Patent Publication Number: US-11647564-B2

Title: Apparatus and method for performing data communication in NAN protocol-based network environment

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/056,598, filed on Nov. 18, 2020, which is the U.S. national phase of International Application No. PCT/KR2019/005075, filed Apr. 26, 2019, which designated the U.S. and claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0074771, filed on Jun. 28, 2018. The contents of each of these applications are incorporated herein in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Various embodiments disclosed in the disclosure relate to an apparatus and method for data communication in a network environment based on a neighbor awareness networking (NAN) protocol. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     An electronic device may perform wireless communication with another electronic device using a local area network (LAN) as well as a wide area network (WAN). A neighbor awareness networking (NAN) protocol based on the NAN specification among local area networks is a protocol synchronizing a time when a message between the electronic device and the other electronic device is transmitted or received. For example, electronic devices included in the same NAN cluster may synchronize a duration for transmitting or receiving a message and may change to a sleep state in a duration except for the synchronized duration, thus reducing current consumption. The synchronized duration may be referred to as a discovery window (DW) duration. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device may establish a NAN data path (NDP) based on a NAN protocol to perform secure data communication in a duration except for a DW duration with one of external electronic devices included in a NAN cluster. For example, the electronic device may exchange messages for establishing the NDP with an external electronic device in a DW duration and may determine a time resource and a channel resource (or a frequency resource) in a duration except for the DW duration, thus establishing the NDP. Because the NDP defined in the NAN protocol is based on being disconnected, the electronic device may omit another procedure (e.g., an authentication procedure) required to perform data communication. Through the NDP, the electronic device may perform data communication in a setup time faster than a wireless communication technology based on a heterogeneous protocol and may flexibly perform wireless communication with a plurality of external electronic devices. 
     To perform secure data communication based on the NDP, the electronic device may exchange a key or a identifier (ID) for encryption with the external electronic device. To exchange the key or the identifier, the electronic device should receive a user input selecting the key or the identifier from an upper layer (or an application layer) and the operation of receiving the user input may cause the delay of NDP establishment or inconvenience of a user operation. 
     Various embodiments of the disclosure may be to provide a method for establishing an NDP based on a NAN protocol without a user input in an electronic device. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, an electronic device supporting a neighbor awareness networking (NAN) protocol and a heterogeneous protocol different from the NAN protocol is provided. The electronic device may include at least one antenna, a wireless communication circuitry electrically connected with the at least one antenna, a processor operatively connected with the wireless communication circuitry, and a memory operatively connected with the processor. The memory may store instructions, when executed, causing the processor to store first information associated with a link established based on the heterogeneous protocol, transmit a message including the first information to an external electronic device included in a NAN cluster, via the wireless communication circuitry, receive a NAN data path (NDP) request message including second information associated with an NDP from the external electronic device, transmit an NDP response message to the external electronic device based at least in part on the second information and the first information, and perform data communication with the external electronic device based on the NDP. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an electronic device supporting a neighbor awareness networking (NAN) protocol and a heterogeneous protocol different from the NAN protocol is provided. The electronic device may include at least one antenna, a wireless communication circuitry electrically connected with the at least one antenna, a processor operatively connected with the wireless communication circuitry, and a memory operatively connected with the processor. The memory may store instructions, when executed, causing the processor to store first information associated with a link established based on the heterogeneous protocol, receive a message including the first information from an external electronic device included in a NAN cluster, via the wireless communication circuitry, transmit a NAN data path (NDP) request message including second information generated based at least in part on first information included in the message and used to establish an NDP to the external electronic device, receive an NDP response message from the external electronic device, and perform data communication with the external electronic device based on the NDP. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an operation method of an electronic device supporting a neighbor awareness networking (NAN) protocol and a heterogeneous protocol different from the NAN protocol is provided. The operation method may include storing first information associated with a link established based on the heterogeneous protocol, transmitting a message including the first information to an external electronic device included in a NAN cluster, during a discovery window (DW) duration based on the NAN protocol, receiving a NAN data path (NDP) request message including second information associated with an NDP from the external electronic device, during the DW duration, transmitting an NDP response message to the external electronic device based at least in part on the second information and the first information, during the DW duration, and performing data communication with the external electronic device based on the NDP, during a duration except for the DW duration. 
     According to various embodiments disclosed in the disclosure, the electronic device may establish an NDP based on a NAN protocol without a user input, thus seamlessly performing secure data communication based on the NDP. 
     According to various embodiments disclosed in the disclosure, the electronic device may reduce an NDP setup time for secure data communication. 
     In addition, various effects ascertained directly or indirectly through the disclosure may be provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device in a network environment according to various embodiments; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a heterogeneous network environment and a NAN network environment according to various embodiments; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a DW duration based on a NAN protocol according to various embodiments; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a signal sequence diagram for performing data communication based on an NDP based on first information associated with a link established based on a heterogeneous protocol according to various embodiments; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates a block diagram of an electronic device for performing data communication based on an NDP based on first information associated with a link established based on a heterogeneous protocol according to various embodiments; 
         FIG.  6    illustrates an operational flowchart of a first electronic device for performing data communication based on an NDP based on first information associated with a link established based on a heterogeneous protocol according to various embodiments; and 
         FIG.  7    illustrates an operational flowchart of a second electronic device for performing data communication based on an NDP based on first information associated with a link established based on a heterogeneous protocol according to various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     With regard to description of drawings, the same or similar denotations may be used for the same or similar components. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, various embodiments of the disclosure may be described with reference to accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that this is not intended to limit the disclosure to specific implementation forms and includes various modifications, equivalents, and/or alternatives of embodiments of the disclosure. 
