Wireless LAN setting system in an image forming apparatus, and a wireless LAN setting method

• US 7,920,534 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2007
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakayama, Fumiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Phunkulh; Bob A
• Application Number:
  US11/867,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20090092106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00214 details of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A wireless LAN setting system mounted on an image forming apparatus that performs network connection through a wireless LAN and used for performing wireless communication with plural terminals, the wireless LAN setting system including a mode for checking, before setting is performed, existing setting contents (setting items and setting states) presently set. Guide indications are attached to respective setting screens. With the wireless LAN setting system, proper determination is performed and setting operation is correctly performed even if a user (an administrator) does not have professional knowledge.

Claims

1. A wireless LAN setting system mounted on an image forming apparatus that performs network connection through a wireless LAN and used for performing wireless communication with plural terminals, the wireless LAN system comprising:

an existing setting check mode for checking, prior to performing wireless LAN setting, contents already set in the image forming apparatus;

a network type selection mode for selecting a network used for the wireless communication;

an SSID setting mode for establishing a predetermined protocol between the image forming apparatus and the plural terminals in the wireless communication;

a security mode for applying encoding to information to be communicated and performing wireless communication using a selected encryption system; and

a display unit configured to switch and display a setting screen according to selection of the respective modes, wherein

the existing setting check mode, the network type selection mode, the SSID setting mode, and the security mode are established by a program including information on the setting screen used for setting operation and stored in a storing unit provided in the image forming apparatus, and

the setting screen used for setting operation is attached with a guide indication representing operation necessary for setting.

2. A wireless LAN setting system according to claim 1, wherein, in the setting screen used for setting operation, buttons unnecessary to be operated on screens of the respective modes are dimly displayed to invalidate selection of the buttons.

3. A wireless LAN setting system according to claim 1, wherein, in the existing setting check mode, the network type selection mode, the SSID setting mode, and the security mode, presence or absence of setting is selected to skip setting operation in the other modes.

4. A wireless LAN setting system according to claim 1, wherein, in the existing setting check mode, setting states of use or nonuse of wireless LAN communication, use or nonuse of network type security, a type of information encryption, transmission power, and a transmission rate are presented.

5. A wireless LAN setting system according to claim 1, wherein the security mode is formed by six function modes, i.e., WPA, WPA2, WPAPSK, WPAPSK2, (IEEE)802.1X, and WEP and at least one of the function modes is selected.

6. A wireless LAN setting system according to claim 1, wherein, in the SSID setting mode, a table for registering plural SSIDs is provided and an SSID in the table is selected, whereby the SSID is set.

7. An image forming apparatus mounted with the wireless LAN setting system according to claim 1, comprising:

an image forming unit configured to form an image, a character, and the like on a recording medium;

a communication input and output unit configured to be connected to a network including a telephone line and an optical cable line;

a storing unit configured to store image data, various kinds of setting information, a program for recording operation and control, and a program used for setting operation in the wireless LAN setting system;

an input unit configured to input setting registration and indication by a user;

a control unit configured to indicate control of components of the entire apparatus and setting of the wireless LAN; and

a transmitting and receiving unit for performing wireless communication and optical communication, wherein

the image forming apparatus performs wireless LAN communication between the transmitting and receiving unit and plural terminals via a wireless access point.

8. A wireless LAN setting method with which an image forming apparatus, which performs network connection through a wireless LAN, performs wireless communication with plural terminals, the wireless LAN setting method comprising:

switching to display a setting screen in setting of the wireless LAN;

checking, prior to performing wireless LAN setting, contents already set in the image forming apparatus;

setting a network type selection mode for selecting a network used for the wireless communication;

setting an SSID setting mode for establishing a predetermined protocol between the image forming apparatus and the plural terminals in the wireless communication;

setting a security mode for applying encoding to information to be communicated and performing wireless communication using a selected encryption system; and

setting operation for the check of existing setting, the selection of a network type, the setting of an SSID, and the setting of security is performed in accordance with a program including information on the setting screen stored in a storing unit provided in the image forming apparatus, wherein operation necessary for setting is performed in accordance with a guide indication displayed on the setting screen.

9. A wireless LAN setting method according to claim 8, wherein, in the setting, a button unnecessary to be operated is dimply displayed in the guide indication displayed on the setting screen.

10. A wireless LAN setting method according to claim 8, wherein, in the check of existing setting, the selection of a network type, the setting of an SSID, and the setting of security, setting operation for the other modes is skipped by selecting presence or absence of setting.

11. A wireless LAN setting method according to claim 8, wherein, setting states of the check of existing setting, use or nonuse of the wireless LAN communication, a network type, an SSID, use or nonuse of security, a type of information encryption, transmission power, and a transmission rate are displayed on the setting screen.

12. A wireless LAN setting method according to claim 8, wherein, in the setting of security, at least one function mode is selected out of six function modes, i.e., WPA, WPA2, WPAPSK, WPAPSK2, (IEEE)802.1X, and WEP and set.

13. A wireless LAN setting system according to claim 8, wherein, in the setting of an SSID, at least one SSID is selected from a table for registering plural SSIDs and set.