IP Library Granted Patent US 7,174,157
Granted Patent B2
US 7,174,157 · App. 10/289,455 · Granted Feb 6, 2007

Wireless communication device

Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,174,157
App. No.
10/289,455
Granted
Feb 6, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A standard communication module establishes communication with another wireless communication device via radio waves. A short distance communication module utilizes weaker radio waves than the radio waves used by the standard communication module, in order to establish communication with another wireless communication device. A communication control module activates the short distance communication module to transmit setting parameters, which are used to change settings required for communication in another wireless communication device. This arrangement effectively prevents leakage of the setting parameters to any third person who is beyond the communicable range of the short distance communication module, thus ensuring security for settings in the wireless communication device in a wireless environment.

Claims (26)

1. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a standard communication module that establishes communication with another wireless communication device via radio waves;

a short distance communication module that utilizes weaker radio waves than the radio waves used by said standard communication module, in order to establish communication with another wireless communication device; and

a communication control module that switches over active communication between said standard communication module and said short distance communication module,

wherein said communication control module activates said short distance communication module to transmit setting parameters, which are used to change settings required for communication in said another wireless communication device; and

wherein said standard communication module and said short distance communication module both use the same antenna.

2. A wireless communication device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said communication control module activates said short distance communication module to transmit the setting parameters, in response to an external transmission instruction of the setting parameters.

3. A wireless communication device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the setting parameters include key information used for encoding and decoding data in the process of communication with another wireless communication device.

4. A wireless communication device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the setting parameters include group information for identifying a network group to be entered.

5. A wireless communication device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said communication control module activates said standard communication module, after transmission of the setting parameters by said short distance communication module.

6. A wireless equipment setting device that utilizes a wireless communication device to carry out settings required for communication in another wireless communication device,

said wireless communication device comprising:

a standard communication module that establishes communication with another wireless communication device via radio waves;

a short distance communication module that utilizes weaker radio waves than the radio waves used by said standard communication module, in order to establish communication with another wireless communication device; and

a communication control module that switches over active communication between said standard communication module and said short distance communication module,

wherein:

said standard communication module and said short distance communication module both use the same antenna,

said communication control module activates said short distance communication module to transmit setting parameters, which are used to change settings required for communication in said another wireless communication device, and

said wireless equipment setting device comprises:

a setting parameters storage module that stores the setting parameters;

a selection signal transmission module that transmits a selection signal for selecting either one of said standard communication module and said short distance communication module to said communication control module; and

a setting parameters transmission module that transmits the setting parameters to said communication control module.

7. A computer readable recording medium in which a computer program to control a wireless communication device is recorded, said computer program comprising:

a setting parameters storage function that stores setting parameters which are used to change settings required for communication in another wireless communication device;

a selection signal transmission function that transmits a selection signal for selecting either one of a standard communication module that establishes communication with another wireless communication device via radio wave and a short distance communication module that utilizes weaker radio waves than the radio waves used by said standard communication module, in order to establish communication with another wireless communication device to said communication control module, wherein said standard communication module and said short distance communication module both use the same antenna; and

a setting parameters transmission function that transmits the setting parameters to said communication control module.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2019
From: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
To: 138 EAST LCD ADVANCEMENTS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 050710/0121 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2003
From: GASSHO, KAZUHITO; SHIOHARA, SUSUMU
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 013689/0116 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2001-348240 · Nov 14, 2001 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20030092395A1 · May 15, 2003