Electronic device, method for controlling electronic device, and storage medium

Abstract

The invention discloses an electronic device, a method for controlling the electronic device, and a storage medium. An electronic device includes: a receiving unit configured to receive a change request to change a connection destination AP to be connected from a currently connected access point AP; a processing unit configured to communicate with another apparatus via the currently connected AP and perform specific processing including transmission or reception of data; and a control unit configured to execute control to interrupt the specific process and cancel the standby mode in a case where a connection destination change based on the change request is executed in a first state in which the specific process is not executed and the standby mode is cancelled. And a standby mode in which a portion of the data for the specific process has been received or transmitted by communication with the other device and the reception or transmission of the remaining data has not been completed, the standby mode waiting for the reception or transmission of the remaining data.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electronic device capable of changing a connection destination AP to be connected to according to a connection destination change request from an access point (AP), a method for controlling the electronic device, and a storage medium. Background Art

[0002] A technology for an extended service set (ESS) including a plurality of APs involves dynamically switching a connection destination AP to be connected by a station (STA) in the ESS to efficiently exchange data between the AP and the STA. When it is determined that the AP as the connection destination is to be switched based on, for example, congestion of the AP to which the STA is currently connected, occupancy of other APs, or radio wave conditions, the currently connected AP sends an AP change request to the STA. Upon receiving the AP change request, the STA switches the connection destination AP according to the request to connect to an appropriate AP.

[0003] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-175068 discloses the following process for sending a request to change the connection destination from a router with an AP function to a currently connected wireless slave unit. A mobile router (MR1) that can be connected to multiple wireless slave units checks whether the wireless slave terminal supports the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11v. It can be determined whether the wireless slave terminal supports IEEE 802.11v based on an association request frame sent from a wireless slave terminal wirelessly connected to MR1. If the wireless slave terminal supports IEEE 802.11v, a basic service set (BSS) transition management (BTM) request frame is sent to the wireless slave terminal. In the BTM request frame, the BSS transition candidate list entry field specifies the basic service set identifier (BSSID) of the master router RT2 as the connection destination. Therefore, the switching of the connection destination of the slave terminal is facilitated. Based on the received BTM request frame, the wireless slave terminal switches the connection destination from MR1 to the master router RT2. Summary of the invention

[0004] Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a mechanism for improving convenience in changing an AP serving as a connection destination according to a request to change the connection destination during a specific process involving communication.

[0005] An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a receiving unit, configured to receive a change request for changing a connection destination AP to be connected to from a currently connected access point AP; a processing unit, configured to communicate with another device via the currently connected AP and perform a specific process including sending or receiving data; and a control unit, configured to, in a first state, perform control to interrupt the specific process and cancel a standby mode when a connection destination change based on the change request is performed, in which a portion of data for the specific process has been received or sent through communication with the other device and the reception or sending of the remaining data has not been completed, and the standby mode waits for the reception or sending of the remaining data.

[0006] Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of a system.

[0008] Figure 2A and Figure 2B is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of a multifunction peripheral (MFP).

[0009] Figure 3A , Figure 3B and Figure 3C is an illustration of a sample screen displayed on the operation display unit of the MFP.

[0010] Figure 4A and Figure 4B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile terminal device.

[0011] Figure 5 This is a diagram of the configuration of an access point (AP).

[0012] Figure 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating processing performed in response to a connection destination change request from an AP.

[0013] Figure 7 is a flowchart of a process executed by the MFP in response to a connection destination change request from the AP.

[0014] Figure 8 is a flowchart of a connection destination changing process executed by the MFP. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the described embodiments are merely examples, and unless otherwise specified, specific examples of components, process steps, display screens, etc. are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0016] The STA has a state in which switching the connection destination AP does not cause a problem, and a state in which switching the connection destination AP or disconnecting from the currently connected AP causes a problem. That is, if a request for changing the connection destination AP is received from the currently connected AP and the connection destination AP is switched in response to the request, the STA may have a problem. If the STA does not respond to the request for changing the connection destination AP received from the currently connected AP, the STA may also have a problem when disconnecting from the currently connected AP.

[0017] For example, a problem may occur when the STA prints print data received from another device (such as a smart phone or a personal computer (PC)) via the currently connected AP. In this case, if a request for changing the connection destination AP is received and the connection destination AP is switched in response to the request, the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the STA may change. Then, the STA whose IP address has been changed cannot be recognized by other devices, which prevents other devices from sending subsequent parts of the print data being printed. Therefore, the unreceived part of the print data being printed cannot be received by the STA, and the STA cannot complete the printing. In this case, the STA is in a reception standby mode, in which the STA waits for the remaining part (i.e., the unreceived part) of the print data to be received during printing. However, the remaining part is not sent, and the reception standby mode continues. During the period of time in which the reception standby mode continues, other processing cannot be performed, which makes it difficult to quickly perform another subsequent processing while printing is in progress. Moreover, in the case of switching the connection destination AP during the transmission or reception of data other than the print data, the transmission or reception of the remaining data may be prevented to complete the processing.

[0018] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a mechanism for preventing another process from being unable to be immediately executed when an AP serving as a connection destination is changed according to a request for changing a connection destination during a specific process involving communication.

[0019] Furthermore, when printing print data received from another device such as a smartphone or PC via a currently connected AP, the STA receives a request for changing the connection destination AP and switches the connection destination AP according to the request, which may result in a change in the IP address of the STA. Then, the unreceived portion of the print data being printed cannot be received by the STA, and the STA cannot complete the printing. Moreover, in the case of switching the connection destination AP during transmission or reception of data other than the print data, the remaining data may be prevented from being transmitted or received to complete the processing.

[0020] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a mechanism to prevent failure in transmitting or receiving data when an AP serving as a connection destination is switched in response to a request for changing a connection destination.

[0021] System Configuration

[0022] Figure 1 An example configuration of a system according to the present embodiment is illustrated. In one example, the system is a wireless communication system in which a plurality of communication devices can wirelessly communicate with each other. Figure 1 In the example shown in , the communication device includes a mobile terminal device 104, an MFP 100, access points AP1 (101) and AP2 (102), a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server 103, a domain name system (DNS) server 105, and a network 110. The mobile terminal device 104 is a device having a wireless communication function using a wireless local area network (LAN) or the like. The wireless LAN may be referred to as a WLAN hereinafter. The mobile terminal device 104 may be, for example, a personal information terminal such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone (smart phone), a digital camera, or a personal computer (PC).

[0023] MFP 100 is a printer with a printing function. MFP 100 may also have a reading function (scanner), a fax transmission (fax) function, and a telephone function. In the present embodiment, MFP 100 also has a communication function for wirelessly communicating with a mobile terminal device 104. The present embodiment describes MFP 100 by way of example and not limitation. Instead of MFP 100, any other device with a communication function may be used, such as a scanner device, a projector, a mobile terminal, a smart phone, a laptop PC, a tablet terminal, a PDA, a digital camera, a music player, a television, or a smart speaker. MFP is an acronym for a multifunction peripheral.

[0024] The access point AP1 (101) is deployed separately from (or located outside) the mobile terminal device 104 and the MFP 100, and operates as a WLAN base station device. A communication device having a WLAN communication function can perform communication in an infrastructure mode for WLAN via the access point AP1 (101). In the following description, the access point may be referred to as an "AP". The infrastructure mode for WLAN may be referred to as a "wireless infrastructure mode". The access point AP1 (101) performs wireless communication with a communication device (authenticated communication device) that is allowed to connect to the access point AP1 (101), and relays wireless communication between the communication device and another communication device. The access point AP1 (101) can be connected to, for example, a wired communication network, and can relay communication between a communication device connected to the wired communication network and another communication device wirelessly connected to the access point AP1 (101).

[0025] The access point AP2 (102) has a function equivalent to that of the access point AP1 (101). The MFP 100 switches the connection from the access point AP1 (101) to the access point AP2 (102) if necessary. The DHCP server 103 is connected to the MFP 100 via the access point AP1 (101) and the network 110, and responds to a request from the MFP 100 to provide a service to the MFP 100. Figure 1 In the example, the DHCP server 103 is connected as a device different from the access points AP1 (101) and AP2 (102). However, the access points AP1 (101) and AP2 (102) may have a DHCP server function. The DNS server 105 is connected to the MFP 100 and the mobile terminal device 104 via the access point AP1 (101) and the network 110, and provides a name resolution service in response to a request from the MFP 100 or the mobile terminal device 104. The network 110 may be the Internet, a closed network within a company, or a mobile phone network.

