Electronic device, method, and program

Abstract

To provide an electronic device capable of controlling the change of a connection destination AP when an access point determined by the user's settings is changed to another access point.SOLUTION: An electronic device connects to a determined first access point and receives a change request to change a connection destination access point from the first access point. After receiving the change request, the electronic device changes the connection destination from the first access point to a second access point. If the electronic device satisfies the conditions for changing the connection destination from the second access point to the first access point, the electronic device changes the connection destination from the second access point to the first access point without receiving a change request from the second access point.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device, method, and program capable of being connected via a wireless LAN. [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. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-175068 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] After a STA connects to an AP determined by user settings, if the STA receives a request to change the connection destination AP from that AP, the STA will automatically switch the connection destination to another AP. In that case, unless the STA receives another request to change the connection destination AP, the STA will remain connected to an AP that is not determined by user settings.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide an electronic device, method, and program that can control the change of the connection destination AP when the access point determined by the user's settings is changed to another access point. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the electronic device of the present invention is an electronic device capable of communicating with an external access point, and comprises a determination means for determining a first access point, a connection means for connecting to the first access point determined by the determination means, a receiving means for receiving a change request from the first access point connected by the connection means to request a change of the connection destination access point, and a change means for changing the connection destination by the connection means from the first access point to a second access point after receiving the change request, and is characterized in that when conditions for changing the connection destination by the connection means from the second access point to the first access point are satisfied, the change means further changes the connection destination by the connection means from the second access point to the first access point without receiving the change request from the second access point. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, when an access point determined by a user's settings is changed to another access point, it is possible to control the change of the destination AP. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an MFP. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating 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 a 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] 11 is a flowchart showing a process in the MFP. [Figure 8] 11 is a flowchart showing a process in the MFP. [Figure 9] 11 is a flowchart showing a process in the MFP. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0011] [First embodiment] (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, an AP 101 and an AP 102 which are access points, a DHCP server 103, a DNS server 105, and a network 110. In the drawing, the AP 101 may be represented as AP1, and the AP 102 may be represented as AP2. The mobile terminal device 104 is a device having a wireless communication function using a wireless LAN or the like. In the following, the 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.

[0012] 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.

[0013] The AP101 is provided separately (externally) from the mobile terminal device 104 and the MFP100, 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 AP101. In the following, an access point may be referred to as an "AP." Also, infrastructure mode may be referred to as a "wireless infrastructure mode." The AP101 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 AP101 may be connected to a wired communication network, for example, and relay communication between a communication device connected to the wired communication network and another communication device wirelessly connected to the AP101.

[0014] The AP 102 has the same function as the AP 101, and the MFP 100 switches the connection from the AP 101 to the AP 102 as necessary. The DHCP server 103 is connected to the MFP 100 via the AP 101 and the network 110, and provides a service to the MFP 100 by responding to a request from the MFP 100. Note that, in FIG. 1, the DHCP server 103 is described as being connected as a device separate from the AP 101 and the AP 102, but the AP 101 and the AP 102 may have a DHCP server function. The DNS server 105 is connected to the MFP 100 and the mobile terminal device 104 via the AP 101 and the network 110, and provides a service for name resolution by responding to a request from the MFP 100 and the mobile terminal device 104. Here, the network 110 may be the so-called Internet, or may be a closed network within a company or a mobile phone network.

[0015] (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.

[0016] (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 .

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] The encoding / decoding processing unit 221 performs encoding and decoding processing and enlargement / reduction processing of image data (JPEG, PNG, etc.) handled by the MFP 100. The paper feed unit 223 holds paper for printing. The paper feed unit 223 can supply 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 can control which paper feed unit to feed paper from under the control of the print control unit 224.

[0022] 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 a print process of an inkjet recording method, for example, and ejects ink supplied from an ink tank from a print head to record an image on a recording medium such as paper. Note that the print unit 222 may be configured to execute other print 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.

[0023] 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 429 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).

[0024] 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 master to the STA is adjusted. The wireless unit 226 (MFP 100) that is an STA shifts 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-Fi6E (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 is subject to Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] (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).

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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 settings" 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.

[0029] (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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] (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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] The display unit 420 is the display unit 402 described with reference to Fig. 4(a), and performs various input operations and displays the operating and status conditions of the mobile terminal device 104 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] (Access point configuration) 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the AP 101 having a wireless LAN access point function, which includes a main board 510 that controls the AP 101, a wireless LAN unit 516, a wired LAN unit 518, and an operation button 520.

[0039] 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 data stored in a RAM-type data memory 514, etc. 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 can accept 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.

[0040] The AP 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, etc.

[0041] The AP 102 has the same configuration as the AP 101.

[0042] (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).

[0043] For example, the following two modes are envisioned as P2P modes.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] ●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.

[0047] ●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.

[0048] (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., the AP 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 AP 101 and transmit a connection request to the AP 101 and connect to it, communication between these communication devices in the wireless infrastructure mode via the AP 101 is possible. Note that multiple communication devices may be connected to separate APs. In this case, data transfer is performed between the APs, and communication between the communication devices is possible. 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 AP 101 determines the frequency band and frequency channel. Therefore, the AP 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.

[0049] (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 the AP 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.

[0050] 6 is a sequence diagram when MFP 100 changes (switches) the AP of the connection destination from AP 101 to AP 102 in response to a connection destination change request from AP 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.

[0051] In the initial state of the processing in Fig. 6, it is assumed that the MFP 100 has established a connection with the AP 101 in wireless infrastructure mode. In this embodiment, the AP 101 is a user-set AP, which will be described later, and the connection between the MFP 100 and the AP 101 is established by the processing in Fig. 7, which will be described later. Furthermore, when the MFP 100 and the AP 101 connect in wireless infrastructure mode, the AP 101 acquires information on whether the MFP 100 supports IEEE802.11v. Then, it is assumed that the AP 101 performs the following processing when it has acquired information indicating that the MFP 100 supports IEEE802.11v.

[0052] In S601, the AP 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.

[0053] In S602, in response to the request received in S601, the MFP 100 receives frames transmitted from the surrounding APs and measures their radio field strength. This allows the radio field strength of each of the multiple APs, including AP 101 and AP 102, to be measured.

[0054] 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.

