Communication apparatus and control method

Abstract

The invention discloses a communication apparatus and a control method. A communication apparatus includes a control unit configured to control the communication apparatus in a state in which the communication apparatus operates in parallel in a first mode and a second mode, the control unit performs predetermined control to prevent a destination to which the communication device connects in the first mode from being switched from a first network to a network using a channel not used by the communication device in the second mode based on predetermined information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication device and a control method. Background Art

[0002] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2013-157943 proposes a technology in which a wireless communication device matches a channel used for connecting to an access point with a channel used for connecting to a mobile terminal via Wi-Fi Direct (WFD).

[0003] As devices that can operate in a mode as a slave and in another mode as a master become increasingly popular, it becomes desirable to improve the availability of the devices. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present disclosure is proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems and provides a communication device, which can operate in a first mode as a slave station conforming to a predetermined wireless communication standard and in a second mode as a master station conforming to a predetermined wireless communication standard. The communication device includes a first control unit, a switching unit, and a second control unit. The first control unit controls the communication device so that, in a state where the communication device is operating in the second mode, a specific process for causing the communication device to operate in the first mode is performed, the communication device operates in parallel in the first mode and the second mode, and operates in the second mode using the same channel as the channel used by the communication device in the first mode. The switching unit switches the destination connected by the communication device in the first mode from the first network to the second network based on the predetermined information received by the communication device via the first network connected by the communication device in the first mode in the state where the communication device is operating in the first mode. The predetermined information is provided for switching the destination connected by the communication device in the first mode from the first network to the second network. In a state where the communication device is operating in parallel in the first mode and the second mode, the second control unit performs a predetermined control to prevent the destination connected by the communication device in the first mode from being switched from the first network to a network using a channel not used by the communication device in the second mode based on the predetermined information.

[0005] 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

[0006] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a communication system.

[0007] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2F is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed by an operation display unit of a communication device.

[0008] Figure 3A and Figure 3Bis a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless connection sequence in a direct connection mode.

[0009] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless connection sequence in an infrastructure connection mode.

[0010] Figure 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating processing to be performed according to a connection destination switching request from an AP.

[0011] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of channels for each frequency band.

[0012] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process to be performed by the communication device.

[0013] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process to be performed by the communication device.

[0014] Fig. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process to be performed by the communication device.

[0015] Fig.10 is a flowchart illustrating a process to be performed by the communication device.

[0016] Fig.11 is a flowchart illustrating a process to be performed by the communication device.

[0017] Fig.12 is a flowchart illustrating a process to be performed by the communication device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. However, with respect to the present disclosure, it should be understood that the embodiments described below may be modified and improved based on the common knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure and such modified embodiments also fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0019] First embodiment

[0020] The information processing device and the communication device included in the communication system according to the present embodiment will be described. As the information processing device, a smart phone is exemplarily described in the present embodiment. However, the information processing device is not limited to this. As the information processing device, a mobile terminal, a laptop personal computer (PC), a tablet terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a digital camera, etc. can be used. In addition, as a communication device, a printer is exemplarily described in the present embodiment. However, the communication device is not limited to this. Various devices can be used as communication devices as long as the device can perform wireless communication with the information processing device. For example, in the case of using a printer as a communication device, an inkjet printer, a full-color laser beam printer, a monochrome printer, etc. can be used as a communication device. In addition, not only printers, but also copiers, fax machines, mobile terminals, smart phones, laptop PCs, tablet terminals, PDAs, digital cameras, music playback devices, televisions, smart speakers, etc. can also be used as communication devices. In addition, a multi-function peripheral having multiple functions including a copy function, a fax function, and a printing function can be used as a communication device.

[0021] First, refer to Figure 1 The block diagram of FIG. 1 describes the configuration of the information processing device included in the communication system according to the present embodiment and the communication device that can communicate with the information processing device. In the present embodiment, the following configuration will be described as an example, but the function is not particularly limited to Figure 1 The functionality shown in .

[0022] The information processing apparatus 101 includes an input interface 102 , a CPU 103 , a ROM 104 , a RAM 105 , an external storage device 106 , an output interface 107 , an operation display unit 108 , a communication unit 109 , a short-range wireless communication unit 110 , and an image capturing device 111 .

[0023] The input interface 102 receives data input and operation instructions from the user and includes a physical keyboard, buttons, a touch panel, etc. The output interface 107 described later may be included in the same configuration as the input interface 102 and performs output of a screen and reception of an operation from the user in the same configuration.

[0024] The CPU 103 is a system control unit and controls the entire information processing apparatus 101 .

[0025] The ROM 104 stores fixed data such as a control program, a data table, and an embedded operating system (hereinafter referred to as an OS) program executed by the CPU 103. In the present embodiment, the control program stored in the ROM 104 performs software execution control such as scheduling, task switching, and interrupt processing under the management of the embedded OS program stored in the ROM 104.

[0026] The RAM 105 includes a static random access memory (SRAM) that requires a backup power supply. Since data is held in a main battery (not shown) for data backup, important data such as program control variables can be stored in the RAM 105 without volatility. In addition, a memory area for storing setting information of the information processing device 101, management data of the information processing device 101, and the like is provided in the RAM 105. The RAM 105 is also used as a main memory and a working memory of the CPU 103.

[0027] The external storage device 106 includes an application that provides a print execution function (hereinafter referred to as a print application). In addition, the external storage device 106 includes various programs, including a print information generation program for generating print information that can be interpreted by the communication device 151 and an information transmission and reception control program for transmitting and receiving information to and from the communication device 151 connected to the information processing device 101 via the communication unit 109. The external storage device 106 stores various types of information used by these programs. The external storage device 106 also stores image data acquired from another information processing device and the Internet via the communication unit 109.

[0028] The output interface 107 controls display of data by the operation display unit 108 and notification of the status of the information processing apparatus 101 by the operation display unit 108 .

[0029] The operation display unit 108 includes a light emitting diode (LED) and a liquid crystal display (LCD). The operation display unit 108 displays data and notifies the status of the information processing apparatus 101. A software keyboard including keys including a numeric input key, a mode setting key, an OK key, a cancel key, and a power key may be provided on the operation display unit 108, and the information processing apparatus 101 may receive input from a user via the operation display unit 108.

[0030] The communication unit 109 is connected to a device such as the communication device 151 and is configured to perform data communication. For example, the communication unit 109 can be connected to an access point (not shown) within the communication device 151. When the communication unit 109 is connected to the access point within the communication device 151, the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151 can communicate with each other. The access point is also referred to as AP hereinafter. The communication unit 109 can directly communicate wirelessly with the communication device 151, or can communicate with the communication device 151 via an access point 131 or the like existing outside the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the IEEE802.11 series of standards are used as the wireless communication method.

[0031] The IEEE802.11 series of standards is called Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (registered trademark). In this embodiment, it is assumed that the communication device 151 can communicate as a station that complies with the IEEE802.11 series of standards. In the following, the station is also referred to as STA. In addition, the station corresponds to a slave station (substation) for Wi-Fi. A slave station for Wi-Fi is a device that does not determine the channel to be used for Wi-Fi connection and uses the channel determined by the master station (parent station) as the channel for Wi-Fi connection for Wi-Fi connection. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the communication device 151 supports the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband (registered trademark) feature and can perform communication as a STA supporting Wi-Fi Agile Multiband. In addition, it is assumed that the communication device 151 also supports the Wi-Fi 6 (registered trademark) function that complies with the IEEEE802.11ax standard. Therefore, the communication device 151 can perform operations as a STA that supports orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) and target wake-up time (TWT) as a Wi-Fi 6 feature. When the communication device 151 does not need to standby to receive a signal, the communication device 151 as a STA can suppress power consumption by converting the communication function to a sleep state. Specifically, the communication device 151 can support Wi-Fi 6E (registered trademark) features as Wi-Fi 6 features. That is, the communication device 151 may be able to perform communication in the 6GHz band (from 5.925GHz to 7.125GHz). Unlike the 5GHz band, the 6GHz band does not include a target band for performing dynamic frequency selection (DFS). Therefore, in communications in the 6GHz band, communication interruptions caused by waiting for DFS time do not occur. As described above, in the present embodiment, the communication device 151 supports Wi-Fi Agile Multiband and Wi-Fi 6, but is not limited to this. For example, the communication device 151 may support Wi-Fi Agile Multiband without supporting Wi-Fi 6.

[0032] As the access point 131, for example, a device such as a wireless LAN router can be used. In the present embodiment, a method in which the information processing apparatus 101 and the communication apparatus 151 are directly connected to each other without an external access point is referred to as a direct connection method. In addition, a method in which the information processing apparatus 101 and the communication apparatus 151 are connected to each other via an external access point 131 or the like is referred to as an infrastructure connection method.

[0033] The short-range wireless communication unit 110 is wirelessly connected to a device such as the communication device 151 within a short distance and performs communication using a communication method different from the communication method of the communication unit 109. The short-range wireless communication method used by the short-range wireless communication unit 110 is, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) or near field communication (NFC). As Bluetooth, classic Bluetooth or low-power Bluetooth can be used. The short-range wireless communication unit 110 can be connected to the short-range wireless communication unit 157 in the communication device 151.

[0034] The image capturing device 111 converts the image captured by the image capturing element into digital data. The digital data is temporarily stored in the RAM 105. Thereafter, the program executed by the CPU 103 converts the digital data into data in a predetermined image format and stores the converted data as image data in the external storage device 106.

[0035] The ROM 152 stores fixed data such as a control program to be executed by the CPU 154 , a data table, and an OS program.

[0036] The communication device 151 includes a ROM 152, a RAM 153, a CPU 154, a print engine 155, a communication unit 156, a short-range wireless communication unit 157, an input interface 158, an output interface 159, and an operation display unit 160. When a connection mode (communication mode) is set in the communication device 151, the communication device 151 can operate in the set connection mode.

