Communication device, wireless communication device, and control method

• US 8,203,996 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2008
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Client Computing Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Masuda, Yasuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): HTUN, SAN A
• Application Number:
  US12/191,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20080299966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 4554321-4323, 455/434, 4554351-4353, 455436-444, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455418-421, 455/422.1, 4554321-444, 4554564-4566, 455/11.1, 455/13.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/560, 455/561, 370/310.2, 370/328, 370331-333, 370/338, 370/315, 370351-356, 713150-194, 726 1- 36
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/22 Manipulation of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A communication device that includes an authentication unit that authenticates a wireless communication device depending on whether a predetermined authentication condition is satisfied, and a relay unit that relays communication performed by the wireless communication device when the authentication unit successfully authenticates the wireless communication device, comprising: an information transmission and reception unit receiving connected-terminal information, which includes identification information identifying the wireless communication device whose communication is being relayed, held by other communication devices; a recording unit recording the received connected-terminal information; a judging unit judging, when a connection request is received from the wireless communication device, whether the identification information identifying the wireless communication device is included in the recorded connected-terminal information; and a permitting unit permitting relaying of communication performed by the wireless communication device when the identification information of the wireless communication device is included in the recorded connected-terminal information.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device that performs communication via a communication device, comprising:

a providing unit to provide the communication device with information which includes a predetermined authentication condition when a connection request is sent to the communication device;

a reception unit to receive identification information identifying other communication devices and a predetermined authentication condition of the other communication devices from the communication device which has permitted a connection in response to the connection request;

a judging unit to judge whether the received predetermined authentication condition of the other communication devices matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device;

a recording unit to record the identification information identifying the other communication devices having the authentication condition that matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device when the received predetermined authentication condition of the other communication devices matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device;

a collecting unit to collect communication qualities of information provided by the other communication devices identified by the recorded identification information identifying the other communication devices, and communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection;

a comparing unit to compare the communication qualities of information collected from the other communication devices with the communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection;

a determining unit to determine, based on a result obtained by the comparing unit, one of the other communication devices which provide information with the communication quality better than the communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection; and

a connection request unit to send the connection request to the determined one of the other communication devices.

2. A control method for a wireless communication device, comprising:

providing the communication device with information which includes a predetermined authentication condition when a connection request is sent to a communication device;

receiving identification information identifying other communication devices and a predetermined authentication condition of the other communication devices from the communication device which has permitted a connection in response to the connection request;

judging whether the received predetermined authentication condition of the other communication devices matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device;

recording the identification information identifying the other communication devices having the authentication condition that matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device when the received predetermined authentication condition of the other communication devices matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device;

collecting communication qualities of information provided by the other communication devices identified by the recorded identification information identifying the other communication devices, and communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection;

comparing the communication qualities of information collected from the other communication devices with a communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection;

determining, based on a result obtained in the comparing step, one of the other communication devices which provide information with a the communication quality better than the communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection; and

sending the connection request to the determined one of the other communication devices.

3. A recording medium recorded with a wireless communication device control program which causes a wireless communication device to execute:

providing the communication device with information which includes a predetermined authentication condition when a connection request is sent to a communication device;

receiving identification information identifying other communication devices and a predetermined authentication condition of the other communication devices from the communication device which has permitted a connection in response to the connection request;

judging whether the received predetermined authentication condition of the other communication devices matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device;

recording the identification information identifying the other communication devices having the authentication condition that matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device when the received predetermined authentication condition of the other communication devices matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device;

collecting communication qualities of information provided by the other communication devices identified by the recorded identification information identifying the other communication devices, and communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection;

comparing the communication qualities of information collected from the other communication devices with a communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection;

determining, based on a result obtained in the comparing step, one of the other communication devices which provide information with the communication quality better than the communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection; and

sending the connection request to the determined one of the other communication devices.