       FIG.  1    is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device  101  in a network environment  100  according to various embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , the electronic device  101  in the network environment  100  may communicate with an electronic device  102  via a first network  198  (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or an electronic device  104  or a server  108  via a second network  199  (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to an embodiment, the electronic device  101  may communicate with the electronic device  104  via the server  108 . According to an embodiment, the electronic device  101  may include a processor  120 , memory  130 , an input device  150 , a sound output device  155 , a display device  160 , an audio module  170 , a sensor module  176 , an interface  177 , a haptic module  179 , a camera module  180 , a power management module  188 , a battery  189 , a communication module  190 , a subscriber identification module (SIM)  196 , or an antenna module  197 . In some embodiments, at least one (e.g., the display device  160  or the camera module  180 ) of the components may be omitted from the electronic device  101 , or one or more other components may be added in the electronic device  101 . In some embodiments, some of the components may be implemented as single integrated circuitry. For example, the sensor module  176  (e.g., a fingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, or an illuminance sensor) may be implemented as embedded in the display device  160  (e.g., a display). 
     The processor  120  may execute, for example, software (e.g., a program  140 ) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device  101  coupled with the processor  120 , and may perform various data processing or computation. According to one embodiment, as at least part of the data processing or computation, the processor  120  may load a command or data received from another component (e.g., the sensor module  176  or the communication module  190 ) in volatile memory  132 , process the command or the data stored in the volatile memory  132 , and store resulting data in non-volatile memory  134 . According to an embodiment, the processor  120  may include a main processor  121  (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP)), and an auxiliary processor  123  (e.g., a graphics processing unit (GPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor (CP)) that is operable independently from, or in conjunction with, the main processor  121 . Additionally or alternatively, the auxiliary processor  123  may be adapted to consume less power than the main processor  121 , or to be specific to a specified function. The auxiliary processor  123  may be implemented as separate from, or as part of the main processor  121 . 
     The auxiliary processor  123  may control at least some of functions or states related to at least one component (e.g., the display device  160 , the sensor module  176 , or the communication module  190 ) among the components of the electronic device  101 , instead of the main processor  121  while the main processor  121  is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or together with the main processor  121  while the main processor  121  is in an active state (e.g., executing an application). According to an embodiment, the auxiliary processor  123  (e.g., an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as part of another component (e.g., the camera module  180  or the communication module  190 ) functionally related to the auxiliary processor  123 . 
     The memory  130  may store various data used by at least one component (e.g., the processor  120  or the sensor module  176 ) of the electronic device  101 . The various data may include, for example, software (e.g., the program  140 ) and input data or output data for a command related thereto. The memory  130  may include the volatile memory  132  or the non-volatile memory  134 . 
     The program  140  may be stored in the memory  130  as software, and may include, for example, an operating system (OS)  142 , middleware  144 , or an application  146 . 
     The input device  150  may receive a command or data to be used by other component (e.g., the processor  120 ) of the electronic device  101 , from the outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device  101 . The input device  150  may include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, or a keyboard. 
     The sound output device  155  may output sound signals to the outside of the electronic device  101 . The sound output device  155  may include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker may be used for general purposes, such as playing multimedia or playing record, and the receiver may be used for an incoming calls. According to an embodiment, the receiver may be implemented as separate from, or as part of the speaker. 
     The display device  160  may visually provide information to the outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device  101 . The display device  160  may include, for example, a display, a hologram device, or a projector and control circuitry to control a corresponding one of the display, hologram device, and projector. According to an embodiment, the display device  160  may include touch circuitry adapted to detect a touch, or sensor circuitry (e.g., a pressure sensor) adapted to measure the intensity of force incurred by the touch. 
     The audio module  170  may convert a sound into an electrical signal and vice versa. According to an embodiment, the audio module  170  may obtain the sound via the input device  150 , or output the sound via the sound output device  155  or a headphone of an external electronic device (e.g., an electronic device  102 ) directly (e.g., wiredly) or wirelessly coupled with the electronic device  101 . 
     The sensor module  176  may detect an operational state (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device  101  or an environmental state (e.g., a state of a user) external to the electronic device  101 , and then generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected state. According to an embodiment, the sensor module  176  may include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor. 
     The interface  177  may support one or more specified protocols to be used for the electronic device  101  to be coupled with the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  102 ) directly (e.g., wiredly) or wirelessly. According to an embodiment, the interface  177  may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a secure digital (SD) card interface, or an audio interface. 
     A connecting terminal  178  may include a connector via which the electronic device  101  may be physically connected with the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  102 ). According to an embodiment, the connecting terminal  178  may include, for example, a HDMI connector, a USB connector, a SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector). 
