Information processing apparatus, wireless communication system, and communication method

A wireless communication system including a plurality of information processing apparatuses each having a wireless communication function,

• the wireless communication system including a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus,
• the first information processing apparatus including a first processor operatively coupled to a first memory and a first wireless communication device, the first processor executing:
• obtaining identification information which is used for performing wireless communication with the second information processing apparatus, wherein the identification information is unique to the wireless communication between first information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus;
• generating a first encryption key, by using the obtained identification information, and a shared second encryption key common to the first information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus and stored in advance by each of the first information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus;
• encrypting at least a portion of a frame with the first encryption key;
• and
• wirelessly transmitting the frame at least a portion of which is encrypted with the first encryption key,
• the second information processing apparatus including a second processor operatively coupled to a second memory and a second wireless communication device, the second processor executing:
• receiving the frame;
• generating the first encryption key by using the shared second encryption key common to the first and second information processing apparatuses and stored in advance by each of the first information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus, and identification information included in the frame;
• and
• decrypting at least the encrypted portion of the received frame with the first encryption key;
• wherein a further portion of the frame, which is not encrypted with the first encryption key, includes a value which is changed when at least a portion of the frame is updated, and
• the first processor encrypts at least a portion of the frame by using the value and the first encryption key.

A communication method executed in a wireless communication system including a plurality of information processing apparatuses each having a wireless communication function,

• the wireless communication system including a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus,
• the first information processing apparatus including a first processor operatively coupled to a first memory and a first wireless communication device, the first processor executing:
• obtaining identification information which is used for performing wireless communication with the second information processing apparatus, wherein the identification information is unique to the wireless communication between the first information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus;
• generating a first encryption key, by using the obtained identification information, and a shared second encryption key common to the first information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus and stored in advance by each of the first information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus;
• encrypting at least a portion of a frame with the first encryption key;
• and
• wirelessly transmitting the frame at least a portion of which is encrypted with the first encryption key,
• the second information processing apparatus including a second processor operatively coupled to a second memory and a second wireless communication device, the second processor executing:
• receiving the frame;
• generating the first encryption key by using the shared second encryption key common to the first and second information processing apparatuses and stored in advance by each of the first information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus, and identification information included in the frame;
• and
• decrypting at least an encrypted portion of the frame, with the first encryption key;
• wherein a portion of the frame, which is not encrypted with the first encryption key, includes a value which is changed when at least a portion of the frame is updated, and
• the first processor encrypts at least a portion of the frame by using the value and the first encryption key.

An information processing apparatus having a wireless communication function,

• the information processing apparatus including at least one processor operatively coupled to a memory and a wireless communication device, the at least one processor configured to execute:
• encrypting at least a portion of an 802.11 action frame with an encryption key common to the information processing apparatus and another information processing apparatus, the encrypted portion comprising at least one of node information, acceptance policy, advertisement data, application key generation random number, and digest;
• and
• wirelessly broadcasting the 802.11 action frame at least a first portion of which is encrypted with the encryption key;
• wherein
• a second portion of the frame, which is not encrypted with the encryption key, includes a value which is changed when at least a portion of the frame is updated, and
• the at least one processor encrypts at least a portion of the frame by using the value and the encryption key.

An information processing apparatus having a wireless communication function, the information processing apparatus including at least one processor operatively coupled to a memory and a wireless communication device, the at least one processor configured to execute:

• obtaining identification information which is used for performing wireless communication with another information processing apparatus, wherein the identification information is unique to the wireless communication between the information processing apparatus and the another information processing apparatus;
• generating a first encryption key by using the obtained identification information and a shared second encryption key common to the information processing apparatus and the another information processing apparatus and stored in advance by each of the information processing apparatus and the another information processing apparatus;
• encrypting at least a portion of a frame with the first encryption key;
• and
• wirelessly transmitting the frame at least a portion of which is encrypted with the first encryption key,
• wherein the transmitted frame includes information for identifying an application that is executed by the information processing apparatus.