Communication Equipment

Abstract

To solve the problem in which: due to the recent increasing cases of using radio communication, there is a demand for improving the convenience of radio communication.SOLUTION: When an image forming apparatus operates in a state where it can acquire, from an external device, frequency information available in radio communication in the 6 GHz band, it displays a setting screen including options corresponding to 6 GHz as options for frequency bands that can be used in operating as a key station.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique that enables an image forming apparatus to perform wireless communication in infrastructure mode and wireless communication in ad-hoc mode in parallel via an access point. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-19487 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, wireless communication has come to be used in a variety of cases, and there is a demand for more convenient wireless communication. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problem, a communication device capable of performing a first wireless communication via an external access point and a second wireless communication not via the external access point, wherein, when the communication device is operating in a state in which it is able to acquire frequency information available for 6 GHz band wireless communication from an external device, the communication device displays a first setting screen including an option corresponding to the 6 GHz band as an option of a frequency band available for the communication device to operate as a master station in the second wireless communication, and when the communication device is not operating in a state in which it is able to acquire frequency information available for 6 GHz band wireless communication from an external device, the communication device displays a second setting screen in which selection of the 6 GHz band is limited as an option of a frequency band available for the communication device to operate as a master station in the second wireless communication; identification means for identifying a communication channel of the 6 GHz band based on frequency information received from the external device when the option corresponding to the 6 GHz band is selected on the first setting screen; and wireless communication control means for operating as a master station in the second wireless communication using the identified channel, wherein the device operating as a master station in the second wireless communication determines the communication channel to be used in the second wireless communication. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a more efficient wireless communication technique. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1A is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a mobile terminal, and FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flowchart executed in the communication device. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the communication device. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flowchart executed in the communication device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment is merely an example, and specific examples of components, processing steps, display screens, etc. are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified.

[0009] (System Configuration) FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a system according to this embodiment. In one example, this system is a wireless communication system in which a plurality of communication devices can wirelessly communicate with each other. In the example of FIG. 1, it includes an access point (AP) 131, an MFP 151, and a mobile terminal 101. The mobile terminal 101 is an example of the mobile terminal 101, and is a notebook computer or a smartphone. In addition, this system includes an Automated Frequency Cordinaion (AFC) system 100. The MFP 151 can communicate with the AFC 100 via the AP 131. In addition, the MFP 151 in this embodiment is capable of wireless communication using at least 6 GHz, and operates as a Standard Power Device. Standard Power Devices have looser restrictions on transmission power compared to Very Low Power Devices and Low Power Indoor-Only Devices. On the other hand, a device operating as a Standard Power Device inquires of the AFC system 100 about a frequency range or channel available for wireless communication at 6 GHz, and determines a frequency range or channel to be used at 6 GHz by receiving the response.

[0010] The MFP 151 has a printing function, a reading function (scanner), a FAX function, and the like. Moreover, the MFP 151 of this embodiment has a communication function capable of wireless communication with the 101. Moreover, in this embodiment, a case where the MFP 151 is used will be described as an example, but is not limited to this. For example, a facsimile device, a scanner device, a projector, or a single-function printing device may be used instead of the MFP 151. MFP is an abbreviation for Multi Function Peripheral. Note that in this embodiment, a device having a printing function may also be called an image forming device.

[0011] The access point 131 is provided separately (externally) from the mobile terminal 101 and the MFP 151, and operates as a base station device of a wireless LAN (WLAN). The access point 131 may also be referred to as an external access point 131 or an external wireless base station (or an external parent station). The MFP 151 having a WLAN communication function can communicate in infrastructure mode of the WLAN via the access point 131. In the following, the access point may be referred to as an "AP." Furthermore, the infrastructure mode may be referred to as a "wireless infrastructure mode" or an "infrastructure mode."

[0012] The infrastructure mode is a mode in which the MFP 151 communicates with other devices via an external device (e.g., the access point 131) that forms a network. A connection with an external access point established by the MFP 151 operating in the infrastructure mode is called an infrastructure connection (hereinafter, infrastructure connection). In this embodiment, in the infrastructure connection, the MFP 151 operates as a slave station, and the external access point operates as a master station. Note that in this embodiment, the master station is a device that determines a communication channel to be used in the network to which the master station belongs, and the slave station is a device that does not determine a communication channel to be used in the network to which the slave station belongs, but uses the communication channel determined by the master station.

