Communication device, communication system, and control method

Abstract

To provide a communication device and the like, which are capable of being paired efficiently.SOLUTION: A first communication device 12 is a communication device comprising: a first transmission unit 16 that transmits a first advertising packet to each of one or more second communication devices 14; a first reception unit 18 that receives a second advertising packet transmitted from each of the one or more second communication devices 14 that have received the first advertising packet transmitted by the first transmission unit 16; a reception unit 20 that accepts operation for determining a target communication device to be paired with the first communication device 12 out of one or more second communication devices 14 having transmitted one or more second advertising packets received by the first reception unit 18; and a first execution unit 22 that executes pairing processing to pair the target communication device determined by the operation accepted by the reception unit 20 with the first communication device 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication device, a communication system, and a control method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, communication devices that perform pairing are known. As an example of a communication device or the like, Patent Document 1 discloses a wireless communication system including a first terminal and a second terminal. When a specified event occurs, the first terminal transmits an advertisement packet including identification information that can identify the first terminal. When the second terminal receives the advertisement packet, it starts pairing with the first terminal and establishes a connection with the first terminal.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the wireless communication system of Patent Document 1, the first terminal starts transmitting an advertisement packet when the power of the first terminal is turned on or when an operation is performed on a button for instructing the start of pairing in the first terminal, and periodically transmits the advertisement packet. Therefore, the wireless communication system of Patent Document 1 has a problem that the communication volume increases and pairing cannot be performed efficiently.

[0005] Also, for example, in order to suppress traffic, it is conceivable to transmit an advertising packet only when starting pairing. However, even in this case, for example, due to the specifications of the OS (Operating System), the transmission timing of the advertising packet (the time from command input to advertising packet transmission) is different. In a specific OS, when there is a gap from the transmission timing desired by the user (for example, 5 seconds), the time until one pairing is completed becomes long. When pairing with a plurality of terminals, the convenience of the user may be impaired.

[0006] Furthermore, when pairing with a plurality of terminals, the user needs to individually select the terminals with which to perform the pairing process from the plurality of terminals, imposing a cumbersome operation.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a communication device and the like that can perform pairing efficiently.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, a communication device according to an aspect of the present invention is a communication device, including a transmission unit that transmits a first advertising packet to each of one or more other communication devices, a reception unit that receives a second advertising packet transmitted from each of the one or more other communication devices that have received the first advertising packet transmitted by the transmission unit, a reception unit that receives an operation for determining a target communication device to be paired with the communication device from among the one or more other communication devices that have transmitted the one or more second advertising packets received by the reception unit, and an execution unit that executes a pairing process for pairing the target communication device determined by the operation received by the reception unit with the communication device. The transmission unit transmits the first advertising packet to each of the one or more other communication devices before the execution unit executes the pairing process.

[0009] According to this, the first advertisement packet is transmitted to each of one or more other communication devices, the second advertisement packets transmitted from each of the one or more other communication devices that have received the first advertisement packet are received, and a target communication device to be paired with the communication device (i.e., the own device) is determined from among the one or more other communication devices that have transmitted the received one or more second advertisement packets. In this way, each of the one or more other communication devices does not need to transmit a second advertisement packet every time pairing processing is performed, and a second advertisement packet can be transmitted from each of the one or more other communication devices that have received the first advertisement packet before performing the pairing processing, so an increase in traffic can be suppressed and pairing can be performed efficiently.

[0010] Further, the transmission unit may have a function of periodically transmitting the first advertisement packet, and when the execution unit executes the pairing process, the execution of the function may be prohibited.

[0011] According to this, when the execution unit of the communication device executes the pairing process, the communication device can be prohibited from periodically transmitting the first advertisement packet. Thereby, an increase in traffic can be suppressed and pairing can be performed more efficiently.

[0012] Further, the transmission unit may transmit the first advertisement packet to each of the one or more other communication devices when an application for pairing the communication device (own device) with the target communication device is started.

[0013] According to this, since the first advertisement packet can be transmitted when an application for pairing the communication device with the target communication device is started, there is no need to separately perform an operation for transmitting the first advertisement packet after the application is started, and pairing can be performed more efficiently.

[0014] The device may further include a creation unit that creates a list of the one or more other communication devices that transmitted the one or more second advertising packets received by the receiving unit before the accepting unit accepts the operation.

[0015] According to this, when the reception unit receives an operation for determining a target communication device, the user can easily identify the target communication device using a list of one or more other communication devices, thereby enabling more efficient pairing.

[0016] The operation may include an input operation of inputting identification information for identifying the target communication device, and the reception unit may receive the input operation.

