Near field communication using available protocol information

• US 8,996,731 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2012
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takayama, Yoshihisa, Kusakabe, Susumu
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Titus
• Application Number:
  US13/527,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20120258662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 710/1
• US Class Current: 710/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• 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

A communication system, a communication apparatus, a communication method, and a program for acquiring the advantage of a plurality of communication protocols is provided. A random number and a first communication information including first identification information of a communication apparatus is sent to another communication apparatus by using near field communication. Second communication information is received by the communication apparatus from the other communication apparatus by using near field communication. The second communication information includes second identification information of the other communication apparatus necessary to a second communication. The second communication is performed between the communication apparatus and the other communication apparatus by using the second communication information received by using the near field communication.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

a first communication unit configured to send a random number and first communication information including first identification information of the communication apparatus to a second communication apparatus, and to receive second communication information from the second communication apparatus by using near field communication, the second communication information including second identification information of the second communication apparatus necessary to a second communication and available protocol information indicative of a plurality of communication protocols which are available by the second communication apparatus, wherein the first communication unit is configured to (i) detect whether a RF field is present during a waiting phase that lasts for a first period of time and (ii) output an electromagnetic wave after the waiting phase ends, during a second period of time that occurs as a next period of time after the first period of time, based on no RF field being detected during the waiting phase; and

a second communication unit configured to perform the second communication between the communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus by using the second communication information received by the first communication unit.

2. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first communication unit is configured to perform the near field communication with the second communication apparatus when the second communication apparatus is located in a vicinity of the communication apparatus.

3. The communication apparatus of claim 2, wherein a transmission rate of the second communication unit is higher than that of the first communication unit.

4. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second communication corresponds to one of the plurality of communication protocols indicated by the available protocol information received by the first communication unit.

5. The communication apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second communication is a Bluetooth communication.

6. The communication apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second communication is a WLAN communication.

7. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus is configured to specify the second communication apparatus for the second communication according to the second identification information.

8. The communication apparatus of claim 7, wherein the communication apparatus is specified by the second communication apparatus for the second communication according to the first identification information.

19. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of communication protocols indicated by the available protocol information is selected for the second communication.

9. A communication method comprising:

detecting whether a RF field is present during a waiting phase that lasts for a first period of time, and outputting an electromagnetic wave after the waiting phase ends, during a second period of time that occurs as a next period of time after the first period of time, based on no RF field being detected during the waiting phase;

sending a random number and a first communication information including first identification information of a communication apparatus to a second communication apparatus by using near field communication;

receiving second communication information from the second communication apparatus by using near field communication, the second communication information including second identification information of the second communication apparatus necessary to a second communication and available protocol information indicative of a plurality of communication protocols which are available by the second communication apparatus; and

performing the second communication between the communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus by using the second communication information received by using the near field communication.

10. A communication apparatus comprising:

a first communication unit configured to receive a random number and first communication information including first identification information of a second communication apparatus from the second communication apparatus and send second communication information to the second communication apparatus by using near field communication, the second communication information including second identification information of the communication apparatus necessary to a second communication and available protocol information indicative of a plurality of communication protocols which are available by the communication apparatus, wherein the first communication unit is configured to (i) detect whether a RF field is present during a waiting phase that lasts for a first period of time and (ii) output an electromagnetic wave after the waiting phase ends, during a second period of time that occurs as a next period of time after the first period of time, based on no RF field being detected during the waiting phase; and

a second communication unit configured to perform the second communication between the communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus by using the first communication information received by the first communication unit.

11. The communication apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first communication unit is configured to perform the near field communication with the second communication apparatus when the second communication apparatus is located in a vicinity of the communication apparatus.

12. The communication apparatus of claim 11, wherein a transmission rate of the second communication unit is higher than that of the first communication unit.

13. The communication apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second communication corresponds to one of the plurality of communication protocols indicated by the available protocol information sent by the first communication unit.

14. The communication apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second communication is a Bluetooth communication.

15. The communication apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second communication is a WLAN communication.

16. The communication apparatus of claim 13, wherein the communication apparatus is configured to specify the second communication apparatus for the second communication according to the first identification information.

17. The communication apparatus of claim 10, wherein the communication apparatus is specified by the second communication apparatus for the second communication according to the second identification information.

18. A communication method comprising:

detecting whether a RF field is present during a waiting phase that lasts for a first period of time, and outputting an electromagnetic wave after the waiting phase ends, during a second period of time that occurs as a next period of time after the first period of time, based on no RF field being detected during the waiting phase;

receiving a random number and first communication information including first identification information of a first communication apparatus from the first communication apparatus by using near field communication;

sending second communication information to the first communication apparatus by using near field communication, the second communication information including second identification information of a second communication apparatus necessary to a second communication and available protocol information indicative of a plurality of communication protocols which are available by the second communication apparatus; and

performing the second communication between the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus by using the first communication information received by using the near field communication.