     The haptic module  179  may convert an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus (e.g., a vibration or a movement) or electrical stimulus which may be recognized by a user via his tactile sensation or kinesthetic sensation. According to an embodiment, the haptic module  179  may include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electric stimulator. 
     The camera module  180  may capture a still image or moving images. According to an embodiment, the camera module  180  may include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes. 
     The power management module  188  may manage power supplied to the electronic device  101 . According to one embodiment, the power management module  188  may be implemented as at least part of, for example, a power management integrated circuit (PMIC). 
     The battery  189  may supply power to at least one component of the electronic device  101 . According to an embodiment, the battery  189  may include, for example, a primary cell which is not rechargeable, a secondary cell which is rechargeable, or a fuel cell. 
     The communication module  190  may support establishing a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device  101  and the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device  102 , the electronic device  104 , or the server  108 ) and performing communication via the established communication channel. The communication module  190  may include one or more communication processors that are operable independently from the processor  120  (e.g., the application processor (AP)) and supports a direct (e.g., wired) communication or a wireless communication. According to an embodiment, the communication module  190  may include a wireless communication module  192  (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module  194  (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module or a power line communication (PLC) module). A corresponding one of these communication modules may communicate with the external electronic device via the first network  198  (e.g., a short-range communication network, such as Bluetooth™, wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or the second network  199  (e.g., a long-range communication network, such as a cellular network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or wide area network (WAN)). These various types of communication modules may be implemented as a single component (e.g., a single chip), or may be implemented as multi components (e.g., multi chips) separate from each other. The wireless communication module  192  may identify and authenticate the electronic device  101  in a communication network, such as the first network  198  or the second network  199 , using subscriber information (e.g., international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber identification module  196 . 
     The antenna module  197  may transmit or receive a signal or power to or from the outside (e.g., the external electronic device) of the electronic device  101 . According to an embodiment, the antenna module  197  may include one or more antennas, and, therefrom, at least one antenna appropriate for a communication scheme used in the communication network, such as the first network  198  or the second network  199 , may be selected, for example, by the communication module  190  (e.g., the wireless communication module  192 ). The signal or the power may then be transmitted or received between the communication module  190  and the external electronic device via the selected at least one antenna. 
     At least some of the above-described components may be coupled mutually and communicate signals (e.g., commands or data) therebetween via an inter-peripheral communication scheme (e.g., a bus, general purpose input and output (GPIO), serial peripheral interface (SPI), or mobile industry processor interface (MIPI)). 
     According to an embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device  101  and the external electronic device  104  via the server  108  coupled with the second network  199 . Each of the electronic devices  102  and  104  may be a device of a same type as, or a different type, from the electronic device  101 . According to an embodiment, all or some of operations to be executed at the electronic device  101  may be executed at one or more of the external electronic devices  102 ,  104 , or  108 . For example, if the electronic device  101  should perform a function or a service automatically, or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device  101 , instead of, or in addition to, executing the function or the service, may request the one or more external electronic devices to perform at least part of the function or the service. The one or more external electronic devices receiving the request may perform the at least part of the function or the service requested, or an additional function or an additional service related to the request, and transfer an outcome of the performing to the electronic device  101 . The electronic device  101  may provide the outcome, with or without further processing of the outcome, as at least part of a reply to the request. To that end, a cloud computing, distributed computing, or client-server computing technology may be used, for example. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates a network environment  200  including a heterogeneous network and a NAN cluster according to various embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , in the network environment  200  (e.g., a network environment  100  of  FIG.  1   ), each of a plurality of electronic devices  201 ,  202 ,  203 ,  204 , and  205  may correspond to an electronic device  101  of  FIG.  1   . The plurality of electronic devices  201 ,  202 ,  203 ,  204 , and  205  may perform short-range wireless communication based on at least one protocol. Protocols for the short-range wireless communication include at least one of, for example, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi direct, mobile hotspot, independent basic service set (IBBS), mesh, Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy (BLE), or NAN, which is defined by institute of electrical and electronics engineers (IEEE) 802.11. 
     According to an embodiment, the first electronic device  201 , the second electronic device  202 , and the fifth electronic device  205  may perform wireless communication based on a heterogeneous protocol except for a NAN protocol among the protocols for the short-range wireless communication. For example, the heterogeneous protocol may include at least one of Wi-Fi (or legacy Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi direct, mobile hotspot, IBBS, Bluetooth, BLE, or mesh. For example, the electronic devices  201 ,  202 , and  205  may perform wireless communication through an access point (AP)  206  in coverage  210  of an AP  206 . 
     According to an embodiment, the first electronic device  201 , the second electronic device  202 , the third electronic device  203 , and the fourth electronic device  204  may perform wireless communication based on the NAN protocol. For example, the electronic devices  201 ,  202 ,  203 , and  204  may form a NAN cluster  220  by synchronizing a duration (e.g., a DW duration) and a channel for transmitting and receiving a message. The electronic devices  201 ,  202 ,  203 , and  204  included in the NAN cluster  220  may operate in a wake-up state during the DW duration to transmit or receive a message and may operate in a sleep state in a duration except for the DW duration. In the sleep state, the electronic devices  201 ,  202 ,  203 , and  204  may reduce power consumption by disabling at least some of components (e.g., a processor  120 , a communication module  190 , or an antenna module  197  of  FIG.  1   ). 
