Electronic apparatus, method for controlling electronic apparatus, printing control apparatus, method for controlling printing control apparatus, and storage medium

Abstract

An electronic apparatus, a method for controlling the electronic apparatus, a print control apparatus, a method for controlling the print control apparatus, and a storage medium are disclosed. 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 setting unit configured to set a basic service set identifier (BSSID) of the AP to be connected to set the AP to be connected; and a control unit configured to perform suppression control to suppress a change of the connection destination AP, which is based on the change request, in a case where the BSSID of the AP to be connected is set by the setting unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention 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, a print control device, a method for controlling the print control 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.

[0004] A function of uniquely setting an AP to be connected using a media access control (MAC) address (BSSID) is available. When this function provides a setting so that the AP to be connected is uniquely specified by the BSSID, the connection destination is changed to another AP according to a connection destination change request from the AP, resulting in connection to an AP different from the AP having the BSSID set as the AP to be connected. This situation is unnatural for the user and may confuse the user. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention provides a mechanism for setting an AP to be connected and changing a connection destination according to a connection destination change request from the AP without confusing a user.

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an electronic device according to one aspect of the present invention 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 setting unit, configured to set a basic service set identifier BSSID of the AP to be connected to set the AP to be connected; and a control unit, configured to perform suppression control to suppress the change of the connection destination AP when the BSSID of the AP to be connected is set by the setting unit, and the change is based on the change request.

[0007] 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

[0008] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of a system.

[0009] Figure 2A and Figure 2B is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of a multifunction peripheral (MFP).

[0010] Figure 3A , Figure 3B and Figure 3C is an illustration of a sample screen displayed on the operation display unit of the MFP.

[0011] Figure 4A and Figure 4B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile terminal device.

[0012] Figure 5 This is a diagram of the configuration of an access point (AP).

[0013] Figure 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating processing performed in response to a connection destination change request from an AP.

[0014] Fig. 7A , Figure 7B , Figure 7C , Fig.7D , Fig. 7E and Figure 7F are illustrations of various example screens displayed on the display of the MFP.

[0015] Fig. 8A , Figure 8B and Figure 8Cis a flowchart of processing executed by the MFP, including processing for suppressing a connection destination change function in conjunction with specifying a basic service set identifier (BSSID) of a connection destination AP. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the present embodiment is merely an example, and unless otherwise specified, specific examples of components, processing steps, display screens, etc. are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0017] System Configuration

[0018] 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).

[0019] MFP 100 is a printer with a printing function. MFP 100 may also have a reading function (scanner), a fax sending (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.

[0020] 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).

[0021] 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.

[0022] Appearance of MFP

[0023] Figure 2AThe 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.

[0024] MFP Configuration

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] Operation display unit of MFP

[0038] 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.

[0039] Figure 3BThe 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.

[0040] Figure 3C The diagram shows Figure 3B An 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.

[0041] Appearance of mobile terminal equipment

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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).

[0045] In addition, the WLAN unit 401 can perform communication as a Wi-Fi Agile Multiband (trademark) AP. However, the present invention is 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.

[0046] Configuration of mobile terminal equipment

[0047] Figure 4BAn 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.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 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.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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.

[0053] 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.

[0054] Access point configuration

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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.

[0057] The access point AP1 ( 101 ) further includes an interference wave detection unit 521 and a channel change unit 522 .

[0058] 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.

[0059] The access point AP2 (102) has a configuration similar to that of the access point AP1 (101).

[0060] P2P communication method

[0061] 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.

[0062] The following two P2P modes are provided:

[0063] Soft AP mode; and

[0064] WFD mode.

[0065] 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.

[0066] 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.

[0067] Soft AP Mode

[0068] 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.

[0069] WFD Mode

[0070] 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.

[0071] Wireless Infrastructure Mode

[0072] 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.

[0073] Processing in response to a connection destination change request from an AP to a STA

[0074] 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.

[0075] 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).

[0076] 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.

[0077] 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.

[0078] 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.

[0079] 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.

[0080] 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.

[0081] 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.

[0082] 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.

[0083] A plurality of SSIDs can be specified. The connection destination change request is transmitted as, for example, a basic service set (BSS) transition management (BTM) request. That is, a BTM request frame defined by the IEEE 802.11v standard is transmitted. Figure 6 In the example shown in , the access point AP2 ( 102 ) is specified as the destination included in the connection destination change request.

[0084] 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.

[0085] In S607, the access point AP1 (101) and the MFP 100 disconnect in the wireless infrastructure mode.

[0086] 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.

[0087] Thus, in S609, the connection between the MFP 100 in the wireless infrastructure mode and the access point AP2 (102) is established.

[0088] 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 6 By 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.

[0089] 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 compliant with Wi-Fi Agile Multiband (trademark) and the STA responds to these requests. However, the present invention 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.

