Information processing device, control method, and program

Abstract

To allow an information processing device to execute appropriate processing as processing for transmitting information for connecting to a network to a communication device.SOLUTION: Provided is a program characterized by causing an information processing device to execute a processing step that executes a predetermined process for obtaining predetermined information for displaying a screen that presents a user with a method for confirming a password of an access point external to the information processing device from a predetermined server via Internet communication, in a state where a first connection, which is a connection between the access point and the information processing device, is established.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A known mode is that an information processing device such as a smartphone transmits information for connecting to an access point to a communication device such as a printer, and the communication device connects to the access point using the information. Patent Document 1 describes that the information processing device transmits information to the communication device, thereby setting a connection mode in the communication device to determine the connection mode between the information processing device and the communication device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2016-127545 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, as the practice of an information processing device transmitting information to a communication device for connecting to a network becomes more widespread, there is a demand for appropriate processing to be performed as a process for an information processing device transmitting information to a communication device for connecting to a network.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to enable an information processing device to execute an appropriate process for transmitting information for connecting to a network to a communication device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is a predetermined application program that causes a computer of an information processing device to execute a processing step in which, while a first connection between the access point and the information processing device is established, a predetermined process is performed to obtain, from a predetermined server via Internet communication, predetermined information for displaying a screen that shows the user how to check the password of an access point external to the information processing device; a reception step in which, after the predetermined process is executed, a password for the access point is received from the user; and a transmission step in which information including the input password is transmitted to a communication device external to the information processing device and external to the access point via a second connection between the communication device and the information processing device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible for an information processing device to execute an appropriate process as a process for transmitting information for connecting to a network to a communication device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a communication system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a terminal device and a communication device. [Figure 3] 10 is an example of a connection screen displayed by a terminal device. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a communication device connection setting process executed by a terminal device. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process executed by a terminal device to identify setting information to be transmitted to a communication device. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the terminal device to display a password entry screen. [Figure 7] 10 is an example of a screen displayed by a terminal device. [Figure 8] 10 is an example of a screen displayed by a terminal device. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the terminal device to display a password entry screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] First Embodiment An information processing device and a communication device included in the communication system of this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, a terminal device that is a personal computer is used as an example of the information processing device. However, this is not limited to this, and various terminal devices such as smartphones, tablet terminals, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), and digital cameras can be used. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a printer is used as an example of the communication device. However, this is not limited to this, and various devices capable of wireless communication with the information processing device can be used. For example, printers such as inkjet printers, full-color laser beam printers, and monochrome printers can be used. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied not only to printers but also to copiers, facsimile machines, terminal devices, smartphones, notebook PCs, tablet terminals, PDAs, digital cameras, music playback devices, televisions, smart speakers, and the like. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to multifunction peripherals that have multiple functions, such as copying, faxing, and printing.

[0010] First, a system configuration for realizing this embodiment will be described.

[0011] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a communication system according to this embodiment. This system includes a communication device 151, a terminal device 101, an access point (AP) 131, and an external server 171.

[0012] The terminal device 101 is an information processing device of this embodiment. The communication device 151 is a communication device of this embodiment. The AP 131 is an external device that exists outside the terminal device 101 and outside the communication device 151. The external server 171 is a server that can provide services to devices connected to the AP 131 via the Internet.

[0013] A LAN (Local Area Network) formed by the AP 131 includes the AP 131, a communication device 151, and a terminal device 101. On the other hand, a WAN (Wide Area Network) includes the AP 131 and an external server 171.

[0014] In this embodiment, when an infrastructure connection (described later) is established, the terminal device 101 can communicate with the communication device 151 via the AP 131. Furthermore, when a direct connection (described later) is established, the terminal device 101 can communicate directly with the communication device 151 without going through the AP 131. Note that, hereinafter, a connection with an AP corresponds to a connection with a network formed by the AP. Note that the AP may be capable of simultaneously forming multiple networks, and in that case, a connection with an AP may refer to a connection with any one of the multiple networks formed by the AP.

[0015] In this embodiment, the connection 141 between the terminal device 101 and the AP 131 and the connection 142 between the communication device 151 and the AP 131 are assumed to be connections using a communication method based on the IEEE 802.11 series of standards. Specifically, the communication method based on the IEEE 802.11 series of standards is Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) (registered trademark). Furthermore, the connection 143 between the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151 is assumed to be Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (BLE). Note that the communication method used for each connection is not limited to this form and may be, for example, Bluetooth Classic, Wi-Fi Aware, Near Field Communication (NFC), etc. The AP 131 and the external server 171 can communicate via the Internet. When the AP 131 is connected to the Internet, devices connected to the AP 131 (the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151) can also use the Internet. The connection 141 between the terminal device 101 and the AP 131 and the connection 142 between the communication device 151 and the AP 131 may be a connection by wired LAN.

[0016] Next, the configuration of an information processing device of this embodiment and a communication device capable of communicating with the information processing device of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of Fig. 2. In addition, the following configuration will be described as an example in this embodiment, but this embodiment is applicable to devices capable of communicating with the communication device, and the functions are not particularly limited to those shown in this diagram.

[0017] The terminal device 101 includes an input interface 102, a CPU 103, a ROM 104, a RAM 105, an external storage device 106, an output interface 107, a display unit 108, a wireless communication unit 109, a short-range wireless communication unit 110, an image capturing device 111, and a wired communication unit 112. The CPU 103, the ROM 104, the RAM 105, etc. form a computer of the terminal device 101. The terminal device 101 is assumed to be a device such as a smartphone, but is not limited to a smartphone.

[0018] The input interface 102 is an interface for receiving data input and operation instructions from the user, and is composed of a physical keyboard, buttons, a touch panel, etc. Note that the output interface 107 described below and the input interface 102 may have the same configuration, and the screen output and the reception of operations from the user may be performed by the same configuration.

[0019] The CPU 103 is a system control unit that controls the entire terminal device 101 .

[0020] The ROM 104 stores fixed data such as control programs and data tables executed by the CPU 103, and an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) program. In this embodiment, each control program stored in the ROM 104 performs software execution control such as scheduling, task switching, and interrupt processing under the management of an embedded OS stored in the ROM 104. In this embodiment, the ROM 104 stores a setup application program (hereinafter referred to as a setup app). The setup app is installed in the terminal device 101 from the outside by, for example, a store application program. The setup app is provided by the vendor of the communication device 151. The setup app may have functions other than the function of performing network setup (connection settings, described later) of the communication device 151. For example, the other functions include a function of performing setup other than network setup of the communication device 151, a function of sending a print job to cause the communication device 151 to execute printing, and a function of sending a scan job to cause the communication device 151 to execute scanning.

[0021] The RAM 105 is configured with an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) or the like that requires a backup power source. Since the RAM 105 holds data using a primary battery (not shown) for data backup, it can store important data such as program control variables without volatilizing it. The RAM 105 also has a memory area for storing setting information for the terminal device 101, management data for the terminal device 101, and the like. The RAM 105 is also used as the main memory and work memory for the CPU 103.

[0022] The external storage device 106 includes various programs such as a print information generation program that generates print information that can be interpreted by the communication device 151, and an information transmission / reception control program that transmits and receives information to and from the communication device 151 connected via the wireless communication unit 109. The external storage device 106 also stores various information used by these programs, as well as image data obtained from other information processing devices and the Internet.

[0023] The output interface 107 is an interface that controls the display unit 108 to display data and notify the status of the terminal device 101 .

[0024] The display unit 108 is configured with an LED (light emitting diode) or an LCD (liquid crystal display), and displays data and notifies the status of the terminal device 101. Note that a soft keyboard equipped with keys such as numeric input keys, a mode setting key, a decision key, a cancel key, and a power key may be provided on the display unit 108 to accept input from the user via the display unit 108.

