Communication device, wireless communication system, communication method, and program

Abstract

To provide a technique advantageous for improving convenience of a communication device.SOLUTION: A communication device according to the present invention can execute wireless communication with another communication device by a communication method conforming to a predetermined communication standard, and includes, as an operation mode, a first mode for performing the wireless communication with the another communication device via a relay device, and a second mode for performing the wireless communication with the another communication device not via the relay device, and the communication device comprises: acquisition means that acquires information on frequency bands used in the first mode and the second mode; and setting means that, when both the first mode and the second mode are performed in a first frequency band, performs settings so that the first mode is performed in a partial frequency bandwidth in the first frequency band, and the second mode is performed in another partial frequency bandwidth in the first frequency band.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to communication devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Some communication devices are capable of performing wireless communication via an access point and wireless communication not via an access point in parallel (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-019487 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As the usage patterns of communication devices become more diverse, there is a general demand for further improvements in the convenience of such devices.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique that is advantageous for improving the convenience of communication devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention relates to a communication device, the communication device comprising: A communication device configured to be capable of wireless communication with another communication device by a communication method conforming to a predetermined communication standard, the communication device including, as an operation mode, a first mode in which wireless communication is performed with the other communication device via a relay device, and a second mode in which wireless communication is performed with the other communication device without the relay device, An acquisition means for acquiring information on frequency bands used in the first mode and the second mode; and a setting means for setting, when both the first mode and the second mode are performed in a first frequency band, such that the first mode is performed in a part of a frequency bandwidth in the first frequency band and the second mode is performed in another part of a frequency bandwidth in the first frequency band. It is characterized by: Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the convenience of a communication device can be improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a mobile terminal and an MFP. [Diagram 3] 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for performing various settings for Wireless Direct Communication. [Figure 4] 11 is a flowchart for changing settings of Wireless Direct Communication. [Diagram 5] 11 is a flowchart for changing settings of Wireless Direct Communication. [Figure 6] 11 is a flowchart showing a process of changing a frequency bandwidth of Wireless Direct communication. [Figure 7] 11 is a flowchart showing a process of changing a frequency bandwidth of Wireless Direct communication. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0010] (System Configuration) 1 shows an example of the configuration of a wireless communication system SY according to an embodiment. The wireless communication system SY is configured so that a plurality of communication devices can communicate with each other wirelessly, and in this embodiment includes an AP (Access Point) 131, an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) 151, and a mobile terminal 101. The mobile terminal 101 is an example of an electronic terminal, and is typically a notebook computer, a smartphone, or the like. The wireless communication system SY may be referred to as a communication system, or simply as a system, or the like.

[0011] The MFP 151 has a printing function, a reading / scanning function, a FAX (facsimile) function, etc. The MFP 151 also has a communication function and is capable of wireless communication with the mobile terminal 101. Note that a facsimile device, a scanner device, a projector, a single function printer, etc. may be used instead of the MFP 151. A device having a printing function may also be expressed as an image forming device.

[0012] The AP 131 is provided independently of the mobile terminal 101 and the MFP 151, and functions as a base station device or a relay device of a WLAN (wireless LAN). The access point 131 may be expressed as an external access point, an external wireless base station, an external master station, or simply a master station.

[0013] The MFP 151 is capable of performing communication in infrastructure mode of a WLAN via the access point 131. The infrastructure mode is a mode in which the MFP 151 communicates with other devices via an external device (here, the AP 131) that forms a network, and may be expressed as a wireless infrastructure mode or the like. A connection with an external AP established by the MFP 151 operating in infrastructure mode may be expressed as an infrastructure connection.

[0014] In the present embodiment, in the infrastructure connection, the MFP 151 operates as a child station, and the external AP 131 operates as a parent station. The parent station forms a network and determines the communication channel to be used in the network, and the child station uses the communication channel determined by the parent station in the network to which the child station belongs.

[0015] The AP 131 can perform wireless communication with a communication device that has been authorized to connect to the AP 131 and has been authenticated, and can relay wireless communication between the communication device and other communication devices. The AP 131 can also be connected to a wired communication network, for example, and can relay communication between a communication device connected to the wired communication network and another communication device that is wirelessly connected to the access point 131.

