Information processing apparatus, control method, and computer program product

Abstract

The invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method, and a computer program product. Comprising a predetermined application causes a computer of an information processing apparatus to perform: acquiring a predetermined password from a predetermined wireless profile managed by an operating system (OS) of the information processing apparatus and corresponding to a first access point; and transmitting the predetermined password acquired from the predetermined wireless profile and information for specifying a second access point different from the first access point to a communication device present outside the information processing device, the first access point, and the second access point.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, a control method, and a computer program product. Background Art

[0002] It is known that an information processing device such as a smartphone transmits information for connecting to an access point to a communication device such as a printer, and the communication device connects to the access point using the information. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2016-127545 describes a connection mode in which an information processing device transmits information to a communication device and sets a connection mode for determining a connection form between the information processing device and the communication device in the communication device.

[0003] As a form in which an information processing device transmits information for connecting to an access point to a communication device becomes widely used, it is desired to improve the convenience of this form.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to improve the convenience of the form in which an information processing device transmits information for connecting to an access point to a communication device. Summary of the invention

[0005] According to the present invention, a predetermined application program causes a computer of an information processing device to execute: acquiring a predetermined password from a predetermined wireless profile that is managed by an operating system (OS) of the information processing device and corresponds to a first access point; and transmitting the predetermined password acquired from the predetermined wireless profile and information for specifying a second access point different from the first access point to a communication device existing outside the information processing device, the first access point, and the second access point. The communication device performs a process of establishing a connection between the communication device and the second access point based on the predetermined password transmitted to the communication device and the information for specifying the second access point transmitted to the communication device.

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

[0007] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0008] Figure 2 An example of a configuration diagram of a terminal device and a communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.

[0009] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating network setting of a communication device performed by a terminal device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 4is a flowchart illustrating a process of specifying setting information according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C An example of a selection screen and an input screen displayed in the first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.

[0012] Fig. 6A and Figure 6B An example of a connection screen and a wireless profile screen displayed in the first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.

[0013] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of specifying setting information according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process of specifying setting information according to the third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] First embodiment

[0016] The information processing device and the communication device included in the communication system according to the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, as the information processing device, a smart phone is illustrated. However, the information processing device is not limited to this. As the information processing device, various devices such as a terminal device, a laptop PC, a tablet terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a digital camera can be used. In addition, in the present embodiment, as the communication device, a printer is illustrated. However, the communication device is not limited to this. Various devices can be used as the communication device as long as the device can communicate wirelessly with the information processing device. For example, in the case where the communication device is a printer, an inkjet printer, a full-color laser beam printer, a monochrome printer, etc. can be used. In addition, in addition to the printer, a copier, a fax machine, a terminal device, a smart phone, a laptop PC, a tablet terminal, a PDA, a digital camera, a music playback device, a television, a smart speaker, etc. can also be used as a communication device. 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.

[0017] First, a system configuration for realizing the present embodiment will be described.

[0018] Figure 1 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a communication system according to the present embodiment. The communication system includes a communication device 151 , a terminal device 101 , an access point (AP) 131 , and an external server 171 .

[0019] The terminal device 101 is an information processing device according to the present embodiment. The communication device 151 is a communication device according to the present embodiment. The AP 131 is an external device existing outside the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151. The external server 171 can provide services to devices connected to the AP 131 through the Internet.

[0020] The AP 131, the communication device 151, and the terminal device 101 are included in a local area network (LAN) formed by the AP 131. The AP 131 and the external server 171 are included in a wide area network (WAN).

[0021] In this embodiment, in the case of establishing an infrastructure connection described later, the terminal device 101 can communicate with the communication device 151 via the AP 131. In the case of establishing a direct connection described later, the terminal device 101 can communicate directly with the communication device 151 without the AP 131. In the following description, the connection with the AP corresponds to the connection with the network formed by the AP. The AP can form multiple networks at the same time. In this case, the connection with the AP can be a connection with any one of the networks formed by the AP.

[0022] In this embodiment, it is assumed that the connection 141 between the terminal device 101 and the AP 131 and the connection 142 between the communication device 151 and the AP 131 are connections through a communication method based on the IEEE802.11 series of standards. Specifically, the communication method based on the IEEE802.11 series of standards is Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (registered trademark). In this embodiment, it is assumed that the connection 143 between the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151 is a connection through Wi-Fi or a connection through Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (BLE).

[0023] The communication method used for each of the connections is not limited thereto, and may be Bluetooth Classic, Wi-Fi Aware, near field communication (NFC), etc. The AP 131 and the external server 171 may communicate with each other via the Internet. In a state where the AP 131 is connected to the Internet, the Internet may be used by the devices (the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151) connected to the AP 131. Each of the connection 141 between the terminal device 101 and the AP 131 and the connection 142 between the communication device 151 and the AP 131 may be a connection through a wired LAN.

[0024] Next, we will refer to Figure 2The block diagram of the present embodiment describes the configuration of the information processing device according to the present embodiment and the configuration of the communication device that can communicate with the information processing device according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the following configuration is described as an example. However, the present embodiment does not particularly limit the function to the reference Figure 2 The functions described herein may be used as long as a device that can communicate with the communication device can be used as the information processing device according to the present embodiment.

[0025] The terminal device 101 includes an input interface 102, a CPU 103, a ROM 104, a RAM 105, an external storage device 106, an output interface 107, a display unit 108, a wireless communication unit 109, a short-range wireless communication unit 110, an image capturing device 111, and a wired communication unit 112. The CPU 103, the ROM 104, the RAM 105, and the like form a computer of the terminal device 101. The terminal device 101 is assumed to be a device such as a smartphone, but is not limited to a smartphone.

[0026] 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 and the input interface 102 may be included in the same configuration, and output of a screen and reception of an operation from the user may be performed in the same configuration.

[0027] The CPU 103 is a system control unit and controls the entire terminal device 101 .

[0028] ROM 104 stores fixed data such as a control program to be executed by CPU 103, a data table, and an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) program. In the present embodiment, the control program stored in ROM 104 performs software execution control such as scheduling, task switching, and interrupt processing under the management of the embedded OS stored in ROM 104. In the present embodiment, ROM 104 stores a setting application (hereinafter referred to as setting application). The setting application is installed in the terminal device 101 from the outside by, for example, a store application. The setting application is an application provided by a supplier of the communication device 151. The setting application may have other functions in addition to the function of executing the network setting of the communication device 151. Specifically, for example, the other functions are a function of executing settings other than the network setting of the communication device 151, a function of transmitting a print job for causing the communication device 151 to execute printing, and a function of transmitting a scan job for causing the communication device 151 to execute scanning.

[0029] The RAM 105 includes a static random access memory (SRAM) that requires a backup power supply. Since data is held in a primary battery (not shown) for data backup, important data such as program control variables can be stored in the RAM 105 without being volatile. In addition, a memory area for storing setting information of the terminal device 101, management data of the terminal device 101, etc. is provided in the RAM 105. The RAM 105 is also used as a main memory and a working memory of the CPU 103.

[0030] 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 terminal device 101 via the wireless 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.

[0031] The output interface 107 controls display of data by the display unit 108 and notification of the status of the terminal device 101 by the display unit 108 .

[0032] The display unit 108 includes a light emitting diode (LED) and a liquid crystal display (LCD). The display unit 108 displays data and notifies the state of the terminal device 101. A software keyboard including keys including a number input key, a mode setting key, an OK key, a cancel key, and a power key may be provided on the display unit 108, and the terminal device 101 may receive input from a user via the display unit 108.