[0090] Processing of suppressing connection destination change function in conjunction with designation of BSSID of connection destination AP

[0091] The following embodiment describes an example in which, in conjunction with the setting of uniquely specifying the MAC address (basic service set identifier (BSSID)) of the connection destination AP to be connected to in the MFP 100, the function of automatically changing the connection destination AP according to the connection destination change request is disabled (or suppressed). That is, if the setting of uniquely specifying the MAC address of the connection destination AP has been performed, the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature is disabled in conjunction with the setting. If the MAC address of the connection destination AP has not been uniquely set, the function of automatically changing the connection destination AP according to the connection destination change request is basically enabled, and the connection destination AP is switched according to the connection destination change request.

[0092] First, refer to 7A to 7F Describes settings for uniquely specifying the MAC address of the connection destination AP. 7A to 7F An example screen displayed on the display included in the operation display unit 220 is illustrated.

[0093] Fig. 7A The diagram shows a display example of the wireless LAN setting menu. Fig. 7A The wireless LAN setup menu shown in the figure is when the Figure 3C The item "Wireless LAN" ( Figure 3C When menu item 702 ("Wireless LAN Manual Connection") is selected among menu items 701 to 703 included in the wireless LAN setting menu, a wireless LAN router (AP connectable in infrastructure mode) is searched. 7A to 7C In the example, "wireless LAN router" has the same meaning as an AP that can be connected in infrastructure mode. Therefore, in the display example, the expression "wireless LAN router" can be used interchangeably with the term "infrastructure AP" and the like. The term "search" as used herein refers to a process including measuring the radio field strength, and is a search for an AP (nearby AP) whose radio waves can be detected by the wireless unit 226. Such a search will hereinafter be referred to as an AP search. During the AP search, a message "Searching for wireless LAN router" is displayed on the display. When the search for the wireless LAN router is completed, the display Figure 7B The wireless LAN router selection screen shown in .

[0094] Figure 7B The figure shows an example of the display of the wireless LAN router selection screen. Fig. 7A, and the result of searching for a wireless LAN router is displayed. As a search result, a list of extended service set identifiers (ESSIDs) of nearby APs whose radio waves can be detected by the wireless unit 226 is displayed. In the illustrated example, three ESSIDs are displayed on one screen. If more than three APs are successfully detected as a result of the AP search, the ESSIDs of the fourth and subsequent APs can be displayed by scrolling down. When a router device has a router function for multiple frequency bands (AP function for multiple frequency bands), if a frequency band can be detected as a result of the AP search, multiple different wireless LAN routers for the corresponding frequency bands are displayed as AP search results. The multiple frequency bands are, for example, three frequency bands, i.e., 2.4 GHZ, 5 GHZ, and 6 GHZ bands. The user can select the ESSID of the AP to which the MFP 100 is to be connected from among the displayed ESSIDs. The user can touch the "Re-search" icon 714 to redo the AP search. When the "Re-search" icon 714 is selected, the AP search can be performed again. Figure 7B When one of the plurality of ESSIDs displayed on the wireless LAN router selection screen shown in , a screen for accepting input of a network key (wired equivalent privacy (WEP) key, pass phrase, or password) which is authentication information of a network specified by the selected ESSID is displayed. If the network key entered on the screen for accepting input of the network key is correct, connection with the AP having the selected ESSID can be made.

[0095] Figure 7C The diagram shows that when Figure 7B A display example of a screen displayed when a plurality of APs having the same ESSID as the selected ESSID in the wireless LAN router selection screen shown in FIG. 1 are included in the search results. Figure 7C The screen shown in shows a message 721 and options 722 and 723.

[0096] Message 721 indicates that the APs detected by the AP search include a plurality of APs having the same name (ESSID) as the ESSID selected by the user on the wireless LAN router selection screen. Message 721 is a message for inquiring whether to use a plurality of APs (wireless LAN routers) having the same name (same SSID) as the ESSID selected by the user. Option 722 is an option for selecting to use a plurality of APs.

[0097] Using multiple APs means that multiple APs with the same ESSID are all candidates for use. Specifically, when option 722 is selected, control is performed so that when connecting to an AP, the MFP 100 connects one AP with the best connection condition among multiple APs with the same ESSID. In other words, multiple APs with the same ESSID are selectively used according to the connection condition. Option 723 is an option for selecting one of multiple APs with the same ESSID to use. When option 723 is selected, the MFP 100 requests input of a BSSID for identifying one AP to be used among multiple APs with the same ESSID.

[0098] Fig.7D The diagram shows Figure 7C This is a display example of a MAC address selection screen displayed when option 723 is selected on the screen shown in . The MAC address corresponds to the BSSID. Fig.7D The MAC address selection screen shown in the figure shows the APs detected by AP search that have the same Figure 7B A list of BSSIDs of multiple APs having the same ESSID as the ESSID selected by the user on the wireless LAN router selection screen shown in . In the illustrated example, options 741 and 742 are displayed as BSSID options. The user checks the MAC address (BSSID) of the AP to be used, and selects an option that matches the MAC address (BSSID) of the AP to be used from options 741 and 742. The MAC address indicated by the selected option is recorded in the non-volatile memory 215 or ROM 213 as the AP to be connected by the MFP 100. Therefore, the MAC address of the AP to be connected is uniquely set. Thus, in response to an operation of specifying the MAC address of the connection destination, when the MFP 100 that is not connected to any AP is to be connected to the AP, control is performed so that the MFP 100 is connected to the AP with the specified MAC address and is not connected to other APs. In the above manner, settings for uniquely specifying the MAC address of the connection destination AP can be performed.

