Wireless communication systems and wireless communication methods

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for pairing a first electronic device with a second electronic device that can simultaneously reduce user effort and improve security. [Solution] The first control device 10 of the first electronic device 1 transmits an advertisement packet containing passkey information before establishing a connection between the first electronic device 1 and the second electronic device 2. When the second control device 20 of the second electronic device 2 receives the advertisement packet from the first electronic device 1, it obtains the passkey information from the received advertisement packet. After the connection is established, the first control device 10 transmits a passkey input request to the second electronic device 2. When the second control device 20 receives the passkey input request from the first electronic device 1, it transmits the passkey information obtained from the advertisement packet to the first electronic device 1.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless communication system and a wireless communication method.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for pairing a communication device and a mobile terminal device. According to this method, a two-dimensional code including an authentication key is displayed on the display unit of the communication device, the mobile terminal device reads the two-dimensional code via the imaging unit to obtain the authentication key from the two-dimensional code, and the obtained authentication key is transmitted from the mobile terminal device to the communication device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] According to the above method, although the user of the mobile terminal device does not need to perform an input operation of the passkey, it is necessary to perform a number of procedures such as activation of the imaging unit, focusing, and shooting. It still takes a lot of time and effort for the user. In addition, since the two-dimensional code is displayed on the communication device, unauthorized reading by a third party still cannot be sufficiently prevented.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication system and a wireless communication method capable of achieving both reduction of user effort and improvement of security.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present invention provides a wireless communication system for pairing a first electronic device and a second electronic device, characterized in that the first electronic device includes a first control device which transmits an advertisement packet containing passkey information before establishing a connection with the second electronic device and transmits a passkey input request to the second electronic device after the connection is established, and the second control device which, upon receiving the advertisement packet from the first electronic device, obtains the passkey information from the advertisement packet and, upon receiving the passkey input request from the first electronic device, transmits the passkey information obtained from the advertisement packet to the first electronic device.

[0007] According to the system described above, passkey information is attached to an advertisement packet and sent in advance from the first electronic device to the second electronic device. In response to a passkey input request from the first electronic device, the second electronic device sends the pre-acquired passkey information back to the first electronic device. Users of the second electronic device do not need to manually enter the passkey information, reducing user effort. Furthermore, since the passkey information is invisible, security is enhanced.

[0008] The first control device may set the output power of the advertised packet to a first power level that is limited to a level lower than the standard power level.

[0009] According to the above configuration, the communication range is narrowed, and the risk of the first electronic device pairing with the wrong device is reduced.

[0010] The first control device may increase the output power of the advertised packet over time.

[0011] With the above configuration, the communication range expands over time. The first electronic device can establish a connection with devices nearby, reducing the risk of pairing with the wrong device.

[0012] The second electronic device may further include a notification unit that notifies the user that it has received the passkey input request from the first electronic device.

[0013] According to the above configuration, the user of the second electronic device can be notified that a connection has been established between the first and second electronic devices, thereby prompting them to perform the necessary operations for pairing.

[0014] The first control device may transmit the advertisement packet containing the passkey information after the first electronic device has been set to a predetermined mode.

[0015] With the above configuration, security is improved because passkey information is included in the advertised packet when a predetermined mode is set.

[0016] One aspect of the present invention provides a wireless communication method for pairing a first electronic device and a second electronic device, comprising the steps of: transmitting an advertisement packet containing passkey information from the first electronic device before establishing a connection between the first electronic device and the second electronic device; obtaining the passkey information from the advertisement packet in the second electronic device upon receiving the advertisement packet in the second electronic device; transmitting a passkey input request from the first electronic device to the second electronic device after the connection is established; and transmitting the passkey information obtained from the advertisement packet from the second electronic device to the first electronic device in response to the passkey input request.

