Communication device, computer program for communication device, and communication system

Abstract

To disclose technologies that improve user convenience. [Solution] When the first communication device belongs to a first wireless network that conforms to the Wi-Fi Aware method, it receives a predetermined signal from a second communication device that belongs to the first wireless network using the first wireless network, and when it has received a predetermined signal from the second communication device and can perform wireless communication between the first communication device and a specific external device using a first wireless connection with a specific external device, it transmits connection information to the second communication device using a second wireless network that has higher security than the first wireless network.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present specification relates to a technique in a situation where a wireless connection with an external device is established.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a communication system including a communication device, a terminal device, and an access point. In this communication system, when communication between the communication device and the terminal device via the access point cannot be performed, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Aware, NFC (abbreviation of Near Field Communication) or the like is used to establish a P2P connection such as Wi-Fi Direct between the communication device and the terminal device. Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG. Wi-Fi Direct is a registered trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present specification discloses a technique for improving user convenience.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0005] This specification discloses a first communication device. The first communication device may include a Wi-Fi interface for performing wireless communication in accordance with the Wi-Fi standard. The first communication device may include a memory for storing connection information for establishing a first wireless connection in accordance with the Wi-Fi standard with a specific external device. The first communication device may include a first receiving unit that, when the first communication device belongs to a first wireless network in accordance with the Wi-Fi Aware method of the Wi-Fi standard, receives a predetermined signal from a second communication device belonging to the first wireless network via the Wi-Fi interface and using the first wireless network. The first communication device may include a transmitting unit that, when the predetermined signal has been received from the second communication device and wireless communication can be performed between the first communication device and the specific external device using the first wireless connection, transmits the connection information in the memory to the second communication device via the Wi-Fi interface and using a second wireless network having higher security than the first wireless network.

[0006] According to the above configuration, the first communication device receives a predetermined signal from the second communication device using the first wireless network. When the first communication device receives the predetermined signal from the second communication device and wireless communication is possible between the first communication device and a specific external device, it transmits connection information to the second communication device using the second wireless network, which has higher security than the first wireless network. Therefore, the first communication device can perform wireless communication with the second communication device via a specific external device without the user having to input connection information into the second communication device. This improves user convenience.

[0007] The computer program for the first communication device described above, the computer-readable recording medium for storing the computer program, and the method executed by the first communication device are also novel and useful. Here, the recording medium may be one medium or multiple mediums. Furthermore, a communication system comprising the first communication device and the second communication device is also novel and useful. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a communication system. [Figure 2] This is a sequence diagram of the specific process. [Figure 3] This is a sequence diagram continuing from Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a sequence diagram continuing from Figure 3. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] (Configuration of communication system 2; Figure 1) As shown in Figure 1, the communication system 2 comprises an access point 6A and two printers 10A and 10B. Hereafter, the access point will be referred to as "AP". Printers 10A and 10B belong to the same NAN (Neighbor Awareness Networking) cluster. A NAN cluster is a wireless network defined in the Wi-Fi Aware method of the Wi-Fi standard. Using the Wi-Fi Aware method, connection information stored in printer 10A is shared with printer 10B. Connection information is information used to establish a wireless connection with AP6A, etc., and is, for example, a combination of SSID (Service Set Identifier) ​​and password. Hereafter, the password will be referred to as "PW".

[0010] (Configuration of Printer 10A) Printer 10A is a peripheral device capable of performing printing functions, such as a peripheral device for a terminal (not shown). In a modified example, printer 10A may be a multifunction device capable of performing scanning functions, facsimile functions, etc., in addition to printing functions. Printer 10A is assigned a serial number "PA" to identify it. Printer 10A comprises an operation unit 12A, a display unit 14A, a Wi-Fi interface 16A, a print execution unit 18A, and a control unit 30A. Each unit 12A to 30A is connected to a bus line. Hereafter, the interface will be referred to as "I / F".

[0011] The operation unit 12A is a user interface that allows the user to input various information to the printer 10A. The operation unit 12A includes, for example, a touch panel, hardware keys, or both for displaying software keys (operation objects). Hardware keys include, for example, buttons or switches. The display unit 14A is a display or panel for displaying various information. The panel may or may not be a touch panel. The panel may also be, for example, a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel. The print execution unit 18A includes an inkjet, electrophotographic, or thermal print engine.

[0012] The Wi-Fi I / F16A is a wireless interface for performing Wi-Fi communication in accordance with the Wi-Fi standard. The Wi-Fi standard is a wireless communication standard for performing wireless communication in accordance with the IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) 802.11 standard and equivalent standards, such as 802.11a, 11b, 11n, and 11ac. In particular, the Wi-Fi I / F16A supports the Wi-Fi Aware method developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance. That is, the Wi-Fi I / F16A can perform wireless communication in accordance with the Wi-Fi Aware method. Details of the Wi-Fi Aware method are described in the standard document "Wi-Fi Aware Specification Version 4.0" created by the Wi-Fi Alliance. Wi-Fi Aware is also called Wi-Fi Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN).

[0013] As will be explained in more detail later, each device 10A and 10B can participate in a Wi-Fi Aware NAN cluster. The Discovery Window, the period during which signals are transmitted and received, is synchronized for each device participating in the same NAN class. NAN clusters are used in communications where the data link layer and below are utilized, without using the network layer or above in the OSI reference model.