[0025] The wireless communication unit 109 is configured to wirelessly connect to devices such as the communication device 151 and the AP 131 to perform data communication. For example, the wireless communication unit 109 may communicate directly with the communication device 151 via wireless communication, or may communicate via an AP 131 that is external to the terminal device 101 or the communication device 151. In this embodiment, the wireless communication method used by the wireless communication unit 109 is Wi-Fi, a communication method based on the IEEE 802.11 standard, but Bluetooth Classic, etc., may also be used. In this embodiment, the wireless LAN is a network using Wi-Fi. Examples of the AP 131 include devices such as a wireless LAN router. In this embodiment, a method in which the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151 are directly connected without an external AP is called a direct connection method. In addition, a method in which the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151 are connected via an external AP is called an infrastructure connection method.

[0026] The short-range wireless communication unit 110 is configured to perform data communication with devices such as the communication device 151 by a short-range wireless communication method, and performs communication by a communication method different from that of the wireless communication unit 109. The short-range wireless communication unit 110 is connectable to a short-range wireless communication unit 157 in the communication device 151. Note that examples of the communication method of the short-range wireless communication unit 110 include BLE, Bluetooth Classic, Wi-Fi Aware, and NFC.

[0027] The photographing device 111 is a device that converts an image photographed by a photographing element into digital data. The digital data is temporarily stored in the RAM 105. Thereafter, the digital data is converted into a predetermined image format by a program executed by the CPU 103, and is saved in the external storage device 106 as image data.

[0028] The wired communication unit 112 is configured to connect to devices such as the communication device 151 and the AP 131 via a wire and perform data communication. For example, the wired communication unit 112 communicates via a wired LAN. In this embodiment, the wired LAN communicates according to the Ethernet standard. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the wired communication unit 112 may also communicate via, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable.

[0029] The communication device 151 includes a ROM 152, a RAM 153, a CPU 154, a print engine 155, a wireless communication unit 156, a short-range wireless communication unit 157, an input interface 158, an output interface 159, a function control unit 160, a display unit 161, and a wired communication unit 162. The ROM 152, RAM 153, CPU 154, etc. form a computer of the terminal device 101.

[0030] The wireless communication unit 156 is configured to wirelessly connect to devices such as the terminal device 101 and the AP 131 to perform data communication. In this embodiment, Wi-Fi is used as the wireless communication method of the wireless communication unit 156, but Bluetooth Classic or the like may also be used. The wireless communication unit 156 has an AP 156-a as an AP within the communication device 151 for connecting to devices such as the terminal device 101. The AP is connectable to the wireless communication unit 109 of the terminal device 101. The wireless communication unit 156 may communicate directly with the terminal device 101 via the AP 156-a, or may communicate with the terminal device 101 via the AP 131. The AP 156-a may be hardware that functions as an AP, or the wireless communication unit 156 may operate as the AP 156-a using software that functions as an AP. The AP within the communication device 151 may be configured of multiple APs with different SSIDs (Service Set Identifiers) and passwords. In this embodiment, the APs inside the communication device 151 include at least a connection setting AP, which will be described later.

[0031] The RAM 153 is composed of a DRAM or the like that requires a backup power supply. Note that the RAM 153 retains data by being supplied with a data backup power supply (not shown), so it can store important data such as program control variables without volatilizing it. The RAM 153 is also used as the main memory and work memory of the CPU 154, and stores a receive buffer for temporarily storing print information received from the terminal device 101, etc., as well as various other information.

[0032] The ROM 152 stores fixed data such as control programs, data tables, and OS programs executed by the CPU 154. In this embodiment, each control program stored in the ROM 152 performs software execution control such as scheduling, task switching, and interrupt processing under the management of an embedded OS stored in the ROM 152. The ROM 152 also has a memory area for storing data that needs to be retained even when power is not supplied, such as setting information for the communication device 151 and management data for the communication device 151.

[0033] The CPU 154 is a system control unit that controls the entire communication device 151 .

[0034] Based on the information stored in the print engine 155 and RAM 153 and the print job received from the terminal device 101, etc., an image is formed on a recording medium such as paper using a recording agent such as ink, and the print result is output. At this time, the print job sent from the terminal device 101, etc., has a large amount of data to be transmitted and requires high-speed communication, so it is received via the wireless communication unit 156, which can communicate at a higher speed than the short-range wireless communication unit 157.

[0035] The short-range wireless communication unit 157 is configured to communicate with devices such as the terminal device 101 by a short-range wireless communication method. Note that examples of the communication method of the short-range wireless communication unit 157 include BLE, Bluetooth Classic, and Wi-Fi Aware.

[0036] The input interface 158 is an interface for receiving data input and operation instructions from the user, and is composed of a physical keyboard, buttons, a touch panel, etc. Note that the output interface 159 described below and the input interface 158 may have the same configuration, and the same configuration may be used for screen output and reception of operations from the user. The output interface 159 is an interface that controls the display unit 161 to display data and notify the status of the communication device 151.

[0037] The function control unit 160 manages the function operations of the communication device 151, determining whether or not the functions of the communication device 151 are operated simultaneously.

[0038] Display unit 161 is configured with an LED (light emitting diode), an LCD (liquid crystal display), etc., and displays data and notifies the status of communication device 151. Note that a soft keyboard equipped with keys such as numeric input keys, a mode setting key, a decision key, a cancel key, and a power key may be provided on display unit 161 to accept input from the user via display unit 161.

[0039] The wired communication unit 162 is configured to perform data communication by connecting to devices such as the terminal device 101 and the AP 131 via a wire. For example, the wired communication unit 162 communicates via a wired LAN. However, the communication is not limited to this, and may be performed via a USB cable, for example.

[0040] <Direct connection method> A direct connection refers to a wireless connection between devices directly (i.e., peer-to-peer) without going through an external device such as the AP 131. A direct connection is also called a peer-to-peer connection (P2P connection). The communication device 151 can operate in a mode for communicating via a direct connection (direct connection mode) as one of the connection modes. In Wi-Fi communication, there are multiple modes for communicating via a direct connection, such as a software AP mode and a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) mode.

[0041] The mode in which a direct connection is established using WFD is called WFD mode. WFD is a standard established by the Wi-Fi Alliance and is included in the IEEE 802.11 series of communication standards. In WFD mode, after a device to be a communication partner is discovered using a device discovery command, the roles of P2P group owner (GO) and P2P client are determined, and the remaining wireless connection processing is carried out. The group owner corresponds to a Wi-Fi parent station (parent device), and the client corresponds to a Wi-Fi child station (child device). This role determination corresponds, for example, to GO Negotiation in P2P. Note that in WFD mode, before the role determination is made, the communication device 151 is neither a parent station nor a child station. Specifically, one device first issues a device discovery command to search for a device to connect to in WFD mode with another device to communicate with. Once the other device to be a communication partner is discovered, the two devices confirm information about the services and functions that each device can provide. Note that this device provisioning information confirmation is optional and not required. This device provisioning information confirmation phase corresponds to, for example, P2P Provision Discovery. Next, by mutually confirming this device provisioning information, it is determined which one will be the P2P client and which one will be the P2P group owner. Next, once the client and group owner are determined, they exchange parameters for WFD communication. Based on the exchanged parameters, the remaining wireless connection processing and IP connection processing are performed between the P2P client and group owner. Note that in WFD mode, the communication device 151 may always operate as the GO without performing the above-mentioned GO Negotiation. In other words, the communication device 151 may operate in WFD mode, which is an autonomous GO mode. Furthermore, the state in which the communication device 151 operates in WFD mode refers to, for example, a state in which a WFD connection is not established but the communication device 151 operates as the GO, or a state in which a WFD connection is established and the communication device 151 operates as the GO.

