Communication device, control method, and program

Abstract

To prevent unnecessary connection processing.SOLUTION: A communication device capable of providing a communication parameter receives a request for the communication parameter from another first communication device, based on the request, determines whether the another first communication device is a device for building a wireless network by using the communication parameter or a device for connecting to the built wireless network by using the communication parameter, when the another first communication device is determined to be the device for connecting to the built wireless network, determines whether the communication parameter has been provided to another second communication device for building the wireless network, and when the parameter is determined not to have been provided to the another second communication device, notifies the another first communication device that the communication parameter has not been provided to the another second communication device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to communication technology.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, there has been an increasing number of cases where electronic devices such as digital cameras, printers, mobile phones, and smartphones are equipped with a wireless communication function and these devices are connected to a wireless network for use. To connect an electronic device to a wireless network, it is necessary to set various communication parameters such as an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key. As a technology for facilitating the setting of these communication parameters, there is a communication parameter setting protocol (Wi-Fi Device Provisioning Protocol, hereinafter referred to as DPP) using a QR code (registered trademark), etc. (Patent Document 1). In DPP, there is a device that provides communication parameters called a configurator and a device that requests and acquires communication parameters called an enrollee. The enrollee operates as either an access point that constructs a wireless network or a station (connection terminal) that connects to a wireless network using the acquired communication parameters.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In DPP, when Enroller requests communication parameters from the Configurator, it indicates which role it wants to operate as, either an access point or a station. An Enroller that desires to operate as an access point constructs a wireless network based on the communication parameters obtained from the Configurator. On the other hand, an Enroller that desires to operate as a station uses the communication parameters obtained from the Configurator to connect to the wireless network constructed by an access point (Enroller acting as an access point). Now, consider a case where the Configurator provides communication parameters to an Enroller that desires to operate as a station even though it has not yet provided communication parameters to an Enroller that desires to operate as an access point. In this case, the station attempts to connect to the wireless network using the obtained communication parameters, but since the wireless network has not been constructed by the access point, it is in a state where it cannot connect to the wireless network.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems and aims to prevent unnecessary connection processing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] As one means for achieving the above object, the communication device of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a communication device having, when performing setting processing of communication parameters with another communication device, depending on whether communication parameters for connecting to the network provided by the access point are provided between the access point and the communication device control means for controlling whether to provide communication parameters to the other device in a process based on DPP (Wi-Fi Device Provisioning Protocol) and, when the communication parameters have not been provided between the access point and the communication device, the control means does not provide the other communication device with information used to connect to the access point and notifies the other communication device that the parameters have not been provided .

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, unnecessary connection processing can be prevented, and as a result, it becomes possible to improve the convenience for the user.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the technical scope of the present invention is determined by the scope of the claims and is not limited by the following individual embodiments.

[0010] <First Embodiment> (Configuration of the System) FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a communication system according to the first embodiment. This communication system is composed of wireless terminals 101 and 102, and an access point 103. The wireless terminal 101 has a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communication function and operates, for example, as a configurator defined by DPP. Therefore, the wireless terminal 101 can provide communication parameters for forming a wireless network 104 to the access point 103 and communication parameters for connecting to the wireless network 104 to the wireless terminal 102. Here, the communication parameters include setting items necessary for wireless communication, such as an SSID (Service Set Identifier) as a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, and an authentication method. Note that the wireless terminal 101 operating as a configurator also notifies role information when providing communication parameters. This role information indicates the role after acquiring the communication parameters. This role indicates either an access point that constructs a wireless network using the acquired communication parameters or a station (connected terminal) that connects to the wireless network using the acquired communication parameters.

[0011] The access point 103 operates, for example, as an access point defined by DPP. Also, the access point 103 operates as an enrollee defined by DPP and can form a wireless network 104 by acquiring communication parameters from the wireless terminal 101 operating as a configurator. The wireless terminal 102 has a wireless LAN communication function and operates, for example, as an enrollee defined by DPP. Therefore, the wireless terminal 102 can acquire communication parameters from the wireless terminal 101 operating as a configurator and connect to the wireless network 104 formed by the access point 103. Note that the wireless terminal 102 and the access point 103 operating as enrollees also notify the above-described role information when requesting communication parameters from the wireless terminal 101 operating as a configurator.