[0033] The communication unit 109 is wirelessly connected to devices such as the communication device 151 and the AP 131, and is configured to perform data communication with the devices such as the communication device 151 and the AP 131. For example, the communication unit 109 can directly communicate with the communication device 151 wirelessly, or can communicate with the communication device 151 via the AP 131 existing outside the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that as a wireless communication method of the wireless communication unit 109, Wi-Fi, which is a communication method based on the IEEE802.11 series standard, is used, but Bluetooth Classic or the like may be used. In addition, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the wireless LAN is a network through Wi-Fi. An example of the AP 131 is a device such as a wireless LAN router. In the present embodiment, a method in which the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151 are directly connected to each other without an external AP is referred to as a direct connection method. In the present embodiment, a method in which the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151 are connected to each other via an external AP is referred to as an infrastructure connection method.

[0034] The short-range wireless communication unit 110 performs data communication with a device such as the communication device 151 using a short-range wireless communication method, and performs communication using a communication method different from the communication method of the wireless communication unit 109. The short-range wireless communication unit 110 may be connected to a short-range wireless communication unit 157 within the communication device 151. Examples of the communication method of the short-range wireless communication unit 110 are BLE, Bluetooth Classic, Wi-Fi Aware, and NFC.

[0035] The image capturing device 111 converts an image captured by an image capturing element into digital data.

[0036] 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 into the external storage device 106 as image data.

[0037] The wired communication unit 112 is connected to devices such as the communication device 151 and the AP 131 via a cable or the like, and performs data communication with devices such as the communication device 151 and the AP 131 via a cable or the like. For example, the wired communication unit 112 performs communication through a wired LAN. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that in the wired LAN, communication is performed according to the Ethernet standard. The wired communication unit 112 is not limited thereto. For example, the wired communication unit 112 may perform communication via a universal serial bus (USB) cable.

[0038] The communication device 151 includes a ROM 152 , a RAM 153 , a CPU 154 , a print engine 155 , a wireless communication unit 156 , a short-range wireless communication unit 157 , an input interface 158 , an output interface 159 , a function control unit 160 , a display unit 161 , a wired communication unit 162 , and the like.

[0039] The ROM 152 , the RAM 153 , the CPU 154 , and the like form a computer of the communication device 151 .

[0040] The wireless communication unit 156 is wirelessly connected to devices such as the terminal device 101 and the AP 131, and performs data communication with the devices such as the terminal device 101 and the AP 131. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that Wi-Fi is used as the wireless communication method of the wireless communication unit 156. However, Bluetooth Classic or the like may be used as the wireless communication method of the wireless communication unit 156. The wireless communication unit 156 includes an AP 156-a for connecting to a device such as the terminal device 101 as an AP within the communication device 151. The AP 156-a may be connected to the wireless communication unit 109 of the terminal device 101. The wireless communication unit 156 may communicate directly with the terminal device 101 via the AP 156-a, or may communicate with the terminal device 101 via the AP 131. The AP 156-a may be hardware used as an AP. Alternatively, the wireless communication unit 156 may be operated as the AP 156-a by software used to act as an AP. In addition, the AP within the communication device 151 may include a plurality of APs having different service set identifiers (SSIDs) and different passwords. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the AP within the communication device 151 includes at least a connection setting AP described later.

[0041] The RAM 153 includes a DRAM or the like that requires a backup power supply. Data is held 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 terminal device 101 or the like.

[0042] 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 needs to be retained even when power is not supplied.

[0043] The CPU 154 is a system control unit and controls the entire communication device 151 .

[0044] 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 the print job received from the terminal device 101 etc. In this case, the print job transmitted from the terminal device 101 etc. has a large amount of transmission data and requires high-speed communication, so the print job is received via the communication unit 156 that can perform communication at a higher speed than the short-range wireless communication unit 157.

[0045] The short-range wireless communication unit 157 communicates with a device such as the terminal device 101 using a short-range wireless communication method. Examples of the communication method of the short-range wireless communication unit 157 are BLE, Bluetooth Classic, and Wi-Fi Aware.

[0046] 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 and the input interface 158 may be included in the same configuration, 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 display unit 161 and the notification of the state of the communication device 151 by the display unit 161.

[0047] The function control unit 160 manages a function operation of determining whether functions included in the communication device 151 are to be operated simultaneously.

[0048] The display unit 161 includes a light emitting diode (LED) and a liquid crystal display (LCD). The display unit 161 displays data and notifies the state of the communication device 151. A software keyboard including keys including a number input key, a mode setting key, an OK key, a cancel key, and a power key may be provided on the display unit 161, and the communication device 151 may receive input from a user via the display unit 161.

[0049] The wired communication unit 162 is connected to devices such as the terminal device 101 and the AP 131 via a cable or the like, and performs data communication with devices such as the terminal device 101 and the AP 131 via a cable or the like. For example, the wired communication unit 162 performs communication through a wired LAN. The wired communication unit 162 is not limited thereto, and may perform communication via, for example, a USB cable.

[0050] About the direct connection method

[0051] Direct connection indicates a connection in which devices are directly wirelessly connected to each other (i.e., in a point-to-point manner) without an external device such as AP 131. Direct connection is also called point-to-point connection (P2P connection). The communication device 151 can operate in a mode (direct connection mode) for communicating via direct connection. In Wi-Fi communication, there are multiple modes for communicating via direct connection, such as software AP mode and Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) mode.

[0052] 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 (parent station), and the client corresponds to the Wi-Fi slave station (substation). The determination of the role corresponds to the P2P GO negotiation. In WFD mode, before determining the role, the communication device 151 is neither a master station nor a slave station. 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. In the case of finding another device as a communication partner, the two devices check the information about services and functions that can be supplied by the device. Checking the information to be supplied by the device is optional and not necessarily essential. The stage of checking the information to be supplied by the device corresponds to, for example, P2P provisioning 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 the client and the group owner are determined, 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 have to operate as a GO without performing the above-mentioned GO negotiation. That is, the communication device 151 can operate in WFD mode which is an autonomous GO mode. In addition, the state in which the communication device 151 operates in 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.

[0053] In software AP mode, one of the devices (e.g., terminal device 101 and communication device 151) that communicate with each other (e.g., terminal device 101) acts as a client that plays the role of requesting various services. Another of the devices implements the function of an AP for Wi-Fi by setting software. The software AP corresponds to a Wi-Fi master station, and the client corresponds to a Wi-Fi slave station. In software AP mode, the client searches for a device used as a software AP using a device search command. When a software AP is found, the client and the software AP perform the remaining wireless connection processing (establishing a wireless connection, etc.). Thereafter, the client and the software AP perform IP connection processing (assigning an IP address, etc.). The commands and parameters transmitted and received to implement a wireless connection between the client and the software AP may be defined in the Wi-Fi standard and will not be described.