[0042] In the software AP mode, between devices communicating (for example, the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151), one device (for example, the terminal device 101) acts as a client that requests various services. The other device realizes the functions of an AP in Wi-Fi through software settings. The software AP corresponds to a Wi-Fi parent station, and the client corresponds to a Wi-Fi child station. In the software AP mode, the client searches for a device that will become the software AP using a device search command. Once the software AP is found, the remaining wireless connection processing (establishing a wireless connection, etc.) between the client and the software AP is performed, and then IP connection processing (assigning an IP address, etc.) is performed. Note that commands and parameters transmitted and received when establishing a wireless connection between the client and the software AP may be those specified in the Wi-Fi standard, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.

[0043] In this embodiment, when the communication device 151 establishes and maintains a direct connection, it operates as a master station in the network to which the communication device 151 belongs. The master station is a device that builds a wireless network and provides parameters used for connecting to the wireless network to the slave stations. The parameters used for connecting to the wireless network are, for example, parameters related to the channel used by the master station. By receiving the parameters, the slave stations connect to the wireless network built by the master station using the channel used by the master station. In the direct connection mode, the communication device 151 operates as a master station, and therefore can determine which frequency band and which channel to use for communication in the direct connection mode. In this embodiment, the communication device 151 is capable of using a channel corresponding to the 2.4 GHz frequency band and a channel corresponding to the 5 GHz frequency band for communication in the direct connection mode. The frequency band to use (i.e., which frequency band channel to use) can be arbitrarily set by the user through a predetermined screen (not shown) displayed by the communication device 151. That is, if 2.4 GHz is selected on the predetermined screen, the communication device 151 uses a channel corresponding to the 2.4 GHz frequency band for communication in the direct connection mode. On the other hand, if 5 GHz is selected on the predetermined screen, the communication device 151 uses a channel corresponding to the 5 GHz frequency band for communication in the direct connection mode. However, in this embodiment, even if 5 GHz is selected on the predetermined screen, the communication device 151 does not use a channel corresponding to a DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) band within the 5 GHz frequency band for communication in the direct connection mode. In other words, the communication device 151 uses only channels corresponding to frequency bands within the 5 GHz frequency band other than the DFS band for communication in the direct connection mode. Note that if a channel corresponding to the DFS band is being used and radar waves in the frequency band corresponding to that channel are detected, the currently used channel must be changed.Such a frequency band in which a channel change may occur due to the detection of radar waves is called a DFS band. For example, if a wireless chip supporting the DFS function is used, a channel corresponding to the DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) band within the 5 GHz frequency band may be available for communication in the direct connection mode. The channel determined as the channel to be used in the direct connection mode is also used for communication via the direct connection. Furthermore, the channel is also used for transmitting beacon signals as a master station and transmitting responses to received commands. In other words, the channel is used not only for communication processing in the direct connection mode when a direct connection is established, but also for communication processing in the direct connection mode when a direct connection is not established.

[0044] In the above description, the user can set whether to use a channel corresponding to the 2.4 GHz frequency band or a channel corresponding to the 5 GHz frequency band in the direct connection mode. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the user may be able to set a specific channel number to be used in the direct connection mode by receiving a channel number designation from the user. Alternatively, the channel used in the direct connection mode may be preset in the communication device 151, rather than being arbitrarily set by the user.

[0045] In the above description, the communication device 151 is described as being capable of using the 2.4 GHz frequency band and the 5 GHz frequency band, but is not limited to this. Other frequency bands may be usable, and in processes in which the 2.4 GHz frequency band or the 5 GHz frequency band is used in this embodiment, other frequency bands may also be used. For example, since the IEEE802.11ad standard allows the use of the 60 GHz frequency band, 60 GHz may be used as the other frequency band.

[0046] <About infrastructure connection methods> The infrastructure connection is a connection mode in which devices (for example, the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151) are connected to an AP (for example, the AP 131) that manages a network of devices that communicate with each other, and the devices communicate with each other via the AP. The communication device 151 can also operate in a mode for communicating via an infrastructure connection (infrastructure connection mode) as one of the connection modes.

[0047] In an infrastructure connection, each device searches for an AP using a device discovery command. Once an AP is discovered, the remaining wireless connection processing (establishing a wireless connection, etc.) is carried out between the device and the AP, and then the IP connection processing (assigning an IP address, etc.) is carried out. Note that the commands and parameters sent and received when establishing a wireless connection between a device and an AP can be those specified in the Wi-Fi standard, and so a description of them will be omitted here.

[0048] In this embodiment, when the communication device 151 operates in an infrastructure connection, the AP 131 serves as a master station, and the communication device 151 serves as a slave station. That is, in this embodiment, the infrastructure connection refers to a connection between the communication device 151 operating as a slave station and a device operating as a master station. When the communication device 151 has established an infrastructure connection and the terminal device 101 has also established an infrastructure connection with the AP 131, communication between the communication device 151 and the terminal device 101 is possible via the AP 131. The channel used for communication in the infrastructure connection is determined by the AP 131, and the communication device 151 performs communication in the infrastructure connection using the channel determined by the AP 131. In this embodiment, the communication device 151 is assumed to be able to use a channel corresponding to the 2.4 GHz frequency band and a channel corresponding to the 5 GHz frequency band for communication in the infrastructure connection. Note that the communication device 151 can also use a channel corresponding to the DFS band in the 5 GHz frequency band for communication in the infrastructure connection. In order to communicate with the communication device 151 via the AP 131, the terminal device 101 needs to recognize that the communication device 151 belongs to the network formed by the AP 131 and to which the terminal device 101 belongs.

[0049] <About connection setting mode> Communication device 151 can operate in a connection setting mode. A trigger for communication device 151 to start operation in the connection setting mode may be, for example, a user pressing a connection setting mode button, or communication device 151 being started up (powered on) for the first time after arrival. The connection setting mode button may be a hardware button provided in communication device 151, or may be a software button displayed on display unit 161 by communication device 151.

[0050] When the communication device 151 starts operating in the connection setting mode, it enables both Wi-Fi communication and BLE communication. Specifically, as a process for enabling Wi-Fi communication, the communication device 151 enables an internal AP (connection setting AP) of the communication device 151 that is dedicated to the connection setting mode. This puts the communication device 151 in a state where it can establish a direct connection via Wi-Fi with the terminal device 101. It is assumed that connection information (SSID and password) for connecting to the connection setting AP is stored in advance in a setup application installed in the terminal device 101, and that the terminal device 101 recognizes the connection information for connecting to the connection setting AP in advance. Note that an encryption method may not be set in the connection setting AP, and a password may not be required for connecting to the AP. 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 connection setting AP cannot be arbitrarily changed by the user. When the communication device 151 operating in the connection setting mode is connected to the terminal device 101, the terminal device 101 transmits a setting command to the communication device 151 using a setup application to set the connection mode of the communication device 151. The setting command is, for example, a command to operate the communication device 151 in the infrastructure connection mode, and more specifically, is information including connection information (SSID, password, etc.) for connecting to the AP 131. Note that in the connection setting mode, the communication device 151 may connect to the terminal device 101 using Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) instead of normal Wi-Fi. That is, the communication device 151 may operate as a Group Owner and receive the setting command from the terminal device 101 through WFD communication.

[0051] <About wireless profiles> The wireless profile is information stored and managed by the OS of the terminal device 101, and includes connection information of APs to which the terminal device 101 has previously connected. The wireless profile is used, for example, for a reconnection function, which is a function by which the OS automatically re-establishes a connection between the terminal device 101 and an AP when the connection between the terminal device 101 and the AP is disconnected.

[0052] 3A shows a connection screen 300 displayed by the OS for connecting the terminal device 101 to an AP. The connection screen 300 is assumed to be a screen for connecting to the AP 131 having the SSID displayed on the screen 300. The connection screen 300 includes an area 301 for setting whether to enable a reconnection function for connecting to the AP 131, an area 302 for accepting input of a password for connecting to the AP 131, and an area 303 for attempting to establish a connection between the AP 131 and the terminal device 101 using the input password. If the reconnection function is enabled in the area 301, when the connection between the terminal device 101 and the AP 131 is disconnected, the OS automatically re-establishes the connection. On the other hand, if the reconnection function is disabled in the area 301, when the connection between the terminal device 101 and the AP 131 is disconnected, the OS does not automatically re-establish the connection. When the area 303 is pressed and a connection between the AP 131 and the terminal device 101 is successfully established, the OS saves the connection information (SSID and password) of the AP 131 as a wireless profile. However, in a specific type or version of an OS, if the reconnection function is disabled, the connection information of the AP 131 is not saved as a wireless profile even if a connection between the AP 131 and the terminal device 101 is successfully established.

