Communication apparatus

• US 8,341,701 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2005
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ayaki, Yasushi, Iitsuka, Hiroyuki, Usuki, Naoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Popham, Jeffrey D
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRACIA, GARY S
• Application Number:
  US11/662,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20080072046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,667 Days
• Field of Search: 726/3, 726/4, 726/5, 726/6, 713/168, 713/171, 713/178
• US Class Current: 726/3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0864 Round trip delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/283 in response to processing delays, e.g. caused by jitter or round trip time [RTT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3271 using challenge-response
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

The conventional data transmitting/receiving system has problems: that a correct measurement cannot be performed because a measurement result is an addition of a verification processing time and a transmission time; that an authentication processing which is necessary for a transmission time measurement processing needs to be separately required; and that an unnecessary key exchange processing is executed.

The transmission apparatus (a) shares authentication information with a request source which requests for transmission of content data, (b) transmits, to the request source, a measurement request generated using the authentication information, (c) receives, from the request source, a measurement response generated using the authentication information by the request source, as a response to the measurement request, (d) measures the period of time from the transmission of the measurement request to the reception of the measurement response, as a round trip time, (e) transmits, to the request source, a measurement preparation request for a preparation which is necessary for generating the measurement response, before the transmission of the measurement request, and (f) determines that the request source is an eligible device as the transmission destination of the content data, after the measurement of the round trip time, in the case where it is confirmed that the round trip time is less than or equal to a reference value, the measurement response is verified as a correct response, and the measurement request is verified as a correct request by the request source.

Claims

1. A communication method for controlling communication between a communication apparatus as a request source which transmits a request for transmission of content data and a communication apparatus as a request destination which responds to the request for transmission of content data, the method comprising steps of:

sharing authentication information between the request destination and the request source so that the request destination and the request source store the authentication information, respectively;

transmitting a measurement preparation request from the request destination to the request source, and generating, by the request destination, first pre-measurement information by using the authentication information stored in the request destination;

upon receiving the measurement preparation request by the request source, transmitting a measurement preparation response from the request source to the request destination, and generating, by the request source, second pre-measurement information by using the authentication information stored in the request source;

after the steps of transmitting a measurement preparation request and transmitting a measurement preparation response, transmitting a measurement request from the request destination to the request source, the measurement request including first data created based on the first pre-measurement information, the first data being different from the first pre-measurement information;

upon receiving the measurement request by the request source, transmitting a measurement response from the request source to the request destination, the measurement response including second data created based on the second pre-measurement information, the second data being different from the second pre-measurement information;

measuring a period of time from the transmission of the measurement request to the reception of the measurement response, as a round trip time;

determining, by the request destination, whether the round trip time is less than or equal to a reference value;

upon determining that the round trip time is less than or equal to the reference value, determining, by the request destination, whether the second data received from the request source is valid based on the first pre-measurement information;

sending a verification request from the request destination to the request source, when the second data is valid;

upon receiving the verification request, determining, by the request source, whether the first data received from the request destination is valid based on the second pre-measurement information;

sending a verification result from the request source to the request destination, when the first data is valid;

upon receiving the verification result, determining, by the request destination, that the request source is an eligible device as a transmission destination of the content data; and

upon determining that the request source is an eligible device as a transmission destination, registering, by the request destination, device identification information for identifying the request source in the request destination, wherein;

the first data is a portion of the first pre-measurement information, and is also a portion of the second pre-measurement information, and the second data is a portion of the second pre-measurement information, and is also a portion of the first pre-measurement information, and

the measurement preparation request and the measurement preparation response are not used in measuring the round trip time.

2. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein:

the content data is encrypted, and

the method further comprises steps of;

before transmitting the measurement request to the request source, confirming, by the request destination, whether device identification information of the request source has been registered; and

in the case where it is confirmed that the device identification information of the request source has been registered, exchanging a key used for decrypting the encrypted content data without measuring the round trip time.

3. The communication method according to claim 2, wherein:

the key is encrypted by using the authentication information which was previously used for generating the first pre-measurement information and the second pre-measurement information.

4. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein

when the second data is equal to a predetermined portion of the first pre-measurement information, the second data is determined to be valid by the request destination, and

when the first data is equal to a predetermined portion of the second pre-measurement information, the first data is determined to be valid by the request source.

16. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an authentication unit configured to share the authentication information with the request destination, wherein;

the measurement preparation request receiving unit is configured to generate the second pre-measurement information.