[0054] In the present embodiment, when 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 the slave station with parameters to be used for connecting to the wireless network. The parameters to be used for connecting to the wireless network are parameters about the channels used by the master station. The slave station receives the parameters and uses the channels used by the master station to connect to the wireless network built 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 is used for communication in the direct connection mode, and determine which channel is used for communication in the direct connection mode. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that in the communication in the direct connection mode, the channels of the 2.4 GHz frequency band and the channels of the 5 GHz frequency band are available for the communication device 151. It is assumed that the user can arbitrarily set on a predetermined screen (not shown) displayed by the communication device 151 to set the frequency band to be used (i.e., set the channel of the frequency band to be used). That is, when the 2.4 GHz frequency band is selected on the predetermined screen, the communication device 151 uses the channel of the 2.4 GHz frequency band for communication in the direct connection mode. When the 5 GHz frequency band is selected on the predetermined screen, the communication device 151 uses the channel of the 5 GHz frequency band for communication in the direct connection mode. However, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that even if the 5 GHz frequency band is selected on the predetermined screen, the communication device 151 does not use the channel of the dynamic frequency selection (DFS) band included in the 5 GHz frequency band for communication in the direct connection mode. In other words, it is assumed that the communication device 151 only uses the channels of the frequency bands other than the DFS band included in the 5 GHz frequency band for communication in the direct connection mode. In the case where a radar wave in the DFS frequency band corresponding to the channel of the DFS frequency band is detected in the state of using the channel of the DFS frequency band, it is necessary to switch the currently used channel. The DFS frequency band is a frequency band in which the channel can be switched due to the detection of a radar wave. For example, in the case of using a wireless chip supporting the DFS function, the channel of the dynamic frequency selection (DFS) band included in the 5 GHz frequency band can be used for communication in the direct connection mode. The channel determined as the channel to be used in the direct connection mode is used for communication via the direct connection. The channel is also used to transmit a beacon signal as a master station, transmit 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.

[0055] Although the user can set whether to use a channel of the 2.4 GHz frequency band or a channel of the 5 GHz frequency band, the present embodiment is not limited thereto. The communication device 151 can receive an indication 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, and may be set in advance in the communication device 151.

[0056] Although the 2.4 GHz frequency band and the 5 GHz frequency band are available for the communication device 151, the communication device 151 is not limited thereto and may be able to use another frequency band. In the present embodiment, in the process of using the 2.4 GHz frequency band and the 5 GHz frequency band, another frequency band may be used. For example, since the 60 GHz frequency band is available in IEEE802.11ad, the 60 GHz frequency band may be used as another frequency band.

[0057] About infrastructure connection methods

[0058] In the infrastructure connection, the devices communicating with each other (e.g., the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151) are connected to the AP (e.g., AP 131) of the network to which the control device belongs, and communicate with each other via the AP. The communication device 151 can operate in a mode (infrastructure connection mode) of communicating via an infrastructure connection as one of the connection modes.

[0059] In the infrastructure connection, each of the devices searches for an AP using a device search command. When an AP is found, the device and the AP perform the remaining wireless connection processing (establishing a wireless connection, etc.). Thereafter, the device and the AP perform an IP connection processing (allocating an IP address, etc.). The commands and parameters transmitted and received to achieve a wireless connection between the device and the AP may be defined in the Wi-Fi standard and will not be described.

[0060] In the present embodiment, in the case where the communication device 151 operates in a state where the communication device 151 establishes an infrastructure connection, the AP 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 terminal device 101 establishes an infrastructure connection with the AP 131, the communication device 151 and the terminal device 101 can communicate with each other via the AP 131. Since the channel for communication via the infrastructure connection is determined by the AP 131, the communication device 151 performs communication via the infrastructure connection using the channel determined by the AP 131. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that in the communication via the infrastructure connection, the channels of the 2.4 GHz frequency band and the channels of the 5 GHz frequency band are available for use by the communication device 151. In the communication via the infrastructure connection, the channels of the DFS frequency band included in the 5 GHz frequency band are also available for use by the communication device 151. In order to communicate with the communication device 151 via the AP 131 , the terminal device 101 needs to recognize that the communication device 151 belongs to a network formed by the AP 131 and to which the terminal device 101 belongs.

[0061] About Connection Setting Mode

[0062] The communication device 151 may operate in the connection setting mode. For example, the trigger for the communication device 151 to start operation in the connection setting mode may be a user pressing a connection setting mode button, or may be the first activation (power-on) of the communication device after the communication device 151 arrives. The connection setting mode button may be a hardware button included in the communication device 151, or may be a software button displayed by the communication device 151 on the display unit 161.

[0063] When starting the operation in the connection setting mode, the communication device 151 enables Wi-Fi communication and BLE communication. Specifically, as a process of enabling Wi-Fi communication, the communication device 151 enables an AP (connection setting AP) included in the communication device 151 and dedicated to the connection setting mode. Therefore, the communication device 151 can establish a direct connection with the terminal device 101 via Wi-Fi. It is assumed that the connection information (SSID and password) for connecting to the connection setting AP is maintained in the setting application installed in the terminal device 101 and the terminal device 101 pre-identifies the connection information for connecting to the connection setting AP. The encryption method may not be set in the connection setting AP, and the connection to the connection setting AP may not require a password. Therefore, it is assumed that the connection information for connecting to the connection setting AP cannot be arbitrarily changed by the user, which is different from the connection information of the AP enabled in the direct connection mode. In the connection setting mode, the communication device 151 can be connected to the terminal device 101 via Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) instead of the usual Wi-Fi. That is, the communication device 151 can operate as a group owner and receive a setting command from the terminal device 101 via communication through WFD.

[0064] About Wireless Profiles

[0065] The wireless profile is information stored and managed by the OS of the terminal device 101 and includes connection information of an AP to which the terminal device 101 was previously connected. The wireless profile is used, for example, for a reconnection function that causes the OS of the terminal device 101 to automatically reestablish a connection when the connection between the terminal device 101 and the AP is disconnected.

[0066] Fig. 6AThe connection screen 600 for the terminal device 101 to connect to the AP displayed by the OS is illustrated. It is assumed that the connection screen 600 is a screen for connecting to the AP 131 having the SSID displayed on the screen 600. The connection screen 600 includes an area 601 for setting whether to enable the reconnection function for connecting to the AP 131, an area 602 for receiving the input of the password for connecting to the AP 131, and an area 603 for attempting to establish a connection between the AP 131 and the terminal device 101 using the input password. In the case where the reconnection function is set to enable in the area 601 and the connection between the terminal device 101 and the AP 131 is disconnected, the OS automatically reestablishes the connection. On the other hand, in the case where the reconnection function is set to disable in the area 601 and the connection between the terminal device 101 and the AP 131 is disconnected, the OS does not automatically reestablish the connection. In the case where the area 603 is pressed and the connection between the AP 131 and the terminal device 101 is successfully established, the OS stores the connection information (SSID and password) of the AP 131 as a wireless profile. However, assuming that in a state where the reconnection function is set to disabled, even if the connection between the AP 131 and the terminal device 101 is successfully established, a certain type of OS or a certain version of OS does not store the connection information of the AP 131 as a wireless profile.

[0067] Figure 6B The figure illustrates a wireless profile screen 610 displayed by the OS and indicating the stored wireless profiles. The wireless profile screen 610 is an example of a screen in the case where the OS stores two wireless profiles. On the wireless profile screen 610, the wireless profile with a higher priority is displayed on the upper side. In a state where the connection between the terminal device 101 and the AP is not established, the wireless profile with a higher priority is used more preferentially. In the area 611, the first wireless profile with a higher priority is indicated by the SSID. In the area 612, the second wireless profile with a lower priority is indicated by the SSID. In the case of performing a predetermined operation on the area 611 or the area 612, the wireless profile corresponding to the area on which the predetermined operation has been performed can be deleted from the terminal device 101.

