Electronic apparatus capable of executing wireless communication, and program applied to the apparatus

Before issuing a device name acquisition request, a wireless communication control utility displays device addresses acquired by responses to a station discovery request, as a list of the addresses of connectable devices on an LCD, and presents the list to the user, who is then able to select a device. A user who recognizes the correspondence between device addresses and devices can quickly and easily select a device.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-338593, filed Sep. 29, 2003, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus capable of executing wireless communication and a program applied to the apparatus and, more particularly, to an electronic apparatus having a station discovery function of discovering a new apparatus capable of wireless communication and a program applied to the apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

There have recently been developed new wireless communication systems for wirelessly connecting electronic apparatuses. One of wireless communication systems of this type is Bluetooth®, which is a short-range wireless communication standard targeting connection between various electronic apparatuses including a computer.

Bluetooth® defines a station discovery function. The station discovery function is to discover a new device capable of wireless communication. The station discovery function can discover another electronic apparatus, which exists within the wireless communicable area of a given electronic apparatus.

The station discovery function is implemented by the following mechanism. A given electronic apparatus transmits a station discovery request (Inquiry) by using a radio signal, and another electronic apparatus which has received the station discovery request responds to it. At this time, the station discovery function includes the following processes. First, a station discovery request (Inquiry) is issued to acquire the address of an apparatus, which responds to the request. Next, a device name acquisition request (Name discovery) is issued to acquire the name (Device Names) of the respondent apparatus.

To start communication in a wireless network according to a wireless transmission method such as Bluetooth®, communicable apparatuses are searched for by the station discovery function, and a communication partner apparatus are selected from the searched apparatuses. In a conventional device search, the device names of searched apparatuses are acquired and presented (displayed in a selectable way) as connectable apparatuses to the user as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 2002 281041. However, the conventional method takes a long time until searched apparatuses are presented as connectable ones to the user after the start of device search, resulting in poor operability.

As described above, the conventional method suffers poor operability because a long time is taken until searched apparatuses are displayed as connectable ones in a selectable way in the device search preceding the start of the communication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the invention, an electronic apparatus capable of executing wireless communication comprises a display unit, a communication unit configured to transmit a station discovery request to peripheral devices capable of data transmission by wireless communication, a processing unit configured to list and display addresses of devices which respond to the station discovery request on the display unit so as to be able to select each device as a connection partner, and a communication unit configured to transmit, in accordance with an address of a device selected from the list display, a connection request to a device having the address.

In an embodiment, an electronic apparatus capable of executing wireless communication comprises a display unit, a communication unit configured to transmit a station discovery request to devices capable of data transmission by wireless communication, and a processing unit configured to list and display on the display unit, a list of device addresses of the devices which respond to the station discovery request before obtaining names of the devices so as to be able to select at least one device as a connection partner from the list of device addresses, wherein the communication unit is further configured to transmit a connection request to the selected device.

In another embodiment, an article of manufacture comprises a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein. The computer readable program code comprises a communication processing function configured to transmit a station discovery request to devices capable of data transmission by wireless communication, and configured to acquire device addresses of devices, which respond to the station discovery request. The computer readable program code also comprises a display processing function configured to list and display a list of the device addresses on a display device before obtaining names of the devices so as to be able to select at least one device as a connection partner from the list of device addresses.

In yet another embodiment, a method for executing wireless communication comprises transmitting a station discovery request to devices capable of data transmission by wireless communication, listing and displaying on a display unit, a list of device addresses of the devices which respond to the station discovery request before obtaining names of the devices, selecting a connection partner by selecting at least one of the device addresses from the list of device addresses, and transmitting a connection request to the selected device.

In a further embodiment, an electronic apparatus capable of executing wireless communication comprises a means for transmitting a station discovery request to devices capable of data transmission by wireless communication, a means for listing and displaying a list of device addresses of the devices which respond to the station discovery request before obtaining names of the devices, a means for selecting one of the device addresses from the list of device addresses so as to select at least one device as a connection partner, and a means for transmitting a connection request to the selected device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1shows an example of the configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. This apparatus is an information processing apparatus having a wireless communication function. In an embodiment, the apparatus is implemented as a notebook-type portable personal computer.