[0017] According to the above method, passkey information is attached to the advertisement packet and transmitted in advance from the first electronic device to the second electronic device. The second electronic device transmits the pre-acquired passkey information to the first electronic device in response to a passkey input request from the first electronic device. Users of the second electronic device do not need to manually enter the passkey information, reducing user effort. Furthermore, since the passkey information is invisible, security is enhanced. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, a wireless communication system and a wireless communication method capable of achieving both reduction of user effort and improvement of security can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] A block diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the wireless communication system according to the embodiment. [Figure 2A] It is a flowchart showing the processing before establishing the connection between the first electronic device and the second electronic device in the wireless communication method executed by the wireless communication system of FIG. 1. [Figure 2B] It is a flowchart showing the processing after establishing the connection in the same wireless communication method. [Figure 3] It is a flowchart showing the advertisement processing of FIG. 2A. [Figure 4] An explanatory diagram of the advertisement processing of FIG. 3.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding elements throughout the drawings, and duplicate detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, the wireless communication system 100 pairs the first electronic device 1 and the second electronic device 2. "Pairing" refers to exchanging information including an authentication key such as a passkey between electronic devices and registering information about the partner device in each of the two electronic devices.

[0022] The first electronic device 1 and the second electronic device 2 perform wireless communication according to a wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). For this purpose, the first electronic device 1 includes a first wireless communication unit 11. The second electronic device 2 includes a second wireless communication unit 21 that can be wirelessly communicatively connected to the first wireless communication unit 11.

[0023] The first wireless communication unit 11 is a hardware device for wireless communication and has an antenna for transmitting and receiving signals. The first wireless communication unit 11 transmits signals in a frequency band specified by the wireless communication standard (e.g., 2.4 GHz) and at the output power set in the first electronic device 1. The second wireless communication unit 21 is similar.

[0024] Referring to Figure 4, the communication range R of the first wireless communication unit 11 is approximately circular in plan view. The higher the output power P, the larger the radius r of the communication range R. In Figure 4, the communication range of the second wireless communication unit 21 is not shown, but the communication range of the second wireless communication unit 21 is the same as that of the first wireless communication unit 11. If the second electronic device 2 is located within the communication range R of the first wireless communication unit 11, and the first electronic device 1 is located within the communication range of the second wireless communication unit 21, then the first electronic device 1 and the second electronic device 2 can communicate wirelessly with each other. As will be described later, in the first electronic device 1, the output power P of the signal transmitted from the first wireless communication unit 11 is variably set during the transmission of the advertised packet.

[0025] Returning to Figure 1, the first electronic device 1 further comprises an operating unit 12. The operating unit 12 is a hardware device necessary for the first electronic device 1 to perform its function. The second electronic device 2 comprises an operation unit 22 and a notification unit 23. The operation unit 22 is operated by the user to activate the operating unit 12 of the first electronic device 1. The notification unit 23 provides notifications to the user.

[0026] For example, the first electronic device 1 may be a door locking device that locks and unlocks a door, and the second electronic device 2 may be an electronic key carried by the user. The door may be for a vehicle or a house. In this application example, only an electronic key paired with the door locking device can operate the door locking device.

[0027] The door lock device, as the first electronic device 1, may include, as the operating unit 12, a latch mechanism that locks the door to an object to be opened and closed (such as a car body or a house) in a way that allows it to be opened, and a lock mechanism that switches whether or not the latch mechanism can transition from a locked state to an open state.

[0028] The electronic key, as the second electronic device 2, may have, for example, multiple button-type switches as its operating section 22. The electronic key, as the second electronic device 2, may also have an LED (Light-emitting Diode) lamp as its notification section 23.

[0029] The second electronic device 2 may be a portable information terminal such as a smartphone or tablet. In this case, the touch panel display can serve as both the operation unit 22 and the notification unit 23. Furthermore, the portable information terminal, as the second electronic device 2, may have an application installed for locking and unlocking the door lock device so that it can function as an electronic key.

[0030] The first electronic device 1 further comprises a first control device 10 for controlling wireless communication. The second electronic device 2 further comprises a second control device 20 for controlling wireless communication and for controlling the operation of the operation unit 22 and the notification unit 23.

[0031] The first control unit 10 and the second control unit 20 include, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or MPU (Micro Processing Unit) that works in cooperation with software to realize predetermined functions. The first control unit 10 may consist of hardware circuits such as dedicated electronic circuits or reconfigurable electronic circuits designed to realize predetermined functions, or it may consist of various semiconductor integrated circuits. Examples of various semiconductor integrated circuits include, in addition to the CPU and MPU, a microcomputer, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The first control unit 10 and the second control unit 20 include memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), and EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). The memory stores a wireless authentication program that causes the first control unit 10 and the second control unit 20 to execute the wireless communication method according to this embodiment. The memory permanently or temporarily stores information used to execute the wireless authentication program.

