Information processing apparatus and method

• US 8,280,306 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Oba, Haruo, Sugawara, Taku, Inagaki, Takeo, Rekimoto, Junichi, Matsushita, Nobuyuki, Ayatsuka, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Zhiyu
• Application Number:
  US10/416,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20040077313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,673 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/502
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method that allow wireless communications to be readily and quickly started. When a cellular phone 1 is placed in proximity to a personal computer 11, a strap ID is transmitted from a contactless IC tag 3 of a cellular phone strap 2 to a reader/writer 12 of the personal computer 11. The personal computer 11 has a table of association between the strap ID and a Bluetooth device name of the cellular phone 1. The personal computer 11, upon obtaining the strap ID, refers to the association table and thereby identifies the cellular phone 1 as a party for carrying out Bluetooth communications therewith. The personal computer 11, by referring to the Bluetooth device name, identifies the cellular phone 1 from among a plurality of Bluetooth devices including the cellular phone 1, and carries out Bluetooth communications with the cellular phone 1. The present invention can be applied to various information processing apparatuses such as cellular phones and personal computers.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining identification information of a wireless communication device that operates based on induced electric power generated by receiving electromagnetic waves when the wireless communication device is placed in proximity to a wireless communication unit that allows communication by way of electromagnetic waves, the wireless communication device being attached to a first communication terminal, the wireless communication device being detachable from the first communication terminal;

means for prompting a user for first terminal-name information of the first communication terminal upon obtaining the identification information;

means for receiving the first terminal-name information set by the user;

a memory storage for storing the identification information of the wireless communication device and the first terminal-name information in association with each other in a table, a profile indicating a method of data transmission also being registered in the table in association with the identification information;

means for establishing synchronization for communication by the wireless communication unit with a plurality of second communication terminals that exist in proximity to the wireless communication unit;

means for obtaining second terminal-name information of each of the plurality of second communication terminals when synchronization has been established therewith; and

when the wireless communication device attached to the first communication terminal and the plurality of second communication terminals are in proximity to the wireless communication unit;

obtaining the identification information of the wireless communication device;

identifying from the table, using a processor, the first communication terminal that has the first terminal-name information associated with the obtained identification information of the wireless communication device;

obtaining, using a processor, the profile registered in the table in association with the obtained identification information; and

initiating communication with the identified first communication terminal from the plurality of second communication terminals with which synchronization has been established using the obtained profile.

2. An information processing method comprising:

obtaining identification information of a wireless communication device that operates based on induced electric power generated by receiving electromagnetic waves when the wireless communication device is placed in proximity to a wireless communication unit that allows communication by way of electromagnetic waves, the wireless communication device being attached to a first communication terminal, the wireless communication device being detachable from the first communication terminal;

prompting a user for first terminal-name information of the first communication terminal upon obtaining the identification information;

receiving the first terminal-name information set by the user;

storing the identification information of the wireless communication device, the first terminal-name information, and a method of data transmission used by the first communication terminal in association with each other in a table;

registering a profile in the table in association with the identification information, the profile indicating a method of data transmission;

establishing synchronization for communication by the wireless communication unit with a plurality of second communication terminals that exist in proximity to the wireless communication unit;

obtaining second terminal-name information of each of the plurality of second communication terminals when synchronization has been established therewith; and

when the wireless communication device attached to the first communication terminal and the plurality of second communication terminals are in proximity to the wireless communication unit;

obtaining the identification information of the wireless communication device;

identifying from the table, using a processor, the first communication terminal that has the first terminal-name information associated with the obtained identification information of the wireless communication device;

obtaining, using a processor, the profile registered in the table in association with the obtained identification information; and

initiating communication with the identified first communication terminal from the plurality of second communication terminals with which synchronization has been established using the obtained profile.

3. A recording medium having a program for causing a computer to execute a method comprising:

obtaining identification information of a wireless communication device that operates based on induced electric power generated by receiving electromagnetic waves when the wireless communication device is placed in proximity to a wireless communication unit that allows communication by way of electromagnetic waves, the wireless communication device being attached to a first communication terminal, the wireless communication device being detachable from the first communication terminal;

prompting a user for first terminal-name information of the first communication terminal upon obtaining the identification information;

receiving the first terminal-name information set by the user;

storing the identification information of the wireless communication device, the first terminal-name information, and a method of data transmission used by the first communication terminal in association with each other in a table;

registering a profile in the table in association with the identification information, the profile indicating a method of data transmission;

establishing synchronization for communication by the wireless communication unit with a plurality of second communication terminals that exist in proximity to the wireless communication unit;

obtaining second terminal-name information of each of the plurality of second communication terminals when synchronization has been established therewith; and

when the wireless communication device attached to the first communication terminal and the plurality of second communication terminals are in proximity to the wireless communication unit;

obtaining the identification information of the wireless communication device;

identifying from the table, using a processor, the first communication terminal that has the first terminal-name information associated with the obtained identification information of the wireless communication device;

obtaining, using a processor, the profile registered in the table in association with the obtained identification information; and

initiating communication with the identified first communication terminal from the plurality of second communication terminals with which synchronization has been established using the obtained profile.