Electronic apparatus, method for controlling the same, program, and storage medium

Abstract

To reduce the possibility that the set-up of a wireless LAN transmitting connection information from a terminal device to an electronic apparatus to connect the electronic apparatus to an AP fails due to a change of a connection destination AP.SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus has: receiving means that receives a request for changing an access point (AP) to be a connection destination from an AP being connected with the electronic apparatus; acquisition means that acquires connection information for connecting to a specific AP from a terminal device; processing means that performs processing of connecting to the specific AP on the basis of the connection information; and control means that, in a first state in which a specific condition is satisfied after connecting to the specific AP, performs control to change the connection destination based on the change request, and in a second state in which the specific condition is not satisfied after connecting to the specific AP, performs control not to change the connection destination based on the change request.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device capable of changing an access point (AP) to which a connection is to be made based on a connection change request from the AP, a control method thereof, a program, and a storage medium. [Background technology]

[0002] In an Extended Service Set (ESS) consisting of multiple Access Points (APs), there is a technology that dynamically switches the AP to which the STA (Station) connects in order to efficiently exchange data between the AP and the STA. When it is determined that the AP to which the STA should connect should be switched based on the congestion of the AP to which the STA is connected, the availability of other APs, the radio wave conditions, etc., the currently connected AP sends a request to the STA to change the connected AP. When the STA receives an AP change request, it can connect to the appropriate AP by switching the AP to which it connects in accordance with the request.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses the following process of requesting a connected wireless slave device to change its connection destination from a router having an AP function. A mobile router (MR1) that can connect to multiple wireless slave devices checks whether the wireless slave device terminal supports IEEE802.11v. It is possible to determine whether the wireless slave device terminal supports IEEE802.11v from an Association Request frame that the wireless slave device terminal transmits when wirelessly connecting to MR1. If the wireless slave device terminal supports IEEE802.11v, a BTM (BSS Transition Management) Request frame is transmitted to the corresponding wireless slave device terminal. The BSS Transition Candidate List Entries field of the BTM Request frame specifies the BSSID of the parent router RT2 as the connection destination. This prompts the slave device terminal to switch its connection destination, and the wireless slave device terminal switches its connection destination from MR1 to RT2 in accordance with the received BTM Request frame.

[0004] Patent document 2 proposes a method for connecting a communication device to an access point by sending connection information for connecting to the AP to which the information processing device is connected to the communication device with which the information processing device is communicating without going through an AP. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-175068 A [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6635978 DISCLOSURE OF THEINVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As in Patent Document 2, when setting up a wireless LAN in which an electronic device is connected to an AP by transmitting connection information from a terminal device to the electronic device, the setup is completed after some processing is performed after the electronic device connects to the AP. Examples of processing performed before completing the setup include a communication check to check the connection state between the terminal device and the electronic device via the AP, and settings for sending a job from the information processing device to the electronic device. If the AP to which the electronic device is connected changes during these processing based on a request to change the connection destination from the AP as described in Patent Document 1, the setup may fail midway.

[0007] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a mechanism for reducing the possibility that a wireless LAN setup, in which an electronic device is connected to an AP by sending connection information from a terminal device to the electronic device, will fail due to a change in the destination AP. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the electronic device of the present invention comprises: A receiving means for receiving a request to change an access point (AP) to be connected from a currently connected AP; An acquisition means for acquiring connection information for connecting to a specific AP from a terminal device; A processing means for performing processing for connecting to the specific AP based on the connection information; After connecting to the specific AP, in a first state where a specific condition is satisfied, control is performed so as to change the connection destination based on the change request; a control means for controlling not to change the connection destination based on the change request in a second state in which the specific condition is not satisfied after the connection is made to the specific AP; The present invention is characterized by having the following. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the possibility that a wireless LAN setup in which an electronic device is connected to an AP by sending connection information from a terminal device to the electronic device will fail due to a change in the destination AP. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system configuration. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the configuration of an MFP. [Diagram 3] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating examples of displays on an operation display unit of the MFP. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile terminal device. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an access point. [Figure 6] 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process in response to a connection destination change request from an AP. [Figure 7] 1A is a flowchart of a wireless LAN setup process executed by MFP 100 and a connection destination change process in response to a connection destination change request thereafter in the first embodiment; and FIG. 1B is a flowchart of a wireless LAN setup process executed by mobile terminal device 104 in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 13A is a flowchart of a wireless LAN setup process executed by the MFP 100 and a connection destination change process in response to a connection destination change request thereafter in the second embodiment; and FIG. 13B is a flowchart of a wireless LAN setup process executed by the mobile terminal device 104 in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment is merely an example, and specific examples of components, processing steps, display screens, etc. are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified.

[0012] (System Configuration) FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a system according to this embodiment. In one example, this system is a wireless communication system in which a plurality of communication devices can wirelessly communicate with each other. In the example of FIG. 1, the communication devices include a mobile terminal device 104, an MFP 100, access points AP1 (101) and AP2 (102), a DHCP server 103, a DNS server 105, and a network 110. The mobile terminal device 104 is a device having a wireless communication function using a wireless LAN or the like. Note that, hereinafter, a wireless LAN may be referred to as a WLAN. The mobile terminal device 104 may be a personal information terminal such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile phone (smartphone), a digital camera, a personal computer, or the like.

[0013] The MFP100 is a printing device having a printing function, and may further have a reading function (scanner), a FAX function, and a telephone function. The MFP100 of this embodiment has a communication function capable of wirelessly communicating with a mobile terminal device 104. Although the MFP100 is used in this embodiment as an example, this is not limiting. For example, a scanner device, a projector, a mobile terminal, a smartphone, a notebook PC, a tablet terminal, a PDA, a digital camera, a music playback device, a television, a smart speaker, and the like, each having a communication function, may be used instead of the MFP100. Note that MFP is an acronym for Multi Function Peripheral.

[0014] The AP1 (101) is provided separately (externally) from the mobile terminal device 104 and the MFP 100, and operates as a base station device of the WLAN. A communication device having a communication function of the WLAN can communicate in infrastructure mode of the WLAN via the AP1 (101). In the following, an access point may be called an "AP." Also, infrastructure mode may be called a "wireless infrastructure mode." The AP1 (101) performs wireless communication with a communication device that has been authorized to connect to the own device (has been authenticated), and relays wireless communication between the communication device and other communication devices. Also, the AP1 (101) is connected to, for example, a wired communication network, and can relay communication between a communication device connected to the wired communication network and another communication device wirelessly connected to the AP1 (101).

[0015] AP2 (102) has the same function as AP1 (101), and MFP 100 switches the connection from AP1 (101) to AP2 (102) as necessary. DHCP server 103 connects to MFP 100 via AP1 (101) and network 110, and provides services to MFP 100 by responding to requests from MFP 100. Note that, in FIG. 1, DHCP server 103 is described as being connected as a device separate from AP1 (101) and AP2 (102), but AP1 (101) and AP2 (102) may have a DHCP server function. DNS server 105 is connected to MFP 100 and mobile terminal device 104 via AP1 (101) and network 110, and provides services for name resolution by responding to requests from MFP 100 and mobile terminal device 104. Here, network 110 may be the so-called Internet, or may be a closed network within a company or a mobile phone network.