[0032] The first control device 10 comprises a processing unit 30 and a storage unit 40. The processing unit 30 is implemented by the CPU or MPU described above. The processing unit 30 has a passkey generation unit 31, an advertised packet generation unit 32, an output adjustment unit 33, an authentication unit 34, and a mode setting unit 39 to perform processing related to wireless communication with the second electronic device 2. The processing unit 30 may also perform processing related to the control of the operation unit 12. The storage unit 40 is implemented by the memory described above. The storage unit 40 stores, for example, passkey information and pairing information.

[0033] The mode setting unit 39 sets the mode of the first electronic device 1. For example, the modes include a non-communication mode in which no wireless communication is performed, a pairing mode in which communication is performed for pairing purposes, and a normal communication mode in which communication is performed with the paired second electronic device 2. The trigger for changing the mode setting is not particularly limited.

[0034] For example, pairing modes include a broadcast communication mode in which the first electronic device 1 sends an advertisement packet, and a GATT (Generic Attribute Profile) communication mode for communicating with a specific second electronic device 2. "A specific second electronic device 2" refers to the second electronic device 2 that, upon receiving the advertisement packet, sends a connection request to the first electronic device 1, thereby establishing a connection with the first electronic device 1. The broadcast communication mode is the mode before connection establishment, while the GATT communication mode is the mode after connection establishment. Advertisement packets are transmitted only when pairing modes are set, and especially when broadcast communication modes are set.

[0035] The passkey generation unit 31 and the advertised packet generation unit 32 operate prior to the transmission of advertised packets when the mode of the first electronic device 1 transitions from non-communication mode to pairing mode. The output adjustment unit 33 operates during the transmission of advertised packets (during broadcast communication). The authentication unit 34 operates during communication with a specific second electronic device 2 (during GATT communication).

[0036] The passkey generation unit 31 generates passkey information indicating the passkey (authentication key) required for pairing. Each time pairing mode is started, the passkey generation unit 31 generates a passkey such that arbitrary numbers are arranged randomly. The passkey generation algorithm is not particularly limited. The passkey generation unit 31 temporarily stores the passkey information indicating the generated passkey in the storage unit 40.

[0037] Generally, the passkey is a 4- to 6-digit number, assuming that it is manually entered by the user of the second electronic device 2. In this embodiment as well, the passkey may be a 4- to 6-digit number, as before.

[0038] The advertisement packet generation unit 32 generates an advertisement packet. The advertisement packet contains predetermined advertisement information. The advertisement information includes, for example, identification information of the first electronic device 1, and is stored in the storage unit 40. The advertisement packet generation unit 32 reads the identification information and passkey information from the storage unit 40, adds the passkey information to the advertisement information, and generates an advertisement packet. In pairing mode, the advertisement packet includes passkey information.

[0039] The output adjustment unit 33 sets and adjusts the output power P of the advertisement packets transmitted from the first wireless communication unit 11. The output adjustment unit 33 sets the output power P of the advertisement packets to a first power level P1, which is limited to a level lower than the standard power level Ps (see Figure 4). Sometimes, even if advertisement packets are being transmitted, connection requests are not received for a long time. As time elapses since the start of transmission of the advertisement packets, the output adjustment unit 33 increases the output power P of the advertisement packets, thereby expanding the communication range R.

[0040] The authentication unit 34 compares the passkey information received from a specific second electronic device 2 with the passkey information temporarily stored in the storage unit 40 and determines whether or not to authenticate this second electronic device 2 as a pairing partner. If the authentication unit 34 authenticates this second electronic device 2 as a pairing partner, it registers this second electronic device 2 in the pairing information of the storage unit 40.

[0041] The second control device 20 comprises a processing unit 50 and a storage unit 60. The processing unit 50 includes a communication control unit 51 and a terminal control unit 52. The communication control unit 51 performs processing related to wireless communication with the first electronic device 1 and controls the operation of the second wireless communication unit 21. The terminal control unit 52 controls the operation of hardware devices provided in the second electronic device 2, such as the operation unit 22 and the notification unit 23. The storage unit 60 is implemented by the memory described above. As an example, the storage unit 60 stores passkey information and pairing information.