[0013] The access point 131 performs wireless communication with a communication device that has been authorized to connect to the access point 131 (has been authenticated), and relays wireless communication between the communication device and other communication devices. The access point 131 may also be connected to, for example, a wired communication network, and may relay communication between a communication device connected to the wired communication network and another communication device wirelessly connected to the access point 131.

[0014] The mobile terminal 101 and the MFP 151 can use their respective WLAN communication functions to perform wireless communication in a wireless infrastructure mode via an external access point 131, or in a peer-to-peer mode not via the external access point 131. In the following, peer-to-peer is referred to as "P2P." Alternatively, communication not via the external access point 131 may be referred to as direct wireless communication. The P2P mode includes Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark) and soft AP mode. In the following, Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark) may be referred to as WFD. The P2P mode can also be said to be communication compliant with the IEEE802.11 series.

[0015] The P2P mode is a mode in which the MFP 151 communicates directly with other devices such as the mobile terminal 101 without going through an external device that forms a network. In this embodiment, the P2P mode includes an AP mode in which the MFP 151 operates as an access point. The connection information (SSID and password) of the access point that is enabled in the MFP 151 in the AP mode can be arbitrarily set by the user. The P2P mode may include, for example, a WFD mode in which the MFP 151 communicates by Wi-Fi Direct (WFD). Which of a plurality of WFD-compatible devices operates as a parent station is determined, for example, according to a sequence called Group Owner Negotiation. The parent station may be determined without executing Group Owner Negotiation. A device that is a WFD-compatible device and plays the role of a parent station is particularly called a Group Owner. A direct connection with another device established by the MFP 151 operating in the P2P mode is called a direct connection. In this embodiment, in a direct connection, the MFP 151 operates as a parent station, and another device (such as the mobile terminal 101) operates as a child station.

[0016] As described above, the AFC system 100 responds to an inquiry from a device (inquired Frequency Range or inquired Channels) by providing available frequency ranges and channels.

[0017] Next, the configuration of the mobile terminal of this embodiment and the communication device capable of communicating with the mobile terminal of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. In addition, the following configuration will be described as an example in this embodiment, but this embodiment is applicable to devices capable of communicating with the communication device, and the functions are not particularly limited to those shown in this figure.

[0018] The mobile terminal 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 keyboard 109, a communication unit 110, a short-range wireless communication unit 111, a network interface 112, and a USB interface 113. The CPU 103, the ROM 104, the RAM 105, etc. form a computer of the mobile terminal 101.

[0019] The input interface 102 is an interface for receiving data input and operation instructions from a user by operating an operation unit such as a keyboard 109. The operation unit may be a physical keyboard, physical buttons, etc., or may be a soft keyboard, soft buttons, etc. displayed on the display unit 108. In other words, the input interface 102 may receive an input (operation) from the user via the display unit 108.

[0020] The CPU 103 is a system control unit, and controls the entire mobile terminal 101. The ROM 104 stores fixed data such as control programs and data tables executed by the CPU 103, and an embedded operating system (hereinafter, referred to as OS) program. In this embodiment, each control program stored in the ROM 104 performs software execution control such as scheduling, task switching, and interrupt processing under the management of the embedded OS stored in the ROM 104.

[0021] The RAM 105 is composed of a static random access memory (SRAM) that requires a backup power source. Since the RAM 105 holds data using a primary battery (not shown) for data backup, it can store important data such as program control variables without volatilizing the data. The RAM 105 also has a memory area for storing setting information for the mobile terminal 101, management data for the mobile terminal 101, and the like. The RAM 105 is also used as the main memory and work memory for the CPU 103.

[0022] The external storage device 106 stores, for example, a print information generation program for generating print information that can be interpreted by the printer 115. The output interface 107 is an interface that controls the display unit 108 to display data and notify the status of the mobile terminal 101.