[0016] Mobile terminal 101 and MFP 151 perform wireless communication in a wireless infrastructure mode via AP 131 or in a P2P (Peer to Peer) mode not via AP 131, using the WLAN communication function of each of them. The P2P mode is a mode in which MFP 151 communicates directly with another device (mobile terminal 101 in this case) without going through an external device that forms a network, and may also be expressed as a wireless direct communication mode, a direct communication mode, or the like. In this embodiment, the P2P mode complies with the IEEE802.11 series and includes WFD (Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark)), soft AP mode, and the like.

[0017] In this embodiment, the P2P mode includes an AP mode in which the MFP 151 operates as an AP. In the AP mode, the connection information (SSID, password, etc.) of the AP enabled in the MFP 151 can be arbitrarily set by the user.

[0018] The P2P mode may further include a WFD mode for the MFP 151 to communicate by WFD, for example. Which of the multiple WFD-compatible devices operates as a master station may be determined based on a predetermined sequence (for example, Group Owner Negotiation), but may be determined by other methods. Note that a device that is a WFD-compatible device and can become a master station may be expressed as a group owner.

[0019] A direct connection with another device established by the MFP 151 operating in the P2P mode can be expressed as a direct connection. In this connection, in this embodiment, the MFP 151 operates as a parent station, and the other device (such as the mobile terminal 101) operates as a child station.

[0020] The communication mode based on the above infrastructure connection is called wireless infrastructure communication, and an operation mode including the connection and communication may be collectively referred to simply as wireless infrastructure. Also, the communication mode based on the above direct connection is called wireless direct communication, and an operation mode including the connection and communication may be collectively referred to simply as wireless direct.

[0021] 2(a) and 2(b) show examples of the configuration of the mobile terminal 101 and the MFP 151, respectively.

[0022] The mobile terminal 101 includes an input interface 102, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 103, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 104, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 105. The mobile terminal 101 also includes 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.

[0023] The input interface 102 accepts operation input (data input, operation instructions, etc.) from the user by operating the keyboard 109 or another operation unit. 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 can also accept operation input from the user via the display unit 108, and may form a touch panel display together with the display unit 108.

[0024] The functions of the mobile terminal 101 can be realized by the CPU 103, ROM 104, RAM 105, etc. functioning as a computer. The CPU 103 operates as a system control unit for operating the entire system of the mobile terminal 101. The ROM 104 stores the control program executed by the CPU 103, data tables, embedded OS (operating system) programs, etc. In this way, software execution control such as scheduling, task switching, and interrupt processing is performed under the management of the embedded OS.

[0025] The RAM 105 is composed of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), etc., and is used as a main memory and a work memory for the CPU 103. The RAM 105 stores, for example, data and variables used for program control. Furthermore, the RAM 105 may be provided with a memory area for storing setting information, management data, etc. of the mobile terminal 101.

[0026] The external storage device 106 stores, for example, a print information generation program for generating print information that can be processed by the printing device. The output interface 107 controls the display unit 108 to display predetermined data and to notify the status of the mobile terminal 101. The display unit 108 can typically use an LED (light emitting diode), LCD (liquid crystal display), or the like.

[0027] Communication unit 110 can connect to devices such as MFP 151 and AP 131 to execute data communication. Communication unit 110 can also connect to the AP of MFP 151, thereby enabling mobile terminal 101 and MFP 151 to execute P2P communication. Communication unit 110 may directly communicate with MFP 151 by wireless communication, or may communicate via AP 131 or an external device. The external device here refers to an external AP (here, AP 131) outside mobile terminal 101 and MFP 151, as well as a device other than an AP that can relay communication.

[0028] In this embodiment, the wireless communication method used by the communication unit 110 is Wi-Fi (registered trademark) that complies with the IEEE802.11 series. The AP 131 may be a known device such as a wireless LAN router.

[0029] The short-range wireless communication unit 111 is capable of wirelessly connecting to an external device such as the MFP 151 at a relatively short distance to perform data communication, and performs communication using a communication method different from that of the communication unit 110. The short-range wireless communication unit 111 is capable of connecting to, for example, the short-range wireless communication unit 157 of the MFP 151. Examples of the communication method include Near Field Communication (NFC), Bluetooth (registered trademark), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and Wi-Fi Aware.

[0030] The network interface 112 is a connection interface for controlling wireless communication and communication via a wired LAN cable.

[0031] The USB interface 113 is a connection interface for controlling communication via a USB cable, which enables data communication when connected to an external device such as the MFP 151 or the external AP 131 using a USB cable.

