JP2012161095A - Wireless communication device, access point, communication method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a wireless LAN system capable of eliminating complexity of user operations in connection setting to a wireless LAN spot to aim at increase in the number of wireless LAN spot service users.SOLUTION: In a wireless LAN spot utilizing a wireless LAN, connection information for connecting to an access point (AP) 2 is widely distributed to the general public preliminarily via media (information distribution media) 4. A user who desires connection to the wireless LAN spot uses a mobile communication terminal 1 to read the connection information 41 and connect to the AP 2 of the wireless LAN spot. This facilitates connection to the wireless LAN spot by the user greatly, thus, increase in the connection number can be expected. In addition, a charging server 3 can classify from which media the user acquires the connection information and totalize the connection number of the user, and thereby, a charging process can be facilitated.

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication device, an access point, a communication method, and a program, and more particularly to a connection setting control method when a wireless communication terminal connects to an access point of a wireless LAN system.

  In recent years, with the spread of wireless LAN, a public wireless LAN spot service that provides a connection service to the Internet or the like using a wireless LAN has started to be operated outdoors. In such a wireless LAN spot service, it is troublesome to input service settings when the user uses the service. For example, when a user uses a mobile communication terminal to connect to a wireless LAN spot service, WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy: an encryption method used in IEEE802.11b of a wireless LAN), ESSID (Enhanced Service Set ID), etc. It is necessary for the user to manually input setting information for wireless LAN connection.

  Such wireless LAN connection setting information differs for each wireless LAN spot service, and the user needs to input using the user interface of the mobile communication terminal, which is extremely complicated. As a technique for solving manual input of information, Patent Document 1 discloses a method in which a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is converted into a barcode and read using a barcode reading unit.

JP 2001-154965 A

  In the current wireless LAN spot system, as described above, since it is complicated for the user to input the wireless LAN connection setting information, the use of the wireless LAN spot service is sluggish, and an improvement is desired. In Patent Document 1, a URL is converted into a bar code and an Internet homepage address and an e-mail address are automatically taken in and input to an information processing apparatus such as a computer. However, it is not easy to input connection setting information for connection to a wireless LAN spot.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication device, an access point, a communication method, and a program capable of increasing the number of wireless LAN spot service users by eliminating the complexity of user operations when setting connection to a wireless LAN spot. Is to provide.

  A wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention includes a means for acquiring connection setting information for connecting to an access point, a means for setting the acquired connection setting information, a means for detecting an access point, Means for communicating with an access point based on the set connection setting information.

  The communication method of the wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention acquires connection setting information for connecting to an access point, sets the acquired connection setting information, detects an access point, and based on the set connection setting information Communicating with an access point.

  The program according to the present invention includes a process for acquiring connection setting information for connecting to an access point in a wireless communication device, a process for setting the acquired connection setting information, a process for detecting an access point, and the setting Based on the connection setting information, a process of communicating with the access point is executed.

  An access point according to the present invention is an access point for communicating with a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device having acquired means for notifying an identifier of the access point and connection setting information for connecting to the access point Comprises means for receiving the connection setting information transmitted in response to detection of the identifier, and means for communicating with the wireless communication apparatus based on the connection setting information.

  According to an access point communication method of the present invention, an identifier of an access point for communicating with a wireless communication device is notified, and the wireless communication device that has acquired connection setting information for connecting to the access point responds to the detection of the identifier. And receiving the connection setting information transmitted in this manner, and communicating with the wireless communication device based on the connection setting information.

  The program according to the present invention includes a process of notifying an access point for communicating with a wireless communication device of an identifier of the access point, and the wireless communication device that has acquired connection setting information for connecting to the access point detects the identifier. A process of receiving the connection setting information transmitted in response to the information and a process of communicating with the wireless communication apparatus based on the connection setting information.

  The operation of the present invention will be described. Connection for connecting to a wireless LAN spot via a media (broadcast such as newspapers, magazines, television and radio, information distribution media such as free paper, receipts, EWB pages, and emails) in a wireless LAN spot using a wireless LAN Disseminate information widely to the public. A user who wishes to connect to a wireless LAN spot reads this connection information and connects to the wireless LAN spot using a mobile communication terminal. This makes it very easy for the user to connect to the wireless LAN spot, and an increase in the number of connections can be expected. In addition, the billing server can collect from which media the user has obtained connection information and count the number of connections of the user, facilitating billing processing.