[0014] Each device participating in a NAN cluster is assigned one of three roles: Master, Anchor Master, or Non-Master. A Master can share timer information, perform service lookups, and invite other devices to the NAN cluster. An Anchor Master can perform all the functions of a Master, plus configure timer information for synchronization. A Non-Master can share timer information and perform service lookups, but cannot invite other devices to the cluster.

[0015] Each device participating in a NAN cluster can search for other devices within the NAN cluster, and more specifically, for services provided by those other devices. The signal used to search for services is called Subscribe. A device that receives a Subscribe sends a response signal called Publish. In this embodiment, printer 10B sends a Subscribe to search for other devices that can provide configuration synchronization services. Configuration synchronization services are services that allow a device to share information it stores, such as connection information for establishing a wireless connection with an AP, with other devices. Subscribe is transmitted by broadcast within the NAN cluster. Since printer 10A can provide configuration synchronization services, it sends a Publish to printer 10B when it receives a Subscribe from printer 10B.

[0016] Furthermore, the Wi-Fi I / F16A can perform wireless communication according to the standard Wi-Fi method, which is different from the Wi-Fi Aware method. Generally speaking, wireless communication according to the standard Wi-Fi method is wireless communication that utilizes an access point (AP), while wireless communication according to the Wi-Fi Aware method is communication that does not utilize an AP. For example, printer 10A can belong to a standard Wi-Fi network by establishing a wireless connection with an AP. Hereafter, the wireless connection with an AP will be referred to as "AP connection". Printer 10A can perform wireless communication with other devices belonging to the standard Wi-Fi network via the AP.

[0017] The control unit 30A comprises a CPU 32A and a memory 34A. The memory 34A comprises a main storage device and an auxiliary storage device. By way of example, the main storage device includes RAM and cache memory. By way of example, the auxiliary storage device may be ROM, flash memory, SSD (abbreviation for Solid State Drive), HDD (abbreviation for Hard Disk Drive), or a combination thereof. A program 36A and a parent device flag are stored in the auxiliary storage device of the memory 34A. The CPU 32A implements various processes in accordance with the program 36A loaded from the auxiliary storage device to the main storage device.

[0018] The parent device flag indicates either "ON", which indicates operation as the parent device for the setting synchronization service, or "OFF", which indicates operation as a child device for the setting synchronization service. Here, the "parent device for the setting synchronization service" means a device that transmits information to be shared. Further, the "child device for the setting synchronization service" means a device that receives information to be shared. That is, in the setting synchronization service, information stored in the parent device is shared with the child device by transmitting the information stored in the parent device from the parent device to the child device. The parent device flag indicates "OFF" by default.

[0019] (Configuration of Printer 10B) The printer 10B comprises an operation unit 12B, a display unit 14B, a Wi-Fi I / F 16B, a print execution unit 18B, and a control unit 30B. Each of the units 12B to 30B is connected to a bus line. The configuration of the printer 10B is the same as the configuration of the printer 10A, except that the serial number "PB" is assigned thereto. That is, each of the units 12B to 30B of the printer 10B is respectively the same as the corresponding unit 12A to 30A of the printer 10A.

[0020] (Configuration of AP 6A) AP6A is a conventional access point called a wireless access point or a wireless LAN router. AP6A relays communication between a pair of devices belonging to a wireless network in which AP6A operates as a parent station. AP6A stores SSID "AAA" and PW "XXX". SSID "AAA" is information identifying a wireless network formed by AP6A. PW "XXX" is authentication information used in said wireless network.

[0021] (Configuration of AP6B) AP6B stores SSID "BBB" which is different from SSID "AAA". AP6B stores PW "YYY" which is different from PW "XXX". Other than the above point, the configuration is the same as that of AP6A.

[0022] (Processing executed between each device; Figs. 2 to 4) Next, processing executed by each device will be described with reference to Figs. 2 to 4. Note that, hereinafter, for the processing executed by CPUs 32A, 32B of printers 10A, 10B, from the viewpoint of ease of understanding, each device is described as the subject of processing instead of describing each CPU as the subject of processing. Further, communication between each device is executed via Wi-Fi I / F 16A, 16B. Therefore, in the following description, the phrase "via Wi-Fi I / F" will be omitted when describing communication.

[0023] In the initial state of Fig. 2, the printer 10A has not established an AP connection with any of AP6A and AP6B. That is, the printer 10A does not store connection information. Similarly, the printer 10B also has not established an AP connection with any of AP6A and AP6B. That is, the printer 10B also does not store connection information.

[0024] At T10, printer 10A accepts a NAN activation operation from the user. In this case, printer 10A transitions from a NAN-disabled state to a NAN-enabled state. Here, "NAN-disabled state" means a state in which it is unable to communicate signals according to the Wi-Fi Aware method. "NAN-enabled state" means a state in which it is able to communicate signals according to the Wi-Fi Aware method. When printer 10A transitions to the NAN-enabled state, it forms a NAN cluster. That is, at T10, a NAN cluster is formed to which only printer 10A belongs. In this NAN cluster, printer 10A operates as an Anchor Master.