FIG. 1is a front view when the display unit of a computer1is open. The computer1comprises a computer main body11and display unit12. The display unit12is attached to the computer main body11pivotally between an open position and a closed position. The display unit12incorporates an LCD (liquid crystal display)13which forms the display panel. The LCD13is located at almost the center of the display unit12.

The display screen of the LCD13displays a list (to be referred to as a remote device list)102of devices discovered by the station discovery function. The remote device list102is a GUI (graphical user interface) which presents, to the user, devices wirelessly communicable at the current place of use of the computer1so as to be able to select each device. The remote device list102is used to prompt the user to select a communication (connection) partner. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the device names, device addresses, and connection statuses of devices searched for by the device search are listed and displayed in correspondence with each other for the respective devices. The user can select a device to be connected from the displayed list. In the embodiment, the addresses (device addresses) of devices which respond to a station discovery request (Inquiry) are instantaneously displayed as the remote device list102before a device name acquisition request [Name discovery] is issued, as illustrated in a list window401inFIG. 4. The user can select a device to be connected on the basis of its device address by manipulating a pointing device14on the remote device list102of device addresses. A user who recognizes the address of a device to be connected can select the device in an early stage before a device name acquisition request (Name discovery) is transmitted. In this case, a connection request can also be issued to a device having the selected device address without transmitting the device name acquisition request and executing the name acquisition process accompanying the request.

The computer main body11has a low-profile box-like housing equipped with a keyboard15in addition to the pointing device14on the upper surface. The computer main body11incorporates a wireless communication device101.

The wireless communication device101executes wireless communication. The wireless communication device101is so designed as to execute wireless communication, which is defined by a short-range wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth®. Wireless communication operation of the wireless communication device101is controlled by a wireless communication control utility201, as illustrated inFIG. 2The wireless communication control utility201is a program running on the computer1.

The wireless communication control utility comprises, for example, the station discovery function (a station discovery request, a process function accompanying the request, a device name acquisition request, and a process function accompanying the request), a function of displaying the remote device list102on the display screen of the LCD13, a device selection function accompanying selection operation on the remote device list102, a connection request to a selected device, and a process function accompanying the request.

FIG. 2shows the system configuration of the computer1. As shown inFIG. 2, the computer1incorporates a CPU21, a north bridge22, a main memory23, a display controller24, a south bridge25, a hard disk drive (HDD)26, and the wireless communication device101.

The CPU21is a processor adopted to control the operation of the computer1. The CPU21executes an operating system (OS) and various application programs, which are loaded from the hard disk drive (HDD)26into the main memory23. The wireless communication control utility201is also loaded from the hard disk drive (HDD)26into the main memory23, and executed by the CPU21.

The hard disk drive (HDD)26stores, as information associated with processes of the embodiment, template information202of the remote device list102managed by the wireless communication control utility201, an acquired name list in which device names acquired by a device name acquisition request (Name discovery) are stored in correspondence with device addresses, and a registered name list in which arbitrary names registered by the user are stored in correspondence with device addresses. The template information202comprises a template in which device addresses and device names are set in advance in correspondence with each other.

The north bridge22is a bridge device which bidirectionally connects the local bus and PCI bus of the CPU21. The display controller24controls the LCD13used as the display monitor of the computer. The south bridge25is a bridge device which bidirectionally connects the PCI bus and ISA bus. The ISA bus is also connected to the above mentioned keyboard (KB) and the like.

The south bridge25incorporates a USB (universal serial bus) controller. The wireless communication device101is connected to the USB controller. The wireless communication device101executes transmission/reception of radio signals via an antenna (ANT) in accordance with a command input from the CPU21via the USB controller.

The wireless communication device101includes an RF unit and a baseband unit. The RF unit performs up-conversion from an intermediate frequency to an RF frequency, and down-conversion from an RF frequency to an intermediate frequency. The baseband unit modulates transmission data and demodulates reception data in accordance with a predetermined wireless communication protocol.

