Program, Information Processing Apparatus

Abstract

To perform connection processing considering the radio wave conditions with access points around a communication device when performing connection setting processing between the communication device and an external device (access point) and establish an appropriate communication environment between the communication device and the external device.SOLUTION: A program causes an information processing device to execute: a first acquisition step for acquiring information on the radio wave environment between a first external device and a communication device; a determination step for determining whether or not to transmit information used for connection with the first external device to the communication device on the basis of the information on the radio wave environment; and a first transmission step for transmitting the information used for connection with the first external device to the communication device, if it is determined that the information used for connection with the first external device is to be transmitted to the communication device in the determination step.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a program and an information processing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] In order for an information processing apparatus and a communication apparatus to communicate with each other, a technique is known in which the information processing apparatus establishes a connection between the communication apparatus and an external apparatus such as an access point. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which, when establishing a connection between a communication apparatus and an external apparatus such as an access point, the communication apparatus establishes a connection with a nearer external apparatus according to the distance between the information processing apparatus and the communication apparatus.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, for example, in the method described in Patent Document 1, a connection according to the communication status between the communication apparatus and the external apparatus has not been established.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to consider the communication status between a communication apparatus and an external apparatus, establish a good connection between the communication apparatus and the external apparatus, and improve usability.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the program according to the present invention causes a computer of an information processing apparatus to A reception step of receiving a predetermined instruction for performing wireless setting of a communication device; a first external apparatus and saidA first acquisition step of acquiring information regarding the radio wave environment with a communication device; a determination step of determining whether to transmit to the communication device information used for connection to the first external device based on the information regarding the radio wave environment; and a first transmission step of transmitting to the communication device the information used for connection to the first external device when it is determined in the determination step to transmit the information used for connection to the first external device to the communication device, are executed When the predetermined instruction is received in the reception step, information used for connection to the first external device is transmitted to the communication device, and the first external device is an external device to which the information processing device was connected at least when the predetermined instruction was received. characterized by that.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, a good connection between a communication device and an external device can be established, and usability can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of the features described in this embodiment are essential for the solution means of the present invention. Also, in the attached drawings, the same or similar configurations are given the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations are omitted.

[0010] (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the system configuration in this embodiment. FIG. 1(a) shows a state in which a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) 101, which is an information processing device, and an access point (hereinafter referred to as AP) 102, which is an external device represented by a Service Set Identifier (hereinafter referred to as SSID) 11 as identification information, are connected by a wireless LAN. Also, a printer 103, which is a communication device, is also connected to the AP 102 represented by the SSID 11. That is, the PC 101 is in a state where it can communicate with the printer 103 via the AP 102. Such a method of connecting two such devices via an AP is called wireless infrastructure connection (hereinafter referred to as wireless infra connection). In wireless infra connection, a PC can construct a network environment in which it can communicate with two or more devices connected to the AP. Note that, as the information processing device in this embodiment, various devices such as a smartphone or a digital camera may be applied instead of a PC. Also, as the communication device in this embodiment, various devices such as a PC, a smartphone, a digital camera, a smart speaker, or a music playback device may be applied instead of a printer. Note that the printing method of the printer 103 used in this embodiment may be an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, or any other method.

[0011] On the other hand, there is also a connection method called direct connection (Peer to Peer connection (hereinafter referred to as P2P connection)) for connecting between two devices without going through an external device. Note that the direct connection in this embodiment may be a wireless Ad-hoc connection, a connection using a USB cable 221, a connection using legacy Wi-Fi where the printer 103 operates as a software AP, or a connection using Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark).

[0012] The PC 101 performs a process of connecting the printer 103 to the AP 102 via a wireless LAN connection. For this purpose, the PC 101 transmits wireless network connection setting information to the printer 103 using a direct connection, thereby connecting the printer 103 to the AP 102. Note that the communication method used for the wireless LAN connection is, for example, a communication standard of the IEEE 802.11 series (Wi-Fi).

[0013] Figure 2 is a configuration diagram of a communication system including the hardware configurations of the PC 101 and the printer 103 in the present embodiment. The PC 101 has, for example, a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 206, an external storage device 207, a display device 208, and an input interface 209. The PC 101 also has a USB interface 205, a wired LAN interface 210, and a wireless LAN interface 211. However, the PC 101 only needs to have at least one of the USB interface 205, the wired LAN interface 210, and the wireless LAN interface 211. The PC 101 transmits information for connecting the printer 103 and the AP 223 described later to the printer 103 using any of the interfaces. The wireless LAN interface 211 is an interface used for connection to the AP 223 and the printer 103, and the communication standard used is, for example, the communication standard of the IEEE 802.11 series (Wi-Fi). The PC 101 also has an interface for communicating using a wireless communication standard other than Wi-Fi, and may communicate with the printer 103 using that interface. The wireless communication standard other than Wi-Fi is, for example, Bluetooth (Bluetooth Classic, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), etc.). The ROM 202 stores a program 203 and a wireless profile 204 described later. In the present embodiment, the program 203 includes application programs (hereinafter referred to as setting applications) corresponding to various processes including a program for a wireless network setting process for instructing the printer to set up a wireless network. Details of the above wireless network setting process will be described later. In addition, the external storage device 207 stores an Operating System (hereinafter referred to as OS), a printer driver, and other various data. The CPU 201 reads the program 203 from the ROM 202 into the RAM 206 and executes it to execute various processes including the above instruction process. Also, since the SSID of the printer 103 operating in the wireless setting mode described later is included in the setting application, when the setting application is installed on the PC 101, the SSID is also stored in the ROM 202.The SSID of the printer 103 operating in the wireless setting mode will be described later.

