Pairing system, pairing management device, pairing method, and program

• US 8,850,031 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2008
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Oshiba, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): VOSTAL, ONDREJ C
• Application Number:
  US12/741,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20100262696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,155 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 709/222, 463/37
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/00 Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field H04B10/00, H04B15/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/10 by using two signals transmitted simultaneously or successively
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3073 involving pairings, e.g. identity based encryption [IBE], bilinear mappings or bilinear pairings, e.g. Weil or Tate pairing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

To provide a pairing system which requires no special hardware and is capable of easily pairing terminals intended by a user. A pairing management device includes a pairing control module which receives pairing requests from communication terminals and data terminals, and generates tentative pairs from the communication terminals and the data terminals which transmitted the pairing request, and a confirmation data control module which allots and transmits pair confirmation data which corresponds on one-on-one basis to the communication terminals and the data terminals forming the tentative pairs, and allows the pairing control module to update the tentative pairs to final pairs when the pairing control module receives pair alteration data corresponding to the pair confirmation data from the communication terminals or the data terminals.

Claims

1. A pairing system which enables cooperation of communication terminals with data terminals on one-on-one basis to form pairs in a network system in which a plurality of communication terminals, a plurality of data terminals, and at least one pairing management device are connected mutually, and enables sharing of a voice communication and data via the network system between the pairs, wherein:

each of both the communication terminals and the data terminals comprises an input-output module and a pairing request module which transmits a pairing request to the pairing management device;

the pairing management device comprises;

a pairing control module which receives the pairing requests from the communication terminals and the data terminals, generates tentative pairs from the communication terminals and the data terminals which transmitted the pairing requests, and stores the tentative pairs in a pairing information storage device included in the pairing management device as a tentative pair group containing a communication terminal identifier and a data terminal identifier;

a pair confirmation data storage device which stores a plurality of pieces of pair confirmation data in advance, the pair confirmation data corresponding on one-on-one basis to the communication terminals and the data terminals forming the tentative pairs; and

a confirmation data control module which allots and transmits to the communication terminals and the data terminals, pair confirmation data which corresponds on one-on-one basis to the communication terminals and the data terminals forming the tentative pairs from the plurality of pieces of the pair confirmation data stored in the pair confirmation data storage device;

the input-output modules of both the communication terminals and the data terminals forming the tentative pairs output the pair confirmation data, respectively, to confirm that the communication terminal and the data terminal of different owners are not paired;

the pairing request module of at least either the communication terminals or the data terminals forming the tentative pairs comprise a transmission section which transmits pair alteration data corresponding to the pair confirmation data to the pairing management device; and

when the pairing control module in the pairing management device receives the pair alteration data from the communication terminals or the data terminals forming the tentative pairs, the tentative pairs are updated to final pairs.

2. The pairing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the pairing management device comprises a timer;

and

the pairing control module generates the tentative pairs from the communication terminals and the data terminals from which the pairing requests are received, while the timer counts a first period.

3. The pairing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein

in the pairing management device, the pairing control module updates the tentative pairs to the final pairs upon receiving the pair alteration data from the communication terminals or the data terminals forming the tentative pairs while the timer counts a second period.

4. The pairing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the pair confirmation data corresponds to at least one selected from a text, a still image, a voice, and a moving image.

5. The pairing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein

in the pairing management device, the pair confirmation data control module allots the pair confirmation data whose contents are different from each other to a plurality of sets of the generated tentative pairs.

6. The pairing system as claimed in claim 5, wherein

in the pairing management device, the pairing control module transmits the pair confirmation data allotted to the tentative pair to at least one of the communication terminal and the data terminal forming the tentative pair and the pair confirmation data allotted to other tentative pairs simultaneously.

7. The pairing system as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

in the communication terminal or the data terminal forming the tentative pair,

the input-output module displays the pair confirmation data displayed by switching it to the pair confirmation data allotted to the other tentative pairs; and

the pairing request module transmits pair alteration data corresponding to the switched and displayed pair confirmation data to the pairing management device.

8. The pairing system as claimed in claim 7, wherein

in the pairing management device, the pairing control module alters combination of the communication terminal and the data terminal of the tentative pair to update the tentative pair to a final pair based on the pair alteration data received from the communication terminal or the data terminal forming the tentative pair.

9. The pairing system as claimed in claim 5, wherein

in the pairing management device, the pairing control module updates the tentative pair to a final pair when the pair alteration data received from the communication terminal or the data terminal forming the tentative pair while the timer counts a second period is not duplication.

10. The pairing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the communication terminal or the data terminal forming the tentative pair transmits a response indicating that the pairing is stopped to the pairing management device after displaying the pair confirmation data.

11. The pairing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein

in the pairing management device, the pairing control module takes the communication terminal and the data terminal as a retry tentative pair, when pairing request buttons are pushed during a third period in both the communication terminal and the data terminal whose update from the tentative pair to the final pair has failed, and the pairing request buttons are released during a forth period in both the communication terminal and the data terminal.