[0053] 3B shows a wireless profile screen 310 displayed by the OS to display stored wireless profiles. The wireless profile screen 310 is an example of a screen when the OS stores two wireless profiles. On the wireless profile screen 310, a wireless profile with a higher priority is displayed at the top. A wireless profile with a higher priority is a wireless profile that is used with higher priority when a connection between the terminal device 101 and an AP is not established. Area 311 represents a first wireless profile with a higher priority by its SSID, and area 312 represents a second wireless profile with a lower priority by its SSID. Note that by performing a predetermined operation on area 311 or area 312, it is possible to delete from the terminal device 101 the wireless profile corresponding to the area where the predetermined operation was performed.

[0054] <Regarding the processing executed by the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151> As described above, when the terminal device 101 connects to the communication device 151 operating in the connection setting mode, it transmits connection information (SSID, password, etc.) for connecting to the AP 131 to the communication device 151. To do this, the terminal device 101 accepts input of the password to be transmitted as the connection information from the user. However, there is a problem in that some users do not know how to find the correct password to be used for connecting to the AP 131. Ultimately, there is a problem in that the correct password is not input into the terminal device 101 and transmitted to the communication device 151, and therefore the communication device 151 and the AP 131 may not be able to be connected.

[0055] Therefore, in this embodiment, the terminal device 101 displays a web manual that shows how to find the password used to connect to the AP 131. Furthermore, in order to display the web manual, the terminal device 101 appropriately switches the connection destination of the terminal device 101. By adopting such a configuration, this embodiment can improve the user's convenience in connection settings of the communication device 151.

[0056] 4 is a flowchart showing the connection setting of the communication device 151 executed by the terminal device 101. This flowchart is realized by the CPU 103 reading a program stored in the ROM 104 into the RAM 105 and executing it. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the terminal device 101 executes the processing using a setup application. It is also assumed that this flowchart is started when the user gives the above-mentioned predetermined instruction on the screen displayed by the setup application.

[0057] In S401, the CPU 103 identifies the communication device 151 to be set up by the first setup. Specifically, for example, the CPU 103 detects a beacon emitted by the communication device 151 operating in the connection setup mode. Note that in this embodiment, it is assumed that the SSID of the communication device 151 operating in the connection setup mode is recognized in advance by the setup application. Therefore, a beacon including the SSID is detected as a beacon emitted by the communication device 151 operating in the connection setup mode. Then, the communication device 151 emitting the detected beacon is identified as the communication device 151 to be set up. Note that multiple beacons may be detected because multiple communication devices 151 operating in the connection setup mode are present around the communication device 151. In this case, the CPU 103 may display a list of multiple communication devices 151 operating in the connection setup mode and identify a communication device 151 selected from the list as the communication device 151 to be set up. Alternatively, the CPU 103 may specify the communication device 151 that is transmitting the first detected beacon among the detected beacons as the communication device 151 to be set up.

[0058] In S402, the CPU 103 acquires information about the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is currently connected and stores the information in a memory such as the RAM 105. Specifically, the CPU 103 first executes an API for acquiring the SSID of the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is currently connected, thereby acquiring the SSID of the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is currently connected from the OS using a setup application. Then, the CPU 103 executes an API for acquiring a password from a wireless profile corresponding to the acquired SSID. As a result, the CPU 103 acquires, from the OS using the setup application, the password of the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is currently connected, which is included in the wireless profile corresponding to the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is currently connected. The wireless profile corresponding to the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is currently connected is a wireless profile stored by the OS based on the connection of the terminal device 101 to the AP 131. In other words, the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is currently connected is the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is connected when a predetermined instruction is given by the user. The information about the AP 131 may include information indicating the encryption method used by the AP 131 and information indicating the frequency band and channel used by the AP 131. If there is no AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is currently connected, this process is omitted.

[0059] In S403, the CPU 103 disconnects the Wi-Fi connection between the AP 131 and the terminal device 101, and establishes a Wi-Fi connection between the communication device 151 identified in S401 and the terminal device 101. In this embodiment, the communication device 151 operating in the connection setting mode is assumed to be a device that can be connected without a password. Note that a password may be required for connection with the communication device 151 operating in the connection setting mode, and in this case, the password is assumed to be recognized in advance by the setup application.

[0060] In S404, the CPU 103 executes a process for identifying the setting information to be transmitted to the communication device 151 identified in S401. Details of this process will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0061] In S405, the CPU 103 establishes a Wi-Fi connection between the communication device 151 identified in S401 and the terminal device 101, and transmits the setting information identified in S404 to the communication device 151 identified in S401.

[0062] In S406, the CPU 103 disconnects the Wi-Fi connection between the communication device 151 identified in S401 and the terminal device 101, and re-establishes a Wi-Fi connection between the AP 131 connected in S402 and the terminal device 101. It is assumed that the information stored in S402 is used to establish the Wi-Fi connection. However, this is not limiting, and information (such as a password) for establishing the Wi-Fi connection may be acquired in S406 from a wireless profile stored by the OS of the terminal device 101. It is to be noted that the AP 131 connected in S402 is the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 is connected when the predetermined instruction is issued by the user, as described above.

[0063] 5 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the terminal device 101 to identify setting information to be transmitted to the communication device 151. This flowchart is realized by the CPU 103 reading a program stored in the ROM 104 into the RAM 105 and executing it. The process shown in this flowchart corresponds to the process of S404.

[0064] In S501, the CPU 103 establishes a Wi-Fi connection between the communication device 151 identified in S401 and the terminal device 101, and receives an AP list from the communication device 151 identified in S401. Here, the AP list is a list of APs discovered by a search executed by the communication device 151. In other words, the AP list is a list of APs to which the communication device 151 can connect. Specifically, the AP list includes, for example, the SSID of each AP discovered by the search executed by the communication device 151, and information on the encryption method used by each AP discovered by the search executed by the communication device 151.

[0065] In S502, the CPU 103 determines whether the AP 131 connected in S402 is included in one or more APs indicated by the AP list acquired in S501. If the CPU 103 determines YES, the process proceeds to S517, and if the CPU 103 determines NO, the process proceeds to S503.

[0066] In S503, CPU 103 displays the AP list acquired in S501 and accepts user selection of one or more APs indicated by the AP list. Specifically, for example, CPU 103 displays a selection screen 710 shown in FIG. 7(a). Selection screen 710 includes a pull-down menu 711 and a button 712. Selection screen 710 may also include a message 713 indicating the reason why AP 131, which was connected in S402, was not included among the one or more APs indicated by the AP list acquired in S501. For example, the reason may be that communication device 151 does not support communication using the 5 GHz frequency band, and therefore no APs using the 5 GHz frequency band are included in the AP list, but AP 131, which was connected in S402, was an AP using the 5 GHz frequency band. Therefore, message 713 may be a message indicating that communication device 151 does not support communication using the 5 GHz frequency band. The pull-down menu 711 is a menu that displays the AP list acquired in S501 when operated by the user. After selecting the pull-down menu 711, the user selects one of the APs from the AP list. Until the user selects one of the APs, the button 712 may be grayed out so that it cannot be pressed by the user. When the user selects one of the APs, the pull-down menu 711 displays the SSID of the AP selected by the user, as in the selection screen 720 shown in FIG. 7(b). Furthermore, the selection screen 720 displays the MAC address of the AP selected by the user and the encryption method used by the AP selected by the user. Thereafter, when the user presses the button 712 that has been enabled by selecting one of the APs, the process proceeds to S504.