[0032] The MFP 151 includes a ROM 152, a RAM 153, a CPU 154, a print engine 155, a communication unit 156, and a short-range wireless communication unit 157. The MFP 151 further includes an input interface 158, an operation unit 159, an output interface 160, a display unit 161, a network interface 162, and a USB interface 163.

[0033] The functions of the MFP 151 can be realized by the ROM 152, RAM 153, CPU 154, etc. functioning as a computer, similar to the mobile terminal 101. That is, the RAM 153 is composed of DRAM, SRAM, etc., similar to the RAM 105, and the ROM 152 stores the control program executed by the CPU 154, data tables, OS programs, etc., similar to the ROM 104.

[0034] The communication unit 156 controls communication processing using each interface. For example, the MFP 151 includes an infrastructure mode and a P2P mode as modes in which communication can be performed using the communication unit 156. For example, the communication unit 156 can operate as an AP in the MFP 151, and the MFP 151 operates as an AP when the user instructs to enable the AP. The wireless communication method used by the communication unit 156 complies with the IEEE802.11 series. The communication unit 156 may include hardware that functions as an AP, or may operate as an AP by software. When the communication unit 156 operates as a parent station, it can simultaneously maintain P2P wireless connections with a predetermined number of child stations (for example, three), and can perform wireless communication using a frequency band selected from, for example, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz.

[0035] Similar to short-range wireless communication unit 111, short-range wireless communication unit 157 is configured to establish a short-range wireless connection with a device such as mobile terminal 101, and is connectable to short-range wireless communication unit 111 in mobile terminal 101, for example.

[0036] The print engine 155 executes a printing process to form an image by applying a recording material such as ink or a liquid to a recording medium such as paper, based on the information stored in the RAM 153 and the print job received from the mobile terminal 101, and outputs the result.

[0037] Here, since a print job transmitted from the mobile terminal 101 or the like may generally include a relatively large amount of data, a relatively high-speed communication method may be required for communication of the print job. Therefore, the MFP 151 may receive the print job via the communication unit 156 that is capable of communication at a higher speed than the short-range wireless communication unit 157.

[0038] Although the embodiment in which printing is performed using ink has been exemplified here, printing may be performed by an electrophotographic method using toner. The MFP 151 may be of a cartridge type in which a cartridge for storing ink is attached, or of a refill type in which ink is refilled from an ink bottle into an ink tank. Memory such as an external HDD or SD card may be attached to the MFP 151 as an optional device, and information required for the operation of the MFP 151 may be stored in the memory.

[0039] The input interface 158 accepts operation input (data input, operation instructions, etc.) from the user by operating the operation unit 159. The operation unit 159 may be a soft keyboard, soft buttons, etc. displayed on the display unit 161. That is, the input interface 158 can also accept operation input from the user via the display unit 161, and may form a touch panel display together with the display unit 161.

[0040] The output interface 160 performs control for causing the display unit 161 to display predetermined data and to notify the state of the MFP 151. The display unit 161 can typically be an LED, an LCD, or the like.

[0041] Further, the USB interface 163 is a connection interface for controlling communication via a USB cable, and thereby makes it possible to execute data communication when connected to an external device using a USB cable.

[0042] The above configuration may be any configuration capable of implementing some of the communication modes described herein, and partial modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the configuration.

[0043] 3(a) to 3(g) show examples of screens 9a and the like of the display unit 161 for making various settings for direct communication.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 3(a), by selecting a setting means 301 for performing LAN settings on screen 9a, screen 9b for performing communication settings such as infrastructure mode, direct communication mode, etc. is displayed as shown in Fig. 3(b). Screen 9b includes a setting means for setting infrastructure mode (shown as Wi-Fi in the figure), setting means 302 for setting wireless direct communication, and a printing means for printing information on LAN settings.

[0045] By selecting the setting means 302 on the screen 9b, a screen 9c for selecting detailed settings for the Wireless Direct Communication is displayed, as shown in FIG. 3(c).

[0046] By selecting the means 303 for enabling or disabling wireless direct communication on the screen 9c, as shown in Fig. 3(d), a screen 9d for enabling or disabling wireless communication in the wireless direct communication mode in the MFP 151 is displayed. When the means 305 for enabling wireless direct communication is selected on the screen 9d, a connection with another device in the wireless direct communication mode is made in the frequency band set based on the flowchart in Fig. 4 described later, and communication becomes possible.