[0055] In S604, the AP 101 determines whether or not it is necessary to change the connection destination of the MFP 100 based on the congestion state in the network that the AP 101 grasps and the radio wave strength received from the MFP 100 in S603. The factors that the AP 101 uses to determine that it is necessary to change the connection destination include a large number of STAs connected to the AP 101 (above a threshold), a large amount of communication between the AP 101 and the STAs connected to the AP 101 (above a threshold), the presence or absence of radio interference determined based on the S / N ratio, and the AP function being stopped. In addition, it may be determined whether or not it is necessary to change the connection destination based on the congestion degree of each AP (the number of connections of STAs, the amount of communication) determined by using communication between the APs. When it is determined that it is necessary to change the connection destination of the MFP 100 and the SSID, channel, and frequency band of another AP to be designated as a candidate for the connection destination of the MFP 100 after the change are determined, the process proceeds to S605. In this embodiment, the SSID of the other AP designated as the connection destination is the same as the SSID of the AP from which the change was made.

[0056] In S605, the AP 101 transmits an AP change request (connection destination change request) to the MFP 100. The connection destination change request includes information on the SSID, MAC address, channel, and frequency band of another AP designated as a candidate for the connection destination after the change, which was determined in S604. Note that a plurality of SSIDs may be designated. In this embodiment, the same SSID is set for the APs for which the connection destination is switched by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband, and each AP can be identified by its MAC address. Therefore, even if the SSID of the other AP designated as a candidate for the connection destination after the change is the same as that of the AP from which the change was made, it can be identified by its MAC address. The connection destination change request is transmitted, for example, as a BTM Request. That is, 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 the AP 102 is designated as a candidate for the connection destination after the change, which is included in the connection destination change request. That is, in this embodiment, the SSID of the AP 101 and the SSID of the AP 102 are the same.

[0057] In S606, if the MFP 100 complies with the connection destination change request received in S605, the MFP 100 transmits a response indicating change approval (switch approval) to the AP 101. Alternatively, a suppression process for suppressing a change of the connection destination AP, which will be described later, may be performed. The response is transmitted as a BTM Response. In the example of FIG. 6, the response indicating approval is transmitted.

[0058] In S607, the AP 101 and the MFP 100 disconnect the connection in wireless infrastructure mode. At this time, the MFP 100 does not delete but retains the connection information to the AP 101. In S608, the MFP 100 transmits a connection request to the AP 102 to connect to the AP 102 specified in the connection destination change request received in S605.

[0059] As a result, in S609, a connection in the wireless infrastructure mode is established between the MFP 100 and the AP 102. When the connection in the wireless infrastructure mode is established between the MFP 100 and the AP 102, the connection information to the AP 101 is deleted.

[0060] With this mechanism, the MFP100, which is an STA, can change the connection destination from the AP101 to the AP102 based on a connection destination change request from the AP101 to which it was originally connected. The AP101 and the AP102 may be APs installed in different locations. That is, the process of FIG. 6 allows the MFP100 to switch to another AP installed in a different location from the AP to which it was originally connected. Also, the APs may correspond to different frequency bands among a plurality of frequency bands (any two or three of the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands) provided by the same device. That is, the process of FIG. 6 allows the MFP100 to switch to another frequency band provided by the same device as the AP to which it was originally connected. For example, the connection destination can be changed to an AP in the 6 GHz band based on a connection destination change request.

[0061] 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).

[0062] Depending on the state of MFP100, such as during job execution, it may not be desirable to change the destination AP based on a change request for the destination AP sent from the currently connected AP. In this embodiment, when it is not desirable to change the destination AP based on a change request, one or a combination of the following suppression processes may be performed as a process for suppressing a change of the destination in response to a change request. Each of the following suppression processes is a process for preventing a change of the destination AP based on a change request, or a process for making it difficult to change the destination AP.

[0063] (Suppression process 1) Even if the change request described in S605 is received, the connection destination AP is not changed based on the received connection request, and a response to the change request is not returned, or a response indicating refusal (not to change the connection destination AP) is sent to the currently connected AP. If a refusal response is sent, the priority of the change of the connection destination of other STAs connected to the currently connected AP increases, and the priority of the change of the connection destination of the MFP 100 that returned the refusal response is lowered, and as a result, there is a possibility that the connection with the previously connected AP can be maintained. Also, if no response is returned (ignored), the currently connected AP maintains the connection with the MFP 100 in order to wait for a response until the response waiting time times out. Therefore, if the configuration is such that the connection is immediately cut in response to the arrival of some kind of response from the MFP 100 in response to the change request, not responding can extend the time to maintain the connection with the currently connected AP rather than returning some kind of response. Therefore, for example, different processing may be performed depending on the reason based on the information on the reason for the change included in the change request, such as responding with refusal if the reason is weak and ignoring if the reason is strong. The reason for the change can be determined based on information on which of several reasons is included in the Request Mode included in the BTM Request. For example, if the Disassociation Imminent bit or the BSS Termination Included bit in the Request mode is 1, it can be determined that the reason for the change is a strong reason for the change request. If not, it can be determined that the reason for the change is a weak reason.

[0064] (Suppression process 2) In response to the measurement request described in S601, the AP responds with information indicating that the radio wave reception status (signal reception status) of the non-connected AP other than the connected AP is different from the status actually measured (low signal quality) (fake response). In this case, the AP may respond by actually performing measurement in response to the reception of the measurement request, or may respond without actually performing measurement. Specifically, in the response (beacon report, etc.) described in S603, the AP responds with a value obtained by subtracting the received signal strength from the signal quality measured as the signal received from the non-connected AP, and / or with a value obtained by increasing the noise (signal-to-noise ratio). Alternatively, the AP may respond with content that does not include at least one piece of information about the non-connected AP. In addition, the AP may respond with a value that significantly reduces the received signal strength or significantly increases the noise based on information previously measured about the non-connected AP. In addition, the AP may respond with a value that significantly reduces the received signal strength or increases the noise based on information previously measured about the non-connected AP, even if the measurement request is received. In addition, the AP may respond with a good received signal strength and noise status only about the connected AP without actually performing measurement (AP search) and without including information about the non-connected AP. Responding to a measurement request without including information about the non-connected AP is equivalent to saying that no other non-connected AP was found even after an AP search. In this way, it is possible to prevent a connected AP from sending a request to change the connection destination to another AP. Therefore, a change in the connection destination in response to a request to change the connection destination is prevented.