[0016] (External configuration of MFP) FIG. 2A shows an example of the external configuration of the MFP 100. The MFP 100 has, for example, a document table 201, a document cover 202, a print paper insertion port 203, a print paper discharge port 204, and an operation display unit 205. The document table 201 is a table on which a document to be read is placed. The document cover 202 is a cover for holding the document placed on the document table 201 and preventing light from a light source that irradiates the document during reading from leaking to the outside. The print paper insertion port 203 is an insertion port that allows various sizes of paper to be set. The print paper discharge port 204 is a discharge port that discharges paper that has been printed. The paper set in the print paper insertion port 203 is transported one sheet at a time to the printing unit, and after printing is performed in the printing unit, it is discharged from the print paper discharge port 204. The operation display unit 205 includes keys such as character input keys, cursor keys, a decision key, and a cancel key, as well as an LED and an LCD, and is configured to be able to accept operations by the user to activate various functions as an MFP and to operate various settings. The operation display unit 205 may also be configured to include a touch panel display. The MFP 100 has a wireless communication function using WLAN, and includes a wireless communication antenna 206 for the wireless communication, although this does not necessarily need to be visible from the outside. Like the mobile terminal device 104, the MFP 100 can also perform wireless communication using WLAN in frequency bands of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.

[0017] (MFP configuration) 2B shows an example of the configuration of the MFP 100. The MFP 100 includes a main board 211 that performs main control of the device itself, and a wireless unit 226 that is one communication module that performs WLAN communication using at least one common antenna. The MFP 100 also includes, for example, a modem 229 for performing wired communication. The main board 211 includes, for example, a CPU 212 (central processing unit), a ROM 213, a RAM 214, a non-volatile memory 215, an image memory 216, a read control unit 217, a data conversion unit 218, a reading unit 219, and an encoding / decoding processing unit 221. The main board 211 also includes, for example, a printing unit 222, a paper feed unit 223, a print control unit 224, and an operation display unit 220. These functional units in the main board 211 are connected to each other via a system bus 230 managed by the CPU 212. Furthermore, the main board 211 and the wireless unit 226 are connected via, for example, a dedicated bus 225 , and the main board 211 and the modem 229 are connected via, for example, a bus 228 .

[0018] The CPU 212 is a system control unit including at least one processor, and controls the entire MFP 100. In one example, the processing of the MFP 100 described below is realized by the CPU 212 executing a program stored in the ROM 213. Dedicated hardware for each process may be prepared. The ROM 213 stores a control program and an embedded OS program executed by the CPU 212. In this embodiment, the CPU 212 executes each control program stored in the ROM 213 under the management of an embedded OS also stored in the ROM 213, thereby performing software control such as scheduling and task switching.

[0019] The RAM 214 is composed of an SRAM or the like. The RAM 214 stores data such as program control variables, setting values ​​registered by the user, and management data of the MFP 100. The RAM 214 can also be used as a buffer for various types of work. The non-volatile memory 215 is composed of a memory such as a flash memory, and continues to store data even when the power of the MFP 100 is turned off. The image memory 216 is composed of a memory such as a DRAM. The image memory 216 accumulates image data received via the wireless unit 226, image data processed by the encoding / decoding processing unit 221, and the like. Note that the memory configuration of the MFP 100 is not limited to the above configuration. The data conversion unit 218 analyzes data of various formats, converts image data into print data, and the like.

[0020] The reading control unit 217 controls the reading unit 219 (for example, a CIS (contact image sensor)) to optically read the document placed on the document table 201. The reading control unit 217 converts the image obtained by optically reading the document into electrical image data (image signals) and outputs the same. At this time, the reading control unit 217 may output the image data after performing various image processes such as binarization and halftoning.

[0021] The operation display unit 220 is the operation display unit 205 described with reference to FIG. 2(a), and performs display on a display based on display control by the CPU 212, generation of a signal in response to reception of a user operation, and the like.

[0022] The encoding / decoding processor 221 performs encoding and decoding processes and enlargement / reduction processes for image data (JPEG, PNG, etc.) handled by the MFP 100.

[0023] The paper feed unit 223 holds paper for printing. The paper feed unit 223 can supply the set paper under the control of the print control unit 224. The paper feed unit 223 may include multiple paper feed units in order to hold multiple types of paper in one device, and under the control of the print control unit 224, it can control which paper feed unit to use to feed paper.

[0024] The print control unit 224 performs various image processing such as smoothing, print density correction, and color correction on the image data to be printed, and outputs the processed image data to the print unit 222. The print unit 222 is configured to be able to execute, for example, an inkjet printing process, and ejects ink supplied from an ink tank from a print head to record an image on a recording medium such as paper. The print unit 222 may be configured to execute other printing processes such as an electrophotographic method. The print control unit 224 may also periodically read out information from the print unit 222 and update status information stored in the RAM 214, including the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank and the state of the print head.

[0025] The wireless unit 226 is a unit capable of providing a communication function of WLAN, and can provide the same function as that of a combination of the WLAN unit 401 of the mobile terminal device 104, for example. That is, the wireless unit 226 converts data into packets according to the WLAN standard and transmits the packets to other devices, and also restores packets from other external devices to the original data and outputs them to the CPU 212. The wireless unit 226 can communicate as a station conforming to the IEEE802.11 standard series. In particular, it can communicate as a station conforming to IEEE802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax. Hereinafter, the station may be referred to as an STA. It can also communicate as an STA compatible with Wi-Fi Agile Multiband (trademark).

[0026] The wireless unit 226 is compatible with IEEE802.11ax, i.e., Wi-Fi6 (trademark), and can perform processing compliant with IEEE802.11ax. That is, the MFP 100 can perform either or both of the processing as an STA compatible with (compliant with) OFDMA and the operation (processing) as an STA compatible with (compliant with) TWT. OFDMA stands for Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access. TWT stands for Target Wake Time. Since it supports TWT, the timing of data communication from the parent device to the STA is adjusted. The wireless unit 226 (MFP 100) that is an STA transitions the communication function to a sleep state when it is not necessary to wait for signal reception. This makes it possible to reduce power consumption. The wireless unit 226 also supports Wi-Fi 6E (trademark). That is, communication in the 6 GHz band (5.925 GHz to 7.125 GHz) is also possible. The band that is in the 5 GHz band and in which Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) is performed does not exist in the 6 GHz band. As a result, when communicating in the 6 GHz band, communication interruptions due to DFS waiting times will not occur, and you can expect more smooth communication.

[0027] The mobile terminal device 104 and the MFP 100 are capable of P2P (WLAN) communication based on the WFD, and the wireless unit 226 has a software access point (soft AP) function or a group owner function. That is, the wireless unit 226 can build a network for P2P communication and determine a channel to be used for P2P communication.