[0047] Furthermore, by selecting the frequency band setting means 304 on the screen 9c, a screen 9e for selecting the details of the frequency band setting is displayed as shown in Fig. 3(e). The screen 9e includes a setting means 306 for setting the band of the Wireless Direct communication to 2.4 GHz, a setting means 307 for setting the band to 5 GHz, and a setting means 308 for setting the band to an automatic selection mode.

[0048] By selecting the setting means 306 on the screen 9e, a screen 9f for performing detailed settings is displayed as shown in Fig. 3(f). The screen 9f includes a setting means 310 for setting the frequency bandwidth of the Wireless Direct Communication to 20 MHz, and a setting means 311 for setting the frequency bandwidth to 40 MHz.

[0049] Furthermore, by selecting the setting means 307 or 308 on the screen 9e, a screen 9g for performing detailed setting is displayed as shown in Fig. 3(g). The screen 9g includes a setting means 310 for setting the frequency bandwidth of the Wireless Direct communication to 20 MHz, a setting means 311 for setting the frequency bandwidth to 40 MHz, and a setting means 312 for setting the frequency bandwidth to 80 MHz.

[0050] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart for changing the settings of Wireless Direct in a case where Wireless Direct is activated later / additionally in a state where a wireless infrastructure connection has been established.

[0051] In step S401 (hereinafter simply referred to as "S401." The same applies to other steps described later), the CPU 103 accepts a selection of enabling Wireless Direct communication from the user.

[0052] In S402, the CPU 103 acquires information about the wireless infrastructure with which communication is established, such as information about the channel, frequency band, frequency bandwidth, radio wave intensity, etc. This can be achieved by the CPU 103 reading from the RAM 153 the parameters (wireless parameters) that were held when the connection of the wireless infrastructure was established.

[0053] In S403, the CPU 103 compares the frequency band of the wireless infrastructure acquired in S402 with the frequency band of the Wireless Direct set on the screen 9e (a value set by the user). If the values ​​are different from each other, the process proceeds to S404, and if the values ​​are equal to each other, the process proceeds to S405.

[0054] In S404 (when the frequency bands differ between the wireless infrastructure and wireless direct), the CPU 103 operates the MFP 151 as a group owner (or internal AP) in wireless direct in the frequency band set on the screen 9e.

[0055] In S405, the CPU 103 reads out the setting value of the frequency band of Wireless Direct set by the user on the screen 9f or 9g from the RAM 153. If the setting value is 2.4 GHz, Wireless Direct is enabled in the frequency band set on the screen 9e (S408). If the setting value is 5 GHz, the process proceeds to S406, and if the setting value is the automatic selection mode, the process proceeds to S407.

[0056] In S406 (i.e., when the setting value of the frequency band of Wireless Direct is 5 GHz and the wireless infrastructure is also 5 GHz), the CPU 103 changes the frequency bandwidth of Wireless Direct communication based on the flowchart in FIG. 7 described later, and enables Wireless Direct (S408).

[0057] In S407 (that is, when the setting value of the frequency band of Wireless Direct is the automatic selection mode), the CPU 103 changes the frequency band or frequency width of the Wireless Direct communication based on the flowchart of FIG. 6 described later, and enables Wireless Direct (S408).

[0058] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart for changing the settings of Wireless Direct in a case where a wireless infrastructure is activated later / additionally in a state where a Wireless Direct connection has been established.

[0059] In S501, the CPU 103 accepts a selection of enabling the wireless infrastructure from the user.

[0060] In S502, the CPU 103 starts up the wireless infrastructure according to the settings accepted in S501 and specified by the user.

[0061] In S503, the CPU 103 acquires information about the wireless infrastructure with which communication is established, such as information about the channel, frequency band, frequency bandwidth, radio wave intensity, etc. This can be achieved by the CPU 103 reading from the RAM 153 the parameters (wireless parameters) that were held when the connection of the wireless infrastructure was established.

[0062] In S504, the CPU 103 acquires information about the established Wireless Direct communication, such as information about the channel, frequency band, frequency bandwidth, radio wave intensity, etc. This can be realized by the CPU 103 reading out from the RAM 153 the parameters (wireless parameters) that were held when the Wireless Direct connection was established.

[0063] In S505, the CPU 103 compares the frequency band of the wireless infrastructure held in the RAM 153 with the frequency band of the Wireless Direct held in the RAM 153 (a value set by the user). If these values ​​are equal to each other, the process proceeds to S506, and if these values ​​are different from each other, the process ends this flowchart.

