Communication device, control method, and program

Abstract

This allows MLO to search for SSIDs that can connect to it and display them with priority. [Solution] A communication device capable of wirelessly communicating with a communication partner device, comprising: a search means for searching for the communication partner device; and a display control means that controls a display means to display, if a plurality of beacon information obtained by the search of the search means includes predetermined beacon information that includes correspondence information indicating that it is multilink compatible, the identification name corresponding to the predetermined beacon information is displayed with priority over the identification name corresponding to the beacon information that does not include the correspondence information.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] In the wireless LAN standard, as the standard evolves such as IEEE802.11b, IEEE802.11a, and IEEE802.11n, the number of SSIDs has also increased. Therefore, when searching for a wireless LAN access point (hereinafter also referred to as AP) for wireless communication, a large number of SSIDs are found, and it has become difficult to find the SSID to be connected. To solve the above problems For example, Patent Document 1 discloses making a set of multi-SSIDs presumed to be a plurality of SSIDs as a representative SSID.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses obtaining the degree of coincidence of a plurality of SSIDs and preferentially displaying the SSID with a high degree of coincidence compared to the SSID with a low degree of coincidence.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the conventional technologies disclosed in the above-mentioned patent documents, the connection and display methods of MLO are not described, and it takes time to search for an SSID that can be connected to MLO.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable searching for an SSID that can be connected to MLO and preferentially displaying it. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a communication device capable of wirelessly communicating with a communication partner device, the communication device comprising: a search means for searching for the communication partner device; and a display control means for controlling a display means to display, if a plurality of beacon information obtained by the search of the search means includes predetermined beacon information that includes correspondence information indicating that it is multilink compatible, the identification name corresponding to the predetermined beacon information is displayed with priority over the identification name corresponding to the beacon information that does not include the correspondence information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, SSIDs that can be connected via MLO are displayed preferentially, making it easier to discover MLO-compatible access points and thus facilitating MLO connections. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Block diagram showing the configuration of the communication device in this embodiment [Figure 2] A diagram illustrating the network configuration in this embodiment. [Figure 3] A diagram illustrating the information contained in a beacon received by the communication device in this embodiment. [Figure 4] Flowchart showing the processing of the communication device in the first embodiment [Figure 5] This figure illustrates the information used when a communication device in the first embodiment associates and stores beacons it has received. [Figure 6] This diagram illustrates a screen that displays and expands a group of SSIDs, as shown on the communication device in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] This figure illustrates a screen displayed on the communication device in the first embodiment, which highlights the grouped SSIDs. [Figure 8] This diagram illustrates a screen displayed on the communication device in the first embodiment, which shows that the SSIDs are related but not grouped together. [Figure 9] FIG. illustrating a screen showing only the SSID for single link displayed on the communication device in the first embodiment [Figure 10] FIG. illustrating a screen showing the grouped SSIDs displayed at the top on the communication device in the first embodiment [Figure 11] Flowchart showing the processing of the communication device in the second embodiment [Figure 12] FIG. illustrating the association of the multi - link - connectable SSIDs in the second embodiment [Figure 13] FIG. illustrating the separation of the multi - link - connectable SSIDs and other SSIDs in the second embodiment [Figure 14] FIG. illustrating the display of the SSIDs in the second embodiment considering the radio wave intensity [Figure 15] Flowchart showing the processing of the communication device in the third embodiment [Figure 16] FIG. illustrating the screen displayed on the communication device in the third embodiment

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are examples for realizing the present invention, and should be appropriately modified or changed according to the configuration of the device to which the present invention is applied and various conditions. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Also, a part of each of the embodiments described later may be appropriately combined and configured.

[0011] (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a process of comparing the BSSID (also referred to as an identifier) included in the single-link beacon transmitted from the MLO-compatible AP with the BSSID included in the multi-link beacon transmitted from the same AP, and associating and managing the matching ones will be described. Note that the AP is an example of a communication partner device, and the communication device 100 can communicate wirelessly with the AP. Note that MLO is the Multi-Link Operation of IEEE802.11be.

[0012] <Configuration of Communication Device 100> First, referring to FIG. 1, the configuration and functions of the communication device 100 of the present embodiment will be described.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the communication device 100 of the present embodiment. For example, the communication device 100 may be a smartphone with a wireless function, a tablet device, a digital camera, or a personal computer.

[0014] The control unit 101 controls each part of the communication device 100 according to the input signal and the program described later. Note that instead of the control unit 101 controlling the entire device, a plurality of hardware may share the processing to control the entire device.

[0015] The non-volatile memory 102 is an electrically erasable and recordable non-volatile memory. In the non-volatile memory 102, an OS (operating system), which is basic software executed by the control unit 101, and an application that realizes application functions in cooperation with this OS are recorded. Also, in the present embodiment, an application for processing the beacon received from the AP is stored in the non-volatile memory 102.

[0016] [[ID=2*]]The working memory 103 is used as an image display memory for the display unit 105, a working area of the control unit 101, etc.

[0017] The operation unit 104 is used to receive instructions from the user for the communication device 100. The operation unit 104 includes, for example, an operation member such as a power button for the user to instruct the communication device 100 to turn on or off, or a touch panel formed on the display unit 105.

[0018] The display unit 105 displays image data, text for interactive operation, and so on. Note that the display unit 105 does not necessarily need to be part of the communication device 100. The communication device 100 only needs to be able to connect to the display unit 105 and have at least a display control function to control the display of the display unit 105.

[0019] The wireless communication unit 106 includes one or more communication circuits or communication modules and is a communication interface for connecting to an external device. In this embodiment, the wireless communication unit 106 performs wireless communication in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 standard, for example, under the control of the control unit 101. In this embodiment, the wireless communication unit 106 is used for communication with an AP, which is an external device.

[0020] The above describes an example of the configuration of the communication device 100. However, the functional configuration of the communication device 100 is not limited to the example described above. For example, the communication device 100 may also have an imaging function.

[0021] <Network configuration> Next, the network configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 2.