[0037] The communication unit 156 is configured to enable the communication device 151 to communicate with another device. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the communication unit 156 performs communication according to the IEEE802.11 series of standards. The communication unit 156 includes an access point for connecting to a device such as the information processing device 101 as an access point within the communication device 151. The access point can be connected to the communication unit 109 of the information processing device 101. The communication unit 156 can communicate directly with the information processing device 101 wirelessly, or can communicate with the information processing device 101 wirelessly via the access point 131. In addition, the communication unit 156 may include hardware used as an access point. Alternatively, the communication unit 156 can operate as an access point by using software for enabling the communication unit 156 to function as an access point. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the communication unit 156 and the short-range wireless communication unit 157 are implemented by a single wireless chip. That is, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that a combination chip supporting a communication function conforming to the IEEE802.11 series of standards and a communication function conforming to a short-range wireless communication method is used as a wireless chip. However, the wireless chip is not limited thereto. The communication unit 156 and the short-range wireless communication unit 157 can be implemented by different wireless chips. In addition, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that a wireless chip supporting the dynamic fast channel switching (DRCS) function is used. When the communication via the infrastructure connection and the communication via the direct connection are performed in a time-division manner during the parallel operation described later, the DRCS function is used. Specifically, the DRCS function is a function of switching the communication channel in use at high speed between the state of performing the communication via the infrastructure connection and the state of performing the communication via the direct connection. In the following, the communication channel is only referred to as the channel. Therefore, in the present embodiment, during the parallel operation, the channel for the communication via the infrastructure connection can be different from the channel for the communication via the direct connection. However, the present embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the communication unit 156 can be implemented by two or more wireless chips including a wireless chip for the infrastructure connection mode and a wireless chip for the direct connection mode. Therefore, during the parallel operation, the channel for the communication via the infrastructure connection can be different from the channel for the communication via the direct connection.

[0038] The RAM 153 includes a DRAM or the like that requires a backup power supply. Data is saved in the RAM 153 by supplying power (not shown) for data backup. Therefore, important data such as program control variables can be stored in the RAM 153 without being volatile. In addition, the RAM 153 is used as a main memory and a working memory of the CPU 154, and stores various types of information as a receiving buffer for temporarily storing print information received from the information processing apparatus 101 or the like.

[0039] The ROM 152 stores fixed data such as a control program, a data table, and an OS program to be executed by the CPU 154. In the present embodiment, the control program stored in the ROM 152 performs software execution control such as scheduling, task switching, and interrupt processing under the management of the embedded OS stored in the ROM 152. In addition, the ROM 152 includes a memory area for storing data that is setting information of the communication device 151, management data of the communication device 151, and the like and that is required to be retained even when power is not supplied.

[0040] The CPU 154 is a system control unit and controls the entire communication device 151 .

[0041] The print engine 155 forms an image on a recording medium such as paper using a recording material such as ink, and outputs a print result based on the information stored in the RAM 153 and a print job received from the information processing apparatus 101, etc. In this case, the print job transmitted from the information processing apparatus 101, etc. has a large amount of transmission data, requiring high-speed communication, and therefore the print job is received via the communication unit 156 which can perform communication at a higher speed than the short-range wireless communication unit 157.

[0042] The short-range wireless communication unit 157 is wirelessly connected to a device such as the information processing device 101 within a short distance and is configured to perform data communication. The short-range wireless communication unit 157 performs communication using a communication method different from the communication method of the communication unit 156. The short-range wireless communication method used by the short-range wireless communication unit 157 is Bluetooth (registered trademark) or NFC. As Bluetooth, Bluetooth Classic or Bluetooth Low Energy can be used. The short-range wireless communication unit 157 can be connected to the short-range wireless communication unit 110.

[0043] The input interface 158 receives data input and operation instructions from the user and includes a physical keyboard, buttons, a touch panel, etc. The output interface 159 described later may be included in the same configuration as the input interface 158, and the output of the screen and the reception of the operation from the user may be performed in the same configuration. The output interface 159 controls the display of data by the operation display unit 160 and the notification of the state of the communication device 151 by the operation display unit 160.

[0044] The operation display unit 160 includes a light emitting diode (LED) and a liquid crystal display (LCD). The operation display unit 160 displays data and notifies the status of the communication device 151. A software keyboard including keys including a numeric input key, a mode setting key, an OK key, a cancel key, and a power key may be provided on the operation display unit 160, and the communication device 151 may receive input from a user via the operation display unit 160.

[0045] Example of a screen displayed by the operation display unit 160

[0046] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2F An example of a screen displayed by the operation display unit 160 of the communication device 151 is schematically illustrated. Figure 2A An example of a home screen displayed in a state where the communication device 151 is powered on and operations such as printing and scanning are not performed (idle state or standby state) is illustrated. Figure 2A In the menu for the copy function, the menu for the scan function and the menu for the cloud function are displayed. The communication device 151 can receive Figure 2A The display is displayed seamlessly by pressing the buttons on the screen shown in the figure or by receiving the scroll operation on the touch panel. Figure 2A The screen shown in the figure is different from the screen shown in the figure. Figure 2B The figure shows a portion of the main screen. Figure 2B , the menu for the print function, the menu for the photo function, and the menu for the function for changing the communication settings are displayed. Figure 2A and Figure 2B When the user selects any menu by key operation or touch panel operation in the state of the screen shown in , the communication device 151 can start executing the function corresponding to the selected menu.

[0047] Figure 2C The diagram shows Figure 2B An example of a communication selection screen displayed in the case where a menu for changing the function of the communication settings is selected on the screen shown in . This communication selection screen includes, for example, a menu for making settings for a wired LAN, a menu for making settings for a wireless LAN, a menu for making settings for a wireless direct connection, and a menu for making settings for Bluetooth. The communication device 151 can start operating in an infrastructure connection mode (described later) according to the settings performed when the menu for making settings for a wireless LAN is selected. In addition, the communication device 151 can start operating in a direct connection mode (described later) according to the settings performed when the menu for making settings for a wireless direct connection is selected. In the settings performed when the menu for making settings for Bluetooth is selected, settings for enabling and disabling the Bluetooth function and settings for Bluetooth pairing can be made.

[0048] In this embodiment, specifically, for example, when a menu for performing wireless direct connection settings is selected, the Figure 2DThe screen shown in . The "Change Network Name (SSID)" button is a button for the user to change the service set identifier (SSID) of the communication device 151 operating in the direct connection mode to an arbitrary value. The "Change Password" button is a button for the user to change the password used to connect to the communication device 151 operating in the direct connection mode to an arbitrary value. The "Enable / Disable Direct Connection Mode" button is a button for activating the direct connection mode (described later) and stopping the direct connection mode in a state where the direct connection mode is activated. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that in the case where the "Enable / Disable Direct Connection Mode" button is selected, the WFD mode (described later) is activated. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this. In the case where the "Enable / Disable Direct Connection Mode" button is selected, either the software AP mode (described later) or the WFD mode can be activated, or both the software AP mode and the WFD mode can be activated. The "Set Frequency Band" button is a button for the user to set the frequency band to be used by the communication device 151 operating in the direct connection mode when performing communication in the direct connection mode. In the case where the "Set Frequency Band" button is selected, the display Figure 2E In this embodiment, Figure 2E The screen shown in FIG. 1 includes an area for selecting a 2.4 GHz band and an area for selecting a 5 GHz band. Figure 2E In the case where the communication device 151 also supports communication using the 6.0 GHz band, Figure 2E The screen shown in FIG. 1 may include an area for selecting the 6.0 GHz frequency band and the user may be able to Figure 2E Select the 6.0 GHz band on the screen shown in .

[0049] In this embodiment, specifically, for example, when a menu for performing wireless LAN settings is selected, the Figure 2F. The “Select access point for connection” button is a button for establishing an infrastructure connection (described later) by the first method according to the present embodiment. The first method is a method in which the communication device 151 establishes an infrastructure connection with an access point selected from a list of one or more access points found in a search performed by the communication device 151. The first method will be described in detail later. The “Connect using PC / smartphone” button is a button for establishing an infrastructure connection of the communication device 151 by the second method according to the present embodiment. The second method is a method in which information for connecting to an access point is sent from an information processing device such as a PC or a smart phone to the communication device 151 and the communication device 151 establishes an infrastructure connection with the access point by using the information. In the case where the “Connect using PC / smartphone” button is selected, the communication device 151 operates as a software AP for connecting to a PC or a smart phone. The “Connect using WPD / AOSS” button is a button for establishing an infrastructure connection of the communication device 151 by the third method according to the present embodiment.

[0050] The third method is a method in which the communication device 151 establishes an infrastructure connection with an access point through a known setup method such as Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) or AirStation One-Click Security System (AOSS).

[0051] The method by which the communication device 151 establishes an infrastructure connection is not limited to the above method. For example, in order to send connection information for connecting to the access point 131 or the like to the communication device 151, communication by a short-range wireless communication method or a Wi-Fi easy connection feature using a device provisioning protocol (DPP) may be used. Figure 2F The screen shown in shows buttons for establishing an infrastructure connection by these methods.

[0052] About the direct connection method

[0053] Direct connection indicates a mode in which devices are directly wirelessly connected to each other (i.e., in a point-to-point manner) without an external device such as the access point 131. The communication device 151 may operate in a mode in which communication is performed via a direct connection (direct connection mode). In Wi-Fi communication, there are a variety of modes for communicating via a direct connection, such as a software AP mode and a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) mode.

[0054] WFD mode is a mode for performing direct connection using WFD. WFD is a standard defined by the Wi-Fi Alliance and is included in the IEEE802.11 series of standards. In WFD mode, after finding a device as a communication partner using a device search command, the roles of the P2P group owner (GO) and the P2P client are determined and the remaining wireless connection processing is performed. The group owner corresponds to the Wi-Fi master station, and the client corresponds to the Wi-Fi slave station. The determination of the role corresponds to the P2P GO negotiation. In WFD mode, before the determination of the role, the communication device 151 is neither a master station nor a slave station.