[0026] Appearance of MFP

[0027] Figure 2A The diagram shows an example appearance of the MFP 100. The MFP 100 includes, for example, a document table 201, a document cover 202, a print sheet insertion port 203, a print sheet discharge port 204, and an operation display unit 205. The document table 201 is a table on which a document to be read is placed. The document cover 202 is a cover that is closed to press the document placed on the document table 201 and prevent light from a light source that illuminates the document during reading of the document from leaking outward. The print sheet insertion port 203 is an insertion port in which sheets of various sizes can be set. The print sheet discharge port 204 is a discharge port from which printed sheets are discharged. The sheets set in the print sheet insertion port 203 are conveyed one by one to a printing unit 222 (described below), printed by the printing unit 222, and then discharged through the print sheet discharge port 204. The operation display unit 205 includes keys such as character input keys, cursor keys, an enter key, and a cancel key, a light emitting diode (LED), a liquid crystal display (LCD), and the like. The operation display unit 205 is configured to accept operations performed by a user, such as activation of various MFP functions and setting of various settings. The operation display unit 205 may also include a touch panel display. The MFP 100 has a wireless communication function using WLAN, and includes a wireless communication antenna 206 for wireless communication. The wireless communication antenna 206 may not be visible from the outside. Similar to the mobile terminal device 104, the MFP 100 may also perform wireless communication in a frequency band such as the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band using WLAN.

[0028] MFP Configuration

[0029] Figure 2B An example configuration of the MFP 100 is illustrated. The MFP 100 includes a main board 211 for performing main control of the MFP 100, and a wireless unit 226. The wireless unit 226 is a communication module for performing WLAN communication by using at least one common antenna. The MFP 100 also includes, for example, a modem 229 for performing wired communication. The main board 211 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) 212, a read-only memory (ROM) 213, a random access memory (RAM) 214, a nonvolatile memory 215, an image memory 216, a read control unit 217, a data conversion unit 218, a read unit 219, and an encoding / decoding processing unit 221. The main board 211 also includes, for example, a printing unit 222, a sheet feeding unit 223, a printing control unit 224, an operation display unit 220, and a fax control unit 227.

[0030] The functional units in the above-mentioned main board 211 are connected to each other via a system bus 230 managed by a CPU 212. The main board 211 and the wireless unit 226 are connected via a dedicated bus 225, for example. The main board 211 and the modem 229 are connected via a bus 228, for example.

[0031] The CPU 212 is a system control unit including at least one processor, and controls the overall operation of the MFP 100. In one example, the processing of the MFP 100 described below is implemented by the CPU 212 executing a program stored in the ROM 213. Hardware dedicated to each processing may be provided. The ROM 213 stores a control program executed by the CPU 212, an embedded operating system (OS) program, and the like. In the present embodiment, the CPU 212 executes each control program stored in the ROM 213 under the management of the embedded OS stored in the ROM 213 to control software such as for scheduling and for switching tasks.

[0032] RAM 214 includes, for example, a static random access memory (SRAM). RAM 214 stores data such as data of program control variables, setting values ​​registered by a user, and data for managing MFP 100. RAM 214 can also be used as a buffer for various jobs. Non-volatile memory 215 includes, for example, a memory such as a flash memory, and continues to store data even after the power of MFP 100 is turned off. Image memory 216 includes a memory such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). Image memory 216 stores image data received via wireless unit 226, image data processed by encoding / decoding processing unit 221, and the like. The memory configuration of MFP 100 is not limited to the above configuration. Data conversion unit 218 performs processing such as analysis of data in various formats and conversion from image data to print data.

[0033] The reading control unit 217 controls the reading unit 219 (e.g., a contact image sensor (CIS)) to optically read the document placed on the document table 201. The reading control unit 217 converts the image obtained by optically reading the document into electrical image data (image signal) and outputs the electrical image data. At this time, the reading control unit 217 may perform various image processing such as binarization and halftone processing before outputting the image data.

[0034] The operation display unit 220 and the reference Figure 2A The described operation display unit 205 corresponds to and executes processing such as displaying on a display under display control of the CPU 212 and generating a signal in response to accepting a user operation.

[0035] The encoding / decoding processing unit 221 performs encoding processing, decoding processing, and enlargement / reduction processing of image data handled by the MFP 100 , such as Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) data or Portable Network Graphics (PNG) data.

[0036] The sheet feeding unit 223 holds sheets for printing. The sheet feeding unit 223 can feed set sheets under the control of the print control unit 224. The sheet feeding unit 223 may include a plurality of sheet feeding units to hold a plurality of types of sheets in a single device, and may perform control of determining from which sheet feeding unit to feed a sheet under the control of the print control unit 224.

[0037] The print control unit 224 performs various image processing such as smoothing processing, print density correction processing, and color correction on the image data to be printed, and outputs the processed image data to the print unit 222. The print unit 222 is configured to perform, for example, an inkjet printing process. The print unit 222 ejects ink supplied from an ink cartridge through a print head, and records an image on a recording medium such as paper. The print unit 222 may be configured to perform another printing process such as an electrophotographic printing process. In addition, the print control unit 224 may periodically read information on the print unit 222 and update, for example, status information stored in the RAM 214. The status information includes, for example, the remaining amount of the ink cartridge and the status of the print head.

[0038] The wireless unit 226 is a unit capable of providing a WLAN communication function. For example, the wireless unit 226 can provide a function similar to the function combined with the WLAN unit 401 of the mobile terminal device 104. That is, according to the WLAN standard, the wireless unit 226 converts data into packets and sends the packets to another device, or restores the packets from another external device to the original data and outputs the original data to the CPU 212. The wireless unit 226 can perform communication as a station that complies with the IEEE 802.11 series of standards. In particular, the wireless unit 226 can perform communication as an IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax station. In the following description, the station may be referred to as STA. In addition, the wireless unit 226 can perform communication as a Wi-Fi Agile Multiband (trademark) STA.

[0039] The wireless unit 226 supports IEEE 802.11ax, or Wi-Fi 6 (trademark), and can perform processing in accordance with IEEE802.11ax. That is, the MFP 100 can perform one or both of the processing of a STA supporting OFDMA (or compatible therewith) and the operation (processing) of a STA supporting TWT (or compatible therewith). OFDMA is the abbreviation of orthogonal frequency division multiple access. TWT is the abbreviation of target wake-up time. Since the wireless unit 226 supports TWT, the timing of data communication from the host device to the STA is adjusted. When there is no need to wait for signal reception, the wireless unit 226 (ie, MFP 100) used as a STA puts the communication function into a sleep state. This configuration can reduce power consumption. The wireless unit 226 also supports Wi-Fi 6E (trademark). That is, the wireless unit 226 can also perform communication on the 6GHz band (5.925GHz to 7.125GHz). The 6GHz band does not include the target band for implementing dynamic frequency selection (DFS) included in the 5GHz band. Therefore, in the communication on the 6 GHz band, communication interruption due to the DFS waiting time does not occur. Therefore, it can be expected to perform more comfortable communication.

[0040] The mobile terminal device 104 and the MFP 100 can perform point-to-point (P2P) (WLAN) communication based on Wi-Fi Direct (WFD), and the wireless unit 226 has a software access point (Soft-AP) function or a group owner function. That is, the wireless unit 226 can establish a P2P communication network and determine a channel to be used for P2P communication.

[0041] Operation display unit of MFP

[0042] FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C An example screen displayed on the display (touch panel display) included in the operation display unit 220 of the MFP 100 is schematically illustrated. Figure 3A An example of a home screen displayed when no operation such as printing or scanning occurs after the power of the MFP 100 is turned on (when the MFP 100 is in an idle state or a standby state) is illustrated. Figure 3A , display items (menu items) labeled "Copy", "Scan", and "Cloud" are displayed. The item "Cloud" is a menu item related to a cloud function using Internet communication. When one of the menu items is selected by key operation or touch panel operation, the MFP 100 can start implementing the corresponding setting or function. Figure 3A The main screen shown in the figure accepts key operations or touch panel operations to display the Figure 3A The screen shown in the figure is different from the screen shown in the figure.