[0065] (Suppression process 3) The currently connected AP is disconnected once, and information that the change request is not supported is notified, and then reconnection to the same AP is performed. Specifically, the wireless connection to the currently connected AP is disconnected once, and in preparation for wireless connection again, data of an Association Request frame including information that IEEE802.11v is not supported is created. Then, connection processing with the AP is performed using the data of the created Association Request frame. As a result, if an Association Request frame including information that IEEE802.11v is not supported is created, the MFP 100 is connected to the AP as an electronic device that does not support (is not compatible with) the Agile Multiband function. As a result, the currently connected AP recognizes that the MFP 100 is not compatible with IEEE802.11v, and does not transmit a request to change the wireless connection destination to the MFP 100. In this way, a request to change the connection destination to the MFP 100 is no longer made, and the wireless connection between the MFP 100 and the currently connected AP is likely to be maintained. Furthermore, when the connected AP recognizes that the MFP 100 is not IEEE802.11v compatible, the transmission of a measurement request (the request described in S601) from the connected AP to the MFP 100 is also suppressed. Therefore, the measurement (AP search) in response to the measurement request in the MFP 100 and the response to the measurement request (processing of S603) can also be suppressed. This reduces the processing load and power consumption. Also, resources can be allocated to other processes.

[0066] For example, a state in which it is not desirable to change the connection destination AP based on a change request is when print data is being received. When the MFP 100 is receiving print data, for example, a part of the print data of an image to be printed has been received from the mobile terminal device 104, which is the counterpart device, and the remaining part of the print data has not been received. When the MFP 100 receives a part of the print data to be printed on one sheet of paper, it prints only the received part (for example, receives and prints one line), and when the subsequent data is received, it prints that part again, and repeats this process to print. If the connection destination AP is changed based on a change request for the connection destination while this print data is being received, a time lag occurs due to the process of changing the connection destination, which may lead to a decrease in print quality, such as uneven printing. In addition, after the change of the connection destination, communication with the mobile terminal device 104, which is the counterpart device, may not go well, and the subsequent data may not be received, resulting in failure of printing. Therefore, while receiving print data, at least one of the above-mentioned (suppression process 1) and (suppression process 2) may be performed to suppress a change of the connection destination in response to a change request, or the above-mentioned (suppression process 3) may be performed before starting to receive print data.

[0067] (User-defined AP) The MFP100 operating as an STA can connect to an AP by a user operation for selecting and determining an external AP to which the MFP100 is to be connected. In the following description, the AP determined by the user operation may be called a "user-defined AP". The user-defined AP is, for example, an AP that the user has set as the AP to which the MFP100 is to be connected by operating the MFP100 or the mobile terminal device 104. In other words, the user-defined AP is an AP to which the MFP100 is connected before the connection destination is switched by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband. In other words, the user-defined AP is an AP different from the AP to which the MFP100 is connected by the connection destination being switched by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband. The switching of the connection destination by Wi-Fi Agile Multiband is described in FIG. 6. The establishment of a connection between the user-defined AP and the MFP100 will be described in FIG. 7 described later. The user-defined AP is, for example, a high-performance AP, and is an AP capable of communicating in the 5 GHz frequency band. For example, after a user connects to a specific high-performance AP 101 (user-set AP) in an ESS (Extended Service Set) by operating the MFP 100, a request to change the connection destination AP is received due to a trigger such as a deterioration in radio wave conditions, and the AP is automatically switched, resulting in a connection to another AP 2. Although connecting to another AP 2 can avoid problems such as a temporary deterioration in radio wave conditions, the user remains connected to AP 2 thereafter, and the user is unable to use the high-performance AP 101.

[0068] Therefore, in this embodiment, after the connection destination is automatically changed from the AP set by the user to another AP, if a certain condition is met, the connection destination is changed (returned) to the AP set by the user voluntarily even if a request to change the connection destination AP is not received. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent a state in which the connection destination is not connected to the AP set by the user from continuing.

[0069] The AP set by the user will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for determining an AP to which MFP 100 is to be connected. In this flowchart, the process executed by MFP 100 is realized by CPU 212 reading various programs stored in a memory such as ROM 213 into RAM 214 and executing them. The process in Fig. 7 will be described taking as an example a case where the process is executed based on acceptance of a predetermined operation on operation display unit 220 by a user.

[0070] In this embodiment, before the process of Fig. 7 is started, the same SSID is set to AP101 and AP102. For example, since AP101 and AP102 are APs supporting the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband function, the same SSID is set to AP101 and AP102 by the user.

[0071] In S701, CPU 212 performs an AP search. The AP search is, for example, a process of searching for APs in the vicinity of MFP 100. Specifically, CPU 212 controls wireless unit 226 to perform a process of searching for APs as connection destination candidates in the environment in which MFP 100 is installed. For example, CPU 212 transmits a device search request (Probe Request). After that, CPU 212 searches for APs in the vicinity of MFP 100 by receiving a device search response (Probe Response) transmitted from the AP or a Beacon (information that the AP voluntarily transmits periodically). In the AP search, information acquired from the surrounding AP includes, for example, at least one of the AP's SSID (Service Set Identifier), radio wave strength, frequency band, MAC address (Media Access Control address), and information indicating a security method.

[0072] In S702, CPU 212 displays the results of the AP search on operation display unit 220. For example, CPU 212 displays a list of APs discovered around MFP 100 as a result of the AP search. For example, CPU 212 may display a list of identification information of the discovered APs. The identification information is, for example, an SSID. The identification information may be a device name, a MAC address, or the like. Also, for example, the list of the above-mentioned identification information may be displayed as an interface that can accept a selection instruction from a user.

[0073] In S703, CPU 212 accepts an instruction to select an AP to connect to MFP 100. Specifically, CPU 212 accepts a selection instruction from the user from the AP search results displayed in S702. For example, the above-mentioned "user-set AP" is an AP for which a selection instruction from the user is accepted in this process. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which AP 101 is selected as the user-set AP. In addition, in S703, CPU 212 may display an interface capable of accepting input of authentication information such as a password for the user-set AP.

