Communication device, control method, and program

Abstract

To improve the convenience of a device capable of performing operation in a mode to operate as a slave station and in a mode to operate as a master station.SOLUTION: Second control means is provided that executes predetermined control to prevent a connection destination of a communication device in a first mode from being changed by predetermined information from a first network to a network that uses a channel that the communication device is using in a second mode, in a state where a state in which the communication device is operating in the first mode and a state in which the communication device is operating in the second mode are maintained in parallel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication device, a control method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for matching a channel used by a wireless communication device to connect to an access point with a channel used to connect to a mobile terminal by WFD. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2013-157943 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, as devices capable of operating in a mode in which they operate as a slave station and a mode in which they operate as a master station become more widespread, there is a demand for improving the convenience of such devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a communication device capable of operating in a first mode as a slave station in a predetermined wireless communication standard and operating in a second mode as a master station in the predetermined wireless communication standard, the communication device including: a specifying means for specifying, when a specific process for operating the communication device in the first mode is performed while the communication device is operating in the second mode, a channel that is different from the channel that the communication device used in the second mode when the specific process was performed, as a channel to be used by the communication device in the second mode after the specific process is performed, based on a match between a channel that the communication device used in the second mode when the specific process was performed and a channel that the communication device uses in the first mode started by the specific process; and a specifying means for specifying, when the specific process is performed while the communication device is operating in the second mode, a channel that is different from the channel that the communication device used in the second mode when the specific process was performed, as a channel to be used by the communication device in the second mode after the specific process is performed, based on a match between a channel that the communication device used in the second mode when the specific process was performed a control means for controlling a state in which the communication device is operating in the first mode using a channel so as to be maintained in parallel with a state in which the communication device is operating in the second mode using a channel; a change means for changing a connection destination of the communication device in the first mode from the first network to the second network based on receipt of predetermined information for changing the connection destination of the communication device in the first mode from the first network to the second network via a first network to which the communication device is connected in the first mode, when the communication device is operating in the first mode; and a second control means for executing predetermined control to prevent the connection destination of the communication device in the first mode from being changed from the first network to a network using a channel that the communication device uses in the second mode, based on the predetermined information, when the state in which the communication device is operating in the first mode and the state in which the communication device is operating in the second mode are maintained in parallel. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the convenience of a device that can operate in a mode in which it operates as a slave station and in a mode in which it operates as a master station. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a communication system. [Diagram 2] 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on an operation display unit of a communication device. [Diagram 3] 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless connection sequence in a direct connection mode. [Figure 4] 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless connection sequence in an infrastructure connection mode. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing a process performed by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband. [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a channel arrangement in each frequency band. [Figure 7] 13 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the communication device. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the communication device. [Figure 9] 13 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the communication device. [Figure 10] 13 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the communication device. [Figure 11] 13 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the communication device. [Figure 12] 13 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the communication device. [Figure 13] 13 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the communication device. [Figure 14] 13 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the communication device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention includes any modifications and improvements to the embodiments described below that are made based on the ordinary knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0009] (First embodiment) An information processing device and a communication device included in the communication system of the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, a smartphone is exemplified as the information processing device, but is not limited thereto, and various devices such as a mobile terminal, a notebook PC, a tablet terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), and a digital camera can be applied. In addition, in the present embodiment, a printer is exemplified as the communication device, but is not limited thereto, and various devices that can perform wireless communication with the information processing device can be applied. For example, if it is a printer, it can be applied to an inkjet printer, a full-color laser beam printer, a monochrome printer, and the like. In addition to printers, it can also be applied to copiers, facsimile machines, mobile terminals, smartphones, notebook PCs, tablet terminals, PDAs, digital cameras, music playback devices, televisions, smart speakers, and the like. In addition, it can also be applied to a multifunction machine having multiple functions such as a copy function, a FAX function, and a print function.

[0010] First, the configuration of an information processing device included in the communication system of this embodiment and a communication device capable of communicating with the information processing device will be described with reference to the block diagram of Fig. 1. In addition, the following configuration will be described as an example in this embodiment, but the functions are not particularly limited to those shown in this diagram.

[0011] The information processing 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, an operation display unit 108, a communication unit 109, a short-range wireless communication unit 110, an image capturing device 111, and the like.

[0012] The input interface 102 is an interface for receiving data input and operational instructions from a user, and is composed of a physical keyboard, buttons, a touch panel, etc. Note that the output interface 107 described below and the input interface 102 may be configured in the same manner, so that the screen output and the reception of operations from the user are performed by the same configuration.

[0013] The CPU 103 is a system control unit, and controls the entire information processing device 101 .

[0014] The ROM 104 stores fixed data such as control programs and data tables executed by the CPU 103, and embedded operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) programs. 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.

[0015] 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 information processing device 101, management data for the information processing device 101, and the like. The RAM 105 is also used as the main memory and work memory for the CPU 103.

[0016] The external storage device 106 is provided with an application (hereinafter, referred to as a print application) that provides a print execution function. The external storage device 106 also has various programs such as a print information generation program that generates print information that can be interpreted by the communication device 151, and an information transmission / reception control program that transmits and receives information to and from the communication device 151 connected via the communication unit 109. The external storage device 106 stores various information used by these programs. It also stores image data obtained from other information processing devices or the Internet via the communication unit.

[0017] The output interface 107 is an interface that controls the operation display unit 108 to display data and notify the status of the information processing device 101 .

[0018] The operation display unit 108 is composed of an LED (light emitting diode) and an LCD (liquid crystal display), and displays data and notifies the status of the information processing device 101. Note that a soft keyboard having keys such as numeric input keys, a mode setting key, a decision key, a cancel key, and a power key may be provided on the operation display unit 108 to accept input from the user via the operation display unit 108.

[0019] The communication unit 109 is configured to connect to a device such as the communication device 151 and execute data communication. For example, the communication unit 109 can be connected to an access point (not shown) in the communication device 151. When the communication unit 109 is connected to the access point in the communication device 151, the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151 can communicate with each other. Hereinafter, the access point may be expressed as AP. The communication unit 109 may directly communicate with the communication device 151 by wireless communication, or may communicate via an access point 131 or the like that exists outside the information processing device 101 and outside the communication device 151. In this embodiment, the communication standard of the IEEE802.11 series is used as the wireless communication method. The communication standard of the IEEE802.11 series is Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) (registered trademark). In this embodiment, the communication device 151 is particularly capable of communication as a station that complies with the IEEE802.11 series standard. Hereinafter, the station is referred to as STA. Moreover, the station corresponds to a child station (child device) of Wi-Fi. In other words, the child station of Wi-Fi is a device that does not determine a channel to be used for Wi-Fi connection, and uses a channel determined by a parent station as a channel to be used for Wi-Fi connection for Wi-Fi connection. In the present embodiment, the communication device 151 corresponds to the function of Wi-Fi Agile Multiband (registered trademark) and is capable of communication as an STA compatible with Wi-Fi Agile Multiband. The communication device 151 also corresponds to the function of Wi-Fi 6 (registered trademark), which is a function conforming to the IEEE802.11ax standard. As a result, the communication device 151 is also capable of operating as an STA compatible with OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access) and TWT (Target Wake Time) as a function of Wi-Fi 6. The communication device 151, which is an STA, can reduce power consumption by shifting the communication function to a sleep state when it is not necessary to wait for signal reception.Note that the communication device 151 may support Wi-Fi 6 functions, specifically, Wi-Fi 6E (registered trademark) functions. That is, the communication device 151 may also be capable of communication in the 6 GHz band (5.925 GHz to 7.125 GHz). Unlike the 5 GHz band, the 6 GHz band does not have a band for which Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) is performed. Therefore, communication in the 6 GHz band does not experience communication interruptions due to DFS standby time.

[0020] As described above, in the present embodiment, the communication device 151 supports both Wi-Fi Agile Multiband and Wi-Fi 6, but is not limited to this. For example, the communication device 151 may support Wi-Fi Agile Multiband but not Wi-Fi 6.

[0021] Moreover, the access point 131 may be, for example, a device such as a wireless LAN router. In this embodiment, a method in which the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151 are directly connected to each other without going through an external access point is called a direct connection method. Also, a method in which the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151 are connected to each other through an external access point 131 or the like is called an infrastructure (hereinafter, referred to as infrastructure) connection method.

[0022] The short-range wireless communication unit 110 is configured to wirelessly connect to a device such as the communication device 151 at a short distance and execute data communication, and communicates by a communication method different from that of the communication unit 109. Examples of the short-range wireless communication method used by the short-range wireless communication unit 110 include Bluetooth (registered trademark) and NFC (Near Field Communication). Bluetooth may be Bluetooth Classic or Bluetooth Low Energy. The short-range wireless communication unit 110 is connectable to a short-range wireless communication unit 157 in the communication device 151.

[0023] The photographing device 111 is a device that converts an image photographed by a photographing element into digital data. The digital data is temporarily stored in the RAM 105. After that, the digital data is converted into a predetermined image format by a program executed by the CPU 154, and is stored in the external storage device 106 as image data.

[0024] The ROM 152 stores fixed data such as the control program executed by the CPU 154, data tables, and the OS program.

[0025] The communication device 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 output interface 159, an operation display unit 160, etc. The communication device 151 can operate in a connection mode (communication mode) that is set by the connection mode being set.

[0026] The communication unit 156 is a component for the communication device 151 to communicate with other devices, and in this embodiment, the communication unit 156 communicates according to the IEEE802.11 series of communication standards. The communication unit 156 has an access point for connecting to devices such as the information processing device 101 as an access point inside the communication device 151. The access point can be connected to the communication unit 109 of the information processing device 101. The communication unit 156 may directly communicate with the information processing device 101 by wireless communication, or may communicate via the access point 131. 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 this embodiment, the communication unit 156 and the short-range wireless communication unit 157 are realized by one wireless chip. That is, in this embodiment, a combo chip that supports both the communication function of the IEEE802.11 series of communication standards and the communication function by the short-range wireless communication method is used. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this form, and the communication unit 156 and the short-range wireless communication unit 157 may be realized by different wireless chips. In addition, in this embodiment, a wireless chip compatible with a dynamic rapid channel switching (DRCS) function is used. The DRCS function is a function used when performing communication using an infrastructure connection and communication using a direct connection in a time-division manner during simultaneous operation described later. Specifically, the DRCS function is a function that enables a communication channel to be used to be quickly switched between a state in which communication using an infrastructure connection is being performed and a state in which communication using a direct connection is being performed. Note that hereinafter, a communication channel is simply referred to as a channel. As a result, in this embodiment, it is possible to make a channel used for communication using an infrastructure connection and a channel used for communication using a direct connection different during simultaneous operation. Note that the present embodiment is not limited to this form, and for example, the communication unit 156 may be realized by two or more wireless chips, a wireless chip for an infrastructure connection mode and a wireless chip for a direct connection mode.Thereby, during simultaneous operation, it may be possible to differentiate the channel used for communication using an infrastructure connection from the channel used for communication using a direct connection.

[0027] The RAM 153 is composed of a DRAM or the like that requires a backup power source. Since the RAM 153 holds data by being supplied with a data backup power source (not shown), it can store important data such as program control variables without volatilizing the data. The RAM 153 is also used as the main memory and work memory of the CPU 154, and stores a reception buffer for temporarily storing print information received from the information processing device 101, etc., and various other information.