12. A pairing management device which enables cooperation of communication terminals with data terminals on one-on-one basis to form pairs in a network system in which a plurality of communication terminals, a plurality of data terminals, and at least one pairing management device are connected mutually, and enables sharing of a voice communication and data via the network system between the pairs, the pairing management device comprising:

a pairing control module which receives pairing requests from the communication terminals and the data terminals, generates tentative pairs from the communication terminals and the data terminals which transmitted the pairing requests, and stores the tentative pairs in a pairing information storage device included in the pairing management device as a tentative pair group containing a communication terminal identifier and a data terminal identifier;

a pair confirmation data storage device which stores a plurality of pieces of pair confirmation data in advance, the pair confirmation data corresponding on one-on-one basis to the communication terminals and the data terminals forming the tentative pairs; and

a pair confirmation data control module which allots and transmits to the communication terminals and the data terminals, pair confirmation data which corresponds on one-on-one basis to the communication terminals and the data terminals forming the tentative pairs from the plurality of pieces of the pair confirmation data stored in the pair confirmation data storage device,

wherein when the pairing control module receives pair alteration data from the communication terminals or the data terminals forming the tentative pairs, the tentative pairs are updated to final pairs, and

wherein the pair confirmation data confirms that the communication terminal and the data terminal of different owners are not paired.

13. The pairing management device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the pairing control module generates the tentative pairs from the communication terminals and the data terminals from which the pairing requests are received, while a timer provided in advance counts a first period.

14. The pairing management device as claimed in claim 13, wherein

the pairing control module updates the tentative pairs to the final pairs upon receiving the pair alteration data from the communication terminals or the data terminals forming the tentative pairs while the timer counts a second period.

15. The pairing management device as claimed in claim 13, wherein

the pair confirmation data corresponds to at least one elected from a text, a still image, a voice, and a moving image.

16. The pairing management device as claimed in claim 13, wherein

the pair confirmation data control module allots the pair confirmation data whose contents are different from each other to a plurality of sets of the generated tentative pairs.

17. The pairing management device as claimed in claim 16, wherein

the pairing control module transmits the pair confirmation data allotted to the tentative pair to at least one of the communication terminal and the data terminal forming the tentative pair and the pair confirmation data allotted to other tentative pairs simultaneously.

18. The pairing management device as claimed in claim 17, wherein

the pairing control module alters combination of the communication terminal and the data terminal of the tentative pair to update the tentative pair to an final pair based on the pair alteration data received from the communication terminal or the data terminal forming the tentative pair.

19. The pairing management device as claimed in claim 16, wherein

the pairing control module updates the tentative pair to a final pair when the pair alteration data received from the communication terminal or the data terminal forming the tentative pair while the timer counts a second period is not duplication.

20. The pairing management device as claimed in claim 13, wherein

the pairing control module takes the communication terminal and the data terminal as a retry tentative pair, when pairing request buttons are pushed during a third period in both the communication terminal and the data terminal whose update from the tentative pair to the final pair has failed, and the pairing request buttons are released during a fourth period in both the communication terminal and the data terminal.

21. A pairing method which enables cooperation of communication terminals with data terminals on one-on-one basis to form pairs in a network system in which a plurality of communication terminals, a plurality of data terminals, and at least one pairing management device are connected mutually, and enables sharing of a voice communication and data via the network system between the pairs, the method comprising:

a pairing request operation in which the communication terminals and the data terminals transmit pairing requests to the pairing management device;

a tentative pair generating operation in which the pairing management device receives the pairing requests from the communication terminals and the data terminals, generates tentative pairs from the communication terminals and the data terminals transmitted the pairing requests, and stores the tentative pairs in a pairing information storage device included in the pairing management device as a tentative pair group containing a communication terminal identifier and a data terminal identifier;

a storing operation in which a plurality of pieces of pair confirmation data is stored in advance in a pair confirmation data storage device, the pair confirmation data corresponding on one-on-one basis to the communication terminals and the data terminals forming the tentative pairs; and

a pair confirmation data transmitting operation in which the pairing management device allots and transmits to the communication terminals and the data terminals, pair confirmation data which corresponds on one-on-one basis to the communication terminals and the data terminals forming the tentative pairs from the plurality of pieces of the pair confirmation data stored in the pair confirmation data storage device;

a pair confirmation data output operation in which the communication terminals and the data terminals forming the tentative pairs receive and output the pair confirmation data to confirm that the communication terminal and the data terminal of different owners are not paired;

a pair alteration data transmitting operation in which either the communication terminals or the data terminals forming the tentative pairs transmit pair alteration data corresponding to the pair confirmation data to the pairing management device; and

a final pair update operation in which the pairing management device updates the tentative pairs to final pairs, when the pairing control module in the pairing management device receives the pair alteration data from the communication terminals or the data terminals forming the tentative pairs.