     According to an embodiment, the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  may perform data communication. The data communication may refer to an operation where user data (e.g., a chat text, an image, or contact information) except for a control message for establishing a path between the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  is transmitted. For example, the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  may establish a path between the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  using the tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) technology, but may be influenced by a connection state of the AP  206  because the TDLS technology is on the assumption that the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  are connected to the AP  206 . For another example, the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  may perform data communication based on a NAN data path (NDP) using the NAN protocol. For example, the NDP may refer to a path based on being disconnected, which is established (or set up) for the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  to perform data communication in a duration except for a specified DW duration. The first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  may reduce a setup time for performing data communication by establishing an NDP based on being disconnected. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates a DW duration  310  based on a NAN protocol according to various embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , a graph  300  describes an operation where electronic devices  201 ,  202 ,  203 , and  204  included in a NAN cluster  220  of  FIG.  2    transmit a message over time. The electronic devices  201 ,  202 ,  203 , and  204  may transmit or receive at least one message (e.g.,  311 ,  312 , or  313 ). The message transmitted in the DW duration  310  may include at least one of, for example, a synchronization beacon frame, a service discovery frame, or an action frame. The action frame may include a message used to establish an NDP in a duration  320  except for the DW duration  310  or a message for measuring a distance (e.g., NAN ranging) between the electronic devices  201 ,  202 ,  203 , and  204  included in the NAN cluster  220 . 
     According to an embodiment, the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  may dynamically determine a time resource or a channel resource in the duration  320  except for the DW duration  310  by transmitting a message (e.g., an NDP request message or an NDP response message) for establishing the NDP in the DW duration  310 . For example, the time resource or the channel resource may be determined by an electronic device which requests to establish the NDP or may be determined through a negotiation procedure between the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202 . 
     According to an embodiment, the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  may establish the NDP and may transmit encrypted data based on the NDP in the duration  320  except for the DW duration  310 . According to an embodiment, the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  may insert information associated with a link based on a heterogeneous protocol in a message for establishing the NDP. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates a signal sequence diagram for performing data communication based on an NDP based on first information associated with a link established based on a heterogeneous protocol according to various embodiments. A signal sequence diagram  400  of  FIG.  4    illustrates an embodiment where the first electronic device  201  transmits a message including first information and a second electronic device  202  transmits an NDP request message. However, the first electronic device  201  may perform the operation of the second electronic device  202 , and the second electronic device  202  may perform the operation of the first electronic device  201 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , in the network environment (e.g., a network environment  200  of  FIG.  2   ), the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  may be included in a NAN cluster  220 . According to an embodiment, the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  may form the NAN cluster  220  before operation  410  is performed. For example, the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  may form the NAN cluster  220  before operation  405  is performed or before operation  410  is performed after operation  405  is performed. 
     In operation  405 , the first electronic device  201  may store first information associated with a link established based on a heterogeneous protocol different from a NAN protocol. The first information may include at least one of profile IDs of a link to which the first electronic device  201  is previously connected or a link having a history where the first electronic device  201  is previously connected. The previously connected link or the link having the connected history may refer to, for example, a link based on a Wi-Fi protocol between the first electronic device  201  and an AP  206  of  FIG.  1   . For example, the first information may include at least one of a service set ID (SSID) indicating a heterogeneous network (e.g., Wi-Fi) to which the first electronic device  201  is connected, a basic SSID (BSSID) indicating a medium access control (MAC) address of the AP  206 , or a group ID indicating a group including the first electronic device  201  in Wi-Fi direct. 
     Although not illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the second electronic device  202  may store the first information associated with the link established based on the heterogeneous protocol. A profile ID (e.g., an SSID, a BSSID, or a group ID) of at least a portion of the first information stored in the second electronic device  202  and a profile ID of at least a portion of the first information stored in the first electronic device  201  may be the same as each other. For example, when connected to the same AP (e.g., the AP  206 ), the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  may store the same SSID. 
     In operation  410 , the first electronic device  201  may transmit a message including the first information to the second electronic device  202  during a DW duration  310 . The message including the first information may include, at least one of, for example, a synchronization beacon frame, a service discovery frame, or an action frame. 
     According to an embodiment, the message including the first information may include an ID for NDP security setup other than the first information. For example, the message including the first information may include at least one of a cipher suite ID (CSID) or a security context ID (SCID). The CSID may indicate a cipher suite of an algorithm used for encryption technology. The SCID may be used to define an algorithm or parameter used to process an encrypted message or may be used to identify a key. For example, the format for an attribute of the SCID defined in the NAN specification may be represented as Table 1 below. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Size 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Field 
                 (octets) 
                 Value 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Security Context Identifier 
                 2 
                 Variable 
                 Identifies the length of the Security 
               
               
                 Type Length 
                   
                   
                 Context Identifier field 
               
               
                 Security Context Identifier 
                 1 
                 Variable 
                 The type of Security Context Identifier. 
