Radio station, operation control program, and operation control method

• US 7,362,722 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2004
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Otsuka, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Perez-Gutierrez; Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sabouri; Mazda
• Application Number:
  US10/930,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20050054342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 455/552.1, 455/453
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A radio station, which is to be connected to a first wireless network through an access point, has an AP storage section that stores network identification information indispensable for grouping subjects of communication in a wireless network, an AP function section that establishes connection with a second wireless network based on the network identification information stored in the AP storage section, a client storage section that stores client identification information used in connecting to the first wireless network, a client function section that establishes connection with the first wireless network based on the client identification information stored in the client storage section, and an operation control section that simultaneously controls operation of the AP function section and operation of the client function section.

Claims

1. A radio station to be connected to a first wireless network through an access point, comprising:

an AP storage section that stores network identification information indispensable for grouping subjects of communication in a wireless network;

an AP function section that establishes connection with a second wireless network based on the network identification information stored in the AP storage section;

a client storage section that stores client identification information used in connecting to the first wireless network;

a client function section that establishes connection with the first wireless network based on the client identification information stored in the client storage section;

an operation control section that simultaneously controls operation of the AP function section and operation of the client function section;

a connection determination section that determines whether the connection with the first wireless network by the client function section is established; and

a synchronization authentication section that conducts authentication by a predetermined authentication system, the predetermined authentication system configured to conduct communications through the second wireless network when the predetermined authentication system conducts communications through the first wireless network,

wherein the client storage section has a capacity to store security information concerning the predetermined authentication system used in the communications through the first wireless network,

wherein the synchronization authentication section is configured to copy the security information stored in the client function section into the AP storage section subject to the connection determination section determining the connection with the first wireless network being established, and

wherein the AP function section establishes the connection with the second wireless network based on the security information stored in the AP storage section.

2. The radio station according to claim 1,

wherein the operation control section stops the operation of the AP function section while the radio station connects with the first wireless network.

3. The radio station according to claim 1, further comprising:

a processing execution section that executes a predetermined processing when the radio station receives an instruction signal for instructing the radio station to execute the predetermined processing through the second wireless network.

4. The radio station according to claim 3,

wherein if the instruction signal involves setup information required for establishing connection with the first wireless network, the processing execution section records the setup information in the client storage section.

5. The radio station according to claim 4,

wherein when the setup information is recorded in the client storage section, the operation control section controls the client function section so as to try to connect to the first wireless network, and controls the AP function section so as to transmit a result signal indicating a trial result to the radio station transmitting the instruction signal.

6. The radio station according to claim 4,

wherein if the instruction signal involves setup information required for establishing connection with the first wireless network, the processing execution section records the setup information in the client storage section only when the processing execution section does not execute any processing other than recording the setup information in the client storage section.

7. The radio station according to claim 3, further comprising:

a print section that prints an image in response to an instruction from the processing execution section,

wherein if the instruction signal is a signal for instructing to print a predetermined image, the processing execution section instructs the print section to print the predetermined image.

8. The radio station according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first instruction transmission section that transmits an instruction signal for instructing an other radio station connected to the second wireless network to execute a predetermined processing.

9. The radio station according to claim 8,

wherein the instruction signal involves setup information required for establishing connection with a predetermined wireless network and is a signal for instructing to make settings based on the setup information.

10. The radio station according to claim 8,

wherein the instruction signal involves setup information required for establishing connection with the first wireless network and is a signal for instructing to make settings based on the setup information.

11. The radio station according to claim 10, further comprising:

a connection test section that tries to communicate with the other radio station through the second wireless network after the first instruction transmission section transmits the instruction signal to the other radio station.

12. The radio station according to claim 8,

wherein when the radio station receives a request signal for requesting to transmit the instruction signal from the other radio station through the second wireless network, the first instruction transmission section transmits the instruction signal.

13. The radio station according to claim 1,

wherein the synchronization authentication section conducts the authentication in conducting communications through the second wireless network only while the radio station is connected with the first wireless network.

36. The radio station according to claim 1,

wherein the synchronization authentication section is configured, subject to the connection determination section determining the connection with the first wireless network being unestablished, to prohibit the copy of the security information stored in the client function section into the AP storage section and to delete the security information stored in the AP storage section.