[0028] (MFP operation display section) FIG. 3 shows an example of a screen display on a display (touch panel display) included in the operation display unit 220 of the MFP 100. FIG. 3(a) shows an example of a home screen displayed when the MFP 100 is powered on and an operation such as printing or scanning is not being performed (idle state, standby state). In FIG. 3(a), display items (menu items) corresponding to copy, scan, and cloud are displayed. Cloud is a menu item related to a cloud function using Internet communication. When any of the menu items is selected by key operation or touch panel operation, the MFP 100 can start executing the corresponding setting or function. The MFP 100 can seamlessly display a screen different from that shown in FIG. 3(a) by accepting key operation or touch panel operation on the home screen of FIG. 3(a).

[0029] Fig. 3(b) is a display example of another part of the home screen, which is a screen transitioned to by an operation (such as a sliding operation to the left or right) to display another page of the home screen from the state of Fig. 3(a). In Fig. 3(b), display items (menu items) corresponding to communication settings, print, and photo are displayed. When any of these menu items is selected, the function corresponding to the selected menu item, that is, the print function, photo function, or communication settings, is executed.

[0030] FIG. 3(c) is an example of a display of a menu screen of communication settings that is displayed when communication settings are selected on the screen of FIG. 3(b). On the menu screen of communication settings, "wireless LAN", "wired LAN", "wireless direct", "Bluetooth", and "common" are displayed as menu items (options). "Wireless LAN", "wired LAN", and "wireless direct" are menu items for performing LAN settings, and from these items, settings such as setting wired connection, enabling / disabling wireless infrastructure mode, and enabling / disabling P2P modes such as WFD and soft AP mode can be performed. When the "wireless LAN" item is selected and wireless LAN is enabled by user operation, wireless infrastructure mode is enabled. When the "wireless direct" item is selected and wireless direct is enabled by user operation, P2P (WLAN) mode is enabled. In addition, on this screen, a common setting menu for each connection form is also displayed. Furthermore, the user can set the frequency band and frequency channel of wireless LAN from this screen.

[0031] (External configuration of mobile terminal device) FIG. 4(a) is a diagram showing an example of the external configuration of the mobile terminal device 104. In this embodiment, as an example, the mobile terminal device 104 is a smartphone of a general type. The mobile terminal device 104 includes, for example, a display unit 402, an operation unit 403, and a power key 404. The display unit 402 is, for example, a display including a display mechanism of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) type. The display unit 402 may display information using, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or the like. The mobile terminal device 104 may have a function of outputting information by voice in addition to or instead of the display unit 402. The operation unit 403 includes hard keys such as keys and buttons, a touch panel, and the like for detecting user operations. In this example, the display unit 402 displays information and the operation unit 403 accepts user operations using a common touch panel display, so that the display unit 402 and the operation unit 403 are realized by one device. In this case, for example, button icons and a software keyboard are displayed using the display function of the display unit 402, and the touch of the user on those points is detected by the operation reception function of the operation unit 403. Note that the display unit 402 and the operation unit 403 may be separated, and hardware for display and hardware for operation reception may be prepared separately. The power key 404 is a hardware key for receiving a user operation for turning the power of the mobile terminal device 104 on or off.

[0032] The mobile terminal device 104 includes a WLAN unit 401 that provides a communication function of a WLAN, although it is not necessarily visible from the outside. The WLAN unit 401 is configured to be able to execute data (packet) communication in a WLAN system that complies with, for example, the IEEE802.11 standard series (IEEE802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax, etc.). In addition, it is capable of communication as an AP compatible with Wi-Fi Agile Multiband (trademark). However, it is not limited to this, and the WLAN unit 401 may be capable of executing communication in a WLAN system that complies with other standards. In this example, it is assumed that the WLAN unit 401 is capable of communication in both the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band. It is also assumed that the WLAN unit 401 is capable of communication based on WFD, communication in a soft AP mode, communication in a wireless infrastructure mode, etc. Operations in these modes will be described later.

[0033] (Configuration of mobile terminal device) FIG. 4(b) shows an example of the configuration of the mobile terminal device 104. In one example, the mobile terminal device 104 has a main board 411 that performs main control of the device itself, and a WLAN unit 429 that performs WLAN communication. The main board 411 includes, for example, a CPU 412, a ROM 413, a RAM 414, an image memory 415, a data conversion unit 416, a telephone unit 417, a GPS 419, a camera unit 421, a non-volatile memory 422, a data storage unit 423, a speaker unit 424, and a power supply unit 425. Here, CPU is an acronym for Central Processing Unit, ROM is an acronym for Read Only Memory, RAM is an acronym for Random Access Memory, and GPS is an acronym for Global Positioning System. The mobile terminal device 104 also includes a display unit 420 and an operation unit 418. These functional units in the main board 411 are connected to each other via a system bus 628 managed by the CPU 412. Furthermore, the main board 411 and the WLAN unit 429 (the above-mentioned WLAN unit 401) are connected via a dedicated bus 426, for example.

[0034] The CPU 412 is a system control unit including at least one processor, and controls the entire mobile terminal device 104. In one example, the processing of the mobile terminal device 104 described below is realized by the CPU 412 executing a program stored in the ROM 413. Dedicated hardware for each process may be prepared. The ROM 413 stores a control program executed by the CPU 412, an embedded operating system (OS) program, and the like. In this embodiment, the CPU 412 executes each control program stored in the ROM 413 under the management of an embedded OS also stored in the ROM 413, thereby performing software control such as scheduling and task switching.

[0035] The RAM 414 is composed of a static RAM (SRAM) or the like. The RAM 414 stores data such as program control variables, settings registered by the user, and management data of the mobile terminal device 104. The RAM 414 can also be used as a buffer for various types of work. The image memory 415 is composed of a memory such as a dynamic RAM (DRAM). The image memory 415 temporarily stores image data received via the WLAN unit 429 and image data read from the data storage unit 423 for processing by the CPU 412. The non-volatile memory 422 is composed of a memory such as a flash memory, and continues to store data even when the power supply of the mobile terminal device 104 is turned off. Note that the memory configuration of the mobile terminal device 104 is not limited to the above-mentioned configuration. For example, the image memory 415 and the RAM 414 may be shared, or data may be backed up using the data storage unit 423. In the present embodiment, a DRAM is given as an example of the image memory 415, but other storage media such as a hard disk or a non-volatile memory may also be used.

[0036] The data conversion unit 416 performs data conversion such as analysis of data in various formats, color conversion, image conversion, etc. The telephone unit 417 controls the telephone line and realizes telephone communication by processing audio data input and output via the speaker unit 424. The GPS 419 receives radio waves transmitted from satellites and acquires location information such as the current latitude and longitude of the mobile terminal device 104.

[0037] The camera unit 421 has a function of electronically recording and encoding an image input through a lens. Image data obtained by imaging with the camera unit 421 is stored in the data storage unit 423. The speaker unit 424 performs control to realize a function of inputting or outputting voice for a telephone function and other functions such as alarm notification. The power supply unit 425 is, for example, a portable battery, and controls the power supply to the device. The power supply state includes, for example, a dead battery state in which the battery has no remaining charge, a power-off state in which the power key 404 is not pressed, a running state in which the device is normally running, and a power-saving state in which the device is running but is in power-saving mode.