[0017] According to this, since the target communication device can be determined by inputting only the identification information, the target communication device can be easily determined and pairing can be performed more efficiently.

[0018] In addition, in order to solve the above problem, a communication device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives a first advertising packet transmitted by another communication device, a transmitting unit that transmits a second advertising packet to the other communication device only for a predetermined period of time when the receiving unit receives the first advertising packet, and an executing unit that executes a pairing process to pair with the other communication device in response to a pairing request from the other communication device.

[0019] According to this, even if the second advertisement packet is not continuously transmitted periodically, the second advertisement packet is transmitted only when the first advertisement packet is received, so that an increase in communication traffic can be suppressed and pairing can be performed efficiently. Also, when the communication device is installed in a high place and the user cannot directly touch and operate it, the transmission of the second advertisement packet can be started upon reception of the first advertisement packet.

[0020] In order to solve the above problems, a communication system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a first communication device and one or more second communication devices. The first communication device includes a first transmission unit that transmits a first advertisement packet to each of the one or more second communication devices, a first reception unit that receives a second advertisement packet transmitted from each of the one or more second communication devices that have received the first advertisement packet transmitted by the first transmission unit, a reception unit that receives an operation for determining a target communication device to be paired with the first communication device from among the one or more second communication devices that have transmitted the one or more second advertisement packets received by the first reception unit, and an execution unit that executes a pairing process for pairing the target communication device determined by the operation received by the reception unit with the first communication device. Each of the one or more second communication devices includes a second reception unit that receives the first advertisement packet transmitted by the first communication device, and a second transmission unit that transmits the second advertisement packet to the first communication device only for a predetermined period when the second reception unit receives the first advertisement packet. The first transmission unit transmits the first advertisement packet to each of the one or more second communication devices before the execution unit executes the pairing process.

[0021] According to this, it is possible to transmit a first advertisement packet to each of one or more second communication devices, receive a second advertisement packet transmitted from each of the one or more second communication devices that have received the first advertisement packet, and determine a target communication device to be paired with the first communication device from among the one or more second communication devices that are the transmission sources of the second advertisement packets. As a result, it is not necessary to cause each of the one or more second communication devices to transmit a second advertisement packet every time the pairing process is executed, and it is possible to cause each of the one or more second communication devices that have received the first advertisement packet before the pairing process is executed to transmit a second advertisement packet. Therefore, an increase in communication volume can be suppressed, and pairing can be performed efficiently.

[0022] Also, in order to solve the above problems, a control method according to an aspect of the present invention is a control method for a communication device, including: a transmission step of transmitting a first advertisement packet to each of one or more other communication devices; a reception step of receiving a second advertisement packet transmitted from each of the one or more other communication devices that have received the first advertisement packet transmitted in the transmission step; a reception step of receiving an operation for determining a target communication device to be paired with the communication device from among the one or more other communication devices that have transmitted the one or more second advertisement packets received in the reception step; and an execution step of executing a pairing process for pairing the target communication device determined by the operation received in the reception step with the communication device. In the transmission step, the first advertisement packet is transmitted to each of the one or more other communication devices before the pairing process is executed in the execution step.

[0023] According to this, the control method has the same effect as the above communication device.

[0024] Also, in order to solve the above problems, a control method according to an aspect of the present invention is a control method for a communication device, including: a reception step of receiving a first advertisement packet transmitted by another communication device; a transmission step of transmitting a second advertisement packet to the other communication device only for a predetermined period when the first advertisement packet is received in the reception step; and an execution step of executing a pairing process for pairing with the other communication device in response to a pairing request from the other communication device.

[0025] According to this, the control method has the same effect as the above communication device.

Effects of the Invention

[0026] According to the present invention, a communication device or the like can be paired efficiently.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

[0029] All of the embodiments described below show preferred specific examples of the present invention. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions and connection forms of the components, steps, order of steps, etc. shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0030] Among the components in the following embodiments, components not described in the independent claims are described as optional components constituting a more preferred form. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the same components, and the description may be omitted.

[0031] (Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a communication system 10 according to an embodiment.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 10 includes a first communication device 12 and one or more second communication devices 14. In the present embodiment, the one or more second communication devices 14 are a plurality of second communication devices 14. Note that the one or more second communication devices 14 may be one second communication device 14 instead of a plurality. The communication system 10 is a system that pairs at least one of the first communication device 12 and the one or more second communication devices 14 and performs wireless communication between the first communication device 12 and the at least one second communication device 14 that has successfully paired with the first communication device 12. For example, the first communication device 12 and the at least one second communication device 14 perform wireless communication by BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) or wifi (registered trademark). For example, the first communication device 12 is a tablet terminal, and in a communication system 10 incorporated in a transport cart that transports articles in a factory or the like for each of the one or more second communication devices 14, by pairing the first communication device 12 and the second communication device 14 and performing wireless communication, the second communication device 14 can be controlled using the first communication device 12.

