Information processing apparatus and connection control method

• US 20060200563A1
• Filed: 04/13/2004
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hirose, Takatoshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,756,305 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1232 Transmitting printer device capabilities, e.g. upon request or periodically
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/128 Direct printing, e.g. sending document file, using memory stick, printing from a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1061 using node-based peer discovery mechanisms static access to replicated servers H04L67/1006; service discovery H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Identification information for identifying each network out of a plurality of wireless networks is received. A wireless network identified by arbitrary identification information is wirelessly connected. Whether a printer in the wirelessly connected wireless network has a function of connecting a digital camera and performing output processing is inquired of the printer. Connection to the printer is controlled in accordance with a response to the inquiry. The digital camera performs output processing together with the connected printer. An information output apparatus having a function of connecting an information storage terminal apparatus by simple operation and performing output processing can be wirelessly connected.

Claims

1. A connection control method for an information processing apparatus, comprising:

a step of receiving identification information for identifying each wireless network out of a plurality of wireless networks;

a step of wirelessly joining in a wireless network identified by the identification information;

a step of inquiring, of other information processing apparatuses in the wirelessly joined wireless network, whether the other information processing apparatuses have a function of performing predetermined processing; and

a step of joining in another wireless network identified by the other identification information in accordance with the response to the inquiry.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step of joining, when the response to the inquiry is a negative response or no response exists, another the information processing apparatus joins in the other wireless network.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step of inquiring, the inquiry is performed by a broadcast message for all information output terminals in a single network.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus wirelessly communicates according to a wireless LAN method defined by IEEE 802.11.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the information processing apparatus wirelessly communicates in a communication mode according to an infrastructure mode defined by IEEE 802.11.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the information processing apparatus wirelessly communicates in a communication mode according to an ad-hoc mode defined by IEEE 802.11.

11. A program for causing a computer to execute a method defined in claim 1.

12. A computer-readable recording medium which records a program defined in claim 11.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, a step of controlling connection to one of the other information processing apparatuses in accordance with a response to the inquiry.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein in the step of controlling, when the response to the inquiry is a positive response, one of the other information processing apparatuses which has positively responded is controlled to be connected.

2. (canceled)

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein one of the other information processing apparatuses which has first positively responded is controlled to be connected.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein when the predetermined processing together with the one of the other information processing apparatuses which has first positively responded error ends, another information processing apparatus which has positively responded is controlled to be connected.

10. An information processing apparatus comprising:

means for receiving identification information for identifying each wireless network out of a plurality of wireless networks;

means for wirelessly joining in a wireless network identified by the identification information;

means for inquiring, of other information processing apparatuses in the wirelessly joined wireless network, whether the other information processing apparatuses have a function of performing predetermined processing; and

means for joining in another wireless network identified by the other identification information in accordance with a response to the inquiry.