[0012] Examples of the wireless terminals 101 and 102 in the present embodiment include, but are not limited to, electronic devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, video cameras, PCs, PDAs, smartphones, and smartwatches. Also, in the present embodiment, the wireless terminals 101 and 102 are used to describe electronic devices connected to a wireless network, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and any electronic device that can be connected to a wireless network may be used, and it does not have to be portable. Further, the access point 103 in the present embodiment may be an electronic device (such as a printer or a digital camera) that operates as an access point defined by DPP and has a specific function.

[0013] (Configuration of Wireless Terminal) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example of the wireless terminal 101 in the present embodiment. Note that the functional configuration of the wireless terminal 102 is the same as that of the wireless terminal 101. Each functional unit shown in FIG. 2 can be realized by one or more CPUs (not shown) executing a program stored in the storage unit 206. That is, each of the flowcharts described later can be realized by one or more CPUs executing a program stored in the storage unit 206 and performing arithmetic operations and processing of information and control of each hardware. However, some or all of the functional units shown in FIG. 2 may be realized by dedicated hardware.

[0014] In FIG. 2, the wireless communication control unit 201 controls the antenna 213 and a wireless circuit (not shown) to transmit and receive wireless signals to and from other devices. The transmission / reception unit 202 performs transmission and reception control of data according to the protocols of each communication layer via the wireless communication control unit 201. The operation unit 203 is used for the user to operate the wireless terminal 101. The operation unit 203 may include a button or the like for activating the imaging unit 207. Note that the operation unit 203 may be configured by hardware or may be configured by a UI (User Interface) provided using the display unit 204 by software. The display unit 204 is configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an LED (Light Emitting Diode), or the like and performs various display processes.

[0015] The control unit 205 controls the entire wireless terminal 101. The storage unit 206 includes a ROM in which a control program and data for controlling the wireless terminal 101 are stored, and a RAM for temporary storage. The imaging unit 207 includes an image sensor, a lens, etc. and captures still images and moving images. The image processing unit 208 performs image processing of images such as those captured by the imaging unit 207. Further, the image processing unit 208 analyzes the image of the QR code captured by the imaging unit 207, decodes the encoded information, and acquires the information (QR code information). The code generation unit 209 generates QR code information and performs control for displaying the generated QR code information on the display unit 204 as a QR code (image). Note that in this embodiment, a QR code is used as the image of the code information, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a barcode, a two-dimensional code, or the like may be used.

[0016] The parameter processing unit 210 performs processes for providing and acquiring communication parameters for connecting to the wireless network 104. The determination unit 211 performs various determination processes related to the communication parameter providing process. For example, the determination unit 211 determines the role of a device that constructs or connects to the wireless network using the communication parameters. In the present embodiment, as the roles to be determined, there are an "access point" that constructs a wireless network and a "station" that connects to the wireless network. The authentication unit 212 performs control for authenticating other devices.

[0017] Note that the above functional blocks are merely examples, and a plurality of functional blocks may constitute one functional block, or any one of the functional blocks may be further divided into blocks that perform a plurality of functions.

[0018] (Processing for Providing Communication Parameters in the DPP Standard) Next, the processing for providing communication parameters defined in the DPP standard will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. First, the process in which the wireless terminal 101 operating as a configurator provides communication parameters to connect the wireless terminal 102 to the wireless network 104 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the process in which the wireless terminal 101 operating as a configurator provides communication parameters to the wireless terminal 102 operating as an enrollee.

[0019] In the wireless terminal 101, when the operation unit 203 receives an instruction for parameter provision from the user, the control unit 205 activates the imaging unit 207 to capture the QR code (including the image) displayed on the wireless terminal 102 (S301). The public key for authentication of the wireless terminal 102 is included in the QR code. The control unit 205 determines whether the imaging unit 207 has captured the QR code (S302). Here, the QR code displayed on the wireless terminal 102 is not limited to that displayed on the display unit 204 or the like of the wireless terminal, and may be printed on a label or the like attached to the housing or accessories of the wireless terminal 102. Further, the QR code may be described in, for example, an instruction manual for the wireless terminal 102. Note that, in S302, if the QR code cannot be captured within a predetermined time from the activation of the imaging unit 207, the wireless terminal 101 may end the communication parameter provision process.