[0033] The first communication device 12 includes a first transmission unit 16, a first reception unit 18, a reception unit 20, a first execution unit 22, and a creation unit 23.

[0034] The first transmission unit 16 is an example of a transmission unit that transmits a first advertisement packet to each of one or more other communication devices. In the present embodiment, the first transmission unit 16 transmits a first advertisement packet to each of the one or more second communication devices 14. The first transmission unit 16 transmits a first advertisement packet to each of the one or more second communication devices 14 before the first execution unit 22 executes a pairing process. For example, the first transmission unit 16 is realized by a wireless communication module or the like.

[0035] For example, when an application for pairing the first transmission unit 16 with the target communication device is launched, the first advertisement packet is transmitted to each of one or more second communication devices 14. Details of the first advertisement packet will be described later. The target communication device is the communication device that pairs with the first communication device 12 among one or more second communication devices 14. For example, when a button (not shown) for setting the first transmission unit 16 to the pairing mode, which is a mode in which the first communication device 12 accepts pairing with the target communication device, is pressed, the first transmission unit 16 enters the pairing mode, and in the pairing mode, the first advertisement packet may be transmitted to each of one or more second communication devices 14.

[0036] For example, the first transmission unit 16 has a function of periodically transmitting the first advertisement packet, and when the first execution unit 22 executes the pairing process, the execution of the function is prohibited. That is, for example, during the period when the first execution unit 22 is executing the pairing process, the first transmission unit 16 prohibits the execution of the function and does not periodically transmit the first advertisement packet.

[0037] For example, the first transmission unit 16 transmits the first advertisement packet to each of one or more second communication devices 14 by broadcast. For example, the first transmission unit 16 may transmit the first advertisement packet to each of one or more second communication devices 14 by unicast or multicast.

[0038] In the present embodiment, the first reception unit 18 receives a second advertisement packet transmitted from each of one or more second communication devices 14 that have received the first advertisement packet transmitted by the first transmission unit 16. That is, in the present embodiment, each of one or more second communication devices 14 transmits a second advertisement packet when it receives the first advertisement packet transmitted by the first transmission unit 16, and the first reception unit 18 of the first communication device 12 receives the second advertisement packet transmitted from each of one or more second communication devices 14. For example, the first reception unit 18 is realized by a wireless communication module or the like.

[0039] In this embodiment, the reception unit 20 receives an operation for determining a target communication device to be paired with the first communication device 12 from among one or more second communication devices 14 that have transmitted the second advertisement packet. That is, in this embodiment, when the first reception unit 18 receives one or more second advertisement packets transmitted from one or more second communication devices 14, the reception unit 20 receives an operation (for example, an operation by the user) for determining a target communication device to be paired with the first communication device 12 from among one or more second communication devices 14. For example, the reception unit 20 is realized by a button, a touch panel, or the like.

[0040] Also, for example, the operation for determining the target communication device includes an input operation for inputting identification information for identifying the target communication device, and the reception unit 20 receives this input operation. For example, the identification information for identifying the target communication device is the ID (Identification) of the target communication device, and the input operation includes an operation of inputting the ID by pressing a touch panel or a keyboard. Note that, for example, the operation for determining the target communication device may include a selection operation of selecting the ID of the second communication device 14 to be the target communication device from a list in which the IDs of one or more second communication devices 14 are described, rather than an input operation, using a touch panel or the like.

[0041] The first execution unit 22 is an example of an execution unit that executes a pairing process for pairing the target communication device determined by the operation received by the reception unit with the communication device. In this embodiment, the first execution unit 22 executes a pairing process for pairing the target communication device determined by the operation received by the reception unit 20 with the first communication device 12. For example, the first execution unit 22 transmits a pairing request and receives a pairing response. For example, the first execution unit 22 is realized by a processor or the like.

[0042] In this embodiment, before the receiving unit 20 receives an operation for determining the target communication device, the creating unit 23 creates a list of one or more second communication devices 14 that have transmitted one or more second advertisement packets received by the first receiving unit 18. Specifically, for example, the creating unit 23 creates a list including the identification information and address of each of the one or more second communication devices 14 (see FIG. 6). For example, the identification information and address of each of the one or more second communication devices 14 are included in the second advertisement packet transmitted by the second communication device 14.