[0042] As described above, the wireless communication system 100 according to this embodiment comprises a first control device 10, a first wireless communication unit 11, a second control device 20, a second wireless communication unit 21, an operation unit 22, and a notification unit 23.

[0043] Next, a wireless communication method according to this embodiment, which is performed by the wireless communication system 100 shown in Figure 1, will be described. The wireless communication method according to this embodiment is performed when the mode of the first electronic device 1 is set to a predetermined mode (for example, pairing mode). Furthermore, the operation in each of the following steps is controlled by the first control device 10 or the second control device 20.

[0044] Referring to Figure 2A, when the first electronic device 1 is set to pairing mode (step S10), passkey information is generated and stored in the storage unit 40 (step S11). An advertisement packet is generated to include the passkey information (step S12), and the first control unit 10 performs advertisement processing S13. In advertisement processing S13, an advertisement packet with the passkey information is transmitted from the first wireless communication unit 11 at a predetermined period (e.g., 0.1 to 1 second). The first electronic device 1 continues to transmit advertisement packets while waiting for a connection request from the second electronic device 2.

[0045] The second electronic device 2 can receive the advertisement packet if it is within the communication range R of the first electronic device 1 (step S20). In response to receiving the advertisement packet, the second electronic device 2 sends a connection request to the first electronic device 1 (step S22). The connection request may be sent after the user has entered a transmission command on the operation unit 22 (step S21). Upon receiving the advertisement packet, the connection request may be sent automatically without any special operation by the user. When the connection request is sent, passkey information is obtained from the advertisement packet, and the obtained passkey information is temporarily stored in the storage unit 60 (step S23).

[0046] Upon receiving the above advertisement packets (sending and receiving connection requests), a connection is established between the first electronic device 1 and the second electronic device 2. The communication mode shifts from broadcast communication, which sends advertisement packets to an unspecified number of people around the first electronic device 1, to GATT communication, which exchanges information one-to-one, and the pairing process continues (see Figure 2B).

[0047] Before explaining the pairing process shown in Figure 2B, we will refer to Figures 3 and 4 to explain the setting of the output power P in the advertising process S13.

[0048] First, the output power P of the advertised packet is set to a first power level P1, which is limited to a lower level than the standard power level Ps (step S131). If there is no connection request from the second electronic device 2 and the elapsed time from the start of sending the advertised packet reaches a predetermined time (S132: NO and S133: YES), the output power P of the advertised packet is changed from the first power level P1 to the standard power level Ps (step S134). Furthermore, if there is no connection request from the second electronic device 2 and the elapsed time from the time of the power level change reaches a predetermined time (S135: NO and S136: YES), the transmission of the advertised packet ends and the pairing mode ends (step S137). If there is a connection request from the second electronic device 2 (S132 or S136: YES), the connection between the first electronic device 1 and the second electronic device 2 is established as described above (step S138). The transmission of the advertised packet ends and the pairing process continues (see Figure 2B).

[0049] Referring to Figure 4, if the output power P is the standard power level Ps that is typical for the first electronic device 1, then the communication range R becomes the standard communication range Rs, and the radius r of the communication range R becomes the standard radius rs. The standard power level Ps can be set within the range of 4 dBm (Bluetooth class 2) to 20 dBm (Bluetooth class 1). A power level of 4 dBm corresponds to 2.5 mW of power, and a power level of 20 dBm corresponds to 100 mW of power. In this case, the standard radius rs is within the range of approximately 10 m to approximately 100 m. As just one example, the standard power level Ps may be set to 10 dBm (equivalent to 10 mW).

[0050] When the output power P is a first power level P1 lower than the standard power level Ps, the communication range R becomes a first communication range R1 that is narrower than the standard communication range Rs, and the radius r of the communication range R becomes a first radius r1 that is shorter than the standard radius rs. As just one example, the first power level P1 can be set to 0 dBm (Bluetooth class 3). A power level of 0 dBm corresponds to a power of 0.1 mW. In this case, the first radius r1 is approximately 0.5 m to approximately 2 m, or in other words, around 1 m.