[0043] Figure 3B The diagram shows an example of displaying another part of the home screen. In response to an operation of displaying another page of the home screen (such as sliding from left to right or vice versa), a switch from Figure 3A The status shown in Figure 3B The transition of the screen shown in Figure 3B In the embodiment, display items (menu items) labeled as "communication settings", "printing" and "photos" are displayed. When one of these menu items is selected, the function corresponding to the selected menu item, that is, one of the printing function, the photo function and the communication settings is implemented.

[0044] Figure 3C The diagram shows Figure 3BAn example of a display of a menu screen for communication settings that is displayed when communication settings are selected on the screen shown in . The menu screen for communication settings displays menu items (options) "Wireless LAN", "Wired LAN", "Wireless Direct", "Bluetooth", and "General Settings". The items "Wireless LAN", "Wired LAN", and "Wireless Direct" are menu items for performing LAN settings, and one of these items is used to perform settings such as setting a wired connection, enabling or disabling a wireless infrastructure mode, or enabling or disabling a P2P mode (such as a WFD or soft AP mode). When the item "Wireless LAN" is selected and the wireless LAN is set to enabled by a user operation, the wireless infrastructure mode is enabled. When the item "Wireless Direct" is selected and the wireless direct connection is set to enabled by a user operation, the P2P (WLAN) mode is enabled. This screen also displays a "General Settings" menu associated with each connection mode. On this screen, the user can also set the frequency band and frequency channel for the wireless LAN.

[0045] Appearance of mobile terminal equipment

[0046] Figure 4A 4 is a diagram illustrating an example appearance of a mobile terminal device 104. In the present embodiment, as an example, the mobile terminal device 104 is a typical smart phone. The mobile terminal device 104 includes, for example, a display unit 402, an operation unit 403, and a power key 404. The display unit 402 is, for example, a display including an LCD display mechanism. The display unit 402 can display information by using, for example, an LED. In addition to the display unit 402 or instead of the display unit 402, the mobile terminal device 104 can have a function of outputting information by voice. The operation unit 403 includes hard keys such as keys and buttons, a touch panel, etc. to detect user operations.

[0047] In the illustrated example, a general touch panel display is used to display information on the display unit 402 and accept user operations through the operation unit 403. Therefore, the display unit 402 and the operation unit 403 are implemented by a single device. In this case, for example, a button icon or a software keyboard is displayed using the display function of the display unit 402, and the user's touch on the button icon or the software keyboard is detected by the operation acceptance function of the operation unit 403. The display unit 402 and the operation unit 403 can be separated from each other, and the hardware for display and the hardware for operation acceptance can be provided separately. The power key 404 is a hard key for accepting a user operation for turning on or off the power of the mobile terminal device 104.

[0048] The mobile terminal device 104 includes a WLAN unit 401 that provides a WLAN communication function. The WLAN unit 401 may not be visible from the outside. The WLAN unit 401 is configured to perform data (packet) communication in a WLAN system that complies with, for example, the IEEE 802.11 series of standards (such as IEEE802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax).

[0049] In addition, the WLAN unit 401 can perform communication as a Wi-Fi Agile Multiband (trademark) AP. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to this configuration, and the WLAN unit 401 can be configured to perform communication in a WLAN system that conforms to any other standard. In the example shown, it is assumed that the WLAN unit 401 can perform communication on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. It is also assumed that the WLAN unit 401 can perform communication based on WFD, communication in soft AP mode, communication in wireless infrastructure mode, etc. The operations in these modes will be described below.

[0050] Configuration of mobile terminal equipment

[0051] Figure 4B An example configuration of a mobile terminal device 104 is illustrated. In one example, the mobile terminal device 104 includes a main board 411 for performing main control of the mobile terminal device 104, and a WLAN unit 429 for performing WLAN communication. The main board 411 includes, for example, a CPU 412, a ROM 413, a RAM 414, an image memory 415, a data conversion unit 416, a telephone unit 417, a GPS 419, a camera unit 421, a nonvolatile memory 422, a data storage unit 423, a speaker unit 424, and a power supply unit 425. CPU is an acronym for a central processing unit, ROM is an acronym for a read-only memory, RAM is an acronym for a random access memory, and GPS is an acronym for a global positioning system. The mobile terminal device 104 also includes a display unit 420 and an operation unit 418. The functional units in the above-mentioned main board 411 are connected to each other via a system bus 628 managed by the CPU 412. The main board 411 and the WLAN unit 429 (the above-described WLAN unit 401 ) are connected to each other via a dedicated bus 426 , for example.

[0052] The CPU 412 is a system control unit including at least one processor, and controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal device 104. In one example, the processing of the mobile terminal device 104 to be described below is implemented by the CPU 412 executing a program stored in the ROM 413. Hardware dedicated to each processing may be provided. The ROM 413 stores a control program executed by the CPU 412, an embedded OS program, and the like. In the present embodiment, the CPU 412 executes each control program stored in the ROM 413 under the management of the embedded OS stored in the ROM 413 to control software such as for scheduling and for switching tasks.

[0053] RAM 414 includes, for example, SRAM. RAM 414 stores data such as data of program control variables, setting values ​​registered by the user, and data for managing the mobile terminal device 104. RAM 414 can also be used as a buffer for various jobs. Image memory 415 includes a memory such as DRAM. Image memory 415 temporarily stores image data received via WLAN unit 429 and image data read from data storage unit 423 so that CPU 412 processes image data. Non-volatile memory 422 includes, for example, a memory such as flash memory, and continues to store data even after the power of mobile terminal device 104 is turned off. The memory configuration of mobile terminal device 104 is not limited to the above configuration. For example, image memory 415 and RAM 414 can be shared, or, for example, data storage unit 423 can be used to back up data. In the present embodiment, an example of image memory 415 is DRAM. However, any other storage medium such as a hard disk or non-volatile memory can be used as image memory 415.

[0054] The data conversion unit 416 performs analysis of data in various formats, and data conversion such as color conversion and image conversion. The telephone unit 417 controls the telephone line, and processes audio data input or output via the speaker unit 424 to achieve telephone communication. The GPS 419 receives radio waves transmitted from a satellite, and acquires position information such as the longitude and latitude of the current position of the mobile terminal device 104.

[0055] The camera unit 421 has a function of electronically recording and encoding the image input via the lens. The image data of the image captured by the camera unit 421 is stored in the data storage unit 423. The speaker unit 424 performs control to realize the function of inputting or outputting the voice for the telephone function or realizes other functions such as alarm notification. The power supply unit 425 is, for example, a portable battery and controls the power supply to the mobile terminal device 104. The state of the power supply includes, for example, a depleted battery state in which the battery has no remaining capacity, a power-off state in which the power key 404 remains unpressed, an activation state in which the mobile terminal device 104 is normally activated, and a power saving state in which the mobile terminal device 104 is activated and is in a power saving mode.

[0056] The display unit 420 and the reference Figure 4A The display unit 402 described above corresponds to the display unit 402 described above, and accepts various input operations under the control of the CPU 412, for example, and displays the operation status and conditions of the MFP 100. The operation unit 418 corresponds to the display unit 402 described above, and accepts various input operations under the control of the CPU 412, for example, and displays the operation status and conditions of the MFP 100. Figure 4A The operation unit 418 corresponds to the operation unit 403 described above. In response to a user operation, the operation unit 418 performs control to, for example, generate an electric signal corresponding to the operation and output the electric signal to the CPU 412.

[0057] In the mobile terminal device 104, the WLAN unit 429 is used to perform wireless communication and perform data communication with other devices such as MFP 100. The WLAN unit 429 converts data into packets and sends the packets to another device. In addition, the WLAN unit 429 restores the packets from another external device to original data and outputs the original data to the CPU 412. The WLAN unit 429 is a unit for implementing communication that complies with each WLAN standard. The WLAN unit 429 can operate simultaneously in at least two communication modes including a wireless infrastructure mode and a P2P (WLAN) mode. The frequency bands used in these communication modes may be limited by hardware functions and capabilities.