[0043] When each of the one or more second communication devices 14 becomes the target communication device, it pairs with the first communication device 12 and performs wireless communication with the first communication device 12. Each of the one or more second communication devices 14 includes a second receiving unit 24, a second transmitting unit 26, and a second execution unit 28.

[0044] In this embodiment, the second receiving unit 24 receives the first advertisement packet transmitted by the first communication device 12. For example, the second receiving unit 24 is realized by a wireless communication module or the like.

[0045] The second transmitting unit 26 is an example of a transmitting unit that transmits a second advertisement packet to other communication devices only for a predetermined period when the receiving unit receives the first advertisement packet. In this embodiment, when the first advertisement packet is received by the second receiving unit 24, the second transmitting unit 26 transmits a second advertisement packet to the first communication device 12 only for a predetermined period. For example, the predetermined period is predetermined. Details of the second advertisement packet will be described later. For example, the second transmitting unit 26 is realized by a wireless communication module or the like.

[0046] The second execution unit 28 is an example of an execution unit that executes pairing processing for pairing with another communication device in response to a pairing request from the other communication device. In the present embodiment, the second execution unit 28 executes pairing processing for pairing with the first communication device 12 in response to a pairing request from the first communication device 12. The second execution unit 28 executes pairing processing for pairing the second communication device 14 having the second execution unit 28 with the first communication device 12 when the second communication device 14 becomes the target communication device. For example, the second execution unit 28 receives a pairing request and transmits a pairing response. For example, the second execution unit 28 is realized by a processor or the like.

[0047] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a first advertisement packet transmitted by the first communication device 12 of the communication system 10 in FIG. 1.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 2, the first advertisement packet includes a Preanble, an Access Address, a Protocol Data unit, and a CRC.

[0049] The Protocol Data unit includes a Header, an Advertiser’s address, and an AD Structure.

[0050] The AD Structure includes a Length, an AD Type, and an AD DATA.

[0051] The Length indicates the data size of the AD structure excluding the Length. For example, when the data size of the AD structure is 31 bytes and the data size of the Length is 1 byte, the value 30 is stored in the Length.

[0052] The AD Type indicates Manufacturer Specific Data. For example, the value 0xFF is stored in the AD Type.

[0053] The AD data includes a CID, a PID, and a Payload.

[0054] The CID indicates the Company Identifier Code. For example, the CID stores the identification code value of the manufacturer.

[0055] The PID indicates the Product ID. For example, the value 0x0001 is stored in the PID.

[0056] The Payload includes the source first communication device ID, the destination second communication device ID, and data.

[0057] The destination second communication device ID indicates the ID of the destination second communication device 14.

[0058] The data includes various information. For example, the data includes detailed data of the first advertisement packet, etc.

[0059] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a second advertisement packet transmitted by each of one or more second communication devices 14 of the communication system 10 in FIG. 1. Hereinafter, the differences from the first advertisement packet will be mainly described.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 3, the second advertisement packet mainly differs from the first advertisement packet in that in the Payload, it includes the source second communication device ID instead of the source first communication device ID and includes the destination first communication device ID instead of the destination second communication device ID.

[0061] The destination first communication device ID indicates the ID of the destination first communication device 12.

[0062] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the communication system 10 in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the subsequent operation of the example of the operation shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, the first communication device 12 and the second communication device 14 are described as waiting in the reception mode (described later) when the power of the device is turned on.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 4, first, the user activates the application (step S1). The application is an application for pairing the first communication device 12 and the target communication device. For example, the application is installed in the first communication device 12, and the user operates the first communication device 12 to activate the application. After the application is activated, the ID of the first communication device 12 is set. Note that, for example, after the application is activated, the user may set the ID of the first communication device 12.

[0064] When the application is activated, the first communication device 12 switches from the reception mode to the transmission mode (step S2), and periodically transmits a first advertisement packet to each of one or more second communication devices 14 (first transmission step) (step S3). For example, the transmission mode in the first communication device 12 is a mode in which the first communication device 12 transmits a first advertisement packet, and the reception mode in the first communication device 12 is a mode in which the first communication device 12 does not transmit a first advertisement packet. Specifically, the first communication device 12 transmits the first advertisement packet to each of one or more second communication devices 14 by broadcast. The first advertisement packet includes the ID of the first communication device 12 and the like. In the first transmission step, the first communication device 12 transmits the first advertisement packet to each of one or more second communication devices 14 before executing the pairing process in the execution step. In the present embodiment, the first transmission step is an example of a transmission step of transmitting a first advertisement packet to each of one or more other communication devices.