[0074] In S704, CPU 212 performs connection processing to connect to the AP of the user setting for which the selection instruction was accepted in S703. In S704, when CPU 212 performs connection processing, it stores connection information of the connection destination AP in non-volatile memory 215 or the like as connection information of the currently connected AP. In other words, the connection information of the currently connected AP is information indicating the AP that was last connected among APs previously connected to by MFP 100. Also, connection information of multiple connection destination APs may be stored. For example, connection information of multiple previously connected APs may be stored in chronological order.

[0075] In S705, the CPU 212 determines whether or not there are multiple APs having the same SSID as the SSID of the AP set by the user in S703 in the result of the AP search in S701. If the CPU 212 determines that there are multiple APs with the same SSID, the process proceeds to S706. On the other hand, if the CPU 212 determines that there is no AP with the same SSID, the process in FIG. 7 ends.

[0076] In S705, if the CPU 212 determines that there is no AP with the same SSID, it is assumed that a Beacon request or a connection destination change request will not be received from the AP 101. This is because there is no AP that supports the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband function, and it can be determined that the connection destination AP will not be changed by the function. That is, the connection destination AP of the MFP 100 will not be changed to another AP other than the AP 101 based on a change request from the AP 101. Therefore, if the result is NO in S705, the CPU 212 ends the process of FIG. 7 without storing the connection information of the AP 101. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is an AP with the same SSID, it is determined that the same SSID is set in advance by the user between the APs that support the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband function. Therefore, in this case, it is determined that a Beacon request or a connection destination change request will be received from the AP 101.

[0077] In S706, the CPU 212 stores the connection information of the AP 101, which is the AP set by the user, in the non-volatile memory 215. The connection information is information used by the MFP 100 to connect to the AP. The connection information is, for example, one or more of an SSID, a MAC address, a BSSID, information indicating a security method, and a password. The connection information is used, for example, to determine whether or not the AP 101 (the AP set by the user) is currently connected in the process of FIG. 8 described later, and to return the connection destination to the original AP 101 after the connection destination AP is changed to another AP different from the AP 101. The connection information stored in S706 and the connection information stored in S704 are distinguished from each other. The storage area used in S706 and the storage area used in S704 may be different, or the connection information may be distinguished by additional information such as a flag. The connection information stored in S706, i.e., the connection information of the AP set by the user, is not deleted but continues to be held even if the connection destination AP is changed by the Wi-Fi Agile Multiband function.

[0078] In the above, an example has been described in which the user sets the external AP to be connected on the panel (operation display unit 220) of MFP 100. However, the method of setting the external AP to be connected to by MFP 100 is not limited to the above example. The external AP to be connected to by MFP 100 may be set on a device other than MFP 100. For example, the external AP to be connected to by MFP 100 may be set on mobile terminal device 104. Such an example will be described below.

[0079] The mobile terminal device 104 stores a network setup processing program for transmitting setting information of the AP to the MFP 100. The network setup processing program is an application program (setup application) for performing connection settings with the AP to which the MFP 100 is connected, and may have functions other than the network setup function. For example, the setup application may have a function for causing the MFP 100 to execute printing, a function for causing the MFP 100 to scan a document set in the MFP 100, a function for checking the status of the MFP 100, and the like. The setup application may also have a function for transmitting information acquired from the MFP 100 and personal information of the user acquired by the mobile terminal device 104 to a service management server (not shown). The setup application is, for example, installed from an external server via Internet communication and then stored inside. The setup application is, for example, an application program provided by a vendor of the MFP 100.

[0080] In order to perform the network setup process, the MFP 100 operates in a network setup mode. Here, the network setup mode of the MFP 100 will be described.

[0081] MFP 100 can operate in a network setup mode. A trigger for MFP 100 to start operation in the network setup mode may be, for example, a user pressing a network setup mode button, or MFP 100 starting up (powering on) for the first time after delivery. The network setup mode button may be a hardware (physical) button provided in MFP 100, or may be a software button displayed on operation display unit 220 by MFP 100.

[0082] When the MFP 100 starts operating in the network setup mode, it enables Wi-Fi communication. Specifically, the MFP 100 enables an AP (setup AP) inside the MFP 100, which is dedicated to the network setup mode, as a process for enabling Wi-Fi communication. The SSID of the setup AP corresponds to the above-mentioned unique SSID. This allows the MFP 100 to establish a direct connection with the mobile terminal device 104 by Wi-Fi. It is assumed that connection information (SSID and password) for connecting to the setup AP is held in advance in a setup application installed in the mobile terminal device 104, and that the MFP 101 recognizes the connection information for connecting to the setup AP in advance. Therefore, unlike the connection information of the AP enabled in the direct connection mode, it is assumed that the connection information for connecting to the setup AP cannot be arbitrarily changed by the user. Note that in the network setup mode, the MFP 100 may connect to the mobile terminal device 104 by Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) instead of normal Wi-Fi. That is, the MFP 100 may operate as a Group Owner and receive a setting command from the mobile terminal device 104 through WFD communication. Also, in the network setup mode, the MFP 100 may connect to the mobile terminal device 104 through Bluetooth. Here, Bluetooth includes Bluetooth Classic and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). That is, for example, the MFP 100 may operate as a slave device in BLE in the network setup mode and receive a setting command from the mobile terminal device 104 through BLE communication. Also, in the network setup mode, the MFP 100 may be capable of executing both network setup through Wi-Fi and network setup through BLE. That is, when the MFP 100 starts operation in the network setup mode, it may enable both Wi-Fi communication and BLE communication.Specifically, when the MFP 100 starts operation in the network setup mode, the MFP 100 may execute both the activation of the setup AP and the activation of the advertising state in which the advertising information is transmitted by BLE and a BLE connection is possible. The MFP 100 may also receive a setting command from the mobile terminal device 104 by a wired LAN or a USB.

[0083] As described above, MFP 100 operates in a network setup mode for executing network setup of MFP 100 in response to a predetermined condition including a user pressing a button or initial installation. When MFP 100 operates in the network setup mode, it controls wireless unit 226 to operate as a setup AP that is valid only while operating in the network setup mode. The setup AP is an access point different from the access point that is enabled in the soft AP mode described above. The SSID of the setup AP includes a predetermined character string that can be recognized by a setup application of mobile terminal device 104.

[0084] Moreover, MFP 100 operating in the network setup mode uses a predetermined communication protocol (setup communication protocol) in communication with mobile terminal device 104 connected to the setup AP. Specifically, the setup communication protocol is, for example, SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol).