4. A system comprising a communication device and a wireless communication device, the communication device including an authentication unit that authenticates, when a connection request is received from the wireless communication device, the wireless communication device depending on whether a predetermined authentication condition is satisfied, and a relay unit that relays communication performed by the wireless communication device when the authentication unit successfully authenticates the wireless communication device, the wireless communication device performing communication via the communication device, wherein:

the communication device includes;

an information transmission and reception unit to receive connected-terminal information, which includes identification information identifying the wireless communication device whose communication is being relayed, held by other communication devices;

a recording unit to record the received connected-terminal information;

a receiving unit to receive, from the other communication devices, condition information which includes a predetermined authentication condition and identification information identifying the other communication devices;

a judging unit to judge, when the connection request is received from the wireless communication device, whether the identification information identifying the wireless communication device is included in the recorded connected-terminal information;

a permitting unit to permit relaying of communication performed by the wireless communication device when the identification information of the wireless communication device is included in the recorded connected-terminal information; and

an information providing unit to provide the received identification information identifying the other communication devices to the wireless communication device whose communication is permitted relaying by the permitting unit; and

the wireless communication device includes;

a providing unit to provide the communication device with information which includes a predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device when a connection request is sent to the communication device;

a reception unit to receive identification information identifying other communication devices from the communication device which has permitted a connection in response to the connection request;

a collecting unit to collect communication qualities of information provided by the other communication devices identified by the received identification information identifying the other communication devices;

a comparing unit to compare the communication qualities of information collected form the other communication devices with a communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection;

a determining unit to determine, based on a result obtained by the comparing unit, one of the other communication devices which provide information with the communication quality better than the communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection; and

a connection request unit to send the connection request to the determined one of the other communication devices.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the judging unit judges whether the condition information received from the other communication devices matches the predetermined authentication condition of the communication device, and

the information transmission and reception unit includes a recording control unit to record the connected-terminal information received from the other communication devices when the condition information received from the other communication devices matches the predetermined authentication condition of the communication device.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the receiving unit records the identification information identifying the other communication devices when the condition information received from the other communication devices matches the predetermined authentication condition of the communication device.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the information providing unit includes a providing control unit to provide the identification information identifying the other communication devices for the wireless communication device whose communication is permitted relaying by the permitting unit when the identification information identifying the other communication devices is recorded.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein the judging unit judges whether the received condition information matches the recorded connected-terminal information, and

the information transmission and reception unit includes a transmission control unit to send, when the received condition information matches the recorded connected-terminal information, the connected-terminal information to the other communication devices, which are transmission sources of the received condition information.

9. A system comprising a communication device and a wireless communication device, the communication device including an authentication unit that authenticates, when a connection request is received from the wireless communication device, the wireless communication device depending on whether a predetermined authentication condition is satisfied, and a relay unit that relays communication performed by the wireless communication device when the authentication unit successfully authenticates the wireless communication device, the wireless communication device performing communication via the communication device, wherein:

the communication device includes;

an information transmission and reception unit to receive connected-terminal information, which includes identification information identifying the wireless communication device whose communication is being relayed, held by other communication devices;

a recording unit to record the received connected-terminal information;

a receiving unit to receive, from the other communication devices, condition information which includes a predetermined authentication condition and identification information identifying the other communication devices;

a judging unit to judge, when the connection request is received from the wireless communication device, whether the identification information identifying the wireless communication device is included in the recorded connected-terminal information;

a permitting unit to permit relaying of communication performed by the wireless communication device when the identification information of the wireless communication device is included in the recorded connected-terminal information; and

an information providing unit to provide the received condition information to the wireless communication device whose communication is permitted relaying by the permitting unit; and

the wireless communication device includes;

a providing unit to provide the communication device with information which includes a predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device when a connection request is sent to the communication device;

a reception unit to receive the condition information from the communication device which has permitted a connection in response to the connection request;

a judgment unit to judge whether the condition information received from the communication device which has permitted the connection matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device;

a recording control unit to record the identification information identifying the other communication devices when the condition information received from the communication device which has permitted the connection matches the predetermined authentication condition of the wireless communication device;

a collecting unit to collect communication qualities of information provided by the other communication devices identified by the recorded identification information identifying the other communication devices;

a comparing unit to compare the communication qualities of information collected from the other communication devices with a communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection;

a determining unit to determine, based on a result obtained by the comparing unit, one of the other communication devices which provide information with the communication quality better than the communication quality of information provided by the communication device which has permitted the connection; and

a connection request unit to send the connection request to the determined one of the other communication devices.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein, in the communication device;

the recording unit records the condition information received from the other communication devices;

the judging unit judges whether the recorded condition information matches the recorded connected-terminal information; and

the information transmission and reception unit includes a transmission control unit to send, when the recorded condition information matches the recorded connected-terminal information, the connected-terminal information to the other communication devices, which are the transmission sources of the recorded condition information.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the communication device further includes a providing unit to provide the recorded condition information to the wireless communication device whose communication is permitted relaying by the permitting unit.