Wireless communication system, wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication method, and computer program

A wireless communication apparatus which operates in a wireless communication environment where a first beacon period is set at every predetermined period in a first network group and communication apparatuses in the first network group exchange beacon containing information concerning a network so as to form the first network group, the wireless communication apparatus comprising:

• a communication unit transmitting and receiving wireless data over a transmission path;
• a beacon generator generating a temporary beacon and a first beacon signal corresponding to a first beacon of the wireless communication apparatus, the temporary beacon being separate from the first beacon;
• a beacon analyzer analyzing a second beacon signal received, in response to transmission of the first beacon in a beacon scan, from an adjacent communication apparatus in a second network group and having a second beacon period different form the first beacon period;
• an authentication unit for authenticating the adjacent communication apparatus to determine a type of connection to be formed between the wireless communication apparatus and the adjacent communication apparatus;
• and
• a communication controller controlling a data transmission/reception operation in the communication unit, the communication controller controlling a communication operation for the first network group based on a result of the analysis of the second beacon signal, the first beacon, and the temporary beacon,
• wherein the communication unit is configured to facilitate exchange of data between the wireless communication apparatus having the first beacon period and the adjacent apparatus having the second beacon period without merging the first beacon period and the second beacon period into a single beacon period when the type of connection is determined to be an unsecure connection, and
• wherein the communication unit is further configured to facilitate exchange of data between the wireless communication apparatus and the adjacent apparatus by merging the first beacon period and the second beacon period when the type of connection is determined to be a secure connection.

A wireless communication method for performing communication operation in a wireless communication environment where a first beacon period is set at every predetermined period in a first network group and communication apparatuses in the first network group exchange beacon containing information concerning a network so as to form the first network group, the wireless communication method being executed by communication apparatus in the first network group and comprising:

• generating, using a beacon generator of the communication apparatus, a temporary beacon and a first beacon signal corresponding to a first beacon of the communication apparatus, the temporary beacon being separate from the first beacon;
• setting the first beacon between the communication apparatuses in the first network group;
• searching for an adjacent second network group having a second beacon period different from the first beacon period by transmitting the first beacon in a beacon scan performed by a beacon scan unit of the communication apparatus;
• attempting to enter the second network group by transmitting the first beacon signal during the first beacon period;
• receiving a second beacon signal from a new communication apparatus in the second network group;
• authenticating the new communication apparatus to determine a type of connection to be formed between the communication apparatus and the new communication apparatus;
• controlling the connection between the new communication apparatus and the communication apparatus based on the first beacon, the second beacon, the temporary beacon, and a result of the authentication;
• exchanging data between the communication apparatus having the first beacon period and the new communication apparatus having the second beacon period without merging the first beacon period and the second beacon period into a single beacon period when the type of connection is determined to be an unsecure connection;
• and
• exchanging data between the communication apparatus and the new communication apparatus by merging the first beacon period and the second beacon period when the type of connection is determined to be a secure connection.

A computer-readable storage medium, comprising a computer program, which when executed on a communication apparatus causes the communication apparatus to perform a communication operation in a wireless communication environment where a first beacon period is set at every predetermined period in a first network group and communication apparatuses in the first network group exchange beacon containing information concerning a network so as to form the first network group, the communication operation comprising:

• generating a temporary beacon and a first beacon signal corresponding to a first beacon of the communication apparatus, the temporary beacon being separate from the first beacon;
• setting the first beacon between the communication apparatuses in the first network group;
• searching for an adjacent second network group having a second beacon period different from the first beacon period by transmitting the first beacon in a beacon scan;
• attempting to enter the second network group by transmitting the first beacon signal during the first beacon period;
• receiving a second beacon signal from a new communication apparatus in the second network group;
• authenticating the new communication apparatus to determine a type of connection to be formed between the communication apparatus and the new communication apparatus;
• controlling the connection between the new communication apparatus and the communication apparatus based on the first beacon, the second beacon, the temporary beacon, and a result of the authentication;
• exchanging data between the communication apparatus having the first beacon period and the new communication apparatus having the second beacon period without merging the first beacon period and the second beacon period into a single beacon period when the type of connection is determined to be an unsecure connection;
• and
• exchanging data between the communication apparatus and the new communication apparatus by merging the first beacon period and the second beacon period when the type of connection is determined to be a secure connection.