[0020] When it is determined that the QR code has been captured (YES in S302), the image processing unit 208 acquires QR code information including the public key for authentication of the wireless terminal 102 from the captured QR code (S303). Next, the authentication unit transmits an authentication request to the wireless terminal 102 via the transmission / reception unit 202 (S304). This authentication request is, for example, a DPP Authentication Request frame defined by the DPP standard. This authentication request includes authentication information for use in authentication, identification information of the wireless terminal 101, a random number, and a public key for generating a shared key. The authentication information may be the hash value of the public key for authentication of the wireless terminal 102 included in the QR code. The identification information of the wireless terminal 101 may be the hash value of the public key for authentication of the wireless terminal 101. The random number can be used for authentication when receiving the authentication response described later. The public key for generating a shared key may be a key that is the source of the shared key generated between the wireless terminal 102 and the wireless terminal 101.

[0021] Upon receiving the authentication request, the wireless terminal 102 determines whether the device that sent the authentication request is the device that captured the QR code. This determination can be made using the authentication information included in the authentication request. That is, the wireless terminal 102 calculates the hash value of the public key included in the displayed QR code, compares the calculated hash value with the hash value (authentication information) included in the authentication request, and determines that the verification is successful if the two match. Note that the hash function used for calculating the hash value at this time is pre-agreed between the wireless terminal 101 that sends the authentication request.

[0022] After sending the authentication request to the wireless terminal 102 in S304, the transceiver unit 202 of the wireless terminal 101 waits to receive an authentication response from the wireless terminal 102 (S305). If the authentication response cannot be received within a predetermined time in S305, the communication parameter providing process may end. The authentication response is, for example, a DPP Authentication Response frame defined by the DPP standard. This authentication response includes the public key for generating the shared key of the wireless terminal 102, a random number, and tag information.

[0023] In FIG. 3, when an authentication response is received (YES in S305), the authentication unit 212 of the wireless terminal 101 verifies the content of the authentication response (S306). First, the authentication unit 212 of the wireless terminal 101 generates a shared key using both the public key for generating the shared key of the wireless terminal 102 included in the authentication response and its own private key for generating the shared key. Note that this is the method for generating the shared key of the wireless terminal 101 operating as a configurator, and the wireless terminal 102 operating as an enrollee generates a shared key using both the public key for generating the shared key of the wireless terminal 101 and its own private key for generating the shared key. The shared key is generated, for example, based on the ECDH (Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman) method. Hereinafter, the shared key is generated based on this ECDH method, but it is not limited to this method, and it may be generated by other public key cryptography methods.

[0024] Subsequently, the authentication unit 212 determines whether authentication is successful using the tag information included in the authentication response. This tag information is obtained by encrypting the random number included in the authentication request transmitted by the wireless terminal 101 with a shared key generated using both the secret key for generating the shared key of the wireless terminal 102 and the public key for generating the shared key of the wireless terminal 101. The authentication unit 212 determines that authentication is successful when it can correctly decrypt the tag information with the shared key it generated. The authentication unit 212 determines that authentication is successful when it can decrypt the tag information with the shared key it generated, and determines that authentication has failed when it cannot decrypt it.

[0025] When it is determined that authentication has failed (NO in S306), the control unit 205 displays a message indicating an error on the display unit 204 (S310) and ends the parameter provision process. When it is determined that authentication is successful (YES in S306), the authentication unit 212 transmits an authentication confirmation to the wireless terminal 102 via the transceiver unit 202 (S307). This authentication confirmation is, for example, a DPP Authentication Confirm frame defined by the DPP standard. This authentication confirmation includes tag information. This tag information is obtained by encrypting the random number included in the authentication response transmitted by the wireless terminal 102 with the generated shared key. After transmitting the authentication confirmation, the transceiver unit 202 of the wireless terminal 101 waits for a setting request to be transmitted from the wireless terminal 102, which is the enrollee (S308).