               
               
                 Type 
                   
                   
                 0 - Reserved 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 1 - PMKID 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 2 - 255: Reserved 
               
               
                 Publish ID 
                 1 
                 Variable 
                 Identifies the Publish Service Instance 
               
               
                 Security Context Identifier 
                 Variable 
                 Variable 
                 Identifies the Security Context. For 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 NAN Shared Key Cipher Suite, this 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 field contains the 16 octet PMKID 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 identifying the PMK used for setting 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 up the Secure Data Path. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In Table 1, the type of the SCID may be a pairwise master key ID (PMKID) defined in IEEE 802.11. 
     In operation  415 , the second device  202  may fail to receive a user input selecting information (e.g., a PMK or a PMKID) used for NDP setup from an upper layer (e.g., an application layer) and may generate second information (e.g., a PMKID) used for NDP setup based at least in part on a message including the first information received from the first electronic device  201 . According to an embodiment, the second electronic device  202  may determine the same profile ID as at least one profile ID stored in the second electronic device  202  among at least one profile ID included in the first information received from the first electronic device  201 . The second electronic device  202  may determine a key (e.g., a PMK) corresponding to the determined profile ID and may generate the second information (e.g., the PMKID) used for NDP setup based on the determined key. For example, when the second information is the PMKID, the second electronic device  202  may generate the PMKID through Equation 1 below.
 
PMKID= L (HMAC−Hash(PMK,“NANPMKName”∥IAddr∥RAddr∥ServiceID),0,128)  [Equation 1]
 
     In Equation 1, IAddr may refer to the interface address of the initiator (e.g., the second electronic device  202 ), and RAddr may refer to the interface address of a responder (e.g., the first electronic device  201 ). Service ID may refer to the ID of the service providing the PMK. HMAC-Hash may refer to the hash function specific to the cipher suite included in the CSID. 
     In operation  420 , the second electronic device  202  may transmit an NDP request message including the second information to the first electronic device  201  during the DW duration  310 . According to an embodiment, the NDP request message may include at least one of an SCID or a CSID used for NDP security setup. According to an embodiment, when the second information is the PMKID, the second information may be included in the SCID. According to an embodiment, the NDP request message may further include a profile ID determined by the second electronic device  202 . According to an embodiment, the second electronic device  202  may transmit a key (e.g., a PMK) used to generate the second information, rather than the second information, to the first electronic device  201  through the NDP request message. 
     In operation  425 , the first electronic device  201  may transmit an NDP response message to the second electronic device  202  based at least in part on the second information included in the NDP request message. According to an embodiment, when the second information included in the NDP request message is valid information, the first electronic device  201  may transmit the NDP response message. For example, when the second information is the PMKID, the first electronic device  201  may determine that the second information valid when a value calculated using the PMKID and a specified equation is the same as a profile ID stored in the first electronic device  201 . 
     In operation  430 , the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  may perform data communication based on an NDP in a duration  320  except for the DW duration  310 . 
     According to an embodiment, the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  may perform an additional operation for establishing the NDP before performing operation  430 . For example, in operation  435 , the second electronic device  202  may transmit a security confirm message in response to the NDP response message. In operation  440 , the first electronic device  201  may transmit an NDP security install message in response to the NDP security confirm message. As shown in  FIG.  4   , operation  435  and operation  440  may be performed in the duration  320  except for the DW duration  310  or may be performed in the DW duration  310 . 
     As described above, the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  may establish a secure NDP without receiving a user input from an upper layer by using information (e.g., a profile ID) associated with the link established based on the heterogeneous protocol. 
       FIG.  5    illustrates a block diagram of an electronic device  101  for performing data communication based on an NDP based on first information associated with a link established based on a heterogeneous protocol according to various embodiments. The block diagram of the electronic device  101  shown in  FIG.  5    is applicable to a first electronic device  201  or a second electronic device  202 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , the electronic device  101  may include a housing  110 , a processor  120 , a memory  130 , at least one antenna  197  (e.g., an antenna module  197  of  FIG.  1   ), and a wireless communication circuitry  192  (e.g., a wireless communication module  192  of  FIG.  1   ). According to an embodiment, the electronic device  101  may further include at least one of component shown in  FIG.  1    other than the components shown in  FIG.  5   . 
     According to an embodiment, the at least one antenna  197  may radiate a signal for performing wireless communication or may receive a signal transmitted from an external electronic device (e.g., the first electronic device  201  or the second electronic device  202 ). 
     According to an embodiment, the wireless communication circuitry  192  may be electrically connected with the at least one antenna  197 . The wireless communication circuitry  192  may process a signal radiated through the at least one antenna  197  or may process a signal received via the at least one antenna  197 . According to an embodiment, the wireless communication circuitry  192  may support a NAN protocol and a heterogeneous protocol. 
     According to an embodiment, the processor  120  may be operatively connected with the at least one antenna  197  and the wireless communication circuitry  192 . The processor  120  may perform the overall function of the electronic device  101  for performing wireless communication. 