[0064] In S506, the CPU 103 reads the setting value of the frequency band of Wireless Direct set on the screen 9e from the RAM 153. If the setting value is 2.4 GHz, this flowchart ends. If the setting value is 5 GHz, the process proceeds to S507, and if the setting value is the automatic selection mode, the process proceeds to S508.

[0065] In S507 (i.e., when the setting value of the frequency band of Wireless Direct is 5 GHz and the wireless infrastructure is also 5 GHz), the CPU 103 changes the frequency bandwidth of Wireless Direct communication based on the flowchart in FIG. 7 described later, and enables Wireless Direct (S509).

[0066] In S508 (that is, when the setting value of the frequency band of Wireless Direct is the automatic selection mode), the CPU 103 changes the frequency band or frequency width of the Wireless Direct communication based on the flowchart in FIG. 6 described later, and enables Wireless Direct (S509).

[0067] FIG. 6 shows a flowchart for changing the frequency bandwidth of Wireless Direct communication when a Wireless Direct connection is established and the setting value of the frequency band of Wireless Direct is in the automatic selection mode.

[0068] In S601, the CPU 103 reads the frequency band of the wireless infrastructure stored in the RAM 153 in S402 or S503, and determines whether the frequency band is 5 GHz. If the frequency band of the wireless infrastructure is 5 GHz, the process proceeds to S602, and if not, the process ends this flowchart, and the frequency band of Wireless Direct may be set to 5 GHz incidentally.

[0069] In S602, the CPU 103 reads out the frequency bandwidth of the wireless infrastructure stored in the RAM 153 in S402 or S503. If the frequency bandwidth is 20 MHz or 40 MHz, the process proceeds to S603, and if the frequency bandwidth is 80 MHz, the process proceeds to S605.

[0070] Here, if the frequency band of the wireless infrastructure is 5 GHz and the frequency bandwidth of the wireless infrastructure is not 80 MHz, it is considered that there is a bandwidth that does not interfere within the 5 GHz band (i.e., the 5.2 GHz band of 5150 to 5250 MHz, so-called W52) that can be used by the MFP 151. Therefore, in S603, the CPU 103 sets the frequency band of Wireless Direct to 5 GHz and proceeds to S604.

[0071] Incidentally, W52 includes multiple channels, 36ch, 40ch, 44ch, and 48ch. Each channel corresponds to a frequency bandwidth, and a frequency bandwidth of 80MHz corresponds to all of the multiple channels being available for use, and a frequency bandwidth other than 80MHz corresponds to any of the channels being unused / vacant.

[0072] In S604 (that is, when the setting value of the frequency band of Wireless Direct is 5 GHz and the wireless infrastructure is also connected at 5 GHz), the CPU 103 changes the frequency bandwidth of the Wireless Direct communication based on the flowchart in FIG. 7 described later.

[0073] On the other hand, when the frequency band of the wireless infrastructure is 5 GHz and the frequency bandwidth of the wireless infrastructure is 80 MHz, the 5 GHz band available to the MFP 151, i.e., the W52 band, is entirely occupied. Therefore, when the setting value of the frequency band of Wireless Direct is the automatic selection mode, the CPU 103 sets the frequency band of Wireless Direct to 2.4 GHz in S605, thereby making it possible to avoid a decrease in throughput due to communication interference.

[0074] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart for changing the frequency bandwidth of Wireless Direct communication when the set value of the frequency band of Wireless Direct is 5 GHz and the wireless infrastructure is also connected at 5 GHz.

[0075] In S701, the CPU 103 reads the channel of the wireless infrastructure stored in the RAM 153 in S402 or S503, and determines whether the channel of the wireless infrastructure is 36ch or 40ch. If the channel of the wireless infrastructure is 36ch or 40ch, the process proceeds to S702, and if not (if it is 44ch or 48ch), the process proceeds to S703.

[0076] In S702 (that is, when the channel of the wireless infrastructure is 36ch or 40ch), the CPU 103 sets the channel of the Wireless Direct to 44ch or 48ch, and proceeds to S704.

[0077] In S703 (that is, when the channel of the wireless infrastructure is 44ch or 48ch), the CPU 103 sets the channel of the Wireless Direct to 36ch or 40ch, and proceeds to S704.