[0055] Specifically, first, one of the devices that will communicate with each other issues a device search command to search for another device to be connected in WFD mode. When another device as a communication partner is found, the two devices check information about the services and functions that the device can supply. Checking the information to be supplied by the device is optional and not necessarily required. The stage of checking the information to be supplied by the device corresponds to, for example, P2P provision discovery. Next, after checking the information to be supplied by the device, the P2P client in the device and the P2P group owner in the device are determined as roles. After determining the client and the group owner, parameters for performing communication via WFD are exchanged between the devices. Based on the exchanged parameters, the P2P client and the P2P group owner perform the remaining wireless connection processing and IP connection processing. In WFD mode, the communication device 151 may need to operate as a GO without performing the above-mentioned GO negotiation. That is, the communication device 151 can operate in WFD mode as an autonomous GO mode. Furthermore, a state in which the communication device 151 operates in the WFD mode is, for example, a state in which a connection via WFD is not established but the communication device 151 operates as a GO, or a state in which a connection via WFD is established and the communication device 151 operates as a GO.

[0056] In software AP mode, one of the devices that communicate with each other (e.g., information processing device 101 and communication device 151) (e.g., information processing device 101) acts as a client that requests various services. The other device implements the function of an access point for Wi-Fi by setting software. The software AP corresponds to the Wi-Fi master station, and the client corresponds to the Wi-Fi slave station. In software AP mode, the client searches for a device used as a software AP by using a device search command. When the software AP is found, the client and the software AP perform the remaining wireless connection processing (establishment of a wireless connection, etc.). Thereafter, the client and the software AP perform IP connection processing (allocation of an IP address, etc.). The commands and parameters sent and received to implement a wireless connection between a client and a software AP may be defined in the Wi-Fi standard and will not be described.

[0057] In the present embodiment, in the case where the communication device 151 establishes and maintains a direct connection, the communication device 151 operates as a master station in the network to which the communication device 151 belongs. The master station is a device that builds a wireless network and provides parameters for connecting to the wireless network to the slave station. The parameters for connecting to the wireless network are parameters about the channels used by the master station. The slave station receives the parameters and connects to the wireless network built by the master station using the channels used by the master station. In the direct connection mode, since the communication device 151 operates as a master station, the communication device 151 can determine which frequency band to use for communication in the direct connection mode, and determine which channel to use for communication in the direct connection mode. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the communication device 151 can use channels for the 2.4 GHz band and channels for the 5 GHz band in communication in the direct connection mode. It is assumed that the user can use channels for the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band in the direct connection mode. Figure 2E arbitrarily make settings on the screen shown in to set the frequency band to be used (that is, set the channel for the frequency band to be used). Figure 2E When the 2.4 GHz band is selected on the screen shown in , the communication device 151 performs communication in the direct connection mode using a channel for the 2.4 GHz band. Figure 2E In the case where the 5 GHz band is selected on the screen shown in , the communication device 151 performs communication in the direct connection mode using a channel for the 5 GHz band. However, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that even if Figure 2E , the communication device 151 does not use the channels for the dynamic frequency selection (DFS) band included in the 5GHz band for communication in the direct connection mode. In other words, it is assumed that the communication device 151 only uses the channels for the frequency bands other than the DFS band included in the 5GHz band for communication in the direct connection mode. In the case where a radar wave in the DFS band corresponding to the channel for the DFS band is detected in the state of using the channel for the DFS band, it is necessary to switch the currently used channel. The DFS band is a band in which the channel may be switched due to the detection of radar waves. For example, in the case of using a wireless chip supporting the DFS function, the channel for the dynamic frequency selection (DFS) band included in the 5GHz band can be used for communication in the direct connection mode. The channel determined as the channel used in the direct connection mode is used for communication via direct connection. The channel is also used for the transmission of a beacon signal as a master station, the transmission of a response to a received command, etc. That is, the channel is used not only for communication processing in the direct connection mode in a state where the direct connection is established, but also for communication processing in the direct connection mode in a state where the direct connection is not established.

[0058] Although the user can set whether to use a channel for the 2.4 GHz band or a channel for the 5 GHz band, the present embodiment is not limited thereto. The communication device 151 can receive a designation of a channel number from the user, and the user can set the channel number of the channel to be used in the direct connection mode. In addition, the channel to be used in the direct connection mode may not be arbitrarily set by the user, but may be set in advance in the communication device 151.

[0059] As described above, the communication device 151 may be able to use another frequency band, such as the 6.0 GHz band. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in the process of using the 2.4 GHz band or the 5 GHz band, another frequency band may be used.

[0060] Reference Figure 3A and Figure 3B Describes the wireless connection sequence in each mode.

[0061] Figure 3A is a diagram illustrating a wireless connection sequence in software AP mode. In this wireless connection sequence, the processing to be performed by each device is implemented 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 these programs. It is assumed that the wireless connection sequence is started in a state where the information processing device 101 operates as a client and the communication device 151 operates as a software AP and sends a beacon signal. In the case where the communication device 151 receives a predetermined operation for causing the communication device 151 to operate as a software AP from a user, the communication device 151 starts to operate as a software AP. The predetermined operation for causing the communication device 151 to operate as a software AP is, for example, an operation of selecting an "enable / disable direct connection mode" button. This operation corresponds to an operation of activating the direct connection mode.

[0062] First, in S301, the information processing device 101 transmits a device search command by sequentially using channels usable by the information processing device 101, and searches for a device to be used as a software AP.

[0063] Subsequently, in S302, in the case where the communication device 151 receives a device search command sent from the information processing device 101, the communication device 151 sends a device search response as a response to the device search command to the information processing device 101. The communication device 151 does not send a device search response to a device search command sent using a channel other than a channel that the communication device 151 can use. For example, in the case where the channel that the communication device 151 can use is the fourth channel, the communication device 151 does not send a device search response to a device search command sent using the first channel. Therefore, in the case where the information processing device 101 sends a device search command using the first channel and does not receive a response from the communication device 151 within a certain period of time or longer, the information processing device 101 sends a device search command using the second channel. The information processing device 101 repeats the above operation while incrementing the channel number used. For example, in the case where the communication device 151 receives a device search command sent by the information processing device 101 by using the fourth channel, the communication device 151 sends a device search response to the information processing device 101. Therefore, the information processing device 101 finds the communication device 151. The channel for transmitting the device search response is determined as the channel to be used for communication between the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151. That is, the channel to be used for communication between the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151 is determined by the communication device 151 operating as a software AP.

[0064] Subsequently, in S303, a known process of establishing a wireless connection between the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151 is performed. Specifically, a process including sending a connection request, authenticating the connection request, and assigning an IP address is performed. Commands and parameters sent and received in the process of establishing a wireless connection between the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151 may be defined in the Wi-Fi standard and will not be described.

[0065] Figure 3B is a diagram illustrating a wireless connection sequence in WFD mode. In this wireless connection sequence, the processing to be performed by each device is implemented 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 these programs. It is assumed that the wireless connection sequence is started when a predetermined operation for establishing a connection via WFD is received from a user in a state where each device activates a predetermined application for executing the WFD feature. The predetermined operation for establishing a connection via WFD is, for example, an operation of selecting an "enable / disable direct connection mode" button. This operation corresponds to an operation for activating the direct connection mode.

[0066] First, in S311 , the information processing device 101 sends a device search command and searches for a device supporting the WFD feature as a communication partner device.

[0067] Subsequently, in S312, in the case where the received device search command is a command sent using the same channel as the channel currently used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode, the communication device 151 sends a device search response as a response to the device search command to the information processing device 101. As a result, the information processing device 101 finds the communication device 151 as a device that supports the WFD feature. After the information processing device 101 finds the communication device 151, the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151 can perform a process of exchanging information about services and functions that the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151 can provide.

[0068] Subsequently, in S313, GO negotiation is performed between the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151. After the client and the group owner are determined, parameters for performing communication via WFD are exchanged between the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151. Based on the exchanged parameters, the P2P client and the group owner perform the remaining wireless connection processing and IP connection processing. As described above, the communication device 151 can operate in autonomous GO mode, the GO negotiation can be omitted, and the communication device 151 can operate as a GO as needed. In the case where the communication device 151 operates as a GO, the communication device 151 determines the frequency band and channel for communication via WFD as a master station. Therefore, the communication device 151 operating as a GO can choose which frequency band to use between the 5 GHz band and the 2.4 GHz band, and can choose which channel to use among the channels used for the determined frequency band.

[0069] Subsequently, in S314, the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151 perform a process of establishing a wireless connection using the channel determined by the GO based on the exchanged parameters.

[0070] About infrastructure connection methods

[0071] In the infrastructure connection, the devices that communicate with each other (e.g., the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151) are connected to the access point (e.g., the access point 131) of the network to which the control device belongs, and communicate with each other via the access point. In the present embodiment, the connection with the access point corresponds to the connection with the network formed by the access point. The communication device 151 can operate in a mode (infrastructure connection mode) of communicating via the infrastructure connection as one of the connection modes.

[0072] In infrastructure connection, each device searches for an access point using a device search command. In this embodiment, searching for an access point corresponds to searching for a network formed by the access point. When an access point is found, the device and the access point perform the remaining wireless connection processing (establishment of a wireless connection, etc.). Thereafter, the device and the access point perform an IP connection processing (allocation of an IP address, etc.). The commands and parameters sent and received to achieve a wireless connection between a device and an access point may be defined in the Wi-Fi standard and will not be described.