  According to the present invention, since the setting by the user at the time of connection to the wireless LAN spot is facilitated, there is an effect that the connection to the wireless LAN spot is simplified and the number of users is expected to increase.

It is a system configuration figure of an embodiment of the invention. It is a flow explaining operation | movement of the terminal 1 of FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of connection setting information, service setting information, and a media identifier that have been acquired and converted in the terminal 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the storage data in the database part 14 of the terminal 1. FIG. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the transmission information in case the terminal 1 transmits a media identifier to the accounting server 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the storage data in the database part 33 of the accounting server 3. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of wireless LAN connection setting information printed on the medium 4 It is a figure which shows the other example of the transmission information in case the terminal 1 transmits a media identifier to the accounting server 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of the stored data in the database part 33 of the accounting server. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the transmission information in case the terminal 1 transmits a media identifier to the accounting server 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the storage data in the database part 33 of the accounting server.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a mobile communication terminal (hereinafter simply referred to as a terminal) 1 such as a mobile phone, a wireless LAN access point (hereinafter simply referred to as an AP) 2, a billing server 3, and information for widely distributing information And an information magazine 4 as a distribution medium.

  The terminal 1 has a function of connecting to a wireless LAN and enjoying a network service, and includes a mobile phone, a notebook PC (personal computer), a PDA, and the like. The terminal 1 includes a wireless LAN connection / setting unit 11, a setting information reading unit 12, an application unit 13, a database unit 14, and a control unit 15 that is a CPU.

  The setting information reading unit 12 reads connection setting information 41 encoded in a special format from the information magazine 4 which is an information distribution medium. The connection setting information 41 includes a bar code, a two-dimensional bar code, It shall be encoded by magnetism, RF tag, scanning line, voice or the like. The setting information reading unit 12 reads the encoded information 41 and converts it into an AP 2 identifier, connection / service setting information, and a media identifier that can be interpreted by the terminal 1.

  The wireless LAN connection / setting unit 11 connects / communicates with the AP 2 via the wireless LAN using information read by the setting information reading unit 12 and converted into a predetermined format. The wireless LAN connection / setting unit 11 notifies the application unit 13 that the setting has been changed when connected to the AP 2. When the connection to the AP 2 is made, the identifier of the medium 4 is assigned to the billing server 3 via the AP 2. Send to.

  The application unit 13 is software that provides services to users such as a Web browser, an IP phone application, and a mail application. Further, the application unit 13 has a function of changing its own setting to an appropriate setting for each wireless LAN spot. This function receives a setting change notification from the wireless LAN connection / setting unit 11 and reads an appropriate service setting from the setting database unit 14 using the AP2 identifier (ESSID or BSSID: Basic Service Set ID) as a key. This function changes the setting.

  The database unit 14 stores a plurality of sets of media identifiers and connection / service setting information using the identifier of the AP 2 as a key. Further, the database unit 14 can extract the connection / service setting information and the media identifier using the identifier of AP2 as a key. The control unit 15 is a CPU that controls the units 11 to 14.

  The AP 2 and the accounting server 3 constitute a wireless LAN spot system, and the AP 2 is for connecting the terminal 1 to the network (Internet) via the wireless LAN. AP 2 is connected to billing server 3 by a wired LAN.

  The billing server 3 performs billing management in accordance with the amount of service used when the terminal 1 is connected. The billing server 3 stores a communication unit 31 with the AP 2, a billing unit 32 that manages billing, and data for that purpose. It has the database part 33 and the control part 34 which controls each of these parts 31-33. In this example, the database unit 33 stores the media usage rate for each medium, and records the number of times the media identifier is received via the AP 2 in correspondence with the media identifier.