[0078] In S704, the CPU 103 sets the frequency bandwidth of Wireless Direct to 40 MHz. When the frequency bandwidth of the wireless infrastructure is 20 MHz or 40 MHz, it is possible to avoid a decrease in throughput caused by communication interference. Alternatively, the frequency bandwidth of the wireless infrastructure is additionally set to 40 MHz, thereby making it possible to avoid a decrease in throughput caused by communication interference.

[0079] In the communication standards conforming to the IEEE802.11 series, the frequency bandwidth of the wireless infrastructure is 80 MHz, mainly in the case of IEEE802.11ac or IEEE802.11ax. In the wireless LAN, the data transmission is started by the data sender sending an RTS (Request To Send) signal to the receiver and the receiver returning a CTS (Clear To Send) signal to the sender, and communication is performed by repeating this process. The CPU 103 transmits an RTS signal, but if there is no vacant channel, the receiver does not transmit a CTS signal. When the wireless infrastructure is operating at 80 MHz, if the CPU 103 performs wireless direct at 40 MHz, the CPU 103 does not receive a CTS signal. As a result, the CPU 103 detects band interference, and performs communication at 40 MHz using the wireless infrastructure operating at 80 MHz.

[0080] In this manner, it is possible to avoid communication interference and suppress a decrease in throughput, thereby making it possible to improve the convenience of communication between elements in the wireless communication system SY.

[0081] (program) The present invention may be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. For example, the present invention may be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0082] (others) In the embodiments, each element is named based on its main function, but the functions described in the embodiments may be sub-functions and are not strictly limited to those expressions. Furthermore, those expressions can be replaced with similar expressions. In the same spirit, the expression "unit" can be replaced with "tool," "component," "member," "structure," "assembly," etc. Alternatively, they may be omitted.

[0083] (Summary of the embodiment) [1] A communication device configured to be capable of wireless communication with another communication device by a communication method conforming to a predetermined communication standard, the communication device including, as an operation mode, a first mode in which wireless communication is performed with the other communication device via a relay device, and a second mode in which wireless communication is performed with the other communication device without the relay device, An acquisition means for acquiring information on frequency bands used in the first mode and the second mode; and a setting means for setting, when both the first mode and the second mode are performed in a first frequency band, such that the first mode is performed in a part of a frequency bandwidth in the first frequency band and the second mode is performed in another part of a frequency bandwidth in the first frequency band. A communication device comprising: [2] a receiving means for receiving a setting for a frequency band of the second mode from a user, When the setting received by the receiving means is an automatic selection mode and the first mode is performed in the entire frequency bandwidth of the first frequency band, the setting means sets the second mode to be performed in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band. The communication device according to [1]. [3] When the setting received by the receiving means is an automatic selection mode and the first mode is performed in a part of the frequency bandwidth in the first frequency band, the setting means sets the second mode to be performed in another part of the frequency bandwidth in the first frequency band. The communication device according to [2]. [4] When the setting received by the receiving means is the first frequency band and the first mode is performed in the entire frequency bandwidth of the first frequency band, the setting means sets the first mode to be performed in a part of the frequency bandwidth by limiting the frequency bandwidth of the first frequency band, and the second mode to be performed in another part of the frequency bandwidth of the first frequency band. The communication device according to [3]. [5] The communication standards include the IEEE802.11 series. The communication device according to any one of [1] to [4], [6] The first mode is an infrastructure mode, the second mode is a direct mode, and the first frequency band is a 5 GHz band. The communication device according to [5]. [7] The communication device according to any one of [1] to [6], the other communication device, and the relay device. 1. A wireless communication system comprising: [8] A program for causing a computer to function as each element of the communication device according to any one of [1] to [6]. [9] A communication method configured to be capable of wireless communication with another communication device by a communication method conforming to a predetermined communication standard, the method including, as operation modes, a first mode in which wireless communication is performed with the other communication device via a relay device, and a second mode in which wireless communication is performed with the other communication device without the relay device, Obtaining information on frequency bands used in the first mode and the second mode; When both the first mode and the second mode are performed in a first frequency band, setting the first mode to be performed in a part of a frequency bandwidth in the first frequency band and the second mode to be performed in another part of a frequency bandwidth in the first frequency band. A communication method comprising:

[0084] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 151: communication device (MFP), 131: relay device (AP).