[0026] On the wireless terminal 102 side, when it receives an authentication confirmation from the wireless terminal 101 and can correctly decrypt the tag information included in the authentication confirmation with the shared key generated by itself, it determines that the authentication is successful. When it is determined that the authentication is successful, the wireless terminal 102 identifies the wireless terminal 101 that sent the authentication request as a configurator and sends a configuration request to the wireless terminal 101. The configuration request is, for example, a DPP Configuration Request frame defined by the DPP standard. This configuration request includes the device information and role information of the wireless terminal 102. The device information is the device name of the wireless terminal 102, etc. The role information is information indicating the role after receiving the communication parameters. In this embodiment, it is "access point" or "station". The information included in the configuration request is encrypted with the shared key used when the wireless terminal 102 generates the tag information included in the authentication response.

[0027] When the configuration request from the wireless terminal 102 is received (YES in S308), the parameter processing unit 210 performs a communication parameter providing process via the transmission / reception unit 202 (S309). Specifically, the parameter processing unit 210 transmits a configuration response including communication parameters for constructing (forming) the wireless network 104 to the wireless terminal 102 via the transmission / reception unit 202. The configuration response is, for example, a DPP Configuration Response frame defined by the DPP standard. The configuration response includes communication parameters, the expiration date of the parameters, the public key dedicated to the configurator of the wireless terminal 101, role information, etc. The communication parameters included in the configuration response are encrypted with the secret key dedicated to the configurator of the wireless terminal 101. Furthermore, the information included in the configuration response is encrypted with the shared key used when generating the tag information in S307. Note that the communication parameters include, as an encryption key, the public key of the communication partner used for generating the shared key (in this case, the public key included in the authentication response from the wireless terminal 102).

[0028] The wireless terminal 102 operating as an enrollee waits for a configuration response to be sent from the wireless terminal 101 operating as a configurator after sending a configuration request. The wireless terminal 102 that has received the configuration response decrypts the information contained in the configuration response using the shared key used at the time of tag information generation. Further, the wireless terminal 102 decrypts the communication parameters encrypted with the secret key dedicated to the configurator of the wireless terminal 101 using the public key dedicated to the configurator of the wireless terminal 101. The wireless terminal 102 can connect to the wireless network 104 with the communication parameters obtained by decryption.

[0029] The operations of the wireless terminal 101 and the wireless terminal 102 until the wireless terminal 101 that performs the above-described processing provides the communication parameters to the wireless terminal 102 will be further described. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing the communication parameter providing process between the wireless terminal 101 and the wireless terminal 102.

[0030] When the wireless terminal 102 receives an instruction to receive parameters from the user (S401), it displays a QR code on the display unit 204 of the wireless terminal 102 (S402) and waits for an authentication request. If an authentication request cannot be received within a predetermined time, the wireless terminal 102 may end the waiting for the authentication request. Further, if the wireless terminal 102 does not include means (such as the display unit 204) for displaying the QR code and the QR code is printed on a label attached to the housing or accessories of the wireless terminal 102, S402 is skipped. That is, when the wireless terminal 102 receives an instruction to receive parameters (S401), it waits for an authentication request without performing the process in S402.

[0031] On one hand, when the wireless terminal 101 receives an instruction for parameter provision from the user (S403), it activates the imaging unit 207 to capture the QR code displayed by the wireless terminal 102 (S404). Then, the imaging unit 207 of the wireless terminal 101 captures the QR code displayed by the wireless terminal 102 and acquires the QR code information (S405). The wireless terminal 101 that has acquired the QR code information generates and transmits an authentication request, and the wireless terminal 102 receives this authentication request (S406). The wireless terminal 102 verifies the content of the received authentication request (S407). If it determines that the wireless terminal 101 that transmitted the authentication request is the device that captured the QR code, the wireless terminal 102 generates and transmits an authentication response (S408). The wireless terminal 102 that has transmitted the authentication response to the wireless terminal 101 waits for an authentication confirmation to be transmitted from the wireless terminal 101.