[0028] ROM 152 stores fixed data such as control programs, data tables, and OS programs executed by CPU 154. In this embodiment, each control program stored in ROM 152 performs software execution control such as scheduling, task switching, and interrupt processing under the management of an embedded OS stored in ROM 152. ROM 152 also has a memory area for storing data that needs to be held even when power is not supplied, such as setting information for communication device 151 and management data for communication device 151.

[0029] The CPU 154 is a system control unit, and controls the entire communication device 151 .

[0030] Based on the information stored in the print engine 155 and the RAM 153 and the print job received from the information processing device 101, etc., an image is formed on a recording medium such as paper using a recording agent such as ink, and the print result is output. At this time, the print job transmitted from the information processing device 101, etc., has a large amount of transmission data and requires high-speed communication, so it is received via a communication unit 156 that can communicate faster than the short-range wireless communication unit 157.

[0031] The short-range wireless communication unit 157 is a component for wirelessly connecting to a device such as the information processing device 101 at a short distance and performing data communication, and performs communication by a communication method different from that of the communication unit 156. Examples of the short-range wireless communication method used by the short-range wireless communication unit 110 include Bluetooth (registered trademark) and NFC. Bluetooth may be Bluetooth Classic or Bluetooth Low Energy. The short-range wireless communication unit 157 is connectable to the short-range wireless communication unit 110.

[0032] The input interface 158 is an interface for receiving data input and operation instructions from the user, and is composed of a physical keyboard, buttons, a touch panel, etc. Note that the output interface 159 described below and the input interface 158 may have the same configuration, and may output the screen and receive operations from the user with the same configuration. The output interface 159 is an interface that controls the operation display unit 160 to display data and notify the status of the communication device 151.

[0033] The operation display unit 160 is composed of a display unit such as an LED (light emitting diode) or an LCD (liquid crystal display), and displays data and notifies the state of the communication device 151. Note that a soft keyboard having keys such as numeric input keys, a mode setting key, a decision key, a cancel key, and a power key may be provided on the operation display unit 160 to accept input from the user via the operation display unit 160.

[0034] <Example of a screen displayed by the operation display unit 160> FIG. 2 shows an example of a screen displayed by the operation display unit 160 of the communication device 151. FIG. 2(a) shows an example of a home screen displayed when the communication device 151 is powered on and no operations such as printing or scanning are being performed (idle state, standby state). In FIG. 2(a), a menu corresponding to a copy function, a menu corresponding to a scan function, and a menu corresponding to a cloud function are displayed. The communication device 151 can seamlessly display a screen different from that shown in FIG. 2(a) by accepting key operations or scroll operations on a touch panel on the screen shown in FIG. 2(a). FIG. 2(b) is also a part of the home screen, and a menu corresponding to a print function, a menu corresponding to a photo function, and a menu corresponding to a function for changing communication settings are displayed. When any of the menus is selected by a key operation or a touch panel operation by the user while the screen shown in FIG. 2(a) or FIG. 2(b) is displayed, the communication device 151 can start executing a function corresponding to the selected menu.

[0035] Fig. 2(c) is an example of a communication selection screen displayed when a menu corresponding to a function for changing communication settings is selected on the screen of Fig. 2(b). This screen includes, for example, a menu for making settings related to a wired LAN, a menu for making settings related to a wireless LAN, a menu for making settings related to Wireless Direct, and a menu for making settings related to Bluetooth. The settings executed when the menu for making settings related to Wireless LAN is selected enable the communication device 151 to start operating in an infrastructure connection mode, which will be described later. The settings executed when the menu for making settings related to Wireless Direct is selected enable the communication device 151 to start operating in a direct connection mode, which will be described later. The settings executed when the menu for making settings related to Bluetooth is selected may include settings for enabling / disabling the Bluetooth function and settings related to Bluetooth pairing.

[0036] Specifically, in this embodiment, for example, when a menu for setting the wireless direct is selected, a screen shown in FIG. 2(d) is displayed. The "Change Network Name (SSID)" button is a button for the user to change the SSID (Service Set Identifier) ​​of the communication device 151 operating in the direct connection mode to an arbitrary value. The "Change Password" button is a button for the user to change the password for connecting to the communication device 151 operating in the direct connection mode to an arbitrary value. The "Enable / Disable Direct Connection Mode" button is a button for starting the direct connection mode described later, or for stopping the direct connection mode when the direct connection mode is activated. In this embodiment, when the "Enable / Disable Direct Connection Mode" button is selected, the WFD mode described later is activated, but this is not limited to this form. Either the software AP mode or the WFD mode described later may be activated, or both may be activated. The "Set Frequency Band" button is a button for the user to set the frequency band used by the communication device 151 operating in the direct connection mode for communication in the direct connection mode. When the "Set Frequency Band" button is selected, a screen shown in FIG. 2(e) is displayed. In this embodiment, Fig. 2(e) includes an area for selecting 2.4 GHz and an area for selecting 5 GHz. This allows the user to select 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz on the screen shown in Fig. 2(e). If the communication device 151 also supports communication using 6.0 GHz, the area for selecting 6.0 GHz may be included in Fig. 2(e), so that the user may further select 6.0 GHz in Fig. 2(e).

[0037] In this embodiment, specifically, for example, when a menu for setting up a wireless LAN is selected, a screen shown in FIG. 2(f) is displayed. The "Select an access point and connect" button is a button for establishing an infrastructure connection using a first method in this embodiment, which will be described later. The first method is a method for establishing an infrastructure connection with an access point selected from a list of access points found by a search by the communication device 151, and the details of this method will be described later. The "Connect using a PC / smartphone" button is a button for establishing an infrastructure connection of the communication device 151 using a second method in this embodiment. The second method is a method in which information for connecting to an access point is transmitted from an information processing device such as a PC or smartphone to the communication device 151, and the communication device 151 establishes an infrastructure connection with the access point using the information. When the "Connect using a PC / smartphone" button is selected, the communication device 151 operates as a software AP for connecting to a PC or smartphone. The "Connect using WPS / AOSS" button is a button for establishing an infrastructure connection of the communication device 151 using a third method in this embodiment. The third method is a method in which the communication device 151 establishes an infrastructure connection with an access point by a known setting method such as Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) or AirStation One-Touch Secure System (AOSS).

[0038] The method by which the communication device 151 establishes an infrastructure connection is not limited to the above. For example, communication using a short-range wireless communication method or a Wi-Fi Easy Connect function using DPP (Device Provisioning Protocol) may be used to transmit connection information to the communication device 151 for connecting to the access point 131, etc. Also, a button for establishing an infrastructure connection using such a method may be displayed in FIG. 2(f).

[0039] <About the direct connection method> A direct connection refers to a form in which devices are directly (i.e., peer-to-peer) wirelessly connected to each other without going through an external device such as the access point 131. The communication device 151 can operate in a mode for communicating via a direct connection (direct connection mode) as one of the connection modes. In Wi-Fi communication, there are multiple modes for communicating via a direct connection, such as a software AP mode and a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) mode.

[0040] A mode in which a direct connection is performed by WFD is called a WFD mode. WFD is a standard established by the Wi-Fi Alliance, and is included in the IEEE802.11 series of communication standards. In the WFD mode, after a device to be a communication partner is searched for by a device search command, the roles of a P2P group owner (GO) and a P2P client are determined, and the remaining wireless connection processing is performed. The group owner corresponds to a Wi-Fi parent station, and the client corresponds to a Wi-Fi child station. This role determination corresponds to, for example, GO Negotiation in P2P. Note that in the WFD mode before the role determination, the communication device 151 is in a state of neither a parent station nor a child station. Specifically, first, one device issues a device search command between devices to communicate with each other, and searches for a device to connect to in WFD mode. When the other device to be a communication partner is searched for, the two devices confirm information about services and functions that can be provided by each other's devices. Note that this device provision information confirmation is optional and not essential. This device provision information confirmation phase corresponds to, for example, P2P Provision Discovery. Next, by mutually confirming this device provision information, it is determined which one will be the P2P client and which one will be the P2P group owner. Next, after the client and the group owner are determined, parameters for performing communication by WFD are exchanged between them. Based on the exchanged parameters, the remaining wireless connection processing and IP connection processing are performed between the P2P client and the group owner. Note that in the WFD mode, the communication device 151 may always operate as the GO without executing the above-mentioned GO Negotiation. That is, the communication device 151 may operate in the WFD mode, which is an autonomous GO mode. Also, the state in which the communication device 151 operates in the WFD mode is, for example, a state in which the communication device 151 operates as the GO even though a WFD connection has not been established, or a state in which a WFD connection has been established and the communication device 151 operates as the GO.

[0041] In the software AP mode, between devices that communicate (for example, the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151), one device (for example, the information processing device 101) becomes a client that plays a role of requesting various services. The other device realizes the function of an access point in Wi-Fi by software settings. The software AP corresponds to a parent station of Wi-Fi, and the client corresponds to a child station of Wi-Fi. In the software AP mode, the client searches for a device that will become a software AP by a device search command. When the software AP is searched, the remaining wireless connection processing (establishment of a wireless connection, etc.) between the client and the software AP is performed, and then the IP connection processing (assignment of an IP address, etc.) is performed. Note that commands and parameters transmitted and received when realizing a wireless connection between the client and the software AP may be those specified in the Wi-Fi standard, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.

[0042] In this embodiment, when the communication device 151 establishes and maintains a direct connection, it operates as a master station in the network to which the communication device 151 belongs. The master station is a device that constructs a wireless network and provides a slave station with parameters used for connecting to the wireless network. The parameters used for connecting to the wireless network are, for example, parameters related to a channel used by the master station. By receiving the parameters, the slave station connects to the wireless network constructed by the master station using the channel used by the master station. In the direct connection mode, the communication device 151 operates as a master station, so that the communication device 151 can determine which frequency band and which channel are to be used for communication in the direct connection mode. In this embodiment, the communication device 151 is capable of using a channel corresponding to a 2.4 GHz frequency band and a channel corresponding to a 5 GHz frequency band for communication in the direct connection mode. The user can arbitrarily set which frequency band is to be used (i.e., which channel of the frequency band is to be used) by setting on the screen shown in FIG. 2(e). That is, when 2.4 GHz is selected on the screen shown in FIG. 2(e), the communication device 151 uses a channel corresponding to the 2.4 GHz frequency band for communication in the direct connection mode. On the other hand, when 5 GHz is selected on the screen shown in FIG. 2(e), the communication device 151 uses a channel corresponding to the 5 GHz frequency band for communication in the direct connection mode. However, in this embodiment, even if 5 GHz is selected on the screen shown in FIG. 2(e), the communication device 151 does not use a channel corresponding to the DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) band of the 5 GHz frequency band for communication in the direct connection mode. In other words, the communication device 151 uses only channels corresponding to frequency bands other than the DFS band of the 5 GHz frequency band for communication in the direct connection mode. Note that when a channel corresponding to the DFS band is being used and a radar wave of the frequency band corresponding to the channel is detected, the currently used channel must be changed.Such a frequency band where a channel change may occur due to the detection of radar waves is called a DFS band. For example, when a wireless chip compatible with the DFS function is used, a channel corresponding to the DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) band in the 5 GHz frequency band may be available for communication in the direct connection mode. The channel determined as the channel to be used in the direct connection mode is used in communication via the direct connection. Furthermore, the channel is also used for transmitting a beacon signal as a parent station and transmitting a response to a received command. That is, the channel is used not only for communication processing in the direct connection mode when a direct connection is established, but also for communication processing in the direct connection mode when a direct connection is not established.