Claims

1. A communication device capable of wireless communication with another communication device, a control means for controlling communication so as to be in at least one of a plurality of communication modes including a first mode in which wireless communication is performed with another communication device via a relay device using a communication method conforming to a predetermined communication standard, and a second mode in which wireless communication is performed with another communication device without using the relay device using a communication method conforming to the predetermined communication standard; an acquisition means for acquiring information on frequency bands used in the first mode and the second mode of communication; and a setting means for setting, when both communications in the first mode and the second mode are performed in a first frequency band, that the communications in the first mode are performed in a partial frequency bandwidth of the first frequency band and the communications in the second mode are performed in another partial frequency bandwidth of the first frequency band. A communication device comprising:

2. The frequency band in the 5 GHz band that can be used by the communication device is 5150 to 5250 MHz.

2. The communication device according to claim 1.

3. The first frequency band is 5150 to 5250 MHz.

3. The communication device according to claim 2.

4. The setting means sets the channel used in the second mode communication to at least one of 44ch and 48ch when the channel used in the first mode communication includes at least one of 36ch and 40ch included in the frequency band of 5150 to 5250 MHz based on the information acquired by the acquisition means.

4. The communication device according to claim 3.

5. The setting means sets the channel used in the second mode communication to at least one of 36ch and 40ch when the channel used in the first mode communication includes at least one of 44ch and 48ch included in the frequency band of 5150 to 5250 MHz based on the information acquired by the acquisition means.

5. The communication device according to claim 4.

6. When transitioning from a first state in which communication is being performed in the first frequency band in the first mode and communication is not being performed in the second mode to a second state in which communication is being performed using the first frequency band in the second mode in addition to communication in the first mode, the setting means performs the setting.

2. The communication device according to claim 1.

7. The setting means sets the frequency bandwidth used in the first mode in the second state to a predetermined frequency bandwidth that is more restricted than that in the first state.

7. The communication device according to claim 6.

8. The predetermined frequency bandwidth is 40 MHz.

8. The communication device according to claim 7,

9. The setting means sets the frequency bandwidth used in the first mode in the second state to a predetermined frequency bandwidth that is more restricted than that in the first state when the frequency bandwidth used in the first mode in the first state is 80 MHz.

8. The communication device according to claim 7,

10. The setting means sets the frequency bandwidth used in the second mode to a predetermined frequency bandwidth.

7. The communication device according to claim 6.

11. further comprising a receiving means for receiving a setting for the frequency band of the second mode from a user; When the setting received by the receiving means is an automatic selection mode and the first mode is performed over the entire frequency bandwidth of the first frequency band, the setting means sets the second mode to be performed in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band.

2. The communication device according to claim 1.

12. When the setting received by the receiving means is an automatic selection mode and the first mode is performed in a partial frequency bandwidth of the first frequency band, the setting means sets the second mode to be performed in another partial frequency bandwidth of the first frequency band.

12. The communication device according to claim 11.

13. When the setting received by the receiving means is the first frequency band and the first mode is to be performed in the entire frequency bandwidth of the first frequency band, the setting means sets the first mode to be performed in a part of the frequency bandwidth by limiting the frequency bandwidth of the first frequency band, and the second mode to be performed in another part of the frequency bandwidth of the first frequency band.

13. The communication device according to claim 12.

14. The communication standards include the IEEE 802.11 series.

2. The communication device according to claim 1.

15. The communication standard includes at least one of IEEE802.11ac and IEEE802.11ax.

15. The communication device according to claim 14.

16. The first mode is an infrastructure mode, the second mode is a direct mode, and the first frequency band is a frequency bandwidth included in the 5 GHz band.

16. The communication device according to claim 15.

17. A communication system including the communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 16, the other communication device, and the relay device. A wireless communication system comprising:

18. A program for causing a computer to function as each element of the communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

19. A communication method for performing wireless communication with another communication device, comprising: controlling the communication device to communicate in at least one of a plurality of communication modes including a first mode in which wireless communication is performed with another communication device via a relay device using a communication method conforming to a predetermined communication standard, and a second mode in which wireless communication is performed with another communication device without using the relay device using a communication method conforming to the predetermined communication standard; acquiring information on frequency bands used in the first mode and the second mode of communication; and when communications in both the first mode and the second mode are performed in a first frequency band, setting the first mode communication to be performed in a partial frequency bandwidth of the first frequency band and the second mode communication to be performed in another partial frequency bandwidth of the first frequency band. A communication method comprising:

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