[0023] Display unit 108 is composed of an LED (light emitting diode) and an LCD (liquid crystal display), and displays data and notifies the state of mobile terminal 101. Communication unit 110 is configured to connect to devices such as MFP 151 and access point (AP) 131 to execute data communication. For example, communication unit 110 can connect to an access point (not shown) in MFP 151. By connecting communication unit 110 to the access point in MFP 151, P2P communication is possible between mobile terminal 101 and MFP 151. Note that communication unit 110 may directly communicate with MFP 151 by wireless communication, or may communicate via an AP 131 device that exists outside mobile terminal 101 or MFP 151. Note that the external device includes an external access point (access point 131, etc.) that exists outside mobile terminal 101 and outside MFP 151, and a device that can relay communication other than an access point. In this embodiment, the wireless communication method used by the communication unit 110 is Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) (registered trademark), which is a communication standard conforming to the IEEE802.11 series. In addition, the access point 131 may be, for example, a device such as a wireless LAN router.

[0024] The short-range wireless communication unit 111 is configured to wirelessly connect to a device such as the MFP 151 at a short distance and execute data communication, and communicates by a communication method different from that of the communication unit 110. The short-range wireless communication unit 111 is connectable to, for example, a short-range wireless communication unit 157 in the MFP 151. Examples of the communication method include Near Field Communication (NFC), Bluetooth (registered trademark) Classic, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and Wi-Fi Aware.

[0025] The network interface 112 is a connection I / F that controls wireless communication and communication processing via a wired LAN cable.

[0026] The USB interface 113 is a connection I / F that controls a USB connection via a USB cable. Specifically, the USB interface 113 is an interface for connecting to devices such as the MFP 151 and the external access point 131 via USB and executing data communication.

[0027] Next, a description will be given of the MFP 151. The MFP 151 has a ROM 152, a RAM 153, a CPU 154, a print engine 155, a communication unit 156, a short-range wireless communication unit 157, an input interface 158, an operation unit 159, an output interface 160, a display unit 161, a network interface 162, a USB interface 163, etc. The ROM 152, the RAM 153, the CPU 154, etc. form a computer of the MFP 151.

[0028] The communication unit 156 controls communication processing using each interface. For example, the MFP 151 can operate in an infrastructure mode and a P2P (Peer to Peer) mode as modes for performing communication using the communication unit 156.

[0029] Specifically, the communication unit 156 can operate as an access point inside the MFP 151. For example, the user instructs to enable the internal access point, so that the MFP 151 operates as an access point. In this embodiment, the wireless communication method used by the communication unit 156 is a communication standard conforming to the IEEE802.11 series. In addition, in this embodiment, the wireless communication method used by the communication unit 156 is a communication standard conforming to at least the IEEE802.11ax. In the following description, Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) (registered trademark) (Wi-Fi communication) is a communication standard conforming to the IEEE802.11 series. In addition, the communication unit 156 may include hardware that functions as an access point, or may operate as an access point by software for functioning as an access point. In addition, when the communication unit 156 operates as a parent station, the communication unit 156 can maintain P2P wireless connections with a predetermined number or less (for example, three or less) of child station devices in parallel. The communication unit 156 can perform wireless communication using a frequency band selected from 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz.

[0030] The short-range wireless communication unit 157 is a component for wirelessly connecting to a device such as the mobile terminal 101 at a short distance, and can be connected to, for example, the short-range wireless communication unit 111 in the mobile terminal 101. Examples of communication methods include NFC, Bluetooth Classic, BLE, and Wi-Fi Aware.

[0031] The RAM 153 is composed of an SRAM or the like that requires a backup power source. Since the RAM 153 holds data using a primary battery for data backup (not shown), important data such as program control variables can be stored without volatilization. The RAM 153 also has a memory area for storing setting information for the MFP 151, management data for the MFP 151, and the like. The RAM 153 is also used as the main memory and work memory for the CPU 154, and stores a reception buffer for temporarily storing print information received from the mobile terminal 101 or the like, and various other information.

[0032] The ROM 152 stores fixed data such as control programs, data tables, and OS programs executed by the CPU 154. In this embodiment, each 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.

[0033] The CPU 154 is a system control unit, and controls the entire MFP 151 .