[0068] Regarding the process performed by the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151

[0069] In this embodiment, the setting application can perform network setting (hereinafter referred to as the first setting) on ​​the communication device 151 via a wireless connection between the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151 operating in the connection setting mode. In other words, the first setting is a setting method for connecting the communication device 151 and the AP to each other by transmitting setting information from the terminal device 101 to the communication device 151 via wireless communication by the setting application. The setting information includes a password for connecting to the AP.

[0070] For example, in the case where different APs exist in a single house, a single wireless LAN router enables different APs using different frequency bands, etc., different APs can use the same password. That is, for example, even in the case where the AP to which the terminal device 101 is connected at the start of the first setting is different from the AP corresponding to the setting information transmitted to the communication device 151 through the first setting, the APs can use the same password. In other words, different APs are multiple APs with different SSIDs. The setting application can obtain the password of the AP to which the terminal device 101 was previously connected from the wireless profile managed by the OS of the terminal device 101 without receiving the input of the password on the setting application from the user. That is, in the case where the AP to which the terminal device 101 is connected at the start of the first setting is different from the AP corresponding to the setting information transmitted to the communication device 151 through the first setting and the APs use the same password, the password obtained from the wireless profile can be used as the setting information without receiving the input of the password on the setting application from the user. However, in the conventional technology, in the case where the AP to which the terminal device 101 is connected at the start of the first setting is different from the AP corresponding to the setting information transmitted to the communication device 151 through the first setting, the setting application transmits the password input on the setting application from the user as the setting information. That is, in the conventional technology, the user needs to input the password on the setting application, and the usability of transmitting the setting information is low.

[0071] In this embodiment, even if the AP to which the terminal device 101 is connected at the start of the first setup is different from the AP corresponding to the setting information transmitted to the communication device 151 through the first setup, the terminal device 101 will transmit the password obtained from the wireless profile as the setting information to the communication device 151 without receiving the password input from the user on the setting application.

[0072] As described above, the setting application can obtain the password of the AP to which the terminal device 101 was previously connected from the wireless profile managed by the OS of the terminal device, without receiving the input of the password on the setting application from the user. That is, in the case where the password obtained from the wireless profile can be transmitted to the communication device 151 as setting information, the process of receiving the input of the password on the setting application from the user can be omitted and the usability can be improved. However, the password that can be obtained from the wireless profile may not be available for connecting to the AP designated as the connection partner of the communication device 151. Specifically, the case where the password that can be obtained from the wireless profile may not be available is, for example, the case where the AP to which the terminal device 101 is connected at the beginning of the first setting is different from the AP corresponding to the setting information transmitted to the communication device 151 through the first setting and the AP uses a different password. In addition, there is the following problem: in the case where the password that cannot be used to connect to the AP designated as the connection partner of the communication device 151 is transmitted to the communication device 151, the communication device 151 cannot establish a connection with the AP.

[0073] Therefore, in the present embodiment, in the terminal device 101, the setting application determines whether the password acquired from the wireless profile can be used to connect to the AP designated as the connection partner of the communication device 151. In the case where the password acquired from the wireless profile can be used to connect to the AP designated as the connection partner of the communication device 151, the setting application performs the first setting without receiving the input of the password on the setting application from the user, thereby improving the convenience of the user. On the other hand, in the case where the password acquired from the wireless profile cannot be used to connect to the AP designated as the connection partner of the communication device 151, the setting application performs control of transmitting another password to the communication device 151.

[0074] The communication device 151 may be able to connect to the AP by a method other than the first setting. The second and third settings other than the first setting are network settings that are performed without transmitting setting information from the terminal device 101 to the communication device 151 via wireless communication through a setting application. Specifically, for example, the second setting is a network setting performed by Push-Button Wi-Fi Protected Setup. The second setting may be a network setting performed by PIN code WPS. The second setting may be a network setting other than AOSS and WPS, such as Raku Wireless Start. The second setting may be a network setting performed when a connection is established through a wireless LAN between the communication device 151 and an AP selected by an operation performed by a user on the communication device 151 among the APs found by the communication device 151.

[0075] The third setting, which is a method other than the first setting, is a network setting performed when a connection is established between the AP and the communication device 151 through a wired LAN. The third setting may be a network setting performed when a connection is established between the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151 through a USB. The second setting and the third setting are setting methods performed without the user inputting a password for connecting to the AP.

[0076] Figure 3 1 is a flowchart illustrating the network setting of the communication device 151 performed by the terminal device 101. This flowchart is implemented by the CPU 103 reading the program stored in the ROM 104 into the RAM 105 and executing the program. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the terminal device 101 performs the process by the setting application. In addition, it is assumed that the flowchart is started based on a predetermined instruction given by the user on a screen displayed by the setting application.

[0077] In S301, the CPU 103 specifies the communication device 151 as the target of the setting performed by the first setting. Specifically, for example, the CPU 103 detects a beacon emitted by the communication device 151 operating in the connection setting mode. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the setting application recognizes the SSID of the communication device 151 operating in the connection setting mode in advance. Therefore, the CPU 103 detects a beacon including the SSID as a beacon emitted by the communication device 151 operating in the connection setting mode. The CPU 103 specifies the communication device 151 that emitted the detected beacon as the target of the setting.

[0078] In the case where there are multiple communication devices 151 operating in the connection setting mode around the terminal device 101 and the CPU 103 detects multiple beacons, the CPU 103 may display a list of the multiple communication devices 151 operating in the connection setting mode and designate the communication device 151 selected from the list as the target of setting. Alternatively, the CPU 103 may designate the communication device 151 that emits the earliest detected beacon among the multiple detected beacons as the target of setting.

[0079] In S302, the CPU 103 acquires information about the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is currently connected, and stores the acquired information to a memory such as the RAM 105. Specifically, first, the CPU 103 executes an API for acquiring the SSID of the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is currently connected, and acquires the SSID of the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is currently connected from the OS through a setting application. Thereafter, the CPU 103 executes an API for acquiring a password from a wireless profile corresponding to the acquired SSID, and acquires the password of the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is currently connected from the OS through a setting application. In this case, the password of the AP 131 is included in the wireless profile corresponding to the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is currently connected. The wireless profile corresponding to the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is currently connected is a wireless profile stored by the OS based on the connection of the terminal device 101 with the AP 131. In other words, the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is currently connected is the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is connected when the user gives a predetermined instruction. The information about the AP 131 may include information indicating an encryption method used by the AP 131 and information indicating a frequency band and a channel used by the AP 131. In the case that the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is currently connected does not exist, this processing in S302 is omitted.

[0080] In S303, the CPU 103 disconnects the Wi-Fi connection between the AP 131 and the terminal device 101, and establishes a Wi-Fi connection between the communication device 151 specified in S301 and the terminal device 101. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the communication device 151 operating in the connection setting mode is a device to which the terminal device 101 can connect without a password. For the connection with the communication device 151 operating in the connection setting mode, a password may be required. In this mode, it is assumed that the setting application recognizes the password in advance.

[0081] In S304, the CPU 103 executes a process of specifying the setting information to be transmitted to the communication device 151 specified in S301. This process will refer to Figure 4 Detailed description.

[0082] In S305 , the CPU 103 transmits the setting information specified in S304 to the communication device 151 specified in S301 via the Wi-Fi connection between the communication device 151 specified in S301 and the terminal device 101 .