[0065] When the first communication device 12 transmits the first advertisement packet to each of one or more second communication devices 14, it switches from the transmission mode to the reception mode (step S4). Specifically, when the first communication device 12 broadcasts the first advertisement packet to each of one or more second communication devices 14, it switches from the transmission mode to the reception mode. This transmission mode and reception mode are repeatedly executed until the pairing process is started.

[0066] When each of one or more second communication devices 14 receives the first advertisement packet transmitted by the first communication device 12, it receives this (second reception step) (step S5) and checks the destination of the first advertisement packet (step S6). In the present embodiment, the second reception step is an example of a reception step of receiving the first advertisement packet transmitted by another communication device.

[0067] When each of one or more second communication devices 14 receives the first advertisement packet in the second reception step, it switches from the reception mode to the transmission mode (step S7) and transmits a second advertisement packet to the first communication device 12 for a predetermined period (for example, 10 seconds) (second transmission step) (step S8). For example, the transmission mode in the second communication device 14 is a mode in which the second communication device 14 transmits the second advertisement packet, and the reception mode in the second communication device 14 is a mode in which the second communication device 14 does not transmit the second advertisement packet. Specifically, each of one or more second communication devices 14 stores a value indicating the ID of the second communication device 14 itself in the second communication device ID of the source in the second advertisement packet, and stores a value indicating the ID of the first communication device 12 that transmitted the first advertisement packet in the destination first communication device ID (see FIG. 3). In the present embodiment, the second transmission step is an example of a transmission step of transmitting the second advertisement packet to another communication device only for a predetermined period when the first advertisement packet is received in the reception step.

[0068] When step S8 ends, each of the one or more second communication devices 14 switches from the transmission mode to the reception mode (step S9).

[0069] The first communication device 12 receives the second advertisement packets transmitted from each of the one or more second communication devices 14 that have received the first advertisement packet (first reception step) (step S10). In the present embodiment, the first reception step is an example of a reception step of receiving the second advertisement packets transmitted from each of the one or more other communication devices that have received the first advertisement packet transmitted in the transmission step.

[0070] When the first communication device 12 receives the second advertisement packets transmitted from each of the one or more second communication devices 14, it creates a list of the one or more second communication devices 14 (step S11).

[0071] Here, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a list of the one or more second communication devices 14 created by the first communication device 12 of the communication system 10 in FIG. 1.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 6, for example, the first communication device 12 acquires at least the device name and the BLE address of each of the one or more second communication devices 14 from the one or more second advertisement packets, and creates a list of the one or more second communication devices 14 using the device names and the BLE addresses of the one or more second communication devices 14.

[0073] Next, in FIG. 5, when the first communication device 12 creates a list of one or more second communication devices 14, the first communication device 12 receives an operation for determining a target communication device to be paired with the first communication device 12 from among one or more second communication devices 14 that are the transmission sources of the second advertisement packets received in the first reception step (reception step) (step S12). As described above, for example, the operation includes an input operation in which the user inputs identification information for identifying the target communication device. For example, the identification information is the ID of the target communication device or the device name, and the first communication device 12 searches for the second communication device 14 with the input ID (device name) of the target communication device from the created list and determines it as the target communication device. That is, for example, simply by the user inputting the ID of the target communication device, the target communication device is determined. Also, for example, the operation may be an operation of selecting and inputting the list of the one or more second communication devices 14 from the touch panel. In the present embodiment, the reception step is an example of a reception step for receiving an operation for determining a target communication device to be paired with a communication device from among one or more other communication devices that have transmitted one or more second advertisement packets received in the reception step.

[0074] The first communication device 12 executes a pairing process for pairing the target communication device determined by the operation received in the reception step with the first communication device 12 (first execution step). The target communication device executes a pairing process for pairing with the first communication device 12 in response to a pairing request from the first communication device 12 (second execution step) (step S13). Specifically, the first communication device 12 transmits a pairing request to the target communication device (step S14), the target communication device transmits a pairing response (step S15), and the first communication device 12 receives the pairing response. In this way, the target communication device and the first communication device 12 are paired. In the present embodiment, the first execution step is an example of an execution step for executing a pairing process for pairing the target communication device determined by the operation received in the reception step with the communication device, and the second execution step is an example of an execution step for executing a pairing process for pairing with another communication device in response to a pairing request from another communication device.