[0085] After starting operation in network setup mode, when a predetermined time has elapsed, MFP 100 stops operation in network setup mode and disables the setup AP. Also, when MFP 100 receives connection information for connecting to an external AP and an instruction to change the wireless communication operation mode from mobile terminal device 104 while in network setup mode, MFP 100 disables the setup AP.

[0086] In this example, the mobile terminal device 104 requests a list of access points from the MFP 100 through a Wi-Fi connection between the MFP 100 operating in a network setup mode and the mobile terminal device 104 using a setup application. When the MFP 100 receives the request, it executes an AP search (performs an AP search). The MFP 100 transmits the list of access points to the mobile terminal device 104 through the Wi-Fi connection. Note that the list transmitted here is a list of one or more access points to which the MFP 100 can be connected, which are found by the MFP 100 executing the AP search. Here, it is assumed that AP 101 and AP 102 are included in the list. The same SSID is preset for both AP 101 and AP 102. Here, it is assumed that the SSID and MAC address of AP 101 and AP 102 are as follows:

[0087] AP101: SSID-A, MAC-X AP102: SSID-A, MAC-Y Then, the mobile terminal device 104 displays a list including the above AP101 and AP102 on the display unit 420. Since the SSID and MAC address are displayed on the list, the user can identify the AP that the user wishes to set on the MFP100 (i.e., the AP set by the user). Here, it is assumed that the user selects AP101 (SSID-A, MAC-X) (selection of the AP to connect to). The mobile terminal device 104 transmits the connection information of AP101 to the MFP100. Note that the connection information may be transmitted via Bluetooth, wired LAN, USB, etc., in addition to wireless direct connection. The connection information includes, for example, the SSID and MAC address of the access point selected from the list, and the password input by the user.

[0088] The MFP 100 recognizes that the SSID selected by the user is one of multiple identical SSIDs based on the results of the previously executed AP search. The MFP 100 then stores the SSID-A (MAC-X) selected by the user as connection information (storing connection information).

[0089] (Processing to change the AP to which the MFP100 is connected) Next, a process in which MFP 100 changes the AP of the connection destination in accordance with a request for changing the connection destination received from the currently connected AP, and a process in which MFP 100 changes the connection destination to AP 101, which is the original connection destination, when a predetermined condition is satisfied will be described.

[0090] 8 is a flowchart showing a process in which MFP100 changes the AP of the connection destination in accordance with a request for changing the connection destination received from the currently connected AP, and a process in which the connection destination is changed to the AP set by the user, which is the original connection destination, when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The process in FIG. 8 is realized, for example, by CPU212 reading a program stored in non-volatile memory215 into RAM214 and executing it.

[0091] In S710, the CPU 212 determines whether or not a beacon frame request has been received from the connected AP. If it is determined that a beacon frame request has been received, the CPU 212 proceeds to S721. On the other hand, if it is determined that a beacon frame request has not been received, the CPU 212 proceeds to S711. The beacon frame request corresponds to an inquiry (measurement request) about the radio wave strength of the APs around the MFP 100 described in S601. In other words, the beacon frame request is a request to search for APs around the MFP 100.

[0092] In S721, the CPU 212 performs an AP search. The AP search is a process for searching for APs in the vicinity of the MFP 100, similar to S701.

[0093] In S722, the CPU 212 transmits the result of the AP search executed in S721 as a beacon report to the currently connected AP. Here, the CPU 212 transmits a beacon report including information on all APs found by the AP search executed in S721 to the currently connected AP. In other words, if the result of the AP search in S721 includes both the AP set by the user and other APs, the CPU 212 transmits a beacon report including both the AP set by the user and other APs. After S722, the CPU 212 returns to S710.

[0094] In S711, the CPU 212 judges whether or not a connection destination change request has been received from the currently connected AP. Here, the reception of a connection destination change request corresponds to S605 in FIG. 6. If it is judged that a connection destination change request has been received, the process proceeds to S726. In S726, the CPU 212 changes the currently connected AP to the connection destination AP recommended in the connection destination change request. In S726, the processes of S606 to S609 in FIG. 6 are executed, and then the processes from S710 are repeated. If it is judged that a connection destination change request has not been received, the process proceeds to S712.

[0095] In S712, CPU212 determines whether MFP100 is connected to a user-set AP. If it is determined that MFP100 is connected to the user-set AP, the process repeats from S710. On the other hand, if it is determined that MFP100 is not connected to the user-set AP, that is, that MFP100 is connected to another AP, the process proceeds to S713. In this example, the user-set AP is AP101. Specifically, for example, CPU212 stores the connection information of the user-set AP in S706 as described above. If the connection information of the connected AP is the connection information of the user-set AP, CPU212 may determine that MFP100 is connected to the user-set AP.

[0096] In S713, CPU 212 determines whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied. If it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to S714. On the other hand, if it is determined that the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the process repeats from S710. The predetermined condition is a condition for MFP 100 to change (return) the connection destination to the AP set by the user. For example, CPU 212 determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied when the following conditions are satisfied:

[0097] (1) A predetermined time has elapsed since the connection destination was switched from AP101 to another AP different from AP101.

[0098] (2) MFP 100 is not executing a job. Note that the job in this case may include a print job or a scan job.

[0099] (3) The MFP 100 is not printing.

[0100] (4) The MFP 100 is not scanning a document.

[0101] (5) The MFP 100 is not communicating with an external information device such as the servers 103 and 105 or the mobile terminal device 104 .

[0102] (6) A predetermined time has elapsed while MFP 100 is not busy and no user operation has been performed. That is, a predetermined time has elapsed while MFP 100 is in an idle state. Note that MFP 100 being not busy means, for example, a state in which it is not accepting a job instruction such as (2) from an external information device.

[0103] (7) The connection information of the AP 101 is stored in the MFP 100.

[0104] (8) A specified amount of time has passed since the connection to AP101 failed to change.

[0105] (9) MFP 100 is not operating as an AP (for example, MFP 100 is not operating in soft AP mode). Or, the frequency band in which MFP 100 operates as an AP matches the frequency band of the AP (AP 101) to which the connection is changed. In other words, the condition (9) is that the frequency band in which MFP 100 operates as an AP does not differ from the frequency band of the AP (AP 101) to which the connection is changed.