[0014] The PC 101 can be directly connected to the printer 103. Also, the PC 101 can be connected to the LAN 222 via the Ethernet cable 225. If the printer 103 can also be connected to the LAN 222, the PC 101 and the printer 103 can communicate with each other in the same LAN 222 environment. Furthermore, for example, the PC 101 can be connected to the AP 223 by Wi-Fi, and by connecting the AP 223 to the LAN 222 via the Ethernet cable 226, the PC 101 can be connected to the LAN 222. Note that when the AP 223 is the AP to which the PC 101 is connected, it is the same AP as the AP 102 in FIG. 1.

[0015] Here, the wireless profile 204 is information including the identification information (such as SSID) of the AP 223 that has been connected by the wireless LAN interface 211, and the authentication information (such as password) used in the authentication process for connection to the AP 223. That is, the wireless profile 204 includes not only the information of the AP to which the PC 101 is currently connected, but also the identification information and authentication information of the AP that the PC 101 has not currently connected to but has connected to before. Note that the wireless LAN interface 211 is an interface used for connection to the AP 223 and the printer 103, and the communication method used is, for example, the communication standard of the IEEE 802.11 series (Wi-Fi). The wireless profile 204 is stored and managed by the OS included in the external storage device 207.

[0016] Printer 103 has a CPU 252, a ROM 253, a RAM 257, a display device 258, an input interface 259, a printing unit 260, a USB interface 251, and a wireless LAN interface 256. Note that the wireless LAN interface 256 is an interface used for connection with the AP 223 and the PC 101, and the communication method used is, for example, the communication standard of the IEEE 802.11 series (Wi-Fi). Also, the printer 103 has an interface for communicating using a wireless communication standard other than Wi-Fi, and it may communicate with the PC 101 using that interface. The wireless communication standard other than Wi-Fi is, for example, Bluetooth (Bluetooth Classic, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), etc.). The ROM 253 stores a program 254, a wireless profile 255, etc. The CPU 252 reads the program 254 from the ROM 253 into the RAM 257 and executes it to perform various controls by the printer 103. Note that the printer 103 may not have a USB interface 251.

[0017] The printer 103 can be directly connected to the PC 101. Also, for example, the printer 103 can be connected to the AP 223 via Wi-Fi, and by connecting the AP 223 to the LAN 222 via the Ethernet cable 226, the printer 103 can be connected to the LAN 222.

[0018] Here, the wireless profile 255 is information including settings such as identification information and authentication information of the AP 223 that has been connected via the wireless LAN interface 256. Note that the wireless LAN interface 256 is an interface used for connection with the AP 223 and the PC 101, and the communication method used is, for example, the communication standard of the IEEE 802.11 series (Wi-Fi). The wireless profile 255 is stored and managed by the program 254 included in the ROM 253.

[0019] In addition, the ROM 253 also stores the identification information (hereinafter referred to as SSID13) of the printer 103 operating in the wireless setting mode stored in the ROM 202 of the PC 101 described above. The SSID13 is an SSID commonly used among a plurality of printers (for example, a plurality of printers of the same model or a plurality of printers of the same vendor). The wireless LAN interface 256 of the printer 103 can operate as an AP corresponding to the SSID13. The P2P communication in this embodiment may take a form in which either the PC 101 or the printer 103 operates as an AP. For example, when the wireless LAN interface 256 operates as an AP of the printer 103 operating in the above-described wireless setting mode, it is in a form connected to the wireless LAN interface 211. Also, a form in which neither the PC 101 nor the printer 103 operates as an AP may be taken. In this way, the PC 101 can be directly connected to the printer 103 operating as an AP, similar to the case of connecting to the AP 223. Note that the configurations of the PC 101 and the printer 103 in FIG. 2 are merely examples, and other forms may be used.

[0020] In this embodiment, the PC connects to the printer, transmits information about the AP to which the printer is to be connected to the printer, and causes the printer to connect to the AP. For example, the PC acquires a list of APs to which the printer can connect from the printer, determines whether the AP to which the PC is connected is included in the list, and transmits information about the AP to the printer. Then, the printer uses the information to connect to the AP. The information about the AP includes the identification information of the AP (such as SSID) and the authentication information (such as password) used in the authentication process of the AP.

[0021] Incidentally, as shown in Fig. 1(b), the AP transmitted from the PC to the printer may not be an appropriate AP at the position of the printer. Note that the printer 103 in Fig. (b) is not connected to the AP102. That is, conventionally, there is a form in which the PC connects to the printer and transmits information about the AP to which the printer is to be connected to the printer, and the printer is connected to the AP. However, in that form, even if the radio wave environment between the AP corresponding to the information transmitted to the printer and the printer is not good, the printer will establish a connection with that AP. As a result, since the communication between the AP and the printer is not stable, the communication between the PC and the printer via the AP may also become unstable.

[0022] For example, consider a case where the PC and the printer are installed at a distance from each other and an AP is installed near the PC. In this case, the radio wave environment between the PC and the AP is good, but the radio wave environment between the printer and the AP may not be good because the distance between the printer and the AP is long.

