Communication system and method, information processing apparatus and method, and information processing terminal and method

• US 7,395,029 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2002
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sasai, Takashi, Kakuda, Hiroshi, Higo, Masamitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung; Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wendell; Andrew
• Application Number:
  US10/492,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20040242250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,085 Days
• Field of Search: 455/555, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/514, 455/415, 455/41.2, 455/41.3
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/002 Mutual synchronization
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

The present invention relates to a communication system and a method thereof, an information processing apparatus and a method thereof, an information processing terminal and a method thereof, which can start wireless communication easily and promptly. When an electromagnetic wave radiated from a reader/writer of a PDA 2 is received in a reader/writer of a personal computer 1, the personal computer 1 notifies the PDA 2 of device information stored therein. The PDA 2 establishes synchronization for Bluetooth communication with the personal computer 1 in accordance with a Bluetooth address contained in the device information and selects a service in accordance with a service record contained in the device information to establish communication via Bluetooth. The present invention can be applied to various information processing apparatuses such as a personal computer or a PDA.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus carrying out a wireless communication with a second information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus comprising:

acquisition means for acquiring device information of the second information processing apparatus, the device information comprising identification information and service attribute information indicating a providable service of the second information processing apparatus;

determination means for determining whether to establish wireless communication by comparing a service record of the information processing apparatus with the service attribute information of the second information processing apparatus;

selection means for selecting a service to perform based on the service attribute information of the second information processing apparatus and based on at least one of the number of times the service has been selected and the most recently selected service;

synchronization establishing means for synchronizing wireless communication with the second information processing apparatus on the basis of the identification information; and

communication establishing means for establishing the wireless communication with the second information processing apparatus using the synchronization.

2. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the device information further comprises key information for authenticating the wireless communication.

3. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the device information further comprises number information representing the number of devices with which the second information processing apparatus can communicate simultaneously utilizing the wireless communication, and

the determination means further determines whether to perform the establishing process on the basis of the number information.

4. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the device information further comprises time period information representing a time period during which the second information processing apparatus can communicate utilizing the wireless communication, and

the determination means further determines whether to perform the establishing process on the basis of the time period information.

5. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the device information further comprises type information representing a type of a device with which the second information processing apparatus can communicate utilizing the wireless communication, and

the determination means further determines whether to perform the establishing process on the basis of the type information.

6. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

activation means for activating a function of the wireless communication when the determination means determines to perform the establishing process of the wireless communication.

7. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the acquisition means acquires the device information via any one of a communication via an electromagnetic wave, an infrared data communication, and a Bluetooth communication specifying a communication destination by a device search in a reduced power mode.

8. An information processing method of an information processing apparatus carrying out a wireless communication with a second information processing apparatus, the information processing method comprising:

acquiring device information of the second information processing apparatus, the device information comprising identification information and service attribute information indicating a providable service of the second information processing apparatus;

determining whether to establish wireless communication by comparing a service record of the information processing apparatus with the service attribute information of the second information processing apparatus;

selecting a service to perform based on the service attribute information of the second information processing apparatus and based on at least one of the number of times the service has been selected and the most recently selected service;

synchronizing wireless communication with the second information processing apparatus on the basis of the identification information; and

establishing the wireless communication with the second information processing apparatus using the synchronization.

9. The information processing method as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

the acquiring step acquires the device information via any one of a communication via an electromagnetic wave, an infrared data communication, and a Bluetooth communication specifying a communication destination by a device search in a reduced power mode.

10. A computer readable medium comprising a program which, when executed by a processor, performs a method for carrying out a wireless communication with an information processing apparatus, the method comprising:

acquiring device information of the information processing apparatus, the device information comprising at least identification information and service attribute information indicating a providable service of the information processing apparatus;

determining whether to establish wireless communication by comparing a service record with the service attribute information of the information processing apparatus;

selecting a service to perform based on the service attribute information of the information processing apparatus and based on at least one of the number of times the service has been selected and the most recently selected service;

synchronizing wireless communication with the information processing apparatus on the basis of the identification information; and

establishing the wireless communication with the information processing apparatus using the synchronization.

11. An information processing apparatus comprising:

acquisition means for acquiring device information including at least identification information of a second information processing apparatus and service attribute information regarding a service providable by the second information processing apparatus, the device information being stored in a wireless communication body which is driven depending on an induced electric power generated in accordance with receiving an electromagnetic wave;

determination means for determining whether to establish wireless communication by comparing a service record of the information processing apparatus with the service attribute information of the second information processing apparatus;

selection means for selecting a service to perform based on the service attribute information of the second information processing apparatus and based on at least one of the number of times the service has been selected and the most recently selected service;

synchronization establishing means for synchronizing wireless communication with the second information processing apparatus on the basis of the identification information; and

communication establishing means for establishing the wireless communication with the second information processing apparatus using the synchronization.

12. An information processing method, comprising:

acquiring device information including at least identification information of a predetermined information processing apparatus and service attribute information regarding a service providable by the information processing apparatus, the device information being stored in a wireless communication body driven depending on an induced electric power generated in accordance with receiving an electromagnetic wave;

determining whether to establish wireless communication by comparing a service record with the service attribute information of the information processing apparatus;

selecting a service to perform based on the service attribute information of the information processing apparatus and based on at least one of the number of times the service has been selected and the most recently selected service;

synchronizing wireless communication with the information processing apparatus on the basis of the identification information; and

establishing the wireless communication with the information processing apparatus using the synchronization.

13. A computer readable medium comprising a program which, when executed by a processor, performs a method comprising:

acquiring device information including at least identification information of an information processing apparatus and service attribute information regarding a service providable by the information processing apparatus, the device information being stored in a wireless communication body driven depending on an induced electric power generated in accordance with receiving an electromagnetic wave;

determining whether to establish wireless communication by comparing a service record with the service attribute information of the information processing apparatus;

selecting a service to perform based on the service attribute information of the information processing apparatus and based on at least one of the number of times the service has been selected and the most recently selected service;

synchronizing wireless communication with the information processing apparatus on the basis of the identification information;

establishing the wireless communication with the information processing apparatus using the synchronization.