[0025] Printer 10A broadcasts a NAN Discovery Beacon frame at T12. Hereafter, this signal will simply be referred to as "Discovery". Discovery is a signal that follows the Wi-Fi Aware method and is used to notify the outside world of information about the NAN cluster to which MFP100 belongs. Devices that do not belong to the NAN cluster can join the NAN cluster in response to receiving Discovery. In other words, Discovery can be said to be a signal that invites devices that do not belong to the NAN cluster to join the NAN cluster. Note that printer 10A periodically transmits Discovery while the NAN is enabled.

[0026] Printer 10B is in a NAN-disabled state at stage T12. Therefore, printer 10B does not receive Discovery from printer 10A at T12.

[0027] At T20, printer 10B accepts a NAN activation operation from the user. In this case, printer 10B transitions from a NAN-disabled state to a NAN-enabled state. When printer 10B transitions to the NAN-enabled state, it forms a NAN cluster. That is, at T20, a NAN cluster is formed to which only printer 10B belongs. In this NAN cluster, printer 10B operates as the Anchor Master. Thus, at T20, there are two NAN clusters: one to which only printer 10A belongs, and another to which only printer 10B belongs.

[0028] Printer 10A broadcasts a Discovery message at T22. Printer 10B is in a NAN-enabled state at T22. Therefore, at T22, printer 10B receives a Discovery message from printer 10A. In this case, at T24, printer 10B joins the NAN cluster to which printer 10A belongs. As a result, both printers 10A and 10B belong to the same NAN cluster. In this case, the NAN cluster to which only printer 10B belonged, i.e., the NAN cluster formed at T20, disappears. At T24, there is one NAN cluster to which both printers 10A and 10B belong. Although not shown in the diagram, once printer 10B joins the NAN cluster, it communicates with printer 10A to determine its role within the NAN cluster. In this case, printer 10A acts as the Anchor Master, and printer 10B acts as the Non-Master.

[0029] In T26, pairing is performed between printer 10A and printer 10B. This allows printer 10A and printer 10B to communicate securely using authentication.

[0030] Once pairing is complete between printer 10A and printer 10B, printer 10A displays inquiry screen SC1 on display unit 14A in T30. Inquiry screen SC1 is a screen for asking the user whether or not to register itself as the master unit for the setting synchronization service. Inquiry screen SC1 includes a message asking the user whether to register as the master unit for the setting synchronization service, as well as a YES button and a NO button.

[0031] Furthermore, once pairing is complete between printer 10A and printer 10B, printer 10B displays inquiry screen SC1 on display unit 14B in T32. The inquiry screen SC1 displayed here is the same as the inquiry screen SC1 displayed in T30. The user can register their preferred printer from printers 10A and 10B as the master unit.

[0032] In this case, the user registers printer 10A as the master unit for the configuration synchronization service. Printer 10A accepts the user's selection of the YES button on the inquiry screen SC1 displayed on printer 10A at T34. In this case, printer 10A changes the master unit flag in memory 34A from "OFF" to "ON" at T36. Then, printer 10A sends the master unit information to printer 10B at T38. The master unit information includes the serial number "PA" of printer 10A.

[0033] Printer 10B receives master unit information from printer 10A at T38. In this case, at T40, printer 10B displays inquiry screen SC2 on display unit 14B instead of inquiry screen SC1. Inquiry screen SC2 is a screen for asking the user whether or not to register printer 10B as a slave unit corresponding to the master unit printer 10A. Inquiry screen SC2 includes a message asking the user whether or not to register printer 10B as a slave unit, the serial number "PA" of the corresponding master unit printer 10A, a YES button, and a NO button.

[0034] Printer 10B accepts a YES button selection from the user in the inquiry screen SC2 at T42. In this case, printer 10B stores the master unit information in memory 34B. The master unit information includes the master unit's serial number "PA". Also, the master unit flag in printer 10B's memory 34B is kept "OFF".

[0035] Furthermore, printer 10B has not established a wireless connection with the AP at T44. Therefore, at T46, printer 10B switches from normal mode to configuration synchronization mode. Here, "normal mode" is a mode in which no Subscribe message is sent to search for the configuration synchronization service. "Configuration synchronization mode" is a mode in which a Subscribe message is sent to search for the configuration synchronization service. Printer 10B periodically sends the above Subscribe message using the NAN cluster.

[0036] Printer 10B sends a Subscribe message to T50 using the NAN cluster. This Subscribe message includes the master unit information in memory 34B, i.e., the serial number "PA" of printer 10A.

[0037] Printer 10A receives a Subscribe from printer 10B using the NAN cluster in T50. In this case, printer 10A determines whether the serial number "PA" included in the Subscribe is the serial number of printer 10A itself. In this case, since the serial number "PA" included in the Subscribe is the serial number of printer 10A itself, printer 10A executes the process in T52. Printer 10A does not execute the process in T52 if the serial number included in the Subscribe is not the serial number of printer 10A itself. In other words, printer 10A can only execute the process in T52 when it receives a Subscribe from printer 10B, which is registered as a slave device of printer 10A.