[0022] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the network configuration in this embodiment. As shown in Figure 2, in this embodiment, there are three AP200s surrounding the communication device 100.

[0023] At this time, AP200-1 is building a network with the SSID SSID_A_2.4G, frequency band 2.4GHz, channel 6, and MLO-incompatible.

[0024] AP200-2 has established two networks: one with SSID SSID_B_2.4G, frequency band 2.4GHz, channel 5, and no MLO support; another with SSID SSID_B_5G, frequency band 5GHz, channel 36, and no MLO support. Furthermore, AP200-2 has established a network with SSID SSID_B_6G, frequency band 6GHz, channel 37, and no MLO support. In addition, AP200-2 has established a network with SSID SSID_B, frequency bands 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz, channels 5, 36, and 37, and MLO-compatible (also known as multi-link compatible).

[0025] AP200-3 has established two networks: one with SSID SSID_C_2.4G, frequency band 2.4GHz, channel 7, and no MLO support; and another with SSID SSID_C_5G, frequency band 5GHz, channel 40, and no MLO support. Furthermore, AP200-3 has established another network with SSID SSID_C_MLO, frequency bands 2.4GHz and 5GHz, channels 7 and 40, and MLO support.

[0026] <Information contained in the beacon received by the communication device 100> Next, with reference to Figure 3, the information contained in the beacon received by the communication device 100 in this embodiment will be described.

[0027] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the information contained in a beacon received by the communication device 100 in this embodiment (an example of beacon information). In this embodiment, it is assumed that AP200-1 shown in Figure 2 transmits the beacon shown in Figure 3(a). Also, it is assumed that AP200-2 shown in Figure 2 transmits the beacons from Figure 3(b) to Figure 3(e). Furthermore, it is assumed that AP200-3 transmits the beacons from Figure 3(f) to Figure 3(h). As shown in Figure 3, it is assumed that the beacon includes SSID (also called identification name), BSSID, Information Element (hereinafter referred to as IE), channel, and Reduced Neighbor Report (hereinafter referred to as RNR). In the case of an MLO-compatible network, the RNR includes information for frequency bands other than the frequency band on which the beacon is transmitted. For example, in a 2.4GHz and 5GHz MLO-compatible network, if a beacon is transmitted in the 2.4GHz band, the RNR will include information for the 5GHz band (such as channel and BSSID). In this embodiment, only the above information is described as information contained in the beacon, but the information contained in the beacon is not limited to this.

[0028] <AP search and association processing by communication device 100> Next, with reference to Figures 4 and 5, the AP search and AP information association process by the communication device 100 of this embodiment will be described. Here, it is assumed that the communication device 100 of this embodiment receives beacons from AP200-1 and AP200-2.

[0029] Figure 4(a) is a flowchart of the process by which the communication device 100 of this embodiment performs an AP search and associates the AP information obtained through the search.

[0030] In S401, the control unit 101 searches for nearby APs via the wireless communication unit 106. Details of the AP search process will be explained later using Figure 4(b).

[0031] In S402, the control unit 101 determines whether there are any MLO-compatible APs among the APs searched in S401. If it determines that there are MLO-compatible APs, the control unit 101 proceeds to S403. If it determines that there are no MLO-compatible APs, the control unit 101 terminates the process.

[0032] In S403, the control unit 101 performs association processing for the AP found in S401. Details of the AP association processing will be explained later using Figure 4(c).

[0033] Figure 4(b) is a flowchart of the process when the communication device 100 of this embodiment searches for an AP, and is the same as the content of S401 in Figure 4(a).

[0034] In S411, the control unit 101 receives beacons transmitted by surrounding APs via the wireless communication unit 106. At this time, the control unit 101 can receive beacons using either active scanning or passive scanning. The beacons received by the control unit 101 at this time are, for example, the information shown in Figure 3(a) transmitted by AP200-1 and the information shown in Figure 3(b) transmitted by AP200-2 for 2.4GHz single link. For 5GHz single link, it is the information shown in Figure 3(c) transmitted by AP200-2. For 6GHz single link, it is the information shown in Figure 3(d) transmitted by AP200-2. For MLO, it is the information shown in Figure 3(e) transmitted by AP200-2.

[0035] In S412, the control unit 101 obtains the SSID from the beacon received in S411. For example, in Figure 3(a), which is for 2.4GHz, SSID301 is SSID_A_2.4G, and similarly in Figure 3(b), SSID311 is SSID_B_2.4G. Also, in Figure 3(c), which is for 5GHz, SSID321 is SSID_B_5G. Also, in Figure 3(d), which is for 6GHz, SSID331 is SSID_B_6G. Also, in Figure 3(e), which is for MLO, SSID341 is SSID_B.

[0036] In S413, the control unit 101 obtains the BSSID from the beacon received in S411. The BSSID usually contains the MAC address. For example, in Figure 3(a), which is for 2.4GHz, BSSID302 is 000000000024, and similarly in Figure 3(b), BSSID312 is 100000000024. Also, in Figure 3(c), which is for 5GHz, BSSID322 is 100000000050. Also, in Figure 3(d), which is for 6GHz, BSSID332 is 100000000060. Also, in Figure 3(e), which is for MLO, BSSID342 is 100000000024.

[0037] In S414, the control unit 101 obtains channel information from the beacon received in S411. For example, in Figure 3(a), which is for 2.4GHz, channel 304 is 6, and similarly in Figure 3(b), channel 314 is 5.

[0038] In S415, the control unit 101 obtains frequency band information from the channel information acquired in S415. For example, since channel 304 acquired in S414 is 6, the frequency band is 2.4GHz, and similarly, since channel 314 is 5, the frequency band is also 2.4GHz.