[0106] In this embodiment, the above (1) to (9) are exemplified, but it may be determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied in S713 when all of (1) to (9) are satisfied, or it may be determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied when at least one of (1) to (9) is satisfied. Also, a state of MFP 100 other than (1) to (9) may be used as the criterion for the determination in S713. In other words, the determination in S713 is a determination as to whether or not at least one of the state of MFP 100 related to the change of the connection destination AP and the state of MFP 100 related to other than the change of the connection destination AP is in a predetermined state.

[0107] In S714, the CPU 212 executes an AP search. The AP search is a process for searching for APs in the vicinity of the MFP 100, similar to S701.

[0108] In S715, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the result of the AP search includes a user-defined AP. If it is determined that the result of the AP search includes a user-defined AP, the process proceeds to S716. On the other hand, if it is determined that the result of the AP search does not include a user-defined AP, the process repeats the process from S710. Specifically, for example, the CPU 212 makes the determination in S715 by comparing the result of the AP search with the connection information of the user-defined AP stored in S706. For example, if the result of the AP search includes an AP with the same MAC address as the user-defined AP, the CPU 212 proceeds to S716.

[0109] In S716, the CPU 212 performs control to change the AP of the connection destination from another AP to the AP (AP101) set by the user. Specifically, for example, the CPU 212 first disconnects the connection with the currently connected AP (AP102). At this time, the connection information of the disconnected currently connected AP is temporarily stored inside until the connection with the AP of the new connection destination is successful. As a result, even if the CPU 212 fails to connect to the AP of the new connection destination, the connection information of the AP of the previous connection destination is temporarily stored, so that the CPU 212 can reconnect to the AP of the previous connection destination. Also, the CPU 212 may be configured to be able to store a plurality of pieces of connection information of the AP of the connection destination. The CPU 212 attempts a process of connecting to the AP 101 by using the connection information of the AP of the user setting (AP101) stored in S706.

[0110] In S717, CPU 212 determines whether or not the connection to the AP set by the user has failed. If it is determined that the connection did not fail (successful), information indicating the AP of the previous connection destination temporarily stored in S716 is deleted, and the process proceeds to S719. On the other hand, if it is determined that the connection failed, the process proceeds to S718. For example, if at this time, the power of AP 101 is OFF, or if MFP 100 is located outside the range in which it can communicate with AP 101, the connection to the AP set by the user may fail.

[0111] In S718, CPU 212 performs connection processing to connect to the previous connection destination AP, using the connection information of the previous connection destination AP stored in S716. In this way, even if an attempt to change the connection destination AP of MFP 100 to an AP set by the user fails, MFP 100 can be reconnected to the previous connection destination AP.

[0112] In S719, the CPU 212 determines whether or not an instruction to power off the MFP 100 has been received. If it is determined that an instruction to power off the MFP 100 has been received, the process proceeds to S720. On the other hand, if it is determined that an instruction to power off the MFP 100 has not been received, the process repeats from S710. An instruction to power off the MFP 100 is, for example, a user operation of a power button (not shown) that can switch the power of the MFP 100 on and off. In S720, the CPU 212 performs a process to disconnect the MFP 100 from the AP, and ends the process of FIG. 8.

[0113] As described above, in this embodiment, after the connection destination is automatically changed from the AP set by the user to another AP, if a certain condition is met, the connection destination is changed to the AP set by the user voluntarily even if a request to change the connection destination AP is not received. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent a state in which the connection destination is not connected to the AP set by the user from continuing.

[0114] [Second embodiment] The second embodiment will be described below with respect to the differences from the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, it has been described that when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the MFP100 spontaneously changes the connection destination AP to an AP set by the user without receiving a connection destination change request. In this embodiment, in addition to spontaneously changing the connection destination to the AP set by the user, after receiving a connection destination change request, a connection to the AP set by the user is given priority.

[0115] 9 is a flowchart showing a process in which MFP100 changes the AP of the connection destination in accordance with a request for changing the connection destination received from the currently connected AP, and a process in which the connection destination is changed to the AP set by the user, which is the original connection destination, when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The process in FIG. 9 is realized, for example, by CPU212 reading a program stored in non-volatile memory215 into RAM214 and executing it.

[0116] S801, S802, S806, S807, and S811 to S819 are the same as those in S710, S721, S722, and S711 to S720 in FIG. 8, and therefore their description will be omitted.

[0117] In S803, the CPU 212 determines whether the MFP 100 is connected to a user-specified AP. Here, the user-specified AP is AP 101. If it is determined that the MFP 100 is not connected to the user-specified AP, the process proceeds to S804. Specifically, for example, the MFP 100 is not connected to the user-specified AP when the MFP 100 is connected to an AP different from the user-specified AP. Specifically, for example, the MFP 100 is connected to an AP different from the user-specified AP when the MFP 100 is in a state after switching the connection destination from the user-specified AP to AP 102, which is an AP different from the user-specified AP, by a mechanism conforming to Wi-Fi Agile Multiband as described in FIG. 6. On the other hand, if it is determined that the MFP 100 is connected to the user-specified AP, the process proceeds to S806. Specifically, for example, the MFP 100 is connected to the user-specified AP when the MFP 100 has not switched the connection destination by a mechanism conforming to Wi-Fi Agile Multiband. Furthermore, the CPU 212 stores the connection information of the AP set by the user as described above. When the connection information of the connected AP is the connection information of the AP set by the user, the CPU 212 may determine that the AP is connected to the AP set by the user. When the connection information of the connected AP is not the connection information of the AP set by the user, the CPU 212 may determine that the AP is not connected to the AP set by the user.

[0118] In S804, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the result of the AP search in S802 includes a user-defined AP. If it is determined that the user-defined AP is included, the process proceeds to S805. On the other hand, if it is determined that the user-defined AP is not included, the process proceeds to S806. Specifically, for example, the CPU 212 makes the determination based on the connection information of the user-defined AP stored in S706. For example, the CPU 212 may determine whether or not an AP with the same MAC address as the MAC address in the connection information of the user-defined AP is included in the result of the AP search. If an AP with the same MAC address as the user-defined AP is included in the result of the AP search, the process proceeds to S805. On the other hand, if an AP with the same MAC address as the user-defined AP is not included in the result of the AP search, the process proceeds to S806.