[0038] 4(a) and performs various input operations and displays the operating and status conditions of the MFP 100 based on the control of the CPU 412. The operation unit 418 is the operation unit 403 described with reference to Fig. 4(a) and, upon receiving a user operation, performs control such as generating an electrical signal corresponding to the operation and outputting it to the CPU 412.

[0039] The mobile terminal device 104 performs wireless communication using the WLAN unit 429, and performs data communication with other devices such as the MFP 100. The WLAN unit 429 converts data into packets and transmits the packets to other devices. The WLAN unit 429 also restores packets from other external devices to their original data and outputs the data to the CPU 412. The WLAN unit 429 is a unit for realizing communication compliant with the WLAN standards. The WLAN unit 429 can operate in parallel in at least two communication modes including a wireless infrastructure mode and a P2P (WLAN) mode. The frequency bands used in these communication modes may be limited by the functions and performance of the hardware.

[0040] (Access point configuration) 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of AP1 (101) having a wireless LAN access point function. The AP1 (101) includes a main board 510 that controls the AP1 (101), a wireless LAN unit 516, a wired LAN unit 518, and an operation button 520.

[0041] A microprocessor-type CPU 511 arranged on a main board 510 operates according to a control program stored in a ROM-type program memory 513 connected via an internal bus 512 and the contents of a RAM-type data memory 514. The CPU 511 performs wireless LAN communication with other communication terminal devices by controlling a wireless LAN unit 516 via a wireless LAN communication control unit 515. The CPU 511 also performs wired LAN communication with other communication terminal devices by controlling a wired LAN unit 518 via a wired LAN communication control unit 517. The CPU 511 is capable of accepting operations from a user via an operation button 520 by controlling an operation unit control circuit 519. The CPU 511 includes at least one processor.

[0042] The AP1 (101) also includes an interference wave detection unit 521 and a channel change unit 522. The interference wave detection unit 521 performs processing to detect interference waves when wireless communication is being performed in a band where DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) is performed. If an interference wave is detected when wireless communication is being performed in a band where DFS is performed, the channel change unit 522 performs processing to change the channel to be used when it is necessary to immediately change to an available channel.

[0043] It should be noted that AP2 (102) has the same configuration as AP1 (101).

[0044] (P2P communication method) Next, we will outline a P2P (WLAN) communication method in which devices communicate directly with each other wirelessly without going through an external access point in WLAN communication. P2P (WLAN) communication can be realized using a number of methods, and for example, a communication device can support a number of modes for P2P (WLAN) communication and selectively use one of the multiple modes to execute P2P communication (WLAN).

[0045] The following two P2P modes are envisioned: Soft AP mode Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) mode A communication device capable of P2P communication may be configured to support at least one of these modes, but a communication device capable of P2P communication does not necessarily have to support all of these modes and may be configured to support only some of them.

[0046] A communication device (e.g., the mobile terminal device 104) having a communication function based on WFD calls up a (possibly dedicated) application for implementing the communication function by accepting user operations via its operation unit. The communication device then displays a UI (user interface) screen provided by the application to prompt the user to operate, and can execute WFD communication based on the accepted user operations in response.

[0047] ●Soft AP mode In the soft AP mode, a communication device (e.g., the mobile terminal device 104) operates as a client that requests various services. The other communication device (e.g., the MFP 100) operates as a soft AP that can execute the functions of a WLAN AP by software settings. Note that commands and parameters transmitted and received when establishing a wireless connection between a client and a soft AP are not described here because those specified in the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard are sufficient. In addition, the MFP 100 operating in the soft AP mode determines a frequency band and a frequency channel as a parent station. Therefore, the MFP 100 can select which frequency band to use from 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz, and which frequency channel to use within that frequency band.

[0048] ●WFD mode The MFP 100 may be configured to start up as a fixed parent station in the WFD mode (Autonomous Group Owner). In this case, GO Negotiation processing for determining the role is not required. In addition, in this case, the MFP 100 determines the frequency band and frequency channel as the parent station. Therefore, the MFP 100 can select which frequency band to use from 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz, and which frequency channel to use within that frequency band.

[0049] (Wireless infrastructure mode) In the wireless infrastructure mode, communication devices (e.g., the mobile terminal device 104 and the MFP 100) that communicate with each other are connected to an external AP (e.g., AP1 (101)) that manages the network, and communication between the communication devices is performed via the AP. In other words, communication between the communication devices is performed via a network built by the external AP. When the mobile terminal device 104 and the MFP 100 each find the AP1 (101) and transmit a connection request to the AP1 (101) and connect, communication between these communication devices in the wireless infrastructure mode via the AP1 (101) is possible. Note that multiple communication devices may be connected to separate APs. In this case, data transfer between the APs enables communication between the communication devices. Commands and parameters transmitted and received during communication between each communication device via an access point may be those specified in the Wi-Fi standard, so description thereof will be omitted here. In this case, the AP1 (101) determines the frequency band and frequency channel. Therefore, the AP1 (101) can select which frequency band to use from 5 GHz, 2.4 GHz, and 6 GHz, and which frequency channel to use within that frequency band.

[0050] (Processing in response to a request from the AP to change the connection destination of the STA) The mobile terminal device 104 and the MFP 100 support a function disclosed as Wi-Fi Agile Multiband (trademark). Wi-Fi Agile Multiband is a function that enables the selection of an optimal environment according to the changing conditions of a Wi-Fi network. Specifically, STAs such as the mobile terminal device 104 and the MFP 100 and APs such as AP1 (101) exchange information about the network environment using the IEEE802.11 series of communication standards. By such information exchange, when the network is congested, the AP can guide (change the connection destination) the STA to another AP, frequency band, channel, or even to another cellular service in some cases.

[0051] 6 is a sequence diagram in which the MFP100 switches the AP of the connection destination from AP1 (101) to AP2 (102) in response to a request to change the connection destination from AP1 (101). 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 the programs.

[0052] In the initial state of the process in Fig. 6, it is assumed that the MFP 100 has established a connection with the AP1 (101) in wireless infrastructure mode. In addition, when the MFP 100 and the AP1 (101) connect in wireless infrastructure mode, the AP1 (101) acquires information on whether the MFP 100 supports IEEE802.11v. Then, it is assumed that the AP1 (101) performs the following process if it has acquired information indicating that the MFP 100 supports IEEE802.11v.

[0053] In S601, the AP1 (101) transmits to the MFP 100 an inquiry (measurement request) regarding the radio wave strength of APs around the MFP 100. This inquiry is transmitted, for example, as a beacon frame request or a beacon report request. That is, this request can use a mechanism defined in the IEEE 802.11k standard.

[0054] In S602, in response to the request received in S601, the MFP 100 receives frames transmitted from the surrounding APs and measures the radio wave strength, thereby measuring the radio wave strength of each of the multiple APs, including AP1 (101) and AP2 (102).

