IP Library Patent Application 10557836
Patent Application
App. No. 10/557,836

Management device that registers communication device to wireless network, communication device, intermediate device, and method, program, and integrated circuit for registration of communication device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
10/557,836
Abstract

A common key is obtained from a management device 101 by operating a bidirectional infrared remote control 105 at a location 105 a via an infrared communication, the management device 101 being connected to a wireless network. The common key is transmitted to an air-conditioner 104 from bidirectional infrared remote control 105 , after carrying the bidirectional infrared remote control 105 to a location 105 b where it is possible that the bidirectional infrared remote control 105 and air-conditioner 104 communicate via the infrared communication.

Claims (70)

1 . A management device that registers a communication device to a wireless network in which data communication is performed, the management device comprising:

a transmission unit operable to, in registering the communication device, transmit on a predetermined carrier a piece of initial data for authentication to an intermediate device, which relays the piece of initial data to the communication device;

an authentication unit operable to authenticate the communication device that has received the piece of initial data from the intermediate device, using data identical to the piece of initial data; and

a communication unit operable to perform data communication with the authenticated communication device via the wireless network, wherein:

an area where the predetermined carrier reaches is narrower in comparison with any carrier for the wireless network.

2 . The management device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the predetermined carrier is infrared light.

3 . The management device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the predetermined carrier is a close-range radiowave of a contactless IC card.

4 . The management device according to claim 1 , wherein

the piece of initial data contains a device address of the management device.

5 . A management device that registers a communication device to a wireless network in which data communication is performed, the management device comprising:

a readout unit operable to, in registering a communication device to the wireless network, read from a recording medium a piece of initial data for authentication;

an authentication unit operable to authenticate the communication device using the piece of initial data; and

a communication unit operable to perform data communication with the authenticated communication device via the wireless network.

6 . A communication device comprising:

a receiving unit operable to, when being registered to a wireless network managed by a management device, receive on a predetermined carrier a piece of initial data for authentication from a intermediate device, which holds the piece of initial data received from the management device;

an authentication request unit operable to, based on the piece of initial data, request an authentication from the management device; and

a communication unit operable to, when the authentication is successful, perform data communication with other registered communication devices via the wireless network, wherein:

an area where the predetermined carrier reaches is narrower in comparison with any carrier for the wireless network.

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

the piece of initial data contains one of a common key and a password for generating the common key, the common key being held by the management device; and

the authentication request unit request an authentication in a challenge-and-response method using the common key.

8 . The communication device according to claim 7 , further comprising:

an encryption/decryption unit operable to encrypt data to be sent and decrypt data received by the communication unit, the encryption and decryption being performed based on a common key encryption method using the common key.

9 . The communication device according to claim 6 , wherein:

the piece of initial data contains a device address of the management device; and

the authentication request unit requests an authentication from a device identified by the device address.

10 . The communication device according to claim 6 , wherein:

the predetermined carrier is infrared light.

11 . The communication device according to claim 6 , wherein:

the predetermined carrier is a close-range radiowave of a contactless IC card.

12 . A communication device comprising:

a holding unit operable to hold a piece of initial data for authentication by a management device in a wireless network, the management device obtaining data that is recorded in a recording medium and identical with the piece of initial data;

an authentication request unit operable to, based on the held data, request an authentication from the management device; and

a communication unit operable to, when the authentication is successful, perform data communication via the wireless network with other registered communication devices.

13 . An intermediate device comprising:

a receiving unit operable to, in registration of a communication device to a wireless network, receive on a predetermined carrier a piece of initial data from a management device;

a holding unit operable to hold the piece of initial data; and

a sending unit operable to send the piece of initial data to the communication device, using the predetermined carrier, wherein:

an area where the predetermined carrier reaches is narrower in comparison with any carrier for the wireless network.

14 . The intermediate device according to claim 14 , wherein:

different carriers are used in the receiving and the sending of the piece of initial data.

15 . The intermediate device according to claim 14 , further comprising:

an erase unit operable to erase the piece of initial data held in the holding unit.

16 . The intermediate device according to claim 16 , wherein:

the erase of the piece of initial data is performed when the piece of sent initial data is received by the communication device.

17 . The intermediate device according to claim 17 , wherein:

the erase unit confirms, by receiving a notification from the communication device, that the piece of initial data is received by the communication device.

18 . The intermediate device according to claim 16 , wherein:

the holding unit is a Ferroelectric Random Access Memory; and

the erasing of the piece of initial data is performed by destructive read of the piece of initial data.

19 . The intermediate device according to claim 14 , the device being a handheld type and movable from a first location to a second location, wherein:

the receiving unit receives the piece of initial data at the first location, from which the predetermined carrier reaches the management device; and

the sending unit sends the piece of initial data at the second location, from which the predetermined carrier reaches the communication device.

20 . An integrated circuit for management device of a wireless network in which data communication is performed among communication devices, the integrated circuit comprising:

a transmission unit operable to, in registering the communication device, transmit on a predetermined carrier a piece of initial data for authentication to an intermediate device, which relays the piece of initial data to the communication device;

an authentication unit operable to authenticate the communication device that has received the piece of initial data from the intermediate device, using data identical to the piece of initial data; and

a communication unit operable to perform data communication with the authenticated communication device via the wireless network, wherein:

an area where the predetermined carrier reaches is narrower in comparison with any carrier for the wireless network.

21 . A method of registering a communication device to a wireless network in which data communication is performed among devices authenticated by a management device, the method comprising:

transmitting, in registering the communication device, on a predetermined carrier a piece of initial data for authentication to an intermediate device, which relays the piece of initial data to the communication device;

authenticating the communication device that has received the piece of initial data from the intermediate device, using data identical to the piece of initial data; and

performing data communication with the authenticated communication device via the wireless network, wherein:

an area where the predetermined carrier reaches is narrower in comparison with any carrier for the wireless network.

22 . A program of controlling registration of a communication device to a wireless network in which data communication is performed among devices authenticated by a management device, the program comprising:

transmitting, in registering the communication device, on a predetermined carrier a piece of initial data for authentication to an intermediate device, which relays the piece of initial data to the communication device;

authenticating the communication device that has received the piece of initial data from the intermediate device, using data identical to the piece of initial data; and

performing data communication with the authenticated communication device via the wireless network, wherein:

an area where the predetermined carrier reaches is narrower in comparison with any carrier for the wireless network.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 21, 2008
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021897/0570 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2007
From: MORIOKA, MASAAKI; NASU, HIDETADA; SUGIMOTO, KUNIAKI
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 018748/0104 →