[0075] When the first communication device 12 and the target communication device are paired, the first communication device 12 transmits a connection request to the target communication device (step S16), the target communication device transmits a connection response (step S17), and the first communication device 12 receives the connection response. In this way, a wireless connection between the target communication device and the first communication device 12 is established. Since the pairing performed here is performed using the list of one or more second communication devices 14 created in step S11 (based on the device name and BLE address of each of the devices), it is not necessary to transmit search packets (advertisement packets) to a plurality of target communication devices at the start of the pairing process. Specifically, the first communication device 12 does not need to periodically transmit the first advertisement packet to each of the one or more second communication devices 14, and when step S17 is executed, the function of periodically transmitting the first advertisement packet may be prohibited.

[0076] When the wireless connection between the first communication device 12 and the target communication device is established, GATT communication becomes possible. The first communication device 12 sends a command to the target communication device (step S18), and the target communication device sends a response (step S19). In this way, after the wireless connection between the first communication device 12 and the target communication device is established, the target communication device can be controlled using the first communication device 12 by sending a command from the first communication device 12 to the target communication device.

[0077] As described above, in the communication system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the first communication device 12 sends a first advertisement packet, and the second communication device 14 sends a second advertisement packet when it receives the first advertisement packet. Therefore, the second communication device 14 does not need to continuously send the second advertisement packet and only needs to send the second advertisement packet when it receives the first advertisement packet, so an increase in communication volume can be suppressed and pairing can be performed efficiently.

[0078] Also, in the communication system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, even when the number of second communication devices 14 is large, the first communication device 12 and the target communication device can be paired simply by inputting identification information (e.g., ID) for identifying the target communication device. Therefore, in this pairing, the target communication device specified by the user can be surely specified, and pairing can be performed efficiently.

[0079] Also, in the communication system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the first communication device 12 sends a first advertisement packet before receiving an operation for determining the target communication device. Therefore, it is not necessary to send the first advertisement packet for pairing after receiving the operation, and it is possible to suppress the time taken from receiving the operation to pairing the first communication device 12 and the target communication device, so pairing can be performed efficiently.

[0080] In the communication system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when an operation by a user for determining a target communication device is received, pairing between the first communication device 12 and the target communication device and wireless connection between the first communication device 12 and the target communication device can be automatically performed. Thus, it is possible to suppress the labor of the user and perform pairing efficiently.

[0081] As described above, the communication system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described.

[0082] The first communication device 12 according to the embodiment is a communication device, and includes a first transmission unit 16 that transmits a first advertisement packet to each of one or more second communication devices 14, a first reception unit 18 that receives a second advertisement packet transmitted from each of the one or more second communication devices 14 that have received the first advertisement packet transmitted by the first transmission unit 16, a reception unit 20 that receives an operation for determining a target communication device to be paired with the first communication device 12 from among the one or more second communication devices 14 that have transmitted the one or more second advertisement packets received by the first reception unit 18, and a first execution unit 22 that executes a pairing process for pairing the target communication device determined by the operation received by the reception unit 20 with the first communication device 12. The first transmission unit 16 transmits the first advertisement packet to each of the one or more second communication devices 14 before the first execution unit 22 executes the pairing process.

[0083] According to this, the first advertisement packet is transmitted to each of one or more second communication devices 14, the second advertisement packet transmitted from each of the one or more second communication devices 14 that have received the first advertisement packet is received, and the first communication device 12 can be determined from among the one or more second communication devices 14 that have transmitted the received one or more second advertisement packets as the target communication device to be paired with. In this way, each of the one or more second communication devices 14 does not need to transmit a second advertisement packet every time pairing processing is performed, and a second advertisement packet can be transmitted from each of the one or more second communication devices 14 that have received the first advertisement packet before executing the pairing processing, so an increase in traffic can be suppressed and pairing can be performed efficiently.

[0084] Also, the first transmission unit 16 has a function of periodically transmitting the first advertisement packet, and when the first execution unit 22 executes pairing processing, the execution of this function is prohibited.

[0085] According to this, when the first execution unit 22 of the first communication device 12 executes pairing processing, the first communication device 12 can be prohibited from periodically transmitting the first advertisement packet. Thereby, an increase in traffic can be suppressed and pairing can be performed more efficiently.

[0086] Also, when an application for pairing the first communication device 12 and the target communication device is started, the first transmission unit 16 transmits the first advertisement packet to each of one or more second communication devices 14.

[0087] According to this, since the first advertisement packet can be transmitted when an application for pairing the first communication device 12 and the target communication device is started, there is no need to separately perform an operation for transmitting the first advertisement packet after the application is started, and pairing can be performed more efficiently.