[0043] In the above description, the user can set whether to use a channel corresponding to the 2.4 GHz frequency band or a channel corresponding to the 5 GHz frequency band in the direct connection mode, but the present invention is not limited to this. The user may set a specific channel number to be used in the direct connection mode by receiving a channel number designation from the user. Also, the channel used in the direct connection mode may not be arbitrarily set by the user, but may be set in advance in the communication device 151.

[0044] As described above, the communication device 151 may be capable of using other frequency bands, such as the 6.0 GHz frequency band, so in the processes in which the 2.4 GHz frequency band or the 5 GHz frequency band is used in this embodiment, other frequency bands may be used.

[0045] The wireless connection sequence in each mode will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0046] FIG. 3(a) is a diagram showing a wireless connection sequence in the software AP mode. In this sequence, the processes executed by each device are realized by the CPU of each device reading various programs stored in a memory such as a ROM of each device into a RAM and executing them. In addition, this sequence is assumed to be started in a state in which the information processing device 101 operates as a client, the communication device 151 operates as a software AP, and the communication device 151 transmits a beacon signal. In addition, when the communication device 151 receives a predetermined operation from a user for operating as a software AP, it starts operating as a software AP. In addition, the predetermined operation for operating as a software AP is, for example, an operation of selecting a "enable / disable direct connection mode" button. In addition, this operation corresponds to an operation for starting the direct connection mode.

[0047] First, in S301, the information processing device 101 transmits a device search command using channels available to the information processing device 101 in order, and searches for a device that can be a software AP.

[0048] Next, in S302, when the communication device 151 receives a device search command transmitted from the information processing device 101, the communication device 151 transmits a device search response, which is a response to the device search command, to the information processing device 101. Note that the communication device 151 does not transmit a device search response to a device search command transmitted on a channel other than the channel that the communication device 151 can use. For example, if the channel that the communication device 151 can use is the fourth channel, the communication device 151 does not transmit a response command to a device search request command transmitted using the first channel. Therefore, after transmitting a device search command using the first channel, if there is no response from the communication device 151 for a certain period of time or more, the information processing device 101 transmits a device search request command using the second channel. The information processing device 101 repeats the above-mentioned attempt while incrementing the number of the channel to be used. Then, for example, when the communication device 151 receives a device search command transmitted by the information processing device 101 using the fourth channel, the communication device 151 transmits a device search response to the information processing device 101. As a result, the information processing device 101 discovers the communication device 151. The channel used for transmitting the device search response is determined as the channel to be used for communication between the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151 thereafter. In other words, the channel to be used for communication between the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151 is determined by the communication device 151 operating as a software AP.

[0049] Next, in S303, a known process for establishing a wireless connection is executed between the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151. Specifically, processes such as transmission of a connection request, authentication of the connection request, assignment of an IP address, etc. Note that commands and parameters transmitted and received in the process for establishing a wireless connection between the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151 may be those specified by the Wi-Fi standard, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.

[0050] Fig. 3(b) is a diagram showing a wireless connection sequence in WFD mode. Note that the processing executed by each device in this sequence is realized by the CPU of each device reading various programs stored in a memory such as a ROM of each device into a RAM and executing them. Also, this processing is assumed to be started when a predetermined operation for establishing a connection by WFD is received from a user in a state in which each device is running a predetermined application for executing a WFD function. Note that an example of the predetermined operation for establishing a connection by WFD is an operation of selecting the "Enable / Disable Direct Connection Mode" button. Note that this operation corresponds to an operation for starting the direct connection mode.

[0051] First, in step S311, the information processing apparatus 101 transmits a device search command to search for a device supporting the WFD function as a communication partner.

[0052] Next, in S312, if the received device search command is a command transmitted using the same channel as the channel currently being used for the direct connection mode, the communication device 151 transmits a device search response, which is a response to the command, to the information processing device 101. As a result, the information processing device 101 discovers the communication device 151 as a device that supports the WFD function. Note that after the information processing device 101 discovers the communication device 151, a process of exchanging information about services and functions that each device can provide may be performed between the devices.

[0053] Next, in S313, GO Negotiation is executed between the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151. Once the client and the group owner are determined, parameters for communication by WFD are exchanged between them. Based on the exchanged parameters, the remaining wireless connection processing and IP connection processing are performed between the P2P client and the group owner. As described above, the communication device 151 may operate in the Autonomous GO mode, so that the GO Negotiation is omitted and the communication device 151 always operates as the GO. In addition, when the communication device 151 operates as the GO, the communication device 151 determines the frequency band and channel to be used for WFD communication as the master station. Therefore, the communication device 151 operating as the GO can select which frequency band to use, 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz, and which channel to use from among the channels corresponding to the determined frequency band.

[0054] Thereafter, in S314, each device performs a process of establishing a wireless connection based on the exchanged parameters and on the channel determined by the GO.

[0055] <About infrastructure connection method> An infrastructure connection is a connection form in which devices that communicate (e.g., the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151) are connected to an access point (e.g., the access point 131) that manages a network of the devices that communicate with each other, and the devices communicate with each other via the access point. Note that in this embodiment, a connection to an access point corresponds to a connection to a network formed by the access point. The communication device 151 can also operate in a mode for communicating via an infrastructure connection (infrastructure connection mode) as one of the connection modes.

[0056] In infrastructure connection, each device searches for an access point using a device search command. In this embodiment, searching for an access point corresponds to searching for a network formed by the access point. When an access point is searched for, the remaining wireless connection processing (establishment of a wireless connection, etc.) is performed between the device and the access point, and then IP connection processing (assignment of an IP address, etc.) is performed. Note that commands and parameters transmitted and received when establishing a wireless connection between a device and an access point may be those specified in the Wi-Fi standard, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.

[0057] In this embodiment, when the communication device 151 operates in the infrastructure connection, the access point 131 operates as a parent station, and the communication device 151 operates as a child station. That is, in this embodiment, the infrastructure connection refers to a connection between the communication device 151 operating as a child station and a device operating as a parent station. When the communication device 151 has established an infrastructure connection and the information processing device 101 has also established an infrastructure connection with the access point 131, communication between the communication device 151 and the information processing device 101 via the access point 131 is possible. Since the channel used for communication in the infrastructure connection is determined by the access point 131, the communication device 151 executes communication in the infrastructure connection using the channel determined by the access point 131. In this embodiment, the communication device 151 is assumed to be able to use a channel corresponding to the 2.4 GHz frequency band and a channel corresponding to the 5 GHz frequency band for communication in the infrastructure connection. Note that the communication device 151 is also able to use a channel corresponding to the DFS band in the 5 GHz frequency band for communication in the infrastructure connection. In order for the information processing device 101 to communicate with the communication device 151 via the access point 131, the information processing device 101 needs to recognize that the communication device 151 belongs to the network formed by the access point 131 and to which the information processing device 101 belongs.

[0058] In this embodiment, the communication device 151 can establish a direct connection and an infrastructure connection in parallel. In other words, the communication device 151 can establish a Wi-Fi connection in which the communication device 151 is a slave station and a Wi-Fi connection in which the communication device 151 is a master station in parallel. This operation with the above-mentioned two connections established in parallel is called a simultaneous operation.

[0059] 4 is a diagram showing a wireless connection sequence in the infrastructure connection mode. Note that the processes executed by each device in this sequence are realized by the CPU of each device reading various programs stored in a memory such as a ROM of each device into a RAM and executing them. Note that when communication device 151 receives a predetermined operation for operating in the infrastructure connection mode from a user, it starts operating in the infrastructure connection mode. Note that the predetermined operation for operating in the infrastructure connection mode is, for example, an operation of selecting a "select an access point and connect" button.

[0060] First, in S401, the communication device 151 transmits a device search command by using channels available to the communication device 151 in order, and searches for access points in the vicinity of the communication device 151.

[0061] Next, in S402, when the access point 131 receives the device search command transmitted from the communication device 151, the access point 131 transmits an device search response command, which is a response to the device search command, to the communication device 151. Note that the access point 131 transmits the device search response command only in response to the device search command transmitted on a channel that the access point 131 can use. In this way, the communication device 151 discovers the access point 131. Note that the channel used to transmit the device search response command is determined as the channel to be used for communication between the communication device 151 and the access point 131 thereafter. In other words, the channel to be used for communication in the infrastructure mode is determined by the access point 131. Thereafter, the communication device 151 displays a list of the discovered access points and accepts a selection from the user. Here, it is assumed that the access point 131 is selected.

[0062] Thereafter, a known wireless connection establishment process is executed between the communication device 151 and the access point 131 selected by the user. Specifically, processes such as transmission of a connection request, authentication of the connection request, assignment of an IP address, etc. Note that, as in the P2P mode, commands and parameters transmitted and received in the wireless connection establishment process between the information processing device 101 and the communication device 151 may be those specified by the Wi-Fi standard, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.

[0063] In S403 and S404, processing similar to that in S401 and S402 is executed between the information processing device 101 and the access point 131. At this time, the access point 131 transmits a device search response command to the information processing device 101 using the channel used for communication with the communication device 151. That is, the access point 131 communicates with the communication device 151 and the information processing device 101 using the same channel.

[0064] As a result, the communication device 151 and the information processing device 101 are connected via the access point 131, and communication between the communication device 151 and the information processing device 101 via the access point 131 becomes possible.

[0065] <Processing Executed by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband> As described above, the communication device 151 of the present embodiment supports Wi-Fi Agile Multiband. Wi-Fi Agile Multiband is a function compliant with the standards of IEEE802.11v, IEEE802.11r, and IEEE802.11k, and is a function for controlling the communication device 151 to connect to an appropriate network according to the state of the network around the communication device 151.

[0066] FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the process executed by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband. The process executed by each device in this sequence is realized by the CPU of each device reading various programs stored in a memory such as a ROM included in each device into a RAM and executing them. In the description of FIG. 5, it is assumed that a first network, which is a network to which the communication device 151 is currently connected, and a second network, which is a network to which the communication device 151 is not currently connected, exist around the communication device 151. The access point forming the first network is, for example, the access point 131. The access point forming the first network and the access point forming the second network may be the same device, or may be different devices. When the access point forming the first network and the access point forming the second network are the same device, for example, the frequency band used in the first network and the frequency band used in the second network are different. It is assumed that the process of FIG. 5 is started in a state in which the communication device 151 is operating in wireless infrastructure mode and is connected to the first network. In addition, when a connection is established between the communication device 151 and an access point forming the first network, the access point acquires information indicating whether or not the communication device 151 supports IEEE802.11v. If it is determined based on the information that the communication device 151 supports IEEE802.11v, the following processing is performed. That is, the information indicating whether or not the communication device 151 supports IEEE802.11v is, in other words, information indicating whether or not the communication device 151 supports Wi-Fi Agile Multiband. In addition, the processing described below is realized by the function of Wi-Fi Agile Multiband provided in the access point forming the first network and the communication device 151.