[0067] In this embodiment, the AP list is a list of one or more APs discovered by a search executed by the communication device 151, and is acquired by the terminal device 101 from the communication device 151, but is not limited to this form. The AP list is a list of one or more APs discovered by a search executed by the terminal device 101, and may be acquired not from the communication device 151 but by a search by the terminal device 101 itself.

[0068] In S504, the CPU 103 attempts to acquire the password of the AP selected in S503 from the wireless profile stored in the OS of the terminal device 101.

[0069] In S505, the CPU 103 determines whether the password of the AP selected in S503 was obtained from the wireless profile stored by the OS of the terminal device 101. If the terminal device 101 has previously connected to the AP selected in S503 via Wi-Fi and a wireless profile corresponding to the AP selected in S503 has been stored by the OS of the terminal device 101, obtaining the password of the AP selected in S503 is successful. On the other hand, if the terminal device 101 has never previously connected to the AP selected in S503 via Wi-Fi, or if the terminal device 101 has previously connected to the AP selected in S503 via Wi-Fi but the wireless profile corresponding to the AP selected in S503 has been deleted, obtaining the password of the AP selected in S503 fails. If the CPU 103 determines YES, the process proceeds to S506; if the CPU 103 determines NO, the process proceeds to S509.

[0070] In S506, the CPU 103 disconnects the Wi-Fi connection between the communication device 151 and the terminal device 101. Then, the CPU 103 attempts to establish a Wi-Fi connection between the AP selected in S503 and the terminal device 101 using the password acquired in S504.

[0071] In S507, the CPU 103 determines whether the connection attempt executed in S506 has succeeded in establishing a Wi-Fi connection between the AP selected in S503 and the terminal device 101. If the CPU 103 determines YES, the process proceeds to S515, and if the CPU 103 determines NO, the process proceeds to S508.

[0072] In S508, the CPU 103 determines whether the password for connecting to the AP 131 connected via Wi-Fi in S402 conforms to the password conditions corresponding to the encryption method used by the AP selected in S503. The password for connecting to the AP corresponding to the AP 131 connected via Wi-Fi in S402 is included in the information saved in S402. The password conditions are conditions regarding character strings permitted as passwords, specifically, conditions regarding the type of characters and the number of characters, for example. Each encryption method has its own password condition. Specifically, for example, the password condition for WPA2-Personal is "8 to 63 half-width alphanumeric characters or 64 hexadecimal characters." Therefore, for example, if the encryption method used by the AP selected in S503 is WPA2-Personal, this process determines whether the password for connecting to the AP 131 connected in S402 conforms to the condition "8 to 63 half-width alphanumeric characters or 64 hexadecimal characters." If the CPU 103 determines YES, the process proceeds to S509, and if the CPU 103 determines NO, the process proceeds to S511. If the CPU 103 determines NO, the connection attempt process of S509 is not executed.

[0073] In S508, instead of the above determination, CPU 103 may determine whether the encryption method used by the AP selected in S503 matches the encryption method used by AP 131 connected in S402. This is because if the encryption methods match, the password used to connect to AP 131 connected in S402 will necessarily match the password conditions corresponding to the encryption method used by the AP selected in S503. On the other hand, if the encryption methods do not match, it is possible that the password used to connect to AP 131 connected in S402 does not match the password conditions corresponding to the encryption method used by the AP selected in S503.

[0074] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the determination in S508 is made, and the process branches based on the determination result in S508, but this is not limiting. This embodiment may also be made in a manner in which the determination in S508 is not made. Specifically, for example, after the determination in S507 is NO, the process in S509 may be performed without making the determination in S508.

[0075] In S509, the CPU 103 disconnects the Wi-Fi connection between the communication device 151 and the terminal device 101. The CPU 103 then attempts to establish a Wi-Fi connection between the AP selected in S503 and the terminal device 101 by using the password for connecting to the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 was connected via Wi-Fi in S402. Note that this process is executed when the determination in S502 is NO, and therefore, in the situation in which this process is executed, the AP selected in S503 is different from the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 was connected in S402. Specifically, for example, the SSID of the AP selected in S503 is different from the SSID of the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 was connected in S402. However, in this embodiment, even though the AP selected in S503 is different from the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 was connected in S402, the establishment of a Wi-Fi connection between the AP selected in S503 and the terminal device 101 is attempted by using the password for connecting to the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 was connected in S402. This is because even if the AP selected in S503 is different from the AP131 connected in S402, the password for connecting to the AP selected in S503 may be the same as the password for connecting to the AP131 connected in S402.

[0076] In S510, the CPU 103 determines whether the connection attempt executed in S509 has succeeded in establishing a Wi-Fi connection between the AP selected in S503 and the terminal device 101. If the CPU 103 determines YES, the process proceeds to S515, and if the CPU 103 determines NO, the process proceeds to S512.

[0077] In S512, the CPU 103 displays a password entry screen (password entry acceptance screen) for accepting, from the user, entry of a password for connecting to the AP selected in S503. Details of this process will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0078] In S513, the CPU 103 re-establishes a Wi-Fi connection between the communication device 151 and the terminal device 101. Note that the processing of S513 may be executed after the processing of S514. Furthermore, if a Wi-Fi connection between the terminal device 101 and the AP 131 has been established before this processing, the Wi-Fi connection is disconnected before this processing is executed.

[0079] In S514, the CPU 103 identifies the SSID of the AP selected in S503 and the password entered by the user in S512 as setting information to be transmitted to the communication device 151 identified in S401. Note that other information, such as the frequency band and encryption method used by the AP selected in S503, may also be identified here. Thereafter, the processing of this flowchart ends, and the process proceeds to S405.

[0080] In S515, the CPU 103 disconnects the Wi-Fi connection between the AP selected in S503 and the terminal device 101, and re-establishes the Wi-Fi connection between the communication device 151 and the terminal device 101. Note that the processing of S515 may be executed after the processing of S516.

[0081] In S516, the CPU 103 identifies the SSID of the AP selected in S503 and the password for connecting to the AP 131 connected in S402 as setting information to be transmitted to the communication device 151 identified in S401. Note that because the Wi-Fi connection between the AP selected in S503 and the terminal device 101 was successfully established using the password for connecting to the AP 131 connected in S402, the password for connecting to the AP 131 connected in S402 is also the password for connecting to the AP selected in S503. Note that other information, such as the frequency band and encryption method used by the AP selected in S503, may also be identified here. Thereafter, the processing of this flowchart ends, and the process proceeds to S405.

[0082] In S517, the CPU 103 identifies the SSID of the AP 131 connected in S402 and the password for connecting to the AP 131 connected in S402 as the setting information to be transmitted to the communication device 151 identified in S401. Note that other information, such as the frequency band and encryption method used by the AP 131 connected in S402, may also be identified here. Note that all of the information identified here is information included in the information saved in S402. Thereafter, the processing of this flowchart ends, and the process proceeds to S405.

[0083] For example, if the setup app is an app for a smartphone and the terminal device 101 is a smartphone, the setup app may not be able to obtain from the OS the password for connecting to the AP 131 that was connected in S402. In that case, the setup app must accept input from the user, even if it is the password of an AP that has previously connected to the terminal device 101. Therefore, for example, if the determination in S502 is YES, the process may proceed to S512 instead of S517.

[0084] Furthermore, the processes of S502 and S517 may be omitted. That is, after the AP list is acquired in S501, the process may always proceed to S503 without executing S502.

[0085] This configuration can improve the user's convenience in the setup process for the communication device 151. Specifically, for example, in a specific situation, it is possible to identify the setting information to be sent to the communication device 151 without receiving a password input from the user.

[0086] Although the setting information transmitted to the communication device 151 has been described as including an SSID as information for identifying an AP (AP identification information), the present invention is not limited to this. The information for identifying an AP may be, for example, information such as the IP address or MAC address of the AP selected in S503.