[0073] In the present embodiment, when the communication device 151 operates in a state where the communication device 151 establishes an infrastructure connection, the access point 131 operates as a master station, and the communication device 151 operates as a slave station. That is, in the present embodiment, the infrastructure connection indicates a connection between the communication device 151 operating as a slave station and a device operating as a master station. In the case where the communication device 151 establishes an infrastructure connection and the information processing device 101 establishes an infrastructure connection with the access point 131, the communication device 151 and the information processing device 101 can communicate with each other via the access point 131. Since the channel for communication via the infrastructure connection is determined by the access point 131, the communication device 151 uses the channel determined by the access point 131 to perform communication via the infrastructure connection. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the communication device 151 can use a channel for the 2.4 GHz band and a channel for the 5 GHz band in communication via the infrastructure connection. The communication device 151 can use a channel for the DFS band included in the 5 GHz band in communication via the infrastructure connection. In order to communicate with the communication device 151 via the access point 131 , the information processing device 101 needs to recognize that the communication device 151 belongs to a network formed by the access point 131 and to which the information processing device 101 belongs.

[0074] In this embodiment, the communication device 151 can establish both the direct connection and the infrastructure connection in parallel. In other words, the communication device 151 can establish both the Wi-Fi connection in which the communication device 151 operates as a slave and the Wi-Fi connection in which the communication device 151 operates as a master in parallel. The operation of the communication device 151 in a state where the above two connections are established in parallel is referred to as parallel operation.

[0075] Figure 41 is a diagram illustrating a wireless connection sequence in the infrastructure connection mode. In this wireless connection sequence, the processing to be performed by each device 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 these programs. In the case where the communication device 151 receives a predetermined operation for causing the communication device 151 to operate in the infrastructure connection mode from the user, the communication device 151 starts operating in the infrastructure connection mode. The predetermined operation for causing the communication device 151 to operate in the infrastructure connection mode is, for example, an operation of selecting a "select access point for connection" button.

[0076] First, in S401 , the communication device 151 transmits a device search command by sequentially using channels that the communication device 151 can use, and searches for access points existing around the communication device 151 .

[0077] Subsequently, in S402, when the access point 131 receives the device search command transmitted from the communication device 151, the access point 131 transmits a device search response as a response to the device search command to the communication device 151. The access point 131 transmits the device search response only to the device search command transmitted using the channel that the access point 131 can use.

[0078] Therefore, the communication device 151 can find the access point 131. The channel used to send the device search response is determined as the channel used for communication between the communication device 151 and the access point 131. That is, the channel used for communication in the infrastructure connection mode is determined by the access point 131. Thereafter, the communication device 151 displays a list of one or more found access points and receives a selection from the user. In this case, it is assumed that the access point 131 is selected.

[0079] Thereafter, a known process of establishing a wireless connection between the communication device 151 and the access point 131 selected by the user is performed. Specifically, a process including transmission of a connection request, authentication of the connection request, and allocation of an IP address is performed. Similar to the P2P mode, commands and parameters transmitted and received in the process of establishing a wireless connection between the access point 131 and the communication device 151 may be defined in the Wi-Fi standard and will not be described.

[0080] In S403 and S404, the information processing device 101 and the access point 131 perform the same or similar processing as that in S401 and S402. In this case, the access point 131 sends a device search response to the information processing device 101 using the channel used for communication with the communication device 151. That is, the access point 131 communicates with the communication device 151 and the information processing device 101 by using the same channel.

[0081] Therefore, the communication device 151 and the information processing device 101 are connected to each other via the access point 131 and can communicate with each other via the access point 131 .

[0082] Processing to be performed by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband

[0083] As described above, the communication device 151 according to the present embodiment supports Wi-Fi Agile Multiband. Wi-Fi Agile Multiband is a feature compliant with IEEE802.11v, IEEE802.11r, and IEEE802.11k standards, and controls the communication device 151 to connect to an appropriate network according to the state of the network existing around the communication device 151.

[0084] Figure 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating the processing to be performed by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband. In this sequence, the processing to be performed by each device 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 these programs. Figure 5 In the description, it is assumed that around the communication device 151 there are a first network to which the communication device 151 is currently connected and a second network to which the communication device 151 is currently not connected. The access point forming the first network is, for example, the access point 131. The access point forming the first network and the access point forming the second network may be the same single device or may be different devices. In the case where the access point forming the first network is the same as the access point forming the second network, for example, the frequency band used in the first network is different from the frequency band used in the second network. It is assumed that the communication device 151 is started in a state where it is operating in the infrastructure connection mode and connected to the first network. Figure 5 . In addition, in a state where the connection between the communication device 151 and the access point forming the first network is established, the access point forming the first network acquires information indicating whether the communication device 151 supports IEEE802.11v. Assuming that the access point forming the first network recognizes that the communication device 151 supports IEEE802.11v based on the acquired information, the following processing is performed. That is, in other words, the information indicating whether the communication device 151 supports IEEE802.11v indicates whether the communication device 151 supports Wi-Fi Agile Multiband. In addition, it is assumed that the processing described below is implemented by the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature included in the access point forming the first network and the communication device 151.

[0085] In S501, an access point forming a first network sends a measurement request to the communication device 151. A system defined in the IEEE 802.11k standard is used for the transmission of the measurement request.

[0086] In S502, the communication device 151 starts measuring the value of one or more networks existing around the communication device 151 based on the measurement request received in S501. The value of one or more networks existing around the communication device 151 is specifically the strength of the radio wave of the information received by the communication device 151. Specifically, the information received by the communication device 151 corresponds to the one or more networks existing around the communication device 151 and is sent by the access point forming the one or more networks around the communication device 151. The information may be a beacon or a frame. In the case where there are multiple networks around the communication device 151, the strength of the radio wave of the information corresponding to the multiple networks is measured by the communication device 151. In this case, it is assumed that the strength of the radio wave of the information corresponding to the first network and sent from the access point forming the first network, and the strength of the radio wave of the information corresponding to the second network and sent from the access point forming the second network are measured by the communication device 151. In this process, the information acquired by the communication device 151 is not limited to the information about the strength of the radio wave of the information received by the communication device 151. For example, the communication device 151 may obtain the SSID as identification information of one or more networks corresponding to the information received by the communication device 151, information about the frequency bands used in one or more networks, information about the number of devices connected to one or more networks, etc.

[0087] In S503, the communication device 151 specifies and extracts information included in the information acquired in S502 and corresponding to a network having the same SSID as the SSID of the first network. The communication device 151 sends the extracted information included in the information acquired in S502 to the access point forming the first network as a response to the request received in S501, and does not send the information included in the information acquired in S502 and not extracted to the access point forming the first network. In this case, it is assumed that the SSID of the first network is the same as the SSID of the second network, and the information corresponding to the second network is at least sent to the access point forming the first network.

[0088] In S504, the access point forming the first network determines whether to switch (change) the destination to which the communication device 151 is connected from the first network to another network based on the information received from the communication device 151. This determination is a process of determining whether the communication between the another network and the communication device 151 is more stable than the communication between the first network and the communication device 151. In addition, the access point forming the first network performs the determination by comprehensively referring to the radio wave intensity and frequency band specified based on the information received from the communication device 151, the number of devices connected to each network, and the like. In the determination, the access point forming the first network may refer to information other than the information received from the communication device 151. The information other than the information received from the communication device 151 is collected by the access point forming the first network, for example, and includes information on the number of devices connected to the access point forming the first network, the amount and speed of data transmitted on the first network, and the like.

[0089] In the case where the access point forming the first network determines that the destination to which the communication device 151 is connected is switched from the first network to another network, the access point forming the first network specifies the new destination to which the communication device 151 is to be connected. In this case, a network that is specified based on information received from the communication device 151 and is any network existing around the communication device 151 is specified as the new destination to which the communication device 151 is to be connected. The network specified by the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature as the new destination to which the communication device 151 is to be connected is referred to as the switching target network. In the description, it is assumed that the switching target network is the second network. Next, the access point forming the first network specifies information about the second network. Specifically, the information about the second network is, for example, the SSID of the second network, the frequency band used in the second network, and the channel used in the second network. The access point forming the first network can specify multiple networks as the new destination to which the communication device 151 is to be connected, and can specify information about each network.

[0090] In S505, the access point forming the first network transmits a request to switch the destination to which the communication device 151 is connected to, to the communication device 151. The request to switch the destination to which the communication device 151 is connected includes information on the network designated in S504 as a new destination to which the communication device 151 is to connect. The request to switch the destination to which the communication device 151 is connected is transmitted as a BSS Transition Management (BTM) request through a BTM frame defined in the IEEE802.11v standard.

[0091] In S506, in the case where the communication device 151 complies with the request received in S505 and is to switch the connection destination, the communication device 151 transmits a response (acceptance response) indicating that the communication device 151 accepts switching the destination to which the communication device 151 is connected to, to the access point forming the first network. In the case where the communication device 151 does not comply with the request received in S505 and is to switch the connection destination, the communication device 151 may transmit a response indicating that the communication device 151 refuses to switch the destination to which the communication device 151 is connected to, to the access point forming the first network. In the description, it is assumed that the communication device 151 transmits a response indicating that the communication device 151 accepts switching the destination to which the communication device 151 is connected. Each response is transmitted as a BTM response.

[0092] In S507 , the communication device 151 disconnects from the first network.

[0093] In S508, the communication device 151 sends a request to connect to the second network to the access point forming the second network. It is assumed that the password used to connect the communication device 151 to the second network and sent from the communication device 151 to the access point forming the second network is the same as the password used to connect the communication device 151 to the first network. That is, after the communication device 151 is disconnected from the first network, the communication device 151 can recognize the password for connecting to the second network without receiving an input of the password for connecting to the second network from the user and receiving the password from another device.

[0094] In S509 , a connection between the communication device 151 and the second network is established.

[0095] As described above, the network as the destination to which the communication device 151 is connected can be appropriately controlled by the function as Wi-Fi Agile Multiband.