[0088] The device further includes a creation unit 23 that creates a list of one or more second communication devices 14 that transmitted one or more second advertising packets received by the first receiving unit 18 before the receiving unit 20 accepts an operation to determine the target communication device.

[0089] According to this, when the reception unit 20 receives an operation for determining a target communication device, the user can easily identify the target communication device using a list of one or more second communication devices 14, thereby enabling more efficient pairing.

[0090] Furthermore, the operation for determining the target communication device includes an input operation for inputting identification information for identifying the target communication device, and the reception unit 20 receives the input operation.

[0091] According to this, since the target communication device can be determined by inputting only the identification information, the target communication device can be easily determined and pairing can be performed more efficiently.

[0092] In addition, in order to solve the above problem, the second communication device 14 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a second receiving unit 24 that receives a first advertising packet transmitted by the first communication device 12, a second transmitting unit 26 that transmits a second advertising packet to the first communication device 12 only for a predetermined period of time when the second receiving unit 24 receives the first advertising packet, and a second executing unit 28 that executes a pairing process for pairing with the first communication device 12 in response to a pairing request from the first communication device 12.

[0093] According to this, even if the second advertisement packet is not continuously transmitted periodically, the second advertisement packet is transmitted only when the first advertisement packet is received, so that an increase in communication traffic can be suppressed and pairing can be performed efficiently. Also, when the second communication device 14 is installed in a high place and the user cannot operate it by touching it directly, the transmission of the second advertisement packet can be started upon reception of the first advertisement packet.

[0094] Also, to solve the above problems, a communication system 10 according to an aspect of the present invention includes a first communication device 12 and one or more second communication devices 14. The first communication device 12 includes a first transmission unit 16 that transmits a first advertisement packet to each of the one or more second communication devices 14, a first reception unit 18 that receives a second advertisement packet transmitted from each of the one or more second communication devices 14 that has received the first advertisement packet transmitted by the first transmission unit 16, a reception unit 20 that receives an operation for determining a target communication device to be paired with the first communication device 12 from among the one or more second communication devices 14 that have transmitted the one or more second advertisement packets received by the first reception unit 18, and a first execution unit 22 that executes a pairing process for pairing the target communication device determined by the operation received by the reception unit 20 with the first communication device 12. Each of the one or more second communication devices 14 includes a second reception unit 24 that receives the first advertisement packet transmitted by the first communication device 12, and a second transmission unit 26 that transmits a second advertisement packet to the first communication device 12 only for a predetermined period when the second reception unit 24 receives the first advertisement packet. The first transmission unit 16 transmits the first advertisement packet to each of the one or more second communication devices 14 before the first execution unit 22 executes the pairing process.

[0095] According to this, it is possible to transmit the first advertisement packet to each of the one or more second communication devices 14, receive the second advertisement packet transmitted from each of the one or more second communication devices 14 that has received the first advertisement packet, and determine the target communication device to be paired with the first communication device 12 from among the one or more second communication devices 14 that are the transmission sources of the second advertisement packets. As a result, it is not necessary to cause each of the one or more second communication devices 14 to transmit a second advertisement packet every time the pairing process is executed, and it is possible to cause each of the one or more second communication devices 14 that has received the first advertisement packet before the pairing process is executed to transmit a second advertisement packet. Therefore, an increase in communication volume can be suppressed, and pairing can be performed efficiently.

[0096] Also, in order to solve the above problems, a control method according to an aspect of the present invention is a control method for a first communication device 12, including: a first transmission step (step S3) of transmitting a first advertisement packet to each of one or more second communication devices 14; a first reception step (step S10) of receiving a second advertisement packet transmitted from each of the one or more second communication devices 14 that have received the first advertisement packet transmitted in the first transmission step; a reception step (step S12) of receiving an operation for determining a target communication device to be paired with the first communication device 12 from among the one or more second communication devices 14 that have transmitted the one or more second advertisement packets received in the first reception step; and a first execution step (step S13) of executing a pairing process for pairing the target communication device determined by the operation received in the reception step with the first communication device 12. In the first transmission step, the first advertisement packet is transmitted to each of the one or more second communication devices 14 before the pairing process is executed in the execution step.

[0097] According to this, the control method has the same effect as the above-described first communication device 12.

[0098] Also, in order to solve the above problems, a control method according to an aspect of the present invention is a control method for a second communication device 14, including: a second reception step (step S5) of receiving a first advertisement packet transmitted by the first communication device 12; a second transmission step (step S8) of transmitting a second advertisement packet to the first communication device 12 only for a predetermined period when the first advertisement packet is received in the second reception step; and a second execution step (step S13) of executing a pairing process for pairing with the first communication device 12 in response to a pairing request from the first communication device 12.