[0039] In S416, the control unit 101 obtains the IE from the beacon received in S411. Typically, the IE includes information indicating whether the received beacon is MLO compatible or not. For example, in Figure 3(a), which is for 2.4GHz, IE303 indicates that it is not MLO compatible, and similarly in Figure 3(b), IE313 indicates that it is not MLO compatible. In Figure 3(c), which is for 5GHz, IE323 indicates that it is not MLO compatible. In Figure 3(d), which is for 6GHz, IE333 indicates that it is not MLO compatible. In Figure 3(e), which is for MLO, IE343 indicates that it is MLO compatible.

[0040] In S417, the control unit 101 determines from the IE acquired in S416 whether or not it is an MLO-compatible beacon. If it is determined to be incompatible with MLO, the process proceeds to S418; if it is determined to be compatible with MLO, the process proceeds to S419. This process will be explained using Figure 3(a) for 2.4GHz and Figure 3(e) for MLO as examples. IE303 in Figure 3(a) indicates that it is incompatible with MLO (i.e., it does not contain MLO compatibility information). Therefore, the control unit 101 proceeds to S218. IE343 in Figure 3(e) indicates that it is compatible with MLO (i.e., it contains MLO compatibility information). Therefore, the control unit 101 proceeds to S419.

[0041] In S418, the control unit 101 stores the information acquired in S412 to S416 as a beacon for single link. The area where this information is stored is either the working memory 103 or the non-volatile memory 102. Here, the information shown in Figures 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), and 3(d) is stored as a beacon for single link.

[0042] In S419, the control unit 101 acquires the RNR from the beacon received in S411.

[0043] In S420, the control unit 101 obtains channel information from the RNR acquired in S419. For example, in the case of Figure 3(e), which is for MLO, channel 345 is 36 and channel 347 is 37.

[0044] In S421, the control unit 101 obtains frequency band information from the channel information acquired in S420. Since channel 345 acquired in S402 is 36, the frequency band is 5GHz, and similarly, since channel 347 is 37, the frequency band is 6GHz.

[0045] In S422, the control unit 101 obtains the BSSID from the RNR acquired in S419. For example, in the case of Figure 3(e) which is for MLO, the BSSID 346 included in the RNR is 100000000050 and the BSSID 348 is 100000000060.

[0046] In S423, the control unit 101 stores the information acquired in S412 to S416 and S420 to S422 as a beacon for multilink. The area where this information is stored is either the working memory 103 or the non-volatile memory 102. Here, the information shown in Figure 3(e) is stored as a beacon for multilink.

[0047] In S424, the control unit 101 determines whether it has received all beacons emitted by surrounding APs. If it determines that reception is complete, it terminates the process; otherwise, it restarts the process from S411.

[0048] Figure 4(c) is a flowchart of the process by which the communication device 100 of this embodiment manages related AP information in association, and is the same as the content of S403 in Figure 4(a).

[0049] In S431, the control unit 101 obtains the BSSID from the multilink beacon stored in S423. The BSSIDs obtained in this embodiment are, for example, BSSID342, BSSID346, and BSSID348 in Figure 3(e).

[0050] In S432, the control unit 101 obtains the SSID from the single-link beacon stored in S418. The SSIDs obtained in this embodiment are, for example, SSID301 in Figure 3(a), SSID311 in Figure 3(b), SSID321 in Figure 3(c), and SSID331 in Figure 3(d).

[0051] In S433, the control unit 101 obtains the BSSID from the single-link beacon stored in S418. The BSSIDs obtained in this embodiment are, for example, BSSID302 in Figure 3(a), BSSID312 in Figure 3(b), BSSID322 in Figure 3(c), and BSSID332 in Figure 3(d).

[0052] In S434, the control unit 101 determines whether the BSSID for multilink obtained in S431 matches the BSSID for singlelink obtained in S433. If it determines that they match, the process proceeds to S435; otherwise, the process proceeds to S436. This process will be explained using BSSIDs 302 and 312 for 2.4GHz, 322 for 5GHz, 332 for 6GHz, and 342, 346, and 348 for MLO as examples. BSSID 302 for 2.4GHz is 000000000024, which does not match any of the MLO BSSIDs 342, 346, or 348. Therefore, the control unit 101 proceeds to S436. The BSSID 312 for 2.4GHz is 100000000024, which matches the BSSID 342 for MLO, which is 100000000024. Therefore, the control unit 101 proceeds to S435. The BSSID 322 for 5GHz is 100000000050, which matches the BSSID 346 for MLO, which is 100000000050. Therefore, the control unit 101 proceeds to S435. The BSSID 332 for 6GHz is 100000000060, which matches the BSSID 348 for MLO, which is 100000000060. Therefore, the control unit 101 proceeds to S435.

[0053] In S435, the control unit 101 associates and saves the multilink information and single-link information that matched in the comparison in S434. The information saved at this time is, for example, the information shown in Figure 5(a), and is stored in the working memory 103 or the non-volatile memory 102. This process will be explained using BSSID 312 for 2.4GHz, BSSID 322 for 5GHz, BSSID 332 for 6GHz, and BSSID 342, BSSID 346, and BSSID 348 for MLO as examples. Since BSSID 312 for 2.4GHz was determined to match BSSID 342 for MLO in S434, it is determined that they are beacons transmitted from the same AP and are saved as associated. The information saved at this time is 501 in Figure 5(a). Also, since BSSID 322 for 5GHz was determined to match BSSID 346 for MLO in S434, it is determined that they are beacons transmitted from the same AP and are saved as associated. The information saved at this time is 502 in Figure 5(a). Also, since S434 determined that BSSID332 for 6GHz matches BSSID348 for MLO, it is determined that they are beacons transmitted from the same AP and are saved together. The information saved at this time is 503 in Figure 5(a). In this way, by saving multilink information and single-link information together, it becomes possible to manage them as beacons emitted from the same AP. Furthermore, it is not necessary to associate all multilink information with single-link information at this time; as shown in Figure 5(b), single-link information 511 and multilink information 512 can be managed separately.

[0054] In S436, the control unit 101 determines whether all single-link beacons saved in S418 have been acquired. If it determines that all have been acquired, the process proceeds to S437. If it determines that not all have been acquired, the process is restarted from S432, and single-link information matching the acquired multi-link information is searched for.