[0034] The print engine 155 executes a print process for forming an image on a recording medium such as paper by applying a recording agent such as ink on the recording medium based on information stored in the RAM 153 or a print job received from the mobile terminal 101 or the like, and outputs the print result. In general, the amount of data of a print job transmitted from the mobile terminal 101 or the like is large, so that a communication method capable of high-speed communication is required for communication of the print job. Therefore, the MFP 151 receives the print job via the communication unit 156 capable of communication at a higher speed than the short-range wireless communication unit 157. Note that printing using ink is an example, and printing may be performed by an electrophotographic method using toner. In addition, as for the ink, the MFP may be a cartridge type MFP in which a cartridge is attached, or may be a type MFP in which ink is refilled from an ink bottle into the ink tank of the MFP.

[0035] Note that MFP 151 may be equipped with a memory such as an external HDD or an SD card as an optional device, and information stored in MFP 151 may be stored in the memory.

[0036] The input interface 158 is an interface for accepting data input and operation instructions from a user by operating an operation unit 159 such as a physical button. The operation unit may be a soft keyboard, soft buttons, or the like displayed on the display unit 161. That is, the input interface 158 may accept an input from the user via the display unit 161.

[0037] The output interface 160 is an interface that controls the display unit 161 to display data and to notify the status of the MFP 151 .

[0038] Display unit 161 is configured with an LED (light emitting diode), an LCD (liquid crystal display), and the like, and displays data and notifies the status of MFP 151.

[0039] The USB interface 163 is an interface that controls a USB connection via a USB cable. Specifically, the USB interface 163 is an interface that connects to the MFP 151, an external access point, or other device via USB to perform data communication.

[0040] Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining a flowchart of this embodiment executed in the MFP 151. The flowchart of this embodiment is realized by the CPU 154 reading out a program related to the processing of the flowchart from the ROM 152 and executing it. Note that the flowchart of Fig. 3 is started when a frequency band setting 401 is selected by the user on a setting screen 400 shown in Fig. 4(a).

[0041] The CPU 154 determines whether or not communication with the AFC system 100 is possible (S301). S301 may be realized, for example, by determining whether an infrastructure mode is enabled, or by determining whether or not an infrastructure connection is established. Alternatively, S301 may be realized by the MFP 151 determining whether or not communication with the AFC system 100 is possible.

[0042] If the result of S301 is Yes, the CPU 154 displays a setting screen including the option of 6 GHz (S302), and if the result of S301 is No, the CPU 154 displays a setting screen not including the option of 6 GHz (S303). For example, the setting screen 402 of FIG. 4(b) is displayed in S302, and the setting screen 403 of FIG. 4(c) is displayed in S303. Note that, although the screen in FIG. 4(c) shows that the option of 6 GHz has disappeared, it is sufficient that a screen in which the option of 6 GHz is not selectable by the user is displayed, and for example, a screen in which the option of 6 GHz is grayed out may be displayed. Furthermore, if the result of S301 is No, the CPU 154 may display a screen as shown in FIG. 4(b), and when the option of 6 GHz is selected, a message indicating that the option cannot be selected may be displayed.

[0043] The CPU 154 activates the internal access point in the frequency band selected on the setting screen 402 or the setting screen 403, and operates as a master station (S304).

[0044] Here, the detailed process of S304 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0045] The CPU 154 determines the frequency band selected on the screen of FIG. 4(b) or FIG. 4(c) (S501).

[0046] If the CPU 154 determines that the 2.4 GHz option has been selected, the CPU 154 selects the 2.4 GHz channel and operates as a master station (S502). At this time, the same channel as that used in infrastructure communication may be selected, or a channel different from that used in infrastructure communication may be selected.

[0047] If the CPU 154 determines that the 5 GHz option has been selected, the CPU 154 selects a non-DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) channel from among the channels in the 5 GHz band and operates as a master station (S502). Note that the non-DFS band channel corresponds to a W52 channel. Note that the reason for selecting a non-DFS band channel is that the MFP 151 does not have a DFS function.

[0048] If the CPU 154 determines that the 6 GHz option has been selected, the CPU 154 inquires of the AFC system 100 about available channels (S504). At this time, the CPU 154 inquires of the AFC system 100 about channels available for 80 MHz in UNII-5, for example. Upon receiving this inquiry, the AFC system 100 replies with channels available for 80 MHz communication within UNII-5 (5925 MHz to 6425 MHz).