17. The communication apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a measurement start determination unit configured to determine whether or not measuring the round trip time is started;

a measurement start request transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the request destination, a measurement start request for starting the measurement of the round trip time, in the case where the measurement of the round trip time is started; and

a measurement start response receiving unit configured to receive, from the request destination, a measurement start response as a response to the measurement start request,

wherein the authentication unit is configured to share the authentication information with the request destination, after the reception of the measurement start response from the request destination.

18. The communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

the measurement start determination unit is configured to determine whether or not the content data has already been received, and

the measurement start request transmitting unit is configured to transmit the measurement start request to the request destination, in the case where the content data has already been received.

19. The communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

the measurement start determination unit is configured to determine whether or not the round trip time has been measured during a period of time from when the authentication occurs to when the key exchange occurs, and

the measurement start request transmitting unit is configured to transmit the measurement start request to the request destination after the key exchange, in the case where the round trip time has not been measured.

20. The communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:

the content data is encrypted, and

the communication apparatus further comprises a key exchange unit configured to exchange a key used for decrypting the encrypted content data, and

in the case where the measurement request receiving unit has not received the measurement request after the communication apparatus requested for transmission of the content data, the key exchange unit exchanges the key without the measurement response transmitting unit transmitting the measurement response.

21. The communication apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:

the key is encrypted by the authentication information which was previously used for generating the first pre-measurement information and the second pre-measurement information.

5. A communication apparatus as a request destination configured to respond to a request for transmission of content data from a request source, the communication apparatus comprising:

a transmission time measurement processing unit including;

a measurement request transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the request source, a measurement request which includes first data created based on first pre-measurement information generated by using authentication information stored in the request destination, the first data being different from the first pre-measurement information;

a measurement response receiving unit configured to receive, from the request source, a measurement response which includes second data created based on second pre-measurement information, the second pre-measurement information being generated by using authentication information stored in the request source, the authentication information stored in the request source being the same as the authentication information stored in the communication apparatus, the second data being different from the second pre-measurement information;

a round trip time measurement unit configured to measure a period of time from the transmission of the measurement request to the reception of the measurement response, as a round trip time;

a determination unit configured to;

determine whether the round trip time is less than or equal to a reference value,

upon determining that the round trip time is less than or equal to the reference value, determine whether the second data received from the request source is valid based on the first pre-measurement information,

upon determining that the second data is valid, send a verification request to the request source to request whether or not the first data transmitted from the communication apparatus is valid based on the second pre-measurement information,

in response to sending the verification request, receive a verification result, from the request source, verifying that the first data is valid, and

upon receiving the verification result, determine that the request source is an eligible device as a transmission destination of the content data;

a measurement preparation request transmitting unit configured to transmit a measurement preparation request to the request source, before the measurement request transmitting unit transmits the measurement request; and

a measurement preparation response receiving unit configured to receive a measurement preparation response from the request source, before the measurement request transmitting unit transmits the measurement request, wherein;

the first data is a portion of the first pre-measurement information, and is also a portion of the second pre-measurement information, and the second data is a portion of the second pre-measurement information, and is also a portion of the first pre-measurement information, and

the measurement preparation request and the measurement preparation response are not used in measuring the round trip time.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

an authentication unit configured to share the authentication information with the request source; and

a registration unit configured to, when the request source is determined as the eligible device, register device identification information for identifying the request source, wherein;

the measurement preparation request transmitting unit is configured to generate the first pre-measurement information.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

the content data is encrypted, and

the communication apparatus further comprises;

a registration confirmation unit configured to confirm, before the measurement request transmitting unit transmits the measurement request to the request source, whether the device identification information of the request source has been registered; and

a key exchange unit configured to exchange a key used for decrypting the encrypted content data,

in the case where it is confirmed by the registration confirmation unit that the device identification information of the request source has been registered, the key exchange unit exchanges the key without the round trip time measurement unit measuring the round trip time.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the key is encrypted by the authentication information which was previously used for generating the first pre-measurement information and the second pre-measurement information.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the authentication information includes a flag and certification information for the flag, the flag specifying whether or not the request source has a function of measuring a round trip time,

the apparatus further comprising;

a measurement function determination unit configured to determine whether or not the request source has the function of measuring a round trip time, based on the flag,

the measurement preparation request transmitting unit is configured to transmit the measurement preparation request in the case where it is determined that the request source has the function of measuring a round trip time, and not to transmit the measurement preparation request in the case where it is determined that the request source does not have the function of measuring a round trip time.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a registration canceling unit configured to cancel registration of the device identification information when a registration effective period set in the device identification information expires.