[0096] Arrangement of channels for Wi-Fi

[0097] Figure 6The arrangement of channels for the 2.4 GHz band and channels for the 5 GHz band is illustrated. For Wi-Fi, the 2.4 GHz band is used by dividing the 2.4 GHz band into a bandwidth of 22 MHz. Channels are assigned numbers. The channels for the 2.4 GHz band are channels 1 to 14. In addition, the 5 GHz band is used by dividing the 5 GHz band into a bandwidth of 20 MHz. The frequencies in the channels do not overlap. The channel for the band included in the 5 GHz band and not the DFS band is a channel called W52. Specifically, W52 corresponds to channels 36, 40, 44, and 48. The channel for the DFS band included in the 5 GHz band is a channel called W53 and W56. Specifically, W53 corresponds to channels 52, 56, 60, and 64. W56 corresponds to channels 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, and 140.

[0098] As described above, in the present embodiment, the communication device 151 may perform parallel operation, wherein the communication device 151 operates in parallel in the infrastructure connection mode and the direct connection mode. In this case, the channels on which the communication device 151 can operate may be limited due to hardware constraints. Specifically, since the communication device 151 includes only a single wireless chip for Wi-Fi communication, the channel used in the first mode may need to match the channel used in the second mode in order to implement the infrastructure connection mode and the direct connection mode in one wireless chip.

[0099] As described above, the destination to which the communication device 151 is connected may be switched through Wi-Fi Agile Multiband. In a state where the communication device 151 is performing parallel operations, the destination to which the communication device 151 is connected may be switched through Wi-Fi Agile Multiband and the channel used for the connection between the communication device 151 and the new destination to which the communication device 151 is connected is different from the channel used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode, the channel used by the communication device 151 in the infrastructure connection mode may be different from the channel used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode.

[0100] Therefore, in the present embodiment, control for solving the above-mentioned problem is performed.

[0101] Controls when reactivating direct connection mode

[0102] Figure 71 is a flowchart illustrating the processing to be performed by the communication device 151 according to the present embodiment. In this flowchart, the processing to be performed by the communication device 151 is realized by the CPU 154 reading various programs stored in a memory such as the ROM 152 into the RAM 153 and executing these programs. Assume, for example, that the communication device 151 performs the processing as a trigger for activating the direct connection mode in the case where the communication device 151 receives an operation for activating the above-mentioned direct connection mode from the user, and starts Figure 7 The process shown in . The process used as a trigger for activating the direct connection mode is Figure 2C An operation for activating the direct connection mode is received on the screen shown in Figure 8 , Fig. 9 and Fig.11 . Specifically, for example, the process is a process of stopping the direct connection mode by reestablishing the infrastructure connection in a state where the communication device 151 is operating in the direct connection mode. In addition, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the communication device 151 has a function of restarting when the communication device 151 is powered on to operate in the communication mode in which the communication device 151 was operating immediately before the power-off. Therefore, the process as a trigger for activating the direct connection mode is, for example, a process of receiving a power-on operation after the communication device 151 is powered off in a state where the communication device 151 is operating in the direct connection mode. In the present embodiment, in the case where the communication device 151 performs a parallel operation immediately before the communication device 151 is powered off and the communication device 151 is powered off and powered on, the communication device 151 starts operating in the infrastructure connection mode and performs a process of reconnecting to the access point. The communication device 151 starts operating in the direct connection mode based on the start of the reconnection process. In this case, the communication device 151 may start operating in the direct connection mode based on the fact that a predetermined time has passed after the start of the reconnection process. Furthermore, the communication device 151 may start operating in the direct connection mode based on the fact that the communication device 151 is connected to the access point through the reconnection process or based on the fact that the connection of the communication device 151 with the access point through the reconnection process is not established and a timeout occurs.

[0103] In S701, the CPU 154 determines whether the communication device 151 is in the infrastructure connection state. In the case where the result of the destination in S701 is "yes", the CPU 154 proceeds to S702. In the case where the result of the destination in S701 is "no", the CPU 154 proceeds to S706. In S701, the CPU 154 may determine whether the communication device 151 is operating in the infrastructure connection mode.

[0104] In S702 , the CPU 154 acquires information indicating which channel is being used in the infrastructure connection mode from any memory included in the communication device 151 .

[0105] In S703, the CPU 154 activates the direct connection mode using the same channel as the channel indicated by the channel information acquired in S702. That is, the CPU 154 activates the direct connection mode using the same channel as the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode.

[0106] In S704, the CPU 154 sets channel 3 as the channel to be used in the direct connection mode and activates the direct connection mode. Specifically, for example, the CPU 154 causes the communication device 151 to operate in the software AP mode using channel 3 or in the WFD mode using channel 3. In this case, the channel determined as the channel to be used in the direct connection mode is not limited to the above example and can be any channel. Specifically, for example, in S704, channel 44 or channel 48 can be set as the channel to be used in the direct connection mode. The channel determined as the channel to be used in the direct connection mode can be selected from channels other than the channels used for the DFS band.

[0107] In S705 , the CPU 154 stores information indicating which channel is being used in the direct connection mode in any memory included in the communication device 151 .

[0108] In S706, the CPU 154 determines whether the communication device 151 is in the infrastructure connection state. In the case where the result of the determination in S706 is "yes", the CPU 154 proceeds to S707. In the case where the result of the determination in S706 is "no", the CPU 154 ends the processing. In the case where the result of the determination in S706 is "yes", the CPU 154 may determine whether the access point forming the network to which the communication device 151 is connected supports the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature before proceeding to S707.

[0109] In the case that the determination result as to whether the access point supports the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature is "Yes", the CPU 154 may proceed to S707. In the case that the determination as to whether the access point supports the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature is "No", the CPU 154 may end the processing.

[0110] In S707, the CPU 154 controls to prevent the network connected to the communication device 151 in the infrastructure connection mode from switching to a network other than the network using the channel currently used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode through Wi-Fi Agile Multiband. Specifically, the CPU 154 controls to prevent the network other than the network using the channel currently used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode from being designated as the switching target network in the access point forming the network connected to the communication device 151. More specifically, the CPU 154 sends information indicating all channels except the channel used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode among the multiple channels of each frequency band that can be used by the communication device 151 to the access point forming the network connected to the communication device 151. Hereinafter, all channels except the channel used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode among the multiple channels of each frequency band that can be used by the communication device 151 are referred to as a specific channel group. This information is, for example, a BSS transition management (BTM) request frame defined in the IEEE802.11v standard, and is information indicating the number of each channel included in the specific channel group in the non-preferred channel designation column. In addition, in this case, each channel indicated by the transmitted information is a non-preferred channel. The access point that has received the notification of the non-preferred channel performs control to prevent the network using the non-preferred channel from being designated as the switching target network. Therefore, the CPU 154 controls the communication device 151 so that the network connected by the communication device 151 in the infrastructure connection mode is not switched to a network other than the network using the channel currently used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode through Wi-Fi Agile Multiband.

[0111] In the case where the above control is performed, the switching target network is different from the network to which the communication device 151 is connected in the infrastructure connection mode, but is a network having the same SSID as the SSID of the network to which the communication device 151 is connected in the infrastructure connection mode, and is a network to which the communication device 151 is connected in the direct connection mode (hereinafter referred to as a specific network). The specific network is, for example, a network within a mesh network including the network to which the communication device 151 is connected in the infrastructure connection mode.

[0112] Since the above-mentioned process is performed, when the operation for activating the direct connection mode is performed on the communication device 151 in a state where the communication device 151 operates in the infrastructure connection mode, the channel used in the direct connection mode can be matched with the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode. Therefore, the problem caused by the channel constraint in the parallel operation can be avoided.

[0113] Although the case where the WFD mode is the autonomous GO mode is described above, in a mode where GO negotiation is performed instead of the autonomous GO mode, the processing may be performed at a time different from the time described above. That is, in the case where the processing as a trigger for activating the direct connection mode is performed, the process may not be started. Figure 7 Specifically, the communication device 151 receives the WFD device search command from the information processing device 101 and performs GO negotiation, and in the case where it is determined that the communication device 151 operates as a GO, it can start Figure 7 The processing shown in .

[0114] Controls when reactivating infrastructure connection mode

[0115] Figure 8 1 is a flowchart illustrating the processing to be performed by the communication device 151 in the present embodiment. In this flowchart, the processing to be performed by the communication device 151 is realized by the CPU 154 reading various programs stored in a memory such as the ROM 152 into the RAM 153 and executing these programs. Assume that in executing the processing as a trigger for activating the infrastructure connection mode and as described in reference Figure 5 The communication device 151 described above starts by attempting to establish a connection with the access point 131. Figure 8 The process as a trigger for activating the infrastructure connection mode is, for example, a process in which the communication device 151 receives an operation for activating the above-mentioned infrastructure connection mode from a user. In addition, the process as a trigger for activating the infrastructure connection mode is, for example, a process in which the communication device 151 receives a power-on operation after the communication device 151 is powered off in a state in which the communication device 151 is operating in the infrastructure connection mode.

[0116] In S801, the CPU 154 determines whether the communication device 151 is operating in the direct connection mode. The case where the result of the determination in S801 is "yes" corresponds to the case where the operation for activating the infrastructure connection mode is performed on the communication device 151 when the communication device 151 is operating in the direct connection mode. The case where the result of the determination in S801 is "no" corresponds to the case where the operation for activating the infrastructure connection mode is performed on the communication device 151 when the communication device 151 is not operating in the direct connection mode. The state in which the communication device 151 operates in the direct connection mode includes the state in which the communication device 151 operates in the direct connection mode but the communication device 151 does not establish a direct connection. The state in which the communication device 151 operates in the direct connection mode includes the state in which the communication device 151 operates in the direct connection mode and the communication device 151 establishes a direct connection. The state in which the communication device 151 operates in the direct connection mode but the communication device 151 does not establish a direct connection is the state in which the communication device 151 operates as a GO or a software AP but does not establish a direct connection with another device. In the case where the result of the determination in S801 is "yes", the CPU 154 proceeds to S802. In a case where the result of the determination in S801 is "NO", the CPU 154 proceeds to S806.