[0023] Therefore, in this embodiment, before transmitting the information about the AP transmitted from the PC to the printer to the printer, the PC checks the radio wave environment between the printer and the AP. Specifically, when the PC determines that the radio wave environment between the AP and the printer is good, the PC performs the connection process between the printer and the AP. Furthermore, not only the radio wave environment between the printers but also the radio wave environment between the PCs is connected to an AP that is good. As a result, it becomes possible to establish an optimal connection between the AP and the printer, and the possibility of causing a communication failure after the connection setting between the AP and the printer can be reduced. As a result, furthermore, the possibility of causing a communication failure after the connection setting between the PC and the printer can be reduced.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a process of establishing a LAN connection between the PC 101 and the printer 103 via an AP with a good radio wave environment with the printer 103. For example, FIG. 1(c) shows a system configuration when there is an AP 104 with a good radio wave environment between the printers 103. In FIG. 1(c), the AP 104 also has a good radio wave environment between the PCs 101. Note that in FIG. (c), the printer 103 is not connected to the AP 102, and the PC 101 and the printer 103 are not connected to the AP 104. The process in such a case will be described below. The process by the PC 101 is realized by the CPU 201 executing the setting application, and similarly, the process by the printer 103 is realized by the CPU 252 executing the program 254.

[0025] In S301, the CPU 201 displays a predetermined screen on the display device 208 by the setting application. Then, on the predetermined screen, the CPU 201 receives a specific instruction from the user to connect the printer to any AP, starts the process for the wireless setting instruction, and proceeds to S302. The specific instruction is an instruction to connect the printer to any AP. Or it is an instruction to set the communication between the PC 101 and the printer 103 to a communicable state. At this time, it is assumed that the PC 101 is already connected to the AP 102 by Wi-Fi, and the SSID 11 and password of the AP 102 are stored in the wireless profile 204.

[0026] In S302, the CPU 201 disconnects the Wi-Fi connection between the PC 101 and the AP 102.

[0027] In S303, the CPU 201 searches for the printer 103 that is in the wireless setting mode. This process searches for APs around the PC 101 (executes an AP search) and checks whether there is an AP corresponding to the printer 103 in the wireless setting mode among the discovered APs. Specifically, when an SSID 13 containing a predetermined string representing the AP corresponding to the printer 103 in the wireless setting mode is discovered, it is determined that there is an AP corresponding to the printer 103 in the wireless setting mode. Also, the CPU 201 creates and saves a list of the SSIDs of the APs discovered by the AP search executed at this time together with the search for the printer 103 in the wireless setting mode. The list created in S303 is referred to as the PC created SSID list 1 (FIG. 9(a) described later).

[0028] In S304, the CPU 201 determines whether the printer 103 in the wireless setting mode has been detected (discovered) by the search in S303. If the CPU 201 determines YES in S304, it proceeds to S305, and if it determines NO in S304, it proceeds to S315. S315 will be described later.

[0029] In S305, the CPU 201 performs a process for establishing a direct connection between the PC 101 and the printer 103. Specifically, the CPU 201 connects the wireless LAN interface 211 to the AP represented by the SSID 13 of the printer 103 operating in the wireless setting mode and connects it to the AP inside the printer 103.

[0030] In S306, the CPU 201 sends an information acquisition request to the printer 103 and receives an SSID list and identification information (such as a MAC address) of the printer 103 from the printer 103 in response. The SSID list obtained here is a list of APs discovered by the printer 103 through a search (AP search), and is referred to as the printer created SSID list 1 (or the first identification information list), the details of which will be described later.

[0031] In S307, the CPU 201 is connected at the start of the process shown in FIG. 3, that is, when receiving a specific instruction in S301, and acquires the SSID11 of the AP102 which is the AP where the wireless connection was disconnected in S302. The SSID11 is acquired by referring to the wireless profile 204.

[0032] In S308, the CPU 201 executes a connection destination SSID acquisition process. The connection destination SSID acquisition process will be described later with reference to FIG. 4.

[0033] In S309, the CPU 201 transmits to the printer 103 information including the AP represented by the SSID acquired in the connection destination SSID acquisition process and the password corresponding to the SSID.

[0034] In S310, the CPU 201 disconnects the direct connection between the PC 101 and the printer 103, and reconnects the PC 101 and the AP102. Since the SSID11 and password of the AP102 are stored in the wireless profile 204, in S310, the PC 101 can reconnect to the AP102 without the need for the user to re-enter the password or the like.

[0035] In S311, if information for establishing a direct connection between the PC 101 and the printer 103 exists in the wireless profile 204, the CPU 201 deletes the information from the wireless profile 204. The process in S311 is performed to prevent the direct connection between the PC 101 and the printer 103 from being established unintentionally by the reconnection process executed by the PC 101.

[0036] In S312, the CPU 201 searches for the printer 103 on the network including the AP102.

[0037] In S313, the CPU 201 determines whether the printer 103 has been discovered and detected through the search in S312. Specifically, the CPU 201 receives identification information (such as MAC address) from each device connected to the AP 102. And when the received identification information contains the identification information that matches the identification information obtained from the printer 103 in S306, it is determined that the printer 103 has been detected. If YES in S313, the process proceeds to S314; if NO in S313, the process proceeds to S316. In S314, when the CPU 201 determines that the printer 103 has been detected, it displays a setting success screen 501 as shown in Fig. 5(a) on the display device 208. When the "Next" button 502 on the setting success screen 501 is pressed by the user, the CPU 201 ends the wireless setting instruction process. Note that the CPU 201 may connect to the printer 103 at the timing when it determines in S313 that the printer 103 has been detected, or may connect to the printer 103 at the timing when it detects the pressing of the "Next" button 502 by the user on the setting success screen 501.

[0038] In S316, when NO in S313, the CPU 201 switches the connection to the AP represented by the SSID obtained in the connection destination SSID acquisition process. That is, when the AP represented by the SSID obtained in the connection destination SSID acquisition process is different from the AP 102, the CPU 201 switches the connection to the AP represented by the SSID obtained in the connection destination SSID acquisition process. For example, in the environment shown in Fig. 1(c), when the AP represented by the SSID obtained in the connection destination SSID acquisition process is the AP 104, the CPU 201 switches the connection to the AP 104.