[0058] Access point configuration

[0059] Figure 5 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the access point AP1 (101) having a wireless LAN access point function. The access point AP1 (101) includes a main board 510 for controlling the access point AP1 (101), a wireless LAN unit 516, a wired LAN unit 518, and an operation button 520.

[0060] The CPU 511 is in the form of a microprocessor disposed on the main board 510, and operates according to the control program stored in the program memory 513 in the form of ROM and the content of the data memory 514 in the form of RAM. The program memory 513 and the data memory 514 are connected to the CPU 511 via the internal bus 512. The CPU 511 controls the wireless LAN unit 516 through the wireless LAN communication control unit 515 to perform wireless LAN communication with other communication terminal devices. In addition, the CPU 511 controls the wired LAN unit 518 through the wired LAN communication control unit 517 to perform wired LAN communication with other communication terminal devices. The CPU 511 can control the operation unit control circuit 519 to accept the operation from the user using the operation button 520. The CPU 511 includes at least one processor.

[0061] The access point AP1 ( 101 ) further includes an interference wave detection unit 521 and a channel change unit 522 .

[0062] The interference wave detection unit 521 performs a process of detecting an interference wave during wireless communication performed on a frequency band implementing DFS. In response to detecting an interference wave during wireless communication performed on a frequency band implementing DFS, the channel change unit 522 performs a process of changing a channel to be used when, for example, it is necessary to immediately change the channel to an available channel.

[0063] The access point AP2 (102) has a configuration similar to that of the access point AP1 (101).

[0064] P2P communication method

[0065] Next, a brief description of a P2P (WLAN) communication method for allowing devices to directly communicate with each other wirelessly without using an external access point in WLAN communication will be given. P2P (WLAN) communication can be implemented by using multiple methods. For example, a communication device supports multiple modes for P2P (WLAN) communication and selectively uses one of the multiple modes to perform P2P (WLAN) communication.

[0066] The following two P2P modes are provided:

[0067] Soft AP mode; and

[0068] WFD mode.

[0069] A communication device capable of performing P2P communication may be configured to support at least one of these modes. However, even a communication device capable of performing P2P communication does not need to support all of these modes, but may be configured to support only a portion of these modes.

[0070] A communication device having a WFD communication function (e.g., mobile terminal device 104) calls an application (or a dedicated application, if any) for implementing the communication function in response to a user operation accepted via an operation unit of the communication device. The communication device then displays a screen of a user interface (UI) provided by the application to prompt the user to perform an operation, and can perform WFD communication in response to accepting an operation performed by the user.

[0071] Soft AP Mode

[0072] In soft AP mode, a communication device (e.g., mobile terminal device 104) operates in the role of a client requesting various services. Then, another communication device (e.g., MFP 100) operates as a soft AP set by software to implement the function of an AP in a WLAN. Since the commands and parameters sent and received in the wireless connection established between the client and the soft AP are commands and parameters defined by the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard, their description will be omitted. The MFP 100 operating in soft AP mode operates as a master station and determines the frequency band and frequency channel. Thus, the MFP 100 can select which frequency band to use and which frequency channel to use in the frequency band from the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz frequency bands.

[0073] WFD Mode

[0074] The MFP 100 can be activated as a fixed master station (i.e., autonomous group owner) in the WFD mode. In this case, the group owner (GO) negotiation process for determining the role is not performed. In addition, in this case, the MFP 100 operates as a master station and determines the frequency band and frequency channel. Thus, the MFP 100 can select which frequency band to use from the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz frequency bands and which frequency channel to use in the frequency band.

[0075] Wireless Infrastructure Mode

[0076] In the wireless infrastructure mode, communication devices that communicate with each other (e.g., the mobile terminal device 104 and the MFP 100) are connected to an external AP (e.g., the access point AP1 (101)) that controls the network, and communication between the communication devices is performed via the external AP. In other words, communication is performed between the communication devices via a network established by the external AP. The mobile terminal device 104 and the MFP 100 respectively discover the access point AP1 (101), send a connection request to the access point AP1 (101), and connect to the access point AP1 (101). Therefore, these communication devices can communicate with each other via the access point AP1 (101) in the wireless infrastructure mode. Multiple communication devices can be connected to different APs. In this case, data transmission is performed between APs to allow communication between the communication devices. Since the commands and parameters sent and received during communication between the communication devices via one or more access points are commands and parameters defined by the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard, their description will be omitted. In this case, the access point AP1 (101) determines the frequency band and frequency channel. Thus, the access point AP1 (101) can select which frequency band to use and which frequency channel to use in the frequency band from among the 5 GHz, 2.4 GHz, and 6 GHz frequency bands.

[0077] Processing in response to a connection destination change request from an AP to a STA

[0078] The mobile terminal device 104 and the MFP 100 support a feature publicly available as Wi-Fi Agile Multiband (trademark). The Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature enables the selection of an optimal environment according to changes in the Wi-Fi network. Specifically, STAs (such as the mobile terminal device 104 and the MFP 100) and APs (such as the access point AP1 (101)) exchange information about the network environment by using the IEEE 802.11 communication standard series. This exchange of information allows the AP to guide the STA to another AP, frequency band or channel, or even to another cellular service (change the connection destination) in some cases when the network is congested.

[0079] Figure 6 100 is a sequence diagram of a process in which the MFP 100 switches the connection destination AP to be connected from the access point AP1 (101) to the access point AP2 (102) according to a connection destination change request from the access point AP1 (101).

[0080] The processing performed by each device in the illustrated sequence is realized by the CPU included in the device reading various programs stored in a memory such as a ROM included in the device into a RAM included in the device and executing the programs.

[0081] exist Figure 6 In the process shown in , in the initial state, the MFP 100 has established a connection with the access point AP1 (101) in the wireless infrastructure mode. When the MFP 100 and the access point AP1 (101) are connected to each other in the wireless infrastructure mode, the access point AP1 (101) has acquired information indicating whether the MFP 100 supports IEEE 802.11v. If the access point AP1 (101) has acquired information indicating that the MFP 100 supports IEEE 802.11v, the following process is performed.

[0082] In S601, access point AP1 (101) transmits an inquiry (measurement request) about the radio field strength of an AP located near MFP 100 to MFP 100. This inquiry is transmitted as, for example, a beacon frame request or a beacon report request. That is, a request defined by the IEEE 802.11k standard may be used.

[0083] In S602, in response to the request received in S601, MFP 100 receives frames transmitted from APs located near MFP 100 and measures the respective radio field strengths of these APs. Thus, the radio field strength of each of a plurality of APs including access points AP1 (101) and AP2 (102) is measured.

[0084] In S603, the MFP 100 transmits a list of radio field strengths of APs located near the MFP 100 measured in S602 as a response to the request received in S601. In addition to or instead of the information measured in S602, the radio field strengths to be transmitted as a response may be, for example, information stored in the RAM 214 and the nonvolatile memory 215 of the MFP 100. The response is transmitted, for example, as a beacon report or a measurement report.

[0085] In S604, the access point AP1 (101) determines whether to switch the connection destination of the MFP 100 based on the network congestion recognized by the access point AP1 (101) and the radio field strength received from the MFP 100 in S603. Examples of factors for which the access point AP1 (101) determines to change the connection destination include a large number of connected STAs, a large amount of communication, a decrease in congestion of a network for another AP, the presence or absence of interfering radio waves, and a stop of an AP function. If the access point AP1 (101) determines to switch the connection destination of the MFP 100 and determines a service set identifier (SSID), a channel, and a frequency band of another AP to be designated as a destination to which the MFP 100 is to be connected, the process proceeds to S605.

[0086] In S605, the access point AP1 (101) transmits an AP change request (connection destination change request) to the MFP 100. The connection destination change request includes information on the SSID, channel, and frequency band of another AP specified as a destination to which the MFP 100 is to connect determined in S604.

