Wireless communication apparatus and control method therefor

• US 8,804,683 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Shimura, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): MEW, KEVIN D
• Application Number:
  US13/787,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20130201871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 370328-329, 370331-333, 370/338, 370/341, 370/437, 370442-444, 370461-462, 370/465, 455436-444
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

When a wireless communication network is built in an ad hoc mode, it is possible to appropriately build the wireless communication network regardless of start timings of wireless communication functions of image capturing apparatuses. In order to achieve the object, there is provided the image capturing apparatus which is capable of building a wireless communication network by wirelessly connecting to another image capturing apparatus in an ad hoc mode, and which is capable of switching between a function as a creator and a function as a joiner, including a start unit configured to start as the creator, a unit configured to execute a scan process, and a unit configured to determine based on a result of the scan process whether to function as the creator and to function as the joiner, and to control the image capturing apparatus in accordance with the determination result.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a control unit configured to control the wireless communication apparatus so as to operate as a constructing apparatus for constructing a wireless communication network and the wireless communication apparatus so as to operate as a joining apparatus for joining a constructed wireless communication network;

a first receiving unit configured to wirelessly receive first information, wherein the first information is used to determine that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the joining apparatus;

a second receiving unit configured to wirelessly receive second information, wherein the second information is used to determine that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the constructing apparatus or as the joining apparatus; and

a determining unit configured to determine whether the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the constructing apparatus or the joining apparatus based on the second information,

wherein the control unit controls the wireless communication apparatus so as to operate as the joining apparatus in a case that the first receiving unit receives the first information and that the wireless communication apparatus connects to a communication partner apparatus which transmitted the first information, and controls the wireless communication apparatus so as to operate as the constructing apparatus or as the joining apparatus in accordance with the determination of the determining unit in a case that the first receiving unit does not receive the first information and the second receiving unit receives the second information, and

wherein at least one of the control unit, the first receiving unit, the second receiving unit and the determining unit is implemented by a processor.

2. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a constructing unit configured to construct a wireless communication network with a communication partner apparatus based on the operation controlled by the control unit.

3. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit determines whether the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the constructing apparatus or the joining apparatus based on comparing the second information with a third information which has been set in the wireless communication apparatus, wherein the second information is information associated with a communication partner apparatus which transmitted the second information.

4. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the determining unit compares the second information with the third information, and in a case that the second information is larger than the third information, the determining unit determines that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the joining apparatus, and in a case that the third information is larger than the second information, the determining unit determines that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the constructing apparatus.

5. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case that the wireless communication apparatus operates as the constructing apparatus, a network identifier for a wireless communication network to be constructed is set, and in a case that the wireless communication apparatus operates as the joining apparatus, the wireless communication apparatus joins a wireless communication network which is identified by a network identifier set by the communication partner apparatus.

6. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a response unit configured to respond to a search request from a second communication partner apparatus with information which is used to determine that the second communication partner apparatus should operate as the joining apparatus in a case that the determining unit determines that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the constructing apparatus.

7. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a processing unit configured to execute a process for causing a third communication partner apparatus to join a first wireless communication network after the wireless communication apparatus constructs the first wireless communication network with the communication partner apparatus, or a process for joining a second wireless communication network which is constructed by the third communication partner apparatus.

10. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first information is information for inputting to a Vender Specific Information Element of a response signal to a search signal which is transmitted for searching the another apparatus.

11. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first receiving unit receives the first information included in a response signal to a search signal transmitted for searching another apparatus.

12. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit configured to, if the control unit controls operation as the joining apparatus, set the first information received by the first receiving unit to the wireless communication apparatus.

13. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the first receiving unit receives the first information from the communication partner apparatus, the control unit controls operation as the joining apparatus without the determination by the determining unit.

14. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first receiving unit receives the first information and the second receiving unit receives the second information by a communication conformed to IEEE 802.11 standard.

15. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the control unit controls operation as the constructing apparatus, BSSID of a wireless communication network to be constructed is set to the wireless communication apparatus.

34. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the determining unit compares the second information with the third information, and in a case that the second information is larger than the third information, the determining unit determines that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the joining apparatus, and in a case that the third information is larger than the second information, the determining unit determines that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the constructing apparatus.

36. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a response unit configured to respond to a search request from a second communication partner apparatus with information which is used to determine that the second communication partner apparatus should operate as the joining apparatus in a case that the determining unit determines that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the constructing apparatus.

40. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit configured to, if the wireless communication apparatus operates as the joining apparatus, set the first information received by the first receiving unit to the wireless communication apparatus.

8. A control method for a wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a controlling step for controlling the wireless communication apparatus so as to operate as a constructing apparatus for constructing a wireless communication network and the wireless communication apparatus so as to operate as a joining for joining a constructed wireless communication network;

a first receiving step for receiving wirelessly first information, wherein the first information is used to determine that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the joining apparatus;

a second receiving step for receiving wirelessly second information, wherein the second information is used to determine that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the constructing apparatus or as the joining apparatus; and

a determining step for determining whether the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the constructing apparatus or the joining apparatus based on the second information,

wherein the wireless communication apparatus is controlled so as to operate as the joining apparatus in a case the first information is received in the first receiving step and that the wireless communication apparatus connects to a communication partner apparatus which transmitted the first information, and the wireless communication apparatus is controlled so as to operate as the constructing apparatus or as the joining apparatus in accordance with the determination in a case that the first information is not received in the first receiving step and the second information is received in the second receiving step.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with a computer readable control program which, when executed by a processor, will cause a computer to execute the control method according to claim 8.

16. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a control unit configured to control the wireless communication apparatus so as to operate as a group owner for creating a wireless communication network and the wireless communication apparatus so as to operate as a client for joining a created wireless communication network;

a first receiving unit configured to wirelessly receive first information, wherein the first information indicates that the group owner exists;

a second receiving unit configured to wirelessly receive second information, wherein the second information is used to determine that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the group owner or as the client; and

a determining unit configured to determine whether the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the group owner or the client based on the second information,

wherein the control unit controls the wireless communication apparatus so as to operate as the client in a case that the first receiving unit receives the first information and that the wireless communication apparatus connect to a communication partner apparatus which transmitted the first information, and controls the wireless communication apparatus so as to operate as the group owner or as the client in accordance with the determination of the determining unit in a case that the first receiving unit does not receive the first information and the second receiving unit receives the second information, and

wherein at least one of the control unit, the first receiving unit, the second receiving unit and the determining unit is implemented by a processor.

17. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a creating unit configured to create a wireless communication network with a communication partner apparatus based on the operation controlled by the control unit.

18. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the determining unit determines whether the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the group owner or the client based on comparing the second information with a third information which has been set in the wireless communication apparatus, wherein the second information in information associated with a communication partner apparatus which transmitted the second information.

19. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the determining unit compares the second information with the third information, and in a case that the second information is larger than the third information, the determining unit determines that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the client, and in a case that the third information is larger than the second information, the determining unit determines that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the group owner.

20. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein in case that the wireless communication apparatus operates as the group owner, a network identifier for a wireless communication network to be created is set, and in a case that the wireless communication apparatus operates as the client, the wireless communication apparatus joins a wireless communication network which is identified by a network identifier set by the communication partner apparatus.

21. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a response unit configured to respond to a search request from a second second communication partner apparatus with information which is used to determine that the second communication partner apparatus should operate as the client in a case that the determining unit determines that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the group owner.

22. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a processing unit configured to execute a process for causing a third communication partner apparatus to join a first wireless communication network after the wireless communication apparatus constructs the first wireless communication network with the communication partner apparatus, or a process for joining a second wireless communication network which is constructed by the third communication partner apparatus.

23. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the first information is information for inputting to a Vender Specific Information Element of a response signal to a search signal which is transmitted for searching the another apparatus.

24. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the first receiving unit receives the first information included in a response signal to a search signal transmitted for searching another apparatus.

25. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a setting unit configured to, if control unit controls operation as the client, set the first information received by the first receiving unit to the wireless communication apparatus.

26. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein if the first receiving unit receives the first information from the communication partner apparatus, the control unit controls operation as the client without the determination by the determining unit.

27. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the first receiving unit receives the first information and the second receiving unit receives the second information by a communication conformed to IEEE 802.11 standard.

28. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein if the control unit controls operation as the group owner, BSSID of a wireless communication network to be created is set in the wireless communication apparatus.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with a computer readable control program which, when executed by a processor, will cause a computer to execute the control method according to claim 16.

29. A control method for a wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a controlling step for controlling the wireless communication apparatus so as to operate as a group owner for create a wireless communication network and the wireless communication apparatus so as to operate as a client for joining a created wireless communication network;

a first receiving step for receiving wirelessly first information, wherein the first information indicates that the group owner exists;

a second receiving step for receiving wirelessly second information, wherein the second information is used to determine that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the group owner or as the client; and

a determining step for determining whether the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the group owner or the client based on the second information,

wherein the wireless communication apparatus is controlled so as to operate as the client in a case the first information is received in the first receiving step and that the wireless communication apparatus connects to a communication partner apparatus which transmitted the first information, and the wireless communication apparatus is controlled so as to operate as the group owner or as the client in accordance with the determination in a case that the first information is not received in the first receiving step and the second information is received in the second receiving step.

31. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a first receiving unit configured to wirelessly receive first information, wherein the first information is used to determine that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as a joining apparatus;

a second receiving unit configured to wirelessly receive second information wherein the second information is used to determine that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as a constructing apparatus or as the joining apparatus; and

a determining unit configured to determine that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the joining apparatus in a case that the first receiving unit receives the first information and in a case that the wireless communication apparatus connects to a communication partner apparatus which transmitted the first information, and determine that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the constructing apparatus or as the joining apparatus in accordance with the second information in a case that the first receiving unit does not receive the first information and the second receiving unit receives the second information, wherein at least one of the first receiving unit, the second receiving unit and the determining unit is implemented by a processor.

32. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising:

a constructing unit configured to construct a wireless communication network with a communication partner apparatus based on an operation as the constructing apparatus or an operation as the joining apparatus.

33. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the determining unit determines whether the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the constructing apparatus or the joining apparatus based on comparing the second information with a third information which has been set in the wireless communication apparatus, wherein the second information is information associated with a communication partner apparatus which transmitted the second information.

35. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 31, wherein in a case that the wireless communication apparatus operates as the constructing apparatus, a network identifier for a wireless communication network to be constructed is set, and in a case that the wireless communication apparatus operates as the joining apparatus, the wireless communication apparatus joins a wireless communication network which is identified by a network identifier set by the communication partner apparatus.

37. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising:

a processing unit configured to execute a process for causing a third communication partner apparatus to join a first wireless communication network after the wireless communication apparatus constructs the first wireless communication network with the communication partner apparatus, or a process for joining a second wireless communication network which is constructed by the third communication partner apparatus.

38. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the first information is information for inputting to a Vender Specific Information Element of a response signal to a search signal which is transmitted for searching another apparatus.

39. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the first information and the second information is included in a response signal to a search signal transmitted for searching another apparatus.

41. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 31, wherein if the first receiving unit receives the first information from the communication partner apparatus, the wireless communication apparatus operates as the joining apparatus without the determination based on the second information.

42. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the first receiving unit receives the first information and the second receiving unit receives the second information by a communication conformed to IEEE 802.11 standard.

43. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 31, wherein if the wireless communication apparatus operates as the constructing apparatus, BSSID of a wireless communication network to be constructed is set to the wireless communication apparatus.

44. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a first receiving step for receiving wirelessly first information, wherein the first information is used to determine that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as a joining apparatus;

a second receiving unit for receiving wirelessly second information wherein the second information is used to determine that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as a constructing apparatus or as the joining apparatus; and

a determining step for determining that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the joining apparatus in a case that the first receiving unit receives the first information and in a case that the wireless communication apparatus connects to a communication partner apparatus which transmitted the first information, and determine that the wireless communication apparatus should operate as the constructing apparatus or as the joining apparatus in accordance with the second information in a case that the first receiving unit does not receive the first information and the second receiving unit receives the second information, wherein at least one of the first receiving unit, the second receiving unit and the determining unit is implemented by a processor.

45. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with a computer readable control program which, when executed by a processor, will cause a computer to execute the control method according to claim 44.