Communication apparatus and communication method

• US 9,655,150 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2013
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sakai, Tatsuhiko, Fujii, Kenichi, Watanabe, Mitsuhiro, Moritomo, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Vostal, O. C.
• Application Number:
  US14/032,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20140023061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 709223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• 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

In a communication apparatus on a network where communication apparatuses perform direct communication with each other, a network management apparatus for managing the network based on message information transmitted and received on the network is determined. When the communication apparatus itself is determined as the network management apparatus, the apparatus collects information indicating device capabilities from other communication apparatuses. On the other hand, the communication apparatus receives information indicating device capabilities from another communication apparatus when the other communication apparatus is determined as the network management apparatus.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory including a second value and instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

obtain a first value which another communication apparatus has, wherein the first value is used to determine a provider apparatus which provides a communication parameter including an identifier of a wireless network in accordance with IEEE802.11 series;

compare the first value with the second value, wherein the second value is used to determine the provider apparatus;

determine the provider apparatus among the communication apparatus and said another communication apparatus in a case where the first value is not identical with the second value;

use a third value with a fourth value in order to determine the provider apparatus among the communication apparatus and said another communication apparatus in a case where the provider apparatus is not determined through comparison of the first value with the second value because the first value is identical with the second value, wherein the third value is obtained from said another communication apparatus, said another communication apparatus has the third value, the communication apparatus has the fourth value, and the third value and the fourth value are used to determine the provider apparatus;

provide the communication parameter to said another apparatus by wireless communication in a case where the communication apparatus is determined to be the provider apparatus through determination based on the third value and the fourth value; and

receive the communication parameter from said another apparatus by wireless communication in a case where the communication apparatus is determined not to be the provider apparatus through determination based on the third value and the fourth value;

wherein in a case where the provider apparatus is determined through comparison of the first value with the second value, determination based on the third value and the fourth value is not performed.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instructions caused the communication apparatus to obtain the first value and the third value from said another communication apparatus by wireless communication.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus is a digital camera.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication parameter further includes at least one of information of an encryption method or an authentication method which are used in the wireless network.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter configured to provide the communication parameter to said another apparatus by wireless communication, and to form a network with said another apparatus using the communication parameter.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first value indicates what role the communication apparatus intends to play.

7. A control method of a communication apparatus which comprises a processor and a memory that has a second value, the method comprising:

obtaining a first value which another communication apparatus has, wherein the first value is used to determine a provider apparatus which provides a communication parameter including an identifier of a wireless network in accordance with IEEE802.11 series;

comparing the first value with the second value, wherein the second value is used to determine the provider apparatus;

determining the provider apparatus among the communication apparatus and said another communication apparatus in a case where the first value is not identical with the second value;

using a third value with a fourth value in order to determine the provider apparatus among the communication apparatus and said another communication apparatus in a case where the provider apparatus is not determined through comparison of the first value and the second value because the first value is identical with the second value, wherein the third value is obtained from said another communication apparatus, said another communication apparatus has the third value, the communication apparatus has the fourth value, and the third value and the fourth value are used to determine the provider apparatus;

providing the communication parameter from the communication apparatus to said another apparatus by wireless communication in a case where the communication apparatus is determined to be the provider apparatus through determination based on the third value and the fourth value; and

receiving the communication parameter from said another apparatus by wireless communication in a case where the communication apparatus is determined not to be the provider apparatus through determination based on the third value and the fourth value;

wherein in a case where the provider apparatus is determined through comparison of the first value and the second value, determining based on the third value and the fourth value is not performed.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program thereon, wherein the program instructs a computer of a communication apparatus which comprises a memory that has a second value to:

obtain a first value which another communication apparatus has, wherein the first value is used to determine a provider apparatus which provides a communication parameter including an identifier of a wireless network in accordance with IEEE802.11 series;

compare the first value with the second value, wherein the second value is used to determine the provider apparatus;

determine the provider apparatus among the communication apparatus and said another communication apparatus in a case where the first value is not identical with the second value;

use a third value with a fourth value in order to determine the provider apparatus among the communication apparatus and said another communication apparatus in a case where the provider apparatus is not determined through comparison of the first value and the second value because the first value is identical with the second value, wherein the third value is obtained from said another communication apparatus, said another communication apparatus has the third value, the communication apparatus has the fourth value, and the third value and the fourth value are used to determine the provider apparatus;

provide the communication parameter to said another apparatus by wireless communication in a case where the communication apparatus is determined to be the provider apparatus through determination based on the third value and the fourth value; and

receive the communication parameter from said another apparatus by wireless communication in a case where the communication apparatus is determined not to be the provider apparatus through determination based on the third value and the fourth value;

wherein in a case where the provider apparatus is determined through comparison of the first value and the second value, determination based on the third value and the fourth value is not performed.