Wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication system, and control method thereof

• US 7,643,851 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Matsui, Akira, Otsuka, Mitsuru
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US11/549,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20070100972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/557, 455/560, 455/500, 455/502, 455418-420, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/507, 455509-510, 455512-513, 358 113- 116, 358/1.18, 358/1.9
• US Class Current: 455/560
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0044 Connecting to a plurality of different apparatus; Using a plurality of different connectors connection via a network H04N2201/0039
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

During wireless data communication with a digital camera, when a setting operation of communication parameters is designated by a communication setting button, the data communication with the camera is suspended, and the network is switched to a network for setting communication parameters for another camera. With this network, a setting operation of communication parameters for another camera is performed. Thereafter, the network for setting communication parameters is switched to the network for data communication with the original camera.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a designation unit configured to designate a setting operation of communication parameters;

a first switching unit configured to, in a case where the setting operation is designated by said designation unit during wireless data communication between said wireless communication apparatus and a first wireless communication apparatus, suspend the data communication between said wireless communication apparatus and the first wireless communication apparatus and switch a network for setting of communication parameters for a second wireless communication apparatus other than the first wireless communication apparatus;

a communication parameter setting unit configured to set communication parameters for the second wireless communication apparatus via the network established by said first switching unit; and

a second switching unit configured to switch a network for data communication between said wireless communication apparatus and the first wireless communication apparatus after the setting operation of communication parameters is completed for the second wireless communication apparatus.

2. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communication unit configured to, after the network is switched by said second switching unit and a job for the first wireless communication apparatus is completed, execute wireless data communication between said wireless communication apparatus and the second wireless communication apparatus based on the communication parameters set by said communication parameter setting unit.

3. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said communication unit performs communication by switching communication parameters to the communication parameters set by said communication parameter setting unit in accordance with a user'"'"'s operation.

4. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said communication unit performs communication by automatically switching communication parameters to the communication parameters set by said communication parameter setting unit in response to the completion of the job for the first wireless communication apparatus.

5. A wireless communication system comprising:

a designation unit configured to, during wireless data communication between a first and second wireless communication apparatuses, designate a setting operation of communication parameters for a third wireless communication apparatus;

a first switching unit configured to, in a case where the setting operation is designated by said designation unit, suspend the data communication between the first and second wireless communication apparatuses and switch a network for setting communication parameters to communicate between the third wireless communication apparatus and one of the first and second wireless communication apparatuses;

a communication parameter setting unit adapted to perform communication parameter setting in the network established by said first switching unit; and

a second switching unit configured to switch a network for data communication between the first and second wireless communication apparatuses after the setting operation of communication parameters is completed for the third wireless communication apparatus.

6. The wireless communication system according to claim 5, further comprising a communication unit configured to, after the network is switched by said second switching unit and a job between the first and second wireless communication apparatuses is completed, execute wireless data communication between the third wireless communication apparatus and one of the first and second wireless communication apparatus based on the communication parameters set by said communication parameter setting unit.

7. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a designation unit configured to designate a setting operation of communication parameters;

a first switching unit configured to, in a case where the setting operation is designated by said designation unit during wireless data communication between said wireless communication apparatus and a first wireless communication apparatus, suspend the data communication between the wireless communication apparatus and the first wireless communication apparatus and switch a network for setting communication parameters for a second wireless communication apparatus;

a communication parameter setting unit configured to set communication parameters for the second wireless communication apparatus via the network established by said first switching unit; and

a continuation unit configured to continue data processing based on data communication between said wireless communication apparatus and the first wireless communication apparatus even after the network is switched by said first switching unit.

8. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a second switching unit configured to switch a network for data communication between said wireless communication apparatus and the first wireless communication apparatus after the setting operation of communication parameters is completed for the second wireless communication apparatus.

9. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said continuation unit continues output processing of data received from the first wireless communication apparatus,

further comprising a notification unit configured to notify the first wireless communication apparatus of the output processing result through the network switched by said second switching unit.

10. A control method of a wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a designation step of designating a setting operation of communication parameters;

a first switching step of, in a case where the setting operation is designated in said designation step during wireless data communication between said wireless communication apparatus and a first wireless communication apparatus, suspending the data communication between said wireless communication apparatus and the first wireless communication apparatus and switching a network for setting communication parameters for a second wireless communication apparatus;

a communication parameter setting step of setting communication parameters for the second wireless communication apparatus via the network established in said first switching step; and

a second switching step of switching a network for data communication between said wireless communication apparatus and the first wireless communication apparatus, after the setting operation of communication parameters is completed for the second wireless communication apparatus.

11. A control method of a wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a designation step of designating a setting operation of communication parameters;

a first switching step of, in a case where the setting operation is designated in said designation step during wireless data communication between said wireless communication apparatus and a first wireless communication apparatus, suspending the data communication between the wireless communication apparatus and the first wireless communication apparatus and switching a network for setting communication parameters for a second wireless communication apparatus;

a communication parameter setting step of setting performing communication parameters for the second wireless communication apparatus via the network established in said first switching step; and

a continuation step of continuing data processing based on data communication between said wireless communication apparatus and the first wireless communication apparatus even after the network is switched in said first switching step.