  In this example, connection setting information 41 (encoded information, including AP identifier, connection / service setting information, media identifier, etc.) encoded as a two-dimensional barcode printed on the information magazine 4 which is a magazine. ) Is read by the terminal 1 and the connection / service setting information is used to connect to the wireless LAN spot.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in the terminal 1, and is a procedure performed before connection in order to receive various services by connecting to the wireless LAN spot using the terminal 1. First, the setting information reading unit 12 is activated in response to a user operation (step S1), and the two-dimensional barcode encoded encoding information 41 printed on the wireless LAN spot introduction article of the information magazine 4 is read (step S1). S2). Then, the read encoded information is interpreted, and the AP identifier (APSID ESSID), connection / service setting information (WEP, browser Web proxy, start page URL, etc.), media identifier (ISBN of the information magazine 4) (Wired Equivalent Privacy) number or the like) (step S3). FIG. 3 shows an example of such information.

  The setting information reading unit 12 uses the ESSID of the AP 2 as a key so that the information for connecting to the AP 2 can be selected from a plurality of connection setting information when the AP 2 is discovered later, as shown in FIG. Information is stored in the database unit 14 (step S4). FIG. 4 shows the contents stored in the database unit 14.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the operation at the time of AP connection in the present embodiment will be described. When the terminal 1 detects AP2 (step S101), the terminal 1 takes out the connection setting information and the media identifier from the database unit 14 using the ESSID notified from the AP2 as a key (steps S201 and S102). The wireless LAN connection / setting unit 11 performs wireless LAN connection setting using the connection setting information (step S103), and notifies the application unit 13 that the setting has been performed using the ESSID of AP2 as a parameter (step S103). S104).

  The application unit (for example, browser) 13 takes out the service setting information (proxy, start page) from the database unit 14 using the ESSID of AP2 as a key, and sets the application unit 13 itself (step S105). The wireless LAN connection / setting unit 11 connects to the AP 2 and can communicate with the billing server 3 by broadcasting (step S106).

  This broadcast is started when the terminal 1 belongs to the wireless LAN and the IP address is determined by DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) or the like. In addition, when the IP address is statically determined, it is started at the timing when belonging to the wireless LAN is made. This broadcast includes information indicating a search message for searching the billing server 3 and the IP address of the terminal 1. In response to this, the accounting server 3 returns its own IP address by unicast (step S301). Receiving this, the terminal 1 transmits the media identifier to the billing server 3 by “HTTP Request” (step S107). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, an X-MEDIA-ID: header is inserted into the HTTP header, a media identifier is written therein, and the billing server 3 is transmitted.

  The accounting server 3 counts the number of times of use for each medium recorded in the database unit 33 every month and records it as shown in FIG. 7 (step S302). The billing server 3 calculates (number of accesses × access fee per case) as a fee paid by the wireless LAN spot operator to the media distributor.

  In step S106, when terminal 1 connects to AP2, a broadcast for searching for charging server 3 is performed. When terminal 1 connects to AP2, AP2 informs charging server 3 accordingly. The accounting server 3 may perform the operation of the next step S301.

  In the above-described embodiment, the connection setting information is encoded in a special format such as a two-dimensional barcode and printed on a printed matter such as a magazine. However, as shown in FIG. The present invention can be applied even when printing is performed. In this case, it is assumed that the setting information reading unit 12 of the terminal 1 reads the connection setting information 42 (AP identifier, connection / service setting information, media identifier) using characters using OCR. The following operations are the same as in the previous embodiment. In this example, the media distribution side does not need to encode the information.

  In the previous embodiment, the operator of the wireless LAN spot pays the media distributor as a connection / service setting information distribution fee, but the user pays the wireless LAN spot operator as the distribution fee. It is also possible to do so. In this case, the number of times the user has connected to the wireless LAN spot is recorded in the database unit 33 of the accounting server 3 in association with the user identifier.

  At this time, the wireless LAN connection / setting unit 11 of the terminal 1 transmits the user identifier to the charging server 3 by “HTTP Request” in step S107 of FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the X-USER-ID: header is inserted into the HTTP header, the user identifier is written here, and transmitted to the accounting server 3.