[0039] In S317, the CPU 201 searches for the printer 103 again on the network including the AP represented by the SSID obtained in the connection destination SSID acquisition process.

[0040] In S318, the CPU 201 determines whether the printer 103 can be discovered and detected by the search in S317. The determination method is the same as that in S313. If the CPU 201 gets a YES in S318, it performs the process in S314 and ends the wireless setting instruction process. On the other hand, if the CPU 201 gets a NO in S318, it proceeds to S315.

[0041] In S315 which is executed when the result in S304 is NO or the result in S318 is NO, the CPU 201 displays a setting failure screen 511 as shown in FIG. 5(b) on the display device 208. The CPU 201 ends the wireless setting instruction process when the "Next" button 512 on the setting failure screen 511 is pressed by the user. Note that the case of getting a NO in S318 means, for example, that although the connection between the printer 103 and the AP represented by the SSID obtained in the connection destination SSID acquisition process is successful, the printer 103 cannot be detected on the network to which the PC 101 is connected (Case 1). Case 1 may occur, for example, because a privacy separator is enabled in the AP.

[0042] Also, the case of NO in S318 means, for example, that an incorrect password has been sent to the printer 103 and the connection between the printer 103 and the AP has failed (Case 2). Therefore, for example, in S315, the CPU 201 may receive information from the printer 103 via a connection such as BLE indicating whether the connection between the printer 103 and the AP has been successful. And when information indicating that the connection between the printer 103 and the AP has been successful is received, it is Case 1. Thus, the CPU 201 may display a setting failure screen with content indicating that the connection between the printer 103 and the AP is successful but the printer 103 cannot be detected on the network to which the PC 101 is connected. Also, when information indicating that the connection between the printer 103 and the AP has failed is received, since it is Case 2, the PC 101 may display a setting failure screen with content indicating that the password entered by the user is incorrect. Note that when the password is incorrect, before displaying Fig. 6(c) described later, a setting failure screen with content indicating that the password entered by the user is incorrect may also be displayed.

[0043] Next, the wireless setting process of the printer 103 will be described in detail.

[0044] In S351, when the CPU 252 detects that a predetermined instruction for starting the wireless connection process is given by the user on the display device 258 of the printer 103, the CPU 252 starts the wireless connection process.

[0045] In S352, the CPU 252 searches for surrounding APs (executes an AP search) and creates a printer creation SSID list 1 including the SSIDs of the APs detected thereby.

[0046] In S353, the CPU 252 shifts the printer 103 to the wireless setting mode. The printer 103 in the wireless setting mode operates the wireless LAN interface 256 as an AP corresponding to the SSID of the printer 103 operating in the wireless setting mode. Note that the shift to the wireless setting mode may be started triggered by a predetermined instruction from the above user, or may be by other methods. For example, it may be in a form that automatically shifts to the wireless connection setting mode at the timing of power-on at the first startup after purchase.

[0047] In S354, the CPU 252 determines whether the printer 103 that has shifted to the wireless setting mode has been requested for information acquisition from the PC 101. If YES in S354, the CPU 252 proceeds to S355, and if NO in S354, the CPU 252 proceeds to S356. S356 will be described later.

[0048] In S355, the CPU 252 performs information transmission processing to the PC 101 and returns to S354 to wait for the next instruction. Note that the information to be transmitted to the PC 101 includes the information of the printer-created SSID list 1 and the identification information (such as the MAC address) of the printer 103.

[0049] In S356 following NO in S354, the CPU 252 determines whether there is a wireless setting instruction from the PC 101. If YES in S356, the CPU 252 proceeds to S357, and if NO in S356, the CPU 252 returns to S354.

[0050] In S357, the CPU 252 executes connection processing for connecting the AP corresponding to the information received from the PC 101 and the printer 103. Specifically, the CPU 252 executes connection processing for connecting the AP and the printer 103 using the SSID and password corresponding to the AP included in the wireless profile 204 received from the PC 101.

[0051] In S358, the CPU 252 determines whether the connection process in S357 has succeeded (the AP and the printer 103 are connected). If YES in S358, the wireless setting process ends; if NO in S358, the process proceeds to S359.

[0052] In S359, the CPU 252 displays the error content indicating that the connection process has not succeeded on the display device 258 of the printer 103.

[0053] Next, the connection destination SSID acquisition process in S308 of FIG. 3 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the connection destination SSID acquisition process.

[0054] In S401, the CPU 201 determines whether the SSID 11 of the AP 102 obtained in S307 is included in the printer creation SSID list 1 obtained from the printer 103 in S306. Note that there may be multiple SSIDs included in the printer creation SSID list 1, or there may be only one. If the result in S401 is YES, the process proceeds to S402; if the result in S401 is NO, the process proceeds to S404. Note that when the CPU 201 receives the printer creation SSID list 1 from the printer 103, it obtains from the printer 103 an index for determining whether the radio wave environment between the printer 103 and each AP discovered by the printer 103 is good. The index for determining whether the radio wave environment between the printer 103 and each AP discovered by the printer 103 is good is hereinafter referred to as index A. Specifically, when the CPU 252 searches for surrounding SSIDs in S352, it obtains the SSID representing each AP and index A from the beacon information transmitted from each AP. Note that the beacon information also includes information such as the frequency band corresponding to the AP. Then, in S306, the CPU 201 obtains the printer creation SSID list 1 and index A from the printer 103. Similarly, in S303 when the PC 101 creates the PC creation SSID list 1, the CPU 201 obtains an index (hereinafter referred to as index B) for determining whether the radio wave environment between the PC 101 and the AP is good. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the received signal strength of the radio wave is used as index A and index B. Note that the received signal strength of the radio wave refers to the radio wave emitted by the AP and the received signal strength of the radio wave received by the PC 101 or the printer 103. In this embodiment, it is assumed that Received Signal Strength Indicator (hereinafter referred to as RSSI) is used as the received signal strength of the radio wave. However, index A and index B are not limited to this. For example, it may be based on the signal-to-noise ratio, that is, Signal to Noise Ratio (hereinafter referred to as SNR), which is a value obtained by calculating the difference between the radio wave emitted by the AP 102 and received by the PC 101 or the printer 103 and the noise caused by the radio wave of the same frequency existing in the surroundings. Also, other indices or a plurality of indices may be used as the reference, or a value calculated based on at least one index selected from a plurality of indices may be used as the reference.Note that the timing at which the CPU 201 acquires the printer-created SSID list 1 and the index B, or the timing at which the PC-created SSID list 1 is created and saved and the index A is acquired, may be the same or different.