[0099] According to this, the control method has the same effect as the above-described second communication device 14.

[0100] (Other embodiments, etc.) Note that the present invention can be realized not only as an apparatus or a system, but also as a method having processing means constituting the apparatus or system as steps, or as a program causing a computer to execute those steps, or as a non-transitory recording medium such as a CD-ROM readable by a computer recording the program, or as information, data, or a signal indicating the program. And those programs, information, data, and signals may be distributed via a communication network such as the Internet.

[0101] As described above, the communication system and the like of the present invention have been described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. As long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated, various modifications conceived by those skilled in the art applied to these embodiments and forms constructed by combining components in different embodiments are also included in the scope of the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

[0102] The present invention can be used as a communication device or the like that pairs with other communication devices.

Explanation of Signs

[0103] 10 Communication system 12 First communication device 14 Second communication device 16 First transmission unit 18 First reception unit 20 Reception unit 22 First execution unit 23 Creation unit 24 Second reception unit 26 Second transmission unit 28 Second execution unit

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising: a transmission unit that transmits a first advertisement packet to each of one or more other communication devices; a reception unit that receives a second advertisement packet transmitted from each of the one or more other communication devices that have received the first advertisement packet transmitted by the transmission unit; a reception unit that receives an operation for determining a target communication device to be paired with the communication device from among the one or more other communication devices that have transmitted the one or more second advertisement packets received by the reception unit; an execution unit that executes a pairing process for pairing the target communication device determined by the operation received by the reception unit with the communication device; wherein the transmission unit transmits the first advertisement packet to each of the one or more other communication devices before the execution unit executes the pairing process; a communication device.

2. The transmission unit has a function of periodically transmitting the first advertisement packet, and when the execution unit executes the pairing process, the execution of the function is prohibited. The communication device according to claim 1.

3. The transmission unit transmits the first advertisement packet to each of the one or more other communication devices when an application for pairing the communication device with the target communication device is started. The communication device according to claim 1.

4. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a creation unit that creates a list of the one or more other communication devices that have transmitted the one or more second advertisement packets received by the reception unit before the reception unit receives the operation. The communication device according to claim 1.

5. The operation includes an input operation for inputting identification information for identifying the target communication device, and the reception unit receives the input operation. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. a reception unit that receives a first advertisement packet transmitted by another communication device; a transmission unit that transmits a second advertisement packet to the other communication device only for a predetermined period when the reception unit receives the first advertisement packet; an execution unit that executes a pairing process for pairing with the other communication device in response to a pairing request from the other communication device; a communication device.

7. a first communication device; and one or more second communication devices. The first communication device includes a first transmission unit that transmits a first advertisement packet to each of the one or more second communication devices, a first reception unit that receives a second advertisement packet transmitted from each of the one or more second communication devices that have received the first advertisement packet transmitted by the first transmission unit, a reception unit that receives an operation for determining a target communication device to be paired with the first communication device from among the one or more second communication devices that have transmitted the one or more second advertisement packets received by the first reception unit, and an execution unit that executes a pairing process for pairing the target communication device determined by the operation received by the reception unit with the first communication device. Each of the one or more second communication devices includes a second reception unit that receives the first advertisement packet transmitted by the first communication device, and a second transmission unit that transmits the second advertisement packet to the first communication device only for a predetermined period when the second reception unit receives the first advertisement packet. The first transmission unit transmits the first advertisement packet to each of the one or more second communication devices before the execution unit executes the pairing process. Communication system. Claim 8 A control method for a communication device, comprising: a transmission step of transmitting a first advertisement packet to each of one or more other communication devices; a reception step of receiving a second advertisement packet transmitted from each of the one or more other communication devices that have received the first advertisement packet transmitted in the transmission step; a reception step of receiving an operation for determining a target communication device to be paired with the communication device from among the one or more other communication devices that have transmitted the one or more second advertisement packets received in the reception step; and an execution step of executing a pairing process for pairing the target communication device determined by the operation received in the reception step with the communication device, wherein in the transmission step, the first advertisement packet is transmitted to each of the one or more other communication devices before the pairing process is executed in the execution step. Control method. Claim 9 A control method for a communication device, comprising: A receiving step of receiving a first advertisement packet transmitted by another communication device; A transmitting step of transmitting a second advertisement packet to the other communication device only for a predetermined period when the first advertisement packet is received in the receiving step; An execution step of executing a pairing process for pairing with the other communication device in response to a pairing request from the other communication device, and A control method.

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