[0099] exist Figure 7C After selecting option 723 on the screen shown in Fig.7D Before the MAC address selection screen shown in is displayed, a guidance message prompting the user to check the MAC address (i.e., BSSID) of the wireless LAN router (i.e., AP) to be used may be displayed. The guidance message is, for example, "Please check the MAC address of the wireless LAN router to be used by referring to the manual of the wireless LAN router."

[0100] Fig. 7E The diagram shows Fig.7DThis screen is displayed when you select any option on the MAC address selection screen shown in . The screen shown in the figure is an example of a selection screen for asking whether to disable the Agile Multiband feature in conjunction with the selection of an option. Fig. 7E , message 751 and options 752 and 753 are displayed. Message 751 includes a message for inquiring whether to disable the Agile Multiband feature in conjunction with the setting of the MAC address (BSSID) that uniquely specifies the connection destination AP. Message 751 also includes a description of the Agile Multiband feature (e.g., a function of automatically switching the connection destination according to a connection destination change request and a connection destination change function).

[0101] Option 752 is an option for selecting to disable the Agile Multiband feature (a function of automatically switching the connection destination according to a connection destination change request; hereinafter referred to as the connection destination change function). When option 752 is selected, the connection destination change function is set to be disabled, and the setting of disabling the connection destination change function is recorded in the nonvolatile memory 215 or the ROM 213. When the connection destination change function is set to be disabled, the CPU 212 of the MFP 100 performs control so that a connection destination change request is not sent from the AP to the MFP 100, or performs control so that the connection destination AP is not changed even when a connection destination change request is received. As described above, when option 752 is selected, in combination with the setting of uniquely specifying the MAC address of the connection destination AP, the function of automatically changing the connection destination AP according to the connection destination change request (i.e., the connection destination change function) is disabled.

[0102] If setting is performed to uniquely specify the connection destination AP by the MAC address and the connection destination change function is enabled, the following unnatural situation may occur. Specifically, although the connection destination AP has been uniquely specified by the MAC address, the connection destination is changed to another AP according to the connection destination change request. Such an unnatural situation may occur. However, disabling the connection destination change function in combination with the setting of uniquely specifying the MAC address of the connection destination AP as in the present embodiment prevents the setting that causes an unnatural situation from being applied and allows the user to use the wireless connection function without confusion.

[0103] Option 753 is an option for selecting not to disable the connection destination change function. When option 753 is selected, the setting state of the connection destination change function set before selecting option 753 is maintained unchanged. That is, in the case where the connection destination change function is initially set to be enabled, in response to receiving a connection destination change request, the CPU 212 of the MFP 100 performs control to change the connection destination AP according to the change request. In this case, the following situation is allowed: although the connection destination AP has been uniquely specified by the MAC address, the connection destination is changed to another AP according to the connection destination change request.

[0104] and Fig. 7E on the contrary, Figure 7F The display example of the screen displayed when the setting is changed from the state of specifying the MAC address of the AP to be connected to the state of not specifying the MAC address is illustrated. The screen shown asks whether to enable the connection destination change function in conjunction with the change of the setting. Figure 7F , message 761 and options 762 and 763 are displayed. Message 761 includes a message for asking whether to enable the connection destination change function in conjunction with the setting of changing the MAC address (BSSID) of the connection destination AP that does not uniquely specify the connection destination. Message 761 also includes a description of the connection destination change function. Option 762 is an option for selecting to enable the connection destination change function. Option 763 is an option for selecting not to enable the connection destination change function. When option 763 is selected, the setting state of the connection destination change function set before selecting option 763 remains unchanged.

[0105] FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C 1 is a flowchart of a process including a process of suppressing a connection destination change function in conjunction with specifying a BSSID of a connection destination AP. The illustrated process is implemented by CPU 212 loading a program stored in ROM 213 into RAM 214 and executing the program. When the power of MFP 100 is turned on, the process starts. FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C The processing shown in .

[0106] In S800, the CPU 212 determines whether information about the connection destination AP to be connected to (AP to be connected) has been set. Figure 7B . If the connection information including the ESSID and the network key of the AP to be connected to has been set (registered and stored), the CPU 212 determines that the connection destination AP has been set. The connection destination AP may be set by any other method, such as a method using Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) (a method executed by operating menu item 703).

[0107] If the connection destination AP has been set, the process proceeds to S801; otherwise, the process proceeds to S808. If the connection destination AP has not been set, the process may skip S808 and proceed to S810 to guide the user to a screen for setting the connection destination AP.