A software configuration for controlling wireless communication operation of the wireless communication device101will be explained with reference toFIG. 3.

Wireless communication software is comprises the wireless communication control utility201, a protocol stack driver204, and an application program203.

The protocol stack driver204is a program corresponding to a Bluetooth® protocol stack. The wireless communication control utility201controls setting of the operation mode of the wireless communication device101via the protocol stack driver204. The application program203is a program to perform data communication, and the like, between the computer1and another apparatus by utilizing the wireless communication function of the wireless communication device101. The application program203exchanges data with the wireless communication device101via the protocol stack driver204.

FIG. 4shows an example of state transition of the remote device list102. In an embodiment, when the addresses of the devices, which respond to a station discovery request (Inquiry) are acquired, the list window401of the acquired device addresses is displayed so that each device can be selected. Each device can be selected from any one of list windows401to408shown inFIG. 4.

Process operation of an embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to flowcharts shown inFIGS. 5 to 10. A process according to each flowchart is implemented when the user performs predetermined operation for device selection, and the CPU21executes the wireless communication control utility201.

Processes shown inFIGS. 5 to 10start by the user performing a predetermined device selection operation.

In the device selection, the device search is done (step S101ofFIG. 5). Respondent device information acquired from the device search is stored (step S102ofFIG. 5). The remote device list102is generated on the basis of the stored information, and displayed on the display screen of the LCD13(step S103ofFIG. 5).

The device search process will be further explained. A station discovery request (Inquiry) is issued to devices, which exist near the computer1and can wirelessly communicate with the computer1(step A1ofFIG. 6). The device addresses of devices, which respond to the station discovery request are acquired and held (step A2ofFIG. 6). The remote device list102of the acquired device addresses is generated by using the template202, and displayed on the display screen of the LCD13(step A3ofFIG. 6).FIG. 4shows, as the list window401, an example of the remote device list102displayed on the LCD13upon the process of the station discovery request.

If the user manipulates the pointing device14on the remote device list102and selects, for example, the device address of a device to be communicated with (YES in step S104ofFIG. 5), the device search process ends. The next process, for example, a connection request process, is performed for a device having the selected device address. A connection request and a process accompanying the request by the wireless communication control utility201are executed in accordance with the Bluetooth® protocol, and the process will not be mentioned.

In this manner, a device can be selected by using a device address acquired by a station discovery request (Inquiry). A user who recognizes the correspondence between device addresses and devices can quickly and smoothly select a communication partner device before a device name acquisition request (Name discovery), and accompanying name acquisition and display.

If an operation input such as “return” or “cancel” for canceling device selection is done instead of device selection operation (NO in step S104ofFIG. 5and YES in step S105) while the remote device list102of the acquired device addresses is displayed on the display screen of the LCD13, the current device selection process ends.

If no device selection operation is done (NO in step S104ofFIG. 5) and no operation of canceling device selection is done (NO in step S105ofFIG. 5) while the remote device list102of the acquired device addresses is displayed on the display screen of the LCD13, devices whose device names are unknown are subjected to a device name acquisition request (Name discovery) and an accompanying name acquisition process (steps S106to S108ofFIG. 7). If device names (Device Name) can be acquired in the name acquisition process (YES in step S109ofFIG. 7), they are displayed in the remote device list102(step S110ofFIG. 7). If no device name (Device Name) can be acquired (NO in step S109ofFIG. 7), this state is displayed in the remote device list102(step S111ofFIG. 7).FIG. 4shows display examples of the remote device list102as the list windows402to405.

Since the remote device list102containing device names is displayed so that each device can be selected, the user can easily discriminate a device to be selected. At this time, the user does not perform any special operation. If the user performs device selection operation upon discriminating a device, he can advance to the next process (e.g., a connection request process) without any subsequent device name acquisition process.

FIGS. 8 to 10show a process example when a device is selected by utilizing an acquired device name. In this example, all device names are acquired, considering that a device name can be changed by a partner device after the previous device name acquisition process.