[0055] In S437, the control unit 101 determines whether all multilink beacons saved in S423 have been acquired. If it determines that all have been acquired, the process ends; if it determines that not all have been acquired, the process is restarted from S431 to associate the new multilink information with the single-link information.

[0056] The AP information association process by the communication device 100 of this embodiment has been described above.

[0057] <Display processing of associated AP information by communication device 100> Next, referring to Figures 6 to 10, the process by which the communication device 100 of this embodiment displays associated AP information will be described.

[0058] Figure 6(a) is an example of a screen in which the control unit 101 of this embodiment displays associated AP information on the display unit 105. SSID 601 indicates information that the control unit 101 saved as single-link information in Figure 4(b)S418 and that was not associated with multi-link information. The SSID displayed at this time is SSID 301 in Figure 3(a). SSID 602 ​​is the information in Figure 5(a) that the control unit 101 associated and saved in Figure 4(c)S435. The SSID displayed at this time is one of the single-link SSIDs that were saved and associated, or a multi-link SSID, or an SSID whose name has been changed to indicate that it is associated (an example of group information), etc.

[0059] Figure 6(b) is an example of a screen displayed when AP information associated with the control unit 101 of this embodiment is selected using the operation unit 104. At this time, the control unit 101 obtains from the operation unit 104 that SSID 602 ​​has been selected and displays Figure 6(b) on the display unit 105. When the control unit 101 detects that SSID 602 ​​has been selected, it displays all single-link SSIDs and multi-link SSIDs associated with SSID 602 ​​on the display unit 105. SSID 611 is the information in Figure 5(a) 501 that the control unit 101 associated and saved in Figure 4(c) S435. SSID 612 is the information in Figure 5(a) 502 that the control unit 101 associated and saved in Figure 4(c) S435. SSID 613 is the information in Figure 5(a) 503 that the control unit 101 associated and saved in Figure 4(c) S435. SSID614 is the information shown in Figure 5(a)504, which the control unit 101 associated and saved in Figure 4(c)S435. In this way, when AP information that has been associated and displayed together is selected, the communication device 100 of this embodiment can expand and display all associated AP information.

[0060] Figures 7(a) to 7(d) are examples of screens that clearly display AP information associated with the control unit 101 of this embodiment on the display unit 105. In Figure 7(a), SSID 701 is displayed in bold to clearly indicate that it is the associated AP information. In Figure 7(b), the background color is changed to clearly indicate that SSID 711 is the associated AP information. In Figure 7(c), an icon is displayed to clearly indicate that SSID 721 is the associated AP information. In Figure 7(d), the display name is changed to clearly indicate that SSID 731 is the associated AP information. In this way, the communication device 100 of this embodiment can clearly display associated AP information, distinguishing it from unassociated AP information. Furthermore, the method of displaying clearly is not limited to these examples. To display clearly, it is sufficient that the display format of associated AP information and unassociated AP information is different. For example, it is desirable to display associated AP information in a way that is easy for the user to recognize, but this is not limited to the examples shown in Figure 7.

[0061] Figure 8 shows an example of a screen in which the control unit 101 of this embodiment displays the associated AP information on the display unit 105 without consolidating it into a single AP. SSID 801 indicates the SSID for multilink among the AP information associated with the control unit 101. SSID 802 indicates the SSID for 2.4GHz among the AP information associated with the control unit 101. SSID 803 indicates the SSID for 5GHz among the AP information associated with the control unit 101. SSID 804 indicates the SSID for 6GHz among the AP information associated with the control unit 101. Here, in order to indicate that SSID 801 to SSID 804 are associated AP information, indentation or hyphens are used when displaying the other SSIDs below the representative SSID 801. In this way, the communication device 100 of this embodiment can display associated AP information without consolidating it into a single AP, while indicating that it is related. Furthermore, the method of indicating relatedness is not limited to this.

[0062] Figure 9(a) is an example of a screen in which the control unit 101 of this embodiment displays the associated AP information, grouped together into a single single-link SSID, on the display unit 105. SSID 901 indicates the information associated and saved by the control unit 101 in Figure 4(c)S435. The SSID displayed at this time is the associated and saved multi-link SSID. SSID 902 indicates the information associated and saved by the control unit 101 in Figure 4(c)S435. The SSID displayed at this time is one of the associated and saved single-link SSIDs, or an SSID whose name has been changed to indicate that it is associated, etc. Figure 9(b) is an example of a screen displayed when the associated AP information of the control unit 101 of this embodiment is selected using the operation unit 104. At this time, the control unit 101 obtains from the operation unit 104 that SSID 902 has been selected and displays Figure 9(b) on the display unit 105. When the control unit 101 detects that SSID 902 has been selected, it displays all single-link SSIDs associated with SSID 902 on the display unit 105. SSIDs 911 to 913 are single-link SSIDs that the control unit 101 has associated and saved in Figure 4(c)S435. In this way, the communication device 100 of this embodiment can group single-link SSIDs together and display them separately from multi-link SSIDs. Furthermore, the method of displaying them separately from multi-link SSIDs is not limited to this.

[0063] Figure 10(a) shows an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 105 so that the AP information associated by the control unit 101 of this embodiment is displayed at the top of all AP information. SSID 1001 indicates the information associated and saved by the control unit 101 in Figure 4(c)S435. The SSID displayed at this time is one of the single-link SSIDs that were associated and saved, or a multi-link SSID, or an SSID whose name has been changed to indicate that it is associated, etc. Normally, when AP information is displayed in a list, the sorting order is ascending order by SSID, order of connection history, order of signal strength, etc., but the communication device 100 of this embodiment can display the associated AP information at the top of all AP information. Also, if there is multiple associated AP information, the sorting order may be ascending order by SSID of the associated AP information, order of connection history, order of signal strength, etc.

