Wireless Communication Settings with WPA3 Compatibility Fallback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication apparatuses face issues with setting compatibility when importing communication settings from devices supporting new wireless security standards, as legacy devices may not be able to utilize these settings without firmware updates.

Innovation Solution

A communication apparatus replaces authentication type parameters in the communication setting to ensure compatibility with devices that do not support the new standard, allowing seamless integration and use of the setting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If communication settings with new authentication standards are exported, then security and functionality are improved, but compatibility with legacy devices deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication setting usabilityVSAvoiddevice compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the authentication type parameter in the communication setting from the new standard (e.g., SAE 1827-25) to an older standard (e.g., WPA2-PSK) that legacy devices support. This parameter substitution allows the communication setting to be used across devices with different authentication capabilities while maintaining the export function's utility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If firmware is updated to support new standards, then device functionality is improved, but device complexity and update requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestandard support capabilityVSAvoidfirmware version requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of updating legacy devices to support new authentication standards, the patent inverts the approach by modifying the exported communication setting to use older authentication standards that legacy devices already support. This eliminates the need for firmware updates while achieving compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If authentication type parameter indicates new standard support, then security is improved, but usability in legacy devices deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless securityVSAvoidsetting importability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a modified copy of the communication setting where the authentication type parameter is changed from the new standard to an older standard. This copied setting can be imported and used by legacy devices without requiring them to support the newer authentication protocol.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS12432553B2Communication apparatus, control method of communication apparatus, and storage medium storing program

Publication Date: 2025.09.30 CANON KK

AI summary

If an authentication type parameter included in a communication setting stored in a storage unit indicates that the WPA and WPA2 standards and the WPA3 standard upward compatible therewith are supported, a communication apparatus replaces the authentication type parameter with an authentication type parameter indicating that the WPA3 standard is not supported and the WPA and WPA2 standards are supported, and outputs the communication apparatus including the replaced authentication type parameter.