[0055] In S603, the MFP 100 transmits a list of the radio wave strengths of the APs around the MFP 100 measured in S602 as a response to the request received in S601. Note that the radio wave strength to be responded to may be information stored in the RAM 214 and non-volatile memory 215 of the MFP 100 in addition to or instead of the information measured in S602. This response is transmitted as, for example, a beacon report or measurement reports.

[0056] In S604, the AP1 (101) determines whether or not it is necessary to switch the connection destination of the MFP 100 based on the congestion status in the network that the AP1 (101) is aware of and the radio wave strength received in S603 from the MFP 100. Factors that the AP1 (101) uses to determine that a connection switch is necessary include a large number of connected STAs, a large amount of communication, other APs are less congested, the presence or absence of radio interference, and AP function stoppage. If it determines that it is necessary to switch the connection destination of the MFP 100 and determines the SSID, channel, and frequency band of another AP to be specified as the switching destination of the MFP 100, the process proceeds to S605.

[0057] In S605, AP1 (101) transmits an AP change request (connection destination switching request) to the MFP 100. The connection destination change request includes information on the SSID, channel, and frequency band of another AP to be specified as a switching destination for the MFP 100, as determined in S604. Note that multiple SSIDs may be specified. The connection destination change request is transmitted, for example, as a BTM Request. In other words, a BTM (BSS Transition Management) Request frame defined in the IEEE802.11v standard is transmitted. In the example of FIG. 6, it is assumed that AP2 (102) is specified as the switching destination included in the connection destination change request.

[0058] In S606, if the MFP 100 complies with the connection destination change request received in S605, it transmits a response indicating switch approval to the AP1 (101). If the MFP 100 does not comply with the connection destination change request, it may transmit a switch refusal as a response. The response is transmitted as a BTM Response. In the example of FIG. 6, it is assumed that a response indicating approval is transmitted.

[0059] In S607, the AP1 (101) and the MFP 100 disconnect the connection in the wireless infrastructure mode.

[0060] In S608, the MFP 100 transmits a connection request to the AP2 (102) to connect to the AP2 (102) specified in the connection destination change request received in S605.

[0061] As a result, in S609, a connection between the MFP 100 and the AP2 (102) is established in the wireless infrastructure mode.

[0062] With this mechanism, the MFP100, which is an STA, can change the connection destination from AP1 (101) to AP2 (102) based on a connection destination change request from the originally connected AP1 (101). The AP1 (101) and AP2 (102) may be APs installed in different locations. That is, the MFP100 can switch to another AP installed in a different location from the originally connected AP by the process of FIG. 6. Also, the APs may correspond to different frequency bands among multiple frequency bands (any two or three of 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) provided by the same device. That is, the MFP100 can switch to another frequency band provided by the same device as the originally connected AP by the process of FIG. 6. For example, the connection destination can be changed to an AP in the 6 GHz band based on a connection destination change request.

[0063] In this embodiment, an example will be described in which a measurement request and a connection destination change request are transmitted from an AP in a mechanism conforming to Wi-Fi Agile Multiband, and the STA responds to the request, but the present invention is not limited to this. This embodiment can also be applied to a case in which the STA responds to a measurement request or a connection destination change request transmitted from an AP using a mechanism different from the above-mentioned example, or changes the connection destination AP (switching, deleting, or adding the AP to be connected).

[0064] (First embodiment) By accepting a predetermined operation on the operation display unit 220, the MFP 100 transitions to a wireless LAN setup mode capable of accepting wireless LAN settings (reception of connection information) from the mobile terminal device 104 via a P2P connection. Hereinafter, performing wireless LAN settings (communication settings) via a P2P connection is referred to as wireless LAN setup, and a mode capable of receiving connection information and attempting connection to an AP is referred to as wireless LAN setup mode. The connection information includes an SSID, which is identification information of the AP, and a password (network key, WEP key, passphrase). The transition to the wireless LAN setup mode is triggered, for example, by detection of an initial setting flag when the MFP 100 is turned on for the first time after purchase, or by receipt of an instruction from the user to operate in the wireless LAN setup mode. The transition to the wireless LAN setup mode may also be triggered by receipt of a predetermined command by a beacon or the like. The wireless LAN settings include, for example, settings of an access point to which the MFP 100 is connected, settings of a TCP / IP address, security settings, and the like.

[0065] In this embodiment, the mobile terminal device 104 performs LAN settings of the MFP 100 by wireless LAN setup in order to establish an infrastructure connection with the MFP 100. Specifically, the mobile terminal device 104 sets an AP (e.g., AP1) to which the mobile terminal device 104 was originally connected as the connection destination of the MFP 100, and can establish an infrastructure connection with the MFP 100 via that AP (AP1).

[0066] In the wireless LAN setup, the mobile terminal device 104 transmits connection information used to connect to the AP in P2P mode to the MFP 100. Next, the MFP 100 connects to the AP based on the received connection information, and the mobile terminal device 104 also connects to the same AP, thereby establishing an infrastructure connection.

[0067] In addition, in the wireless LAN setup mode, an access point function in MFP 100 operates by enabling a software AP function provided in MFP 100. This access point function in MFP 100 may be connectable without authentication and encryption processing using a password, for example. Alternatively, it may be connectable using fixed connection information (here, connection information for connecting to an access point in MFP 100) that is pre-installed in a setting application installed in mobile terminal device 104 that executes wireless LAN setup. MFP 100 is configured to be able to receive and interpret commands from the setting application, and changes the LAN settings of MFP 100 according to the received commands.

[0068] This allows mobile terminal device 104 to connect to MFP 100 operating in the wireless LAN setup mode, without receiving connection information for connecting to MFP 100 from the user or acquiring it from MFP 100.

[0069] Furthermore, the mobile terminal device 104 confirms by a communication check that the STA has connected to the AP specified in the connection information using the wireless LAN setup by the setting application. Specifically, for example, the communication check uses SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), but is not limited to SNMP and other protocols may be used.

[0070] 7A is a flowchart of a wireless LAN setup process executed by the MFP 100 and a connection destination change process in response to a connection destination change request thereafter. This process is realized by the CPU 212 reading a program stored in the ROM 213 into the RAM 214 and executing it.

[0071] Fig. 7(b) is a flowchart of a wireless LAN setup process executed by the mobile terminal device 104. Fig. 7(b) is a process linked to the process of Fig. 7(a) executed by the MFP 100. This process is realized by the CPU 412 reading a program stored in the ROM 413 into the RAM 414 and executing it. This process is also realized by an application or an OS (operating system) installed in the mobile terminal device 104 executing it.

[0072] The process in Fig. 7(a) will now be described. When the MFP 100 transitions to the wireless LAN setup mode, the process in Fig. 7(a) starts.

[0073] In S701, the CPU 212 establishes a connection with the mobile terminal device 104 in the P2P mode.

[0074] In S702, the CPU 212 determines whether or not connection information (SSID, password, etc.) of the AP has been received from the mobile terminal device 104. If so, the process proceeds to S703, and if not, the process waits for reception of the connection information.

