Wireless Interface Setup via Direct Connection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The convenience of wireless setup processing in communication apparatuses is degraded when the wireless LAN interface is disabled, leading to unintended network reconnections and increased battery consumption, especially in mobile devices, due to automatic reconnection features.

Innovation Solution

A communication apparatus with a detection unit to enable the wireless communication interface, an establishment unit to establish a connection with another device, and a transmission unit to transmit connection information for a different device, implementing restriction processing to prevent reconnection to unintended networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the wireless LAN interface is enabled to perform wireless setup processing, then the setup processing can be executed, but the apparatus may automatically reconnect to unintended networks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless setup processingVSAvoidnetwork connection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of the wireless interface state and preliminary establishment of direct wireless connection before enabling the wireless interface for normal operation. This preliminary action prevents automatic reconnection to unintended networks by ensuring the interface is properly configured beforehand.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses direct wireless connection as an intermediary channel to transmit network information from the information processing apparatus to the communication apparatus. This intermediary mechanism allows setup processing without requiring the wireless interface to be enabled for normal network operations, thus avoiding automatic reconnection to unintended networks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the wireless LAN interface is disabled to prevent automatic reconnection, then network security is improved, but wireless setup processing cannot be executed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork connection controlVSAvoidwireless setup processing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Direct wireless connection serves as an intermediary that enables setup processing without requiring the wireless LAN interface to be enabled for normal network operations. The interface remains disabled for security while still allowing necessary communication through the direct connection mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection and setup through direct connection before the wireless interface needs to be enabled. This preliminary action completes the necessary setup processing while the interface remains in a controlled disabled state, preventing automatic reconnection issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the wireless LAN interface is enabled for setup processing, then connection information can be transmitted, but battery consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless setup processingVSAvoidbattery consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Direct wireless connection acts as an energy-efficient intermediary for transmitting connection information during setup, avoiding the need to enable the power-consuming wireless LAN interface for normal network operations. This reduces battery consumption while still enabling necessary setup processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs only the necessary minimum action of enabling the wireless interface temporarily for setup processing through direct connection, rather than keeping it continuously enabled. This partial action reduces energy consumption while achieving the setup objective.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20240276346A1Communication apparatus, control method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium

Publication Date: 2024.08.15 CANON KK

AI summary

A communication apparatus detects a state of a wireless communication interface of the communication apparatus, enables the wireless communication interface by executing restriction processing of restricting establishment of connection via the wireless communication interface in a case where the communication apparatus detects a state in which the wireless communication interface is disabled, establishes wireless connection to a first another communication apparatus via the enabled wireless communication interface, and transmits, to the first other communication apparatus, via the wireless connection, connection information usable for connection to a second another communication apparatus different from the first other communication apparatus.