[0087] In the above description, it has been explained that information for identifying the AP selected in S503 is transmitted in S405, but this is not limiting. Information for identifying the AP selected in S503 may be transmitted via a Wi-Fi connection between the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151 before a connection attempt is made in S505. Then, in S405, which is executed after the connection attempt in S505 is successful, only the password may be transmitted without transmitting information for identifying the AP selected in S503.

[0088] Furthermore, if the AP selected in S503 is an AP that can be connected to without a password, CPU 103 may omit the processes of S504 to S517 after S503. CPU 103 then identifies the SSID of the AP selected in S503 as setting information to be transmitted to communication device 151 identified in S401, and does not need to identify the password of the AP selected in S503. CPU 103 then ends the process of this flowchart. Furthermore, if the AP selected in S503 is an AP that can be connected to without a password, CPU 103 proceeds to S504 after S503.

[0089] Furthermore, the processes of S504 to S511, S513, S515, and S516 may be omitted. That is, when the CPU 103 receives an AP selection from the user in S503, the CPU 103 may proceed to S512 without executing the processes of S504 to S511. In this embodiment, the Wi-Fi connection between the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151 is not disconnected, and therefore S513 is also omitted.

[0090] 6 is a flowchart showing the process of displaying a password entry screen, which is executed by the terminal device 101. This flowchart is realized by the CPU 103 reading a program stored in the ROM 104 into the RAM 105 and executing it. The process shown in this flowchart corresponds to the process of S512.

[0091] In S601, the CPU 103 uses the information saved in S402 to re-establish a Wi-Fi connection between the AP 131 corresponding to the information saved in S402 and the terminal device 101. That is, the CPU 103 re-establishes a Wi-Fi connection with the AP 131 to which the terminal device 101 was connected immediately before the Wi-Fi connection between the communication device 151 identified in S401 and the terminal device 101 was established. Note that if the password or SSID for connecting to the AP 131 is changed after the processing of S402, or if the location of the AP 131 or the location of the terminal device 101 is changed after the processing of S402, the Wi-Fi connection between the AP 131 and the terminal device 101 may not be established. In this embodiment, even if the Wi-Fi connection is not established, the process proceeds to S602 in that state.

[0092] The timing at which S601 is executed is not limited to this. For example, after this flowchart starts, the process may proceed to S602 without executing S601, and S601 may be executed after a password entry screen (described later) is displayed or after the WEB manual display button 733 is pressed.

[0093] In S602, the CPU 103 displays a password input screen. Specifically, for example, the CPU 103 displays a password input screen 730 shown in FIG. 7C. The password input screen 730 includes the display content of the selection screen 720, a password input box 731, a check box 732, and a WEB manual display button 733. The password input box 731 is a box for accepting input of a password for connecting to the AP selected in S503 from the user. The check box 732 is a box for switching whether the password character string entered in the password input box 731 is displayed as is or as asterisks. The WEB manual display button 733 is an area for accepting an operation that triggers processing to display a WEB manual for presenting to the user how to confirm the password for connecting to the AP.

[0094] In S603, the CPU 103 determines whether or not the WEB manual display button 733 has been pressed. If the CPU 103 determines YES, the process proceeds to S604, and if the CPU 103 determines NO, the process proceeds to S605.

[0095] In S604, CPU 103 launches a web browser from the setup application. Then, CPU 103 accesses a server on the Internet that provides a web manual via the Wi-Fi connection established in S601. The setup application pre-stores an address for accessing the server. Therefore, CPU 103 transfers the address from the setup application to the web browser and uses the address in the web browser to access the server. Then, CPU 103 acquires information for displaying the web manual from the server using the web browser and displays the web manual based on the acquired information using the web browser. Note that, since the web browser is displayed in a window separate from the setup application window, the password entry screen 730 and the web manual are displayed in parallel in separate windows. Therefore, the setup application waits for a user operation on the password entry screen 730 even after the web manual is displayed. In other words, the setup application can accept a user operation on the password entry screen 730 even while the web manual is displayed. That is, after processing S604, the CPU 103 returns to S603. Note that in this embodiment, if a Wi-Fi connection between the AP 131 and the terminal device 101 has not been established in S601, the terminal device 101 may not be able to communicate over the Internet. If the terminal device 101 is not able to communicate over the Internet, access to the server that provides the WEB manual will fail, and the WEB manual will not be displayed.

[0096] In step S604, the CPU 103 displays the web manual, specifically, for example, the web manual 800 shown in FIG. 8 . The web manual 800 includes an area 801 and a link button 802. The area 801 is an area that presents to the user a method for checking the password for connecting to the AP. Specifically, the AP is, for example, a wireless LAN router (Wi-Fi router). Specifically, the area 801 notifies the user that the password is written on the bottom or back of the Wi-Fi router itself, on a sticker, in the manual, or the like. The link button 802 is a web page provided by the vendor of the Wi-Fi router itself, and is a link button for displaying a web page that presents to the user a method for checking the password. When the link button 802 is pressed, the CPU 103 may display a screen that allows the user to select a vendor and then display a web page provided by the selected vendor. The link button 802 does not necessarily have to be included in the web manual 800. By checking the WEB manual 800, the user can confirm the correct password for connecting to the AP selected in S503, and enter the confirmed correct password in the password input box 731. Note that when the password is entered in the password input box 731, the button 712 is enabled and can be pressed by the user.

[0097] In S605, the CPU 103 determines whether or not the button 712 has been pressed. If the CPU 103 determines YES, the process proceeds to S606, and if the CPU 103 determines NO, the process returns to S603 and waits for an operation from the user.

[0098] In S606, the CPU 103 disconnects the Wi-Fi connection established in S601 and attempts to establish a Wi-Fi connection between the AP selected in S503 and the terminal device 101 using the password entered in the password entry box 731.

[0099] In S607, the CPU 103 determines whether the connection attempt executed in S606 has successfully established a connection between the AP selected in S503 and the terminal device 101. If the determination is YES, the CPU 103 ends the processing of this flowchart and proceeds to S513, and if the determination is NO, the CPU 103 returns to S601. As described above, in the processing from S513 onwards, information for connecting to the AP selected in S503 is transmitted to the communication device 151 as setting information. This establishes a Wi-Fi connection between the AP selected in S503 and the communication device 151.

[0100] The processes of S606 and S607 may be omitted. That is, if the CPU 103 determines YES in S605, it may end the process of this flowchart and proceed to S513 without executing the processes of S606 and S607.

[0101] In this embodiment, by executing the process of S601, Internet communication is possible even when the password entry screen 730 is displayed. Furthermore, a button for displaying a web manual is provided on the password entry screen 730, which is a screen displayed by the setup application. This makes it possible to present a method for confirming the password to the user through the web manual at an appropriate timing, after the AP is selected in S503 and before the password is entered on the password entry screen 730. Consequently, it is possible to prevent an incorrect password from being entered on the password entry screen 730, and it is possible to more reliably establish a Wi-Fi connection between the AP selected in S503 and the communication device 151.

[0102] Second Embodiment In this embodiment, a form will be described in which the process of displaying a password entry screen is executed by a method different from that of the first embodiment. Note that this embodiment is assumed to be similar to the first embodiment except for the process of displaying the password entry screen.

[0103] 9 is a flowchart showing the process of displaying a password entry screen, which is executed by the terminal device 101. This flowchart is realized by the CPU 103 reading a program stored in the ROM 104 into the RAM 105 and executing it. The process shown in this flowchart corresponds to the process of S512.

[0104] S901 to S907 are the same as S601 to S607 in the first embodiment, and therefore the explanation will be omitted.

[0105] In S908, which is executed after S901, the CPU 103 determines whether or not a Wi-Fi connection has been established between the AP 131 and the terminal device 101 in S901. If the CPU 103 determines YES, the process proceeds to S909, and if the CPU 103 determines NO, the process proceeds to S910.