[0075] In S703, the CPU 212 sets a suppression state in which a change of the destination AP based on a change request from the AP is stopped (suppressed), and records information indicating the suppression state in the RAM 214. In the suppression state, a change of the destination AP based on a change request from the AP is suppressed, for example, by one of the following methods or a combination of multiple methods.

[0076] (Method 1) When a connection destination change request is received from a connected AP, the device responds with information to the effect that the AP has been ignored or rejected, and the device is controlled so as to maintain the connection with the currently connected AP without changing the connection destination based on the received connection destination change request.

[0077] (Method 2) When a measurement request is received, the system responds (fakes) with information indicating that the radio wave reception conditions of APs other than the currently connected AP are worse than the conditions actually measured (weak radio waves, a lot of noise, no radio waves can be detected). By doing this, it is expected that the currently connected AP will be prevented from sending a request to change the connection destination to another AP. Therefore, the change of connection destination in response to a request to change the connection destination will be prevented.

[0078] (Method 3) When connecting to an AP, the MFP100 transmits information to the AP that indicates that the MFP100 does not support the function of changing the connection destination AP based on a connection destination change request, and connects to the AP. Specifically, for example, in preparation for wireless connection to the AP, data of an Association Request frame including information that the MFP100 does not support IEEE802.11v is created. Then, an operation including data transmission of the created Association Request frame is performed, and wireless connection processing is performed for the AP. More specifically, the information that the MFP100 supports IEEE802.11v is, for example, information that the BSS Transition SUPPORT flag of the Association Request is turned off. This causes the connection destination AP to recognize that the MFP100 does not support (is disabled) the connection destination change function, and the connected AP will not transmit a measurement request or a connection destination change request to the MFP100. Therefore, a change in the connection destination in response to a connection destination change request is suppressed. In the case of method 3, when connecting to the AP in the control of the following S704, the MFP100 transmits information to the AP that indicates that the MFP100 does not support the function of changing the connection destination AP based on a connection destination change request, and connects to the AP.

[0079] In S704, the CPU 212 disconnects the P2P connection with the mobile terminal device 104, and starts a connection in wireless infrastructure mode with the AP indicated by the connection information (SSID, password, etc.) received in S702 from the mobile terminal device 104. In this embodiment, a description will be given assuming that a connection is made to AP1 (101).

[0080] In S705, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the connection with the AP1 (101) in the wireless infrastructure mode has been completed. If it is determined that the connection has been completed, the process proceeds to S706, and if not (if the connection has not been completed), the process waits for the connection to be completed in S705.

[0081] In S706, the CPU 212 starts a timer for measuring a predetermined time. This is used to measure the predetermined time for not responding to a connection destination change request, since it is not known when the MFP 100 will be able to receive a communication confirmation from the mobile terminal device 104. Note that the timing for starting the timer does not need to be immediately after the MFP 100 completes connection with the access point, and may be before the connection is completed. In this embodiment, the predetermined time is about 10 to 30 seconds.

[0082] In S707, the CPU 212 judges whether or not a request for communication confirmation has been received from the mobile terminal device 100. If it is judged that a request for communication confirmation has been received, the process proceeds to S708, and if not, the process proceeds to S709. For example, the mobile terminal device 104 broadcasts a reference request (GetRequest-PDU) to the AP1 (101) using SNMP as a request for communication confirmation. The AP1 (101) transmits a reference request to the connected STA. The MP100 that receives the reference request transmitted by the AP1 (101) transmits response data that can identify its own MAC address as a response (Response-PDU). The mobile terminal device 104 compares the MAC address of the MFP100 stored in advance with the MAC address of the received response data, and if they match, judges that the response data was transmitted from the MFP100. In this way, it can be confirmed that communication between the MFP100 and AP1 (101) is established, and communication between the mobile terminal device 104 and the MFP100 via AP1 (101) is possible. In other words, communication can be confirmed. Note that the response data to be referenced does not need to be limited to the MAC address as long as it is data that can be uniquely identified by the STA. The determination in S707 is whether or not the reference request transmitted from AP1 (101) has been received.

[0083] In S708, the CPU 212 responds to the request for communication confirmation. That is, the CPU 212 transmits, to the mobile terminal device 104, response data that can identify its own MAC address as a response (Response-PDU) to the received reference request.

[0084] In S709, the CPU 212 judges whether or not a connection destination change request (as described above in S605) has been received from the currently connected AP. If a change request has been received, the process proceeds to S710, and if not, the process proceeds to S711. Note that if a connection destination change based on a connection destination change request has been suppressed using the above-mentioned method 2 or method 3, the change request is likely not to be transmitted at all, and therefore the process of S709 may be omitted. Also, if a connection destination change based on a connection destination change request has been suppressed using the above-mentioned method 1 or method 2, a measurement request may be received in this situation, but a description of this process will be omitted.

[0085] In S710, the CPU 212 responds with a refusal as a response to the connection destination change request received in S709, or ignores the request without responding, and performs control so as not to change the connection destination AP based on the connection destination change request.

[0086] In S711, the CPU 212 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed based on the timer started in S706. If the predetermined time has elapsed (if the specific condition of a predetermined time having elapsed since the completion of connection with the AP is satisfied), the process proceeds to S712, and if not, the process returns to S707 and is repeated.

[0087] In S712, the CPU 212 performs processing to enable the change of the connection destination based on the change request of the connection destination. This processing is to release the inhibited state set in S703, and clears the information indicating the inhibited state recorded in the RAM 214. If the control of the above-mentioned method 3 was used to set the inhibited state, the currently connected AP is disconnected once, and the same AP is reconnected. At this time, information indicating that the function to change the connection destination AP based on the connection destination change request is supported is transmitted to the AP.

[0088] In S713, the CPU 212 determines whether or not a measurement request (measurement request described above in S601 of FIG. 6) has been received from the connected AP. If a measurement request has been received, the process proceeds to S714, and if not, the process proceeds to S715.

[0089] In S714, the CPU 212 measures the radio wave strength of the APs around the MFP 100 using the wireless unit 226, as described in S602 and S603 of FIG. 6, and transmits a list of the radio wave strengths of the APs as a Beaon report to the currently connected AP.

[0090] In S715, the CPU 212 determines whether or not a connection destination change request (as described above in S605) has been received from the currently connected AP. If a change request has been received, the process proceeds to S716, and if not, the process proceeds to S719.

[0091] In S716, the CPU 212 judges whether or not the state is capable of accepting a change in the connection destination in response to the received connection destination change request. If it is judged to be capable of accepting, the process proceeds to S718, otherwise, the process proceeds to S717. An example of an unacceptable state (unacceptable state) is a state in which printing is in progress while print data (print job) is being received from another information processing device via the connected AP. Another example is a power saving state in which the clock count is set to a value smaller than the clock count required for connection processing with the AP.

[0092] In S717, the CPU 212 responds with a refusal as a response to the connection destination change request received in S715, or ignores the request without responding, and performs control so as not to change the connection destination AP based on the connection destination change request.