[0051] In Figure 4, the symbol "2X" refers to the second electronic device 2 located within the first communication range R1. The symbol "2Y" refers to the second electronic device 2 located outside the first communication range R1 but within the standard communication range Rs. The symbol "2Z" refers to the second electronic device 2 located outside the standard communication range Rs.

[0052] Here, when a user wishes to pair their second electronic device 2 with the first electronic device 1, it is assumed that the user is in close proximity to the first electronic device 1. If there are multiple electronic devices capable of wireless communication with the first electronic device 1 within the communication range R of the first electronic device 1, it is assumed that the electronic device carried by the appropriate user is located closer to the first electronic device 1.

[0053] If one second electronic device 2X is present around the first electronic device 1, the second electronic device 2X can receive an advertisement packet at a first power level P1. Before a predetermined time elapses from the start of transmission of the advertisement packet (S133: NO), the first electronic device 1 can establish a connection with the second electronic device 2X (S132: YES → step S138).

[0054] If one second electronic device 2Y is present around the first electronic device 1, the second electronic device 2Y cannot receive advertised packets at the first power level P1, but can receive advertised packets at the standard power level Ps. The first electronic device 1 can establish a connection with the second electronic device 2Y before a predetermined time elapses since the setting change of the output power P (S136: NO) (S135: YES → step S138).

[0055] If one second electronic device 2Z is ​​present around the first electronic device 1, that second electronic device 2Z cannot receive the advertised packet. The first electronic device 1 cannot establish a connection with the second electronic device 2 and terminates the transmission of the advertised packet (step S137).

[0056] If there is one of each of the second electronic devices 2X, 2Y, and 2Z, the first electronic device 1 can only communicate with the nearest second electronic device 2X. In this way, in the advertising process S13, especially in its initial stages, the communication range R is narrow, which reduces the risk of the first electronic device 1 pairing with the wrong device.

[0057] If there is one second electronic device each of 2Y and 2Z, the first electronic device 1 cannot detect the second electronic device 2 in the initial stage of advertising process S13, and after the output power P increases, it becomes able to communicate only with the nearest second electronic device 2Y. In this way, as the execution time of advertising process S13 progresses, the communication range R expands, so the first electronic device 1 can establish a connection with a device that is close to it. The first electronic device 1 can reduce the risk of pairing with the wrong device.

[0058] Furthermore, if multiple second electronic devices 2X exist around the first electronic device 1, the first electronic device 1 may receive multiple connection requests from each of the multiple second electronic devices 2X. In this case, the first electronic device 1 may establish a connection only with the second electronic device 2X that first received the connection request, or it may establish connections with multiple second electronic devices 2X. The first electronic device 1 may have a function to measure the signal strength of the received connection requests. As the distance between the source and destination increases, the signal strength decreases. The first electronic device 1 may determine from the signal strength whether the source of the connection request is within the communication range R, and if it is, it may be targeted for connection. The same applies when there are no second electronic devices 2X but there are multiple second electronic devices 2Y.

[0059] Referring to Figure 2B, after the connection is established, the first electronic device 1 and the second electronic device 2 exchange information for pairing.

[0060] The first electronic device 1 transmits a security request to the second electronic device 2 (step S14). When the second electronic device 2 receives the security request from the first electronic device 1, it transmits a pairing request to the first electronic device 1 (step S24). The second electronic device 2 may transmit a pairing request to the first electronic device 1 even if it does not receive a security request from the first electronic device 1. The pairing request is transmitted automatically by the second control device 20 and the second wireless communication unit 21 without any input operation of a transmission command by the user on the operation unit 22. When the first electronic device 1 receives the pairing request from the second electronic device 2, it transmits a passkey input request to the second electronic device 2 as a response to the pairing request (step S15).

[0061] When the second electronic device 2 receives a passkey input request from the first electronic device 1, the terminal control unit 52 activates the notification unit 23 (step S25). The second control device 20 waits for the user to input a passkey transmission command. If the notification unit 23 is an LED lamp, the terminal control unit 52 may make the LED lamp blink. If the notification unit 23 is a display, the terminal control unit 52 may display text information on the display indicating that a passkey input request has been received, as well as text information on the display prompting the user to input a passkey transmission command.