22. The pairing method as claimed in claim 21, wherein:

the pairing management device comprises a timer; and

in the tentative pair generating operation, the pairing control module generates the tentative pairs from the communication terminals and the data terminals from which the pairing requests are received, while the timer counts a first period.

23. The pairing method as claimed in claim 22, wherein:

in the final pair update operation, the pairing control module updates the tentative pairs to the final pairs upon receiving the pair alteration data from the communication terminals or the data terminals forming the tentative pairs while the timer counts a second period.

24. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing a pairing program causing a computer, which forms a pairing management device that enables cooperation of communication terminals with data terminals on one-on-one basis to form pairs in a network system in which a plurality of communication terminals, a plurality of data terminals, and at least one pairing management device are connected mutually, and enables sharing of a voice communication and data via the network system between the pairs, to execute:

processing which receives the pairing requests from the communication terminals and the data terminals, generates tentative pairs from the communication terminals and the data terminals transmitted the pairing requests, and stores the tentative pairs in a pairing information storage device included in the pairing management device as a tentative pair group containing a communication terminal identifier and a data terminal identifier;

processing which stores a plurality of pieces of pair confirmation data in a pair confirmation storage device in advance, the pair confirmation data corresponding on one-on-one basis to the communication terminals and the data terminals forming the tentative pairs; and

processing which allots and transmits to the communication terminals and the data terminals, pair confirmation data which corresponds on one-on-one basis to the communication terminals and the data terminals forming the tentative pairs from the plurality of pieces of the pair confirmation data stored in the pair confirmation data storage device; and

processing which updates the tentative pairs to final pairs, upon receiving the pair alteration data from the communication terminals or the data terminals forming the tentative pairs,

wherein the pair confirmation data confirms that the communication terminal and the data terminal of different owners are not paired.

25. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing the pairing program as claimed in claim 24, wherein:

the computer comprises a timer; and

in the processing which generates the tentative pairs, the tentative pairs are generated from the communication terminals and the data terminals from which the pairing requests are received while the timer counts a first period.

26. A pairing system which enables cooperation of communication terminals with data terminals on one-on-one basis to form pairs in a network system in which a plurality of communication terminals, a plurality of data terminals, and at least one pairing management device are connected mutually, and enables sharing of a voice communication and data via the network system between the pairs, wherein:

each of both the communication terminals and the data terminals comprises an input-output module and pairing request means for transmitting a pairing request to the pairing management device;

the pairing management device comprises;

pairing control means for receiving the pairing requests from the communication terminals and the data terminals, generating tentative pairs from the communication terminals and the data terminals which transmitted the pairing requests, and storing the tentative pairs in a pairing information storage device included in the pairing management device as a tentative pair group containing a communication terminal identifier and a data terminal identifier,

a pair confirmation data storage means which stores a plurality of pieces of pair confirmation data in advance, the pair confirmation data corresponding on one-on-one basis to the communication terminals and the data terminals forming the tentative pairs; and

confirmation data control means for allotting and transmitting to the communication terminals and the data terminals, pair confirmation data which corresponds on one-on-one basis to the communication terminals and the data terminals forming the tentative pairs from the plurality of pieces of the pair confirmation data stored in the pair confirmation data storage means;

the input-output modules of both the communication terminals and the data terminals forming the tentative pairs output the pair confirmation data, respectively, to confirm that the communication terminal and the data terminal of different owners are not paired;

the pairing request means of at least either the communication terminals or the data terminals forming the tentative pairs comprise transmission means for transmitting pair alteration data corresponding to the pair confirmation data to the pairing management device; and

when the pairing control means in the pairing management device receives the pair alteration data from the communication terminals or the data terminals forming the tentative pairs, the tentative pairs are updated to final pairs.

27. A pairing management device which enables cooperation of communication terminals with data terminals on one-on-one basis to form pairs in a network system in which a plurality of communication terminals, a plurality of data terminals, and at least one pairing management device are connected mutually, and enables sharing of a voice communication and data via the network system between the pairs, the pairing management device comprising:

pairing control means for receiving pairing requests from the communication terminals and the data terminals, generating tentative pairs from the communication terminals and the data terminals which transmitted the pairing requests, and storing the tentative pairs in a pairing information storage device included in the pairing management device as a tentative pair group containing a communication terminal identifier and a data terminal identifier;

a pair confirmation data storage means which stores a plurality of pieces of pair confirmation data in advance, the pair confirmation data corresponding on one-on-one basis to the communication terminals and the data terminals forming the tentative pairs; and

pair confirmation data control means for allotting and transmitting to the communication terminals and the data terminals, pair confirmation data which corresponds on one-on-one basis to the communication terminals and the data terminals forming the tentative pairs from the plurality of pieces of the pair confirmation data stored in the pair confirmation data storage means, wherein

when the pairing control means receives pair alteration data from the communication terminals or the data terminals forming the tentative pairs, the tentative pairs are updated to final pairs,

wherein the pair confirmation data confirms that the communication terminal and the data terminal of different owners are not paired.