[0064] Figure 10(b) shows an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 105 when the control unit 101 of this embodiment groups the associated AP information into a single SSID for single links and displays it at the beginning of the associated AP information. SSID 1011 indicates the information that the control unit 101 associated and saved in Figure 4(c)S435. The SSID displayed at this time is one of the single-link SSIDs that were associated and saved, or an SSID whose name has been changed to indicate that it is associated, etc. Thus, the communication device 100 of this embodiment can display, when there is an SSID that is to be grouped and displayed as a single SSID among the associated and saved AP information, at the beginning of the other SSIDs that are not grouped and displayed.

[0065] The process by which the communication device 100 of this embodiment displays associated AP information has been described above.

[0066] (Second embodiment) The following describes the process by which the communication device 100 prioritizes displaying information from an Information Element contained in a single-link beacon transmitted from an MLO-compatible AP if that information is MLO-compatible.

[0067] First, with reference to Figure 11(a) and Figure 11(b), the process by which the MLO of AP information in this embodiment associates an SSID that can be used will be described.

[0068] Figure 11(a) is a flowchart showing how the communication device 100 of this embodiment searches for an access point (AP).

[0069] S1101 is the process shown in Figure 4(b) described in Embodiment 1 above. Since it has already been explained, it will be omitted here.

[0070] S1102 is a process that displays all MLO-compatible APs found in S1101, which is a feature of the second embodiment. A detailed explanation will be given below with reference to Figures 11(b) and 4(b).

[0071] Figure 11(b) is a flowchart of the process for displaying all MLO-connectable APs together.

[0072] In S1111, the multilink information saved in S423 is retrieved from the working memory 103 or the non-volatile memory 102.

[0073] In S1112, the multilink SSID obtained in S1111 is displayed on the display unit 105.

[0074] In S1113, the system checks whether all multilink SSIDs have been displayed based on the multilink information obtained in S1111. If there are any multilink SSIDs that have not yet been displayed, the system proceeds to S1111 and repeats the process until all multilink SSIDs have been displayed. Once all multilink SSIDs have been displayed, the system proceeds to S1114.

[0075] In S1114, it is checked whether the single-link SSID saved in S418 is stored in the working memory 103 or the non-volatile memory 102. If the single-link information SSID does not exist, the process ends. If the single-link information SSID exists, the process proceeds to S1115.

[0076] In S1115, the single-link SSID is displayed after the multi-link SSID displayed in S1112.

[0077] S1116 checks if all single-link SSIDs have been displayed. If there are any single-link SSIDs that are not displayed, it returns to S1114 and repeats the process. Once all single-link SSIDs have been displayed, the process ends.

[0078] Figure 12 shows the result of displaying the multilink SSIDs associated with the information described in Figure 11(b).

[0079] 1200 represents the screen displayed when establishing a network connection using the display unit 105. It is intended that 1200 will display the SSID of the received access point (AP).

[0080] 1201 is the SSID received from AP200-2, and it displays as shown in Figure 3(e). Due to the process in S1112 which displays multilink SSIDs together, it is displayed above singlelink SSIDs, and the displayed name is SSID341.

[0081] 1202 indicates that the SSID received from AP200-3 is a multilink SSID, and displays SSID371. This completes the part of S1012, Figure 11(b), that displays the multilink SSIDs together.

[0082] 1203 is the SSID received from AP200-1, and it displays SSID301 in Figure 3(a).

[0083] 1204 is the SSID received from AP200-2, and it displays SSID311 in Figure 3(b).

[0084] 1205 is the SSID received from AP200-2, and it displays SSID321 in Figure 3(c).

[0085] 1206 is the SSID received from AP200-2, and it displays SSID331 in Figure 3(d).

[0086] 1207 is the SSID received from AP200-3, and it displays SSID351 in Figure 3(f).

[0087] 1208 is the SSID received from AP200-3, and it displays SSID361 in Figure 3(g).

[0088] Items 1203 to 1208 represent the processes described in S1114 above.

[0089] As described above, the communication device 100 of this embodiment displays AP information associated with multilink connections on the display unit 105 with priority over AP information associated with single links, making it easier for users to find multilink APs.

[0090] In other words, the communication device 100 of this embodiment displays AP information associated with multilink connections above AP information associated with single-link connections, making it easier for users to find multilink APs. This is an example of a typical display screen where higher-ranking APs are more easily recognized by the user. In such a display screen, if the number of SSIDs exceeds a predetermined number, the user can scroll to display lower-ranking SSIDs. That is, as long as the number of multilink APs does not exceed a predetermined number, the user can find multilink APs without scrolling.

[0091] However, it is conceivable that there may be display screens where lower-level APs are more easily recognized by users, or where APs on the left or right are more easily recognized by users. In such cases, it is not necessary to display AP information associated with multilinks above AP information associated with single links. For example, on a display screen where lower-level APs are more easily recognized by users, AP information associated with multilinks may be displayed below AP information associated with single links. This makes it possible to make it easier for users to find multilinked APs.

[0092] Furthermore, Figure 11(b) shows an example where single-link SSIDs are displayed after all multi-link SSIDs have been displayed, but the display process according to this embodiment is not limited to this example. If multi-link SSIDs are displayed with higher priority (higher ranking) than single-link SSIDs, then multi-link and single-link SSIDs may be displayed in the order of APs discovered by the AP discovery process.

[0093] The following describes a method for displaying SSIDs that can be connected via MLO on the screen, referring to Figures 13 and 11(b), where only SSIDs that can be connected via MLO are displayed on the screen, and other SSIDs are not displayed on the same screen.

[0094] The method for receiving beacons and obtaining multilink and singlelink information from within the IE is the same as the method described in the first embodiment, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0095] S1111 retrieves the SSID of the multilink information, and S1112 displays the multilink SSID on the display unit 105. Figure 13(a) shows the result of the display.

[0096] The display screen 1300 shown in Figure 13(a) is the same as 1200 and represents the screen used when establishing a network connection with the display unit 105. 1301 is the SSID received from AP200-2, as shown in Figure 3(e). This indicates that it is a multilink connection and is displayed as SSID_B for SSID311.