     For example, when the electronic device  101  is an electronic device (e.g., the first electronic device  201  of  FIG.  4   ) which transmits a message including first information, the processor  120  may store the first information associated with a link established based on a heterogeneous protocol in the memory  130 . The processor  120  may transmit the message including the first information to an external electronic device (e.g., the second electronic device  202 ) during a DW duration  210  through the wireless communication circuitry  192  and may receive an NDP request message including second information from the external electronic device. The processor  120  may transmit an NDP response message to the external electronic device based at least in part on the second information included in the NDP request message and may perform data communication based on an NDP with the external electronic device during a duration  320  except for the DW duration  310 . 
     For another example, when the electronic device  101  is an electronic device (e.g., the second electronic device  202  of  FIG.  4   ) which generates the second information, the processor  120  may receive the message including the first information from the external electronic device (e.g., the first electronic device  201 ) during the DW duration  310  and may generate the second information used for NDP setup based at least in part on the first information. The processor  120  may transmit the NDP request message including the second information to the external electronic device during the DW duration  310  through the wireless communication circuitry  192  and may receive an NDP response message from the external electronic device. The processor  120  may perform data communication based on an NDP during the duration  320  except for the DW duration  310  with the external electronic device. 
     According to an embodiment, the memory  130  may be operatively connected with the processor  120 . The memory  130  may store instructions used for the processor  120  to perform the overall function of the electronic device  101 . For another example, the memory  130  may store the first information or the second information. 
       FIG.  6    illustrates an operational flowchart of a first electronic device  201  for performing data communication based on an NDP based on first information associated with a link established based on a heterogeneous protocol according to various embodiments. Operations shown in an operational flowchart  600  of  FIG.  6    may be performed by a first electronic device  201  or a component (e.g. a processor  120 ) of the first electronic device  201 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  6   , in operation  605 , the first electronic device  201  may store first information associated with a link established based on a heterogeneous protocol. The heterogeneous protocol may include at least one of, for example, Wi-Fi (or legacy Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi direct, mobile hotspot, IBBS, Bluetooth, BLE, or mesh. The first information may include at least one of profile IDs (e.g., an SSID, a BSSID, or a group ID) of a link to the first electronic device  201  is previously connected or a link having a history where the first electronic device  201  is previously connected. For example, referring to  FIG.  2   , the first electronic device  201  may store information associated with a link established between the first electronic device  201  and an AP  206 . 
     In operation  610 , the first device  201  may transmit a message including the first information to a second electronic device  202  included in a NAN cluster  220 . According to an embodiment, the NAN cluster including the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  may be formed before operation  610 . For example, the first electronic device  201  may form the NAN cluster with the second electronic device  202  after storing the first information in operation  605  and may form the NAN cluster with the second electronic device  202  before performing operation  605 . According to an embodiment, the first electronic device  201  may transmit the message including the first information during a DW duration  310 . For example, the message including the first information may include at least one of a synchronization beacon frame, a service discovery frame, or an action frame. According to an embodiment, the message including the first information may further include at least one of a CSID or an SCID used for NDP setup. 
     According to an embodiment, the first electronic device  201  may transmit the message including the first information in a unicast scheme and may transmit the message in a broadcasting scheme, in response to receiving at least one of the synchronization beacon frame, the service discovery frame, or the action frame from the second electronic device  202 . 
     In operation  615 , the first electronic device  201  may receive an NDP request message including second information from the second electronic device  202 . According to an embodiment, the first electronic device  201  may receive the NDP request message during the DW duration  310 . For example, the second information may include an ID (e.g., a PMKID) used for NDP setup. According to an embodiment, the NDP request message may include the same profile ID as a profile ID included in the first information among profile IDs previously stored in the second electronic device  202  or a key (e.g., a PMK) corresponding to the same profile ID, other than the second information. 
     In operation  620 , the first electronic device  201  may transmit an NDP response message to the second electronic device  202  based at least in part on the second information and the first information. According to an embodiment, the first electronic device  201  may calculate a value (e.g., a PMKID) indicated by the second information and may transmit the NDP response message when the calculated result value is the same as a profile ID previously stored in the first electronic device  201 . According to an embodiment, the first electronic device  201  may fail to calculate the value indicated by the second information and may transmit the NDP response message when the profile ID included in the NDP request message is the same as the profile ID previously stored in the first electronic device  201 . 
     In operation  625 , the first device  201  may perform data communication based on an NDP with the second electronic device  202 . For example, the first device  201  may exchange encrypted data with the second electronic device  202 . 
       FIG.  7    illustrates an operational flowchart of a second electronic device  202  for performing data communication based on an NDP based on first information associated with a link established based on a heterogeneous protocol according to various embodiments. Operations shown in an operational flowchart  700  of  FIG.  7    may be performed by a second electronic device  202  or a component (e.g. a processor  120 ) of the second electronic device  202 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  7   , in operation  705 , the second electronic device  202  may store first information associated with a link established based on a heterogeneous protocol. For example, referring to  FIG.  2   , the second electronic device  202  may store information about a link established between the second electronic device  202  and an AP  206 . The first information may include at least one of, for example, an SSID, a BSSID, or a group ID. 
