Communication system and method, information processing apparatus and method, and information processing terminal and method

• US 20040242250A1
• Filed: 04/14/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sasai, Takashi, Kakuda, Hiroshi, Higo, Masamitsu
• Granted Patent: US 7,395,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/502
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• 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 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/002 Mutual synchronization
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

The present invention relates to a communication system and a method thereof, an information processing apparatus and a method thereof, an information processing terminal and a method thereof, which can start wireless communication easily and promptly. When an electromagnetic wave radiated from a reader/writer of a PDA 2 is received in a reader/writer of a personal computer 1, the personal computer 1 notifies the PDA 2 of device information stored therein. The PDA 2 establishes synchronization for Bluetooth communication with the personal computer 1 in accordance with a Bluetooth address contained in the device information and selects a service in accordance with a service record contained in the device information to establish communication via Bluetooth. The present invention can be applied to various information processing apparatuses such as a personal computer or a PDA.

Claims

1-24. -24. (Cancelled).

25. An information processing apparatus carrying out a wireless communication with the other information processing apparatus, said information processing apparatus characterized by having:

acquisition means which acquires device information of said other information processing apparatus containing at least identification information and service attribute information indicating a providable service of said other information processing apparatus;

determination means which determines whether or not to perform an establishing process of the wireless communication on the basis of said service attribute information of said other information processing apparatus acquired by said acquisition means;

selection means which selects a service to perform on the basis of said service attribute information of said other information processing apparatus acquired by said acquisition means;

synchronization establishing means which establishes synchronization of said wireless communication with said other information processing apparatus on the basis of said identification information; and

communication establishing means which establishes the wireless communication the synchronization of which has been established by said synchronizing establishment means.

26. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 25, characterized in that:

said acquisition means acquires said device information which further includes key information used in authentication for carrying out said wireless communication.

27. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 25, characterized in that:

said acquisition means acquires said device information which further includes number information representing the number of devices with which said other information processing apparatus can communicate simultaneously utilizing said wireless communication; and

said determination means further determines whether or not to perform the establishing process on the basis of said number information.

28. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 25, characterized in that:

said acquisition means acquires said device information which further includes time period information representing a time period during which said other information processing apparatus can communicate utilizing said wireless communication; and

said determination means further determines whether or not to perform the establishing process on the basis of said time period information.

29. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 25, characterized in that:

said acquisition means acquires said device information which further includes type information representing a type of a device with which said other information processing apparatus can communicate utilizing said wireless communication; and

said determination means further determines whether or not to perform the establishing process on the basis of said type information.

30. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 25, characterized by further including:

activation means which activates a function of said wireless communication when said determination means determines to perform the establishing process of the wireless communication.

36. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 25, characterized by further including:

said acquisition means acquires said device information via any one of a communication via an elecytromagnetic wave, an infrared data communication and a Bluetooth communication specifying a communication destination by a device search in a reduced power mode.

31. An information processing method of an information processing apparatus carrying out a wireless communication with the other information processing apparatus, said information processing method characterized by including:

an acquiring step of acquiring device information of said other information processing apparatus containing at least identification information and service attribute information indicating a providable service of said other information processing apparatus;

a determining step of determining whether or not to perform an establishing process of the wireless communication on the basis of said service attribute information of said other information processing apparatus acquired by a process of said acquiring step;

a selecting step of selecting a service to perform on the basis of said service attribute information of said other information processing apparatus acquired by a process of said acquiring step;

a synchronization establishing step of establishing synchronization of said wireless communication with said other information processing apparatus on the basis of said identification information; and

a communication establishing step of establishing the wireless communication the synchronization of which has been established by a process of said synchronizing establishing step.

37. The information processing method as claimed in claim 31, characterized in that:

said acquiring step acquires said device information via any one of a communication via an electromagnetic wave, an infrared data communication and a Bluetooth communication specifying a communication destination by a device search in a reduced power mode.

32. A program making a computer execute processing for carrying out a wireless communication with the other information processing apparatus, said program characterized by including:

an acquiring step of acquiring device information of said other information processing apparatus containing at least identification information and service attribute information indicating a providable service of said other information processing apparatus;

a determining step of determining whether or not to perform an establishing process of the wireless communication on the basis of said service attribute information of said other information processing apparatus acquired by a process of said acquiring step;

a selecting step of selecting a service to perform on the basis of said service attribute information of said other information processing apparatus acquired by a process of said acquiring step;

a synchronization establishing step of establishing synchronization of said wireless communication with said other information processing apparatus on the basis of said identification information; and

a communication establishing step of establishing the wireless communication the synchronization of which has been established by a process of said synchronizing establishing step.

33. An information processing apparatus characterized by having:

acquisition means which acquires device information including at least identification information of a predetermined information processing apparatus and service attribute information regarding a service providable by said information processing apparatus, which is stored in a wireless communication body which is driven depending on an induced electric power generated in accordance with receiving an electromagnetic wave;

determination means which determines whether or not to perform an establishing process of the wireless communication on the basis of said service attribute information of said information processing apparatus acquired by said acquisition means;

selection means which selects a service to perform on the basis of said service attribute information of said information processing apparatus acquired by said acquisition means;

synchronization establishing means which establishes synchronization of said wireless communication with said information processing apparatus on the basis of said identification information; and

communication establishing means which establishes the wireless communication the synchronization of which has been established by said synchronizing establishment means.

34. An information processing method, characterized by including:

an acquiring step of acquiring device information including at least identification information of a predetermined information processing apparatus and service attribute information regarding a service providable by said information processing apparatus, which is stored in a wireless communication body which is driven depending on an induced electric power generated in accordance with receiving an electromagnetic wave;

a determining step of determining whether or not to perform an establishing process of the wireless communication on the basis of said service attribute information of said information processing apparatus acquired by a process of said acquiring step;

a selecting step of selecting a service to perform on the basis of said service attribute information of said information processing apparatus acquired by a process of said acquiring step;

a synchronization establishing step of establishing synchronization of said wireless communication with said information processing apparatus on the basis of said identification information; and

a communication establishing step of establishing the wireless communication the synchronization of which has been established by a process of said synchronizing establishing step.

35. A program making a computer carry out:

an acquiring step of acquiring device information including at least identification information of a predetermined information processing apparatus and service attribute information regarding a service providable by said information processing apparatus, which is stored in a wireless communication body which is driven depending on an induced electric power generated in accordance with receiving an electromagnetic wave;

a determining step of determining whether or not to perform an establishing process of the wireless communication on the basis of said service attribute information of said information processing apparatus acquired by a process of said acquiring step;

a selecting step of selecting a service to perform on the basis of said service attribute information of said information processing apparatus acquired by a process of said acquiring step;

a synchronization establishing step of establishing synchronization of said wireless communication with said information processing apparatus on the basis of said identification information;

a communication establishing step of establishing the wireless communication the synchronization of which has been established by a process of said synchronizing establishing step.