[0067] In S501, an access point forming the first network transmits a measurement request to the communication device 151. The measurement request is transmitted using, for example, a mechanism defined in the IEEE 802.11k standard.

[0068] In S502, the communication device 151 starts measuring values ​​related to one or more networks around the communication device 151 based on the measurement request received in S501. The value related to the network around the communication device 151 is specifically the radio wave strength of the information received by the communication device 151. The information received by the communication device 151 is specifically information corresponding to one or more networks around the communication device 151, and is information emitted by an access point forming a network around the communication device 151. The information may be a beacon or a frame. If there are multiple networks around the communication device 151, the radio wave strength of each piece of information corresponding to the multiple networks is measured. Here, the radio wave strength of the information corresponding to the first network and transmitted from the access point forming the first network, and the radio wave strength of the information corresponding to the second network and transmitted from the access point forming the second network are measured. The information acquired by the communication device 151 in this process is not limited to information related to the radio wave strength of the information received by the communication device 151. For example, the SSID, which is identification information of the network corresponding to the information received by communication device 151, information regarding the frequency band used in the network, information regarding the channel used in the network, information regarding the number of devices connected to the network, etc. may also be obtained.

[0069] In S503, the communication device 151 identifies and extracts information corresponding to a network having the same SSID as the SSID of the first network from the information acquired in S502. Then, the communication device 151 transmits the extracted information from the information acquired in S502 to the access point forming the first network as a response to the request received in S501, and does not transmit the information not extracted from the information acquired in S502 to the access point forming the first network. Here, since the SSID of the first network and the SSID of the second network are the same, it is assumed that at least the information corresponding to the second network is transmitted to the access point forming the first network.

[0070] In S504, the access point forming the first network judges whether or not to switch (change) the connection destination of the communication device 151 from the first network to another network based on the information received from the communication device 151. This judgment is a process of judging whether the communication between the other network and the communication device 151 is more stable than the communication between the first network and the communication device 151. This judgment is a process performed by comprehensively referring to the radio wave strength, frequency band, number of devices connected to the network, and the like, which are specified based on the information received from the communication device 151. Note that, in this judgment, information other than the information received from the communication device 151 may be referred to. The information other than the information received from the communication device 151 is, for example, information collected by the access point forming the first network itself, such as information on the number of devices connected to the access point forming the first network, and information on the amount and speed of data being communicated on the first network. When it is judged that the connection destination of the communication device 151 is to be switched from the first network to the other network, the access point forming the first network specifies a new connection destination of the communication device 151. In this case, one of the networks identified by the information received from the communication device 151 and existing around the communication device 151 is identified as a new connection destination of the communication device 151. In the following, a network identified by the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband function and identified as a new connection destination of the communication device 151 is referred to as a change target network. In this description, the change target network is assumed to be the second network. Next, the access point forming the first network identifies information about the second network. Specifically, the information about the second network is, for example, the SSID of the second network, the frequency band used by the second network, and the channel used by the second network. In addition, the access point forming the first network may identify multiple networks as new connection destinations of the communication device 151 and identify information about each of the multiple networks.

[0071] In S505, the access point forming the first network transmits a connection destination switch request to the communication device 151. The connection destination switch request includes information on the network identified in S504 as the new connection destination of the communication device 151. The connection destination switch request is transmitted as a BSS Transition Management (BTM) Request by a BTM Request frame defined in the IEEE802.11v standard, for example.

[0072] In S506, if the communication device 151 complies with the connection destination change request received in S505, it transmits a response (acknowledgement response) indicating that it agrees to switch the connection destination to the access point forming the first network. If it does not comply with the connection destination change request, it may transmit a response indicating that it refuses to switch the connection destination to the access point forming the first network. The response is transmitted as a BTM Response. In this description, it is assumed that a response indicating that it agrees to switch the connection destination is transmitted.

[0073] In S507, the communication device 151 disconnects the connection to the first network.

[0074] In S508, the communication device 151 transmits a connection request for connecting to the second network to the access point forming the second network. Note that the password used by the communication device 151 to connect to the second network and transmitted from the communication device 151 to the device forming the second network is the same as the password used by the communication device 151 to connect to the first network. That is, after the connection to the first network is disconnected, the communication device 151 can identify the password used to connect to the second network without receiving an input of the password for connecting to the second network from the user or receiving the password from another device.

[0075] In S509, a connection between the communication device 151 and the second network is established.

[0076] As described above, with the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband function, it becomes possible to appropriately control the network to which the communication device 151 connects.

[0077] <Wi-Fi Channel Arrangement> FIG. 6 shows the channel arrangements in the 2.4 GHz frequency band and the 5 GHz frequency band of Wi-Fi. In Wi-Fi, the 2.4 GHz frequency band is used by being divided into bandwidths of every 22 MHz. Numbers are assigned to the channels, and the channels corresponding to the 2.4 GHz frequency band are channels 1 to 14. Also, in the case of the 5 GHz frequency band, the bandwidth is divided and used every 20 MHz, and there is no frequency overlap in each channel. The channels corresponding to the non-DFS frequency band in the 5 GHz frequency band are channels called W52. Specifically, W52 corresponds to channels 36, 31, 44, and 48. The channels corresponding to the DFS frequency band in the 5 GHz frequency band are channels called W53 and W56. Specifically, W53 corresponds to channels 52, 56, 60, and 64, and W56 corresponds to channels 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, and 140.

[0078] As described above, in this embodiment, the communication device 151 can perform a simultaneous operation that is an operation of maintaining the infrastructure connection mode and the direct connection mode in parallel. In this case, if the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode and the channel used in the direct connection mode are the same, radio wave interference may occur in the respective communications. Even in such a case, for example, the DRCS function may be used to control so that radio wave interference does not occur between the infrastructure connection and the direct connection established by the communication device 151. However, even in this form, there is a risk that communication between an access point, which is the infrastructure connection destination of the communication device 151, and another device may interfere with the communication in the direct connection mode of the communication device 151.

[0079] As described above, the connection destination of the communication device 151 may be switched by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband. When the switching of the connection destination of the communication device 151 by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband is performed while the communication device 151 is simultaneously operating, and the channel used for the connection to the new connection destination is the channel used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode, the channel used by the communication device 151 in the infrastructure connection mode and the channel used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode become the same. In other words, the switching of the connection destination of the communication device 151 by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband may cause a transition to a connection state in which radio interference may occur.

[0080] In this embodiment, therefore, control is executed to solve the above-mentioned problem.

[0081] <Control when the direct connection mode is newly started> FIG. 7 illustrates a process executed by the communication device 151 in this embodiment. The process executed by the communication device 151 in this flowchart is realized by the CPU 154 reading various programs stored in a memory such as the ROM 152 into the RAM 153 and executing them. This process is started when a process that triggers the start of the direct connection mode is performed, such as when the communication device 151 receives an operation from a user to start the direct connection mode described above. The process that triggers the start of the direct connection mode is, for example, a process performed in the processes of FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 described later, in addition to the reception of an operation to start the direct connection mode on the screen of FIG. 2. More specifically, for example, the process is a process that stops the direct connection mode when an infrastructure connection is newly established during operation in the direct connection mode. In this embodiment, the communication device 151 has a function of starting operation in the communication mode that was operating when the communication device 151 was powered off, again when the communication device 151 is powered on. Therefore, the process that triggers the start of the direct connection mode is, for example, a process that receives a power-on operation after the communication device 151 is powered off while operating in the direct connection mode. In this embodiment, if the communication device 151 was operating simultaneously when the communication device 151 was powered off, when the communication device 151 is powered on, the communication device 151 first starts operation in infrastructure connection mode and executes reconnection processing with the access point. Then, based on the start of the reconnection processing, the communication device 151 starts operation in direct connection mode. At this time, the communication device 151 may start operation in direct connection mode based on the passage of a predetermined time after the start of the reconnection processing. Furthermore, the communication device 151 may start operation in direct connection mode based on the connection between the communication device 151 and the access point by the reconnection processing, or based on the timeout occurring because the reconnection processing is unable to connect to the access point.

[0082] In S701, the CPU 154 judges whether or not the frequency band set on the screen of Fig. 2(e) as the frequency band to be used in the direct connection mode is 5 GHz. If the judgment is YES, the CPU 154 proceeds to S702, and if the judgment is NO because 2.4 GHz is set, the CPU 154 proceeds to S705.

[0083] In S702, the CPU 154 judges whether the communication device 151 is in an infrastructure connection state. If the communication device 151 is in an infrastructure connection state, the CPU 154 identifies the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode and judges whether the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode is channel 36. That is, in this process, the CPU 154 judges whether the communication device 151 is in an infrastructure connection state and the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode is channel 36. The infrastructure connection state is a state in which the communication device 151 operates in the infrastructure connection mode and is connected to the access point 131. The channel identified here corresponds to the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode when the process that serves as a trigger for starting the direct connection mode is executed. If the CPU 154 judges YES, the process proceeds to S703. On the other hand, if the communication device 151 is not connected to the access point 131 and is not in an infrastructure connection state, or if the communication device 151 is in an infrastructure connection state but the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode is not channel 36, the process proceeds to S704. Note that the case where communication device 151 is in an infrastructure connection state corresponds to the case where communication device 151 is operating in infrastructure connection mode (infrastructure connected) and an operation to activate direct connection mode is performed on communication device 151.

[0084] In S703, the CPU 154 sets the channel to be used in the direct connection mode as channel 40, and starts the direct connection mode. Specifically, for example, the communication device 151 is operated in a soft AP mode using channel 40 or a WFD mode using channel 40. This allows the communication device 151 to simultaneously operate in an infrastructure connection mode using channel 36 and a direct connection mode using channel 40. By starting operation in the direct connection mode, the communication device 151 can establish a direct connection with another device by executing the sequence described in FIG. 3(a) and FIG. 3(b). After that, the CPU 154 proceeds to S708.

[0085] Meanwhile, in S704, the CPU 154 sets the channel to be used in the direct connection mode as channel 36, and activates the direct connection mode. Specifically, for example, the communication device 151 is operated in a soft AP mode using channel 36 or in a WFD mode using channel 36. This allows the communication device 151 to simultaneously operate, for example, in an infrastructure connection mode using a channel other than channel 36 and in a direct connection mode using channel 36. Alternatively, the communication device 151 operates independently in the direct connection mode using channel 36. The CPU 154 then proceeds to S708.

[0086] In S705, the CPU 154 judges whether the communication device 151 is in an infrastructure-connected state. If the communication device 151 is in an infrastructure-connected state, the CPU 154 identifies the channel used in the infrastructure-connected mode and judges whether the channel used in the infrastructure-connected mode is channel 3. That is, in this process, the CPU 154 judges whether the communication device 151 is in an infrastructure-connected state and the channel used in the infrastructure-connected mode is channel 3. The channel identified here corresponds to the channel used in the infrastructure-connected mode when the process that serves as a trigger for starting the direct connection mode is executed. If the CPU 154 judges YES, the process proceeds to S706. On the other hand, if the communication device 151 is not connected to the access point 131 and is not in an infrastructure-connected state, or if the communication device 151 is in an infrastructure-connected state but the channel used in the infrastructure-connected mode is not channel 3, the process proceeds to S707.