[0117] In S802, the CPU 154 stops the operation in the direct connection mode of the communication device 151. Thus, the direct connection of the communication device 151 is disconnected.

[0118] In S803, the CPU 154 determines whether the establishment of the infrastructure connection of the communication device 151 (i.e., the connection between the communication device 151 and the access point 131) has been completed. In the case where the result of the determination in S803 is "Yes", the CPU 154 proceeds to S804. In the case where the result of the determination in S803 is "No", the CPU 154 repeats S803 until the establishment of the infrastructure connection is completed.

[0119] In S804, the CPU 154 stores information on which channel is being used in the infrastructure connection mode in any memory included in the communication device 151. As described above, since the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode is determined by the access point 131, the channel indicated by the information stored in this case is the channel determined by the access point 131.

[0120] In S805, the CPU 154 reactivates the direct connection mode. That is, the CPU 154 executes Figure 7 Therefore, the direct connection mode is activated in a state where the communication device 151 operates in the infrastructure connection mode. In this case, as shown in the flowchart of Figure 7As described, the CPU 154 controls the communication device 151 so that the channel currently used in the infrastructure connection mode is used in the reactivated direct connection mode.

[0121] In S806, the CPU 154 determines whether the establishment of the infrastructure connection of the communication device 151 (i.e., the connection between the communication device 151 and the access point 131) has been completed. In the case where the result of the determination in S806 is "Yes", the CPU 154 proceeds to S808. In the case where the result of the determination in S806 is "No", the CPU 154 repeats S806 until the establishment of the infrastructure connection is completed.

[0122] In S807, the CPU 154 stores information indicating which channel is being used in the infrastructure connection mode to any memory included in the communication device 151. As described above, since the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode is determined by the access point 131, the channel indicated by the information stored in this case is the channel determined by the access point 131.

[0123] In S808, the CPU 154 controls to prevent the network connected by the communication device 151 in the infrastructure connection mode from switching to a network other than a network using a channel currently used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode through Wi-Fi Agile Multiband. The processing in S808 is the same as or similar to the processing in S707.

[0124] Before proceeding to S808, the CPU 154 may determine whether the access point forming the network to which the communication device 151 is connected supports the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature. In the case where the determination result as to whether the access point supports the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature is "yes", the CPU 154 may proceed to S808. In the case where the determination result as to whether the access point supports the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature is "no", the CPU 154 may end the process. In the present embodiment, in the case where the communication device 151 operates in the direct connection mode in S801, the communication device 151 stops the direct connection mode in S802. However, in the case where the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode is the same as the channel used in the direct connection mode, the process of stopping the direct connection mode in S802 and the process of activating the direct connection mode in S805 may not be performed.

[0125] Since the above processing is performed, communication can be continued in a state where the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode matches the channel used in the direct connection mode. That is, problems caused by channel constraints in parallel operation can be avoided. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the communication device 151 performs the processing in S809 in the case where the communication device 151 can obtain information indicating that the access point 131 supports IEEE802.11v.

[0126] Control when switching channels used in infrastructure connection mode during parallel operation

[0127] As described above, the channel to be used in the infrastructure connection mode is determined by the access point 131. Therefore, in the case where the channel used by the access point 131 is switched due to control to avoid congestion or by a user changing the settings for the access point 131, the communication device 151 needs to switch the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode. The control when the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode is switched during the parallel operation will be described below.

[0128] Fig. 9 1 is a flowchart illustrating the processing to be performed by the communication device 151 in the present embodiment. In this flowchart, the processing to be performed by the communication device 151 is realized by the CPU 154 reading various programs stored in a memory such as the ROM 152 into the RAM 153 and executing the programs. Fig. 9 This process shown in FIG. 1 is started in a state where the communication device 151 operates in the infrastructure connection mode and is connected to the access point 131 .

[0129] In S901, the CPU 154 determines whether the infrastructure connection has been disconnected. The disconnection of the infrastructure connection is the disconnection of the connection between the access point 131 and the communication device 151, and is also the disconnection of the connection between the network formed by the access point 131 and the communication device 151. In the case where the result of the determination in S901 is "yes", the CPU 154 proceeds to S902. In the case where the result of the determination in S901 is "no", the CPU 154 repeats S901 until the infrastructure connection is disconnected. In the case where the channel used by the access point 131 is switched, the infrastructure connection with the access point 131 is disconnected. Therefore, this process in S901 corresponds to the process of determining whether the channel used by the access point 131 has been switched. The access point 131 may have a function of notifying the communication device 151 that the channel used by the access point 131 is switched before the infrastructure connection is disconnected due to the switching of the channel used by the access point 131. Therefore, in S901, the CPU 154 may determine whether it has been notified that the channel used by the access point 131 is switched.

[0130] In S902, the CPU 154 sequentially uses the channels that the communication device 151 can use to search for the access point 131 that was previously connected and disconnected via the infrastructure connection. The access point 131 that was previously connected and disconnected via the infrastructure connection can be specified based on the SSID. The method of searching for the access point 131 that was previously connected and disconnected via the infrastructure connection is not limited to the above method. For example, first, the CPU 154 can search for the access point 131 by using only the channel for the infrastructure connection to which the access point 131 was previously connected and disconnected. Thereafter, in the case where the CPU 154 does not find the access point 131 through the search, the CPU 154 can search for the access point 131 by using another channel.

[0131] In S903, the CPU 154 determines whether the access point 131 previously connected and disconnected via the infrastructure connection is found. In the case where the result of the determination in S903 is "Yes", the CPU 154 proceeds to S904. In the case where the result of the determination in S903 is "No", the CPU 154 returns to S902.

[0132] In S904, the CPU 154 determines whether the communication device 151 is operating in the direct connection mode. The case where the result of the determination in S904 is "yes" corresponds to the case where the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode is switched in the state where the communication device 151 operates the parallel operation. The case where the result of the determination in S904 is "no" corresponds to the case where the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode is switched in the state where the communication device 151 does not operate the parallel operation and operates only in the infrastructure connection mode. In the case where the result of the determination in S904 is "yes", the CPU 154 proceeds to S905. In the case where the result of the determination in S904 is "no", the CPU 154 proceeds to S906.

[0133] In S905, the CPU 154 determines whether the channel used to find the access point 131 matches the channel used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode. In the case where the result of the determination is "Yes", the CPU 154 proceeds to S906. In the case where the result of the determination is "No", the CPU 154 proceeds to S908.

[0134] In S906, the CPU 154 performs an infrastructure reconnection process of reconnecting to the access point 131 that was previously connected and disconnected via the infrastructure connection. For the reconnection, the channel used to find the access point 131 is used. That is, the infrastructure reconnection process is performed using the channel that is the same as the channel used in the direct connection mode and stored in any memory included in the communication device 151.

[0135] In S907, the CPU 154 stores information indicating which channel is being used in the infrastructure connection mode in any memory included in the communication device 151. After S907, the CPU 154 proceeds to S912.

[0136] In S908, the CPU 154 determines whether the communication device 151 operates in the direct connection mode. In a case where the result of the determination is "Yes", the CPU 154 proceeds to S909. In a case where the result of the determination is "No", the CPU 154 ends the process.

[0137] In S909, the CPU 154 controls to prevent the network connected by the communication device 151 in the infrastructure connection mode from switching to a network other than a network using a channel currently used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode through Wi-Fi Agile Multiband. The processing in S909 is the same as or similar to the processing in S707.

[0138] In S910, the CPU 154 stops the operation of the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode. Thus, the direct connection of the communication device 151 is disconnected.

[0139] In S911, the CPU 154 executes an infrastructure reconnection process of reconnecting to the access point 131 previously connected and disconnected via the infrastructure connection. For the reconnection, the channel used to find the access point 131 is used.

[0140] In S912 , the CPU 154 stores information indicating which channel is being used in the infrastructure connection mode into any memory included in the communication device 151 .

[0141] In S913, the CPU 154 reactivates the direct connection mode. That is, the CPU 154 executes Figure 7 Therefore, in a state where the communication device 151 is operating in the infrastructure connection mode, the direct connection mode is reactivated. In this case, as shown in FIG. Figure 7 As described, the CPU 154 controls the communication device 151 so that the same channel as the channel currently used in the infrastructure connection mode is used in the reactivated direct connection mode. After S913, the CPU 154 ends the process.

[0142] Control when switching the network to which the communication device is connected by the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature

[0143] As described above, when the communication device 151 receives a request to switch the connection destination from the access point, the network connected to the communication device 151 can be switched by the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature. Control when the network connected to the communication device 151 is switched by the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature will be described.

[0144] Fig.12 1 is a flowchart illustrating the processing to be performed by the communication device 151 in this embodiment. In this flowchart, the processing to be performed by the communication device 151 is realized by the CPU 154 reading various programs stored in a memory such as the ROM 152 into the RAM 153 and executing these programs. Fig.12 The process shown in is started in a state where the communication device 151 operates in the infrastructure connection mode and is connected to the first network formed by the access point 131 .

[0145] In S1201, the CPU 154 determines whether the communication device 151 has received a request to switch the connection destination by the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature from the access point 131. In the case where the result of the determination in S1201 is "Yes", the CPU 154 proceeds to S1202. In the case where the result of the determination in S1201 is "No", the CPU 154 repeats S1201 until the communication device 151 receives a request to switch the connection destination from the access point 131.