[0055] Fig. 7(a) illustrates an example of the PC-created SSID list 1. The PC-created SSID list 1 holds the SSID detected by the PC 101 and the value of RSSI, which is the value as the index B. Further, Fig. 7(b) illustrates an example of the printer-created SSID list 1. The printer-created SSID list 1 holds the SSID detected by the printer 103 and the value of RSSI, which is the value as the index A.

[0056] In S402, the CPU 201 determines whether the index A corresponding to the AP 102 represented by the SSID 11 is greater than a predetermined threshold value set in advance. As described above, the index A corresponding to the AP 102 is specifically the radio wave emitted by the AP 102 and is the value of the RSSI of the radio wave received by the printer 103. If YES in S402, the process proceeds to S403; if NO in S402, the process proceeds to S404. Note that the predetermined threshold value is set, for example, to the lower limit value among the values that can perform stable communication without being disconnected after the connection between the AP 102 and the printer 103 is established. Further, the predetermined threshold value for the index A and the specific threshold value for the index B described later may be the same or different.

[0057] In S403, the CPU 201 determines to connect the printer 103 to the AP 102 represented by the SSID 11. That is, S403 is an example of a process for determining whether to transmit information about the AP 102 to the printer 103. Then, the CPU 201 ends the connection destination SSID acquisition process and instructs the printer 103 to perform wireless settings for connecting to the AP 102 (S309).

[0058] In S404 following the case of NO in S401 or the case of NO in S402, the CPU 201 determines whether the printer-created SSID list 1 contains an SSID corresponding to an index A greater than a predetermined threshold. If YES in S404, the process proceeds to S405; if NO in S404, the process proceeds to S413. S413 will be described later.

[0059] In S405, the CPU 201 creates an SSID list composed only of the SSIDs corresponding to the index A greater than the predetermined threshold among the SSIDs included in the printer-created SSID list 1. In the present embodiment, the list created in S405 is referred to as the printer-created SSID list 2. Here, FIG. 7(c) illustrates an example of the printer-created SSID list 2 when the predetermined threshold is set to 60 for example.

[0060] In S406, the CPU 201 determines whether the SSID stored in the wireless profile 204 of the PC 101 is included in the printer-created SSID list 2. The case where the SSID is stored in the wireless profile 204 of the PC 101 means that the PC 101 has connected to the AP represented by the SSID before connecting to the AP 102. Therefore, in other words, the CPU 201 determines whether the printer-created SSID list 2 contains the SSID corresponding to the AP to which the PC 101 has connected. If the SSID is stored in the wireless profile 204 of the PC 101, the connection to the AP can be made without requiring the input of authentication information etc. by the user. If YES in S406, the process proceeds to S407; if NO in S406, the process proceeds to S413. S413 will be described later.

[0061] In S407, the CPU 201 creates an SSID list composed only of the SSIDs included in the printer-created SSID list 2 and stored in the wireless profile 204 of the PC 101. In the present embodiment, the list created in S407 is referred to as the printer-created SSID list 3. Here, Fig. 7(d) illustrates an example of the printer-created SSID list 3 when wireless profiles related to SSID-XXXX and SSID-ZZZZ are stored in the PC 101.

[0062] In S408, the CPU 201 determines whether an SSID corresponding to an index B greater than a specific threshold is included among the SSIDs included in both the PC-created SSID list 1 and the printer-created SSID list 3. As described above, the index B is an index for determining whether the radio wave environment between the PC 101 and the AP is good. Here, the reason for referring to both the PC-created SSID list 1 and the printer-created SSID list 3 is explained. Among the SSIDs discovered by the printer 103, the AP represented by the SSID corresponding to the index A greater than a predetermined threshold and stored in the wireless profile 204 of the PC 101 is the same as the AP represented by the SSID discovered by the PC 101. By determining whether the index B corresponding to the AP represented by the SSID is greater than a specific threshold, it is possible to determine both whether the index A is greater than a predetermined threshold and whether the index B is greater than a specific threshold. That is, it is possible to determine whether both the radio wave environment between the printer 103 and the AP and the radio wave environment between the PC 101 and the AP are good. If YES in S408, the process proceeds to S409, and if NO in S408, the process proceeds to S411. S411 will be described later.

[0063] In S409, the CPU 201 determines whether there is one SSID corresponding to an index B greater than a specific threshold among the SSIDs included in both the PC-created SSID list 1 and the printer-created SSID list 3. If YES in S409, the process proceeds to S412 after selecting the SSID, and if NO in S409, the process proceeds to S410. S412 will be described later.