[0097] 1302 is the SSID received from AP200-3, as shown in Figure 3(h). This also indicates that it is a multilink SSID and is displayed as SSID_C_MLO for SSID371.

[0098] In this embodiment, only SSIDs that can be connected via MLO are displayed, so single-link SSIDs are not displayed on the screen.

[0099] 1303 is an update icon. Pressing this icon is intended to refresh the display of MLOs that could not fit on a single screen. Also, if all MLO SSIDs are displayed, refreshing the display will allow S1113 to check for single-link SSIDs, and if there are any single-link SSIDs, it may display only the single-link SSIDs as shown in Figure 13(b).

[0100] 1304 is the SSID received from AP200-1, and it displays SSID301 in Figure 3(a).

[0101] 1305 is the SSID received from AP200-2, and it displays SSID311 in Figure 3(b).

[0102] 1306 is the SSID received from AP200-2, and it displays SSID321 in Figure 3(c).

[0103] 1307 is the SSID received from AP200-2, and it displays SSID331 in Figure 3(d).

[0104] 1308 is the SSID received from AP200-3, and it displays SSID351 in Figure 3(f).

[0105] 1309 is the SSID received from AP200-3, and it displays SSID361 in Figure 3(g).

[0106] This type of display makes it possible to distinguish between SSIDs that can connect via MLO and those that cannot, making it easier to find SSIDs that can connect via MLO. However, the method of displaying single-link SSIDs is not limited to the refresh icon. Single-link SSIDs may also be displayed in response to a specific operation performed by the user.

[0107] The following explanation, referring to Figure 14, describes how to display SSIDs that can be connected to using MLO while taking signal strength into consideration.

[0108] The method for receiving beacons and obtaining multilink and singlelink information from within the IE is the same as the method described in the first embodiment, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0109] 1400 is the same as 1200 and 1300 and represents the screen displayed when network connection is established on the display unit 105.

[0110] 1401 is the SSID received from AP200-3, and it displays SSID371 in Figure 3(h).

[0111] In the previously mentioned Figures 12 and 13(a), SSIDs were displayed in alphabetical order without considering radio wave strength. However, in this embodiment, the wireless communication unit 106 receives the radio wave strength emitted by each AP and stores it in the SSID-association work memory 103.

[0112] 1401 indicates that the signal strength for SSID_C_MLO of SSID371 is strong.

[0113] 1402 is SSID_B of SSID341, and its signal strength is lower compared to 1401.

[0114] Furthermore, the method for referencing signal strength can be applied to other display screens, such as the display screen shown in Figure 12. For example, when applied to the display screen shown in Figure 12, the SSIDs of multilink devices may be displayed in order of signal strength, followed by the SSIDs of singlelink devices in order of signal strength.

[0115] By arranging SSIDs that can connect to MLO in order of signal strength, it becomes possible to encourage a more stable connection to MLO communication. Note that while Figure 14 shows signal strength, other indicators showing connection status may also be used.

[0116] The second embodiment has now been described. According to the example described above, users may be able to preferentially use APs that can connect to MLO.

[0117] (Third embodiment) The following describes the process by which the communication device 100 displays an AP search result list according to a third embodiment of the present invention, with reference to Figures 2, 3, 15, and 16.

[0118] In this embodiment, we will describe the case in which the communication device 100 receives beacons transmitted by AP200-1 and AP200-2 in the network configuration shown in Figure 2. That is, the communication device 100 receives the beacons shown in Figures 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), 3(d), and 3(e).

[0119] Figure 15(a) is a flowchart showing the AP search and display processing of the communication device 100 in this embodiment. Each process in this flowchart is realized by the control unit 101 loading the program stored in the non-volatile memory 102 into the working memory 103 and executing it.

[0120] In S1501, the control unit 101 performs AP search processing and proceeds to S1502. The AP search processing is the same as the processing in the flowchart shown in Figure 4(b), so the explanation is omitted. In this embodiment, the communication device 100 receives beacons transmitted by AP200-1 and AP200-2. Therefore, in S418 of Figure 4(b), the beacon from Figure 3(a) (SSID_A_2.4G, channel 6, 2.4GHz, single link) and the beacon from Figure 3(b) (SSID_B_2.4G, channel 5, 2.4GHz, single link) are saved. In addition, the beacon from Figure 3(c) (SSID_B_5G, channel 36, 5GHz, single link) and the beacon from Figure 3(d) (SSID_B_6G, channel 37, 6GHz, single link) are saved. Furthermore, in step S423 of Figure 4(b), the beacon (SSID_B, channels 5 / 36 / 37, 2.4GHz / 5GHz / 6GHz, multilink) shown in Figure 3(e) is saved.

[0121] In S1502, the control unit 101 performs display processing and then terminates the process. The display processing will be explained with reference to Figure 15(b).

[0122] Figure 15(b) is a flowchart showing the process by which the communication device 100 displays the results of the AP search in this embodiment. Each process in this flowchart is realized by the control unit 101 loading the program stored in the non-volatile memory 102 into the working memory 103 and executing it.

[0123] In S1511, the control unit 101 refers to the beacon stored in S418 and S423 and proceeds to S1512. First, it refers to the beacon shown in Figure 3(a).

[0124] In S1512, the control unit 101 determines whether or not the beacon referenced in S1511 has multilink information. If it determines that there is multilink information, it proceeds to S1513; if it determines that there is no multilink information, it proceeds to S1514. The beacon shown in Figure 3(a) (SSID_A_2.4G, channel 6, 2.4GHz, single link) does not have multilink information, so it proceeds to S1514.

[0125] In S1514, the control unit 101 determines whether all beacons saved in S418 and S423 have been referenced. If it determines that all have been referenced, it proceeds to S1515; otherwise, it returns to the process in S1511. Here, only the beacon in Figure 3(a) has been referenced, and there are still beacons that have not been referenced, so it returns to S1511 and references the next beacon.