[0087] Multiple SSIDs can be specified. The connection destination change request is sent, for example, as a basic service set (BSS) transition management (BTM) request. That is, a BTM request frame defined by the IEEE 802.11v standard is sent. Figure 6 In the example shown in , the access point AP2 ( 102 ) is specified as the destination included in the connection destination change request.

[0088] In S606, if the MFP 100 complies with the connection destination change request received in S605, the MFP 100 transmits a response indicating acceptance of the switching of the connection destination to the access point AP1 (101). If the MFP 100 does not comply with the connection destination change request, the MFP 100 may transmit a response indicating rejection of the switching of the connection destination. This response is transmitted as a BTM response. Figure 6 In the example shown in , it is assumed that a response indicating acceptance of switching of the connection destination is transmitted.

[0089] In S607, the access point AP1 (101) and the MFP 100 disconnect in the wireless infrastructure mode.

[0090] In S608, the MFP 100 transmits a connection request to the access point AP2 (102) in order to connect to the access point AP2 (102) designated by the connection destination change request received in S605.

[0091] Thus, in S609, the connection between the MFP 100 in the wireless infrastructure mode and the access point AP2 (102) is established.

[0092] This mechanism allows the MFP 100 serving as a STA to change the connection destination from the access point AP1 (101) to the access point AP2 (102) according to a connection destination change request from the access point AP1 (101) to which the MFP 100 was originally connected. The access points AP1 (101) and AP2 (102) may be located at different locations. That is, by Figure 6By the process shown in , the MFP 100 can switch the connection destination from the AP to which the MFP 100 is initially connected to another AP installed at a different location. The access points AP1 (101) and AP2 (102) can support different frequency bands among a plurality of frequency bands (two or three of the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands) provided by the same device. That is, by Figure 6 , the MFP 100 can switch the frequency band to another frequency band provided by the same device as the AP to which the MFP 100 was originally connected. For example, the MFP 100 can change the connection destination to an AP in the 6 GHz band in response to the connection destination change request.

[0093] This embodiment describes an example in which a measurement request and a connection destination change request are sent from an AP by using a mechanism that complies with Wi-Fi Agile Multiband (trademark) and an STA responds to these requests. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this example. This embodiment is also applicable when the STA responds to and changes the connection destination AP (switches, deletes, or adds an AP used as a connection destination) in response to a measurement request and a connection destination change request sent from an AP by using a mechanism different from the mechanism in the above example.

[0094] Figure 7 2 is a flowchart of a process executed by the MFP 100 in response to a connection destination change request. The illustrated process is implemented by the CPU 212 loading a program stored in the ROM 213 into the RAM 214 and executing the program. When the power of the MFP 100 is turned on or the wireless communication function is turned on, the process starts. Figure 7 The processing shown in .

[0095] In S701, the CPU 212 starts connecting to a preset AP (registered AP). The SSID and password of the preset AP are recorded in the non-volatile memory 215, and the CPU 212 connects to the registered AP using the recorded information. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the access point AP1 (101) has been registered as a registered AP. In some cases, the connection with the registered AP fails for reasons such as failure to receive radio waves from the registered AP. However, the description of such cases will be omitted. When a wireless connection (Wi-Fi connection) is established with the registered AP, the process proceeds to S702.

[0096] In S702, CPU 212 determines whether the IP address setting of MFP 100 is a static IP address setting. If the dynamic IP address setting is off and it is determined that the static IP address setting is enabled, the process proceeds to S704. If it is determined that the static IP address setting is not enabled, the process proceeds to S703. When the dynamic IP address setting of DHCP is on (DHCP is set to enabled), it is determined that the static IP address setting is off, and the process proceeds to S703. That is, the process of S702 is also to determine whether the DHCP setting is enabled in MFP100. The dynamic IP address setting is configured as a setting item name such as "automatically obtain", for example, and the state in which automatic acquisition is enabled is the state in which the dynamic IP address setting is turned on. When the dynamic IP address setting is disabled (or turned off, that is, DHCP is set to disabled) and the IP address used as the static IP address is set, it is determined that the static IP address setting is turned on, and the process proceeds to S704. In the present embodiment, the protocol used for the dynamic IP address is DHCP, which is used as an example but not as a limitation.

[0097] As used herein, the term "dynamic IP address" refers to an IP address assigned by the DHCP server 103. When the DHCP setting is on, the MFP 100 acquires an IP address by using DHCP. The term "static IP address" refers to an IP address manually set by a user of the MFP 100. The MFP 100 confirms that the static IP address is manually set, and determines whether the static IP address setting is on.

[0098] In S703, the CPU 212 performs control to request the DHCP server 103 to allocate a dynamic IP address. That is, the CPU 212 issues a DHCP Discover command and requests allocation of an IP address. The DHCP server 103 sends a DHCP Offer as a response to notify the MFP 100 that an available IP address can be allocated. The MFP 100 issues a DHCP Request command to the DHCP server 103, specifies the IP address notified as available for allocation according to the DHCP Offer, and requests the DHCP server 103 to allocate the IP address. If the IP address specified by the MFP 100 can be allocated, the DHCP server 103 sends a DHCP ACK as a response to confirm the IP address (dynamic IP address) of the MFP 100.

[0099] In S704, the CPU 212 confirms the IP address by the static IP address. That is, the IP address set by the user and stored in the ROM 213 is confirmed as the IP address of the MFP 100.

[0100] In S705 , the CPU 212 stores the dynamic IP address or the static IP address assigned by the DHCP server 103 in the RAM 214 .

[0101] Thus, a connection is established with the access point AP1 (101) in the wireless infrastructure mode. When the MFP 100 and the access point AP1 (101) are connected to each other in the wireless infrastructure mode, the access point AP1 (101) acquires information indicating whether the MFP 100 supports IEEE 802.11v. In the present embodiment, a description will be given assuming that the MFP 100 supports IEEE 802.11v.

[0102] In S706, the CPU 212 determines whether a measurement request (described above) has been received from the access point AP1 (101). Figure 6 If a measurement request is received, the process proceeds to S707; otherwise, the process proceeds to S708.

[0103] In S707, if Figure 6 As described in S602 and S603 in FIG. 1 , the CPU 212 measures the radio field strengths of APs located near the MFP 100 using the wireless unit 226, and transmits a list of the radio field strengths of the APs as a beacon report to the access point AP1 (101).

[0104] In S708, the CPU 212 determines whether a connection destination change request is received from the access point AP1 (101) (as described in S605 above). If a connection destination change request is received, the process proceeds to S709; otherwise, the process proceeds to S716.

[0105] In S709, the CPU 212 determines whether the MFP 100 is performing application layer communication, that is, communication for performing printing processing, with the mobile terminal device 104 to which the MFP 100 is connected via the currently connected access point AP1 (101). If the MFP 100 is performing communication for performing printing, the process proceeds to S712; otherwise, the process proceeds to S710. In a state where a portion of print data of an image to be printed is received from the mobile terminal device 104 as a partner device and reception of the remaining print data has not yet been completed, communication for performing printing processing is in progress. In the MFP 100, not all print data to be printed on one sheet of paper is stored. After receiving a portion of the print data, the MFP 100 prints the received portion of the print data (for example, receives a line of data and prints the line). After receiving a subsequent portion of the print data, the MFP 100 prints the subsequent portion of the print data. The above operation is repeated to perform printing. Even during printing, during printing for maintenance purposes which does not involve communication with a partner device due to use of print data stored in the MFP 100, "NO" is determined in S709. Printing for maintenance purposes includes, for example, the following types of printing:

[0106] Automatic registration adjustment printing for printing and reading adjustment patterns to adjust vertical line distortion and color shift and perform head position adjustment;

[0107] Nozzle check pattern printing, used to check for nozzle blockage;

[0108] Printing an adjustment pattern (printing for color calibration) to set a calibration adjustment value for correcting a color tone change due to individual difference characteristics of the MFP 100 or a change over time; and

[0109] Print an adjustment pattern (printing for band adjustment) to finely adjust the sheet feed amount.

[0110] In S710, the CPU 212 sends a response to the access point AP1 (101), the response indicating that the connection destination is to be changed (the request is accepted) according to the received connection destination change request. Figure 6 The processing of S606 in .