[0064] In S410, the CPU 201 selects the SSID corresponding to the largest metric A among the SSIDs included in both the PC-created SSID list 1 and the printer-created SSID list 3 that is greater than a predetermined threshold. In the present embodiment, the SSID with the largest value of metric A is selected, but it is not limited thereto. For example, a form of selecting the SSID corresponding to the largest metric B greater than a specific threshold may be adopted. Also, other forms may be taken.

[0065] In S411 following the case of NO in S408, the CPU 201 acquires (selects) the SSID with the largest value of metric A among the SSIDs included in the printer-created SSID list 3. The case of NO in S408 is, for example, the case of the environment shown in Fig. 1(d). That is, it is a case where the radio wave environment between the printer 103 and the AP 104 is good, but the radio wave environment between the PC 101 and the AP 104 is not good. In this case, the CPU 201 selects the SSID representing the AP with a good radio wave environment between the printer 103 and the AP.

[0066] In this case, in S310 of FIG. 3, the PC 101 reconnects to the AP 102, searches for the printer 103 in S312, and determines in S313 whether the printer 103 has been detected. Here, if it is determined in S313 that the printer 103 has been detected, the PC 101 has detected the printer 103 connected to the AP represented by the SSID selected in the connection destination SSID acquisition process while being connected to the AP 102. This is presumably the case where the AP represented by the SSID selected in the connection destination SSID acquisition process is an AP connectable to the AP 102. Also, although the AP represented by the SSID selected in the connection destination SSID acquisition process is the AP 102, the AP 102 supports SSIDs in different frequency bands, and it is conceivable that the SSIDs to which the PC 101 and the printer 103 are respectively connected are different. Note that if it is determined in S313 that the printer 103 has not been detected (NO in S313), before the PC 101 connects to the AP represented by the SSID acquired in the connection destination SSID acquisition process in S316, the following form may be taken. Among the SSIDs included in the printer creation SSID list 3, the SSID with the largest value of the index A is acquired (selected) from among the APs represented by the remaining SSIDs excluding the SSID already selected in the connection destination SSID acquisition process. Then, the CPU 201 determines to issue a connection instruction between the AP represented by the acquired SSID and the printer 103, and performs the same processing as in S309 to S313 (hereinafter referred to as verification 1). The CPU 201 performs verification 1 in order for the SSIDs included in the printer creation SSID list 3 until the printer 103 is detected in the same processing as in S313 (YES in S313). Further, as a result of verification 1, if it is determined that the printer 103 has not been detected in the same processing as in S313 (NO in S313), the process may proceed to S316, or the following form may be taken. The CPU 201 performs S413 to S415, which will be described later, determines to issue a connection instruction between the AP represented by the SSID selected by the user and the printer 103, and performs the same processing as in S309 to S313 (hereinafter referred to as verification 2).Then, as a result of Verification 2, when it is determined in the same process as S313 that the printer 103 was not detected (NO in S313), the PC 101 may connect to the AP represented by the SSID obtained in the connection destination SSID acquisition process in S316. Note that the printer 103 in FIG. 1(d) is not connected to the AP 102, and the PC 101 and the printer 103 are not connected to the AP 104.

[0067] In S404 when NO, or in S413 following NO in S406, the CPU 201 determines that there is no SSID suitable for establishing a LAN connection with the printer 103. In this case, the CPU 201 displays, on the display device 208, an installation guidance screen 601 that prompts the user to change the installation location of the printer 103 as shown in FIG. 6(a). Note that although the installation guidance screen 601 displays guidance for prompting the change of the installation location of the printer 103, it is not limited to this. For example, it may take a form that prompts the change of the installation location of the AP 102 and / or the PC 101.

[0068] In S414, the CPU 201 determines whether to select a new connection destination SSID. Specifically, when the "Select Connection Destination" button 603 on the installation guidance screen 601 in FIG. 6(a) is pressed by the user, it is determined that a connection destination SSID is to be selected. On the other hand, when the "Next" button 602 on the installation guidance screen 601 in FIG. 6(a) is pressed by the user, the CPU 201 determines to end the connection destination SSID acquisition process. If YES in S414, the process proceeds to S415; if NO in S414, the connection destination SSID acquisition process ends. When the connection destination SSID acquisition process ends, the CPU 201 does not give an AP connection instruction to the printer 103 in S309. In this case, a setting failure screen 511 as shown in FIG. 5(b) described above may be displayed. Then, when the "Next" button 512 on the setting failure screen 511 is pressed by the user, the CPU 201 may end the wireless setting instruction process.

[0069] In S415, the CPU 201 displays a connection destination selection screen 611 as shown in FIG. 6(b). The connection destination selection screen 611 has an SSID list 612, a password setting section 613, a WEP key selection section 614, and a "Next" button 615. Also, in the SSID list 612, the SSIDs included in the printer creation SSID list 1 acquired by the PC 101 in S306 are listed. The user selects a desired SSID from the SSID list 612 and inputs the password (e.g., letters or numbers) set for the selected SSID into the password setting section 613. Note that the CPU 201 obtains the encryption method and channel (frequency band) information of each SSID from the printer 103 in the same way as the acquisition of RSSI as the above-described index A when acquiring the printer creation SSID list 1 in S306. And when the communication performed via the SSID selected in the SSID list 612 is encrypted with WEP, the CPU 201 enables the WEP key selection section 614 and allows the user to select a WEP key. After that, when the user presses the "Next" button 615, the CPU 201 closes the connection destination selection screen 611. Then, the CPU 201 determines in S414 that the printer 103 is to be connected to the AP represented by the SSID selected by the user from the SSID list 612. Note that in the SSID list 612, in addition to the name of each SSID, the RSSI as the corresponding index A can also be displayed. In this case, the user can select an SSID while comparing the RSSIs of each SSID.