14. A radio station to be connected to a first wireless network through an access point, comprising:

an AP storage section that stores network identification information indispensable for grouping subjects of communication in a wireless network;

an AP function section that establishes connection with a second wireless network based on the network identification information stored in the AP storage section;

a client storage section that stores client identification information used in connecting to the first wireless network;

a client function section that establishes connection with the first wireless network based on the client identification information stored in the client storage section;

an operation control section that simultaneously controls operation of the AP function section and operation of the client function section;

a connection determination section that determines whether the connection with the first wireless network by the client function section is established; and

an encryption section that conducts encryption with a predetermined cipher key, the predetermined cipher key useable to conduct communications through the second wireless network when the predetermined cipher key is used to conduct communications through the first wireless network,

wherein the client storage section has a capacity to store security information concerning the predetermined cipher key used in the communications through the first wireless network,

wherein the synchronization authentication section is configured to copy the security information stored in the client funchtion section into the AP storage section subject to the connection determination section determining the connection with the first wireless network being established, and

wherein the AP function section establishes the connection with the second wireless network based on the security information stored in the AP storage section.

15. The radio station according to claim 14,

wherein the encryption section conducts the encryption in conducting communications through the second wireless network only while the radio station is connected with the first wireless network.

25. The radio station according to claim 14, further comprising:

a processing execution section that executes a predetermined processing when the radio station receives an instruction signal for instructing the radio station to execute the predetermined processing through the second wireless network.

26. The radio station according to claim 25,

wherein if the instruction signal involves setup information required for establishing connection with the first wireless network, the processing execution section records the setup information in the client storage section.

27. The radio station according to claim 26,

wherein when the setup information is recorded in the client storage section, the operation control section controls the client function section so as to try to connect to the first wireless network, and controls the AP function section so as to transmit a result signal indicating a trial result to the radio station transmitting the instruction signal.

28. The radio station according to claim 26,

wherein if the instruction signal involves setup information required for establishing connection with the first wireless network, the processing execution section records the setup information in the client storage section only when the processing execution section does not execute any processing other than recording the setup information in the client storage section.

29. The radio station according to claim 25, further comprising:

a print section that prints an image in response to an instruction from the processing execution section,

wherein if the instruction signal is a signal for instructing to print a predetermined image, the processing execution section instructs the print section to print the predetermined image.

30. The radio station according to claim 14, further comprising:

a first instruction transmission section that transmits an instruction signal for instructing an other radio station connected to the second wireless network to execute a predetermined processing.

31. The radio station according to claim 30,

wherein the instruction signal involves setup information required for establishing connection with a predetermined wireless network and is a signal for instructing to make settings based on the setup information.

32. The radio station according to claim 30,

wherein the instruction signal involves setup information required for establishing connection with the first wireless network and is a signal for instructing to make settings based on the setup information.

33. The radio station according to claim 32, further comprising:

a connection test section that tries to communicate with the other radio station through the second wireless network after the first instruction transmission section transmits the instruction signal to the other radio station.

34. The radio station according to claim 30,

wherein when the radio station receives a request signal for requesting to transmit the instruction signal from the other radio station through the second wireless network, the first instruction transmission section transmits the instruction signal.

35. The radio station according to claim 14,

wherein the synchronization authentication section conducts the authentication in conducting communications through the second wireless network only while the radio station is connected with the first wireless network.

37. The radio station according to claim 14,

wherein the synchronization authentication section is configured, subject to the connection determination section determining the connection with the first wireless network being unestablished, to prohibit the copy of the security information stored in the client function section into the AP storage section and to delete the security information stored in the AP storage station.

16. A radio station which transmits an instruction signal through a second wireless network to an other radio station connected to a first wireless network through an access point, the other radio station comprising:

an AP storage section that stores network identification information indispensable for grouping subjects of communication in a wireless network;

an AP function section that establishes connection with the second wireless network based on the network identification information stored in the AP storage section;

a client storage section that stores client identification information used in connecting to the first wireless network;

an operation control section that simultaneously controls connection with the first wireless network based on the client identification information stored in the client storage section;

a processing execution section that executes a predetermined processing when the other radio station receives an instruction signal for instructing the other radio station to execute the predetermined processing through the second wireless network;

a connection determination section that determines whether the connection with the first wireless network is established; and

a synchronization authentication section that conducts authentication by a predetermined authentication system, the predetermined authentication system configured to conduct communications through the second wireless network when the predetermined authentication system conducts communications through the first wireless network,

wherein the client storage section has a capacity to store security information concerning the predetermined authentication system used in the communications through the first wireless network,

wherein the synchronization authentication section is configured to copy the security information stored in the client function section into the AP storage section subject to the connection determination section determining the connection with the first wireless network being established, and

wherein the AP function section establishes the connection with the section wireless network based on the security information stored in the AP storage section.