[0083] In S306, the CPU 103 disconnects the Wi-Fi connection between the communication device 151 specified in S301 and the terminal device 101, and reestablishes the Wi-Fi connection between the terminal device 101 and the AP 131 previously connected in S302. It is assumed that the information stored in S302 is used for the establishment of the Wi-Fi connection. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this. In S306, the information (password, etc.) used for the establishment of the Wi-Fi connection can be obtained from the wireless profile stored by the OS of the terminal device 101. As described above, the AP 131 previously connected in S302 is the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is connected when the user gives a predetermined instruction.

[0084] Figure 4 1 is a flowchart illustrating network setting of the communication device 151 performed by the terminal device 101. This flowchart is implemented by the CPU 103 reading a program stored in the ROM 104 into the RAM 105 and executing the program. The process shown in this flowchart corresponds to the processing in S304.

[0085] In S401, the CPU 103 receives an AP list from the communication terminal 151 specified in S301 via a Wi-Fi connection between the communication terminal 151 specified in S301 and the terminal device 101. The AP list is a list of one or more APs found in the search performed by the communication device 151. That is, the AP list is a list of one or more APs to which the communication device 151 can connect. Specifically, for example, the AP list includes the SSID of each AP found in the search performed by the communication device 151 and information on the encryption method used by each AP found in the search performed by the communication device 151.

[0086] In S402, the CPU 103 determines whether the AP 131 previously connected in S302 is included in one or more APs indicated in the AP list acquired in S401. In the case where the CPU 103 determines "Yes" in S402, the process proceeds to S412. In the case where the CPU 103 determines "No" in S402, the process proceeds to S403.

[0087] In S403 , the CPU 103 displays the AP list acquired in S401 , and receives a selection of any one of one or more APs indicated in the AP list.

[0088] Specifically, for example, the CPU 103 displays Figure 5A. The selection screen 510 shown in . The selection screen 510 includes a drop-down menu 511 and a button 512. The selection screen 510 may include a message 513 indicating the reason why the AP 131 previously connected in S302 is not included in the one or more APs indicated in the AP list acquired in S401. For example, the reason is that the communication device 151 does not support communication using the 5 GHz frequency band, the AP using the 5 GHz frequency band is not included in the AP list, and the AP 131 previously connected in S302 uses the 5 GHz frequency band. Therefore, the message 513 may indicate that the communication device 151 does not support communication using the 5 GHz frequency band. The drop-down menu 511 is a menu for displaying the AP list acquired in S401 in the case where the user operates the drop-down menu 511. After the user selects the drop-down menu 511, the user selects any AP from the AP list. The button 512 does not allow the user to press until the user selects any AP. Therefore, the button 512 may be grayed out until the user selects any AP. In the case where the user selects any AP, the SSID of the AP selected by the user is displayed on the pull-down menu 511, as shown in FIG. Figure 5B In addition, the selection screen 520 displays the MAC address of the AP selected by the user and the encryption method used by the AP selected by the user. Thereafter, in the case where the user presses the button 512 enabled by selecting any AP, the process proceeds to S404.

[0089] In S404, the CPU 103 determines whether the password for connecting to the AP 131 previously connected in S302 satisfies the password condition of the encryption method used by the AP selected in S403. The password for connecting to the AP corresponding to the AP 131 previously connected in S302 is included in the information stored in S302. The password condition is a condition on a character string allowed as a password. Specifically, for example, the password condition is a condition on the type of characters, the number of characters, etc. The password condition is uniquely defined for each encryption method. Specifically, for example, the password condition of WPA2-Personal is "8 to 63 half-width alphanumeric symbols or 64 hexadecimal characters". Therefore, for example, in the case where the encryption method used by the AP selected in S403 is WPA2-Personal, the CPU 103 determines in this process whether the password for connecting to the AP 131 previously connected in S302 satisfies the condition "8 to 63 half-width alphanumeric symbols or 64 hexadecimal characters". In a case where the CPU 103 determines "Yes" in S404, the process proceeds to S405. In a case where the CPU 103 determines "No" in S404, the process proceeds to S408. In a case where the CPU 103 determines "No" in S404, the process of attempting to establish a connection in S405 is not performed.

[0090] In S404, instead of the above determination, the CPU 103 may determine whether the encryption method used by the AP selected in S403 matches the encryption method used by the AP 131 previously connected in S302. This is due to the fact that, in the case where the encryption methods match, the password used to connect to the AP 131 previously connected in S302 necessarily satisfies the password condition of the encryption method used by the AP selected in S403, and in the case where the encryption methods do not match, the password used to connect to the AP 131 previously connected in S302 may not satisfy the password condition of the encryption method used by the AP selected in S403.

[0091] In this embodiment, the determination in S404 is performed and the process is branched based on the result of the determination in S404. However, this embodiment is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the determination in S404 may not be performed. Specifically, for example, after any AP is selected in S403, the process in S405 may be performed without performing the process in S404.

[0092] In S405, the CPU 103 disconnects the connection between the communication device 151 and the terminal device 101. Then, the CPU 103 attempts to establish a connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 using the password for connecting to the AP 131 previously connected in S302. Since this processing in S405 is performed when the CPU 103 determines "No" in S402. In the state of executing the processing in S405, the AP selected in S403 is different from the AP 131 previously connected in S302. Specifically, for example, the SSID of the AP selected in S403 is different from the SSID of the AP previously connected in S302. However, in the present embodiment, even if the AP selected in S403 is different from the AP 131 previously connected in S302, the CPU 103 attempts to establish a connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 using the password for connecting to the AP 131 previously connected in S302. This is due to the fact that even in the case where the AP selected in S403 is different from the AP 131 previously connected in S302, the password for connecting to the AP selected in S403 may be the same as the password for connecting to the AP 131 previously connected in S302.

[0093] In S406, the CPU 103 determines whether the connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 has been successfully established as a result of the attempt to establish the connection in S405. In the case where the CPU 103 determines "yes" in S406, the process proceeds to S410. In the case where the CPU 103 determines "no" in S406, the process proceeds to S407.

[0094] In S407, the CPU 103 reestablishes the connection between the communication device 151 and the terminal device 101. The process in S407 may be performed after the process in S408 and the process in S409.

[0095] In S408, the CPU 103 displays a password input screen for receiving input of a password for connecting to the AP selected in S403 from the user. Then, the CPU 103 receives input of a password for connecting to the AP selected in S403 from the user. As the password input screen, for example, a screen such as Figure 5C The input screen 530 shown in FIG. That is, the screen displayed by the terminal device 101 changes from Figure 5B The selection screen 520 shown in is switched to the input screen 530. The input screen 530 includes an input box 531, a check box 532 and a button 533. The input box 531 is an area for receiving the input of a password from the user. The check box 532 is an area for switching between the display of the input password and the display of a blank font such as asterisks that replaces part or all of the password. The button 533 is not allowed to receive the user's press until the user enters the password. Therefore, the button 533 can be grayed out until the user enters the password. In the case where the user presses the button 533 enabled by entering the password, the process proceeds to the processing in S409.

[0096] The process may not proceed to the process in S409 immediately after the process in S408. Specifically, for example, the CPU 103 may disconnect the connection between the communication device 151 and the terminal device 101 after the process in S408. Next, the CPU 103 may attempt to establish a connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 using the password input in S408. Then, the CPU 103 may determine whether the connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 has been successfully established based on the attempt to establish the connection. In the case where the CPU 103 determines that the connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 has been successfully established, the CPU 103 may re-establish the connection between the communication device 151 and the terminal device 101, and the process may proceed to S409. In the case where the CPU 103 determines that the connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 has not been successfully established, an error screen may be displayed, and the process may return to S408. In this mode, the processing in S407 performed before the processing in S408 can be skipped.