In the device search process, whether to newly search for a device or select a device by utilizing an acquired device name in accordance with an instruction from the user is determined (step S201ofFIG. 8). If a device is to be newly searched for (YES in step S201ofFIG. 8), a station discovery request is transmitted, and an accompanying device search process is executed (steps S203and S204ofFIG. 8). If a device is to be selected by utilizing an acquired device name (NO in step S201ofFIG. 8), whether the device search log exists is determined (step S202ofFIG. 8). If an acquired device name has been registered in the list together with the device address (YES in step S202ofFIG. 8), a station discovery request and an accompanying device search process (steps S203and S204ofFIG. 8) are omitted. The remote device list102based on the registered list is displayed on the display screen of the LCD13(step S205ofFIG. 8).

If the user manipulates the pointing device14on the remote device list102to select, for example, the device address of a device to be communicated with (YES in step S206ofFIG. 8), the device search process ends. As the next process, for example, a connection request process, is performed for a device having the selected device address.

If an operation input such as “return” or “cancel” for canceling device selection is done instead of device selection operation (NO in step S206and YES in step S207ofFIG. 8) while the remote device list102is displayed on the display screen of the LCD13, the current device selection process ends.

If neither selection operation nor selection stop operation is performed on the remote device list102(NO in step S206and NO in step S207ofFIG. 8), whether a device whose device name has not been acquired and a name-unknown device exists is verified (steps S208and S209ofFIG. 9).

If a name-unknown device exists (YES in step S209ofFIG. 9), “under investigation” representing that the name acquisition process is in progress is displayed in the device name column of the device on the remote device list102(step S210ofFIG. 9), and the name acquisition process is executed for the device (step S211ofFIG. 9).

If the name can be acquired (YES in step S212ofFIG. 9), whether the acquired name coincides with the currently displayed name is verified (step S213ofFIG. 9).

If these names do not coincide with each other (YES in step S213ofFIG. 9), the newly acquired name is displayed in the corresponding column of the remote device list102(step S214ofFIG. 9).

If the acquired name coincides with the currently displayed name (NO in step S213ofFIG. 9), the displayed device name is kept displayed.

If no name can be acquired (NO in step S212ofFIG. 9), for example, “name unknown” representing this state is displayed in the corresponding column of the remote device list102(step S215ofFIG. 9).FIG. 4shows display examples of the remote device list102as the list windows406to408.

If a device whose name has not been acquired in the current device search process (step S203ofFIG. 8) though an acquired device name exists (YES in step S208and NO in step S209ofFIG. 9), “under investigation” representing that the name acquisition process is in progress is displayed in the corresponding column of the remote device list102(step S216ofFIG. 10). The device then undergoes the name acquisition process (step S217ofFIG. 10).

If a new name can be acquired (YES in step S218ofFIG. 10), whether the acquired name coincides with the currently displayed name is verified (step S219ofFIG. 10).

If these names do not coincide with each other (YES in step S219ofFIG. 10), the newly acquired name is displayed in the corresponding column of the remote device list102(step S220ofFIG. 10).

If no name can be acquired (NO in step S218ofFIG. 10), for example, “name unknown” representing this state is displayed in the corresponding column of the remote device list102(step S221ofFIG. 10). The device name display process is executed until a device whose device name has not been acquired does not exist (NO in step S208ofFIG. 9). The process shown inFIG. 9eliminates a name-unknown device as fast as possible by giving preference to name acquisition of a device whose device name has not been acquired yet. This allows the user to select a device as quickly as possible. The above-described process is executed for the searched devices. During any step of the process, a device can be selected from the remote device list102.

In the display processes of device addresses and device names, an arbitrary name (registered name) which has been arbitrarily set and registered by the user can also be displayed in the remote device list102together with the acquired device names. In this case, a registered-name list which records an arbitrary name registered by the user in correspondence with the device address is prepared in the hard disk drive (HDD)26. The registered-name list is referred to when the display processes of device addresses and device names are executed. Using the device address as a key, a desired registered name can also be displayed in the remote device list102together with the device addresses, acquired device names, and the like. More definite device selection can therefore be achieved for, e.g., the same device type by displaying the name registered by the user together with the device addresses, acquired device names, and the like.