[0126] For the beacon in Figure 3(b) (SSID_B_2.4G, channel 5, 2.4GHz, single link), since there is no multilink information, processing will be performed in the order of S1512, then S1514. Similarly, for the beacon in Figure 3(c) (SSID_B_5G, channel 36, 5GHz, single link), since there is no multilink information, processing will be performed in the order of S1512, then S1514. Similarly, for the beacon in Figure 3(d) (SSID_B_6G, channel 37, 6GHz, single link), since there is no multilink information, processing will be performed in the order of S1512, then S1514.

[0127] Next, in S1511, the beacon shown in Figure 3(e) is referenced. Since the beacon in Figure 3(e) (SSID_B, channels 5 / 36 / 37, 2.4GHz / 5GHz / 6GHz, multilink) contains multilink information, in S1512, the control unit 101 determines that multilink information is present and proceeds to S1513.

[0128] In S1513, the control unit 101 adds information to the beacon referenced in S1511 that identifies it as an MLO-compatible network, and then proceeds to S1514.

[0129] In S1514, the control unit 101 determines that it has referenced all the beacons shown in Figures 3(a) through 3(e) that it has received, and proceeds to S1515.

[0130] In S1515, the control unit 101 displays a network list on the display unit 105 and terminates the process.

[0131] Figure 16 illustrates how to add information that identifies a network as MLO-compatible in S1513 and S1514, and provides a detailed example of the network list display.

[0132] Figure 16 is a diagram illustrating the screen displayed on the display unit 105 of the communication device 100 in this embodiment.

[0133] Figure 16(a) shows an example in the network list display where an icon with the MLO designation is added as information that identifies a network as MLO-compatible. As shown in 1601 of Figure 16(a), for SSID_B, which is an MLO-compatible network, an icon indicating that it is an MLO-compatible network is displayed next to the SSID. In this embodiment, the icon has the designation MLO, but it is not limited to this icon as long as it is an identifying information that indicates that the network is MLO-compatible. Also, the position in which the icon is displayed is not limited to next to the SSID. The icon can be displayed in a position corresponding to the SSID.

[0134] Figure 16(b) shows an example of displaying frequency band information alongside other information in the network list display to identify MLO-compatible networks. As shown in 1602 and 1604 of Figure 16(b), single-link networks SSID_A_2.4G and SSID_B_5G are displayed as 2.4GHz or 5GHz. In contrast, for SSID_B, which is an MLO-compatible network, the frequency band information is displayed as 2.4GHz / 5GHz / 6GHz. In this embodiment, since the SSID_B network is an MLO-compatible network of 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz, it is displayed as 2.4GHz / 5GHz / 6GHz. On the other hand, if it is an MLO-compatible network of 2.4GHz and 5GHz, it will be displayed as 2.4GHz / 5GHz. Similarly, if it is an MLO-compatible network of 2.4GHz and 6GHz, it will be displayed as 2.4GHz / 6GHz. And if it is an MLO-compatible network of 5GHz and 6GHz, it will be displayed as 5GHz / 6GHz. Furthermore, since the only requirement is to identify that the network is MLO-compatible, the notation listing frequency band information is not limited to this.

[0135] Figure 16(c) shows an example of displaying channel information alongside other information to identify MLO-compatible networks in the network list display. As shown in 1605 and 1607 of Figure 16(c), single-link networks SSID_A_2.4G and SSID_B_5G are displayed with one channel, such as 6ch and 36ch. In contrast, SSID_B, an MLO-compatible network, is displayed with channel information alongside other information, such as 5ch / 36ch / 37ch. In this embodiment, SSID_B is an MLO-compatible network with channels 5ch, 36ch, and 37ch, hence the display of 5ch / 36ch / 37ch. However, the channel combination is not limited to this, as it depends on the channels supported by the MLO-compatible network. Also, since it is sufficient to identify that the network is MLO-compatible, the notation of channel information alongside other information is not limited to this.

[0136] Figure 16(d) shows an example of highlighting the SSID of an MLO-compatible network in the network list display so that MLO-compatible networks can be identified. Compared to SSID_A_2.4G, a single-link network shown at 1608 in Figure 16(d), the text of SSID_B, an MLO-compatible network, is displayed in larger font as shown at 1609 in Figure 16(d). In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the SSID text is displayed in larger font, but the notation is not limited to this, as long as it is possible to identify that it is an MLO-compatible network. For example, the text color of the SSID of an MLO-compatible network could be different from that of a single-link SSID, or the text could be made bolder to highlight it.

[0137] Figures 16(e) and 16(f) show an example where the network list display separates the MLO-compatible network list and the single-link network list to allow identification of MLO-compatible networks. As shown at 1610 in Figure 16(e), selecting the "Multi" tab (an example of the second display operation) displays the MLO-compatible network list (an example of the second network selection screen). Similarly, as shown at 1611 in Figure 16(f), selecting the "Single" tab (an example of the first display operation) displays the single-link network list (an example of the first network list screen). The initial screen displayed when the network selection screen is shown may be the screen shown at 1610 in Figure 16(e). This may allow users to prioritize connections to MLO-compatible networks.

[0138] The above describes the process by which the communication device 100 displays the AP search results list in this embodiment.

[0139] As explained above, in this embodiment, when displaying the AP search results list, whether or not the displayed network is an MLO-compatible network is displayed in an identifiable manner, allowing the user to select and connect to an MLO-compatible network.

[0140] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of its gist.

[0141] For example, the first, second, and third embodiments may be combined. Specifically, each process according to the second embodiment is expected to be combined with the processes of the first embodiment and the third embodiment described later. More specifically, by performing the association process according to the first embodiment, the SSIDs of the same AP shown in Figure 12 may be displayed in a way that makes them identifiable by color or the like. Furthermore, by combining with the third embodiment, the SSIDs of multilinks may be displayed in an identifiable way.

[0142] Furthermore, the various display screens shown in Figures 6 to 10 according to the first embodiment may include identification information (e.g., an icon) indicating that it is a multilink, and identification information (e.g., an icon) indicating that it is a single link.