     In operation  710 , the second electronic device  202  may receive a message including the first information from a first electronic device  201  included in a NAN cluster. According to an embodiment, the NAN cluster including the first electronic device  201  and the second electronic device  202  may be formed before operation  710 . For example, the second electronic device  202  may form the NAN cluster with the first electronic device  201  after storing the first information in operation  705  and may form the NAN cluster with the first electronic device  201  before performing operation  705 . According to an embodiment, the second electronic device  202  may receive the message including the first information during a DW duration  310 . The message including the first information may include, at least one of, for example, a synchronization beacon frame, a service discovery frame, or an action frame. 
     In operation  715 , the second electronic device  202  may transmit an NDP request message including second information, which is generated based at least in part on the first information and is used for NDP setup, to the first electronic device  201 . According to an embodiment, the second electronic device  202  may transmit the NDP request message during the DW duration  310 . According to an embodiment, the second electronic device  202  may determine the same profile ID as a profile ID (e.g., an SSID, a BSSID, or a group ID) of the first information stored in the second electronic device  202  among profiles of the first information received from the first electronic device  201  and may generate the second information based on the determined profile ID. According to an embodiment, the NDP request message may further include a profile ID determined by the second electronic device  202  or a key corresponding to the profile ID, other than the second information, or may include a profile ID or a key (e.g., a PMK) corresponding to the profile ID, rather than the second information. 
     In operation  720 , the second electronic device  202  may receive an NDP response message from the first electronic device  201 . In operation  725 , the second electronic device  202  may perform data communication based on an NDP with the first electronic device  201 . 
     As described above, an electronic device (e.g., an electronic device  101  of  FIG.  1    or a first electronic device  201  of  FIG.  4   ) supporting a NAN protocol and a heterogeneous protocol different from the NAN protocol may include at least one antenna (e.g., an antenna  197  of  FIG.  5   ), a wireless communication circuitry (e.g., a wireless communication circuitry  192  of  FIG.  5   ) electrically connected with the at least one antenna, a processor (e.g., a processor  120  of  FIG.  5   ) operatively connected with the wireless communication circuitry, and a memory (e.g., a memory  130  of  FIG.  5   ) operatively connected with the processor. The memory may store instructions, when executed, causing the processor to store first information associated with a link established based on the heterogeneous protocol, transmit a message including the first information to an external electronic device (e.g., a second electronic device  202  of  FIG.  4   ) included in a NAN cluster, via the wireless communication circuitry, receive an NDP request message including second information associated with an NDP from the external electronic device, transmit an NDP response message to the external electronic device based at least in part on the second information and the first information, and perform data communication with the external electronic device based on the NDP. 
     According to an embodiment, the heterogeneous protocol may include at least one of Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi direct, mobile hotspot, IBBS, Bluetooth, BLE, or mesh. 
     According to an embodiment, the instructions may cause the processor to transmit the message including the first information during a DW duration based on the NAN protocol, receive the NDP request message during the DW duration, and perform data communication based on the NDP during a duration except for the DW duration. 
     According to an embodiment, the message including the first information may include at least one of a synchronization beacon frame, a service discovery frame, or an action frame. 
     According to an embodiment, the first information may include at least one of profile IDs associated with the link, and the profile ID may refer to an SSID, a BSSID, or a group ID. 
     According to an embodiment, the second information may include a pairwise master key ID (PMKID). 
     According to an embodiment, the instructions may cause to the processor to calculate the PMKID included in the second information based on a specified equation, in response to receiving the NDP request message, identify whether the calculated value is the same as a profile ID stored in the electronic device, and transmit the NDP response message, when the calculated value is the same as the profile ID stored in the electronic device. 
     According to an embodiment, the message including the first information may further include at least one of a CSID or an SCID. 
     As described above, an electronic device (e.g., an electronic device  101  of  FIG.  1    or a second electronic device  202  of  FIG.  4   ) supporting a NAN protocol and a heterogeneous protocol different from the NAN protocol may include at least one antenna (e.g., an antenna  197  of  FIG.  5   ), a wireless communication circuitry (e.g., a wireless communication circuitry  192  of  FIG.  5   ) electrically connected with the at least one antenna, a processor (e.g., a processor  120  of  FIG.  5   ) operatively connected with the wireless communication circuitry, and a memory (e.g., a memory  130  of  FIG.  5   ) operatively connected with the processor. The memory may store instructions, when executed, causing the processor to store first information associated with a link established based on the heterogeneous protocol, receive a message including the first information from an external electronic device (e.g., a first electronic device  201  of  FIG.  4   ) included in a NAN cluster, via the wireless communication circuitry, transmit an NDP request message including second information generated based at least in part on first information included in the message and used to establish an NDP to the external electronic device, receive an NDP response message from the external electronic device, and perform data communication with the external electronic device based on the NDP. 
     According to an embodiment, the heterogeneous protocol may include at least one of Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi direct, mobile hotspot, IBBS, Bluetooth, BLE, or mesh. 
     According to an embodiment, the instructions may cause the processor to receive a message including the first information during a DW duration based on the NAN protocol, transmit the NDP request message during the DW duration, receive the NDP response message during the DW duration, and perform data communication based on the NDP during a duration except for the DW duration. 