11. The communication apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a measurement start determination unit configured to determine whether or not measuring the round trip time is started, based on a remaining time until the registration of the device identification information is cancelled;

a measurement start request transmitting unit configured to transmit a measurement start request to the request source, in the case where the remaining time is less than or equal to a predetermined time; and

a measurement start response receiving unit configured to receive, from the request source, a measurement start response as a response to the measurement start request,

wherein the authentication unit is configured to share the authentication information with the request source, after the reception of the measurement start response from the request source.

12. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a measurement start determination unit configured to determine whether or not measuring the round trip time is started;

a measurement start request transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the request source, a measurement start request which notifies a start of measuring the round trip time, in the case where the measurement of the round trip time is started; and

a measurement start response receiving unit configured to receive, from the request source, a measurement start response as a response to the measurement start request,

wherein the authentication unit is configured to share the authentication information with the request source, after the reception of the measurement start response from the request source.

13. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a measurement start request receiving unit configured to receive, from the request source, a measurement start request for starting a measurement of the round trip time; and

a measurement start response transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the request source, a measurement start response as a response to the measurement start request,

wherein the authentication unit is configured to share the authentication information with the request source after the transmission of the measurement start response to the request source.

14. The communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

the first data is a portion of the first pre-measurement information, and the second data is a portion of the second pre-measurement information, and

the determination unit is configured to determine that the second data is valid when the second data is equal to a predetermined portion of the first pre-measurement information.

15. A communication apparatus configured to transmit a request for transmission of content data to a request destination, the request destination responding to the request for the transmission of the content data, the communication apparatus comprising:

a transmission time measurement processing unit including;

a measurement request receiving unit configured to receive, from the request destination, a measurement request which includes first data created based on first pre-measurement information generated by using authentication information stored in the request destination, the first data being different from the first pre-measurement information;

a measurement response transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the request destination, a measurement response which includes second data created based on the second pre-measurement information generated by using authentication information stored in the request source, the authentication information stored in the request source being the same as the authentication information stored in the request destination, the second data being different from the second pre-measurement information;

a determination unit configured to;

after transmitting the measurement response, receive a verification request, from the request destination,

upon receiving the verification request, determine whether or not the first data is valid based on the second pre-measurement information, and

upon determining that the first data is valid, send a verification result, to the request destination; and

a measurement preparation request receiving unit configured to receive a measurement preparation request from the request destination, before the measurement request receiving unit receives the measurement request; and

a measurement preparation response transmitting unit configured to transmit a measurement preparation response to the request destination, before the measurement request receiving unit receives the measurement request, wherein;

the first data is a portion of the first pre-measurement information, and is also a portion of the second pre-measurement information, and the second data is a portion of the second pre-measurement information, and is also a portion of the first pre-measurement information, and

the measurement preparation request and the measurement preparation response are not used in measuring the round trip time.

22. The communication apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:

the first data is a portion of the first pre-measurement information, and the second data is a portion of the second pre-measurement information, and

a determination unit configured to determine the first data is valid when the first data is equal to a predetermined portion of the second pre-measurement information.

23. The communication apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

a measurement start request receiving unit configured to receive, from the request destination, a measurement start request which notifies to start measuring the round trip time; and

a measurement start response transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the request destination, a measurement start response as a response to the measurement start request,

wherein the authentication unit is configured to share the authentication information with the request destination after the transmission of the measurement start response to the request destination.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium on which a communication program for controlling a communication apparatus as a request destination which responds to a request for transmission of content data is recorded, said program, when executed, causing the communication apparatus to execute steps of:

transmitting a measurement preparation request to the request source;

receiving a measurement preparation response from the request source;

transmitting, to the request source, a measurement request which includes first data created based on first pre-measurement information, the first pre-measurement information being generated by using authentication information stored in the request destination, the first data being different from the first pre-measurement information;

in response to the transmitting a measurement request, receiving, from the request source, a measurement response which includes second data created based on second pre-measurement information, the second pre-measurement information being generated by using authentication information stored in the request source, the authentication information stored in the request source being the same as the authentication information stored in the request destination, the second data being different from the second pre-measurement information;

measuring a period of time from the transmission of the measurement request to the reception of the measurement response, as a round trip time;

determining whether the round trip time is less than or equal to a reference value;

upon determining that the round trip time is less than or equal to the reference value, determining whether the second data is valid based on the first pre-measurement information;