[0070] In S412, the CPU 201 determines that the printer 103 is to be connected to the AP represented by the SSID selected (acquired) in each process. That is, S412 is an example of a process for determining whether to transmit information about the AP to the printer 103. Then the CPU 201 gives an AP connection instruction to the printer 103 in S309.

[0071] Note that in this embodiment, in S403 and S412, the CPU 201 determines that the printer 103 is to be connected to the AP represented by the SSID selected in each process. However, a form may be adopted in which the user is requested for confirmation before making the determination. In this case, for example, the CPU 201 displays a connection destination confirmation screen 621 as shown in FIG. 6(c) on the display device 208. Then, when the "Yes" button 622 is pressed by the user, the CPU 201 determines that the printer 103 is to be connected to the AP represented by the SSID selected in each process.

[0072] Note that in FIG. 6(c), as an item to be displayed, the SSID 624 representing the AP to which the printer 103 is to be connected is displayed, but it is not limited to this. For example, other information (such as MAC address) indicating the AP may be included. Also, when the "No" button 623 is pressed by the user, the CPU 201 may end the connection destination SSID acquisition process, or may adopt a form of displaying the above-described connection destination selection screen 611.

[0073] When ending the connection destination SSID acquisition process, a setting failure screen 511 as shown in FIG. 5(b) described above may be displayed. Then, the CPU 201 may end the wireless setting instruction process when the "Next" button 512 on the setting failure screen 511 is pressed by the user.

[0074] Through the above processing, the PC 101 can acquire the SSID 21 of the AP 104 in an environment as shown in FIG. 1(c) where there is an AP 104 with a good radio wave environment both between the PC 101s and between the printers 103. Note that when proceeding to S404 in FIG. 4, the subsequent processing may be performed in order from any SSID included in the printer creation SSID list 1.

[0075] Furthermore, in the connection destination SSID acquisition process, the CPU 201 first determines whether the SSID 11 of the AP 102 to which the PC 101 is connected is included in the printer-created SSID list 1 obtained from the printer, but it is not limited to this. For example, the process may start from S404 in FIG. 4. That is, the CPU 201 may first determine whether the value of the index A is greater than a predetermined threshold among the SSIDs included in the printer-created SSID list 1 obtained from the printer, and then perform the subsequent processes. In this case, the process of S302 in FIG. 3 is not executed, and the process of S316 in S310 is executed. As described above, in this embodiment, when it is determined that the radio wave environment between the AP and the printer is good, the connection process between the printer and the AP is performed. Also, both the PC and the printer are connected to an AP with a good radio wave environment. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the situation where a connection with an AP that is not an appropriate AP for the printer is established. As a result, it is further possible to reduce the possibility of a communication failure occurring after the connection setting between the PC and the printer.

[0076] (Other Embodiments) The above-described embodiment can also be realized by executing the following processes. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to a system or device via a network or various storage media, and a computer (such as a CPU or MPU) of the system or device reads and executes the program. Also, the program may be executed by one computer or may be executed in cooperation by a plurality of computers. Also, it is not necessary to realize all of the above-described processes by software, and a part or all of the processes may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC. Also, the CPU is not limited to one that performs all processes, and a plurality of CPUs may perform processes while appropriately cooperating.

[0077] Moreover, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized. Based on the instructions of the program code, the OS or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are also realized by the processing.

Explanation of Signs

[0078] 101 Personal Computer (PC) 102 Access Point (AP) 103 Printer

Claims

1. causing a computer of an information processing apparatus to execute a reception step of receiving a predetermined instruction for performing wireless setting of a communication apparatus; a first acquisition step of acquiring information regarding a radio wave environment between a first external apparatus and the communication apparatus; a determination step of determining whether to transmit information used for connection with the first external apparatus to the communication apparatus based on the information regarding the radio wave environment; a first transmission step of transmitting, when it is determined in the determination step to transmit the information used for connection with the first external apparatus to the communication apparatus, the information used for connection with the first external apparatus to the communication apparatus; and when the predetermined instruction is received in the reception step, causing the information used for connection with the first external apparatus to be transmitted to the communication apparatus; wherein the first external apparatus is an external apparatus to which the information processing apparatus is connected at least when the predetermined instruction is received. A program characterized by this.

2. Causing a computer of an information processing apparatus to execute a first acquisition step of acquiring information regarding a radio wave environment between a first external apparatus and a communication apparatus; a determination step of determining whether to transmit information used for connection with the first external apparatus to the communication apparatus based on the information regarding the radio wave environment; a first transmission step of transmitting, when it is determined in the determination step to transmit the information used for connection with the first external apparatus to the communication apparatus, the information used for connection with the first external apparatus to the communication apparatus; and when the information used for connection with the first external apparatus is transmitted to the communication apparatus in a connection using Bluetooth, transmitting the information used for connection with the first external apparatus to the communication apparatus in a connection using Bluetooth without disconnecting the connection between the information processing apparatus and the first external apparatus. A program characterized by this.

3. Causing a computer of an information processing apparatus to execute a first acquisition step of acquiring information regarding a radio wave environment between a first external apparatus and a communication apparatus; a determination step of determining whether to transmit information used for connection with the first external apparatus to the communication apparatus based on the information regarding the radio wave environment; When it is determined in the determination step to transmit the information used for connection with the first external device to the communication device, a first transmission step of transmitting the information used for connection with the first external device to the communication device, causing it to execute, When the information used for connection with the first external device is transmitted to the communication device through a connection using Wi-Fi, a program characterized by disconnecting the connection using Wi-Fi between the information processing device and the first external device and transmitting the information used for connection with the first external device to the communication device through a connection using Wi-Fi.