[0146] In S1202, the CPU 154 disconnects the first network from the communication device 151 and performs processing to establish a connection between the communication device 151 and a network corresponding to the information included in the request to switch the connection destination. The processing in S1202 corresponds to S507 to S509.

[0147] In S1203 , the CPU 154 stores information indicating which channel is used for the infrastructure connection after the connection destination is switched, into any memory included in the communication device 151 .

[0148] In S1204, the CPU 154 determines whether the communication device 151 is operating in the direct connection mode. The case where the result of the determination in S1204 is "Yes" corresponds to the case where the network as the connection destination is switched by the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature in a state where the communication device 151 performs parallel operations. The case where the result of the determination in S1204 is "No" corresponds to the case where the network as the connection destination is switched by the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature in a state where the communication device 151 does not perform parallel operations and operates only in the infrastructure connection mode. In the case where the result of the determination in S1204 is "Yes", the CPU 154 proceeds to S1205. In the case where the result of the determination in S1204 is "No", the CPU 154 ends the processing.

[0149] S1205 is the same as or similar to S807 and thus will not be described.

[0150] In this flowchart, the same or similar processing as S905 is not performed. This is due to the fact that the processing of notifying the non-preferred channel is performed, so even when the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature is executed, the communication device 151 is controlled so that the channel for infrastructure connection matches the channel for direct connection.

[0151] In the above-described embodiment, according to the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature, the communication device 151 is controlled so that the channel used for the infrastructure connection matches the channel used for the direct connection.

[0152] Assume that the direct connection mode of the communication device 151 is stopped by a user operation performed on the communication device 151 in a state where the communication device 151 performs parallel operations and notifies the access point to which the communication device 151 is connected of a non-preferred channel. In this case, the control of preventing the network to which the communication device 151 is connected in the infrastructure connection mode from switching to a network other than a network using a channel currently used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode through Wi-Fi Agile Multiband is released. Specifically, the communication device 151 notifies the access point to which the communication device 151 is connected that the communication device 151 does not designate any channel as a non-preferred channel. More specifically, the communication device 151 sends information indicating no channel to the access point forming the network to which the communication device 151 is connected. The information is, for example, a BSS transition management (BTM) request frame defined in the IEEE802.11v standard and has no information in the non-preferred channel designation column. The access point to which the communication device 151 is connected can use the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature to designate a new destination to which the communication device 151 is to connect without being restricted by a channel.

[0153] Since the above process is performed, in the case where the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode is switched during the parallel operation, the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode after the switching can match the channel used in the direct connection mode. Therefore, the problem caused by the channel constraint in the parallel operation can be avoided.

[0154] Second embodiment

[0155] In the above-described embodiment, as a process for establishing an infrastructure connection, the communication device 151 sequentially uses channels usable by the communication device 151 to search for access points existing around the communication device 151 and establishes an infrastructure connection with the access points found by the search.

[0156] In this embodiment, a mode will be described in which an access point existing around the communication device 151 is searched by a method different from the method described in the first embodiment and a channel used in the infrastructure connection mode is the same as a channel used in the direct connection mode.

[0157] Unless otherwise specified, the configuration of the communication system according to the present embodiment is the same as or similar to the configuration of the communication system described in the first embodiment.

[0158] Control of searching for access points around the communication device 151

[0159] Fig.10 1 is a flowchart illustrating the processing to be performed by the communication device 151 in this embodiment. In this flowchart, the processing to be performed by the communication device 151 is realized by the CPU 154 reading various programs stored in a memory such as the ROM 152 into the RAM 153 and executing these programs. It is assumed that the communication device 151 starts when receiving an operation for activating the above-mentioned infrastructure connection mode from the user. Fig.10 The processing shown in .

[0160] In S1001, the CPU 154 determines whether the communication device 151 operates in the direct connection mode. In the case where the result of the determination in S1001 is "Yes", the CPU 154 proceeds to S1002. In the case where the result of the determination in S1001 is "No", the CPU 154 proceeds to S1003.

[0161] In S1002, the CPU 154 specifies a channel used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode. The communication device 151 searches for access points existing around the communication device 151 by using only the channels used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode among all the channels that the communication device 151 can use. All the channels that the communication device 151 can use are channels for the 2.4 GHz band and channels for the 5 GHz band including the DFS band. Searching for access points existing around the communication device 151 is called AP search. After S1002, the CPU 154 proceeds to S1003.

[0162] In S1003 , the CPU 154 searches for access points existing around the communication device 151 by sequentially using all channels usable by the communication device 151 .

[0163] In S1004, the CPU 154 determines whether one or more access points are found by the AP search. In the case where the result of the determination in S1004 is "yes", the CPU 154 proceeds to S1005. In the case where the result of the determination in S1004 is "no", the CPU 154 returns to S1001. In the case where the AP search does not find any access point regardless of whether the process in S1004 is repeated or not, and the timeout period has passed, the CPU 154 can end the AP search, end the process, and display a screen indicating that no access point has been found.

[0164] In S1005, the CPU 154 displays a list of one or more access points found by the AP search. Then, the communication device 151 receives a user's selection from the list. In the present embodiment, as described above, the communication device 151 is controlled to perform an AP search using only the channels used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode. Therefore, as a result, the list does not include access points using channels that are not used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode.

[0165] In S1006, the CPU 154 sends a connection request to the selected access point and establishes an infrastructure connection with the selected access point. For the sending of the connection request and the communication via the established infrastructure connection, the channel used to search for and find the selected access point is used.

[0166] In the mode of establishing the infrastructure connection by the first method, due to the control described in the present embodiment, the channel used in the direct connection mode is the same as the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode. Therefore, the channel used in the direct connection mode can be the same as the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode. Therefore, the problem caused by the channel constraint in the parallel operation can be avoided. After S1006, the CPU 154 proceeds to S1007.

[0167] S1007 and S1008 are the same as or similar to S908 and S909, and therefore will not be described. In the present embodiment, after the infrastructure connection is established, the information indicating the undesired channel is notified to the access point 131 connected as the access point of the switching destination in the infrastructure connection mode. However, the present embodiment is not limited thereto. Before the infrastructure connection is established, the information may be notified to the access point 131. Alternatively, the information may be notified to the access point 131 before and after the infrastructure connection is established. The channel notified in this case corresponds to a channel that is not used in the direct connection mode. After S1007 or S1008, the CPU 154 ends the processing.

[0168] In the mode of establishing the infrastructure connection by the first method, due to the control according to the present embodiment, the channel used in the infrastructure connection is the same as the channel used in the direct connection mode.

[0169] Therefore, the channel used under the infrastructure connection can match the channel used in the direct connection mode. In addition, since the above-mentioned processing is performed, communication can be continued when the channel used under the infrastructure connection matches the channel used in the direct connection mode. Therefore, problems caused by channel constraints in parallel operations can be avoided. The control according to the present embodiment can be applied to AP searches other than the AP search started when the communication device 151 receives an operation for activating the infrastructure connection mode from the user. Specifically, for example, the control according to the present embodiment can be applied to Fig. 9 More specifically, in a state where the communication device 151 operates in the direct connection mode, the communication device 151 can search for the access point 131 by using only the channel designated as the channel used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode among all the channels that the communication device 151 can use.

[0170] Third embodiment

[0171] In the third embodiment, a mode will be described in which access points existing around the communication device 151 are searched by a method different from the search described in the above embodiments and a channel used in the infrastructure connection mode is the same as a channel used in the direct connection mode.

[0172] Control of searching for access points around the communication device 151

[0173] Fig.111 is a flowchart illustrating the processing to be performed by the communication device 151 in this embodiment. In this flowchart, the processing to be performed by the communication device 151 is realized by the CPU 154 reading various programs stored in a memory such as the ROM 152 into the RAM 153 and executing these programs. It is assumed that the communication device 151 starts when receiving an operation for activating the above-mentioned infrastructure connection mode from the user. Fig.11 The processing shown in .

[0174] Unless otherwise specified, the configuration of the communication system according to this embodiment is the same or similar to each of the above embodiments. Fig.11 The processing shown in the flowchart of the second embodiment is replaced by Fig.10 The processing shown in the flowchart of , but other processing is performed with the same contents as those shown in the above-mentioned flowchart.

[0175] S1101 to S1104 are the same as or similar to S1001 to S1004 , respectively, and thus will not be described.

[0176] In S1105, the CPU 154 determines whether one or more access points have been found by the AP search in S1102. In the case where the result of the determination in S1105 is "Yes", the CPU 154 proceeds to S1113. In the case where the result of the determination in S1105 is "No", the CPU 154 proceeds to S1106.

[0177] In S1106, the CPU 154 searches for access points existing around the communication device 151 by using a channel that is not used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode. In this process, at least a channel that is not used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode can be used. Therefore, for example, in this process, the CPU 154 can search for access points existing around the communication device 151 by sequentially using all channels that the communication device 151 can use.

[0178] In S1107, the CPU 154 determines whether one or more access points have been found by the AP search in S1106. In the case where the result of the determination in S1107 is "Yes", the CPU 154 proceeds to S1108. In the case where the result of the determination in S1107 is "No", the CPU 154 returns to S1101. In the case where no access point is found by the AP search regardless of whether the process in S1107 is repeated or not, and the timeout period has passed, the CPU 154 may end the AP search, end the process, and display a screen indicating that no access point has been found.

[0179] In S1108, the CPU 154 displays a list of one or more access points found by the AP search. Then, the communication device 151 receives a user's selection from the list.

[0180] In S1109 , the CPU 154 stops the direct connection mode.

[0181] In S1110, the CPU 154 sends a connection request to the selected access point and establishes an infrastructure connection with the selected access point. For the sending of the connection request and the communication via the established infrastructure connection, the channel used to search for and find the selected access point in S1106 is used.

