Communication system and method

• US 8,326,225 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2002
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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, Suzuki, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Zhiyu
• Application Number:
  US10/484,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20040259499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,794 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/411, 455/569, 455/90
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0869 for achieving mutual authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for mutual authentication H04L9/3273
• 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: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

The present invention relates to communication systems and methods which allow the partner of communication to be easily specified. A portable telephone 52 is provided with a non-contact IC card which communicates with a reader/writer of a personal computer 51 by electromagnetic waves. When the non-contact IC card receives electromagnetic waves emitted by the reader/writer, the portable telephone 52 reports the card ID assigned to the non-contact IC card to the personal computer 51. The card ID includes the Bluetooth address of the portable telephone 52. When the personal computer 51 obtains the Bluetooth addresses of the portable telephone 52 and a PDA 53 at an inquiry, the personal computer 51 specifies the portable telephone 52 as a Bluetooth device with which synchronization is established, according to the Bluetooth address reported in advance. The present invention can be applied to information processing apparatuses such as personal computers and portable telephones.

Claims

1. A communication system in a network, comprising an information processing apparatus and a plurality of communication terminals, wherein

the information processing apparatus comprises:

first acquisition processing means for acquiring identification information of one of the communication terminals when the communication terminal comes within a first kind of wireless communication range of the information processing apparatus, the identification information comprising a first Bluetooth address of the communication terminal, wherein communication terminals within the range can communicate by transferring electric power, and wherein the identification information is acquired by using a first wireless communication block for transferring electric power and for transmitting and receiving data by a loop antenna for the communication terminal;

activation processing means for activating a second wireless communication block of the information processing apparatus, by initializing a supply of electric power to the second wireless communication block to switch the second wireless communication block from a state in which the power is turned off to a state in which the power is turned on, in response to the acquisition of the identification information by the first acquisition processing means;

means for broadcasting a request to the communication terminals by the second wireless communication block;

storage processing means for storing, as history information, information for a second kind of wireless communication, by using the second wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving desired data, the history information being stored before the second wireless communication block of the information processing apparatus is activated, and including a second Bluetooth address and a profile for each of the communication terminals;

specifying processing means for comparing the first Bluetooth address from the identification information with the second Bluetooth addresses from the history information to determine that one of the second Bluetooth addresses matches the first Bluetooth address, and for automatically identifying the communication terminal having the matching second Bluetooth address as the partner of communication from the communication terminals; and

first synchronization establishment processing means for establishing synchronization for wireless communication performed by using the communication terminal specified by the specifying processing means and the second wireless communication block, and wherein

the communication terminal comprises;

first providing processing means for providing the information processing apparatus with the identification information of the communication terminal by using a third wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving data by using at least part of induced electric power obtained through a loop antenna;

identification information processing means configured to rewrite the identification information to a form compliant with one of a plurality of protocols, the plurality of protocols being compatible with a plurality of types of information processing apparatus, wherein the rewrite occurs at predetermined interval;

activation processing means for activating a fourth wireless communication block of the communication terminal, by initializing a supply of electric power to the fourth wireless communication block to switch the fourth wireless communication block from the state in which the power is turned off to the state in which the power is turned on, in response to the third wireless communication block; and

second synchronization establishment processing means for establishing synchronization by transmitting and receiving a predetermined signal through the fourth wireless communication block, in response to a request sent from the information processing apparatus when synchronization is established for wireless communication performed by the second wireless communication block.

2. A communication method for a communication system in a network comprising an information processing apparatus and a plurality of communication terminals, wherein

an information processing method for the information processing apparatus comprises:

acquiring identification information of one of the communication terminals when the communication terminal comes within a first kind of wireless communication range of the information processing apparatus, the identification information comprising a first Bluetooth address of the communication terminal, wherein communication terminals within the range communicate by transferring electric power, and wherein the identification information is acquired by using a first wireless communication block for transferring electric power, and for transmitting and receiving data by a loop antenna for the communication terminal;

activating a second wireless communication block of the information processing apparatus, by initializing a supply of electric power to the second wireless communication block to switch the second wireless communication block from a state in which the power is turned off to a state in which the power is turned on, in response to the acquisition of the identification information;

broadcasting a request to the communication terminals by the second wireless communication block;

storing, as history information, information for a second kind of wireless communication, by using the second wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving desired data, the history information being stored before the second wireless communication block of the information processing apparatus is activated, and including a second Bluetooth address and a profile for each of the communication terminals;

comparing the first Bluetooth address from the acquired identification information with the second Bluetooth addresses from the stored history information to determine that one of the second Bluetooth addresses matches the first Bluetooth address, and automatically identifying the communication terminal having the matching second Bluetooth address as the partner of communication from the communication terminals; and

establishing synchronization for wireless communication performed by using the identified communication terminal and the second wireless communication block, and wherein

an information processing method for the communication terminal comprises;

providing the information processing apparatus with the identification information of the communication terminal by using a third wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving data by using at least part of induced electric power obtained through a loop antenna;

rewriting the identification information to a form compliant with one of a plurality of protocols, the plurality of protocols being compatible with a plurality of types of information processing apparatus, wherein the rewrite occurs at a predetermined interval;

activating a fourth wireless communication block of the communication terminal, by initializing a supply of electric power to the fourth wireless communication block to switch the fourth wireless communication block from the state in which the power is turned off to the state in which the power is turned on, in response to the third wireless communication block; and

establishing synchronization by transmitting and receiving a predetermined signal through the fourth communication block, in response to a request sent from the information processing apparatus when synchronization is established for wireless communication performed by the second wireless communication block.

3. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

first acquisition processing means for acquiring identification information from one of a plurality of communication terminals, when the communication terminal comes within a first kind of wireless communication range of the information processing apparatus, the identification information comprising a first Bluetooth address of the communication terminal, wherein communication terminals within the range can communicate by transferring electric power, and wherein the identification information is acquired by using a first wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving predetermined data, wherein the communication terminals are configured to rewrite the identification information to a form compliant with one of a plurality of protocols, the plurality of protocols being compatible with a plurality of types of information processing apparatus, wherein the rewrite occurs at a predetermined interval;

activation processing means for activating a second wireless communication block of the information processing apparatus, by initializing a supply of electric power to the second wireless communication block to switch the second wireless communication block from a state in which the power is turned off to a state in which the power is turned on, in response to the acquisition of the identification information by the first acquisition processing means and for causing the communication terminal to activate a third wireless communication block of the communication terminal in response to receiving electromagnetic waves from the information processing apparatus;

means for broadcasting a request to the communication terminals by the second wireless communication block;

storage processing means for storing, as history information, information for a second kind of wireless communication by using the second wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving desired data, the history information being stored before the second wireless communication block of the information processing apparatus is activated, and including a second Bluetooth address and a profile for each of the communication terminals;

specifying processing means for comparing the first Bluetooth address from the identification information with the second Bluetooth addresses from the history information to determine that one of the second Bluetooth addresses matches the first Bluetooth address, and for automatically identifying the communication terminal having the matching second Bluetooth address as the partner of communication from the communication terminals; and

synchronization establishment processing means for establishing synchronization for wireless communication performed by using the communication terminal specified by the specifying processing means and the second wireless communication block;

wherein the first wireless communication block communicates with a third wireless communication block of the communication terminal, the second wireless communication block communicates with a fourth wireless communication block of the communication terminal, and the fourth wireless communication block is activated by the third wireless communication block.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first acquisition processing means acquires the identification information of a communication terminal located close by using the first wireless communication block for transferring electric power and for transmitting and receiving data by a loop antenna for the communication terminal.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the synchronization establishment processing means sends an ID packet to the communication terminal specified by the specifying processing means, by using the second wireless communication block, and further sends an FHS packet of the information processing apparatus when the communication terminal responds to the transmission of the ID packet.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the distance at which the first wireless communication block can perform wireless communication is shorter than the distance at which the second wireless communication block can perform wireless communication.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the synchronization establishment processing means sends an ID packet generated according to the Bluetooth address information to the communication terminal specified by the specifying processing means, and, when a response to the ID packet is made by the communication terminal, further sends its own FHS packet.

14. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the first acquisition processing means operates when it is determined according to a load change of the first wireless communication block that a communication terminal is located close.

6. An information processing method, comprising:

acquiring identification information from one of a plurality of communication terminals, when the communication terminal comes within a first kind of wireless communication range of an information processing apparatus, the identification information comprising a first Bluetooth address of the communication terminal, wherein communication terminals within the range can communicate by transferring electric power, and wherein the identification information is acquired by using a first wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving predetermined data, wherein the communication terminals are configured to rewrite the identification information to a form compliant with one of a plurality of protocols, the plurality of protocols being compatible with a plurality of types of information processing apparatus, wherein the rewrite occurs at a predetermined interval;

activating a second wireless communication block of the information processing apparatus, by initializing a supply of electric power to the second wireless communication block to switch the second wireless communication block from a state in which the power is turned off to a state in which the power is turned on, in response to the acquisition of the identification information and for causing the communication terminal to activate a third wireless communication block of the communication terminal in response to receiving electromagnetic waves from the information processing apparatus;

broadcasting a request to the communication terminals by the second wireless communication block;

storing, as history information, information for a second kind of wireless communication, by using the second wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving desired data, the history information being stored before the second wireless communication block of the information processing apparatus is activated, and including a second Bluetooth address and a profile for each of the communication terminals;

comparing the first Bluetooth address from the acquired identification information with the second Bluetooth addresses from the stored history information to determine that one of the second Bluetooth addresses matches the first Bluetooth address, and automatically identifying the communication terminal having the matching second Bluetooth address as the partner of communication from the communication terminals; and

establishing synchronization for wireless communication performed by using the identified communication terminal and the second wireless communication block;

wherein the first wireless communication block communicates with a third wireless communication block of the communication terminal, the second wireless communication block communicates with a fourth wireless communication block of the communication terminal, and the fourth wireless communication block is activated by the third wireless communication block.