[0038] At T52, printer 10A uses the NAN cluster to send a Publish to printer 10B. The Publish includes information indicating the current connection status of printer 10A with the AP. As described above, at T50, printer 10A has not established an AP connection with either AP6A or 6B. In other words, printer 10A does not store the connection information necessary to establish an AP connection, i.e., the combination of SSID and PW. Therefore, the Publish at T52 includes information indicating that a connection to the AP has not been established, namely "Not Connected".

[0039] Printer 10B receives a Publish message from printer 10A containing "Not Connected" at T52 using the NAN cluster. In this case, printer 10B stores information at T54 indicating that an AP connection has not been established between the master printer 10A and the AP.

[0040] Subsequently, at T60, printer 10A accepts an AP connection setup operation from the user to establish an AP connection with AP6A. The AP connection setup operation includes inputting AP6A's connection information, namely SSID "AAA" and PW "XXX". In this case, at T62, printer 10A stores the entered connection information, namely SSID "AAA" and PW "XXX", in memory 34A. Then, at T64, AP connection processing is executed to establish an AP connection between printer 10A and AP6A. AP connection processing includes, for example, authentication of the connection information stored in memory 34A. In this case, since the authentication of the connection information is successful, an AP connection is established between printer 10A and AP6A.

[0041] (Continuation of Figure 2; Figure 3) Printer 10B sends a Subscribe message using the NAN cluster at T70 in Figure 3. This Subscribe message is the same as the Subscribe message at T50 in Figure 2.

[0042] At T70, printer 10A receives a Subscribe from printer 10B using the NAN cluster. The serial number "PA" included in the Subscribe is the serial number of printer 10A itself. Therefore, at T72, printer 10A sends a Publish to printer 10B using the NAN cluster. At T70, printer 10A has established an AP connection with AP6A (see T64 in Figure 2). Therefore, at T70, printer 10A can perform wireless communication with AP6A using the AP connection. That is, printer 10A can perform wireless communication with AP6A using the network layer or higher of the OSI reference model. The Publish includes the hash value of the connection information in memory 34A and the information "Connection OK" indicating that wireless communication with AP6A is possible. Here, the hash value is obtained by hashing the connection information in memory 34A using a hash function.

[0043] As will be explained in more detail later, the above hash value is used to determine whether the connection information stored in printers 10A and 10B is the same. The reason why the hash value of the connection information, rather than the connection information itself, is used here is to suppress the leakage of the connection information. In other words, communication using a NAN cluster is communication that uses only the data link layer and below, without using the network layer or above of the OSI reference model. For this reason, communication using a NAN cluster has relatively low security. In T72, since the hash value is communicated instead of the connection information using a NAN cluster, the leakage of connection information can be suppressed.

[0044] At T72, printer 10B uses the NAN cluster to receive a Publish from printer 10A containing a hash value and "Connection OK". In this case, at T74, printer 10B determines that the connection status of the master printer 10A has changed. This is because the memory 34B of printer 10B has already stored information indicating that an AP connection has not been established between printer 10A and AP. In particular, since the Publish at T72 contains "Connection OK", printer 10B uses the NAN cluster at T74 to send a Data Path Request to MFP100. A Data Path Request is a signal requesting printer 10A to establish a communication path for the transmission of connection information, i.e., a Data Path.

[0045] Printer 10A receives a Data Path Request from printer 10B at T76 using the NAN cluster. In this case, printer 10A sends a Data Path Response to printer 10B at T78 using the NAN cluster.

[0046] At T78, printer 10B receives a Data Path Response from printer 10A using the NAN cluster. In this case, at T80, printer 10B sends a Data Path Confirm to printer 10A using the NAN cluster. As a result, at T82, a Data Path is established between printer 10A and printer 10B. Communication using Data Path is communication that utilizes the network layer or higher of the OSI reference model. When a Data Path is established between a pair of devices, an authentication process is performed between those devices. This authentication process uses, for example, NIK (abbreviation for NAN Identity Key) or NPK (abbreviation for NAN Pairing Key). For this reason, wireless networks formed by Data Path have higher security than NAN clusters.

[0047] Printer 10B, using the established Data Path in T84, sends a connection information request to printer 10A. The connection information request is a signal that asks printer 10A to send the connection information stored in printer 10A's memory 34A.

[0048] Printer 10A receives a connection information request from printer 10B using Data Path at T84. In this case, printer 10A sends the connection information in memory 34A to printer 10B using Data Path at T86. As described above, the wireless network formed by Data Path has higher security than a NAN cluster. Therefore, printer 10A can send connection information to printer 10B more securely compared to when it sends connection information using a NAN cluster.

[0049] Printer 10B receives connection information from printer 10A using Data Path at T86. In this case, printer 10B stores the received connection information in memory 34B at T87. In this way, the connection information stored in the master printer 10A is shared with the slave printer 10B.

[0050] When printer 10B stores connection information in memory 34B at T87, it sends a Data Path Termination message to printer 10A at T88. As a result, at T89, the Data Path between printer 10A and printer 10B is terminated.

[0051] Furthermore, once printer 10B stores connection information, T90 executes AP connection processing to establish an AP connection between printer 10B and AP6A. AP connection processing includes, for example, authentication of the connection information stored in memory 34B. In this case, since the authentication of the connection information is successful, an AP connection is established between printer 10A and AP6A. As a result, printer 10A and printer 10B belong to the same wireless network formed by AP6A.