[0097] In S409, the CPU 103 specifies the SSID of the AP selected in S403 and the password input by the user in S408 as setting information to be transmitted to the communication device 151 specified in S301. In this case, the CPU 103 may specify other information such as the frequency band and encryption method used by the AP selected in S403. Thereafter, Figure 4 The process shown in the flowchart ends, and Figure 3 The process shown in FIG. 1 proceeds to S305 .

[0098] In S410, the CPU 103 disconnects the connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101, and reestablishes the connection between the communication device 151 and the terminal device 101. The process in S410 may be performed after the process in S411.

[0099] In S411, the CPU 103 specifies the SSID of the AP selected in S403 and the password for connecting to the AP 131 previously connected in S302 as setting information to be transmitted to the communication device 151 specified in S301. Since the connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 has been successfully established using the password for connecting to the AP 131 previously connected in S302, the password for connecting to the AP 131 previously connected in S302 is the password for connecting to the AP selected in S403. In this case, the CPU 103 may specify other information such as the frequency band and encryption method used by the AP selected in S403. Thereafter, Figure 4The process shown in the flowchart ends, and Figure 3 The process shown in FIG. 1 proceeds to S305 .

[0100] In S412, the CPU 103 specifies the SSID of the AP 131 previously connected in S302 and the password for connecting to the AP 131 previously connected in S302 as setting information to be transmitted to the communication device 151 specified in S301. In S412, the CPU 103 may specify other information such as the frequency band and encryption method used by the AP 131 previously connected in S302. The information specified in S412 is information included in the information stored in S302. Thereafter, Figure 4 The process shown in the flowchart ends, and Figure 3 The process shown in FIG. 1 proceeds to S305 .

[0101] In this mode, it is possible to improve the convenience of the user regarding the setting process for the communication device 151. Specifically, for example, in certain cases, setting information to be transmitted to the communication device 151 can be specified without receiving an input of a password from the user.

[0102] The setting information to be transmitted to the communication device 151 includes SSID as information for specifying the AP. The present embodiment is not limited thereto. The information for specifying the AP may be, for example, identification information of the AP selected in S403 and may be information such as an IP address or MAC address of the AP selected in S403.

[0103] As described above, information for specifying the AP selected in S403 is transmitted in S305. However, the present embodiment is not limited thereto. Information for specifying the AP selected in S403 may be transmitted via the connection between the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151 before the CPU 103 attempts to establish a connection in S405. In S305 executed after the attempt to establish a connection in S405 is successful, information for specifying the AP selected in S403 may not be transmitted, and only the password may be transmitted.

[0104] Second embodiment

[0105] In the second embodiment, a mode will be described in which the password to be used for attempting to establish a connection is different from that in the first embodiment.

[0106] In this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, the communication system is similar to the communication system according to the first embodiment. Specifically, for example, Figure 3 In the process shown in , a process similar to that described in the first embodiment is performed in the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the following described Figure 7The process shown in FIG. 1 replaces the process described in the first embodiment. Figure 4 The process shown in .

[0107] Figure 7 1 is a flowchart illustrating network setting of the communication device 151 performed by the terminal device 101. This flowchart is implemented by the CPU 103 reading a program stored in the ROM 104 into the RAM 105 and executing the program. The process shown in this flowchart corresponds to the processing in S304.

[0108] The processing in S701 to S703 is the same as or similar to the processing in S401 to S403 and thus will not be described below.

[0109] In S704 , the CPU 103 attempts to acquire the password of the AP selected in S703 from the wireless profile stored by the OS of the terminal device 101 .

[0110] In S705, the CPU 103 determines whether the CPU 103 has acquired the password of the AP selected in S703 from the wireless profile stored by the OS of the terminal device 101. In the case where the AP selected in S703 and the terminal device 101 were connected to each other in the past and the OS of the terminal device 101 has stored the wireless profile corresponding to the AP selected in S703, the acquisition of the password of the AP selected in S703 is successful. On the other hand, in the case where the AP selected in S703 and the terminal device 101 were not connected to each other in the past, or in the case where the AP selected in S703 and the terminal device 101 were connected to each other in the past but the wireless profile corresponding to the AP selected in S703 has been deleted, the acquisition of the password of the AP selected in S703 fails. In the case where the CPU 103 determines "yes" in S705, the process proceeds to step S706. In the case where the CPU 103 determines "no" in S705, the process proceeds to step S709.

[0111] In S706, the CPU 103 disconnects the connection between the communication device 151 and the terminal device 101. Then, the CPU 103 attempts to establish a connection between the AP selected in S703 and the terminal device 101 using the password acquired in S704.

[0112] The processing in S707 to S711 is the same or similar to the processing in S406 to S410, so it will not be described below. The process may not immediately proceed to the processing in S710 after the processing in S709. This mode is the same or similar to the mode in which the process does not immediately proceed to the processing in S409 after the processing in S408.

[0113] In S712, the CPU 103 specifies the SSID of the AP selected in S703 and the password acquired in S704 as setting information to be transmitted to the communication device 151 specified in S301. In this case, the CPU 103 may specify other information such as the frequency band and encryption method used by the AP selected in S703. After S712, Figure 7 The process shown in the flowchart ends, and Figure 3 The process shown in proceeds to step S305.

[0114] The processing in S713 is the same as or similar to the processing in S412 and thus will not be described below.

[0115] In this mode, setting information can be specified without receiving an input of a password on the setting application and usability is improved.

[0116] Third embodiment

[0117] In the third embodiment, a mode in which the features of the first embodiment and the features of the second embodiment are combined will be described.

[0118] In this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, the communication system is similar to the communication system according to the first embodiment. Specifically, for example, Figure 3 In the process shown in , processing similar to that described in the first embodiment is performed. In this embodiment, the following described Figure 8 The process shown in FIG. 1 replaces the process described in the first embodiment. Figure 4 The process shown in .

[0119] The processing in steps S801 to S804 is the same as or similar to the processing in S701 to S704 and will not be described.

[0120] In S805, the CPU 103 determines whether the CPU 103 has acquired the password of the AP selected in S803 from the wireless profile stored by the OS of the terminal device 101 in a manner similar to the processing in S705. In the case where the CPU 103 determines "Yes" in S805, the process proceeds to S806. In the case where the CPU 103 determines "No" in S805, the process proceeds to S808.

[0121] The processing in S806 is the same as or similar to the processing in S706 and will not be described below.

[0122] In S807, the CPU 103 determines whether the connection between the AP selected in S803 and the terminal device 101 has been successfully established as a result of the attempt to establish the connection in S806. In the case where the CPU 103 determines "yes" in S807, the process proceeds to S815. In the case where the CPU 103 determines "no" in S807, the process proceeds to S808.

[0123] The processing in S808 to S810 is the same as or similar to the processing in S404 to S406 and will not be described below.

[0124] In S811, the CPU 103 determines whether an attempt to establish a connection has been made in S806. In the case where an attempt to establish a connection has been made in S806, the connection between the communication device 151 and the terminal device 101 has not yet been established. In this determination, the CPU 103 can determine whether the connection between the communication device 151 and the terminal device 101 has not yet been established. In the case where the CPU 103 determines "yes" in S811, the process proceeds to S812. In the case where the CPU 103 determines "no" in S811, the process proceeds to S813.