[0108] In S801, the CPU 212 determines whether the BSSID has been set as information about the set connection destination AP. Fig.7D As described, if the connection destination AP has been uniquely specified by the MAC address (BSSID), the process proceeds to S805 since the BSSID has been set; otherwise, the process proceeds to S802.

[0109] In S802, the CPU 212 refers to the setting state of the connection destination change function recorded in the ROM 213 and determines whether the connection destination change function is enabled. If the connection destination change function is enabled, the process proceeds to S803; otherwise (if the connection destination change function is not enabled), the process proceeds to S804.

[0110] In S803, CPU 212 uses the stored connection information to control wireless unit 226 to connect to an AP with a set (registered or stored) ESSID. Specifically, CPU 212 performs an AP search, and if an AP whose ESSID matches the stored ESSID is detected, CPU 212 is connected to the detected AP. On the other hand, CPU 212 performs an AP search, and if multiple APs whose ESSID matches the stored ESSID are detected, CPU 212 is connected to the AP with the best radio wave condition among the detected multiple APs with the same ESSID, regardless of the BSSID. If multiple ESSIDs and connection information are stored, as a result of the AP search, CPU 212 is connected to the AP with the best radio wave condition among the APs whose ESSID matches any one of the stored ESSIDs.

[0111] In addition, in S803, when connecting to an AP having a set ESSID, the CPU 212 sends information indicating that the MFP 100 supports a connection destination change function to the AP, and connects to the AP. Specifically, for example, before wirelessly connecting to the AP, the CPU 212 creates data of an Association Request frame including information indicating that the MFP 100 supports IEEE 802.11v. Then, the CPU 212 performs an operation including sending the created data of the Association Request frame to perform a process of wirelessly connecting to the AP. More specifically, the information indicating that the MFP 100 supports IEEE 802.11v is information indicating that, for example, a flag of BSS Transition Support for Association Request is turned on. Therefore, the connection destination AP recognizes that the MFP 100 supports the connection destination change function (is enabled), and sends a measurement request or a connection destination change request from the currently connected AP to the MFP 100.

[0112] In S804, the CPU 212 controls the wireless unit 226 to connect to the AP having the set (registered or stored) ESSID using the stored connection information. The method for identifying the connection destination AP is similar to that in S803.

[0113] Furthermore, in S804, when connected to an AP having a set ESSID, the CPU 212 transmits information indicating that the MFP 100 does not support a connection destination change function to the AP, and connects to the AP. Specifically, for example, before wirelessly connecting to the AP, the CPU 212 creates data of an Association Request frame including information indicating that the MFP 100 does not support IEEE 802.11v. Then, the CPU 212 performs an operation including transmitting the created data of the Association Request frame to perform a process of wirelessly connecting to the AP. More specifically, the information indicating that the MFP 100 does not support IEEE 802.11v is information indicating that, for example, a flag of BSS Transition Support for Association Request is turned off. Therefore, the connection destination AP recognizes that the MFP 100 does not support the connection destination change function (disabled), and does not transmit a measurement request or a connection destination change request from the currently connected AP to the MFP 100.

[0114] In S805, as in S802, the CPU 212 refers to the contents of the setting of the connection destination change function recorded in the ROM 213 and determines whether the connection destination change function is enabled. If the connection destination change function is enabled, the process proceeds to S806; otherwise (if the connection destination change function is disabled), the process proceeds to S807.

[0115] In S806, CPU 212 uses the stored connection information to control wireless unit 226 to connect to the AP with the set (registered or stored) MAC address (BSSID). At this time, as described in S803, CPU 212 sends information indicating that MFP100 supports the connection destination change function to AP and connects to AP.

[0116] In S807, CPU 212 uses the stored connection information to control wireless unit 226 to connect to the AP with the set (registered or stored) MAC address (BSSID). At this time, as described in S804, CPU 212 sends information indicating that MFP100 does not support the connection destination change function to AP and connects to AP.

[0117] In S808, the CPU 212 displays the above reference Figure 3A and Figure 3B Describes the main screen.

[0118] In S809, the CPU 212 displays the wireless LAN by selecting the communication setting on the main screen and then selecting the wireless LAN. Fig. 7A , and determines whether menu item 702 is operated (i.e., whether an operation of giving a "wireless LAN manual connection" instruction is performed). If an operation of giving a "wireless LAN manual connection" instruction is performed, the process proceeds to S810; otherwise, the process proceeds to S828.

[0119] In S810, the CPU 212 performs an AP search and displays an ESSID list screen as the search result. Figure 7B The wireless LAN router selection screen shown in .