[0052] When printer 10B establishes an AP connection with AP6B, T92 switches from configuration synchronization mode to normal mode. In other words, printer 10B does not send Subscribe messages when an AP connection is established. This is because printer 10B does not need to obtain connection information from other devices since the AP connection has already been established. As a result, the processing load on printer 10B is reduced.

[0053] Subsequently, for example, a temporary malfunction of the Wi-Fi interface 16B of printer 10B may cause the AP connection with AP6A to be temporarily disconnected. In this case, printer 10B switches from normal mode to configuration synchronization mode at T100. The process at T102 is the same as the process at T50 in Figure 2. The process at T104 is the same as the process at T72.

[0054] At T104, printer 10B receives a Publish from printer 10A containing a hash value and "Connection OK". In this case, printer 10B first calculates a hash value by hashing the connection information stored in memory 34B using a hash function. The hash function used here is the same as the hash function used by printer 10A. Here, the same connection information is hashed using the same hash function by both printer 10A and 10B. Therefore, the hash value included in the Publish and the hash value calculated by printer 10B match. In this case, at T106, printer 10B determines that the connection status of the parent printer 10A has not changed. In this case, printer 10B does not execute processes T76 to T89. This is because even if processes T76 to T89 were executed in this situation, printer 10B would receive the connection information stored in memory 34B from printer 10A again. Therefore, unnecessary processing is suppressed.

[0055] Subsequently, the temporary malfunction of printer 10B's Wi-Fi interface 16B is resolved, and the AP connection between printer 10B and AP6A is established again. In this case, printer 10B switches from settings synchronization mode to normal mode in T108.

[0056] (Continuation of Figure 3; Figure 4) Next, we consider a scenario where AP6B is newly installed in place of AP6A. In this case, the user performs an operation to establish an AP connection between printer 10A and AP6B. Specifically, at T110 in Figure 4, printer 10A receives an AP connection setting operation from the user to establish an AP connection with AP6B. The AP connection setting operation includes inputting AP6B's connection information, namely SSID "BBB" and PW "YYY". In this case, at T112, printer 10A updates the connection information in memory 34A. Specifically, printer 10A deletes the connection information already stored in memory 34A and stores the connection information entered at T110 in memory 34A. That is, printer 10A deletes SSID "AAA" and PW "XXX" and newly stores SSID "BBB" and PW "YYY".

[0057] When the SSID "AAA" and PW "XXX" are deleted from memory 34A, the AP connection between printer 10A and AP6A is disconnected at T114. At T116, AP connection processing is performed to establish an AP connection between printer 10A and AP6B. AP connection processing includes, for example, authentication of the connection information stored in memory 34A. In this case, the authentication of the connection information is successful, and an AP connection is established between printer 10A and AP6B. After that, AP6A is removed.

[0058] When AP6A is removed, the AP connection between printer 10B and AP6A is disconnected. In this case, printer 10B switches from normal mode to configuration synchronization mode in T118. The process of T120 is the same as the process of T50 in Figure 2. Also, the process of T122 is the same as the process of T72 in Figure 3, except that the hash value of the connection information is different. That is, the hash value included in Publish in T122 is the hash value obtained by hashing the connection information of AP6B.

[0059] At T122, printer 10B receives a Publish from printer 10A containing a hash value and "Connection OK". In this case, printer 10B first calculates a hash value by hashing the connection information stored in memory 34B using a hash function. The hash function used here is the same as the hash function used by printer 10A. Here, the connection information stored in memory 34A of printer 10A and the connection information stored in memory 34B of printer 10B are different. That is, the former connection information is the connection information of AP6B, and the latter connection information is the connection information of AP6A. Therefore, the hash value included in the Publish and the hash value calculated by printer 10B are different. In this case, at T124, printer 10B determines that the connection status of the parent printer 10A has changed. Then, printer 10B executes the processes at T126 to T132 to establish a Data Path between printer 10A and printer 10B. The processing of T126 to T132 is the same as the processing of T76 to T82 in Figure 3.

[0060] The processing at T134 is the same as the processing at T84 in Figure 3. At T136, printer 10A uses Data Path to send connection information from memory 34A to printer 10B. That is, printer 10B sends connection information from AP6B to printer 10B.

[0061] Printer 10B receives connection information from printer 10A using Data Path at T136. In this case, printer 10B updates the connection information in memory 34B at T137. Specifically, printer 10B deletes the connection information already stored in memory 34B and stores the received connection information in memory 34B. That is, printer 10B deletes SSID "AAA" and PW "XXX" and newly stores SSID "BBB" and PW "YYY". In this way, when the connection information is updated in the master printer 10A, the updated connection information is shared with the slave printer 10B.

[0062] The processing of T138 and T139 is the same as the processing of T88 and T89 in Figure 3. The processing of T140 is the same as the processing of T90 in Figure 3, except that the connection information of AP6B is used and an AP connection is established between printer 10B and AP6B. The processing of T142 is the same as the processing of T92 in Figure 3.

[0063] (Effects of the example) According to the above configuration, printer 10A receives a Subscribe from printer 10B using the NAN cluster (T70 in Figure 3). When printer 10A receives a Subscribe from printer 10B and wireless communication using the AP connection is possible between printer 10A and AP6A, it sends AP6A's connection information to printer 10B using the Data Path, which has higher security than the NAN cluster (T86). Therefore, printer 10A can perform wireless communication with printer 10B via AP6A without the user having to input AP6A's connection information into printer 10B. This improves user convenience.

