Service providing apparatus, service providing program and service providing method

• US 20040218574A1
• Filed: 02/12/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Sugikawa, Akihiko, Tanaka, Shingo, Sata, Yutaka
• Granted Patent: US 7,352,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 using geofenced areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A service providing apparatus has a first communication unit, a connection information generator, an existence detector, an existence confirmation request receiver, a connection information transmitter, an authentication unit, and a service providing unit. The second communication unit performs wireless communication with the service receiver located in a second wireless area narrower than a first wireless area. The existence confirmation request receiver receives the existence confirmation request signal transmitted by the service receiver through the second communication unit when the service receiver detects to be within a prescribed distance. The service providing unit connects with the service receiver authenticated by the authentication unit, and provides services to the service receiver through the first communication unit.

Claims

1. A service providing apparatus, comprising:

a first communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with a service receiver located within a first wireless area;

a second communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with said service receiver located within a second wireless area narrower than said first wireless area;

a connection information generator which generates connection information necessary to the communication with said service receiver when the communication is performed through said first communication unit;

an existence detector which detects whether or not said service receiver locates within a prescribed distance;

an existence confirmation request receiver which receives an existence confirmation request signal transmitted by said service receiver, through said second communication unit when detected that said service receiver is located within the prescribed distance;

a connection information transmitter which transmits the connection information generated by said connection information generator to said service receiver through said second communication unit as a reply of said existence confirmation request signal;

an authentication unit configured to authenticate said service receiver which requested connection based on the transmitted connection information, through said first communication unit; and

a service providing unit configured to connect with said service receiver authenticated by said authentication unit and provide the services to said service receiver through said first communication unit.

2. The service providing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first message generator which generates a message notifying that the existence confirmation request signal from said service receiver can be received.

3. The service providing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second message generator which generates a message notifying that the connection request from said service receiver can be received.

4. The service providing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a third message generator which generates a message notifying that connection processing with said service receiver has been completed.

5. The service providing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a measurement unit configured to measure the number of said service receivers which has performed the connection request within a prescribed time;

and

an authentication determination unit configured to determine whether or not to perform authentication procedure by authentication unit in accordance with the number measured by said measurement unit.

6. The service providing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fourth message generator which generates a message notifying that the number of said service receivers is two or more.

7. The service providing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a measurement unit configured to measure the number of said service receivers which perform connection request within a prescribed time;

and

an individual authentication unit configured to authenticate said service receivers which has performed the connection request, if the number of said service receivers measured by said measurement unit is two or more, before said authentication unit performs the authentication.

8. The service providing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a distance detector which determines whether or not a distance from said service receiver is within a prescribed length,

wherein said connection information transmitter transmits the connection information to said service receiver if said distance detector determines to be within the prescribed length.

9. The service providing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a distance detector which determines whether or not a distance from said service receiver is within a prescribed length, after the connection request is received from said service receiver through said first communication unit, wherein said authentication unit performs the authentication procedure if said distance detector determines to be within the prescribed length.

10. The service providing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said distance detector detects the distance from said service receiver by measuring a radio field intensity of a radio wave transmitted from said service receiver.

11. The service providing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said distance detector detects the distance from said service receiver by measuring a radio wave intensity of a radio wave transmitted from said service receiver.

12. A service providing program which makes a computer operate the steps of comprising:

performing a first wireless communication with a service receiver located within a first wireless area;

performing a second wireless communication with said service receiver located within a second wireless area narrower than said first wireless area;

generating connection information necessary to communication with said service receiver when performing said first wireless communication;

detecting whether or not said service receiver locates within a prescribed distance;

receiving an existence confirmation request signal transmitted from said service receiver through said second wireless communication when it is detected that said service receiver locates within the prescribed distance;

transmitting the connection information to said service receiver through said second wireless communication as a reply of said existence confirmation request signal;

authenticating said service receiver which has requested connection based on the transmitted connection information, through said first wireless communication; and

providing services to the authenticated service receiver through said first wireless communication.

13. The service providing program according to claim 12, which makes a computer operate the step of further comprising:

generating a first message notifying that an existence confirmation request signal from said service receiver can be received.

14. The service providing program according to claim 12, which makes a computer operate the step of further comprising:

generating a second message notifying that connection request from said service receiver can be received.

15. The service providing program according to claim 12, which makes a computer operate the step of further comprising:

generating a third message notifying that connection processing with said service receiver has been completed.

16. The service providing program according to claim 12, which makes a computer operate the step of further comprising:

measuring the number of said service receivers which have performed connection request within a prescribed time; and

determining whether or not to perform authentication procedure in accordance with the measured number.

17. The service providing program according to claim 12, which makes a computer operate the step of further comprising:

generating a four message notifying that the number of said service receiver measured by said measuring unit is two or more.

18. The service providing program according to claim 12, which makes a computer operate the step of further comprising:

measuring the number of said service receivers which have performed connection request within a prescribed time; and

authenticating said service receivers which have performed connection request when the number of said service receivers which performed connection request within a prescribed time is two or more, before performing the authentication by said authentication unit.

19. The service providing program according to claim 12, which makes a computer operate the step of further comprising:

determining whether or not a distance from said service receiver is within a prescribed length, before said connection information transmitter transmits the connection information,

wherein the connection information is transmitted to said service receiver when determined to be within the prescribed length.

20. The service providing program according to claim 12, which makes a computer operate the step of further comprising:

determining whether or not a distance from said service receiver is within a prescribed length,

wherein authentication procedure is performed when determined to be within said prescribed length.

21. A service providing method, comprising:

performing a first wireless communication with a service receiver located within a first wireless area;

performing a second wireless communication with said service receiver located within a second wireless area narrower than said first wireless area;

generating connection information necessary to communication with said service receiver when performing said first wireless communication;

detecting whether or not said service receiver locates within a prescribed distance;

receiving an existence confirmation request signal transmitted from said service receiver through said second wireless communication when it is detected that said service receiver locates within the prescribed distance;

transmitting the connection information to said service receiver through said second wireless communication as a reply of said existence confirmation request signal;

authenticating said service receiver which has requested connection based on the transmitted connection information, through said first wireless communication; and

providing services to the authenticated service receiver through said first wireless communication.