[0106] In S909, the CPU 103 determines whether the terminal device 101 is capable of Internet communication. Specifically, in this determination, the CPU 103 acquires information indicating whether Internet communication is possible through the network to which the terminal device 101 is connected by executing an API of the OS. Then, based on the content of the acquired information, the CPU 103 determines whether Internet communication is possible through the terminal device 101. In other words, the acquired information indicates whether the network to which the terminal device 101 is connected is connected to the Internet. Even if a Wi-Fi connection between the AP 131 and the terminal device 101 is established in S901, if the AP 131 is not connected to the Internet, Internet communication is not possible through the network to which the terminal device 101 is connected. The specific processing in this determination is not limited to the above-described form. For example, the CPU 103 may determine whether Internet communication is possible through the terminal device 101 by attempting to download a file from a server on the Internet and determining whether the download was successful. If the CPU 103 determines YES, the process proceeds to S902. If the CPU 103 determines NO, the process proceeds to S910.

[0107] In S910, the CPU 103 displays a password entry screen. The password entry screen displayed here is assumed to be a different screen from the password entry screen displayed in S902. Specifically, for example, the CPU 103 displays a password entry screen 740 shown in FIG. 7(d). The password entry screen 740 includes the display content of the selection screen 720, a password entry box 731, and a check box 732. That is, unlike the password entry screen displayed in S902, the password entry screen displayed in S910 does not include a WEB manual display button 733. This is because, in the situation in which S910 is executed, Internet communication by the terminal device 101 is not possible. Consequently, even if the WEB manual display button 733 is pressed, access to the server that provides the WEB manual will fail, and the WEB manual will not be displayed.

[0108] In step S910, the user may be presented with a password verification method using a manual pre-stored in the setup app, rather than a web manual. A manual pre-stored in the setup app is a manual that is acquired without internet communication with a server that provides the web manual, and is pre-programmed in the setup app. The manual may be displayed by the setup app on the password entry screen, or may be displayed by the setup app when a manual display button on the password entry screen is pressed.

[0109] In S911, the CPU 103 determines whether or not the button 712 has been pressed. If the CPU 103 determines YES, the process proceeds to S912, and if the CPU 103 determines NO, the process returns to S911 and waits for an operation from the user.

[0110] In S912, the CPU 103 attempts to establish a Wi-Fi connection between the AP selected in S503 and the terminal device 101, using the password entered in the password entry box 731. If a Wi-Fi connection has been established in S901, the CPU 103 disconnects the Wi-Fi connection and then attempts to establish a Wi-Fi connection between the AP selected in S503 and the terminal device 101.

[0111] In S913, the CPU 103 determines whether the connection attempt executed in S912 has successfully established a connection between the AP selected in S503 and the terminal device 101. If the CPU 103 determines YES, it ends the processing of this flowchart and proceeds to S513, and if the CPU 103 determines NO, it returns to S901.

[0112] The processes of S912 and S913 may be omitted. That is, if the CPU 103 determines YES in S911, it may end the process of this flowchart and proceed to S513 without executing the processes of S912 and S913.

[0113] In this manner, in this embodiment, whether or not to display the button for displaying the WEB manual is switched depending on whether or not internet communication is possible using the terminal device 101. This prevents the button from being displayed even in a situation where the WEB manual cannot be displayed.

[0114] <Other embodiments> The timing of displaying the web manual and the timing of displaying the button for displaying the web manual are not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, CPU 103 may display a confirmation screen asking the user whether or not to display the web manual after executing the process of S601 and before executing the process of S602. That is, CPU 103 may display a button for displaying the web manual at that timing. If an input for displaying the web manual is made on the confirmation screen, the processes of S604 and S602 may be executed in parallel. If an input for displaying the web manual is not made on the confirmation screen, only the process of S602 may be executed without executing S604. In this embodiment, the screen displayed in S604 may or may not include the web manual display button 733. For example, CPU 103 may always execute S604 after executing the process of S601, without accepting an operation on the confirmation screen or the web manual display button 733. That is, for example, CPU 103 may always execute S604 and S602 in parallel after executing the process of S601. In this embodiment, the screen displayed in S604 may or may not include the WEB manual display button 733.

[0115] Furthermore, the area that presents the user with a method for checking the password for connecting to the AP may be displayed directly by the setup application, rather than by the web browser.

[0116] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the 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 realizes one or more functions.

[0117] The disclosure of the present embodiment includes the following system, image forming apparatus, information processing apparatus, method, and program.

[0118] (Item 1) A predetermined application program, The computer of the information processing device a processing step of executing a predetermined process for acquiring, from a predetermined server via internet communication, predetermined information for displaying a screen presenting to a user a method for checking a password for an access point external to the information processing device, while a first connection, which is a connection between the access point and the information processing device, is established; a receiving step of receiving an input of a password for the access point from a user after the predetermined process is executed; a transmitting step of transmitting information including the input password to a communication device outside the information processing device and outside the access point via a second connection which is a connection between the communication device and the information processing device; A program characterized by executing the following.

[0119] (Item 2) The computer of the information processing device a first establishing step of establishing the second connection; performing communication over the second connection; a first disconnection step of disconnecting the second connection after communication via the second connection has been performed; a second establishing step of establishing the first connection after the second connection is disconnected; a second disconnection step of disconnecting the first connection; a third establishing step of re-establishing the second connection after the first connection is disconnected; Then run the predetermined process is executed after the second connection is disconnected and the first connection is established; After the second connection is re-established, information including the entered password is transmitted to the communication device. 2. The program according to item 1,

[0120] (Item 3) the communication via the second connection includes communication receiving, from the communication device, a list of one or more of the access points discovered by the communication device; After the list is received, the second connection is terminated; the password input by the user after the predetermined process is executed is the password of a first access point, which is the access point selected from the list; 3. The program according to item 2,

[0121] (Item 4) the first connection is a connection between a second access point that is different from the first access point and the information processing device, the second access point is the access point to which the information processing device was connected before the second connection was established; 4. The program according to item 3,

[0122] (Item 5) The computer of the information processing device a first display step of displaying the list; Then run the first access point is the access point selected by a user from the displayed list; 5. The program according to item 4,

[0123] (Item 6) The computer of the information processing device an attempt step of attempting to establish a third connection between the first access point and the information processing device without receiving an input of a password for the first access point from a user on a screen displayed by the predetermined application program; Then run If the establishment of the third connection fails, the first connection is established and the predetermined process is executed; If the establishment of the third connection is successful, the first connection is not established and the predetermined process is not executed, and information including the password of the first access point is transmitted to the communication device via the second connection. 6. The program according to item 5,

[0124] (Item 7) an attempt is made to establish the third connection using a password for the first access point included in a wireless profile managed by an operating system of the information processing device; If the establishment of the third connection using the password of the first access point is successful, information including the password of the first access point included in the wireless profile is transmitted to the communication device via the second connection. 7. The program according to item 6,

[0125] (Item 8) if the establishment of the third connection fails, a further attempt is made to establish the third connection using a password for the second access point included in the wireless profile; If the establishment of the third connection using the password of the second access point is successful, information including the password of the second access point and identification information of the first access point included in the wireless profile is transmitted to the communication device via the second connection. 8. The program according to item 7,

[0126] (Item 9) If the first access point is not an access point that can be connected without a password, the first connection is established and the predetermined process is executed; If the first access point is an access point that can be connected to without a password, the first connection is not established and the predetermined process is not executed, and information including identification information of the first access point is transmitted to the communication device via the second connection. 9. The program according to any one of items 5 to 8,

[0127] (Item 10) The computer of the information processing device a second display step of displaying a predetermined area for receiving an operation that triggers the predetermined process; Then run The predetermined process is executed based on the operation of the predetermined area. 10. The program according to any one of items 1 to 9,

[0128] (Item 11) The computer of the information processing device a third display step of displaying a reception screen for receiving an input of the password of the access point from a user; Then run the predetermined area is included in the reception screen, 11. The program according to item 10.