[0093] In S718, the CPU 212 transmits information to the currently connected AP to the effect that the request has been accepted as a response to the connection destination change request received in S715. Then, the CPU 212 disconnects the currently connected AP1 (101) and executes a process of connecting to the recommended connection AP included in the connection destination change request received in S715. In other words, the connection destination AP is changed in accordance with the connection destination change request. More specifically, the process described in S606 to S609 of FIG. 6 is performed.

[0094] In S719, CPU 212 determines whether the wireless connection with the currently connected AP has been terminated (disconnected). The termination of the wireless connection determined here occurs, for example, when an event occurs in which MFP 100 is powered off, when a setting is made to disable wireless communication, or when radio waves from the currently connected AP can no longer be received. Note that disconnection from the original connection destination that accompanies processing to change the connection destination in accordance with a connection destination change request is not subject to the determination in S719. If the wireless connection with the currently connected AP has not been terminated, the process returns to S713, and if the wireless connection with the currently connected AP has been terminated, the process in FIG. 7 ends.

[0095] The process in Fig. 7(b) will now be described. When the mobile terminal 104 transitions to the wireless LAN setup mode, the process in Fig. 7(b) starts.

[0096] In S731, the CPU 412 establishes a connection with the MFP 100 in the P2P mode.

[0097] In S732, the CPU 412 transmits connection information (SSID, password, etc.) of the AP (AP1 in this embodiment) that was connected immediately before the start of the process in FIG. 7B to the MFP 100. The information transmitted here is received by the MFP 100 in S702 described above.

[0098] In S733, the CPU 412 disconnects the P2P connection with the MFP 100 and establishes an infrastructure connection with the AP1 (101).

[0099] In S734, the CPU 412 transmits a request for confirming communication to the currently connected AP. This is the same as described above in S707, and for example, the CPU 412 broadcasts a reference request (GetRequest-PDU) to AP1 (101) using SNMP.

[0100] In S735, the CPU 412 determines whether or not a response (the above-mentioned response data) to the communication confirmation transmitted from the MFP 100 has been received before a predetermined waiting time has elapsed. If a response has been received, the process proceeds to S736, and if a response has not been received even after the predetermined waiting time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S738.

[0101] In S736, the CPU 412 determines whether or not completion of the other setups has been confirmed. The other setups include the setup of application software (hereinafter simply referred to as an application) in the mobile terminal device 104. The mobile terminal device 104 requests capability information (ability information) from the MFP 100, and the MFP 100 transmits its own capability information to the mobile terminal device 104. As a result, information about the MFP 100 is registered in an application of the mobile terminal device 104, and thereafter, communication with the MFP 100 can be executed by the application. Specifically, for example, a print job can be sent to the MFP 100 by the application (print driver). If completion of these other setups has been confirmed, the process proceeds to S737, and if the other setups have failed, the process proceeds to S738.

[0102] In S737, the CPU 412 displays information indicating that the wireless LAN setup with the MFP 100 has been successful on the display unit 420, and ends the processing of FIG. 7B.

[0103] In S738, the CPU 412 displays information indicating that the wireless LAN setup with the MFP 100 has failed on the display unit 420, and ends the processing in FIG. 7B.

[0104] According to the present embodiment described above, during wireless LAN setup, the connection destination is set to a state in which changing the connection destination based on a change request is suppressed, so that even if there is a request to change the connection destination from an AP, the connection destination AP is not changed. Therefore, during wireless LAN setup and until a predetermined time has elapsed when it is assumed that communication confirmation has been completed, processing can be performed while remaining connected to a single AP. Therefore, it is possible to suppress failure of wireless LAN setup due to inability to confirm communication between the mobile terminal device 104 and the MFP 100.

[0105] Note that, when the MFP 100 connects to an AP based on connection information input by the user without using the wireless LAN setup, there is no need to check communication with the mobile terminal device 104. Therefore, in this case, even if a predetermined time has not passed since the connection with the AP was completed (i.e., even if a specific condition is not satisfied), the connection destination AP is changed in response to the connection destination change request if the change request can be accepted.

[0106] Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, an example is described in which a change of a connection destination based on a connection destination change request is suppressed until a predetermined time has elapsed since connection to an AP in wireless LAN setup mode in the MFP 100. In the second embodiment, an example is described in which a change of a connection destination based on a connection destination change request is suppressed until a request to release a suppression state indicating completion of setup is received from the mobile terminal device 100 in addition to or instead of the predetermined time having elapsed since connection to the AP.

[0107] Fig. 8(a) is a flowchart of wireless LAN setup processing executed by MFP 100 and a connection destination change processing in response to a connection destination change request thereafter in the second embodiment. This processing is realized by CPU 212 reading a program stored in ROM 213 into RAM 214 and executing it. The differences from Fig. 7(a) described above are S821 and S822.

[0108] The processing in S801 and S802 is the same as that in S701 and S702 in Fig. 7A described above, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted. However, if the determination in S802 is Yes, the process proceeds to S821.

[0109] In S821, the CPU 212 determines whether or not a request to suppress a change of connection destination transmitted from the mobile terminal device 104 has been received. If a request to suppress a change of connection destination has been received, the process proceeds to S803 to set the suppressed state, and if not, the process waits for reception of the suppression request. In this way, in the second embodiment, the suppressed state is set based on an instruction from the mobile terminal device 104. Note that the setting to the suppressed state may be performed based on the reception of connection information from the mobile terminal device 104, as in the first embodiment, rather than based on an instruction from the mobile terminal device 104. That is, the process of S821 may be omitted.

[0110] The processing in S803 to S810 is the same as that in S703 to S710 in Fig. 7A described above, and therefore the description will be omitted. However, if the result of the determination in S809 is No, the process proceeds to S822.

[0111] In S822, the CPU 212 determines whether or not a suppression release request, which is a request to release the suppression state of a connection destination change based on a connection destination change request, has been received from the mobile terminal device 104. If a suppression release request has been received, the process proceeds to S812 to release the suppression state, and if not, the process proceeds to S811. In this way, in the second embodiment, the suppression state is released based on an instruction from the mobile terminal device 104. In this way, after confirming that the wireless LAN setup has been completed in the mobile terminal device 104, it is possible to set the state in which the connection destination AP can be changed based on a connection destination change request without waiting for a predetermined time to elapse.

[0112] The processing of S811 to S819 is the same as S711 to S719 in Fig. 7(a) described above, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted. Note that the processing of S811 may be omitted, and if it is determined No in S822, the process may be returned to S807. In this way, by not making the lapse of a predetermined time a condition for releasing the suppression state, it is possible to release the suppression state after reliably receiving a suppression release request transmitted from the mobile terminal device 104. In other words, it is possible to reliably confirm that the wireless LAN setup has been completed in the mobile terminal device 104, and then to set the state in which the connection destination AP can be changed based on the connection destination change request.