[0049] The CPU 154 operates as a master station using the available channel received from the AFC system 100 (S505). If multiple channels are received as available channels in S505, the CPU 154 may select a channel based on the channel used in the infrastructure communication. For example, the CPU 154 may select a channel different from the channel used in the infrastructure communication.

[0050] The above processing enables direct communication between the MFP 151 operating as a parent station and the terminal device 101, and for example, the MFP 151 may execute a print process based on print data received from the terminal device 101. The MFP 151 may also use this direct communication to transmit the remaining amount of a consumable to the terminal device 101. The remaining amount of a consumable corresponds to, for example, the remaining amount of ink or toner.

[0051] In the above embodiment, the MFP 151 has been described as an example, but the present invention may be implemented by other devices. For example, a digital camera, a single function printer, a single function scanner, a projector, a smartphone, or other device may execute the process of the above embodiment.

[0052] The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions.

[0053] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configurations and methods.

[0054] (Configuration 1) A communication device capable of performing a first wireless communication via an external access point and a second wireless communication not via the external access point, a display control means for displaying a first setting screen including an option corresponding to the 6 GHz band as an option of a frequency band that can be used when the communication device operates as a master station in the second wireless communication, when the communication device is operating in a state capable of acquiring frequency information that can be used in 6 GHz band wireless communication from an external device, and for displaying a second setting screen in which selection of the 6 GHz band is limited as an option of a frequency band that can be used when the communication device operates as a master station in the second wireless communication, when the communication device is not operating in a state capable of acquiring frequency information that can be used in 6 GHz band wireless communication from an external device; a determination means for determining a communication channel in the 6 GHz band based on frequency information received from the external device when an option corresponding to the 6 GHz band is selected on the first setting screen; a wireless communication control means that operates as a master station in the second wireless communication using the specified channel, A communication device, wherein a master station in the second wireless communication determines a communication channel to be used in the second wireless communication.

[0055] (Configuration 2) The communication device according to configuration 1, characterized in that when multiple available communication channels in the 6 GHz band are identified based on the frequency information, the identification means identifies a communication channel in the 6 GHz band based on the communication channel used in the first wireless communication.

[0056] (Configuration 3) 3. The communication device according to configuration 2, wherein the identifying means identifies a communication channel different from the communication channel used in the first wireless communication.

[0057] (Configuration 4) 4. The communication device according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, further comprising a print control unit that executes a print process on a sheet based on the print data received via the second wireless communication.

[0058] (Configuration 5) 5. The communication device according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, wherein the remaining amount of ink is transmitted to a communication partner device via the second wireless communication.

[0059] (Configuration 6) 6. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, wherein the second setting screen in which the selection of the 6 GHz band is limited is a screen that does not include an option corresponding to the 6 GHz band.

[0060] (Configuration 7) The image forming device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, wherein the second setting screen in which the selection of the 6 GHz band is restricted is a screen in which a predetermined message is displayed when an option corresponding to the 6 GHz band is selected.

[0061] (Configuration 8) The communication device according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, characterized in that the state in which the communication device is capable of acquiring frequency information available for wireless communication in the 6 GHz band from an external device is a state in which the first wireless communication is executable.

[0062] (Configuration 9) The communication device described in any one of configurations 1 to 5, characterized in that the state in which the communication device is capable of acquiring frequency information available for wireless communication in the 6 GHz band from an external device is a state in which the communication device is capable of communicating with the external device, which is an Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) system.

[0063] (Configuration 10) The communication device described in configuration 8, wherein the first wireless communication and the second wireless communication are communications conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series, the first wireless communication is communications in infrastructure mode, and the second wireless communication is communications in peer-to-peer mode.