[0120] In S811, the CPU 212 receives a request for selecting the ESSID list screen ( Figure 7B) and a user operation for inputting a network key for the selected ESSID. The following description is made assuming that the correct network key has been input. In S811, the selection of the ESSID is accepted, and the input of the network key for the selected ESSID is accepted, which is only an example and not a limitation. The input of the network key may be accepted after the ESSID is selected and after checking whether there is an AP with the same name in S812. Alternatively, the input of the network key may be accepted after the BSSID is specified in S815 after the ESSID is selected and after checking whether there is an AP with the same name in S812. That is, when the selection of the ESSID is accepted in S811, the process may proceed to S812 without accepting the input of the network key. If "yes" is obtained in S812, the input of the network key may be accepted immediately after S815. If "no" is obtained in S812, the input of the network key may be accepted immediately after S812.

[0121] In S812, the CPU 212 determines whether the results of the AP search performed in S810 include multiple APs (APs with the same name) having the same ESSID as the ESSID selected in S811. If it is determined that multiple APs with the same name are included, the process proceeds to S813; otherwise, the process proceeds to S821.

[0122] In S813, the CPU 212 displays a reference for selecting whether to use one of the APs having the same name or a plurality of APs among the APs having the same name. Figure 7C Describe the picture.

[0123] In S814, the CPU 212 determines whether an operation of selecting to use one of the APs having the same name (i.e., an operation of selecting option 723) is performed on the screen displayed in S813. If an operation of selecting to use one AP is performed, the process proceeds to S815. Otherwise, that is, if an operation of selecting to use multiple APs (i.e., an operation of selecting option 722) is performed, the process proceeds to S821.

[0124] In S815, the CPU 212 displays a BSSID input screen to accept an input of a designated BSSID from the user. Specifically, the CPU 212 displays a reference Fig.7D The MAC address selection screen described above accepts an operation of selecting one of a plurality of options indicating a BSSID.

[0125] In S816, the CPU 212 records the ESSID of the AP having the BSSID corresponding to the option selected in S815 (the ESSID selected in S811) in the ROM 213 as the setting of the connection destination AP.

[0126] In S817, the CPU 212 records the BSSID corresponding to the option selected in S815 as the setting of the connection destination AP in the ROM 213. Thus, the BSSID of the AP to be connected is set to set the AP to be connected.

[0127] In S818, the CPU 212 displays a screen for inquiring whether to disable the connection destination change function in conjunction with the designation of the BSSID. Specifically, the CPU 212 displays a reference Fig. 7E The selection screen described above accepts a user selection as to whether to disable the connection destination change function.

[0128] In S819, the CPU 212 determines Fig. 7E , whether the option for selecting to disable the connection destination change function (i.e., option 752) is selected on the screen shown in . If the option for selecting to disable the connection destination change function (i.e., option 752) is selected, the process proceeds to S820. On the other hand, if the option for selecting not to disable the connection destination change function (i.e., option 753) is selected, the process returns to S801, then proceeds to S806 or S807, and the CPU 212 connects to the AP having the BSSID stored in S817.

[0129] In S820, the CPU 212 sets the connection destination change function to disable, and records the setting of the connection destination change function in the ROM 213. Then, the process returns to S801, then proceeds to S807, and the CPU 212 connects to the AP having the BSSID stored in S817 in a manner that the connection destination change function is not supported.

[0130] In S821, the CPU 212 determines whether the BSSID has been stored as information (settings) about the connection destination AP in the ROM 213. If the BSSID has been stored as information (settings) about the connection destination AP, the process proceeds to S822; otherwise, the process proceeds to S826. If the BSSID has been specified as information about a previous connection destination AP set before the current series of operations for resetting the connection destination AP are performed, it is determined that the BSSID has been stored as information (settings) about the connection destination AP.

[0131] In S822 , the CPU 212 deletes the BSSID stored in the ROM 213 as the information on the previous connection destination AP.

[0132] In S823, the CPU 212 displays a screen for inquiring whether to enable the connection destination change function in conjunction with the change from the setting in which the BSSID is specified to the setting in which the BSSID is not specified. Figure 7F Describes the selection screen.

[0133] In S824, the CPU 212 determines Figure 7F 8. The CPU 212 determines whether the option for selecting the connection destination change function to be enabled (i.e., option 762) is selected on the screen shown in . If the option for selecting the connection destination change function to be enabled (i.e., option 762) is selected, the process proceeds to S825. On the other hand, if the option for selecting not to enable the connection destination change function (i.e., option 763) is selected, the process returns to S801, then proceeds to S803 or S804, and the CPU 212 connects to the AP having the ESSID selected in S811.

[0134] In S825, the CPU 212 sets the connection destination change function to enable, and records the setting of the connection destination change function in the ROM 213. Then, the process returns to S801, then proceeds to S803, and the CPU 212 connects to the AP having the ESSID selected in S811 in a manner that supports the connection destination change function.

[0135] In S826, the CPU 212 records the ESSID selected in S811 as the setting of the connection destination AP in the ROM 213. Then, the process returns to S801, then proceeds to S803 or S804, and the CPU 212 connects to the AP having the ESSID selected in S811.

[0136] In S828, the CPU 212 determines whether a measurement request (described above) has been received from the currently connected AP. Figure 6 If a measurement request is received, the process proceeds to S829; otherwise, the process proceeds to S830.