4. A first determination step of determining whether a value corresponding to the information regarding the radio wave environment is greater than a threshold value, In the first determination step, when it is determined that the value corresponding to the information regarding the radio wave environment is greater than the threshold value, the determination step is characterized in that the determination is made to transmit the information used for connection with the first external device to the communication device. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A second acquisition step of causing the computer to further execute an acquisition of a first identification information list which is a list of one or more pieces of identification information representing the external devices discovered by the communication device, The first external device is an external device corresponding to any one of the pieces of identification information included in the first identification information list acquired in the second acquisition step. The program according to claim 4.

6. A third acquisition step of causing the computer to further execute an acquisition of information regarding the radio wave environment between the communication device and one or more second external devices represented by one or more pieces of identification information different from the identification information representing the first external device and included in the first identification information list. The program according to claim 5.

7. In the first determination step, when it is determined that the value corresponding to the information regarding the radio wave environment between the first external device and the communication device acquired in the first acquisition step is smaller than the threshold value, a second determination step of determining whether there are one or more second external devices corresponding to a value greater than the threshold value among the values corresponding to the information regarding the radio wave environment between the one or more second external devices and the communication device acquired in the third acquisition step, In the second determination step, when it is determined that there is one or more second external devices corresponding to a value greater than the threshold value for information regarding the radio wave environment between the one or more second external devices and the communication device, a third determination step of determining whether there is one or more second external devices corresponding to a value greater than a specific threshold value for information regarding the radio wave environment between the one or more second external devices and the information processing device; In the third determination step, when it is determined that there is one or more second external devices corresponding to a value greater than the specific threshold value for information regarding the radio wave environment between the one or more second external devices and the information processing device, a second transmission step of transmitting information used for connection to one of the second external devices corresponding to a value greater than the specific threshold value for information regarding the radio wave environment between the one or more second external devices and the information processing device to the communication device; The program according to claim 6, characterized in that the computer is further caused to execute the above.

8. In the second determination step, when it is determined that there is one or more second external devices corresponding to a value greater than the threshold value for information regarding the radio wave environment between the one or more second external devices and the communication device, a fourth determination step of determining whether the one or more second external devices corresponding to a value greater than the threshold value for information regarding the radio wave environment between the one or more second external devices and the communication device are external devices to which the information processing device has been connected; In the fourth determination step, when it is determined that the one or more second external devices corresponding to a value greater than the threshold value for information regarding the radio wave environment between the one or more second external devices and the communication device are external devices to which the information processing device has been connected, the computer is caused to execute the third determination step. In the third determination step, when it is determined that there is one or more second external devices corresponding to a value greater than the specific threshold value in the information regarding the radio wave environment between the one or more second external devices and the information processing apparatus, information used for connection to one of the second external devices corresponding to a value greater than the specific threshold value in the information regarding the radio wave environment between the one or more second external devices and the information processing apparatus is transmitted to the communication apparatus in the second transmission step. The program according to claim 7, characterized in that.

9. In the second determination step, when it is determined that there are no one or more second external devices corresponding to a value greater than the threshold value in the information regarding the radio wave environment between the one or more second external devices and the communication apparatus, or in the fourth determination step, when it is determined that one or more second external devices corresponding to a value greater than the threshold value in the information regarding the radio wave environment between the one or more second external devices and the communication apparatus are not external devices that the information processing apparatus has ever connected to, the information processing apparatus is further caused to execute a display step of displaying a guidance to change the position of the communication apparatus. The program according to claim 8, characterized in that.

10. In the third determination step, when it is determined that there are a plurality of second external devices corresponding to a value greater than the specific threshold value in the information regarding the radio wave environment between the one or more second external devices and the information processing apparatus, the computer is further caused to execute a third transmission step of transmitting information used for connection between the communication apparatus and one of the second external devices corresponding to the largest value in the information regarding the radio wave environment between the plurality of second external devices and the information processing apparatus to the communication apparatus. The program according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that.

11. In the third determination step, when it is determined that there is no second external device among one or more of the second external devices whose value corresponding to the information on the radio wave environment between the one or more second external devices and the information processing device is greater than the specific threshold value, the computer is further caused to execute a fourth transmission step of transmitting, to the communication device, information used for connection to one second external device corresponding to the largest value among the values corresponding to the information on the radio wave environment between the one or more second external devices and the communication device, which is acquired in the third acquisition step. The program according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that.

12. The program according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the specific threshold value may be the same value as the threshold value or a different value.

13. The computer is further caused to execute a reception step of receiving a predetermined instruction for performing wireless setting of the communication device. When the predetermined instruction is received in the reception step, information used for connection to the first external device is transmitted to the communication device. The first external device is an external device corresponding to any one of the identification information included in the first identification information list, and is an external device to which the information processing device was connected when the predetermined instruction was received. The program according to any one of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that.

14. When the first external device is an external device to which the information processing device was connected and the external device to which the information processing device was connected is an external device corresponding to the identification information included in the first identification information list, the computer is caused to execute the first determination step based on the information on the radio wave environment between the first external device and the communication device. When the external device to which the information processing device was connected is not an external device corresponding to the identification information included in the first identification information list, the computer is caused to execute the first determination step based on the information on the radio wave environment between the first external device corresponding to any one of the identification information included in the first identification information list and the communication device and the information on the radio wave environment between the first external device and the information processing device. The program according to any one of claims 5 to 13, characterized in that.

15. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the information regarding the radio wave environment is the reception intensity of radio waves.

16. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the information regarding the radio wave environment is the signal-to-noise ratio of radio waves.

Images