  When the accounting server 3 receives the user identifier, the database unit 33 is searched using this user identifier as a key, and the number of wireless LAN spot connections corresponding to this user identifier is recorded. The recorded contents of the database unit 33 in this case are shown in FIG. The accounting server 3 totals the number of times the user is recorded in the database unit 33 every month. The fee collected by the wireless LAN spot operator in this case is calculated as (number of accesses × access fee per case). By doing so, the wireless LAN operator can collect the distribution fee from the user according to the number of times of use of the connection / service setting.

  As another embodiment of the present invention, a user may pay a connection / service setting distribution fee to a media distributor. In this example, the database section 33 of the accounting server 3 records the used media identifier and the number of connections in association with each user.

  At this time, the wireless LAN connection / setting unit 11 of the terminal 1 transmits the user identifier and the media identifier to the accounting server 3 by “HTTP Request” in step S107 of FIG. That is, the X-USER-ID: header in which the user identifier is written in the HTTP header shown in FIG. 11 and the X-MEDIA-ID: header in which the media identifier is written are inserted and transmitted to the accounting server 3. is there.

  When the billing server 3 receives the user identifier and the media identifier, the database unit 33 is searched using the user identifier as a key, and the media identifier corresponding to the user identifier and the number of connections to the wireless LAN spot are recorded. The recorded contents are shown in FIG.

  The accounting server 3 counts the number of times the user has been recorded in the database unit 33 every month. The fee collected from the user by the wireless LAN spot operator is calculated as (number of accesses × access fee per case). The fee paid by the wireless LAN spot operator to the media distributor is calculated by calculating the access fee for the media for each user and adding all the users.

  By doing so, the database unit 33 records which user has used which medium and how many times, so that the media distributor can respond to the user according to the number of times of connection / service setting use. The connection / service setting usage fee can be collected from the wireless LAN spot operator.

1 Mobile communication terminal
2 AP (access point)
3 charging server 11 wireless LAN connection / setting unit 12 setting information reading unit 13 application unit 14, 33 database unit 15, 34 control unit 31 communication unit 32 charging unit

Claims (12)

Means for obtaining connection setting information for connecting to an access point;
Means for setting the acquired connection setting information;
Means for detecting an access point;
Means for communicating with the access point based on the set connection setting information;
A wireless communication apparatus comprising:   The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection setting information is provided by any one of a barcode, a two-dimensional barcode, and a wireless communication tag. Get connection setting information to connect to the access point,
Set the acquired connection setting information,
Detect access points,
A communication method for a wireless communication apparatus, comprising: communicating with an access point based on the set connection setting information.   The communication method according to claim 3, wherein the connection setting information is provided by any one of a barcode, a two-dimensional barcode, and a wireless communication tag. Wireless communication device
Processing to obtain connection setting information for connecting to the access point;
Processing for setting the acquired connection setting information;
The process of detecting access points;
A program for executing a process of communicating with an access point based on the set connection setting information.   The program according to claim 5, wherein the connection setting information is provided by any one of a barcode, a two-dimensional barcode, and a wireless communication tag. An access point for communicating with a wireless communication device,
Means for informing the identifier of the access point;
Means for receiving the connection setting information transmitted in response to the detection of the identifier by the wireless communication apparatus that has acquired the connection setting information for connecting to an access point;
Means for communicating with the wireless communication device based on the connection setting information;
An access point comprising:   The access point according to claim 7, wherein the connection setting information is provided by any one of a barcode, a two-dimensional barcode, and a wireless communication tag. Informing the identifier of the access point for communicating with the wireless communication device,
Receiving the connection setting information transmitted in response to the detection of the identifier by the wireless communication device that has acquired the connection setting information for connecting to the access point;
An access point communication method, comprising: communicating with the wireless communication device based on the connection setting information.   The communication method according to claim 9, wherein the connection setting information is provided by any one of a barcode, a two-dimensional barcode, and a wireless communication tag. To access point to communicate with wireless communication device,
A process of notifying the identifier of the access point;
Processing for receiving the connection setting information transmitted in response to the detection of the identifier by the wireless communication apparatus that has acquired the connection setting information for connecting to an access point;
Processing to communicate with the wireless communication device based on the connection setting information;
A program characterized by having executed.   The program according to claim 11, wherein the connection setting information is provided by any one of a barcode, a two-dimensional barcode, and a wireless communication tag.

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