[0111] In S711, the CPU 212 disconnects the access point AP1 (101) and executes a process of connecting to the recommended AP for connection included in the connection destination change request. That is, the CPU 212 changes the connection destination AP according to the connection destination change request. More specifically, the CPU 212 executes Figure 6When the dynamic IP address setting is turned on (if it is determined as "No" in S702), the CPU 212 further performs processing similar to the processing of S703 to reacquire the dynamic IP address, and stores the dynamic IP address in the RAM 214 as the IP address of the MFP 100. That is, in the case where it is determined as "No" in S709, the dynamic IP address is reacquired according to the change of the connection destination based on the connection destination change request, and the IP address is allowed to be changed.

[0112] In S712 , the CPU 212 stores information on the recommended AP for change included in the received connection destination change request (information for identifying the recommended AP for change including the BSSID) in the RAM 214 of the MFP 100 .

[0113] In S713, the CPU 212 refers to the change reason included in the received connection destination change request and determines whether the change reason is strong. If strong, the process proceeds to S715; otherwise, the process proceeds to S714. For example, when the Disassociation Imminent bit or the BSS TerminationIncluded bit in the Request Mode field of the BTMRequest is set to 1, it is determined that the request is strong.

[0114] In S714, the CPU 212 transmits a response indicating that the change of the connection destination based on the connection destination change request is rejected to the access point AP1 (101). Figure 6 In S714, since the change reason is not strong, even if the change reject response is sent, it is unlikely that the communication with the MFP 100 will be forcibly disconnected from the access point AP1 (101) after receiving the response. That is, by, for example, sending a connection destination change request to another STA different from the MFP 100 connected to the access point AP1 (101), it is expected that the access point AP1 (101) will increase the priority of maintaining the connection with the MFP 100. As described above, if there is no strong reason for change, the CPU 212 sends the change reject response in the expectation that the connection with the access point AP1 (101) can be maintained.

[0115] Alternatively, the MFP 100 may not respond to (ie, ignore) the connection destination change request without sending a rejection response to the access point AP1 (101). In S714, the CPU 212 performs control not to change the connection destination according to the connection destination change request in any case.

[0116] In S715, the CPU 212 executes connection destination change processing to change the connection destination according to the connection destination change request. Figure 8 The connection destination change process is described.

[0117] In the present embodiment, the determination of S713 is performed, and the connection destination is changed according to the connection destination change request only when a connection destination change request with a strong reason for change is received in the process involving communication (printing process), which is an example but not limited to this. After S712, the process may skip S713 and proceed to S715, regardless of whether the reason for change is strong, to change the connection destination according to the connection destination change request.

[0118] In S716, the CPU 212 determines whether other events have occurred. If any other event has occurred, the process proceeds to S717; otherwise, the process proceeds to S718.

[0119] In S717, the CPU 212 executes processing corresponding to the event that has occurred. For example, the CPU 212 executes processing involving copying or cloud communication in response to a key operation or a touch panel operation from the operation display unit 205. If an event such as a user operation for enabling the above-mentioned dynamic IP address setting or a user operation for manually inputting a static IP address occurs, the content of the setting corresponding to the operation is recorded in the ROM 213. In another example, if an operation event for registering an AP to be registered (registering the SSID and password of the AP to be registered) occurs, registration processing is performed according to the operation.

[0120] If an operation event giving an instruction to execute copying occurs in S716, then in S717, the CPU 212 drives the reading unit 219 to read the document and causes the printing unit 222 to print an image of the read document to execute copying. Figure 8 Otherwise, this process (new print process) is executable. The process of S812 is a process for canceling the print process of the print job that cannot be printed to the end as a result of the remaining part of the print data being printed being unable to be received due to the change of the IP address.

[0121] In S718, the CPU 212 determines whether the wireless connection with the currently connected AP has been terminated (disconnected). The termination of the wireless connection determined here occurs in response to an event such as turning off the power of the MFP 100, disabling the setting of the wireless connection, or failing to receive radio waves from the currently connected AP. In S718, it cannot be determined that the disconnection from the original connection destination is caused by the process of changing the connection destination according to the connection destination change request. If the wireless connection with the currently connected AP has not been terminated, the process returns to S706. If the wireless connection with the currently connected AP has been terminated, then Figure 7 The processing shown in is completed.

[0122] Figure 8 is the above Figure 7 Flowchart of the connection destination change processing in S715 in . The illustrated processing is realized by the CPU 212 loading the program stored in the ROM 213 into the RAM 214 and executing the program.

[0123] In S801, the CPU 212 sends a response indicating acceptance of the change based on the connection destination change request to the AP connected before the connection destination change (eg, access point AP1 (101)), and then disconnects the wireless connection with the currently connected AP (ie, access point AP1 (101)).

[0124] In S802, the CPU 212 wirelessly connects to the AP recommended for change (e.g., access point AP2 (102)) by using the information about the AP recommended for change. The information about the AP recommended for change is included in the connection destination change request received from the AP connected before the connection destination change (i.e., access point AP1 (101)), and is recorded in S712.

[0125] In S803, the CPU 212 determines whether the IP address setting of the MFP 100 is a static IP address setting. This determination is similar to Figure 7 Determination of S702 in . If static IP address setting is enabled, the process proceeds to S804. If static IP address setting is not enabled (ie, dynamic IP address setting is enabled), the process proceeds to S806.

[0126] In S804, the CPU 212 confirms the IP address by the static IP address. Then, the process proceeds to S810. This process is similar to Figure 7 The processing of S704 in .

[0127] In S806, the CPU 212 issues a DHCP Request command to the DHCP server 103 that has obtained the dynamic IP address, specifies the previously used IP address, and requests the DHCP server 103 to assign an IP address. The previously used IP address is the IP address stored in S705 by the process of S703, and is the IP address used when connecting to the access point AP1 (101) to which the MFP 100 was connected before the connection destination was changed.

[0128] In S807, the CPU 212 determines whether the same IP address as the previously used IP address has been successfully acquired from the DHCP server 103. If the previously used IP address has been successfully acquired, the process advances to S810; otherwise, the process advances to S808.

[0129] In S808, the CPU 212 requests the DHCP server 103 to assign a dynamic IP address. This process is similar to Figure 7 The processing of S703 in .

[0130] In S809 , the CPU 212 receives the DHCP ACK sent from the DHCP server 103 to the MFP 100 as a response, and acquires the IP address of the MFP 100 from the information included in the DHCP ACK.

[0131] In S810 , the CPU 212 stores in the RAM 214 any one of the static IP address confirmed in S804 , the previous IP address successfully acquired from the DHCP server 103 , and the dynamic IP address reallocated by the DHCP server 103 in S809 .

[0132] In S811, the CPU 212 determines whether the IP address confirmed when connecting to the AP after the connection destination change (i.e., the access point AP2 (102)) (i.e., the IP address stored in S810) has changed from the previous IP address used when connecting to the AP before the connection destination change (i.e., the access point AP1 (101)). If the IP address has changed (i.e., if the IP address stored in S810 is different from the previous IP address), the process proceeds to S812. If the IP address has not changed (i.e., if the IP address stored in S810 is the same as the previous IP address), the process proceeds to S813.

[0133] In S812, the CPU 212 executes a process of canceling the standby mode waiting for communication with the mobile terminal device 104 and canceling (interrupting) the printing process performed by the communication with the mobile terminal device 104. In S812, since the IP address is changed by the change of the connection destination, it is difficult to continue the application layer communication with the mobile terminal device 104 with which the MFP 100 had communicated before the connection destination was changed. That is, it is difficult for the mobile terminal device 104 to find the MFP 100 by the IP address used so far.

[0134] Therefore, communication cannot be performed, making it difficult to continue the printing process performed by the communication. Therefore, the CPU 212 performs a process of canceling the communication with the mobile terminal device 104 and canceling the printing process that has been performed by the communication with the mobile terminal device 104. This process includes a process of ejecting the sheet being printed. At this time, the display of the operation display unit 220 of the MFP 100 may display a screen indicating that the process associated with the communication has been canceled.

