Wireless communication device, wireless communication system, wireless communication method and program for randomizing a duration for receiving a probe request

1. A wireless communication device that is configured to communicate with a second device via an antenna of the second device, the wireless communication device comprising:

a memory; and

a processing circuitry configured to:

receive, during a listen state, a probe request from the second device;

transmit a probe response on a first frequency that is fixed in a first state of utilizing the fixed first frequency as a single fixed channel of transmitting the probe request; and

randomize, during a single duration of a search state, a period for changing a frequency for reception in a second state of receiving a probe response from the second device on plural channels of a fixed list of frequencies, the frequency for reception being changed to each of the first frequency, a second frequency, and a third frequency switched in turn within the single duration of the search state,

wherein the period for changing the frequency for reception in the second state of the fixed list of frequencies is a length of time that is an integer multiple of a time interval, the integer multiple being a randomly-generated number,

wherein the period represents a waiting cycle for the reception of the probe response, and the waiting cycle associated with the frequency for reception is ended at a timing of elapse of the randomized period, and

wherein when the wireless communication device receives the probe response transmitted by the second device, a negotiation is performed between the wireless communication device and the second device.

2. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the negotiation determines which one of the second device and the wireless communication device plays an access point AP-like role.

3. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the probe request includes a Frame Check Sequence.

4. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to construct a probe request frame, as at least a portion of a probe request, for transmission to the second device.

5. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to decode a probe response frame of the probe response received from the second device.

6. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 ,

wherein a transmission of a probe request by a transmission circuitry and a waiting for a reception of the probe response from the second device by the processing circuitry are performed in a time-division manner wherein time divisions of transmission and waiting do not overlap.

7. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the time interval is a predetermined fixed interval of time.

8. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to transmit a beacon as notification information, and

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to receive an acknowledgement to the beacon transmitted as notification information.

9. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to transmit a probe request as notification information,

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to receive the probe response as notification information,

wherein the transmission of notification information by a transmitting circuitry and a waiting for a reception of notification information by the processing circuitry are performed in a time-division manner, and

wherein the wireless communication device further comprises:

a random period setting unit configured to set at least one of a duration for transmitting notification information and a duration for waiting for receipt of notification information, to a random duration; and

a second processing circuitry configured to perform data transmission processing after an acknowledgement to notification information is transmitted or received,

wherein the random period setting unit is implemented via a processor.

10. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the received probe request comprises identification information of the second device.

11. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the received probe request comprises at least one of an identifier of a network, a supported communication rate information, and a device name of the second device.

12. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an interface unit coupled to the processing circuitry,

wherein the interface unit is configured to encode a probe request and encode the probe response prior to transmission, and

wherein the interface unit is further configured to receive and decode the probe response received from the second device.

13. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an antenna coupled to the processing circuitry and through which a probe request and the probe response are transmitted to the second device, and through which the probe response is received from the second device.

14. An information processing apparatus that is configured to communicate with a second device via an antenna of the second device, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a memory storing instructions; and

a processor operably connected to the memory to read and execute the instructions from the memory to perform:

a reception, during a listen state, of a probe request from the second device on a first frequency that is fixed in a first state of waiting on the fixed first frequency as a single fixed channel of receiving the probe request;

a transmission of a probe response;

a switching of a frequency channel on which a probe response is to be received from the second device, the probe response being received in a second state on a fixed list of frequencies for transmission; and

a randomizing, during a single duration of a search state, of a period for changing the frequency channel for reception in the second state of receiving the probe response from the second device on plural channels of the fixed list of frequencies, the frequency for reception being changed to each of the first frequency, a second frequency, and a third frequency switched in turn within the single duration of the search state,

wherein the period for changing the frequency channel for reception in the second state on the fixed list of frequencies is a length of time that is an integer multiple of a time interval, the integer multiple being a randomly-generated number,

wherein the period represents a waiting cycle for the reception of the probe response, and the waiting cycle associated with the frequency channel for reception is ended at a timing of elapse of the randomized period, and

wherein when the information processing apparatus receives the probe response from the second device, a negotiation is performed between the information processing apparatus and the second device.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14 ,

wherein the negotiation determines which one of the second device and the information processing apparatus plays an access point AP-like role.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the received probe request includes a Frame Check Sequence.

17. A wireless communication device compliant with IEEE 802.11 and configured to communicate with a second device via an antenna of the second device, the wireless communication device comprising:

a reception circuitry configured to receive, during a listen state, a probe request from the second device;

a transmission circuitry configured to transmit a probe response on a first frequency that is fixed in a first state of utilizing the fixed first frequency as a single fixed channel of transmitting the probe response, the probe response comprising at least one of an identifier of a network, a supported communication rate information, and a device name of the wireless communication device; and

a control circuitry configured to switch, during a search state, a frequency channel on which a probe request is to be transmitted, the probe request being transmitted in a second state on a fixed list of frequencies for transmission,

wherein the control circuitry is further configured to randomize, during a single duration of the search state, a period for changing the frequency channel for transmission in the second state of transmitting the probe request on the fixed list of frequencies, the frequency for transmission being changed to each of the first frequency, a second frequency, and a third frequency switched in turn within the single duration of the search state,

wherein the period for changing the frequency channel for transmission in the second state on the fixed list of frequencies is a length of time that is an integer multiple of a time interval, the integer multiple being a randomly-generated number,

wherein a duration for transmitting the probe response by the transmission circuitry and the duration for receiving the probe request by the reception circuitry do not overlap, and

wherein when the wireless communication device receives the probe response from the second device, a negotiation is performed between the wireless communication device and the second device.

18. The wireless communication device according to claim 17 ,

wherein the negotiation determines which one of the second device and the wireless communication device plays an access point AP-like role.

19. The wireless communication device according to claim 17 , wherein the probe requests each include a Frame Check Sequence.

20. A wireless communication device that is configured to communicate with a second device via an antenna of the second device, the wireless communication device comprising:

a reception circuitry configured to receive, during a listen state, a probe request from the second device for a first frequency that is fixed in a first state of waiting on the fixed first frequency as a single fixed channel of receiving the probe request;

a transmission circuitry configured to transmit a probe response; and

a control circuitry configured to switch, during a search state, a frequency channel on which a probe request is to be transmitted, the probe request being transmitted in a second state on a fixed list of frequencies for transmission,

wherein the control circuitry is further configured to randomize, during a single duration of the search state, a period for changing the frequency channel for transmission in the second state of transmitting the probe request on the fixed list of frequencies, the frequency for transmission being changed to each of the first frequency, a second frequency, and a third frequency switched in turn within the single duration of the search state,

wherein the period for changing the frequency channel for transmission in the second state on the fixed list of frequencies is a length of time that is an integer multiple of a time interval, the integer multiple being a randomly-generated number, and

wherein when the wireless communication device receives the probe response from the second device, a negotiation is performed between the wireless communication device and the second device.

21. The wireless communication device according to claim 20 ,

wherein the negotiation determines which one of the second device and the wireless communication device plays an access point AP-like role.

22. The wireless communication device according to claim 20 ,

wherein the received probe request includes a Frame Check Sequence.

23. The wireless communication device according to claim 20 , further comprising:

a data processing circuitry configured to decode a probe response frame received from the second device.