[0113] Fig. 8(b) is a flowchart of wireless LAN setup processing executed by the mobile terminal device 104 in the second embodiment. Fig. 8(b) is processing linked to the processing of Fig. 8(a) executed by the MFP 100. This processing is realized by the CPU 412 reading a program stored in the ROM 413 into the RAM 414 and executing it. This processing is also realized by an application or an OS (operating system) installed in the mobile terminal device 104 executing it. The differences from Fig. 7(b) described above are S841 and S842.

[0114] The processing in S831 to S832 is similar to that in S731 to S732 in FIG. 7B described above, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0115] In S841, the CPU 412 transmits a request to suppress the change of the connection destination based on the connection destination change request to the MFP 100. The request transmitted here is received by the MFP 100 in the above-mentioned S821. Note that, similar to the above-mentioned S821, the processing of this S841 may also be omitted.

[0116] The processing in S833 to S836 is the same as that in S733 to S736 in Fig. 7B described above, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted. If the determination in S836 is No, the processing proceeds to S842.

[0117] In S842, the CPU 412 transmits a suppression release request to the MFP 100, which requests the release of the suppression state of the change of the connection destination based on the connection destination change request. This suppression release request can also be considered as information corresponding to enabling (permitting) the change of the connection destination based on the connection destination AP change request. In addition, this suppression release request can also be considered as information indicating that all processing of the wireless LAN setup related to the MFP 100 in the mobile terminal device 104 has been completed. The request transmitted here is received by the MFP 100 in the above-mentioned S822.

[0118] The processing in S837 to S838 is similar to that in S737 to S738 in FIG. 7B described above, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0119] According to each embodiment described above, during wireless LAN setup, after a connection to an AP is established, a state is set in which changing of the connection destination based on a change request is suppressed until a specific condition (such as the passage of a specific time or receipt of a release request) is met. Therefore, even if there is a request to change the connection destination from the AP, the connection destination AP is not changed. Therefore, during wireless LAN setup and until a specific condition is met, processing can be performed while remaining connected to a single (same) AP. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the setup of a wireless LAN that connects to an AP by transmitting connection information from mobile terminal device 104 to MFP100, which is an electronic device, will fail due to a change of the connection destination AP.

[0120] The various controls described above as being performed by CPU212 and CPU412 may be performed by a single piece of hardware, or the entire device may be controlled by multiple pieces of hardware (e.g., multiple processors or circuits) sharing the processing.

[0121] In addition, although the present invention has been described in detail based on the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. Furthermore, each of the above-mentioned embodiments merely shows one embodiment of the present invention, and each embodiment can be appropriately combined.

[0122] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the present invention is applied to an MFP, but the present invention is not limited to this example and can be applied to any wireless device that functions as an STA capable of processing in response to a request to change the connection destination from an AP. That is, the present invention can be applied to various measuring devices (sensor devices) such as personal computers, PDAs, tablet terminals, mobile phone terminals such as smartphones, music players, game consoles, electronic book readers, smart watches, thermometers, and hygrometers. The present invention can also be applied to digital cameras (including still cameras, video cameras, network cameras, and security cameras), printers, scanners, and drones. The present invention can also be applied to video output devices, audio output devices (e.g., smart speakers), media streaming players, and wireless LAN adapters (adapters) that can be connected to USB terminals or LAN cable terminals. The video output device includes a device such as a set-top box, and acquires (downloads) videos and still images on the Internet specified by a URL instructed from an electronic device, and outputs them to a display device connected via a video output terminal such as HDMI (registered trademark). This allows streaming playback on the display device and mirroring display (display in which the content displayed on the electronic device is also displayed on the display device). Furthermore, the video output device includes media players such as televisions, hard disk recorders, Blu-ray recorders, and DVD recorders, head-mounted displays, projectors, televisions, display devices (monitors), signage devices, etc. Furthermore, the present invention is also applicable to Wi-Fi-connectable devices known as smart home appliances, such as air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, ovens, microwave ovens, lighting equipment, heating equipment, and cooling equipment.

[0123] (Other embodiments) The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0124] 100 MFP 101 AP1 102 AP2 103 DHCP Server 104 Portable terminal device 105 DNS Server

Claims

1. A receiving means for receiving a request to change an access point (AP) to be connected from a currently connected AP; An acquisition means for acquiring connection information for connecting to a specific AP from a terminal device; A processing means for performing processing for connecting to the specific AP based on the connection information; After connecting to the specific AP, in a first state where a specific condition is satisfied, control is performed so as to change the connection destination based on the change request; a control means for controlling not to change the connection destination based on the change request in a second state in which the specific condition is not satisfied after the connection is made to the specific AP; 1. An electronic device comprising:

2. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the specific condition includes a condition that a predetermined time has elapsed since the electronic device was connected to the specific AP.

3. 2 . The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the specific condition includes receiving specific information from the terminal device after connecting to the specific AP.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3 , wherein the specific information corresponds to permission for changing the connection destination based on the change request.

5. 4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the specific information is information indicating that a wireless LAN setup process for the electronic device in the terminal device has been completed.

6. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the connection information in a state where the electronic device is connected to the terminal device without an AP.

7. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring unit acquires the connection information as part of a wireless LAN setup process for the electronic device.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the electronic device to set a suppression state in which a change of the connection destination AP based on the change request is suppressed when connecting to the specific AP based on the connection information.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8, characterized in that when the suppression state is set, the control means controls the electronic device to connect to the specific AP by sending information to the specific AP that the device is not compatible with the connection destination change function based on the change request.

10. The electronic device described in claim 8, characterized in that when set to the suppressed state, the control means responds to a measurement request received from a connected AP with information indicating radio wave conditions that are worse than the conditions measured for APs other than the connected AP, or controls the receiving means so that even if it receives a change request from the connected AP, it does not change the connection destination based on the change request.

11. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control means performs control so as not to change the connection destination based on the change request even in the first state when the change request cannot be accepted.

12. 12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the state in which the change request cannot be accepted is at least one of a state in which printing is being performed while print data is being received via a connected AP and a power saving state.

13. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means controls the electronic device to change the connection destination based on the change request after connecting to an AP based on connection information input by a user, even if the specific condition is not satisfied.

14. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a print control means for controlling printing on a printing paper.

15. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device performs connection and processing with the AP in compliance with the IEEE 802.11ax standard.

16. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic device can perform at least one of a process conforming to Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) and a process conforming to Target Wake Time (TWT).

17. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the change of the connection destination based on the change request enables the connection destination to be changed to an AP in the 6 GHz band.

18. A receiving step of receiving a request to change an access point (AP) to be connected from a currently connected access point; an acquisition step of acquiring connection information for connecting to a specific AP from a terminal device; A processing step of performing a process for connecting to the specific AP based on the connection information; After connecting to the specific AP, in a first state where a specific condition is satisfied, control is performed so as to change the connection destination based on the change request; a control step of controlling not to change the connection destination based on the change request in a second state in which the specific condition is not satisfied after connecting to the specific AP; 13. A method for controlling an electronic device comprising:

19. A program for causing at least one computer to function as each of the means of the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

20. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing at least one computer to function as each of the means of the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

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