[0125] The processing in S812 to S815 is the same or similar to the processing in S407 to S410 and will not be described below. The process may not proceed to the processing in S814 immediately after the processing in S813. This mode is the same or similar to the mode in which the process does not proceed to the processing in S409 immediately after the processing in S408.

[0126] In S816, the CPU 103 specifies the SSID of the AP selected in S803 as the setting information to be transmitted to the communication device 151 specified in S301. Next, in the case where the attempt to establish a connection has succeeded in S806, the CPU 103 specifies the password acquired in S804 as the setting information to be transmitted to the communication device 151 specified in S301. Then, in the case where the attempt to establish a connection has succeeded in S809, the CPU 103 specifies the password for connecting to the AP 131 previously connected in S302 as the setting information to be transmitted to the communication device 151 specified in S301.

[0127] The processing in S817 is the same as or similar to the processing in S412 and will not be described below.

[0128] In the above-described mode, setting information can be specified without receiving an input of a password on a setting application and usability is improved.

[0129] Other embodiments

[0130] In the above description, in the first setting, the terminal device 101 transmits the setting information to the communication device 151 using the wireless communication unit 109 (ie, using Wi-Fi). However, the terminal device 101 is not limited thereto. The terminal device 101 may transmit the setting information to the communication device 151 using the short-range wireless communication unit 110. That is, the setting information may be transmitted via a wireless connection between the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151 through BLE, Bluetooth, etc. In this mode, it is not necessary to disconnect the Wi-Fi connection between the terminal device 101 and the AP in S303 and to re-establish the Wi-Fi connection between the terminal device 101 and the AP in S306. That is, when the Wi-Fi connection between the terminal device 101 and the AP is maintained, the terminal device 101 may transmit the setting information to the communication device 151 using the short-range wireless communication unit 110. In this mode, it is not necessary to disconnect the connection between the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151 in S405 and to re-establish the connection between the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151 in S407 and S408. That is, while a wireless connection between the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151 through BLE, Bluetooth, or the like is maintained, an attempt to establish a connection between the terminal device 101 and the AP may be made.

[0131] In the above description, in the case where the CPU 103 determines "No" in S404, the process immediately proceeds to S408. The CPU 103 is not limited to this. For example, in the case where the CPU 103 determines "No" in S404, the CPU 103 may determine whether the wireless profile corresponding to the AP selected in S403 has been stored by the OS of the terminal device 101. In the case where the CPU 103 determines that the wireless profile corresponding to the AP selected in S403 has been stored by the OS of the terminal device 101, the CPU 103 may obtain a password for connecting to the AP selected in S403 from the wireless profile corresponding to the AP selected in S403. Next, the CPU 103 may disconnect the connection between the communication device 151 and the terminal device 101, and attempt to establish a connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 using the password obtained from the wireless profile in the above manner. Then, the CPU 103 determines whether the connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 has been successfully established as a result of the attempt to establish the connection. In the case where the CPU 103 determines that the connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 has been successfully established, the process can proceed to S410. In the case where the CPU 103 determines that the connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 has not been successfully established, the process can proceed to S407. In this mode, before S404, the CPU 101 can determine whether the wireless profile corresponding to the AP selected in S403 has been stored by the OS of the terminal device 101.

[0132] In the above description, in the case where the result of the determination in S406 is "No", the process immediately proceeds to S407. However, the CPU 103 is not limited thereto. For example, in the case where the result of the determination in S406 is "No", the CPU 103 may determine whether the wireless profile corresponding to the AP selected in S403 has been stored by the OS of the terminal device 101. The wireless profile corresponding to the AP selected in S403 is a wireless profile stored by the OS based on the connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 in the case where the connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 was established in the past. That is, the determination as to whether the wireless profile corresponding to the AP selected in S403 has been stored by the OS of the terminal device 101 corresponds to the determination as to whether the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 were connected to each other in the past. In the case where the CPU 103 determines that the wireless profile corresponding to the AP selected in S403 has been stored by the OS of the terminal device 101, the CPU 103 may obtain a password for connecting to the AP selected in S403 from the wireless profile corresponding to the AP selected in S403. Next, the CPU 103 may attempt to establish a connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 using the password obtained from the wireless profile in the above manner. Then, the CPU 103 may determine whether the connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 has been successfully established. In the case where the CPU 103 determines that the connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 has been successfully established, the process may proceed to S410. In the case where the CPU 103 determines that the connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 has not been successfully established, the process may proceed to S407. In this mode, before S404 , the CPU 103 may determine whether a wireless profile corresponding to the AP selected in S403 has been stored by the OS of the terminal device 101 .

[0133] In addition, in the case where a password is input in S408, the CPU 103 may attempt to establish a connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 using the password input in S408. Next, the CPU 103 may determine whether the connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 has been successfully established as a result of attempting to establish the connection. Then, in the case where the CPU 103 determines that the connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 has been successfully established, the process may proceed to S409. In the case where the CPU 103 determines that the connection between the AP selected in S403 and the terminal device 101 has not been successfully established, the process may proceed to S408.

[0134] In the case where the wireless LAN router enables multiple APs that use different frequency bands, different APs may use the same password. Therefore, after selecting an AP in S403, the CPU 103 may determine whether the frequency band used by the AP selected in S403 is different from the frequency band used by the AP 131 previously connected in S302. In the case where the CPU 103 determines that the frequency band used by the AP selected in S403 is different from the frequency band used by the AP 131 previously connected in S302, the process may proceed to S404 or S405. In the case where the CPU 103 determines that the frequency band used by the AP selected in S403 is the same as the frequency band used by the AP 131 previously connected in S302, the process may proceed to S408.

[0135] In the above description, the process proceeds to the process in S406 immediately after the process in S405. However, the process is not limited thereto. For example, after the process in S405, the CPU 103 may display a screen for checking whether an attempt to establish a connection using the password of the AP 131 previously connected in S302 is permitted. In the case where the CPU 103 receives an input indicating that an attempt to establish a connection using the password of the AP 131 previously connected in S302 is to be made, the process may proceed to S406. In the case where the CPU 103 receives an input indicating that an attempt to establish a connection using the password of the AP 131 previously connected in S302 will not be made, the process may proceed to S408.

[0136] The purpose of various embodiments of the present disclosure can be achieved by supplying a storage medium (storing the program code of the software) for realizing the above-mentioned example functions to a system or device and a computer (or CPU or MPU, for example) of the system or device reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In such a case, the program code read from the storage medium realizes the above-mentioned functions when executed, and the storage medium storing the program code is included in the scope of the present disclosure.

[0137] As a storage medium for supplying program codes, for example, 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, etc. can be used.

[0138] The computer reads and executes the program code to implement not only the functions described in the above description of the embodiment but also executes some or all of processes executed by an operating system (OS) or the like on the computer to implement the above functions through these processes.

[0139] Embodiments of the present invention may also be implemented by reading 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 one or more of the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments and / or a computer of a system or device including one or more circuits (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing one or more of the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments, and by a computer of the system or device, for example, reading and executing computer executable instructions from a storage medium to perform one or more of the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments and / or controlling one or more circuits to perform one or more of the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments. The computer may include one or more processors (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessing unit (MPU)), and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read 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 ), one or more of flash memory devices, memory cards, etc.

[0140] 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.