[0062] The activation of the notification unit 23 allows the user to know that a passkey input request has been received from the first electronic device 1 and that it is time to send the passkey to the first electronic device 1. The activation of the notification unit 23 prompts the user to input the passkey transmission command and allows them to operate the operation unit 22 in a timely manner while the second control device 20 is in standby mode.

[0063] If the operation unit 22 is a button-type switch, the user only needs to press the switch. If the operation unit 22 is a touch panel display, the terminal control unit 52 displays an image of the input button on the display. The user only needs to touch the area where the image is displayed with their finger. With such a simple operation, the input operation for the passkey transmission command is completed.

[0064] When a passkey transmission command is input by the user (step S26), the communication control unit 51 generates pairing confirmation data (step S27). The communication control unit 51 reads the passkey information from the storage unit 60 and adds the passkey information to the pairing confirmation data. The added passkey information is the information contained in the advertisement packet received in step S20 (see Figure 2A) and the information temporarily stored in the storage unit 60 in step S23 (see Figure 2A). The second control device 20 can add information indicating the passkey to the data to be transmitted to the first electronic device 1 without requiring the user to perform a passkey input operation.

[0065] The second electronic device 2 transmits pairing confirmation data with a passkey to the first electronic device 1 (step S27). When the first electronic device 1 receives the pairing confirmation data from the second electronic device 2, it obtains the passkey information from the pairing confirmation data (step S16). The authentication unit 34 reads the passkey information generated by the passkey generation unit from the storage unit 40 and compares the passkey information obtained from the pairing confirmation data with the passkey information read from the storage unit 40 (step S17).

[0066] If the two passkeys match, the first electronic device 1 sends a pairing confirmation to the second electronic device 2 (step S18). With this exchange of pairing confirmations, the pairing between the first electronic device 1 and the second electronic device 2 is completed.

[0067] The first electronic device 1 registers information about the second electronic device 2, which was the communication partner for this pairing process, in the pairing information of the storage unit 40 (step S19). The second electronic device 2 registers information about the first electronic device 1, which was the communication partner for this pairing process, in the pairing information of the storage unit 60 (step S29). From this point onward, the paired first electronic device 1 and second electronic device 2 can communicate wirelessly without repeating the above pairing process.

[0068] The wireless communication system 100 according to this embodiment pairs a first electronic device 1 and a second electronic device 2. The wireless communication system 100 includes a first control device 10 which transmits an advertisement packet containing passkey information to the first electronic device 1 before establishing a connection with the second electronic device 2, and transmits a passkey input request to the second electronic device 2 after the connection is established. The second control device 20 which, when the second electronic device 2 receives an advertisement packet from the first electronic device 1, obtains passkey information from the received advertisement packet, and when the second electronic device 2 receives a passkey input request from the first electronic device 1, transmits the obtained passkey information to the first electronic device 1.

[0069] Furthermore, the wireless communication method according to this embodiment is a method for pairing a first electronic device 1 and a second electronic device 2. The wireless communication method includes the steps of: sending an advertisement packet containing passkey information from the first electronic device 1 before establishing a connection between the first electronic device 1 and the second electronic device 2 (advertisement processing S13); receiving the advertisement packet at the second electronic device 2 and obtaining the passkey information from the advertisement packet at the second electronic device 2 (step S23); sending a passkey input request from the first electronic device 1 to the second electronic device 2 after establishing a connection (step S15); and sending the passkey information obtained from the advertisement packet from the second electronic device 2 to the first electronic device 1 in response to the passkey input request (step S27).

[0070] According to the system and method described above, passkey information is attached to an advertisement packet and transmitted in advance from the first electronic device 1 to the second electronic device 2. In response to a passkey input request from the first electronic device 1, the second electronic device 2 transmits the pre-acquired passkey information to the first electronic device 1. Users of the second electronic device 2 do not need to manually enter the passkey, thus reducing user effort. Furthermore, since the passkey information is transmitted and received invisibly, security is improved.

[0071] The first control device 10 sets the output power P of the advertised packet to a first power level P1, which is limited to a lower level than the standard power level Ps. This narrows the communication range R during the transmission of the advertised packet. This reduces the risk of the first electronic device 1 pairing with the wrong device.