17. The radio station according to claim 16,

wherein the instruction signal involves setup information required for establishing connection with the first wireless network, and

the radio station comprising:

a result reception section that receives a result signal indicating a result of trying to connect to the first wireless network from the other radio station; and

a notification section that reports the result indicated by the result signal.

18. The radio station according to claim 16,

wherein the radio station transmits an instruction signal involving a plurality of setup information required for establishing connection with the first wireless network in order.

19. The radio station according to claim 18 comprising:

an input section with which a user of the radio station enters the plurality of setup information in order,

wherein the radio station transmits the instruction signal involving the setup information every time the setup information is entered through the input section.

20. A radio station comprising a processing execution section that executes a predetermined processing when the radio station receives an instruction signal through a second wireless network from an other radio station connected to a first wireless network through an access point, the other radio station comprising:

an AP storage section that stores network identification information indispensable for grouping subjects of communication in a wireless network;

an AP function section that establishes connection with the second wireless network based on the network identification information stored in the AP storage section;

a client storage section that stores client identification information used in connecting to the first wireless network;

an operation control section that simultaneously controls connection with the first wireless network based on the client identification information stored in the client storage section;

an instruction transmission section that transmits the instruction signal for instructing the radio station to execute the predetermined processing through the second wireless network;

a connection determination section that determines whether the connection with the first wireless network is established; and

a synchronization authentication section that conducts authentication by a predetermined authentication system, the predetermined authentication system configured to conduct communications through the second wireless network when the predetermined authentication system conducts communications through the first wireless network,

wherein the client storage section has a capacity to store security information concerning the predetermined authentication system used in the communications through the first wireless network,

wherein the synchronization authentication section is configured to copy the security information stored in the client function section into the AP storage section subject to the connection determination section determining the connection with the first wireless network being established, and

wherein the AP function section establishes the connection with the second wireless network based on the security information stored in the AP storage section.

21. The radio station according to claim 20,

wherein if the instruction signal involves setup information required for establishing connection with the first wireless network, the processing execution section records the setup information in the client storage section.

22. The radio station according to claim 21, further comprising:

a request signal transmission section that transmits a request signal for requesting to transmit the instruction signal through the second wireless network.

23. A storage medium storing a set of program instructions executable on a data processing device for controlling a radio station connected to a first wireless network through an access point, the program instructions comprising instructions for:

storing client identification information used in connecting to the first wireless network;

establishing a connection with the first wireless network based on the client identification information stored;

storing network identification information indispensable for grouping subjects of communication in a wireless network;

establishing a connection with a second wireless network based on the network identification information stored;

determining whether the connection with the first wireless network is established; and

conducting authentication by a predetermined authentication system, the predetermined authentication system configured to conduct communications through the second wireless network when the predetermined authentication system conducts communications through the first wireless network;

wherein security information concerning the predetermined authentication system used in the communication through the first wireless network is stored,

wherein the security information stored is copied and moved to where the network identification information is stored subject to

the determination of whether the connection with the first wireless network is established,

wherein the connection with the second wireless network is established based on the security information stored with the network identification information, and

wherein establishing the connection with the first wireless network based on the client identification information stored, and establishing the connection with the second wireless network based on the network identification information stored is simultaneously controlled.

24. An operation control method of controlling a radio station connected to a first wireless network through an access point, the radio station comprising an AP storage section that stores network identification information indispensable for grouping subjects of communication in a wireless network in a peripheral device of the first wireless network;

an AP function section in a peripheral device of the first wireless network that establishes connection with a second wireless network based on the network identification information stored in the AP storage section;

a client storage section that stores client identification information used in connecting to the first wireless network transmitted from the second wireless network;

a client function section that establishes connection with the first wireless network based on the client identification information stored in the client storage section;

a connection determination section that determines whether the connection with the first wireless network by the client function section is established; and

a synchronization authentication section that conducts authentication by a predetermined authentication system, the predetermined authentication system configured to conduct communications through the second wireless network when the predetermined authentication system conducts communications through the first wireless network, wherein the client storage section has a capacity to store security information concerning the predetermined authentication system used in the communications through the first wireless network, wherein the synchronization authentication section is configured to copy the security information stored in the client function section into the AP storage section subject to the connection determination section determining the connection with the first wireless network being established, and wherein the AP function section establishes the connection with the second wireless network based on the security information stored in the AP storage section, the operation control method comprising;

simultaneously controlling operation of the AP function section and operation of the client function section.