[0135] In S813, the CPU 212 continues the communication with the partner device, that is, the mobile terminal device 104, and continues to execute the print process. In this case, the connection destination AP has been changed according to the connection destination change request, but the IP address has not been changed. Therefore, the CPU 212 can continue the application layer communication with the mobile terminal device 104. That is, the mobile terminal device 104 has the possibility to communicate with the MFP 100 by specifying the IP address used so far. Therefore, the print process involving communication is continued, and the print data included in the print job can be printed to the end.

[0136] In S814, the CPU 212 determines whether a connection destination change request transmitted from the currently connected AP (in this case, the access point AP2 (102)) is received. That is, it is determined whether a request to further change the connection destination is made from the access point AP2 (102). If a connection destination change request is received, the process proceeds to Figure 7 S709 in ; otherwise, the process proceeds to S815.

[0137] In S815, the CPU 212 determines whether the printing process involving the communication with the mobile terminal device 104 continued in S813 is completed (for example, whether the print job has been printed to the end). If it is determined that the printing is completed, then Figure 8 The processing shown in is completed, and then the processing proceeds to Figure 7 S716 in; otherwise, the process returns to S813.

[0138] In response to Figure 8In S804, when the connection destination is changed to the access point AP2 (102), the use of the static IP address of the MFP 100 detects duplication of the IP address, and any of the following processes can be performed. For example, when there are devices with the same IP address and different media access control (MAC) addresses in the address resolution protocol (ARP) table, duplication of the IP address is detected.

[0139] One process is to reconnect to the AP before switching (before the connection destination is changed) (ie, the process proceeds to S701).

[0140] Another process is to display a message indicating duplication of IP addresses on the display of the operation display unit 220 and disconnect the network.

[0141] Another process is to dynamically acquire an IP address from the DHCP server 103 (ie, the process proceeds to S808 ).

[0142] The present embodiment has described obtaining an Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) address through DHCP. Features of the present disclosure may also be applied to obtaining an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) address. When obtaining an IPv6 address, the MFP 100 sends a DHCPv6Request message to the DHCP server 103 to request the same IPv6 address. If the request fails, the MFP 100 sends a DHCPv6 Solicit message and re-acquires the IPv6 address.

[0143] The process of S806 described above requests the DHCP server 103 to switch the IP address used before the connection destination AP, thereby making it possible to avoid the change of the IP address due to the change of the connection destination. Thus, it is possible to continue the process (for example, the printing process) involving the communication with the mobile terminal device 104 with which the MFP 100 has communicated by using the IP address before the change of the connection destination. That is, even if the connection destination is switched based on the connection destination change request during the process, the process can be continuously executed.

[0144] In this embodiment, in response to receiving a connection destination change request in the case where it is determined in S709 that a specific process involving communication is being performed, in S806, control is performed so that the IP address remains unchanged before and after the connection destination is changed, which is an example but not limited to this. When the connection destination AP is changed based on the connection destination change request, control may be performed so that, as in S806, the IP address remains unchanged before and after the connection destination is changed regardless of whether the specific process involving communication is being performed.

[0145] In addition, the above-mentioned processing of S806 requests the DHCP server 103 for the IP address used before the switching of the connection destination AP, thereby avoiding the change of the IP address due to the change of the connection destination, which is only an example but not limited to this. In S806, the static IP address setting can be automatically turned on (that is, the dynamic IP address setting is turned off), and the previous IP address obtained as a dynamic IP address before the connection destination is changed can be used as a static IP address to confirm the IP address. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent the IP address from changing before and after the connection destination is changed based on the connection destination change request.

[0146] In addition, through the processing of S812 described above, if the IP address of the MFP 100 is changed due to the change of the connection destination AP based on the connection destination change request, a specific process (e.g., a print process) that is in progress and involves communication is canceled. The cancellation of the process that is in progress and involves communication makes it possible to accept another subsequent process that would otherwise be unacceptable due to the long waiting time for receiving the remaining data that has not been received for the process. That is, it is possible to avoid waiting for receiving the remaining data, thereby quickly starting to accept the next process. Thus, the next process can be started immediately after being accepted.

[0147] Although the above has described the processing performed during the reception of print data, similar processing can be applied during the reception of other data different from the print data or during the transmission of other data. For example, when the reading unit 219 scans a document and transmits an image (image data) of the scanned document to the mobile terminal device 104 via the AP, similar processing can be applied. In this case, if Figure 7 If the determination in S708 of the above is "Yes", it is determined whether the scanning and sending process is in progress instead of or in addition to the determination in S709. If the scanning and sending process is not in progress, the process proceeds to S710. If the scanning and sending process is in progress, the processes of S712 to S715 in which the above-mentioned "printing" is replaced by "scanning and sending" are executed. Figure 8 The processing shown in .

[0148] In the present embodiment, although control is performed in S806 so that the IP address does not change before and after the connection destination is changed, the IP address may change. In this case, a specific process (e.g., a print process) that is in progress and involves communication is canceled in S812, which is only an example but not limited to this. The control for keeping the IP address unchanged before and after the connection destination is changed (i.e., the control in S806) can be omitted. That is, when the connection destination AP is changed based on the connection destination change request, the dynamic IP address can be reacquired, and the change of the IP address can be allowed, regardless of whether the specific process involving communication is in progress. In this case, the IP address may change before and after the connection destination is changed. Thus, the determination as to whether the IP address changes before and after the connection destination is changed (i.e., the determination of S811) can be omitted, and in response to changing the connection destination based on the connection destination change request, the specific process that is in progress and involves communication can be always canceled as in S812.

[0149] The above-described various types of control performed by the CPU 212 may be performed by one piece of hardware, or multiple pieces of hardware (eg, multiple processors or circuits) may share processing to control the overall operation of the MFP 100 .

[0150] Although exemplary embodiments have been described, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments and can be modified without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Such modifications also fall within the scope of the present disclosure. The above embodiments are examples of the present invention, and any combination thereof can be used.

[0151] In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, as an example, the features of the present disclosure are applied to MFP. However, the present invention is not limited to the example shown, and can be applied to any wireless device used as a STA capable of performing processing according to a connection destination change request from an AP. That is, the present invention can be applied to various measuring devices (sensor devices) such as PCs, PDAs, tablet terminals, mobile phone terminals such as smart phones, music players, game devices, e-book readers, smart watches, and thermometers and hygrometers, for example. The present invention can also be applied to digital cameras (including still cameras, video cameras, web cameras, and security cameras), printers, scanners, and drones, for example. The embodiments of the present disclosure can also be applied to video output devices, audio output devices (e.g., smart speakers), media streaming players, and wireless LAN slave devices (adapters) that can be connected to a universal serial bus (USB) terminal or a LAN cable terminal. The video output device includes, for example, a device such as a set-top box and is configured to obtain (download) a moving image or a still image identified by a uniform resource locator (URL) specified by an electronic device from the Internet, and output the moving image or the still image to a display device connected via a video output terminal (such as a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI (registered trademark)) video output terminal). This configuration enables streaming playback on the display device and enables mirroring display (allowing content displayed on the electronic device to also be displayed on the display device). In addition, for example, video output devices include media players such as hard disk recorders, blue-ray recorders, and DVD recorders, head-mounted displays, projectors, televisions, display devices (monitors), and signage devices. Embodiments of the present disclosure may also be applicable to Wi-Fi-enabled devices known as smart home appliances, such as smart air conditioners, smart refrigerators, smart washing machines, smart vacuum cleaners, smart ovens, smart microwave ovens, smart lighting systems, smart heaters, and smart coolers.

[0152] According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent another process from being unable to be immediately executed when an AP serving as a connection destination is changed according to a request to change a connection destination during a specific process involving communication.

[0153] Furthermore, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent failure in data transmission or reception when an AP serving as a connection destination is switched in response to a request to change a connection destination.

[0154] That is, it is possible to improve the convenience of changing the AP serving as the connection destination in accordance with a request to change the connection destination during a specific process involving communication.