7. The information processing method according to claim 6, wherein

the distance at which the first wireless communication block can perform wireless communication is shorter than the distance at which the second wireless communication block can perform wireless communication.

8. The information processing method according to claim 6, wherein the identification information of a communication terminal located close is acquired by using the first wireless communication block for transferring electric power and for transmitting and receiving data by a loop antenna for the communication terminal.

9. The information processing method according to claim 6, wherein

an ID packet is sent to the identified communication terminal, by using the second wireless communication block, and an FHS packet of the information processing apparatus is further sent when the communication terminal responds to the transmission of the ID packet.

15. An information processing method according to claim 6, wherein

the acquiring identification information further comprises determining that a wireless communication terminal is located close according to a load change of the first wireless communication block.

10. An extension apparatus capable of being installed in an information processing apparatus, comprising:

a connection terminal electrically connected to the information processing apparatus, for transmitting and receiving data;

first acquisition processing means for acquiring identification information from one of a plurality of communication terminals, when the communication terminal comes within a first kind of wireless communication range of the information processing apparatus, the identification information comprising a first Bluetooth address of the communication terminal, wherein communication terminals within the range can communicate by transferring electric power, and wherein the identification information is acquired by using a first wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving predetermined data, wherein the communication terminals are configured to rewrite the identification information to a form compliant with one of a plurality of protocols, the plurality of protocols being compatible with a plurality of types of information processing apparatus, wherein the rewrite occurs at a predetermined interval;

activation processing means for activating a second wireless communication block of the information processing apparatus, by initializing a supply of electric power to the second wireless communication block to switch the second wireless communication block from a state in which the power is turned off to a state in which the power is turned on, in response to the acquisition of the identification information by the first acquisition processing means and for causing the communication terminal to activate a third wireless communication block of the communication terminal in response to receiving electromagnetic waves from the information processing apparatus;

means for broadcasting a request to the communication terminals by the second wireless communication block;

storage processing means for storing, as history information, information for a second kind of wireless communication, by using the second wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving desired data, the history information being stored before the second wireless communication block of the information processing apparatus is activated, and including a second Bluetooth address and a profile for each of the communication terminals;

specifying processing means for comparing the first Bluetooth address from the identification information with the second Bluetooth address from the history information to determine that one of the second Bluetooth addresses matches the first Bluetooth address, and for automatically identifying the communication terminal having the matching second Bluetooth address as the partner of communication from the communication terminals; and

synchronization establishment processing means for establishing synchronization for wireless communication performed by using the communication terminal specified by the specifying processing means and the second wireless communication block;

wherein the first wireless communication block communicates with a third wireless communication block of the communication terminal, the second wireless communication block communicates with a fourth wireless communication block of the communication terminal, and the fourth wireless communication block is activated by the third wireless communication block.

11. A recording medium comprising a program which, when executed by a processor, performs a method, the method comprising:

acquiring identification information from one of a plurality of communication terminals, when the communication terminal comes within a first kind of wireless communication range of an information processing apparatus, the identification information comprising a first Bluetooth address of the communication terminal, wherein communication terminals within the range can communicate by transferring electric power, and wherein the identification information is acquired by using a first wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving predetermined data, wherein the communication terminals are configured to rewrite the identification information to a form compliant with one of a plurality of protocols, the plurality of protocols being compatible with a plurality of types of information processing apparatus, wherein the rewrite occurs at a predetermined interval;

activating a second wireless communication block of the information processing apparatus, by initializing a supply of electric power to the second wireless communication block to switch the second wireless communication block from a state in which the power is turned off to a state in which the power is turned on, in response to the acquisition of the identification information and for causing the communication terminal to activate a third wireless communication block of the communication terminal in response to receiving electromagnetic waves from the information processing apparatus;

broadcasting a request to the communication terminals by the second wireless communication block;

storing, as history information, information for a second kind of wireless communication, by using the second wireless communication block for transmitting and receiving desired data, the history information being stored before the second wireless communication block of the information processing apparatus is activated, and including a second Bluetooth address and a profile for each of the communication terminals;

comparing the first Bluetooth address from the acquired identification information with the second Bluetooth addresses from the stored history information to determine that one of the second Bluetooth addresses matches the first Bluetooth address, and automatically identifying the communication terminal having the matching second Bluetooth address as the partner of communication from the communication terminals; and

establishing synchronization for wireless communication performed by using the identified communication terminal and the second wireless communication block;

wherein the first wireless communication block communicates with a third wireless communication block of the communication terminal, the second wireless communication block communicates with a fourth wireless communication block of the communication terminal, and the fourth wireless communication block is activated by the third wireless communication block.