[0182] In S1111, the CPU 154 reactivates the direct connection mode. That is, the CPU 154 executes Figure 7 Therefore, the direct connection mode is reactivated in a state where the communication device 151 is operating in the infrastructure connection mode. In this case, as shown in FIG. Figure 7 As described, the CPU 154 controls the communication device 151 so that the same channel as the channel currently used in the infrastructure connection mode is used in the reactivated direct connection mode. After S1111, the CPU 154 proceeds to S1114.

[0183] In S1112, the CPU 154 displays a list of one or more access points found by the AP search. Then, the communication device 151 receives a user's selection from the list. In the present embodiment, as described above, the communication device 151 is controlled to perform an AP search using a channel used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode. Therefore, as a result, the list does not include access points using a channel that is not used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode.

[0184] In S1113, the CPU 154 sends a connection request to the selected access point and establishes an infrastructure connection with the selected access point. For the transmission of the connection request and the communication via the established infrastructure connection, the channel used to search and find the access point in S1102 is used. That is, the infrastructure connection is established using the same channel as the channel used in the direct connection mode. After S1113, the CPU 154 proceeds to S1114.

[0185] S1114 and S1115 are the same as or similar to S1007 and S1008, and therefore will not be described. In the present embodiment, after the infrastructure connection is established, the information indicating the undesired channel is notified to the access point 131, which is the access point of the switching destination in the infrastructure connection mode. However, the present embodiment is not limited thereto. Before the infrastructure connection is established, the information may be notified to the access point 131. Alternatively, the information may be notified to the access point 131 before and after the infrastructure connection is established. The channel notified in this case corresponds to a channel that is not used in the direct connection mode. After S1114 or S1115, the CPU 154 ends the processing.

[0186] The control according to the present embodiment can be performed to prevent the establishment of an infrastructure connection using a channel not used in the direct connection mode as much as possible. Therefore, the problem caused by the channel constraint in the parallel operation can be avoided. In the case where an access point is not found by the AP search using the channel used in the direct connection mode, the probability of finding an access point can be increased by performing an AP search using a channel not used in the direct connection mode.

[0187] The control according to the present embodiment may be applied to AP searches other than the AP search started when the communication device 151 receives an operation for activating the infrastructure connection mode from the user. Specifically, for example, the control according to the present embodiment may be applied to Fig. 9 More specifically, in a state where the communication device 151 operates in the direct connection mode, the communication device 151 can search for the access point 131 by using only the channel used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode. In a case where the access point 131 is not found through the AP search, the communication device 151 can search for the access point 131 by using the channel used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode.

[0188] Other embodiments

[0189] In the above description, as a predetermined control for matching the channels used in the infrastructure connection mode with the channels used in the direct connection mode through the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband feature, control is performed so that the channels not used in the direct connection mode are notified to the access point and the network using the channels not used in the direct connection mode is not designated as the switching target network.

[0190] However, the embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, predetermined control may be performed so that channels that are not used in the direct connection mode are not notified to the access point. In the case where a network using a channel that is not used in the direct connection mode is designated as a switching target network and a request for switching the connection destination received by the communication device 151 includes the SSID of a network using a channel that is not used in the direct connection mode, predetermined control may be performed so that the destination to which the communication device 151 is connected is not switched and the connection to the network to which the communication device 151 was originally connected is maintained. Even in this embodiment, in the case where a network using a channel used in the direct connection mode is designated as a switching target network and a request for switching the connection destination received by the communication device 151 includes the SSID of a network using a channel used in the direct connection mode, the destination to which the communication device 151 is connected is switched based on the request for switching the connection destination.

[0191] The purpose of various embodiments of the present disclosure can be achieved by supplying a recording medium (storing the program code of the software) for realizing the above-mentioned example functions to a system or device and reading and executing the program code stored in the recording medium by a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or device. In this case, the program code read from the recording medium realizes the above-mentioned functions when executed, and the recording medium storing the program code is included in the scope of the present disclosure.

[0192] As a recording medium for storing the program code, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, a DVD, or the like can be used.

[0193] The computer reads and executes the program code to implement not only the functions described in the description of the above embodiment but also executes some or all of the processing performed by an operating system (OS) or the like on the computer to implement the above functions through these processing.

[0194] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the convenience of a device that can operate in a mode as a slave and in a mode as a master can be improved.

[0195] The (one or more) embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by reading out and executing 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 a system or device including 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 computer of the system or device, for example, 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 to implement a method executed. 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.

[0196] Other embodiments

[0197] 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.

[0198] Although exemplary embodiments have been described, 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. A communication device capable of operating in a first mode as a slave station conforming to a predetermined wireless communication standard and in a second mode as a master station conforming to the predetermined wireless communication standard, the communication device comprising: a first control unit that controls the communication device so that, in a case where a specific process for causing the communication device to operate in the first mode is performed in a state where the communication device operates in the second mode, the communication device operates in the first mode and the second mode in parallel, and operates in the second mode using the same channel as a channel used by the communication device in the first mode; a switching unit that switches a destination connected by the communication device in the first mode from the first network to a second network based on receiving predetermined information by the communication device via a first network connected by the communication device in the first mode in a state in which the communication device operates in the first mode, the predetermined information being provided for switching a destination connected by the communication device in the first mode from the first network to the second network; as well as A second control unit is configured to perform predetermined control to prevent a destination connected by the communication device in the first mode from being switched from the first network to a network using a channel not used by the communication device in the second mode based on the predetermined information when the communication device is operating in parallel in the first mode and in the second mode.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein The predetermined information includes identification information of the second network, Based on the identification information of the second network, the destination to which the communication device is connected in the first mode is switched from the first network to the second network, and The predetermined control is performed to prevent identification information of a network using a channel not used by the communication device in the second mode from being included as identification information of the second network in the predetermined information received by the communication device.

3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein The predetermined control is performed to notify the access point forming the first network of all channels that are not used by the communication device in the second mode among the channels that the communication device can use.

4. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein Based on the communication device starting to operate in the first mode and the second mode in parallel, all channels are notified to the access point forming the first network.

5. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein The predetermined information includes identification information of the second network, Based on the identification information of the second network, the destination to which the communication device is connected in the first mode is switched from the first network to the second network, and The predetermined control is performed to prevent a destination to which the communication device is connected in the first mode from being switched from the first network to the second network even if identification information of a network using a channel not used by the communication device in the second mode is included as identification information of the second network in the predetermined information received by the communication device.

6. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein Based on the reception of the predetermined information, a destination to which the communication device is connected in the first mode is switched from the first network to the second network by using the password for connecting to the first network.

7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein The SSID of the first network is the same as the SSID of the second network.

8. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a sending unit, the sending unit sending network information indicating one or more networks existing around the communication device to an access point forming the first network, wherein The second network corresponding to the predetermined information is any one of the one or more networks indicated by the network information.

9. The communication device according to claim 8, wherein The network information indicating one or more networks existing around the communication device indicates one or more networks having the same SSID as that of the first network among the one or more networks existing around the communication device.

10. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein Switching of a destination to which the communication device is connected in the first mode based on reception of the predetermined information is performed by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband.

11. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: a stopping unit that stops the operation of the communication device in the second mode when the specific process is performed in a state where the communication device operates in the second mode; as well as a restarting unit, which restarts the operation of the communication device in the second mode after the operation of the communication device in the second mode stops, wherein A channel used by the communication device in the first mode is designated as a channel to be used by the communication device in the second mode in which operation has been restarted.

12. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein The specific processing is at least one of the following: (i) processing of receiving a selection of an access point from a list of one or more access points found by the communication device in a search from a user, (ii) processing of receiving an operation for performing Wi-Fi Protected Setup or AirStation One-Touch Security System from a user, and (iii) processing of establishing a connection between the communication device in the first mode and the access point due to a disconnection of the connection between the communication device in the first mode and the access point.

13. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein In a case where the specific process is performed in a state where the communication device operates in the second mode, a channel used by the communication device in the first mode is used by the communication device in the second mode even after the specific process is performed.

14. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein In a case where the specific processing is performed while the communication device is operating in the second mode, after the specific processing is performed and while a point-to-point connection is maintained between the communication device in the second mode and another device, the channel used by the communication device in the first mode is designated as a channel to be used by the communication device in the second mode.

15. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein The second mode is at least one of a mode in which the communication device operates as a software access point and a mode in which the communication device operates as a group owner of Wi-Fi Direct.

16. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein The predetermined wireless communication standard is included in the IEEE802.11 series of standards.

17. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising At least one of a printing unit that performs printing and a scanning unit that performs scanning.

18. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein The 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band can be used for communication in the first mode, A frequency band included in the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band and whose channels are not switched by dynamic frequency selection can be used for communication in the second mode, or the 2.4 GHz band can be used for communication in the second mode and the 5 GHz band can be used for communication in the second mode.

19. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein At least the 6 GHz frequency band can be used for communication in the first mode.

20. A method of controlling a communication device capable of operating in a first mode as a slave station conforming to a predetermined wireless communication standard and in a second mode as a master station conforming to the predetermined wireless communication standard, the method comprising: controlling the communication device so that, in a case where a specific process for causing the communication device to operate in the first mode is performed in a state where the communication device operates in the second mode, the communication device operates in the first mode and the second mode in parallel and operates in the second mode using the same channel as a channel used by the communication device in the first mode; switching a destination connected by the communication device in the first mode from the first network to a second network based on receiving predetermined information by the communication device via a first network connected by the communication device in the first mode in a state in which the communication device operates in the first mode, the predetermined information being provided for switching a destination connected by the communication device in the first mode from the first network to the second network; as well as In a state where the communication device operates in parallel in the first mode and the second mode, predetermined control is performed to prevent a destination connected by the communication device in the first mode from being switched from the first network to a network using a channel not used by the communication device in the second mode based on the predetermined information.

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