[0119] In S805, the CPU 212 transmits (responses to) a beacon report including only the AP set by the user to the currently connected AP. In this process, not only when the result of the AP search in S802 includes only the AP set by the user, but also when the result of the AP search in S802 includes both the AP set by the user and other APs, the beacon report including only the AP set by the user is transmitted. As described in S603, the beacon report is a list of radio wave strength. For example, the CPU 212 may select only the AP set by the user from the result of the AP search executed in S802 and transmit the beacon report including only the AP set by the user to the currently connected AP (the source of the beacon frame request). The CPU 212 may also transmit the beacon report excluding APs other than the AP set by the user from the result of the AP search. This makes it possible to expect that the AP set by the user will be included in the recommended (candidate) AP list included in the request to change the connection destination from the currently connected AP. After S805, the CPU 212 returns to S801.

[0120] In S807, the CPU 212 determines whether or not a connection destination change request has been received from the currently connected AP. If it is determined that a connection destination change request has been received, the process proceeds to S808.

[0121] In S808, the CPU 212 judges whether or not the AP (AP101) set by the user is included in the recommended list of destination APs included in the connection destination change request received from the currently connected AP. If it is judged that the AP set by the user is included, the process proceeds to S809. On the other hand, if it is judged that the AP set by the user is not included, the process proceeds to S810. Specifically, for example, the CPU 212 makes the judgment using the connection information of the AP set by the user (AP101) stored in S706. For example, the CPU 212 judges whether or not an AP having the same MAC address as the MAC address in the connection information of the AP set by the user is included in the recommended list of destination APs. The recommended list of destination APs is a list of APs as candidates for the connection destination after the change described in S604 to S605 above. In addition, in this embodiment, as described above, if the judgment in S804 is YES, a beacon report including only the AP set by the user is transmitted in S805. Then, if a beacon report including only the AP set by the user is transmitted, only the AP set by the user is included in the recommended list of destination APs. Therefore, in this embodiment, if a beacon report including only the AP set by the user is transmitted in S805, the determination result in S808 is YES.

[0122] In S809, the CPU 212 connects to the AP (AP101) set by the user that is included in the recommended list of APs to connect to. At this time, the CPU 212 stores the connection information of the AP set by the user as the connection information of the currently connected AP in the non-volatile memory 215 separately from the connection information stored in S706. Then, the process from S801 is repeated.

[0123] In S810, the CPU 212 changes the connection destination to the AP selected by the user from the recommended list of connection destination APs. After that, the process from S810 is repeated. The CPU 212 also stores the connection information of the AP selected by the user in the non-volatile memory 215 as the connection information of the currently connected AP.

[0124] In this manner, in this embodiment, when a user-specified AP is included in the recommended list of connection destination APs, control is performed so that the user-specified AP becomes the connection destination.

[0125] Here, in this embodiment, the process of changing the connection destination AP is executed in S809 and S810, but when changing the connection destination AP affects the ongoing process, such as when the MFP 100 is in printing, control may be performed so that the change of the connection destination AP is not performed. Although printing is given as an example of the state of the MFP 100 that affects the ongoing process, other states may be used. For example, the MFP 100 may be in a state of scanning an original, in a state of executing a job, or in a state of communication with an external information device. In addition, when there is a constraint that the frequency band when the MFP 100 operates as an AP (for example, in a soft AP mode) and the frequency when the MFP 100 operates as an STA must be the same in order to operate simultaneously, control may be performed so that the connection destination is not changed if the frequency band of the AP to be connected after the change satisfies the constraint.

[0126] As described above, according to this embodiment, when there are multiple APs with the same SSID around MFP100, one of them (a user-specified AP) is selected and connected by the user, and then the connection destination is changed to another AP, the connection destination is changed to the user-specified AP based on the satisfaction of a predetermined condition, even if a connection destination change request is not received from the other AP. Also, when a connection destination change request is received from another AP, if the user-specified AP is included in the recommended connection destination AP list, control is performed to change to the user-specified AP. This makes it possible to prevent a state in which the connection destination is not connected to the user-specified AP from continuing.

[0127] The various controls described above as being performed by CPU 212 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.

[0128] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the application to an MFP has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this example, and any wireless device that functions as an STA capable of processing in response to a request to change the connection destination from an AP may be used other than an MFP. That is, the present invention is applicable 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 is also applicable to digital cameras (including still cameras, video cameras, network cameras, and security cameras), printers, scanners, and drones. The present invention is also applicable to video output devices, audio output devices (for example, smart speakers), media streaming players, and wireless LAN child devices (adapters) that can be connected to USB terminals and 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 to be realized, and mirroring display (display in which the content displayed on the electronic device is also displayed on the display device) to be realized. 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.

[0129] 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.