[0129] (Item 12) The first connection is established before the predetermined area is displayed or based on an operation on the predetermined area. 12. The program according to item 10 or 11,

[0130] (Item 13) After information including the input password is transmitted to the communication device, the second connection is disconnected and a connection between the access point and the information processing device is established. 13. The program according to any one of items 1 to 12.

[0131] (Item 14) The first connection is a connection using a communication method based on the IEEE 802.11 series of standards. 14. The program according to any one of items 1 to 13,

[0132] (Item 15) The second connection is a connection using a communication method based on the IEEE 802.11 series of standards. 15. The program according to any one of items 1 to 14.

[0133] (Item 16) the predetermined processing includes a process of launching a web browser and a process of causing the web browser to acquire the predetermined information, When the predetermined information is acquired, a screen presenting a method for checking the password of the access point to the user is displayed on the web browser. 16. The program according to any one of items 1 to 15,

[0134] (Item 17) the launched web browser is displayed in a window separate from a window displaying the predetermined application program, Item 17. The program according to item 16, wherein the predetermined application program is capable of accepting input of a password for the access point from the user while the web browser is displayed.

[0135] (Item 18) the communication device is a printing device, 18. The program according to any one of items 1 to 17,

[0136] (Item 19) A method for controlling an information processing device having a predetermined application program, comprising: a processing step of executing a predetermined process for acquiring, from a predetermined server via internet communication, predetermined information for displaying a screen presenting to a user a method for checking a password for an access point external to the information processing device, while a first connection, which is a connection between the access point and the information processing device, is established; a receiving step of receiving an input of a password for the access point from a user after the predetermined process is executed; a transmitting step of transmitting information including the input password to a communication device outside the information processing device and outside the access point via a second connection which is a connection between the communication device and the information processing device; A control method comprising:

[0137] (Item 20) An information processing device having a predetermined application program, a processing means for executing a predetermined process for acquiring, from a predetermined server via internet communication, predetermined information for displaying a screen that presents to a user a method for checking a password for an access point external to the information processing device, while a first connection, which is a connection between the access point and the information processing device, is established; a receiving means for receiving an input of a password for the access point from a user after the predetermined process has been executed; a transmitting means for transmitting information including the input password to a communication device external to the information processing device and external to the access point via a second connection between the communication device and the information processing device; An information processing device comprising: [Explanation of symbols]

[0138] 101 Terminal equipment 151 Communication equipment

Claims

1. A predetermined application program, The computer of the information processing device a processing step of executing a predetermined process for acquiring, from a predetermined server via Internet communication, predetermined information for displaying a screen presenting to a user a method for checking a password for an access point external to the information processing device, while a first connection, which is a connection between the access point and the information processing device, is established; a receiving step of receiving an input of a password for the access point from a user after the predetermined process is executed; a transmitting step of transmitting information including the input password to a communication device external to the information processing device and external to the access point via a second connection which is a connection between the communication device and the information processing device; A program characterized by executing the following.

2. The computer of the information processing device a first establishing step of establishing the second connection; a communication step of performing communication over the second connection; a first disconnection step of disconnecting the second connection after communication via the second connection has been performed; a second establishing step of establishing the first connection after the second connection is disconnected; a second disconnection step of disconnecting the first connection; a third establishing step of re-establishing the second connection after the first connection is disconnected; Then run the predetermined process is executed after the second connection is disconnected and the first connection is established; After the second connection is re-established, information including the entered password is transmitted to the communication device.

2. The program according to claim 1 .

3. communication via the second connection includes communication receiving from the communication device a list of one or more of the access points discovered by the communication device; After the list is received, the second connection is terminated; the password input by the user after the predetermined process is executed is the password of a first access point, which is the access point selected from the list; 3. The program according to claim 2.

4. the first connection is a connection between the information processing device and a second access point that is different from the first access point, the second access point is the access point to which the information processing device was connected before the second connection was established; 4. The program according to claim 3.

5. The computer of the information processing device a first display step of displaying the list; Then run the first access point is the access point selected by a user from the displayed list; 5. The program according to claim 4.

6. The computer of the information processing device an attempt step of attempting to establish a third connection between the first access point and the information processing device without receiving an input of a password for the first access point from a user on a screen displayed by the predetermined application program; Then run if the establishment of the third connection fails, the first connection is established and the predetermined process is executed; If the establishment of the third connection is successful, the first connection is not established and the predetermined process is not executed, and information including the password of the first access point is transmitted to the communication device via the second connection.

6. The program according to claim 5.

7. an attempt is made to establish the third connection using a password for the first access point included in a wireless profile managed by an operating system of the information processing device; If the establishment of the third connection using the password of the first access point is successful, information including the password of the first access point included in the wireless profile is transmitted to the communication device via the second connection.

7. The program according to claim 6.

8. if the establishment of the third connection fails, a further attempt is made to establish the third connection using a password for the second access point included in the wireless profile; If the establishment of the third connection using the password of the second access point is successful, information including the password of the second access point and identification information of the first access point included in the wireless profile is transmitted to the communication device via the second connection.

8. The program according to claim 7,

9. If the first access point is not an access point that can be connected without a password, the first connection is established and the predetermined process is executed; If the first access point is an access point that can be connected to without a password, the first connection is not established and the predetermined process is not executed, and information including identification information of the first access point is transmitted to the communication device via the second connection.

6. The program according to claim 5.

10. The computer of the information processing device a second display step of displaying a predetermined area for receiving an operation that triggers the predetermined process; Then run The predetermined process is executed based on the operation of the predetermined area.

2. The program according to claim 1 .

11. The computer of the information processing device a third display step of displaying a reception screen for receiving an input of the password of the access point from a user; Then run the predetermined area is included in the reception screen, The program according to claim 10 .

12. The first connection is established before the predetermined area is displayed or based on an operation on the predetermined area. The program according to claim 10 .

13. After information including the input password is transmitted to the communication device, the second connection is disconnected and a connection between the access point and the information processing device is established.

2. The program according to claim 1 .

14. the first connection is a connection using a communication method based on the IEEE 802.11 series of standards; 2. The program according to claim 1 .

15. the second connection is a connection using a communication method based on the IEEE 802.11 series of standards; 2. The program according to claim 1 .

16. the predetermined processing includes a process of launching a web browser and a process of acquiring the predetermined information by the web browser; When the predetermined information is acquired, a screen presenting a method for confirming the password of the access point to the user is displayed on the web browser.

2. The program according to claim 1 .

17. the launched web browser is displayed in a window separate from a window displaying the predetermined application program, 17. The program according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined application program is capable of accepting input of a password for the access point from the user while the web browser is displayed.

18. the communication device is a printing device, 2. The program according to claim 1 .

19. A method for controlling an information processing device having a predetermined application program, comprising: a processing step of executing a predetermined process for acquiring, from a predetermined server via Internet communication, predetermined information for displaying a screen presenting to a user a method for checking a password for an access point external to the information processing device, while a first connection, which is a connection between the access point and the information processing device, is established; a receiving step of receiving an input of a password for the access point from a user after the predetermined process is executed; a transmitting step of transmitting information including the input password to a communication device external to the information processing device and external to the access point via a second connection which is a connection between the communication device and the information processing device; A control method comprising:

20. An information processing device having a predetermined application program, a processing means for executing a predetermined process for acquiring, from a predetermined server via internet communication, predetermined information for displaying a screen that presents to a user a method for checking a password for an access point external to the information processing device, while a first connection, which is a connection between the access point and the information processing device, is established; a receiving means for receiving an input of a password for the access point from a user after the predetermined process has been executed; a transmitting means for transmitting information including the input password to a communication device external to the information processing device and external to the access point via a second connection between the communication device and the information processing device; An information processing device comprising:

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