[0064] Furthermore, the technology described in the above embodiment is also useful for communication systems with three or more printers. Specifically, consider a scenario where one of the three or more printers acts as the master unit, and the other two or more printers act as slave units. Even in this scenario, if connection information is input only to the master printer, the connection information will be shared with the slave printers. This improves user convenience.

[0065] Furthermore, conventional techniques for sharing settings between devices belonging to the same network are known, utilizing communication at the network layer or higher of the OSI reference model. However, such conventional techniques require that the devices whose settings are to be shared belong to the same network in advance, in order to utilize communication at the network layer or higher. On the other hand, the technique described in the above embodiment achieves the sharing of connection information by utilizing a NAN cluster. As described above, the communication that utilizes a NAN cluster is communication that uses the data link layer or lower without utilizing the network layer or higher of the OSI reference model. Thus, according to the above embodiment, the sharing of connection information is achieved without utilizing communication at the network layer or higher.

[0066] (Correspondence) Printer 10A and Printer 10B are examples of the "first communication device" and "second communication device," respectively. The Wi-Fi I / F 16A of Printer 10A is an example of the "Wi-Fi interface" and "first Wi-Fi interface." The Wi-Fi I / F 16B of Printer 10B is an example of the "second Wi-Fi interface." AP6A and AP6B are examples of the "external device" and "specific external device." The AP connection between Printer 10A and AP6A, and the AP connection between Printer 10A and AP6B are examples of the "first wireless connection." The SSID "AAA" and PW "XXX" of AP6A, and the SSID "BBB" and PW "YYY" of AP6B are examples of "connection information." A NAN cluster is an example of the "first wireless network." A wireless network formed by the establishment of a Data Path is an example of the "second wireless network." The Data Path established between printer 10A and printer 10B is an example of a "second wireless connection". The master unit information, i.e., the serial number "PA" of printer 10A, is an example of "identification information". Subscribe is an example of a "predetermined signal". The connection information request T84 in Figure 3 is an example of a "connection information request". The AP connection between printer 10B and AP6A, and the AP connection between printer 10B and AP6B are examples of a "third wireless connection".

[0067] The correspondence between the processes performed by the "first communication device" is as follows: Process T50 in Figure 2, process T70 and process T102 in Figure 3, and process T120 in Figure 4 are examples of processes performed by the "first receiving unit". Processes T76 to T82 in Figure 3, and processes T126 to T132 in Figure 4 are examples of processes performed by the "establishing unit". Process T84 in Figure 3, and process T134 in Figure 4 are examples of processes performed by the "second receiving unit". Process T86 in Figure 3, and process T136 in Figure 4 are examples of processes performed by the "transmitting unit" and the "first transmitting unit".

[0068] The correspondence between the processes performed by the "second communication device" is as follows: Process T50 in Figure 2, process T70 in Figure 3, process T102, and process T120 in Figure 4 are examples of processes performed by the "second transmitting unit". Process T86 in Figure 3 and process T136 in Figure 4 are examples of processes performed by the "second receiving unit". Process T90 in Figure 3 and process T140 in Figure 4 are examples of processes performed by the "establishing unit".

[0069] The specific examples of the technology disclosed herein have been described in detail above, but these are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes to the specific examples illustrated above. Modifications of the above embodiments are listed below.

[0070] (Modification 1) Instead of the processing T76~T82 in Figure 3, for example, processing to establish a wireless connection between printers 10A and 10B in accordance with the Wi-Fi Direct method of the Wi-Fi standard may be performed. In this modification, a wireless connection in accordance with the Wi-Fi Direct method is an example of a "second wireless connection". A wireless network formed by the establishment of a wireless connection in accordance with the Wi-Fi Direct method is an example of a "second wireless network". Communication using a wireless connection in accordance with the Wi-Fi Direct method has higher security than communication using a NAN cluster. In other words, generally speaking, the "second wireless network" can be any wireless network as long as it has higher security than the "first wireless network".

[0071] (Modification 2) Printer 10B does not need to store the master unit information, i.e., the serial number "PA" of printer 10A. In this modification, printer 10B may send a Subscribe that does not include the serial number "PA" of printer 10A at T50, etc., in Figure 2. When printer 10A receives a Subscribe from printer 10B, it may send a Publish, send connection information, etc. Generally speaking, the "transmitting unit" of the "first communication device" may send connection information to the second communication device regardless of whether the predetermined information includes identification information or not.

[0072] (Modification 3) Printer 10A may transmit master information including the NIK of printer 10A to printer 10B at T38. Printer 10B may transmit Subscribe including the NIK at T50, etc. In this modification, the NIK of printer 10A is an example of "identification information".

[0073] (Modification 4) The process at T84 in Figure 3 can be omitted. For example, when a Data Path is established with printer 10B (T82 in Figure 3), printer 10A may send connection information to printer 10B (T86). In this modification, the "second receiving unit" of the "first communication device" can be omitted.