[0032] The wireless terminal 101 that has received the authentication response verifies the content of the authentication response (S409). If the wireless terminal 101 determines that the authentication is successful, it transmits an authentication confirmation to the wireless terminal 102 (S410). The wireless terminal 102 that has received the authentication confirmation from the wireless terminal 101 (S410) verifies the content of the authentication confirmation. The wireless terminal 102 determines that the authentication is successful if it can correctly decrypt the tag information with the shared key it generated. When it is determined that the authentication is successful, the wireless terminal 102 transmits a setting request to perform the setting process of the communication parameters (S411) and waits for a setting response to be transmitted from the wireless terminal 101. The wireless terminal 101 that has received the setting request includes the communication parameters encrypted with the secret key dedicated to the configurator of the wireless terminal 101 and the public key dedicated to the configurator in the setting response and transmits them (S412). The wireless terminal 102 that has received the setting response decrypts the communication parameters with the public key dedicated to the configurator of the wireless terminal 101. The wireless terminal 102 connects to the wireless network 104 using the decrypted communication parameters.

[0033] As described above, by the processes described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the wireless terminal 101 can provide communication parameters to the wireless terminal 102. Also, by a process similar to the processes described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the wireless terminal 101, which is a configurator, can provide communication parameters to the access point 103, which is an enrollee. The access point 103 can construct a wireless network 104 with the obtained communication parameters.

[0034] (Flow of the process in this embodiment) Next, consider the case where the wireless terminal 101 provides communication parameters to the wireless terminal 102 without providing the communication parameters to the access point 103. In this case, since the access point 103 has not acquired the communication parameters, it cannot construct the wireless network 104. As a result, although the wireless terminal 102 has acquired the communication parameters and performed the connection process to the wireless network 104, it cannot connect to the wireless network 104. Therefore, in order not to perform the connection process to the non-existent wireless network 104, the wireless terminal 102 needs to recognize that the access point 103 has not acquired the communication parameters. Hereinafter, the process by which the wireless terminal 101 notifies the wireless terminal 102 that the communication parameters have not been provided to the access point 103 will be described.

[0035] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the process by which the wireless terminal 101 notifies the wireless terminal 102 that the communication parameters have not been provided to the access point 103. The processes from when the imaging unit 207 is activated until the reception of the setting request are the same as those in FIG. 3 (S301 to S308). In FIG. 5, the processes after the transmission / reception unit 202 receives the setting request (YES in S308) in the process of FIG. 3 are shown.

[0036] The determination unit 211 of the wireless terminal 101 determines whether the role of the wireless terminal 102 is an access point based on the setting request received from the wireless terminal 102 (S501). Specifically, the determination unit 211 determines whether the role information included in the setting information indicates an access point (S501). If it is determined that the role of the wireless terminal 102 is an access point (the role information indicates an access point) (YES in S501), the parameter processing unit 210 provides (transmits) communication parameters to the wireless terminal 102 via the transmission / reception unit 202 as a setting response (S504). On the other hand, if it is determined that the role is not an access point, that is, if it is determined that it is a station (the role information indicates a station) (NO in S501), the determination unit 211 further determines whether communication parameters have already been provided to the access point 103 (S502).

[0037] If it is determined that communication parameters have already been provided to the access point 103 (YES in S502), the parameter processing unit 210 provides communication parameters to the wireless terminal 102 via the transmission / reception unit 202 as a setting response (S504). On the other hand, if it is determined that communication parameters have not been provided yet (NO in S502), the parameter processing unit 210 notifies the wireless terminal 102 that communication parameters have not been provided to the access point 103 via the transmission / reception unit 202 (S503). Subsequently, the parameter processing unit 210 provides communication parameters to the wireless terminal 102 via the transmission / reception unit 202 as a setting response (S504). Note that communication parameters may be provided when notifying in S503 that they have not been provided yet.

[0038] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process in which the wireless terminal 101 notifies the wireless terminal 102 that communication parameters have not been provided to the access point 103 without performing the communication parameter providing process. The processes (S601, S602) from receiving the setting request until determining whether communication parameters have already been provided to the access point 103 are the same as those in FIG. 5 (S501, S502).