     According to an embodiment, the message including the first information may include at least one of a synchronization beacon frame, a service discovery frame, or an action frame. 
     According to an embodiment, the first information may include at least one of profile IDs associated with the link, and the profile ID may refer to an SSID, a BSSID, or a group ID. 
     According to an embodiment, the second information may include a PMKID, and the instructions may cause the processor to determine the same profile ID as a profile ID of the first information stored in the electronic device, among profile IDs included in the message including the first information and generate the PMKID based at least in part on the determined profile ID. 
     According to an embodiment, the instructions may cause the processor to generate the PMKID based at least in part on a PMK and a hash function corresponding to the determined profile ID. 
     As described above, a method of an electronic device (e.g., an electronic device  101  of  FIG.  1    or a first electronic device  201  of  FIG.  4   ) supporting a NAN protocol and a heterogeneous protocol different from the NAN protocol may include storing first information associated with a link established based on the heterogeneous protocol, transmitting a message including the first information to an external electronic device (e.g., a second electronic device  202  of  FIG.  4   ) included in a NAN cluster, during a DW duration based on the NAN protocol, receiving an NDP request message including second information associated with an NDP from the external electronic device, during the DW duration, transmitting an NDP response message to the external electronic device based at least in part on the second information and the first information, during the DW duration, and performing data communication with the external electronic device based on the NDP, during a duration except for the DW duration. 
     According to an embodiment, the message including the first information may include at least one of a synchronization beacon frame, a service discovery frame, or an action frame. 
     According to an embodiment, the first information may include at least one of profile IDs associated with the link, and the profile ID may refer to an SSID, a BSSID, or a group ID, and the second information may include a PMKID. 
     According to an embodiment, the method may further include calculating the PMKID included in the second information based on a specified equation, in response to receiving the NDP request message, identifying whether the calculated value is the same as a profile ID stored in the electronic device, and transmitting the NDP response message, when the calculated value is the same as the profile ID stored in the electronic device. 
     According to an embodiment, the message including the first information may further include at least one of a CSID or an SCID. 
     The electronic device according to various embodiments may be one of various types of electronic devices. The electronic devices may include, for example, a portable communication device (e.g., a smart phone), a computer device, a portable multimedia device, a portable medical device, a camera, a wearable device, or a home appliance. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the electronic devices are not limited to those described above. 
     It should be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technological features set forth herein to particular embodiments and include various changes, equivalents, or replacements for a corresponding embodiment. With regard to the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used to refer to similar or related elements. It is to be understood that a singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the things, unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, each of such phrases as “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,” “A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C,” may include all possible combinations of the items enumerated together in a corresponding one of the phrases. As used herein, such terms as “1st” and “2nd,” or “first” and “second” may be used to simply distinguish a corresponding component from another, and does not limit the components in other aspect (e.g., importance or order). It is to be understood that if an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to, with or without the term “operatively” or “communicatively”, as “coupled with,” “coupled to,” “connected with,” or “connected to” another element (e.g., a second element), it means that the element may be coupled with the other element directly (e.g., wiredly), wirelessly, or via a third element. 
     As used herein, the term “module” may include a unit implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may interchangeably be used with other terms, for example, “logic,” “logic block,” “part,” or “circuitry”. A module may be a single integral component, or a minimum unit or part thereof, adapted to perform one or more functions. For example, according to an embodiment, the module may be implemented in a form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). 
     Various embodiments as set forth herein may be implemented as software (e.g., the program  140 ) including one or more instructions that are stored in a storage medium (e.g., internal memory  136  or external memory  138 ) that is readable by a machine (e.g., the electronic device  101 ). For example, a processor (e.g., the processor  120 ) of the machine (e.g., the electronic device  101 ) may invoke at least one of the one or more instructions stored in the storage medium, and execute it, with or without using one or more other components under the control of the processor. This allows the machine to be operated to perform at least one function according to the at least one instruction invoked. The one or more instructions may include a code generated by a complier or a code executable by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Wherein, the term “non-transitory” simply means that the storage medium is a tangible device, and does not include a signal (e.g., an electromagnetic wave), but this term does not differentiate between where data is semi-permanently stored in the storage medium and where the data is temporarily stored in the storage medium. 
     According to an embodiment, a method according to various embodiments of the disclosure may be included and provided in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded as a product between a seller and a buyer. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or be distributed (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) online via an application store (e.g., Play Store™), or between two user devices (e.g., smart phones) directly. If distributed online, at least part of the computer program product may be temporarily generated or at least temporarily stored in the machine-readable storage medium, such as memory of the manufacturer&#39;s server, a server of the application store, or a relay server. 
     According to various embodiments, each component (e.g., a module or a program) of the above-described components may include a single entity or multiple entities. According to various embodiments, one or more of the above-described components may be omitted, or one or more other components may be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of components (e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into a single component. In such a case, according to various embodiments, the integrated component may still perform one or more functions of each of the plurality of components in the same or similar manner as they are performed by a corresponding one of the plurality of components before the integration. According to various embodiments, operations performed by the module, the program, or another component may be carried out sequentially, in parallel, repeatedly, or heuristically, or one or more of the operations may be executed in a different order or omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.