when the determined distance is within a fourth predetermined range.

2. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein:

the second terminal is configured to perform ranging to determine the distance with the first terminal in response to the issuance of the certificate of privilege, and to return a reception acknowledgement of the certificate of privilege to the first terminal when the determined distance is within a fifth predetermined range; and

the first terminal is configured to issue a revocation list of the certificate of privilege when the reception acknowledgement is not returned from the second terminal within a predetermined period after issuing the certificate of privilege.

3. A wireless communication system including a plurality of terminals, comprising:

a fourth terminal configured to send a signal including beacon information; and

a third terminal configured to perform ranging to determine a distance with the fourth terminal in response to the signal, and to make a registration proposal to the fourth terminal when the determined distance is within a predetermined range,

the third terminal being configured to perform ranging to determine the distance with the fourth terminal in response to an acknowledgement from the fourth terminal, and to issue a certificate of privilege to the fourth terminal when the determined distance is within a third predetermined range; and

the fourth terminal being configured to perform ranging to determine a distance with the third terminal in response to the issuance of the certificate of privilege, and to receive the certificate of privilege when the determined distance is within a fourth predetermined range.

4. A wireless communication system according to claim 3, wherein:

the fourth terminal is configured to return an issuing acknowledgement of the certificate of privilege to the third terminal when receiving the certificate of privilege issued from the third terminal; and

the third terminal is configured to issue a revocation list of the certificate of privilege when the issuing acknowledgement is not returned from the fourth terminal within a predetermined period after issuing the certificate of privilege.

5. A message sending method, comprising:

a step of receiving a signal including beacon information from a first terminal;

a step of performing ranging to determine a distance with the first terminal at a first time;

a step of sending a registration request message to the first terminal when the determined distance at the first time is within a first predetermined range;

a step of receiving a registration request acknowledgement message from the first terminal in response to the registration request message;

a step of performing ranging to determine a distance with the first terminal at a second time; and

a step of sending a certificate-of-privilege issuing request message to the first terminal when the determined distance at the second time is within a second predetermined range.

6. A message sending method, comprising:

a step of receiving a signal including beacon information from a first terminal;

a step of performing ranging to determine a distance with the first terminal at a first time;

a step of sending a registration proposal message to the first terminal when the determined distance at the first time is within a first predetermined range;

a step of receiving a registration proposal acknowledgement message from the first terminal in response to the registration proposal message;

a step of performing ranging to determine a distance with the first terminal at a second time; and

a step of issuing a certificate of privilege to the first terminal and sending a certificate-of-privilege issuing message to the first terminal when the determined distance at the second time is within a second predetermined range.

7. A computer readable storage medium, including computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method, comprising:

a step of receiving a signal including beacon information from a first terminal;

a step of performing ranging to determine a distance with the first terminal at a first time;

a step of sending a registration request message to the first terminal when the determined distance at the first time is within a first predetermined range;

a step of receiving a registration request acknowledgement message from the first terminal in response to the registration request message;

a step of performing ranging to determine a distance with the first terminal at a second time; and

a step of sending a certificate-of-privilege issuing request message to the first terminal when the determined distance at the second time is within a second predetermined range.

8. A computer readable storage medium, including computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method, comprising:

a step of receiving a signal including beacon information from a first terminal;

a step of performing ranging to determine a distance with the first terminal at a first time;

a step of sending a registration proposal message to the first terminal when the determined distance at the first time is within a first predetermined range;

a step of receiving a registration proposal acknowledgement message from the first terminal in response to the registration proposal message;

a step of performing ranging to determine a distance with the first terminal at a second time; and

a step of issuing a certificate of privilege and sending a certificate-of-privilege issuing message to the first terminal when the determined distance at the second time is within a second predetermined range.