sending a verification request to the request source when the second data is valid;

in response to sending the verification request, receiving a verification result, from the request source, verifying that the first data transmitted to the request source is valid; and

upon receiving the verification result, determining that the request source is an eligible device as a transmission destination of the content data, wherein;

the first data is a portion of the first pre-measurement information, and is also a portion of the second pre-measurement information, and the second data is a portion of the second pre-measurement information, and is also a portion of the first pre-measurement information, and

the measurement preparation request and the measurement preparation response are not used in measuring the round trip time.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium on which a communication program for controlling a communication apparatus as a request source which transmits a request for transmission of content data to a request destination is recorded, said program, when executed, causing the communication apparatus to execute steps of:

receiving a measurement preparation request from the request destination;

transmitting a measurement preparation response to the request destination;

receiving, from the request destination, a measurement request which includes first data created based on first pre-measurement information, the first pre-measurement information being generated by using authentication information stored in the request destination;

the first data being different from the first pre-measurement information

transmitting, to the request destination, a measurement response which includes second data created based on the second pre-measurement information, the second pre-measurement information being generated by using authentication information stored in the request source, the authentication information stored in the request source being the same as the authentication information stored in the request destination, the second data being different from the second pre-measurement information;

in response to transmitting the measurement response, receiving a verification request, from the request destination;

upon receiving the verification request, determining whether or not the first data transmitted from the request destination is valid based on the second pre-measurement information; and

sending a verification result, to the request destination, when the first data is valid, wherein;

the first data is a portion of the first pre-measurement information, and is also a portion of the second pre-measurement information, and the second data is a portion of the second pre-measurement information, and is also a portion of the first pre-measurement information, and

the measurement preparation request and the measurement preparation response are not used in measuring a round trip time.

26. A communication method for controlling communication between a communication apparatus as a request source which transmits a request for transmission of content data and a communication apparatus as a request destination which responds to the request for transmission of content data, the method comprising steps of:

transmitting a measurement preparation request to the request source;

receiving a measurement preparation request by the request source;

transmitting a measurement preparation response to the request destination;

receiving a measurement preparation response by the request destination;

transmitting a measurement request from the request destination to the request source, the measurement request including first data created based on first pre-measurement information, the first pre-measurement information being generated by using authentication information stored in the request destination, the first data being different from the first pre-measurement information;

upon receiving the measurement request, transmitting a measurement response from the request source to the request destination, the measurement response including second data created based on second pre-measurement information, the second pre-measurement information being generated by using the authentication information stored in the request source, the second data being different from the second pre-measurement information;

measuring a period of time from the transmission of the measurement request to the reception of the measurement response, as a round trip time;

determining, by the request destination, whether the round trip time is less than or equal to a reference value;

after determining that the round trip time is less than or equal to the reference value, sending a verification request from the request destination to the request source;

upon receiving the verification request, determining, by the request source, whether the first data transmitted from the request destination is valid based on the second pre-measurement information;

sending a verification result from the request source to the request destination, when the first data is valid; and

upon receiving the verification result, determining, by the request destination, that the request source is an eligible device as a transmission destination of the content data, wherein;

the first data is a portion of the first pre-measurement information, and is also a portion of the second pre-measurement information, and the second data is a portion of the second pre-measurement information, and is also a portion of the first pre-measurement information, and

the measurement preparation request and the measurement preparation response are not used in measuring the round trip time.

27. The communication method according to claim 26, wherein:

the content data is encrypted, and

the method further comprises steps of;

confirming, by the request destination, before transmitting the measurement request to the request source, whether device identification information of the request source has been registered; and

in the case where it is confirmed that the device identification information of the request source has been registered, exchanging a key used for decrypting the encrypted content data without measuring the round trip time.

28. The communication method according to claim 27, wherein:

the key is encrypted by the authentication information which was previously used for generating the first pre-measurement information and the second pre-measurement information.

29. The communication method according to claim 26,

wherein the first data is a portion of the first pre-measurement information, and the second data is a portion of the second pre-measurement information,

when the second data is equal to a predetermined portion of the first pre-measurement information, the second data is determined as a valid data by the request destination.

30. The communication method according to claim 26, further comprising,

after determining that the round trip time is less than or equal to the reference value and before sending a verification request from the request destination to the request source,

a step of determining, by the request destination, whether the second data received from the request source is valid based on the first pre-measurement information, wherein

the verification request is sent to the request source when it is determined that the second data is valid.