WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD

• US 20110143789A1
• Filed: 12/14/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Mitsuhiro, Nakahara, Masanori, Fujii, Ken'ichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,250,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/500
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1212 achieving reduced delay between job submission and print start
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

This invention has as its object to set a one-to-one relationship upon establishing a wireless communication channel between a wireless communication device on the information transmitting side and a wireless communication device that receives and processes the information even in an environment including a plurality of wireless communication devices, and to assure simple user'"'"'s operations at least until the communication channel is established. To this end, when the user inputs a wireless communication channel establishment instruction to both a digital camera and printer having wireless communication functions, these devices execute wireless communication establishment processes within an allowable time period which is specified by a time set in a timer and a retry count. When the devices can seize each other within that time period, the communication channel is established. After that, the digital camera sends a sensed image to the printer, which prints the sensed image.

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A wireless communication device comprising:

a wireless communication unit for communicating wirelessly;

a determination unit adapted to determine whether or not an instruction to start a process of setting a communication parameter is made;

a parameter communication unit adapted to, if another wireless communication device is detected within a predetermined time period elapsed from when said determination unit determines that the instruction to start the process of setting the communication parameter is made, communicate the communication parameter with the other wireless communication device using the wireless communication unit;

a disconnection unit adapted to, if said parameter communication unit communicates the communication parameter with the other communication device, disconnect the communication with the other communication device; and

a setting unit adapted to set, into said wireless communication unit, the communication parameter communicated with the other wireless communication device by said parameter communication unit.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein said parameter communication unit performs the process of the parameter communication in accordance with a number of wireless communication devices detected within predetermined time period.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein said parameter communication unit performs the process of the parameter communication if only one wireless communication device is detected within predetermined time period.

22. The device according to claim 20, wherein, if a plurality of wireless communication devices are detected within predetermined time period, the process of setting the communication parameter by said parameter communication unit is terminated as a failure.

23. The device according to claim 20, wherein, if no wireless communication device is detected within predetermined time period, the process of setting the communication parameter by said parameter communication unit is terminated as a failure.

24. The device according to claim 19, wherein, when said disconnection unit disconnects with the other wireless communication device, the wireless communication device re-connects with the wireless communication using the communication parameter communicated by said parameter communication unit.

25. The device according to claim 19, further comprising a searching unit adapted to perform a search process for searching another wireless communication at which an instruction to start a process of setting a communication parameter have been made, if said determination unit determines that the instruction to start the process of setting the communication parameter is made.

26. The device according to claim 25, wherein said searching unit transmits a search signal for searching for another wireless communication device and, by receiving a response signal from the other wireless communication device responding to the search signal, detects the other wireless communication device at which an instruction to start a process of setting a communication parameter have been made.

27. The device according to claim 19, wherein said searching unit searches for another wireless communication device by detecting a search signal transmitted from the other wireless communication device at which an instruction to start a process of setting a communication parameter have been made.

28. The device according to claim 19, wherein the wireless communication device can communicate wirelessly in a first communication mode or a second communication mode,

wherein said parameter communication unit communicates, using the first communication mode, the communication parameter to be used in the second communication mode.

29. The device according to claim 28, wherein the wireless communication device starts the communication in the second mode using the communication parameter communicated by said parameter communication unit after said disconnection unit disconnects the communication with the other wireless communication device.

30. The device according to claim 19, wherein the communication parameter includes at least one of information related to a frequency channel, a service set ID or an encryption.

31. The device according to claim 19, wherein the communication parameter is an a parameter for a wireless communication which is made via an access point.

32. A wireless communication device comprising:

a determination unit adapted to determine whether or not an instruction to start a process of setting a communication parameter is made;

a parameter communication unit adapted to, if another wireless communication device is detected within a predetermined time period elapsed from when said determination unit determines that the instruction to start the process of setting the communication parameter is made, communicate the communication parameter with the other wireless communication device; and

a disconnection unit adapted to, if said parameter communication unit communicates the communication parameter with the other communication device, disconnect the communication with the other communication device,

wherein, if a plurality of wireless communication devices are detected within predetermined time period, the process of setting the communication parameter by said parameter communication unit is terminated as a failure.

33. A method of controlling a wireless communication device having a wireless communication unit for communicating wirelessly, comprising:

a determination step of determining whether or not an instruction to start a process of setting a communication parameter is made;

a parameter communication step of, if another wireless communication device is detected within a predetermined time period elapsed from when it is determined in said determination step that the instruction to start the process of setting the communication parameter is made, communicating the communication parameter with the other wireless communication device using the wireless communication unit;

a disconnection step of, if the communication parameter with the other communication device is communicated in said parameter communication step, disconnecting the communication with the other communication device; and

a setting step of setting, into the wireless communication unit, the communication parameter communicated with the other wireless communication device in said parameter communication step.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein in said parameter communication step, the process of the parameter communication is performed in accordance with a number of wireless communication devices detected within predetermined time period.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein, in said parameter communication step, the process of the parameter communication is performed if only one wireless communication device is detected within predetermined time period.

36. The method according to claim 34, wherein, if a plurality of wireless communication devices are detected within predetermined time period, the process of setting the communication parameter in said parameter communication step is terminated as a failure.

37. The method according to claim 34, wherein, if no wireless communication device is detected within predetermined time period, the process of setting the communication parameter in said parameter communication step is terminated as a failure.

38. The method according to claim 33, wherein, when the communication with the other wireless communication device is disconnected in said disconnection step, the wireless communication device re-connects with the wireless communication using the communication parameter communicated in said parameter communication step.

39. The method according to claim 33, further comprising a searching step of performing a search process for searching another wireless communication at which an instruction to start a process of setting a communication parameter have been made, if it is determined in said determination step that that the instruction to start the process of setting the communication parameter is made.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein in said searching step, a search signal for searching for another wireless communication device is transmitted and, by receiving a response signal from the other wireless communication device responding to the search signal, the other wireless communication device, at which an instruction to start a process of setting a communication parameter have been made, is detected.

41. The method according to claim 39, wherein in said searching step, another wireless communication device is searched by detecting a search signal transmitted from the other wireless communication device at which an instruction to start a process of setting a communication parameter have been made.

42. The method according to claim 33, wherein the wireless communication device can communicate wirelessly in a first communication mode or a second communication mode,

wherein, in said parameter communication step, the communication parameter to be used in the second communication mode is communicated using the first communication mode.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein the wireless communication device starts the communication in the second mode using the communication parameter communicated in said parameter communication step after the communication with the other wireless communication device is disconnected in said disconnection step.

44. The method according to claim 33, wherein the communication parameter includes at least one of information related to a frequency channel, a service set ID or an encryption.

45. The method according to claim 33, wherein the communication parameter is an a parameter for a wireless communication which is made via an access point.

47. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that causes a computer executing the program to perform the method of controlling a wireless communication device according to claim 33.

46. A method of controlling a wireless communication device comprising:

a determination step of determining whether or not an instruction to start a process of setting a communication parameter is made;

a parameter communication step of, if another wireless communication device is detected within a predetermined time period elapsed from when it is determined in said determination step that the instruction to start the process of setting the communication parameter is made, communicating the communication parameter with the other wireless communication device; and

a disconnection step of, if in said parameter communication step the communication parameter is communicated with the other communication device, disconnecting the communication with the other communication device,

wherein, if a plurality of wireless communication devices are detected within predetermined time period, the process of setting the communication parameter in said parameter communication step is terminated as a failure.