[0072] The first control device 10 may increase the output power P of the advertised packet over time. This expands the communication range over time during the transmission of the advertised packet. The first electronic device 1 can establish a connection with devices located nearby and reduces the risk of pairing with the wrong device.

[0073] The second electronic device 2 further includes a notification unit 23 that notifies the user that it has received a passkey input request from the first electronic device 1. This allows the user of the second electronic device 2 to be prompted to perform the necessary operations for pairing.

[0074] The first control unit 10 sends an advertisement packet containing passkey information after the first electronic device 1 has been set to a predetermined mode. This improves security because the passkey information is included in the advertisement packet when the predetermined mode is set.

[0075] The configuration of the embodiment described above is merely an example and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the present invention.

[0076] In the above embodiment, during the advertising process S13, the output power P is switched between a first power level P1 and a standard power level Ps in two stages. The output adjustment unit 33 of the first control device 10 may be able to set the output power P to three or more power levels. In this case as well, the output adjustment unit 33 adjusts the output power P so that the power level increases in stages as time elapses from the start of transmission of the advertised packet.

[0077] The notification unit 23 is not limited to devices that provide visual notifications to the user, such as LED lamps or displays. The notification unit 23 may also provide auditory notifications to the user, such as a speaker.

[0078] The first electronic device 1 and the second electronic device 2 may communicate wirelessly in accordance with wireless communication standards other than Bluetooth®.

[0079] The combination of the first electronic device 1 and the second electronic device 2 is not particularly limited and may be a combination other than a door lock device and an electronic key. For example, it may be a combination of a motorcycle vehicle unit and an electronic key. In this case, the vehicle unit can be operated by a user who possesses an authenticated electronic key, allowing them to perform operations necessary for the operation of the motorcycle, such as an ignition switch to start or stop the motorcycle's engine, or an accessory switch to switch the power supply to the vehicle's electrical components. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0080] 1 1st electronic device 2,2X,2Y,2Z 2nd electronic equipment 10 First control device 11. First Radio Communication Section 12 Operating part 20 Second control unit 21. Second Radio Communication Section 22 Control section 23 Notification Department 30 Processing Unit 31 Passkey generation section 32 Advertisement Packet Generation Unit 33 Output adjustment section 34. Authentication Department 40 Storage section 50 Processing Unit 51 Communication Control Unit 52 Terminal Control Unit 60 Storage section 100 Wireless Communication Systems P output power P1 First Power Level Ps Standard Power Level R Communication range R1 First Communication Range Rs standard communication range r radius r1 First radius rs standard radius

Claims

1. A wireless communication system for pairing a first electronic device and a second electronic device, The first electronic device, Before establishing a connection with the second electronic device, an advertisement packet containing passkey information is sent. After the connection is established, a passkey input request is sent to the second electronic device. Equipped with a first control device, The second electronic device, When the advertised packet is received from the first electronic device, the passkey information is obtained from the advertised packet. When the first electronic device receives the passkey input request, it transmits the passkey information obtained from the advertisement packet to the first electronic device. Equipped with a second control device, A wireless communication system characterized by the following features.

2. The first control device is characterized by setting the output power of the advertised packet to a first power level that is limited to a level lower than the standard power level. The wireless communication system according to claim 1.

3. The first control device is characterized by increasing the output power of the advertised packet over time. The wireless communication system according to claim 1.

4. The second electronic device further comprises a notification unit that notifies the user that it has received the passkey input request from the first electronic device, The wireless communication system according to claim 1.

5. The first control device is characterized in that it transmits the advertisement packet containing the passkey information after the first electronic device has been set to a predetermined mode. The wireless communication system according to claim 1.

6. A wireless communication method for pairing a first electronic device and a second electronic device, Before establishing a connection between the first electronic device and the second electronic device, the first electronic device sends an advertisement packet containing passkey information; When the second electronic device receives the advertised packet, the second electronic device obtains the passkey information from the advertised packet. After the connection is established, the first electronic device sends a passkey input request to the second electronic device, In response to the passkey input request, the second electronic device transmits the passkey information obtained from the advertised packet to the first electronic device; A wireless communication method characterized by comprising:

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