[0137] In S829, 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 currently connected AP.

[0138] In S830, the CPU 212 determines whether a connection destination change request (described in S605 above) is received from the currently connected AP. If a connection destination change request is received, the process proceeds to S831; otherwise, the process proceeds to S834.

[0139] In S831, the CPU 212 determines whether the change of the connection destination based on the received connection destination change request is acceptable. If it is determined that the change of the connection destination is acceptable, the process proceeds to S833; otherwise, the process proceeds to S832. An example of a state in which the change of the connection destination is unacceptable (or an unacceptable state) is a state in which printing is in progress and print data (print job) is received from another information processing device via the currently connected AP. Another example is, for example, a power saving state in which the clock is kept low relative to the clock for the process of connecting to the AP. In this unacceptable state, the CPU 212 performs control so that the connection destination AP is not temporarily changed according to the connection destination change request regardless of the enable or disable state of the connection destination change function recorded in the ROM 213.

[0140] In S832, the CPU 212 responds to and rejects the connection destination change request received in S830 or ignores the connection destination change request without responding. Then, the CPU 212 performs control so that the connection destination AP is not changed according to the connection destination change request.

[0141] In S833, the CPU 212 responds to the connection destination change request received in S830 and sends information indicating acceptance of the request to the currently connected AP. Then, the CPU 212 disconnects the connection with the currently connected AP and executes a process of connecting to the AP recommended for connection included in the connection destination change request received in S830.

[0142] That is, the CPU 212 changes the connection destination AP according to the connection destination change request. More specifically, the CPU 212 executes Figure 6 In the illustrated example, when the BSSID of the AP to be connected has not been set, the connection destination change function is enabled, and the connection destination change request is acceptable, the connection destination AP is changed according to the connection destination change request. Even if the BSSID of the AP to be connected has been set, when the connection destination change function is enabled and the connection destination change request is acceptable, the connection destination AP is changed according to the connection destination change request.

[0143] In S834, the CPU 212 determines whether any other event has occurred. If any other event has occurred, the process proceeds to S835; otherwise, the process proceeds to S836.

[0144] In S835, 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 operation event that gives an instruction to execute copying has occurred, then in S835, the CPU 212 drives the reading unit 219 to read a document and causes the printing unit 222 to print an image of the read document to execute copying.

[0145] If a user operation for selecting an item for setting the connection destination change function in the wireless LAN setting menu and changing the setting on the setting screen for enabling or disabling the connection destination change function is performed, then in S835, the CPU 212 changes the setting according to the user operation. This setting will be changed by the processing of S820 or S825 described above. The state set to "disabled" is a suppression state that suppresses the change of the connection destination AP based on the connection destination change request. If the BSSID has been set as the setting of the AP to be connected on the setting screen for enabling or disabling the connection destination change function, the CPU 212 can perform control to prevent the connection destination change function from being changed to enabled. In this case, for example, the option for enabling the connection destination change function is grayed out (or an indication that the operation is disabled is displayed) to display an indication that the BSSID of the AP to be connected has been set. Alternatively, in response to an operation for changing the setting of the connection destination change function to enable the connection destination change function, a warning indicating that the BSSID has been set as the setting of the AP to be connected can be displayed. Alternatively, the setting screen for enabling or disabling the connection destination change function can display an indication that the BSSID has been set as the setting of the AP to be connected.

[0146] In S836, the CPU 212 determines whether a termination event such as power off has occurred. If a termination event has not occurred, the process returns to S809 and the process is repeated. If a termination event has occurred, then FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C The processing shown in is completed.

[0147] In the above processing, in response to the connection destination AP being uniquely specified by the MAC address (BSSID), processing is performed to disable the connection destination change function (or set the suppression state) (S818 to S820). This processing can suppress the occurrence of the following unnatural situation: although the connection destination AP has been uniquely specified by the MAC address, the connection destination is changed to another AP according to the connection destination change request. That is, the user can use the wireless connection function without confusion. In addition, in response to the designation of the BSSID of the connection destination AP being canceled, processing is performed to enable the connection destination change function (or cancel the suppression state) (S823 to S825).

[0148] This processing can suppress the occurrence of a situation where the destination cannot be changed to another AP according to a connection destination change request although the connection destination AP has not been uniquely specified by the MAC address. Thus, the user can use the wireless connection function without confusion, and can use the connection destination change function more comfortably. That is, the present embodiment makes it possible to set the BSSID of the AP to be connected, and change the connection destination according to a connection destination change request from the AP without confusing the user.

