COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, AND COMMUNICATION METHOD THEREFOR

• US 20110029680A1
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Goto, Fumihide
• Granted Patent: US 8,782,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

In a communication-parameter providing apparatus, a search is conducted at the start of a communication-parameter automatic setting process. Upon detection of a communication apparatus, the rate at which the communication-parameter providing apparatus sends a beacon per unit time is increased, whereby a communication-parameter receiving apparatus can easily detect the communication-parameter providing apparatus.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus, comprising:

a providing unit configured to provide a communication parameter to a communication-parameter receiving apparatus that receives a provided communication parameter for performing communication;

a search unit configured to perform a search process for detecting another communication apparatus; and

a change unit configured to change a parameter that controls sending of a broadcast signal, on the basis of a search result obtained by the search unit, in order to increase the number of broadcast signals sent by the communication apparatus per unit time.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when another communication apparatus that exists in a network where the communication apparatus exists is detected by performing the search process, the change unit changes the parameter so that the number of broadcast signals sent by the communication apparatus per unit time becomes greater than the number of broadcast signals sent by the another communication apparatus per unit time.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the change unit changes the parameter when the communication-parameter receiving apparatus is detected by performing the search process.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the communication-parameter receiving apparatus is detected and another communication apparatus that exists in a network where the communication apparatus exists is detected by performing the search process, the change unit changes the parameter so that the number of broadcast signals sent by the communication apparatus per unit time becomes greater than the number of broadcast signals sent by the another communication apparatus per unit time.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the change unit periodically changes the parameter after another communication apparatus is detected by performing the search process.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the change unit changes the parameter in accordance with the number of other communication apparatuses detected by performing the search process.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the change unit sets the parameter to a predetermined minimum value when another communication apparatus is detected by performing the search process.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the parameter changed by the change unit is a parameter for determining a probability of the communication apparatus sending a broadcast signal.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the parameter changed by the change unit is a parameter for determining a waiting time until sending a broadcast signal from the communication apparatus.

10. A communication method for a communication apparatus that has a function of providing a communication parameter to a communication-parameter receiving apparatus that receives a provided communication parameter for performing communication, the method comprising:

a search step of performing a search process for detecting another communication apparatus; and

a change step of changing a parameter that controls sending of a broadcast signal, on the basis of a search result obtained in the search step, in order to increase the number of broadcast signals sent by the communication apparatus per unit time.

11. A communication apparatus that has a function of providing a communication parameter to a communication-parameter receiving apparatus that receives a provided communication parameter for performing communication, the communication apparatus comprising:

a determining unit configured to determine start of a setting process of the communication parameter; and

a change unit configured to change, when the start of the setting process of the communication parameter is determined by the determining unit, a parameter that controls sending of a broadcast signal in order to increase the number of broadcast signals sent by the communication apparatus per unit time, wherein the change unit changes the parameter step by step.

12. The communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the change unit performs a first change process of changing the parameter when the start of the setting process of the communication parameter is determined by the determining unit, and a second change process of further changing the parameter upon detection of the communication-parameter receiving apparatus.

13. The communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the change unit performs a first change process of changing the parameter when the start of the setting process of the communication parameter is determined by the determining unit, and a second change process of further changing the parameter upon detection of another communication apparatus existing in a network where the communication apparatus exists.

14. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein, in the second change process performed by the change unit, the parameter is changed so that the number of broadcast signals sent by the communication apparatus per unit time is maximized.

15. The communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the change unit changes the parameter step by step until the communication-parameter receiving apparatus is detected.

16. The communication apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a receiving unit configured to receive a communication-parameter providing request from the communication-parameter receiving apparatus, wherein the change unit changes the parameter step by step until the receiving unit receives the communication-parameter providing request.

17. The communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the determining unit determines an operation entered by a user in order to give an instruction to start a communication-parameter setting process.

18. A communication method for a communication apparatus that has a function of providing a communication parameter to a communication-parameter receiving apparatus that receives a provided communication parameter for performing communication, the method comprising:

a determining step of determining start of a setting process of the communication parameter; and

a change step of changing, when the start of the setting process of the communication parameter is determined in the determining step, a parameter that controls sending of a broadcast signal in order to increase the number of broadcast signals sent by the communication apparatus per unit time, wherein the parameter is changed step by step in the change step.

19. A communication apparatus that has a function of providing a communication parameter to a communication-parameter receiving apparatus that receives a provided communication parameter for performing communication, the communication apparatus comprising:

a change unit configured to change a parameter that controls sending of a broadcast signal in order to increase the number of broadcast signals sent by the communication apparatus per unit time;

a determining unit configured to determine whether the communication-parameter receiving apparatus has detected the communication apparatus; and

a re-change unit configured to re-change the parameter to a value that existed before the change performed by the change unit when the determining unit determines that the communication-parameter receiving apparatus has detected the communication apparatus.

20. The communication apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the determining unit determines that the communication-parameter receiving apparatus has detected the communication apparatus when a request for providing the communication parameter is received from the communication-parameter receiving apparatus.

21. The communication apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the change unit changes the parameter so that the number of broadcast signals sent by the communication apparatus per unit time becomes greater than the number of broadcast signals sent by another communication apparatus per unit time.

22. The communication apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the change unit changes the parameter when another communication apparatus existing in a network where the communication apparatus exists is detected.

23. The communication apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the change unit changes the parameter when the communication-parameter receiving apparatus is detected.

24. The communication apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the change unit changes the parameter in response to start of a setting process of the communication parameter.

25. A communication method for a communication apparatus that has a function of providing a communication parameter to a communication-parameter receiving apparatus that receives a provided communication parameter for performing communication, the method comprising:

a change step of changing a parameter that controls sending of a broadcast signal in order to increase the number of broadcast signals sent by the communication apparatus per unit time;

a determining step of determining whether the communication-parameter receiving apparatus has detected the communication apparatus; and

a re-change step of re-changing the parameter to a value that existed before the change performed in the change step when it is determined in the determining step that the communication-parameter receiving apparatus has detected the communication apparatus.