[0039] When it is determined that communication parameters have already been provided to access point 103 (YES in S602), parameter processing unit 210 provides the communication parameters to wireless terminal 102 via transmission / reception unit 202 as a setting response (S604). On the other hand, when it is determined that the communication parameters have not been provided yet (NO in S602), parameter processing unit 210 notifies wireless terminal 102 via transmission / reception unit 202 that the communication parameters have not been provided to access point 103 yet (S603), and ends the process. Note that the fact that the parameters have not been provided yet may be notified in a setting response which is a response to the setting request. For example, information included in the setting response called DPP status defined by the DPP standard may indicate that "the communication parameters have not been provided to the access point yet".

[0040] Also, instead of notifying in S603 that the communication parameters have not been provided to access point 103 yet, a setting response not including the communication parameters may be transmitted to wireless terminal 102. Since the communication parameters are not included in the setting response, wireless terminal 102 that has received the setting response does not attempt to connect to the wireless network.

[0041] Subsequently, the process between wireless terminal 101 and wireless terminal 102 will be described using the sequence diagram of FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing the communication parameter providing process between wireless terminal 101 and wireless terminal 102 in the present embodiment. When wireless terminal 102 receives an instruction to receive parameters from the user (S701), it displays a QR code on display unit 204 of the wireless terminal (S702). On the other hand, when wireless terminal 101 receives an instruction to provide parameters from the user (S703), it activates imaging unit 207 to capture the QR code displayed by wireless terminal 102 (S704). Then, by capturing the QR code displayed by wireless terminal 102, wireless terminal 101 that has acquired the information indicated by the QR code performs an authentication process with wireless terminal 102 and waits for a setting request for requesting communication parameters (S711). The processes of S701 to S711 are the same as the processes of S401 to S411 described in FIG. 4.

[0042] Upon receiving the setting request, the wireless terminal 101 checks the role information included in the setting request. If it is determined that the role information is a station, it determines whether the communication parameters have been provided to the access point 103. If the wireless terminal 101 determines that they have not been provided (S712), it notifies the wireless terminal 102 that the communication parameters have not been provided to the access point 103.

[0043] As described above, according to the first embodiment, in the communication parameter acquisition process, the wireless terminal 101 can notify that the communication parameters have not been provided to the access point 103. The wireless terminal 102 notified that the communication parameters have not been provided to the access point 103 can recognize that the wireless network 104 does not exist, and it becomes possible to prevent unnecessary connection processing.

[0044] Note that, before providing the communication parameters, the wireless terminal 101 may check whether there is an access point 103 that constructs a connectable wireless network 104. Specifically, in FIG. 6, before providing the communication parameters (S604), the wireless terminal 101 checks the existence of the access point 103. For example, as a process of checking the existence of the access point 103, it can be realized by performing a process of verifying whether the SSID included in the beacon transmitted by the access point 103 matches the SSID included in the communication parameters to be provided. Also, using the communication parameters to be provided, the wireless terminal 101 can perform a connection process to the wireless network 104 constructed by the access point 103 and determine whether it can be connected, thereby checking the existence of the access point 103. According to such a process, the wireless terminal 101 can provide the communication parameters to the wireless terminal 102 after checking the existence of the access point 103 (the existence of the wireless network 104), and the wireless terminal 102 can prevent unnecessary connection processing.

[0045] <Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment, the communication parameters provided by the wireless terminal 101, which is a configurator, have been described for the case of DPP only. In the second embodiment, the processing when the communication parameters are either for DPP or for non-DPP (PSK (Pre Shared Key) or passphrase (hereinafter referred to as legacy)) will be described. The communication parameters for legacy include the encryption keys when performing authentication / key exchange based on conventional WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) or IEEE802.11. That is, the PSK / passphrase is information for connecting to the wireless network constructed by the access point in accordance with a protocol different from DPP. The communication parameters for DPP are various types of information used in the authentication protocol and key exchange algorithm defined by DPP, and are information for connecting to the wireless network formed by the access point in accordance with DPP.

[0046] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the process in which the wireless terminal 101 notifies the wireless terminal 102 that the communication parameters have not been provided to the access point 103 in this embodiment. The processing from when the imaging unit 207 is activated until a setting request is received is the same as in FIG. 3 (S301 to S308). FIG. 8 shows the processing after receiving the setting request (YES in S308) in the processing of FIG. 3.