[0155] Other embodiments

[0156] The (one or more) embodiments of the present invention may also be implemented by a computer of a system or device that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be more completely referred to as a "non-transitory computer-readable storage medium") to perform the functions of one or more of the above (one or more) embodiments and / or includes one or more circuits (e.g., application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above (one or more) embodiments, and by a method executed by a computer of a system or device, for example, by reading out and executing computer executable instructions from a storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above (one or more) embodiments and / or controlling one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above (one or more) embodiments. The computer may include one or more processors (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessing unit (MPU)), and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute computer executable instructions. Computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or a storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a storage device of a distributed computing system, an optical disk (such as a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), or a Blu-ray disk (BD)) TM ), flash memory devices, memory cards, etc.

[0157] Other embodiments

[0158] The embodiments of the present invention may also be implemented by providing software (program) for performing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or various storage media, and a computer or a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessing unit (MPU) of the system or device reads and executes the program.

[0159] Although exemplary embodiments have been described, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive a change request for changing a connection destination AP to be connected to from a currently connected access point AP; a processing unit configured to communicate with another device via a currently connected AP and perform a specific process including transmission or reception of data; as well as A control unit is configured as In the case where a connection destination change based on a change request is performed in the first state, Control is performed to interrupt the specific processing and cancel the standby mode. In the first state, a part of the data used for the specific processing has been received or sent through communication with the other device and the reception or transmission of the remaining data has not been completed. The standby mode waits for the reception or transmission of the remaining data.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein The specific processing is at least one of printing, scanning, and fax transmission.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein The processing unit does not start executing another process different from the specific process in a state where the standby mode is not canceled.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein The processing unit performs control to implement the another process in response to an instruction to implement the another process issued in a state where the standby mode is canceled.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein The specific process is a print process for printing print data received from the another device, and includes ejecting a sheet being printed based on the standby mode being canceled by the control unit.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a dynamic Internet Protocol IP address as the IP address of the electronic device, and In the case where the acquisition unit reacquires the dynamic IP address when the connection destination change based on the change request is performed in the first state, The control unit performs control to cancel the standby mode.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein When a connection destination change based on a change request is performed in the first state, the control unit performs control to make a request for a first IP address to a source from which the acquisition unit acquires a dynamic IP address, so that the IP address of the electronic device after the connection destination change is performed is the same as the first IP address acquired by the acquisition unit before the connection destination change is performed, and In the case that the acquisition unit cannot acquire the requested first IP address, the control unit controls the acquisition unit to re-acquire the dynamic IP address.

8. The electronic device according to claim 6, further comprising: a setting unit configured to perform setting to use a preset static IP address as the IP address of the electronic device without the acquisition unit acquiring a dynamic IP address, and In the case where the setup is performed to use a static IP address, The control unit performs control to continue the specific process without canceling the standby mode even if the connection destination change based on the change request is performed in the first state.

9. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein The acquisition unit performs control to acquire a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol version 6 (DHCPv6) IP address.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein When the connection destination change based on the change request is performed in the first state, In a case where the IP address of the electronic device remains unchanged before and after the connection destination change is performed, the control unit performs control to continue the specific process without canceling the standby mode.

11. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein The electronic device performs an IEEE 802.11ax connection with the AP and performs a process compliant with the IEEE 802.11ax standard.

12. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein The electronic device performs at least one of a process compliant with Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) and a process compliant with a Target Wake Time (TWT).

13. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein The connection destination change based on the change request is performed to change the connection destination AP to an AP using the 6 GHz band.

14. A method for controlling an electronic device, the method comprising: a receiving step of receiving a change request for changing a connection destination AP to be connected to from a currently connected access point AP; a processing step of communicating with another device via the currently connected AP and performing a specific process including transmission or reception of data; as well as A control step, in which, when a connection destination change based on a change request is performed in a first state, control is performed to interrupt the specific processing and cancel the standby mode, in which a part of the data used for the specific processing has been received or sent through communication with the other device and the reception or sending of the remaining data has not been completed, and the standby mode waits for the reception or sending of the remaining data.

15. A computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to cause one or more computers to function as: a receiving unit configured to receive a change request for changing a connection destination AP to be connected to from a currently connected access point AP; a processing unit configured to communicate with another device via a currently connected AP and perform a specific process including transmission or reception of data; as well as A control unit is configured as In the case where a connection destination change based on a change request is performed in the first state, Control is performed to interrupt the specific processing and cancel the standby mode. In the first state, a part of the data used for the specific processing has been received or sent through communication with the other device and the reception or transmission of the remaining data has not been completed. The standby mode waits for the reception or transmission of the remaining data.

16. An electronic device comprising: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a dynamic Internet Protocol IP address as an IP address of the electronic device; a receiving unit configured to receive a change request for changing a connection destination AP to be connected to from a currently connected access point AP; a processing unit configured to communicate with another device via a currently connected AP and perform a specific process including transmission or reception of data; as well as A control unit is configured to execute a connection destination change based on a change request to change a connection destination AP, and to perform control so that the IP address of the electronic device after the connection destination change is executed is the same as the first IP address acquired by the acquisition unit before the connection destination change is executed.

17. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein In the first state, when a connection destination change based on a change request is performed, the control unit performs control so that the IP address of the electronic device after the connection destination change is performed is the same as the first IP address. In the first state, a portion of the data used for the specific processing has been received or sent through communication with the other device and the reception or sending of the remaining data has not yet been completed.

18. The electronic device according to claim 17, wherein In the second state, when a connection destination change based on a change request is performed, the control unit performs control of the acquisition unit to re-acquire a dynamic IP address, in which transmission or reception of data for the specific process is not performed.

19. The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein The control unit is configured to allow, in the second state, the IP address of the electronic device to be changed before and after a connection destination change based on the change request is performed.

20. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein The acquisition unit acquires a dynamic IP address from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol DHCP server, and The control unit performs control to make a request for the first IP address to the DHCP server when the connection destination change based on the change request is performed to perform control so that the IP address of the electronic device after the connection destination change is performed is the same as the first IP address.

21. The electronic device according to claim 20, wherein The control unit performs control of causing the acquisition unit to reacquire the dynamic IP address when the acquisition unit cannot acquire the first IP address requested to the DHCP server when the connection destination change based on the change request is performed.

22. The electronic device according to claim 20, wherein The control unit performs control to reconnect to the AP connected before the connection destination change is performed, if the acquisition unit cannot acquire the first IP address requested to the DHCP server when the connection destination change based on the change request is performed.

23. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein The acquisition unit acquires a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol version 6 (DHCPv6) IP address.

24. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein In a case where the control unit cannot perform control so that the IP address of the electronic device after the connection destination change is performed is identical to the first IP address, the control unit performs control to cancel the specific processing being performed when the change request is received.

25. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein The electronic device performs an IEEE 802.11ax connection with the AP and performs a process compliant with the IEEE 802.11ax standard.

26. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein The electronic device performs at least one of a process compliant with Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) and a process compliant with a Target Wake Time (TWT).

27. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein The connection destination change based on the change request is performed to change the connection destination AP to an AP using the 6 GHz band.

28. A method for controlling an electronic device, the method comprising: An acquisition step of acquiring a dynamic Internet Protocol IP address as the IP address of the electronic device; a receiving step of receiving a change request for changing a connection destination AP to be connected to from a currently connected access point AP; a processing step of communicating with another device via the currently connected AP and performing a specific process including transmission or reception of data; as well as A control step of executing a connection destination change based on a change request for changing a connection destination AP, and executing control so that the IP address of the electronic device after the connection destination change is executed is the same as the first IP address, which is acquired in the acquisition step before the connection destination change is executed.

29. A computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to cause one or more computers to function as: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a dynamic Internet Protocol IP address as an IP address of the electronic device; a receiving unit configured to receive a change request for changing a connection destination AP to be connected to from a currently connected access point AP; a processing unit configured to communicate with another device via a currently connected AP and perform a specific process including transmission or reception of data; as well as A control unit is configured to execute a connection destination change based on a change request to change a connection destination AP, and to perform control so that the IP address of the electronic device after the connection destination change is executed is the same as the first IP address acquired by the acquisition unit before the connection destination change is executed.

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