[0087] In S706, the CPU 154 sets the channel to be used in the direct connection mode as channel 11, and activates the direct connection mode. Specifically, for example, the communication device 151 is operated in a soft AP mode using channel 11 or a WFD mode using channel 11. This allows the communication device 151 to simultaneously operate in the infrastructure connection mode using channel 3 and the direct connection mode using channel 11. The CPU 154 then proceeds to S708.

[0088] Meanwhile, in S707, CPU 154 sets the channel to be used in the direct connection mode as channel 3, and activates the direct connection mode. Specifically, for example, communication device 151 is operated in soft AP mode using channel 3 or WFD mode using channel 3. This allows communication device 151 to simultaneously operate, for example, in infrastructure connection mode using a channel other than channel 3 and direct connection mode using channel 3. Alternatively, communication device 151 operates independently in direct connection mode using channel 3. CPU 154 then proceeds to S708.

[0089] In S708, CPU 154 identifies which channel is currently being used in the direct connection mode, and stores information indicating the identified channel in a predetermined storage area in any memory included in communication device 151. The channel identified here is treated as a non-preferred channel, which will be described later. Specifically, for example, when S708 is executed after S703, CPU 154 stores information indicating channel 40 in a predetermined storage area.

[0090] In S709, CPU 154 determines whether communication device 151 is in an infrastructure connection state. If the determination is YES, CPU 154 proceeds to S710, and if the determination is NO, CPU 154 ends the process. If the determination is YES, CPU 154 may determine whether an access point forming a network to which communication device 151 is connected is an access point that supports the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband function before proceeding to S710. If the determination is YES, CPU 154 may proceed to S710, and if the determination is NO, CPU 154 may end the process.

[0091] In S710, the CPU 154 executes control to prevent the network to which the communication device 151 is connected in the infrastructure connection mode from being changed by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband to a network using the channel currently used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode. Specifically, the CPU 154 executes control to prevent the network using the channel currently used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode from being specified as a network to be changed in the access point forming the network to which the communication device 151 is connected. More specifically, the CPU 154 transmits information indicating the channel currently used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode to the access point forming the network to which the communication device 151 is connected. The information is, for example, a BTM (BSS Transition Management) Request frame defined in the IEEE802.11v standard, and is information including the number of the channel currently used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode in a non-preferred channel designation field. The channel indicated by the information transmitted here is a non-preferred channel, and the access point that has received the notification of the non-preferred channel controls not to specify a network using the non-preferred channel as a network to be changed. This controls not to change the network to which the communication device 151 is connected in infrastructure connection mode to a network using the channel currently used by the communication device 151 in direct connection mode by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband.

[0092] By the above-described process, when an operation for starting the direct connection mode is executed on the communication device 151 while the communication device 151 is operating in the infrastructure connection mode, the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode and the channel used in the direct connection mode can be made different. As a result, it is possible to suppress interference between the communication in the infrastructure connection mode and the communication in the direct connection mode.

[0093] In addition, the channel determined as the channel to be used in S703, S704, S706, and S707 is not limited to the above-mentioned form. As long as the channel to be used in the infrastructure connection mode and the channel to be used in the direct connection mode are determined so as not to match, a channel different from the above may be determined as the channel to be used. Specifically, for example, in S703, the channel to be used in the direct connection mode may be set as channel 44 or channel 48. In this case, it is preferable that a channel other than the channel corresponding to the DFS band is set.

[0094] Also, in the above description, when the frequency band set on the screen of FIG. 2(e) as the frequency band to be used in the direct connection mode is 5 GHz, channel 36 is used preferentially over channel 40. Also, when the frequency band set on the screen of FIG. 2(e) as the frequency band to be used in the direct connection mode is 2.4 GHz, channel 3 is used preferentially over channel 11. However, this is not limiting. The channel to be used preferentially may be another channel.

[0095] Also, by a process partially different from the above process, control may be performed so that the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode does not match the channel used in the direct connection mode. For example, instead of the process of S702, the CPU 154 may determine only whether the communication device 151 is in an infrastructure connection state. Then, when it is determined that the communication device 151 is in an infrastructure connection state, the CPU 154 may identify the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode, and then identify any channel that is different from the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode among a plurality of channels corresponding to 5 GHz that the communication device 151 can use. Then, the identified channel may be set as the channel to be used in the direct connection mode, and the direct connection mode may be started. At this time, a channel to be preferentially identified may be set in advance. Specifically, for example, the channel 36 may be preferentially identified as the channel to be used in the direct connection mode. Similarly, for example, instead of the process of S705, the CPU 154 may determine only whether the communication device 151 is in an infrastructure connection state. If it is determined that the communication device 151 is in an infrastructure connection state, the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode may be identified, and then any one of a plurality of channels corresponding to 2.4 GHz that can be used by the communication device 151 that is different from the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode may be identified. Then, the identified channel may be set as a channel to be used in the direct connection mode, and the direct connection mode may be started. At this time, the channel to be preferentially identified may be set in advance. Specifically, for example, channel 11 may be preferentially identified as the channel to be used in the direct connection mode.

[0096] In the above description, the WFD mode is the Autonomous GO mode, but if the WFD mode is not the Autonomous GO mode but a mode in which GO Negotiation is executed, the process may be executed at a timing different from that described above. That is, the process in FIG. 7 may not be started when a process that serves as a trigger for starting the direct connection mode is executed. Specifically, the process may be started when the communication device 151 receives a device search command for WFD from the information processing device 101, executes GO Negotiation, and determines that the communication device 151 will operate as a GO.

[0097] <Control when infrastructure connection mode is newly started> FIG. 8 illustrates a process executed by the communication device 151 in this embodiment. The process executed by the communication device 151 in this flowchart is realized by the CPU 154 reading various programs stored in a memory such as the ROM 152 into the RAM 153 and executing them. This process is started when a process that serves as a trigger for starting the infrastructure connection mode is executed and the communication device 151 attempts to establish a connection with the access point 131 as described with reference to FIG. 4. The process that serves as a trigger for starting the infrastructure connection mode is, for example, a process in which the communication device 151 accepts an operation from the user to start the infrastructure connection mode described above. The process that serves as a trigger for starting the infrastructure connection mode is, for example, a process in which the communication device 151 accepts a power-on operation after the communication device 151 is powered off while operating in the infrastructure connection mode.

[0098] In S801, the CPU 154 determines whether or not the establishment of an infrastructure connection (i.e., a connection between the communication device 151 and the access point 131) by the communication device 151 has been completed. If the determination is YES, the CPU 154 proceeds to S802, and if the determination is NO, the CPU 154 repeats S801 until the infrastructure connection is completed.

[0099] In S802, CPU 154 stores information indicating which channel is used in the infrastructure connection mode in a memory provided in communication device 151. As described above, the channel used in the infrastructure connection is determined by access point 131, so the channel indicated by the information stored here is the channel determined by access point 131.

[0100] In S803, the CPU 154 judges whether the communication device 151 is operating in the direct connection mode. The case where the result of this judgment is YES corresponds to the case where the communication device 151 is operating in the direct connection mode and an operation for starting the infrastructure connection mode is performed on the communication device 151. The case where the result of this judgment is NO corresponds to the case where the communication device 151 is not operating in the direct connection mode and an operation for starting the infrastructure connection mode is performed on the communication device 151. The state where the communication device 151 is operating in the direct connection mode includes a state where the communication device 151 is operating in the direct connection mode but a direct connection by the communication device 151 is not established. It also includes a state where the communication device 151 is operating in the direct connection mode and a direct connection by the communication device 151 is established. The state where the communication device 151 is operating in the direct connection mode but a direct connection by the communication device 151 is not established refers to a state where the communication device 151 is operating as a GO or a software AP but a direct connection with another device is not established. If the determination is YES, the CPU 154 proceeds to S804, and if the determination is NO, the CPU 154 ends the process while causing the communication device 151 to operate independently in the infrastructure connection mode.

[0101] In S804, the CPU 154 determines whether the channel currently used in the infrastructure connection mode matches the channel currently used in the direct connection mode. The channel currently used in the infrastructure connection mode is indicated by the information saved in S802. If the determination is YES, the CPU 154 proceeds to S805, and if the determination is NO, the CPU 154 proceeds to S807 without disconnecting the direct connection or stopping the direct connection mode, while keeping the communication device 151 operating simultaneously in the infrastructure connection mode and the direct connection mode.

[0102] In S805, the CPU 154 stops the operation in the direct connection mode of the communication device 151. As a result, if the communication device 151 has established a direct connection, the direct connection is disconnected.

[0103] In S806, the CPU 154 starts the direct connection mode of the communication device 151 again. That is, the process shown in the flowchart of Fig. 7 is executed. As a result, the direct connection mode is newly started while the communication device 151 is operating in the infrastructure connection mode. In such a case, as described with reference to Fig. 7, the newly started direct connection mode is controlled to use a channel different from the channel currently used in the infrastructure connection mode.

[0104] By the processes of S801 to S806, when an operation for starting the infrastructure connection mode is executed on the communication device 151 while the communication device 151 is operating in the direct connection mode, the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode and the channel used in the direct connection mode can be made different. Then, the CPU 154 ends the process. Note that during the process of S806 executed here, the process of S710 may be executed.

[0105] In S807, the CPU 154 executes control to prevent the network to which the communication device 151 is connected in the infrastructure connection mode from being changed by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband to a network that uses the channel that the communication device 151 is currently using in the direct connection mode. This process is similar to the process of S710.

[0106] Before proceeding to S807, the CPU 154 may determine whether or not an access point forming a network to which the communication device 151 is connected is an access point that supports the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband function. If the determination is YES, the CPU 154 may proceed to S807, and if the determination is NO, the CPU 154 may end the process.

[0107] The above-described process allows communication to be continued while the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode and the channel used in the direct connection mode are different, thereby making it possible to prevent interference between communication in the infrastructure connection mode and communication in the direct connection mode.

[0108] In the above, the process of S802 to S807 is executed after the infrastructure connection is completed, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the process of S802 to S807 may be executed after it is determined that a new infrastructure connection is to be established, but before the infrastructure connection is completed. After it is determined that a new infrastructure connection is to be established, but before the infrastructure connection is completed, means, for example, after it is determined that a new infrastructure connection is to be established, but before a connection request is transmitted to an access point. In this case, the information stored in S802 is not information on the channel currently used in the infrastructure connection, but information on the channel to be used in the infrastructure connection to be newly established. Furthermore, after the processes of S806 and S807 are completed, a new infrastructure connection is established.

[0109] <Control when the channel used in infrastructure connection mode is changed during simultaneous operation> As described above, the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode is determined by the access point 131. Therefore, when the channel used by the access point 131 is changed due to control for avoiding congestion or a change made by the user to the settings of the access point 131, the communication device 151 must also change the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode. Here, a description will be given of control when the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode is changed during simultaneous operations.