[0047] The determination unit 211 of the wireless terminal 101 determines whether the role of the wireless terminal 102 is an access point based on the setting request received from the wireless terminal 102 (S801). This determination process is made by determining whether the role information included in the setting information indicates an access point, similar to S501 in FIG. 5. When it is determined that the role of the wireless terminal 102 is an access point (YES in S801), the determination unit 211 determines whether the communication parameters to be provided are for DPP or for legacy (S806). When it is determined that they are for legacy (Legacy in S806), the parameter processing unit 210 provides the legacy communication parameters to the wireless terminal 102 as a setting response via the transceiver unit 202 (S807). On the other hand, when it is determined that they are for DPP (DPP in S806), the parameter processing unit 210 provides the DPP communication parameters as a setting response via the transceiver unit 202 (S808).

[0048] When it is determined that the role is not an access point (NO in S801), the determination unit 211 determines whether the communication parameters to be provided are for DPP or for legacy (S802). When it is determined that they are for legacy (Legacy in S802), the legacy communication parameters are provided to the wireless terminal 102 (S807). On the other hand, when it is determined that they are for DPP (DPP in S802), it is determined whether the communication parameters have already been provided to the access point 103 (S803).

[0049] When it is determined that the communication parameters have already been provided to the access point 103 (YES in S803), the parameter processing unit 210 provides the DPP communication parameters to the wireless terminal 102 as a setting response via the transceiver unit 202 (S804). On the other hand, when it is determined that the communication parameters have not been provided yet (NO in S803), the parameter processing unit 210 notifies the wireless terminal 102 that the communication parameters have not been provided to the access point 103 via the transceiver unit 202 (S805). Note that when notifying the wireless terminal 102 in S805 that the parameters have not been provided yet, the parameter processing unit 210 may provide the DPP communication parameters.

[0050] Next, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing of the wireless terminal 101 that switches its operation according to whether the legacy communication parameters to be provided are acquired from the access point via WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup). When it is determined that the role of the wireless terminal 102 is the access point (YES in S901), the parameter processing unit 210 provides the legacy communication parameters (S907) or provides the DPP communication parameters (S908). Also, when it is determined that the role of the wireless terminal 102 is not the access point (NO in S901) and it is determined that the parameters to be provided are for DPP (DPP in S902), the parameter processing unit 210 provides the DPP communication parameters (S904) or notifies that they have not been provided yet (S905). These processes are the same as those in FIG. 8 (S801 to S808).

[0051] In FIG. 9, when it is determined that the role of the wireless terminal 102 is not the access point (NO in S901) and it is determined that the communication parameters to be provided are for legacy (legacy in S902), the process proceeds to S909. In S909, the wireless terminal 101 that has determined that the communication parameters to be provided are for legacy determines whether the communication parameters to be provided are acquired from the access point 103 via WPS. When it is determined that they are acquired via WPS (YES in S909), the parameter processing unit 210 provides the legacy communication parameters to the wireless terminal 102 via the transmission / reception unit 202 as a setting response (S907). On the other hand, when it is determined that they are not acquired by WPS (NO in S909), the determination unit 211 checks whether there is an access point 103 that constructs a wireless network 104 connectable with the legacy communication parameters (S910).

[0052] As a result of the confirmation in S910, when it is determined that the access point 103 exists (YES in S911), the parameter processing unit 210 provides legacy communication parameters to the wireless terminal 102 via the transmission / reception unit 202 as a setting response (S907). On the other hand, when it is determined that it does not exist (NO in S911), the parameter processing unit 210 notifies the wireless terminal 102 that the communication parameters have not been provided to the access point 103 via the transmission / reception unit 202 (S905). Note that the wireless terminal 101 may notify the wireless terminal 102 that the access point 103 does not exist instead of notifying that the communication parameters have not been provided.

[0053] As described above, according to the second embodiment, even when the communication parameter is not only for DPP but also for either DPP or non-DPP, it is possible to provide the communication parameter or notify that the communication parameter has not been provided to the access point 103.