[0149] In the above embodiment, in response to the designation of the BSSID of the connection destination AP, an inquiry is made as to whether the connection destination change function is disabled in S818 in combination with the designation of the BSSID, and in response to the user performing an operation for disabling the connection destination change function, the connection destination change function is set to disabled in S820, which is only an example and not a limitation. In response to the designation of the BSSID of the connection destination AP, the connection destination change function can be automatically set to disabled without performing the processing of the inquiry in S818. In this case, the processing proceeds from S817 to S820 without performing the processing of S818 and S819. In this case as well, a message or icon can be displayed to indicate that the connection destination change function has been automatically disabled. The processing for enabling the connection destination change function is also performed in a similar manner. That is, the connection destination change function can be automatically set to enabled in response to canceling the designation of the BSSID of the connection destination AP without performing the processing of the inquiry in S823. In this case, the processing proceeds from S822 to S825 without performing the processing of S823 and S824. In this case as well, a message or an icon may be displayed to indicate that the connection destination changing function has been automatically enabled.

[0150] The method for specifying the MAC address (BSSID) of the connection destination AP is not limited to the above method, and any other method may be used. Even in this case, in response to the designation of the BSSID of the connection destination AP, processing similar to that of S818 to S820 is performed, and processing for disabling the connection destination change function is performed. Moreover, in response to canceling the designation of the BSSID of the connection destination AP, processing similar to that of S823 to S825 is performed, and processing for enabling the connection destination change function is performed.

[0151] In the above-described embodiment, if the connection destination change function has been set to be disabled, then when connected to the AP, the CPU 212 sends information indicating that the MFP 100 does not support the connection destination change function to the AP and connects to the AP, thereby preventing the connection destination from being changed according to the connection destination change request, which is only an example and not a limitation. In response to the connection destination change function being set to be disabled, any other method for performing control may be performed as long as the control is performed so as to suppress the change of the connection destination AP based on the connection destination change request from the AP. For example, although information indicating that the MFP 100 supports the connection destination change function is sent to the AP when connected to the AP, in response to actually receiving the connection destination change request, as described in S832, the CPU 212 may perform control to ignore or respond and reject the connection destination change request so that the change of the destination based on the received connection destination change request is not performed. In addition, in response to the reception of the measurement request, the CPU 212 may perform control to respond (error response) by sending information indicating that the radio wave reception state of the AP other than the currently connected AP is worse than the actually measured state (for example, weak radio waves, large noise, or undetectable radio waves). This makes it possible to predictably suppress the transmission of a request to change the connection destination to another AP from the currently connected AP. Thus, changing the connection destination according to the connection destination change request is suppressed.

[0152] 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 .

[0153] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to its exemplary embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments and can be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the present invention. Such modifications also fall within the scope of the present invention. The above embodiments are examples of the present invention, and any combination thereof can be used.

[0154] In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, as an example, the present invention is 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 is applicable to PCs, PDAs, tablet terminals, mobile phone terminals such as smart phones, music players, game devices, e-book readers, smart watches, and various measuring devices (sensor devices) such as thermometers and hygrometers. The present invention can also be applied to digital cameras (including still cameras, video cameras, web cameras, and security cameras), printers, scanners, and drones. The present invention 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. The present invention can also be applied 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.

[0155] According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to set an AP to be connected and change a connection destination according to a connection destination change request from the AP without confusing the user.

[0156] Other embodiments

[0157] 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.

[0158] Other embodiments

[0159] 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.

[0160] While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the 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 setting unit, configured to set a basic service set identifier BSSID of an AP to be connected to set the AP to be connected; as well as The control unit is configured to, in a case where the BSSID of the AP to be connected is set by the setting unit, perform suppression control to suppress a change of the connection destination AP, the change being based on the change request.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein The control unit is configured to perform control of displaying a screen for accepting a user selection as to whether to set a suppression state in which a change of the connection destination AP based on the change request is suppressed as the suppression control.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein The control unit is configured to perform control to execute change of the connection destination AP based on the change request if the BSSID of the AP to be connected has not been set by the setting unit and the change request can be accepted.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein In the case where a suppression state is set based on suppression control, the control unit performs control to send information to the AP and connect to the AP, wherein the suppression state is a state in which a change of the connection destination AP based on a change request is suppressed, and the information indicates that the electronic device does not support a function of changing the connection destination AP based on a change request.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein In the case where the suppression state is set based on the suppression control, the control unit performs control to respond to a measurement request received from the currently connected AP by sending information indicating a radio wave condition worse than the condition measured for an AP other than the currently connected AP, or performs control to not perform a change of the connection destination AP based on a change request when the receiving unit receives a change request from the currently connected AP, and the suppression state is a state in which a change of the connection destination AP based on the change request is suppressed.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising: a display control unit configured to perform control to display a setting screen for setting whether to enable a connection destination change function according to a user operation, the connection destination change function being a function of changing a connection destination AP according to a change request, and In a case where the BSSID of the AP to be connected has been set by the setting unit, the display control unit performs control to display a setting screen corresponding to that the BSSID of the AP to be connected has been set.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein The control unit performs control to cancel suppression of change of the connection destination AP based on the change request, in a case where setting of the BSSID of the AP to be connected set by the setting unit is canceled.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising: A print control unit is configured to perform control to perform printing on a print sheet.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein The electronic device performs at least one of the following: A process for connecting to and communicating with an AP compliant with the IEEE 802.11ax standard; Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) compliant processing; Target wake time (TWT) compliance processing; and A process of changing the connection destination AP to an AP using the 6 GHz band according to a change request to change the connection destination AP.

