Communication apparatus and communication method therefor

• US 8,693,411 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sakai, Tatsuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sharma, Gautam
• Application Number:
  US12/666,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20100322164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,055 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

In order to make it possible for a communication apparatus to readily detect a provider of communication parameters, the provider of communication parameters creates a network for which a network identifier that is unique among networks in the vicinity has been set, and provides a receiver, which has joined this network and requests receipt of communication parameters, with these communication parameters.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

a joining unit which joins a first shared network;

a receiving unit which receives an instruction for starting a process for setting communication parameters with another communication apparatus to enable the another communication apparatus to set up communications with the first shared network;

wherein the setting up communication parameters comprises;

a creating unit which, upon receiving the instruction for starting a process for setting communication parameters, creates a second network; and

a providing unit which, upon receiving a request from another communication apparatus to join the second network during execution of the process for setting communication parameters, provides communication parameters,

wherein the another communication apparatus joins the first shared network using the communication parameters,

wherein the communication apparatus ends the second network created by said creating unit and returns to the first network if a fixed period of time elapses without receiving the request from another communication apparatus, and

wherein the first shared network or second network comprises a wired or wireless LAN, Zigbee, Bluetooth, or UWB (Ultra Wide Band) network.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a generating unit that generates a network identifier,

wherein said creating unit creates the second network having the network identifier generated by said generating unit.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a determination unit which determines whether there is a network having the network identifier generated by said generating unit in the vicinity,

wherein said creating unit creates the second network having the network identifier generated by said generating unit based on a determination result by said determination unit.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, if communication parameters have been provided to a predetermined number of other communication apparatuses, then the communication apparatus joins the first network.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication parameters are communication parameters used in a wired or wireless LAN, Zigbee, Bluetooth, or UWB (Ultra Wide Band) network.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication parameters comprise at least one of a network identifier, encryption method, encryption key, authentication method, and authentication key.

7. A communication method of a communication apparatus, comprising:

joining a first shared network;

receiving an instruction for starting a process for setting communication parameters with another communication apparatus to enable the another communication apparatus to set up communications with the first shared network;

wherein the setting up communication parameters comprises;

creating, upon receiving the instruction for starting a process for setting communication parameters, a second network, wherein the second network is created by the communication apparatus; and

providing, upon receiving a request from another communication apparatus to join the second network, during execution of the process for setting communication parameters, communication parameters,

wherein the another communication apparatus joins the first shared network using the communication parameters,

wherein the communication apparatus ends the second network created by the communication apparatus and returns to the first network if a fixed period of time elapses without receiving the request from another communication apparatus, and

wherein the first shared network or second network comprises a wired or wireless LAN, Zigbee, Bluetooth, or UWB (Ultra Wide Band) network.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing a communication apparatus to execute the communication method set forth in claim 7.