[0143] Although specific examples of combinations of multiple embodiments have been described above, the examples are not limited to those described above.

[0144] (Other embodiments) Furthermore, the present invention can also be realized by performing the following process: that is, supplying software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or device via a network or various storage media, and having the computer (or control unit or MPU, etc.) of the system or device read and execute the program code. In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

[0145] Although the present invention has been described in detail above based on its preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms that do not depart from the spirit of the invention are also included in the present invention. Some of the above embodiments may be combined as appropriate.

[0146] Furthermore, each functional unit in each of the above embodiments (each modified example) may or may not be individual hardware. The functions of two or more functional units may be implemented by common hardware. Each of the multiple functions of a single functional unit may be implemented by individual hardware. Two or more functions of a single functional unit may be implemented by common hardware. In addition, each functional unit may or may not be implemented by hardware such as an ASIC, FPGA, or DSP. For example, the device may have a processor and a memory (storage medium) in which a control program is stored. The functions of at least some of the functional units of the device may be implemented by the processor reading and executing the control program from the memory.

[0147] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that implements one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and by having one or more processors in the computer of that system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., an ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

[0148] [Configuration 1] A communication device capable of wireless communication with a communication partner device, Search means for searching for the communication partner device, If the plurality of beacon information obtained by the search means includes predetermined beacon information that includes correspondence information indicating that it is multilink compatible, the display control means controls the display means to display the identification name corresponding to the predetermined beacon information with priority over the identification name corresponding to the beacon information that does not include the correspondence information. A communication device equipped with the following features.

[0149] [Configuration 2] The display control means is The display means is controlled to display the identification name corresponding to the predetermined beacon information above the identification name corresponding to beacon information that does not include the aforementioned information. The communication device described in Configuration 1.

[0150] [Configuration 3] The display control means is The display means is controlled to display the identification name corresponding to the predetermined beacon information below the identification name corresponding to the beacon information that does not include the aforementioned information. The communication device described in Configuration 1.

[0151] [Structure 4] The display control means is The display means is controlled to display an identification name corresponding to the predetermined beacon information, and to not display an identification name corresponding to beacon information that does not contain the aforementioned information. The communication device described in Configuration 1.

[0152] [Composition 5] The display control means is When a user performs a predetermined operation, the system controls the display means to display an identification name corresponding to beacon information that does not include the aforementioned correspondence information. The communication device described in Configuration 4.

[0153] [Composition 6] The display control means is If a plurality of predetermined beacon information is obtained through the search by the search means, the display of the identification name of each of the plurality of predetermined beacon information is controlled based on an indicator showing the connection status of each of the plurality of predetermined beacon information. A communication device described in any one of the configurations 1 through 4.

[0154] [Composition 7] The display control means is If a plurality of predetermined beacon information is obtained through the search by the search means, the display means is controlled to display the identification names of each of the plurality of predetermined beacon information in order of decreasing index indicating the connection status of each of the plurality of predetermined beacon information. The communication device described in configuration 6.

[0155] [Structure 8] The aforementioned communication device is a camera. A communication device described in any one of the items from Configuration 1 to Configuration 7.

[0156] [Composition 9] The aforementioned communication device is The display means further comprises, A communication device described in any one of the configurations 1 through 8.

[0157] [method] A control method for controlling a communication device capable of wireless communication with a communication partner device, Searching for the aforementioned communication partner device, If the multiple beacon information obtained through the search includes predetermined beacon information that includes correspondence information indicating that it is multilink compatible, the display means is controlled to display the identification name corresponding to the predetermined beacon information with priority over the identification name corresponding to the beacon information that does not include the correspondence information. A control method executed by a processor, including [the specified element].

[0158] [program] A program to cause a computer to function as each means of the communication device described in Configuration 1.

Claims

1. A communication device capable of wireless communication with a communication partner device, Search means for searching for the communication partner device, If the plurality of beacon information obtained by the search means includes predetermined beacon information that includes correspondence information indicating that it is multilink compatible, the display control means controls the display means to display the identification name corresponding to the predetermined beacon information with priority over the identification name corresponding to the beacon information that does not include the correspondence information. A communication device equipped with the following features.

2. The display control means is The display means is controlled to display the identification name corresponding to the predetermined beacon information above the identification name corresponding to the beacon information that does not include the aforementioned information. The communication device according to claim 1.

3. The display control means is The display means is controlled to display the identification name corresponding to the predetermined beacon information below the identification name corresponding to the beacon information that does not include the aforementioned information. The communication device according to claim 1.

4. The display control means is The display means is controlled to display an identification name corresponding to the predetermined beacon information, and to not display an identification name corresponding to beacon information that does not contain the aforementioned information. The communication device according to claim 1.

5. The display control means is When a user performs a predetermined operation, the system controls the display means to display an identification name corresponding to beacon information that does not include the aforementioned correspondence information. The communication device according to claim 4.

6. The display control means is When a plurality of predetermined beacon information is obtained through the search by the search means, the display of the identification name of each of the plurality of predetermined beacon information is controlled based on an indicator showing the connection status of each of the plurality of predetermined beacon information. The communication device according to claim 1.

7. The display control means is If a plurality of predetermined beacon information is obtained through the search by the search means, the display means is controlled to display the identification names of each of the plurality of predetermined beacon information preferentially, in descending order of the index indicating the connection status of each of the plurality of predetermined beacon information. The communication device according to claim 6.

8. The aforementioned communication device is a camera. The communication device according to claim 1.

9. The aforementioned communication device is The display means further comprises: A communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A control method for controlling a communication device capable of wireless communication with a communication partner device, Searching for the aforementioned communication partner device, If the multiple beacon information obtained through the search includes predetermined beacon information that includes correspondence information indicating that it is multilink compatible, the display means is controlled to display the identification name corresponding to the predetermined beacon information with priority over the identification name corresponding to the beacon information that does not include the correspondence information. A control method executed by a processor, including [the specified element].

11. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the communication device described in claim 1.

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