[0054] As described above, according to each of the above-described embodiments, the configurator can notify the station that the communication parameters have not been provided to the access point. As a result, the station can recognize that there is no access point for constructing a wireless network, and thus it is possible to improve the convenience for the user.

[0055] <Other Embodiments> In each of the above-described embodiments, a configuration has been described in which information for setting communication parameters is exchanged between devices using an image of a QR code (registered trademark). However, instead of photographing the QR code (registered trademark), wireless communication such as NFC or Bluetooth (registered trademark) may be used. Also, wireless communication such as IEEE802.11ad or TransferJet (registered trademark) may be used. Note that the QR code (registered trademark) to be read may be not only the QR code displayed on the display unit but also a QR code attached in the form of a sticker or the like to the housing of the communication device. Further, the QR code (registered trademark) to be read may be attached to packaging such as an instruction manual or a cardboard box at the time of sale of the communication device. Also, instead of a QR code, a barcode or a two-dimensional code may be used. Further, instead of information that can be read by a machine such as a QR code, information in a form that can be read by a user may be used.

[0056] Also, in each of the embodiments, the case where communication between devices is performed by wireless LAN communication compliant with IEEE802.11 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be implemented using a wireless communication medium such as wireless USB, MBOA, Bluetooth (registered trademark), UWB, ZigBee, NFC, etc. Here, MBOA is an abbreviation for Multi Band OFDM Alliance. Also, UWB includes wireless USB, wireless 1394, WINET, etc.

[0057] Also, in each of the embodiments, the case of providing communication parameters for connecting to a wireless LAN access point has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, communication parameters for connecting to a group owner of Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark) may be provided.

[0058] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and causing one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus to read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, an ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

Explanation of Signs

[0059] 101, 102: Wireless terminals, 103: Access point, 104: Wireless network, 201: Wireless communication control unit, 202: Transceiver unit, 203: Operation unit, 204: Display unit, 205: Control unit, 206: Storage unit, 207: Imaging unit, 208: Image processing unit, 209: Barcode generation unit, 210: Parameter processing unit, 211: Determination unit, 212: Authentication unit, 213: Antenna

Claims

1. A communication device, when performing communication parameter setting processing with another communication device, controls whether to provide communication parameters to the other device by a process based on DPP (Wi-Fi Device Provisioning Protocol) according to whether communication parameters for connecting to a network provided by an access point are provided between the access point and the communication device, wherein the control means does not provide communication parameters used for connecting to the access point by a process based on DPP to the other communication device when the communication parameters have not been provided between the access point and the communication device, and notifies the other communication device that they have not been provided. The communication device is characterized by this.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the control means notifies the other device of an error when the communication parameters have not been provided between the access point and the communication device.

3. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when it is possible to connect to an access point, the control means provides communication parameters to another communication device by a process based on DPP.

4. The case of performing communication parameter setting processing with the other communication device in any one of claims 1 to 3 is when a setting request for communication parameters defined by DPP is received from the other communication device. The communication device is characterized by this.

5. The case of performing communication parameter setting processing with the other communication device in any one of claims 1 to 4 is when a setting request for communication parameters defined by DPP and including role information indicating a station is received from the other communication device. The communication device is characterized by this.

6. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when the control means provides communication parameters to another device, it provides the role information of the communication device together.

7. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the provided communication parameters are encrypted with an encryption key of the communication device.

8. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the provided communication parameters include at least any one of an SSID (Service Set Identifier), an encryption method, an encryption key, and an authentication method.

9. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the provided communication parameters include information used in a key exchange algorithm.

10. A control method executed by a communication device, When performing a communication parameter setting process with another communication device, it is determined whether the communication parameters for connecting to a network provided by an access point are provided between the access point and the communication device, and a control process is performed to control whether to provide the communication parameters to the other device based on a DPP (Wi-Fi Device Provisioning Protocol) process. In the control process, when the communication parameters have not been provided between the access point and the communication device, the communication parameters used to connect to the access point based on the DPP process are not provided to the other communication device, and it is notified to the other communication device that the communication parameters have not been provided.

11. A program for operating a computer as the communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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