[0074] (Modification 5) Printer 10B may operate in setting synchronization mode regardless of whether an AP connection has been established. That is, printer 10B may periodically send Subscribe messages regardless of whether an AP connection has been established. Generally speaking, the "first receiving unit" of the "first communication device" may receive a predetermined signal from the second communication device regardless of whether a wireless connection has been established between the second communication device and an external device.

[0075] (Modification 6) When printer 10B receives a Publish from printer 10A (T72, T104, etc. in Figure 3), it does not need to determine whether the connection status of the master unit has changed. That is, when printer 10B receives a Publish from printer 10A, it may send a Data Path Request to printer 10A (T76). Furthermore, printer 10B may receive connection information from printer 10A regardless of whether the connection status of the master unit has changed. That is, printer 10A may send connection information to printer 10B regardless of whether the connection information stored in printer 10A and the connection information stored in printer 10B are the same. Generally speaking, the "transmitting unit" of the "first communication device" may send connection information to the second communication device regardless of whether the second communication device has stored connection information or not.

[0076] (Modification 7) Printers 10A and 10B do not need to display the inquiry screen SC1 (see T30, T32). For example, the device that establishes an AP connection with the AP first among printers 10A and 10B may be determined as the master unit. For example, consider a situation where, after the process T26 in Figure 2 is executed, processes T60 to T64 are executed and an AP connection is established between printer 10A and AP6A. When an AP connection with AP6A is established, printer 10A may change the master unit flag to "ON" (T36) and send the master unit information to printer 10B (T38). As a result, processes T40 to T46 are executed in printer 10B and printer 10B may operate as a slave unit.

[0077] (Modification 8) The master printer 10A may store a list of slave devices that register printer 10A as the master device. For example, when the process T42 in Figure 2 is executed, printer 10B may send a registration request to printer 10A that includes printer 10B's own serial number "PB". In this case, printer 10A may add the serial number "PB" included in the registration request to the list of slave devices. In this modification, printer 10B does not need to execute the process T44. Then, at T50, etc., printer 10B may send a Subscribe that includes the serial number "PB" instead of the serial number "PA". If the serial number "PB" included in the Subscribe is included in the list of slave devices, printer 10A may send a Publish.

[0078] (Modification 9) In the above embodiment, the processing of each step in Figures 2 to 4 is implemented by software (for example, programs 36A and 36B), but at least one of these processes may be implemented by hardware such as a logic circuit.

[0079] The technical elements described herein or in the drawings demonstrate technical usefulness individually or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, the technologies illustrated herein or in the drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving even one of these objectives constitutes technical usefulness in itself.

[0080] Even if, in the claims of this patent application, each claim depends on only some of the claims, it is not limited to the claim being dependent only on those specific claims. To the extent that it is not technically contradictory, each claim may be dependent on other claims that were not dependent at the time of application. That is, the technologies of each claim can be combined in various ways as follows: (Item 1) A first communication device, A Wi-Fi interface for performing wireless communication in accordance with the Wi-Fi standard, A memory for storing connection information for establishing a first wireless connection with a specific external device in accordance with the Wi-Fi standard, In a state where the first communication device belongs to a first wireless network conforming to the Wi-Fi Aware method of the Wi-Fi standard, a first receiving unit receives a predetermined signal from a second communication device belonging to the first wireless network via the Wi-Fi interface and using the first wireless network, A transmitting unit that, when the predetermined signal is received from the second communication device and wireless communication is possible between the first communication device and the specific external device using the first wireless connection, transmits the connection information in the memory to the second communication device via the Wi-Fi interface using a second wireless network having higher security than the first wireless network, A first communication device equipped with the following: (Item 2) The aforementioned transmitting unit If the predetermined signal includes identification information that identifies the first communication device, the connection information is transmitted to the second communication device. If the predetermined signal does not include the identification information, the connection information is not transmitted to the second communication device. The first communication device described in item 1. (Item 3) The first communication device further includes, The system includes an establishment unit that establishes a second wireless connection between the first communication device and the second communication device via the Wi-Fi interface when the predetermined signal is received from the second communication device and wireless communication is possible between the first communication device and the specific external device using the first wireless connection, The first communication device according to item 1 or 2, wherein the second wireless network is a wireless network formed by the establishment of the second wireless connection between the first communication device and the second communication device. (Item 4) The first communication device further includes, When a second wireless connection is established between the first communication device and the second communication device, the system includes a second receiving unit that uses the second wireless network to receive a connection information request from the second communication device requesting the transmission of the connection information. The first communication device as described in item 3, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the connection information to the second communication device using the second wireless network when the connection information request is received from the second communication device. (Item 5) The first communication device according to item 3 or 4, wherein the second wireless connection is a wireless connection established in accordance with the Wi-Fi Aware method. (Item 6) The first receiving unit is, If a wireless connection is not established between the second communication device and the external device, the first wireless network is used to receive the predetermined signal from the second communication device. When the wireless connection is established between the second communication device and the external device, the predetermined signal is not received from the second communication device. The first communication device described in any one of items 1 to 5. (Item 7) The aforementioned transmitting unit If the second communication device does not store the connection information, the connection information is transmitted to the second communication device using the second wireless network. If the second communication device has stored the connection information, the connection information is not transmitted to the second communication device. The first communication device described in item 6. (Item 8) The first wireless network is a Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) cluster defined by the Wi-Fi Aware method, The predetermined signal is Subscribe as defined in the Wi-Fi Aware method, the first communication device according to any one of items 1 to 7. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 2: Communication system, 6A, 6B: AP, 10A, 10B: Printer, 12A, 12B: Operation unit, 14A, 14B: Display unit, 16A, 16B: Wi-Fi I / F, 18A, 18B: Print execution unit, 30A, 30B: Control unit, 32A, 32B: CPU, 34A, 34B: Memory, 36A, 36B: Program