[0064] (Configuration 11) The communication device described in configuration 9, characterized in that the first wireless communication and the second wireless communication are communications compliant with the IEEE 802.11 series, the first wireless communication is communications in infrastructure mode, and the second wireless communication is communications in peer-to-peer mode. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 151 MFP

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising: When the communication device is operating in a state in which frequency information indicating frequencies available for wireless communication in the 6 GHz band can be acquired from an external system, a first setting screen is displayed on which the 6 GHz band can be set as a frequency band to be used by the communication device; When the communication device is operating in a state in which the frequency information cannot be acquired from the external system, a second setting screen is displayed in which the 6 GHz band cannot be set as the frequency band used by the communication device. A display control means for controlling the display in such a manner as described above; a specifying means for specifying a communication channel in the 6 GHz band based on the frequency information acquired from the external system when the use of the 6 GHz band is set based on an operation on the first setting screen; a control means for controlling wireless communication to be performed using the communication channel identified by the identification means; A communication device comprising: A print control means for controlling the execution of a print process on a sheet of paper based on print data received via wireless communication using the communication channel specified by the specifying means.

2. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

3. The communication device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the remaining amount of ink is transmitted to a communication partner device via wireless communication using the communication channel identified by the identification means.

4. The first setting screen is a screen displaying options for setting the 6 GHz band as the frequency band to be used by the communication device, The second setting screen is a screen that does not display an option for setting the 6 GHz band as the frequency band to be used by the communication device.

2. The communication device according to claim 1 .

5. The first setting screen is a screen on which options for setting the 6 GHz band as the frequency band to be used by the communication device are selectably displayed, The second setting screen is a screen in which an option for setting the 6 GHz band as the frequency band to be used by the communication device is displayed in a non-selectable manner.

2. The communication device according to claim 1 .

6. Based on the selection of an option corresponding to the 6 GHz band displayed on the first setting screen, the 6 GHz band is set as the frequency band to be used by the communication device in wireless communication, Even if an option corresponding to the 6 GHz band displayed on the second setting screen is selected, the 6 GHz band is not set as the frequency band used by the communication device for wireless communication.

2. The communication device according to claim 1 .

7. The communication device described in Claim 1, further characterized in that the second display control means controls the communication device to display a specified notification without setting the 6 GHz band as the frequency band to be used by the communication device for wireless communication in response to the selection of an option corresponding to 6 GHz displayed on the second setting screen.

8. The communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the state in which the frequency information can be acquired from the external system is a state in which the first wireless communication via an external access point can be performed.

9. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the state in which the frequency information can be acquired from the external system is a state in which the communication device can communicate with an Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) system, which is the external system.

10. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication using the communication channel specified by the specifying means is a communication conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series.

11. The communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second display control means controls the second setting screen to be displayed when operating as a Standard Power Device.

12. The communication device of claim 1, characterized in that the communication device is capable of performing a first wireless communication via an external access point and a second wireless communication not via the external access point, and the wireless communication using the communication channel identified by the identification means is the second wireless communication.

13. The communication device described in Claim 12, characterized in that when the frequency information acquired from the external system indicates that multiple communication channels in the 6 GHz band are available, the identification means identifies a communication channel in the 6 GHz band to be used in the second wireless communication based on the communication channel used in the first wireless communication.

14. The communication device according to claim 13 , wherein the specifying unit specifies a communication channel in the 6 GHz band to be used in the second wireless communication, the communication channel being different from the communication channel used in the first wireless communication.

15. The communication device according to claim 12, characterized in that the first wireless communication and the second wireless communication are communications conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series, the first wireless communication is communications in infrastructure mode, and the second wireless communication is communications in peer-to-peer mode.

16. The communication device described in Claim 12, characterized in that the parent station in the second wireless communication determines the communication channel to be used in the second wireless communication.

17. A program for causing at least one computer to function as each of the means of a communication device described in any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing at least one computer to function as each of the means of a communication device described in any one of claims 1 to 16.

19. A method for controlling a communication device, comprising: When the communication device is operating in a state in which frequency information indicating frequencies available for wireless communication in the 6 GHz band can be acquired from an external system, a first setting screen is displayed on which the 6 GHz band can be set as a frequency band to be used by the communication device; When the communication device is operating in a state in which the frequency information cannot be acquired from the external system, a second setting screen is displayed in which the 6 GHz band cannot be set as the frequency band used by the communication device. A display control step for controlling the display so that a specifying step of specifying a communication channel in the 6 GHz band based on the frequency information acquired from the external system when the use of the 6 GHz band is set based on an operation on the first setting screen; a control step of controlling wireless communication to be performed using the communication channel identified in the identification step; 13. A method for controlling a communication device, comprising:

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