[0110] 9 illustrates the process executed by communication device 151 in this embodiment. Note that the process executed by communication device 151 in this flowchart is realized by CPU 154 reading various programs stored in a memory such as ROM 152 into RAM 153 and executing them. It is assumed that this process is started in a state in which communication device 151 is operating in infrastructure connection mode and connected to access point 131.

[0111] In S901, the CPU 154 judges whether or not the infrastructure connection has been disconnected. In other words, the disconnection of the infrastructure connection is the disconnection of the connection between the access point 131 and the communication device 151, and the disconnection of the connection between the network formed by the access point 131 and the communication device 151. If the judgment is YES, the CPU 154 proceeds to S902, and if the judgment is NO, the CPU 154 repeats S901 until the infrastructure connection is disconnected. Note that if the channel used by the access point 131 is changed, the infrastructure connection with the access point 131 is disconnected. Therefore, this process corresponds to a process of judging whether or not the channel used by the access point 131 has been changed. Note that there is also an access point 131 that has a function of notifying the communication device 151 that the channel used by the access point 131 will be changed before the infrastructure connection is disconnected due to the change in the channel used by the access point 131. Therefore, this judgment may be a judgment of whether or not the notification that the channel used by the access point 131 will be changed has been received.

[0112] In S902, the CPU 154 executes a reconnection process to reconnect to the access point 131 connected by the disconnected infrastructure connection. In the reconnection process, the CPU 154 first searches for the access point 131 connected by the disconnected infrastructure connection by using channels available to the communication device 151 in order. The access point 131 connected by the disconnected infrastructure connection can be specified by its SSID. When the access point 131 is found, an infrastructure connection with the access point 131 is established by using the channel used for the discovery. This starts operation in the infrastructure connection mode using the channel used for the discovery. Note that the method of searching for the access point 131 connected by the disconnected infrastructure connection is not limited to the above-mentioned form. For example, the CPU 154 may first search for the access point 131 by using only the channel used by the disconnected infrastructure connection. After that, if the access point 131 is not found by the search, the CPU 154 may search for the access point 131 by using another channel.

[0113] In S903, the CPU 154 stores in a memory included in the communication device 151 information indicating which channel is being used in the infrastructure connection after the change.

[0114] In S904, CPU 154 determines whether communication device 151 is operating in direct connection mode. A YES result in this determination corresponds to a case where communication device 151 is operating simultaneously and the channel used in infrastructure connection mode is changed. A NO result in this determination corresponds to a case where communication device 151 is not operating simultaneously and is operating solely in infrastructure connection mode and the channel used in infrastructure connection mode is changed. If the determination is YES, CPU 154 proceeds to S905, and if the determination is NO, CPU 154 ends the process while communication device 151 is operating solely in infrastructure connection mode.

[0115] In S905, the CPU 154 determines whether the channel currently used in the infrastructure connection mode (i.e., the changed channel) matches the channel currently used in the direct connection mode. Note that the channel currently used in the infrastructure connection mode is indicated by the information saved in S903. If the CPU 154 determines YES, it proceeds to S906. If it determines NO, it proceeds to S908 while keeping the communication device 151 operating simultaneously in the infrastructure connection mode and the direct connection mode.

[0116] In S906, the CPU 154 stops the operation of the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode. As a result, if the communication device 151 has established a direct connection, the direct connection will be disconnected.

[0117] In S907, the CPU 154 restarts the direct connection mode of the communication device 151. That is, it executes the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7. As a result, in a state where the communication device 151 is operating in the infrastructure connection mode, a new direct connection mode will be started. And in such a case, as described with reference to FIG. 7, the newly started direct connection mode is controlled to use a channel different from the channel currently used in the infrastructure connection mode.

[0118] Since S908 is the same as S807, the description is omitted.

[0119] In the above description, the operation of the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode was stopped after the reconnection process was executed in S902, but it is not limited to this form. The operation of the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode may be stopped at the timing after the infrastructure connection is disconnected in S901 and before the reconnection process is executed in S902.

[0120] <Control when the connected network is changed by the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband function> As described above, the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband function may cause communication device 151 to change the network to which communication device 151 is connected when communication device 151 receives a connection destination switching request from an access point. Here, a description will be given of control in the case where the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband function changes the network to which communication device 151 is connected.

[0121] 14 illustrates the process executed by communication device 151 in this embodiment. Note that the process executed by communication device 151 in this flowchart is realized by CPU 154 reading various programs stored in a memory such as ROM 152 into RAM 153 and executing them. It is assumed that this process is started when communication device 151 is operating in infrastructure connection mode and connected to the first network formed by access point 131.

[0122] In S1401, the CPU 154 executes a determination by the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband function as to whether or not a connection destination switching request has been received from the access point 131. If the determination is YES, the CPU 154 proceeds to S1402, and if the determination is NO, the CPU 154 repeats S1401 until a connection destination switching request is received from the access point 131.

[0123] In S1402, CPU 154 executes a process for disconnecting the connection between the first network and communication device 151, and establishing a connection between the network corresponding to the information included in the connection destination switching request and communication device 151. This process corresponds to S507 to S509.

[0124] In S1403, the CPU 154 stores in a memory included in the communication device 151 information indicating which channel is being used in the infrastructure connection after the connection destination is switched.

[0125] In S1404, CPU 154 judges whether communication device 151 is operating in direct connection mode. If the result of this judgment is YES, it corresponds to a case where communication device 151 is operating simultaneously and the connection destination network is changed by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband function. If the result of this judgment is NO, it corresponds to a case where communication device 151 is not operating simultaneously and is operating solely in infrastructure connection mode and the connection destination network is changed by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband function. If the judgment is YES, CPU 154 proceeds to S1405, and if the judgment is NO, it ends the process.

[0126] S1405 is similar to S807, so the explanation will be omitted.

[0127] In this flowchart, processes similar to S804 to S806 and S905 to S907 are not executed. This is because the process of notifying a non-preferred channel is executed, and the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband function controls so that the channel used for infrastructure connection and the channel used for direct connection do not match.

[0128] By adopting the above-mentioned configuration, the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband function controls so that the channel used for infrastructure connection and the channel used for direct connection do not match.

[0129] In addition, in a state where the communication device 151 is simultaneously operating and the non-preferred channel is notified to the access point to which the communication device 151 is connected, the direct connection mode of the communication device 151 is stopped by a user operation on the communication device 151. In this case, the communication device 151 cancels the control for preventing the network to which the communication device 151 is connected in the infrastructure connection mode from being changed by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband to a network using the channel that the communication device 151 is currently using in the direct connection mode. Specifically, the communication device 151 notifies the access point to which the communication device 151 is connected that it does not specify any channel as the non-preferred channel. More specifically, the communication device 151 transmits information indicating no channel to the access point forming the network to which the communication device 151 is connected. The information is, for example, a BTM (BSS Transition Management) Request frame defined in the IEEE802.11v standard, and is information in which the specification field for the non-preferred channel is blank. This allows the access point to which the communication device 151 is connected to be able to identify a new connection destination for the communication device 151 without channel restrictions, using the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband function.

[0130] Second embodiment In the above, a form has been described in which when the infrastructure connection mode is newly activated while the communication device 151 is operating in the direct connection mode, the channel used in the direct connection mode is changed regardless of whether the communication device 151 has established a direct connection.

[0131] In this embodiment, when the communication device 151 is operating in the direct connection mode but has not established a direct connection, and the infrastructure connection mode is newly activated, a form will be described in which the channel used in the direct connection mode is not changed.

[0132] Unless otherwise specified, the configuration of the communication system of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. Specifically, in this embodiment, the flowchart of Fig. 10 is executed instead of the flowchart of Fig. 9 of the first embodiment, but the other flowcharts are executed with the same contents.

[0133] <Control when infrastructure connection mode is newly started> 10 illustrates the process executed by communication device 151 in this embodiment. Note that the process executed by communication device 151 in this flowchart is realized by CPU 154 reading various programs stored in a memory such as ROM 152 into RAM 153 and executing them. Also, this process is assumed to be started when communication device 151 receives an operation from a user for starting the infrastructure connection mode described above and attempts to establish a connection with access point 131 as described with reference to FIG.

[0134] S1001 to S1003 are similar to S801 to S803, and therefore the description will be omitted.

[0135] In S1004, CPU 154 determines whether communication device 151 is in a direct connection. If the result of this determination is YES, this corresponds to a case where communication device 151 is operating in direct connection mode and a direct connection by communication device 151 has been established. On the other hand, if the result of this determination is NO, this corresponds to a case where communication device 151 is operating in direct connection mode but a direct connection by communication device 151 has not been established. If the determination is YES, CPU 154 proceeds to S1005, and if the determination is NO, this corresponds to a case where communication device 151 is operating in direct connection mode but a direct connection by communication device 151 has not been established. If the determination is YES, CPU 154 proceeds to S1008.

[0136] S1005 to S1007 are the same as S804 to S806, and therefore the description will be omitted. If the determination in S1005 is NO, the process proceeds to S1012.

[0137] In S1008, CPU 154 judges whether or not communication device 151 has completed the establishment of the direct connection. If the judgment is YES, CPU 154 proceeds to S1009, and if the judgment is NO, CPU 154 repeats S1008 until the direct connection is completed. Note that if the infrastructure connection is disconnected before the establishment of the direct connection is completed, CPU 154 ends the process.

[0138] S1009 to S1011 are the same as S804 to S806, and therefore the description will be omitted. If the determination in S1009 is NO, the process proceeds to S1012.

[0139] S1012 is similar to S807, so the explanation will be omitted.

[0140] The control in this embodiment also makes it possible to make the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode and the channel used in the direct connection mode different. Furthermore, the above-mentioned process makes it possible to continue communication while the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode and the channel used in the direct connection mode are different. As a result, it is possible to suppress interference between communication in the infrastructure connection mode and communication in the direct connection mode.

[0141] Third embodiment In the above embodiment, as a process for establishing an infrastructure connection, the communication device 151 sequentially uses channels available to the communication device 151 to search for access points around the communication device 151, and displays a list of access points found by the search. Then, an infrastructure connection is established with an access point selected from the list.

[0142] In this embodiment, a search for access points around the communication device 151 is performed in a manner different from that of the above-described embodiment, thereby making the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode different from the channel used in the direct connection mode.

[0143] Unless otherwise specified, the configuration of the communication system of this embodiment is assumed to be similar to that of the first and second embodiments.

[0144] <Control in Searching for Access Points Surrounding the Communication Device 151> 11 illustrates the process executed by communication device 151 in this embodiment. Note that the process executed by communication device 151 in this flowchart is realized by CPU 154 reading various programs stored in a memory such as ROM 152 into RAM 153 and executing them. Also, this process is assumed to be started when communication device 151 receives an operation from a user to start the infrastructure connection mode described above.

[0145] In S1101, the CPU 154 determines whether or not the communication device 151 is operating in the direct connection mode. If the CPU 154 determines YES, the process proceeds to S1102, and if the CPU 154 determines NO, the process proceeds to S1103.