Claims

1. A first communication device, A Wi-Fi interface for performing wireless communication in accordance with the Wi-Fi standard, A memory for storing connection information for establishing a first wireless connection with a specific external device in accordance with the Wi-Fi standard, In a state where the first communication device belongs to a first wireless network conforming to the Wi-Fi Aware method of the Wi-Fi standard, a first receiving unit receives a predetermined signal from a second communication device belonging to the first wireless network via the Wi-Fi interface and using the first wireless network, A transmitting unit that, when the predetermined signal is received from the second communication device and wireless communication is possible between the first communication device and the specific external device using the first wireless connection, transmits the connection information in the memory to the second communication device via the Wi-Fi interface using a second wireless network having higher security than the first wireless network, A first communication device comprising the following:

2. The aforementioned transmitting unit If the predetermined signal includes identification information that identifies the first communication device, the connection information is transmitted to the second communication device. If the predetermined signal does not include the identification information, the connection information is not transmitted to the second communication device. The first communication device according to claim 1.

3. The first communication device further includes, The system includes an establishment unit that establishes a second wireless connection between the first communication device and the second communication device via the Wi-Fi interface when the predetermined signal is received from the second communication device and wireless communication is possible between the first communication device and the specific external device using the first wireless connection, The first communication device according to claim 1, wherein the second wireless network is a wireless network formed by establishing the second wireless connection between the first communication device and the second communication device.

4. The first communication device further includes, When a second wireless connection is established between the first communication device and the second communication device, the system includes a second receiving unit that uses the second wireless network to receive a connection information request from the second communication device requesting the transmission of the connection information. The first communication device according to claim 3, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the connection information to the second communication device using the second wireless network when the connection information request is received from the second communication device.

5. The first communication device according to claim 3, wherein the second wireless connection is a wireless connection established in accordance with the Wi-Fi Aware method.

6. The first receiving unit is, If a wireless connection is not established between the second communication device and the external device, the first wireless network is used to receive the predetermined signal from the second communication device. When the wireless connection is established between the second communication device and the external device, the predetermined signal is not received from the second communication device. The first communication device according to claim 1.

7. The aforementioned transmitting unit If the second communication device does not store the connection information, the connection information is transmitted to the second communication device using the second wireless network. If the second communication device has stored the connection information, the connection information is not transmitted to the second communication device. The first communication device according to claim 6.

8. The first wireless network is a Neighbor Awareness Network (NAN) cluster defined by the Wi-Fi Aware method, The first communication device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined signal is a Subscribe defined in the Wi-Fi Aware method.

9. A computer program for a first communication device, The first communication device is A Wi-Fi interface for performing wireless communication in accordance with the Wi-Fi standard, A memory for storing connection information for establishing a first wireless connection with a specific external device in accordance with the Wi-Fi standard, Computers and, Equipped with, The aforementioned computer program comprises the following components of the computer, namely: In a state where the first communication device belongs to a first wireless network conforming to the Wi-Fi Aware method of the Wi-Fi standard, a first receiving unit receives a predetermined signal from a second communication device belonging to the first wireless network via the Wi-Fi interface and using the first wireless network, A transmitting unit that, when the predetermined signal is received from the second communication device and wireless communication is possible between the first communication device and the specific external device using the first wireless connection, transmits the connection information in the memory to the second communication device via the Wi-Fi interface using a second wireless network having higher security than the first wireless network, A computer program that functions as such.

10. It is a communication system, The first communication device and A second communication device, Equipped with, The first communication device is A first Wi-Fi interface for performing wireless communication in accordance with the Wi-Fi standard, A memory for storing connection information for establishing a first wireless connection with a specific external device in accordance with the Wi-Fi standard, Equipped with, The second communication device is A second Wi-Fi interface for performing wireless communication in accordance with the Wi-Fi standard, In a state where both the first communication device and the second communication device belong to a first wireless network conforming to the Wi-Fi Aware method of the Wi-Fi standard, a second transmitting unit transmits a predetermined signal using the first wireless network via the second Wi-Fi interface, Equipped with, The first communication device is A first receiving unit receives the predetermined signal from the second communication device via the first Wi-Fi interface and using the first wireless network, When the predetermined signal is received from the second communication device and wireless communication is possible between the first communication device and the specific external device using the first wireless connection, the first transmitting unit transmits the connection information in the memory to the second communication device via the first Wi-Fi interface using a second wireless network having higher security than the first wireless network. Equipped with, The second communication device further includes: A second receiving unit receives the connection information from the first communication device via the second Wi-Fi interface and using the second wireless network, When connection information is received from the first communication device, the establishment unit uses the connection information to establish a third wireless connection with the specific external device via the second Wi-Fi interface, A communication system equipped with these features.

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