Wireless communication apparatus and processing method thereby deciding a providing apparatus for providing a communication parameter for a wireless network
When a wireless network is constructed, a wireless communication apparatus in the wireless network constructed of a plurality of communication apparatuses decides whether to function as a providing source of communication parameters or as a provision destination that receives communication parameters. In a case where it has been decided that this apparatus is to function as the provision destination that receives communication parameters, the apparatus requests authentication when it participates in the wireless network using communication parameters. In a case where it has been decided that this apparatus is to function as the providing source of communication parameters, the apparatus execute authentication processing in response to an authentication request.
1. A communication apparatus, comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more memories storing code to be executed by the processors, wherein the processors execute the code to function as:
a decision unit configured to decide which of the communication apparatus and a first another communication apparatus that forms a wireless network with the communication apparatus operates as a providing apparatus for providing a communication parameter to a receiving apparatus and which of the communication apparatus and the first another communication apparatus operates as the receiving apparatus for receiving the communication parameter from the providing apparatus;
a providing unit configured to provide, in a case where it is decided by the decision unit that the communication apparatus operates as a providing apparatus, a communication parameter which includes at least one of a network identifier, an encryption key, an authentication scheme or a frequency channel, and which is used to communicate in the wireless network, compliant with IEEE 802.11 standard series, to the first another communication apparatus;
a receiving unit configured to receive, in a case where it is decided by the decision unit that the communication apparatus operates as the receiving apparatus, the communication parameter from the providing apparatus; and
a control unit configured to perform control, after forming the wireless network compliant with IEEE 802.11 standard series with the first another communication apparatus, so as to transmit, to a second another communication apparatus which participates in the wireless network formed of the communication apparatus and the first another communication apparatus, information indicating the first another communication apparatus that has been provided with the communication parameter by the providing unit,
wherein the communication apparatus further operates as an authenticating apparatus for an authentication process in a case where it is decided by the decision unit that the communication apparatus operates as the providing apparatus, and wherein the communication apparatus further operates as an authenticated apparatus for an authentication process in a case where it is decided by the decision unit that the communication apparatus operates as the receiving apparatus.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a transmitting unit configured to transmit the information in a case where the communication apparatus provides a communication parameter to the second another communication apparatus.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the decision unit performs the decision by communication in the wireless network compliant with IEEE 802.11 standard series.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit performs control so as to transmit the information in accordance with a request transmitted from the second another communication apparatus.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second another communication apparatus participates in the wireless network using the communication parameter received from the communication apparatus.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless network is a network based on an ad-hoc mode.
7. A control method of a communication apparatus, comprising:
deciding which of the communication apparatus and a first another communication apparatus that forms a wireless network with the communication apparatus operates as a providing apparatus for providing a communication parameter to a receiving apparatus and which of the communication apparatus and the first another communication apparatus operates as a receiving apparatus for receiving a communication parameter from a providing apparatus;
providing, in a case where it is decided that the communication apparatus operates as the providing apparatus, a communication parameter which includes at least one of a network identifier, an encryption key, an authentication scheme or a frequency channel, and which is used to communicate in the wireless network, compliant with IEEE 802.11 standard series, to the first another communication apparatus;
receiving, in a case where it is decided that the communication apparatus operates as the receiving apparatus, the communication parameter from the providing apparatus; and
performing control, after forming the wireless network compliant with IEEE 802.11 standard series with the first another communication apparatus, so as to transmit, to a second another communication apparatus which participates in the wireless network formed of the communication apparatus and the first another communication apparatus, information indicating the first another communication apparatus that has been provided with the communication parameter,
wherein the communication apparatus further operates as an authenticating apparatus for an authentication process in a case where it is decided that the communication apparatus operates as the providing apparatus, and wherein the communication apparatus further operates as an authenticated apparatus for an authentication process in a case where it is decided that the communication apparatus operates as the receiving apparatus.
8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that causes a computer comprised in a communication apparatus to:
decide which of the communication apparatus and a first another communication apparatus that forms a wireless network with the communication apparatus operates as a providing apparatus for providing a communication parameter to a receiving apparatus and which of the communication apparatus and the first another communication apparatus operates as a receiving apparatus for receiving a communication parameter from a providing apparatus;
provide, in a case where it is decided that the communication apparatus operates as the providing apparatus, a communication parameter which includes at least one of a network identifier, an encryption key, an authentication scheme or a frequency channel, and which is used to communicate in the wireless network, compliant with IEEE 802.11 standard series, to the first another communication apparatus;
receive, in a case where it is decided that the communication apparatus operates as the receiving apparatus, a communication parameter from the providing apparatus; and
perform control, after forming the wireless network compliant with IEEE 802.11 standard series with the first another communication apparatus, so as to transmit, to a second another communication apparatus which participates in the wireless network formed of the communication apparatus and the first another communication apparatus, information indicating the first another communication apparatus that has been provided with the communication parameter,
wherein the communication apparatus further operates as an authenticating apparatus for an authentication process in a case where it is decided that the communication apparatus operates as the providing apparatus, and wherein the communication apparatus further operates as an authenticated apparatus for an authentication process in a case where it is decided that the communication apparatus operates as the receiving apparatus.