[0146] In S1102, CPU 154 identifies the channel that communication device 151 is using in the direct connection mode. Then, of all channels available to communication device 151, channels other than the channel that communication device 151 is using in the direct connection mode are used in order to search for access points around communication device 151. Note that all channels available to communication device 151 are channels corresponding to the 2.4 GHz frequency band and channels corresponding to the 5 GHz frequency band including the DFS band. Also, the search for access points around communication device 151 is called AP search. After that, CPU 154 proceeds to S1103.

[0147] In S1103, the CPU 154 searches for access points around the communication device 151 by using all channels available to the communication device 151 in order.

[0148] In S1104, CPU 154 determines whether or not one or more access points have been found by the AP search. If the determination is YES, CPU 154 proceeds to S1105, and if the determination is NO, CPU 154 returns to S1101. Note that if one or more access points are not found by the AP search despite the processing being repeated and the timeout period has elapsed, CPU 154 may end the AP search and end this processing, and display a screen indicating that no access points have been found.

[0149] In S1105, the CPU 154 displays a list of one or more access points found by the AP search. Then, the CPU 154 accepts a user's selection from the list. Note that, as described above, in this embodiment, the channel used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode is controlled not to be used in the AP search. As a result, the list does not include access points using the channel used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode.

[0150] In S1106, the CPU 154 transmits a connection request to the selected access point and establishes an infrastructure connection with the selected access point. Note that the channel used for searching and discovering the selected access point is used for transmitting the connection request and for communication in the established infrastructure connection. The CPU 154 then proceeds to S1107.

[0151] In S1107, the CPU 154 determines whether or not the communication device 151 is operating in the direct connection mode. If the determination is YES, the CPU 154 proceeds to S1108, and if the determination is NO, the process ends.

[0152] S1108 is similar to S807, so the explanation will be omitted.

[0153] By the control of this embodiment, in a form in which an infrastructure connection is established by the first method, the channel used in the direct connection mode and the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode will not be the same. This makes it possible to make the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode and the channel used in the direct connection mode different. Furthermore, by the above-mentioned processing, it is possible to continue communication while the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode and the channel used in the direct connection mode are different. As a result, it is possible to suppress interference in communication in the infrastructure connection mode and communication in the direct connection mode.

[0154] When this embodiment is applied, S803 to S806 do not have to be executed in the processing of the flowchart in Fig. 8. However, when an infrastructure connection is established by the second method or the third method, S803 to S806 may be executed in the processing of the flowchart in Fig. 8. In other words, whether or not S803 to S806 are executed in the processing of the flowchart in Fig. 8 may be controlled based on which method is used to establish an infrastructure connection.

[0155] The control of this embodiment may also be applied to AP searches other than the AP search started when the communication device 151 receives an operation from the user to activate the infrastructure connection mode. Specifically, for example, the control of this embodiment may also be applied to the reconnection process of S902 in the flowchart of Fig. 9. More specifically, when operating in the direct connection mode, the access point 131 may be searched for by sequentially using channels, excluding the channel identified as the channel used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode, among all channels available to the communication device 151.

[0156] (Fourth embodiment) In the fourth embodiment, a search for access points around the communication device 151 is performed in a manner different from that of the above-described embodiments, thereby making the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode different from the channel used in the direct connection mode.

[0157] <Control in Searching for Access Points Surrounding the Communication Device 151> 12 illustrates the process executed by communication device 151 in this embodiment. Note that the process executed by communication device 151 in this flowchart is realized by CPU 154 reading various programs stored in a memory such as ROM 152 into RAM 153 and executing them. Also, this process is assumed to be started when communication device 151 receives an operation from a user to start the infrastructure connection mode described above.

[0158] The configuration of the communication system of this embodiment is the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment unless otherwise specified. Specifically, in this embodiment, the flowchart of Fig. 12 is executed instead of the flowchart of Fig. 11 of the third embodiment, but the other flowcharts are executed with the same contents.

[0159] S1201 to S1204 are similar to S1101 to S1104, and therefore the description will be omitted.

[0160] In S1205, the CPU 154 determines whether or not one or more access points have been found by the AP search in S1202. If the determination is YES, the CPU 154 proceeds to S1208, and if the determination is NO, the CPU 154 proceeds to S1206.

[0161] In S1206, CPU 154 searches for access points around communication device 151 using the channel that communication device 151 is using in the direct connection mode. Note that in this process, it is sufficient that at least the channel that communication device 151 is using in the direct connection mode is used. Therefore, for example, in this process, CPU 154 may search for access points around communication device 151 by sequentially using all channels that communication device 151 can use.

[0162] In S1207, CPU 154 determines whether or not one or more access points have been found by the AP search in S1206. If the determination is YES, CPU 154 proceeds to S1208, and if the determination is NO, CPU 154 returns to S1201. Note that if one or more access points are not found by the AP search despite the processing being repeated and the timeout period has elapsed, CPU 154 may end the AP search and end this processing, and display a screen indicating that no access points have been found.

[0163] S1208 to S1211 are similar to S1105 to S1108, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0164] By the control of this embodiment, it is possible to control so that an infrastructure connection using a channel used in the direct connection mode is not established as much as possible. As a result, it is possible to suppress interference in communication in the infrastructure connection mode and communication in the direct connection mode. Furthermore, if an access point is not found in an AP search using a channel used in the direct connection mode, it is possible to improve the possibility of finding an access point by performing an AP search on a channel used in the direct connection mode.

[0165] The control of this embodiment may also be applied to AP searches other than the AP search started when the communication device 151 receives an operation from the user to activate the infrastructure connection mode. Specifically, for example, the control of this embodiment may also be applied to the reconnection process of S902 in the flowchart of Fig. 9. More specifically, when operating in the direct connection mode, the access point 131 may be searched for by sequentially using channels, excluding the channel used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode, among all channels available to the communication device 151. Then, if the access point 131 is not found in the AP search, the access point 131 may be searched for by using the channel used by the communication device 151 in the direct connection mode.

[0166] Fifth embodiment In the above, a configuration has been described in which the channels used in the infrastructure connection mode and the channels used in the direct connection mode do not match, but the frequency bands used in the infrastructure connection mode and the frequency bands used in the direct connection mode may match.

[0167] In this embodiment, a form of control is described in which not only the channels used in infrastructure connection mode and the channels used in direct connection mode, but also the frequency bands used in infrastructure connection mode and the frequency bands used in direct connection mode are controlled so that they do not coincide.

[0168] <Control when the direct connection mode is newly started> 13 illustrates a process executed by the communication device 151 in this embodiment. Note that the process executed by the communication device 151 in this flowchart is realized by the CPU 154 reading various programs stored in a memory such as the ROM 152 into the RAM 153 and executing them. This process is started when a process that serves as a trigger for starting the direct connection mode is performed, such as when the communication device 151 receives an operation from the user to start the direct connection mode described above.

[0169] S1301 is similar to S701, so the explanation will be omitted.

[0170] In S1302, the CPU 154 judges whether the communication device 151 is in an infrastructure connection state. If the communication device 151 is in an infrastructure connection state, the CPU 154 identifies the frequency band used in the infrastructure connection mode and judges whether the frequency band used in the infrastructure connection mode is 5 GHz. That is, in this process, the CPU 154 judges whether the communication device 151 is in an infrastructure connection state and the frequency band used in the infrastructure connection mode is 5 GHz. The frequency band used in the infrastructure connection mode is identified, for example, based on identification of the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode. The frequency band identified here corresponds to the frequency band used in the infrastructure connection mode when the process that serves as a trigger for starting the direct connection mode is executed. The frequency band used in the infrastructure connection mode is 5 GHz, that is, the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode is a channel corresponding to the 5 GHz frequency band. If the CPU 154 judges YES, the process proceeds to S1303, and if the CPU 154 judges NO, the process proceeds to S1304.

[0171] In S1303, the CPU 154 sets the channel to be used in the direct connection mode as one of the channels corresponding to the 2.4 GHz frequency band available to the communication device 151, and starts the direct connection mode. After that, the CPU 154 proceeds to S1304. At this time, a channel to be used preferentially among the channels corresponding to the 2.4 GHz frequency band available to the communication device 151 may be set in advance. Specifically, for example, the channel 11 may be set preferentially as the channel to be used in the direct connection mode. At this time, the CPU 154 may automatically change the frequency band set by the screen of FIG. 2(e) to 2.4 GHz. At this time, the CPU 154 may display a screen for notifying the user that the 2.4 GHz frequency band will be used in the direct connection mode.

[0172] In S1304, CPU 154 sets the channel to be used in the direct connection mode as any one of the channels corresponding to the 5 GHz frequency band available to communication device 151, and starts the direct connection mode. CPU 154 then proceeds to S1308. At this time, a channel to be used preferentially among the channels corresponding to the 5 GHz frequency band available to communication device 151 may be set in advance. Specifically, for example, channel 36 may be set preferentially as the channel to be used in the direct connection mode.

[0173] In S1305, the CPU 154 judges whether the communication device 151 is in an infrastructure connection state. If the communication device 151 is in an infrastructure connection state, the CPU 154 identifies the frequency band used in the infrastructure connection mode and judges whether the frequency band used in the infrastructure connection mode is 2.4 GHz. That is, in this process, the CPU 154 judges whether the communication device 151 is in an infrastructure connection state and the frequency band used in the infrastructure connection mode is 2.4 GHz. The frequency band identified here corresponds to the frequency band used in the infrastructure connection mode when the process that serves as a trigger for starting the direct connection mode is executed. The frequency band used in the infrastructure connection mode is identified, for example, based on the identification of the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode. The case where the frequency band used in the infrastructure connection mode is 2.4 GHz means that the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode is a channel corresponding to the 2.4 GHz frequency band. If the CPU 154 judges YES, the process proceeds to S1306, and if the CPU 154 judges NO, the process proceeds to S1307.

[0174] In S1306, the CPU 154 sets the channel to be used in the direct connection mode as any one of the channels corresponding to the 5 GHz frequency band available to the communication device 151, and starts the direct connection mode. After that, the CPU 154 proceeds to S1308. At this time, control may be performed so that any one of the channels corresponding to the 5 GHz frequency band available to the communication device 151 other than the channel corresponding to the DFS band is set. At this time, a channel to be used preferentially among the channels corresponding to the 5 GHz frequency band available to the communication device 151 may be determined. Specifically, for example, the channel 36 may be set preferentially as the channel to be used in the direct connection mode. At this time, the CPU 154 may automatically change the setting of the frequency band set by the screen of FIG. 2(e) to 5 GHz. At this time, the CPU 154 may display a screen for notifying the user that the 5 GHz frequency band will be used in the direct connection mode.

[0175] In S1307, CPU 154 sets the channel to be used in the direct connection mode as any one of the channels corresponding to the 2.4 GHz frequency band available to communication device 151, and starts the direct connection mode. At this time, a channel to be used preferentially among the channels corresponding to the 2.4 GHz frequency band available to communication device 151 may be determined. Specifically, for example, channel 11 may be set preferentially as the channel to be used in the direct connection mode. CPU 154 then proceeds to S1308.

[0176] The processing in S1308 to S1310 is similar to the processing in S708 to S710, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0177] By the above-mentioned process, when an operation for starting the direct connection mode is executed on the communication device 151 while the communication device 151 is operating in the infrastructure connection mode, the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode and the channel used in the direct connection mode can be made different. As a result, it is possible to suppress interference between the communication in the infrastructure connection mode and the communication in the direct connection mode. Note that, although the frequency bands of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz are exemplified in this embodiment, 6 GHz may also be used.