[0130] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following electronic device, method, and program. (Item 1) An electronic device capable of communicating with an external access point, a determining means for determining a first access point; a connection means for connecting to the first access point determined by the determination means; a receiving means for receiving a change request from the first access point connected by the connecting means to request a change of a connection destination access point; a change means for changing a connection destination of the connection means from the first access point to a second access point after receiving the change request; Equipped with when a condition for changing the connection destination of said connection means from said second access point to said first access point is satisfied, said change means further changes the connection destination of said connection means from said second access point to said first access point without receiving said change request from said second access point; 1. An electronic device comprising: (Item 2) The device further includes a determination unit for determining whether the condition is satisfied, The electronic device described in item 1, characterized in that when the determination means determines that the condition is satisfied, the change means changes the connection destination of the connection means from the second access point to the first access point without receiving the change request from the second access point. (Item 3) The electronic device described in item 2, characterized in that when the determination means determines that the condition is not satisfied, the change means does not change the connection destination of the connection means from the second access point to the first access point unless the change request is received from the second access point. (Item 4) The electronic device described in item 2 or 3, characterized in that if the change request is received from the second access point before the determination is made by the determination means, the change means changes the connection destination of the connection means from the second access point to another access point. (Item 5) The electronic device described in item 4, characterized in that if the first access point is included in a recommended list of access points received from the second access point together with the change request before the determination is made by the determination means, the change means changes the connection destination by the connection means from the second access point to the first access point. (Item 6) The electronic device described in any one of items 1 to 5, characterized in that if the condition is satisfied, the change means attempts to change the connection destination of the connection means from the second access point to the first access point without receiving the change request from the second access point, and if the attempt fails, controls the connection destination of the connection means to connect to the second access point. (Item 7) 7. The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the condition includes that the electronic device is in a predetermined state. (Item 8) The electronic device described in item 7, characterized in that the specified state includes a specified time having elapsed since the access point to which the connection means is connected is changed from the first access point to the second access point. (Item 9) 9. The electronic device according to item 7 or 8, wherein the predetermined state includes the electronic device being in an idle state for a predetermined period of time. (Item 10) 10. The electronic device according to any one of items 7 to 9, wherein the predetermined state includes a state in which a job is not being executed. (Item 11) 11. The electronic device according to any one of items 7 to 10, wherein the predetermined state includes a state in which the electronic device is not communicating with an external device. (Item 12) The electronic device described in any one of items 7 to 11, characterized in that the specified state includes a frequency band used in a direct connection made by the electronic device as an access point being the same as a frequency band used in a connection between the electronic device and the first access point. (Item 13) A second receiving means for receiving a request to search for access points in the vicinity of the electronic device; a transmission means for searching for access points in the vicinity of the electronic device and transmitting the search result to a source of the search request; 13. The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 12, further comprising: (Item 14) Item 14. The electronic device according to item 13, characterized in that the search result transmitted by the transmitting means differs between a case where the source of the transmission is the first access point and a case where the source of the transmission is not the first access point. (Item 15) The electronic device described in item 13, characterized in that the search results transmitted by the transmitting means are different between a case where the transmission source is not the first access point and the search results include the first access point and a case where the transmission source is not the first access point and the search results do not include the first access point. (Item 16) Item 16. The electronic device described in item 15, characterized in that if the source of the transmission is not the first access point and the search result includes the first access point, the search result transmitted by the transmission means includes only the first access point. (Item 17) The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 16, characterized in that the electronic device is capable of operating in accordance with at least one of OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access) and TWT (Target Wake Time). (Item 18) The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 17, characterized in that the electronic device is capable of operating in accordance with IEEE 802.11ax. (Item 19) 19. The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 18, characterized in that, upon receiving the change request, the electronic device is connected to an access point having a frequency band of 6 GHz. (Item 20) 1. A method implemented in an electronic device capable of communicating with an external access point, comprising: a determining step of determining a first access point; a connection step of connecting to the first access point determined in the determination step; a receiving step of receiving a change request for requesting to change a connection destination access point from the first access point connected in the connecting step; a change step of changing a connection destination in the connection step from the first access point to a second access point after receiving the change request; having When a condition for changing the connection destination in the connection step from the second access point to the first access point is satisfied, the change step further changes the connection destination in the connection step from the second access point to the first access point without receiving the change request from the second access point. A method comprising: (Item 21) 20. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 19.

[0131] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0132] 100 MFP: 101 AP1: 102 AP2: 103, 105 Server: 104 Mobile terminal device: 212 CPU: 213 ROM: 214 RAM

Claims

1. An electronic device capable of communicating with an external access point, a determining means for determining a first access point; a connection means for connecting to the first access point determined by the determination means; a receiving means for receiving a change request from the first access point connected by the connecting means to request a change of a connection destination access point; a change means for changing a connection destination of the connection means from the first access point to a second access point after receiving the change request; Equipped with when a condition for changing the connection destination of the connection means from the second access point to the first access point is satisfied, the change means further changes the connection destination of the connection means from the second access point to the first access point without receiving the change request from the second access point.

1. An electronic device comprising:

2. The device further includes a determination unit for determining whether the condition is satisfied, 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, when the determination means determines that the condition is satisfied, the change means changes the connection destination of the connection means from the second access point to the first access point without receiving the change request from the second access point.

3. 3. The electronic device according to claim 2, characterized in that when the determination means determines that the condition is not satisfied, the change means does not change the connection destination of the connection means from the second access point to the first access point unless the change request is received from the second access point.

4. 3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein when the change request is received from the second access point before a determination is made by the determination means, the change means changes the connection destination of the connection means from the second access point to another access point.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4, characterized in that if the first access point is included in a recommended list of access points received from the second access point together with the change request before the determination is made by the determination means, the change means changes the connection destination by the connection means from the second access point to the first access point.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the condition is satisfied, the change means attempts to change the connection destination of the connection means from the second access point to the first access point without receiving the change request from the second access point, and when the attempt fails, controls the connection destination of the connection means to connect to the second access point.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the condition includes that the electronic device is in a predetermined state.

8. 8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined state includes a predetermined time having elapsed since the access point to which the connection is made by the connection means is changed from the first access point to the second access point.

9. 8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined state includes the electronic device being in an idle state for a predetermined period of time.

10. 8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined state includes a state in which a job is not being executed.

11. 8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined state includes a state in which the electronic device is not in communication with an external device.

12. 8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the specified state includes a frequency band used in a direct connection made by the electronic device as an access point being the same as a frequency band used in a connection between the electronic device and the first access point.

13. A second receiving means for receiving a request for searching for an access point in the vicinity of the electronic device; a transmission means for searching for access points in the vicinity of the electronic device and transmitting the search result to a source of the search request; The electronic device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

14. 14. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the search result transmitted by the transmitting means differs between a case where the transmission source is the first access point and a case where the transmission source is not the first access point.

15. The electronic device according to claim 13, characterized in that the search results transmitted by the transmitting means are different between a case where the transmission source is not the first access point and the search results include the first access point and a case where the transmission source is not the first access point and the search results do not include the first access point.

16. 16. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein when the source of the transmission is not the first access point and the search result includes the first access point, the search result transmitted by the transmitting means includes only the first access point.

17. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is capable of operating in accordance with at least one of Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) and Target Wake Time (TWT).

18. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is capable of operating in accordance with IEEE 802.11ax.

19. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, upon receiving the change request, the electronic device is connected to an access point having a frequency band of 6 GHz.

20. 1. A method implemented in an electronic device capable of communicating with an external access point, comprising: determining a first access point; a connection step of connecting to the first access point determined in the determination step; a receiving step of receiving a change request for requesting to change a connection destination access point from the first access point connected in the connecting step; a change step of changing a connection destination in the connection step from the first access point to a second access point after receiving the change request; having When a condition for changing the connection destination in the connection step from the second access point to the first access point is satisfied, the change step further changes the connection destination in the connection step from the second access point to the first access point without receiving the change request from the second access point. A method comprising:

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

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