10. 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 setting unit, configured to set a basic service set identifier BSSID of an AP to be connected to set the AP to be connected; as well as A control unit configured to, in a case where the setting of the BSSID of the AP to be connected set by the setting unit is canceled, perform control to cancel the suppression of the change of the connection destination AP, the change being based on the change request.

11. A method for controlling an electronic device, the method comprising: receiving a change request to change a connection destination AP to be connected to from a currently connected access point AP; Set the basic service set identifier (BSSID) of the AP to be connected to set the AP to be connected; as well as In a case where the BSSID of the AP to be connected is set, control is performed to suppress a change of the connection destination AP, the change being based on the change request.

12. A method for controlling an electronic device, the method comprising: receiving a change request to change a connection destination AP to be connected to from a currently connected access point AP; Set the basic service set identifier (BSSID) of the AP to be connected to set the AP to be connected; as well as In a case where the setting of the BSSID of the AP to be connected is canceled, control is performed to cancel the suppression of the change of the connection destination AP, the change being based on the change request.

13. 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 setting unit, configured to set a basic service set identifier BSSID of an AP to be connected to set the AP to be connected; as well as The control unit is configured to, in a case where the BSSID of the AP to be connected is set by the setting unit, perform suppression control to suppress a change of the connection destination AP, the change being based on the change request.

14. 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 setting unit, configured to set a basic service set identifier BSSID of an AP to be connected to set the AP to be connected; as well as A control unit configured to, in a case where the setting of the BSSID of the AP to be connected set by the setting unit is canceled, perform control to cancel the suppression of the change of the connection destination AP, the change being based on the change request.

15. A printing control device, comprising: an accepting unit configured to accept a user operation for setting a connection destination access point AP to be connected to; a receiving unit configured to receive a change request for changing a connection destination AP from a currently connected AP; as well as a control unit configured to perform control to wirelessly connect to a first AP, the first AP being set according to the operation accepted by the acceptance unit, wherein In the case where the receiving unit receives a change request after wireless connection is made with the first AP set according to the operation accepted by the accepting unit, changing the connection destination AP from the first AP based on the change request is not performed.

16. The printing control device according to claim 15, wherein The first AP is an AP set according to a user operation accepted by the acceptance unit, the user operation being an operation for specifying a connection destination AP.

17. The printing control device according to claim 16, wherein The first AP is an AP that is set according to a user operation accepted by the acceptance unit, the user operation being an operation for specifying a basic service set identifier BSSID of a connection destination AP.

18. The printing control device according to claim 15, wherein The control unit performs control to transmit predetermined information indicating that the print control apparatus supports a function of changing a connection destination AP based on a change request to the first AP and connect to the first AP when wirelessly connecting to the first AP.

19. The printing control device according to claim 18, wherein The predetermined information indicates that the printing control apparatus supports IEEE 802.11v.

20. The printing control device according to claim 15, further comprising: A print control unit is configured to perform control to execute printing based on print data received from another information processing apparatus via a currently connected AP.

21. The printing control device according to claim 15, further comprising: Inkjet or electrophotographic printing unit.

22. The printing control device according to claim 15, wherein The control unit performs control to In response to receiving a change request from the first AP, A response is sent to the first AP indicating a denial of the change request.

23. The printing control device according to claim 15, wherein The control unit performs control to In a case where a second user operation for setting a connection with a second AP is accepted by the acceptance unit during wireless connection with the first AP set according to the operation accepted by the acceptance unit, Connect to the second AP.

24. The printing control device according to claim 15, wherein The printing control device is configured to perform at least one of the following: A process for connecting to and communicating with an AP compliant with the IEEE 802.11ax standard; Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) compliant processing; Target wake time (TWT) compliance processing; and A process of changing the connection destination AP to an AP using the 6 GHz band according to a change request to change the connection destination AP.

25. A method for controlling a printing control device, the method comprising: Accepting a user operation for setting a connection destination access point AP to be connected to; receiving a change request to change a connection destination AP from a currently connected AP; performing control to wirelessly connect to a first AP, the first AP being set according to the accepted operation; as well as In a case where a change request is received after wireless connection is made with a first AP, control is performed not to change the connection destination AP from the first AP, the change being based on the change request.

26. A computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to cause one or more computers to function as: an accepting unit configured to accept a user operation for setting a connection destination access point AP to be connected to; a receiving unit configured to receive a change request for changing a connection destination AP from a currently connected AP; as well as a control unit configured to wirelessly connect to a first AP set according to the operation accepted by the acceptance unit, wherein In the case where the receiving unit receives a change request after wireless connection is made with the first AP set according to the operation accepted by the accepting unit, changing the connection destination AP from the first AP based on the change request is not performed.

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