[0178] According to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to control the frequency band used in the infrastructure connection mode so that it does not coincide with the frequency band used in the direct connection mode, thereby making it possible to suppress interference between communications in the infrastructure connection mode and the direct connection mode.

[0179] (Other embodiments) In the above, as a predetermined control for preventing the channel used in the infrastructure connection mode from being the same as the channel used in the direct connection mode by the function of Wi-Fi Agile Multiband, a control for notifying an access point of the channel used in the direct connection mode so that a network using the channel used in the direct connection mode is not specified as a network to be changed has been described. However, this is not limited to this form. For example, the predetermined control may be a control for not notifying an access point of the channel used in the direct connection mode. The predetermined control may be a control for maintaining a connection to the original network without switching the connection destination when a network using a channel used in the direct connection mode is specified as a network to be changed and the connection destination switching request received by the communication device 151 includes the SSID of a network using a channel used in the direct connection mode. Even in this form, when a network using a channel different from the channel used in the direct connection mode is specified as a network to be changed and the connection destination switching request received by the communication device 151 includes the SSID of a network using a channel different from the channel used in the direct connection mode, the connection destination is switched based on the connection destination switching request.

[0180] Needless to say, the object of the present invention can also be achieved by supplying a recording medium on which the program code of the software for realizing the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments is recorded to a system or device, and having the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or device read and execute the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium will realize the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments, and the recording medium on which the program code is stored constitutes the present invention.

[0181] Examples of storage media for supplying the program code include flexible disks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, ROMs, and DVDs.

[0182] Furthermore, it goes without saying that the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments are not only realized by the computer executing the program code it has read, but also that the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments are realized by an operating system (OS) running on the computer performing some or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code. [Explanation of symbols]

[0183] 101 Information processing device 131 Access Points 151 Communication equipment 154 CPU

Claims

1. A communication device capable of operating in a first mode as a slave station in a predetermined wireless communication standard and operating in a second mode as a master station in the predetermined wireless communication standard, a specifying means for specifying, when a specific process for operating the communication device in the first mode is performed while the communication device is operating in the second mode, a channel that is different from the channel that the communication device used in the second mode when the specific process was performed, as a channel to be used by the communication device in the second mode after the specific process is performed, based on a match between the channel that the communication device used in the second mode when the specific process was performed and the channel that the communication device will use in the first mode started by the specific process; a first control means for controlling, when the specific process is performed while the communication device is operating in the second mode, a state in which the communication device is operating in the first mode and a state in which the communication device is operating in the second mode using the specified channel to be maintained in parallel; a change means for changing a connection destination of the communication device in the first mode from the first network to a second network, based on receipt of predetermined information for changing a connection destination of the communication device in the first mode from the first network to a second network via a first network to which the communication device is connected in the first mode, while the communication device is operating in the first mode; a second control means for executing a predetermined control so that a connection destination of the communication device in the first mode is not changed from the first network to a network using a channel that the communication device is using in the second mode, based on the predetermined information, while the communication device is operating in the first mode and the communication device is operating in the second mode in parallel; A communication device comprising:

2. the predetermined information includes identification information of the second network; a connection destination of the communication device in the first mode is changed from the first network to the second network based on identification information of the second network; The communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that the specified control is a control for preventing identification information of a network that uses a channel that the communication device is using in the second mode as identification information of the second network from being included in the specified information received by the communication device.

3. 3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined control is control for notifying an access point forming the first network of a channel that the communication device is using in the second mode.

4. The communication device according to claim 3, characterized in that, based on the start of a state in which the communication device operates in the first mode and a state in which the communication device operates in the second mode are maintained in parallel, the channel used by the communication device in the second mode is notified to an access point forming the first network.

5. The communication device according to claim 2 , wherein the identification information of the second network is a Service Set Identifier (SSID) of the second network.

6. the predetermined information includes identification information of the second network; a connection destination of the communication device in the first mode is changed from the first network to the second network based on identification information of the second network; The communication device described in claim 1, characterized in that the specified control is control that does not change the connection destination of the communication device in the first mode from the first network to the second network, even if identification information of a network that uses a channel that the communication device is using in the second mode is included in the specified information received by the communication device as identification information of the second network.

7. The communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that, based on the reception of the specified information, the connection destination of the communication device in the first mode is changed from the first network to the second network using a password for connecting to the first network.

8. The communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the SSID of the first network and the SSID of the second network are the same.

9. a transmitting means for transmitting network information indicating one or more networks around the communication device to an access point forming the first network; The communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the second network corresponding to the predetermined information is any one of one or a plurality of networks indicated by the network information.

10. The communication device according to claim 9, characterized in that the information indicating one or more networks surrounding the communication device is information indicating one or more networks among the one or more networks surrounding the communication device that have the same SSID as the SSID of the first network.

11. The communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the change of the connection destination of the communication device in the first mode based on the reception of the predetermined information is performed by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband.

12. a stop means for stopping the operation of the communication device in the second mode when the specific process is performed while the communication device is operating in the second mode; restarting means for restarting operation of the communication device in the second mode after operation of the communication device in the second mode has been stopped; The communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that a channel different from the channel used by the communication device in the second mode when the specific processing is performed is identified as the channel to be used by the communication device in the restarted second mode.

13. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the identifying process is a process of accepting, from a user, a selection of one of a list of access points found by the communication device through a search.

14. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the specific process is a process of accepting an operation for executing Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) or AirStation One-Touch Secure System (AOSS) from a user.

15. The communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that the specific processing is a processing for re-establishing a connection between the communication device and an access point in the first mode, which is executed when a connection between the communication device and an access point in the first mode is disconnected.

16. when the specific processing is performed while the communication device is operating in the second mode, based on a discrepancy between a channel that the communication device was using in the second mode when the specific processing was performed and a channel that the communication device will use in the first mode started by the specific processing, the communication device uses in the second mode the channel that the communication device was using in the second mode when the specific processing was performed, even after the specific processing is performed.

2. The communication device according to claim 1 .

17. When a specific process for operating the communication device in the first mode is performed while the communication device is operating in the second mode, a channel different from the channel used by the communication device in the second mode when the specific process is performed is identified as the channel to be used by the communication device in the second mode in a state after the specific process is performed and in which a peer-to-peer connection between the communication device and another device is maintained in the second mode, based on a match between the channel used by the communication device in the second mode when the specific process is performed and the channel to be used by the communication device in the first mode started by the specific process.

2. The communication device according to claim 1 .

18. When a predetermined process for operating the communication device in the second mode is performed while the communication device is operating in the first mode, a channel to be used by the communication device in the second mode after the predetermined process is performed is specified as a channel different from the channel that the communication device was using in the first mode when the predetermined process was performed.

2. The communication device according to claim 1 .

19. when the predetermined process is performed while the communication device is operating in the first mode, a channel other than the predetermined channel is specified as a channel to be used by the communication device in the second mode after the predetermined process is performed, based on a match between a predetermined channel set as a channel to be preferentially used by the communication device in the second mode and a channel that was being used by the communication device in the first mode when the predetermined process was performed; 20. The communication device according to claim 18,

20. When the predetermined process is performed while the communication device is operating in the first mode, the predetermined channel is identified as the channel to be used by the communication device in the second mode after the predetermined process is performed, based on a discrepancy between a predetermined channel set as a channel to be preferentially used by the communication device in the second mode and a channel that was being used by the communication device in the first mode when the predetermined process was performed.

20. The communication device according to claim 18,

21. 20. The communication device according to claim 19, wherein the predetermined channel is channel 3, and the channel different from the predetermined channel is channel 11.

22. 20. The communication device according to claim 18, wherein the predetermined process is executed based on a predetermined operation being performed on the communication device for operating the communication device in the second mode.

23. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the second mode is a mode in which the communication device operates as a software access point.

24. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the second mode is a mode in which the communication device operates as a group owner in the Wi-Fi Direct standard.

25. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined wireless communication standard is an IEEE 802.11 series communication standard.

26. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of a printing unit for executing printing and a scanning unit for executing scanning.

27. The first mode of communication can use a 2.4 GHz frequency band and a 5 GHz frequency band, 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication in the second mode can use a frequency band that does not undergo channel change by dynamic frequency selection out of a 2.4 GHz frequency band and a 5 GHz frequency band.

28. The first mode of communication can use a 2.4 GHz frequency band and a 5 GHz frequency band, 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the second mode communication can use a frequency band of 2.4 GHz but cannot use a frequency band of 5 GHz.

29. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein a frequency band of at least 6 GHz can be used for communication in the first mode.

30. A method for controlling a communication device capable of operating in a first mode as a slave station in a predetermined wireless communication standard and operating in a second mode as a master station in the predetermined wireless communication standard, comprising: a specifying step of specifying, when a specific process for operating the communication device in the first mode is performed while the communication device is operating in the second mode, a channel that is different from the channel that the communication device used in the second mode when the specific process was performed, as a channel to be used by the communication device in the second mode after the specific process is performed, based on a match between the channel that the communication device used in the second mode when the specific process was performed and the channel that the communication device will use in the first mode started by the specific process; a first control step of controlling, when the specific process is performed while the communication device is operating in the second mode, a state in which the communication device is operating in the first mode and a state in which the communication device is operating in the second mode using the specified channel to be maintained in parallel; a change step of changing a connection destination of the communication device in the first mode from the first network to a second network based on receipt of predetermined information for changing a connection destination of the communication device in the first mode from the first network to a second network via a first network to which the communication device is connected in the first mode while the communication device is operating in the first mode; a second control step of executing a predetermined control so that a connection destination of the communication device in the first mode is not changed from the first network to a network using a channel that the communication device is using in the second mode, based on the predetermined information, while the communication device is operating in the first mode and the communication device is operating in the second mode in parallel; A control method comprising the steps of:

31. A computer of a communication device capable of operating in a first mode as a slave station in a predetermined wireless communication standard and operating in a second mode as a master station in the predetermined wireless communication standard, a specifying step of specifying, when a specific process for operating the communication device in the first mode is performed while the communication device is operating in the second mode, a channel that is different from the channel that the communication device used in the second mode when the specific process was performed, as a channel to be used by the communication device in the second mode after the specific process is performed, based on a match between the channel that the communication device used in the second mode when the specific process was performed and the channel that the communication device will use in the first mode started by the specific process; a first control step of controlling, when the specific process is performed while the communication device is operating in the second mode, a state in which the communication device is operating in the first mode and a state in which the communication device is operating in the second mode using the specified channel to be maintained in parallel; a change step of changing a connection destination of the communication device in the first mode from the first network to a second network based on receipt of predetermined information for changing a connection destination of the communication device in the first mode from the first network to a second network via a first network to which the communication device is connected in the first mode while the communication device is operating in the first mode; a second control step of executing a predetermined control so that a connection destination of the communication device in the first mode is not changed from the first network to a network using a channel that the communication device is using in the second mode, based on the predetermined information, while the communication device is operating in the first mode and the communication device is operating in the second mode in parallel; A program characterized by executing the above.

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