[0141] While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising a predetermined application program and causing a computer of an information processing device capable of communicating with a communication device to execute: acquiring, by the predetermined application, a predetermined password from a predetermined wireless profile managed by an operating system (OS) of the information processing device and corresponding to a first access point; executing a first attempt process by the predetermined application, the first attempt process being a process of attempting establishment of a connection between a second access point different from the first access point and the information processing device using the predetermined password acquired from the predetermined wireless profile; as well as The predetermined password acquired from the predetermined wireless profile and information for specifying the second access point are transmitted to the communication device based on success of establishment of connection between the second access point and the information processing device by the predetermined application program.

2. The computer program product according to claim 1, further causing the computer to execute a predetermined operation of receiving a predetermined screen displayed by the predetermined application from a user, wherein The first access point is an access point to which the information processing apparatus connects when the predetermined operation is received.

3. The computer program product according to claim 2, further causing the computer to execute: displaying a list of one or more access points; and receiving a selection from a user of any one of the one or more access points from the list, wherein The second access point is an access point selected by a user from the list.

4. The computer program product according to claim 3, wherein the list being a list of the one or more access points found in a search performed by the communication device, in a case where the list does not include the first access point, the predetermined password acquired from the predetermined wireless profile and information for specifying the second access point are transmitted to the communication device based on success of the first attempt process in establishing a connection between the second access point and the information processing device, and In a case where the list includes the first access point, the predetermined password acquired from the predetermined wireless profile and information for specifying the first access point are transmitted to the communication device without performing the first trial process.

5. The computer program product according to claim 4, further causing the computer to execute: Disconnecting the connection between the first access point and the information processing device; After the connection between the first access point and the information processing device is disconnected, establishing a connection between the communication device and the information processing device; and After the list is acquired via the connection between the communication device and the information processing device, the connection between the communication device and the information processing device is disconnected, wherein The first trial process is performed after the connection between the communication device and the information processing device is disconnected.

6. The computer program product according to claim 1, further causing the computer to execute a process of receiving, from a user, an input of a password for connecting to the second access point based on the failure of the first attempt to process the establishment of the connection between the second access point and the information processing device by the predetermined application program, wherein The password for connecting to the second access point input in the predetermined application and information for specifying the second access point are transmitted to the communication device based on receiving input of the password for connecting to the second access point from a user through the predetermined application.

7. The computer program product according to claim 6, further causing the computer to execute a second attempt process is performed based on receiving an input of a password for connecting to the second access point from a user through the predetermined application, the second attempt process being a process of attempting establishment of a connection between the second access point and the information processing apparatus using the password for connecting to the second access point input in the predetermined application, wherein The password for connecting to the second access point and information for specifying the second access point input in the predetermined application are transmitted to the communication device based on success of establishment of connection between the second access point and the information processing device by the second trial process.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein In a case where the second attempt process fails in establishing a connection between the second access point and the information processing apparatus, a process of receiving input of a password for connecting to the second access point from the user again through the predetermined application is performed.

9. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the first trial processing is performed based on the predetermined password acquired from the predetermined wireless profile and satisfying a condition regarding a character string permitted as a password of an encryption method used by the second access point, a process of receiving an input of a password for connecting to the second access point from a user through the predetermined application is performed based on the predetermined password that is acquired from the predetermined wireless profile and does not satisfy a condition regarding a character string permitted as a password for an encryption method used by the second access point, without performing the first trial process, and The password for connecting to the second access point input in the predetermined application and information for specifying the second access point are transmitted to the communication device based on receiving input of the password for connecting to the second access point from a user through the predetermined application.

10. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the first trial processing is performed based on the predetermined password acquired from the predetermined wireless profile and satisfying a condition regarding a character string permitted as a password of an encryption method used by the second access point, The process of acquiring a second password from a second wireless profile managed by the OS of the information processing device and corresponding to the second access point is performed based on the predetermined password acquired from the predetermined wireless profile and not satisfying a condition regarding a character string permitted as a password of an encryption method used by the second access point, A third attempt process is performed using the second password acquired from the second wireless profile, the third attempt process being a process of attempting establishment of a connection between the second access point and the information processing device, and The predetermined password acquired from the predetermined wireless profile and information for specifying the second access point are transmitted to the communication device based on success of establishment of a connection between the second access point and the information processing device by the third attempt process.

11. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein The first attempt process is performed based on a match between an encryption method used by the first access point and an encryption method used by the second access point, a process of receiving an input of a password for connecting to the second access point from a user through the predetermined application is performed without performing the first attempt process based on a mismatch between an encryption method used by the first access point and an encryption method used by the second access point, and The password for connecting to the second access point input in the predetermined application and information for specifying the second access point are transmitted to the communication device based on receiving input of the password for connecting to the second access point from a user through the predetermined application.

12. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein The first attempt process is performed based on a match between an encryption method used by the first access point and an encryption method used by the second access point, The process of acquiring a second password from a second wireless profile managed by the OS of the information processing device and corresponding to the second access point is performed based on a mismatch between an encryption method used by the first access point and an encryption method used by the second access point, A third attempt process is performed using the second password acquired from the second wireless profile, the third attempt process being a process of attempting establishment of a connection between the second access point and the information processing device, and The predetermined password acquired from the predetermined wireless profile and information for specifying the second access point are transmitted to the communication device based on success of establishment of a connection between the second access point and the information processing device by the third attempt process.

13. The computer program product of claim 1 , further causing the computer to execute: After the first attempt process successfully establishes the connection between the second access point and the information processing device, disconnecting the connection between the second access point and the information processing device; and After the connection between the second access point and the information processing device is disconnected, a connection between the communication device and the information processing device is established.

14. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein The predetermined password acquired from the predetermined wireless profile and information for specifying the second access point different from the first access point are transmitted to the communication device through Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

15. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein The predetermined password acquired from the predetermined wireless profile and information for specifying the second access point different from the first access point are transmitted to the communication device through Bluetooth (registered trademark).

16. The computer program product of claim 1, further causing the computer to execute At least one of a print job for causing the communication device to execute printing and a scan job for causing the communication device to execute scanning is transmitted.

17. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein The information for specifying the second access point is a service set identifier (SSID) of the second access point.

18. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein A frequency band used by the first access point is different from a frequency band used by the second access point.

19. A method for controlling an information processing device, the information processing device including a predetermined application and capable of communicating with a communication device, the method comprising: acquiring, by the predetermined application, a predetermined password from a predetermined wireless profile managed by an operating system (OS) of the information processing device and corresponding to a first access point; executing a first attempt process by the predetermined application, the first attempt process being a process of attempting establishment of a connection between a second access point different from the first access point and the information processing device using the predetermined password acquired from the predetermined wireless profile; as well as The predetermined password acquired from the predetermined wireless profile and information for specifying the second access point are transmitted to the communication device based on success of establishment of connection between the second access point and the information processing device by the predetermined application program.

20. An information processing device, comprising a predetermined application program and capable of communicating with a communication device, the information processing device comprising: an acquisition unit, the acquisition unit acquiring a predetermined password from a predetermined wireless profile through the predetermined application, the predetermined wireless profile being managed by an operating system (OS) of the information processing device and corresponding to a first access point; an attempting unit that performs a first attempting process through the predetermined application program, the first attempting process being a process of attempting establishment of a connection between a second access point different from the first access point and the information processing device using the predetermined password acquired from the predetermined wireless profile; as well as a transmitting unit that transmits the predetermined password acquired from the predetermined wireless profile and information for specifying the second access point to the communication device based on the success of the first attempt process in establishing the connection between the second access point and the information processing device through the predetermined application.

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