Method of setting wireless communication device

• US 8,849,198 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 138 East LCD Advancements Limited (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Shiohara, Susumu, Ishida, Hitoshi, Kiyono, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIEH, PING Y
• Application Number:
  US12/778,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20100225967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/453, 455/41.3, 455/41.2, 370/338, 370/328, 370/315
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1231 Device related settings, e.g. IP address, Name, Identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A relay station 200 constructs an infrastructure wireless network 200L. A printing device 100 requests new participation in the wireless network 200L. When preset conditions are satisfied, for example, when the user has pressed a push button 201 provided on the relay station 200, the relay station 200 establishes temporary wireless communication with the printing device 100 and changes an SSID of the printing device 100 to an SSID of the relay station 200. In this manner, this arrangement readily changes the configuration information of the printing device 100.

Claims

1. A communication device that makes wireless communication, the communication device comprising:

a configuration information storage module that stores configuration information;

a connection request module that transmits a request for a wireless connection to another communication device, the request including first configuration information stored in the configuration information storage module;

a connection module that establishes temporary wireless connection using the first configuration information with the another communication device that has received the request including the first configuration information when the first configuration information is stored in the configuration information storage module;

a configuration information acquisition module that acquires from the another communication device second configuration information stored in the another communication device via the established temporary wireless connection; and

an update module that updates the configuration information stored in the configuration information storage module from the first configuration information to the acquired second configuration information,

wherein the connection module changes state of wireless connection with the another communication device from the temporary wireless connection to second wireless connection using the second configuration information when the update module completes the update of the configuration information,

wherein the communication device further comprises a lighting control module that notifies a user of successful establishment of the temporary wireless connection by the connection module through light of a first color,

and wherein the lighting control module notifies a user of completion of updating the configuration information through light of a second color that is different from the first color.

2. The communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connection module establishes the temporary wireless connection when there is no other communication device that is capable of making wireless communication based on the configuration information stored in the configuration information storage module.

3. The communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connection module establishes the temporary wireless connection when the storage of the configuration information storage module is in an initial state.

4. The communication device in accordance with claim 1, the communication device further comprising:

an operation module that is manipulated by a user to give permission for the temporary wireless connection, wherein the connection module establishes the temporary wireless connection when the user manipulates the operation module.

5. A control method of a communication device that makes wireless communication, the control method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing configuration information used for establishment of wireless connection;

transmitting a request for a wireless connection to another communication device, the request including first configuration information;

(b) establishing temporary wireless connection with the another communication device that has received the request including the first configuration information when the first configuration information is stored;

(a2) acquiring from the another communication device second configuration information stored in the another communication device via the established temporary wireless connection;

updating the configuration information from the first configuration information to the acquired second configuration information;

changing state of wireless connection with the another communication device from the temporary wireless connection to second wireless connection using the second configuration information when the updating is completed;

notifying a user of successful establishment of the temporary wireless connection via the communication path through light of a first color; and

notifying a user of completion of updating the configuration information through light of a second color that is different from the first color.

6. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing instructions for causing a computer executing the instructions to perform a control method of a communication device that makes wireless communication, the instructions comprising:

a program code of storing configuration information used for establishment of wireless connection;

a program code of transmitting a request for a wireless connection to another communication device, the request including first configuration information;

a program code of establishing temporary wireless connection with the another communication device that has received the request including the first configuration information when the first configuration information is stored;

a program code of acquiring from the another communication device second configuration information stored in the another communication device via the established temporary wireless connection;

a program code of updating the configuration information from the first configuration information to the acquired second configuration information;

a program code of changing state of wireless connection with the another communication device from the temporary wireless connection to second wireless connection using the second configuration information when the updating is completed;

a program code of causing the communication device to notify a user of successful establishment of the temporary wireless connection via a communication path through light of a first color; and

a program code of causing the communication device to notify a user of completion of updating the configuration information through light of a second color that is different from the first color.

7. A communication device that makes wireless communication, the communication device comprising:

a configuration information storage module that stores configuration information;

a connection request module that transmits a request for a wireless connection to another communication device, the request including first configuration information stored in the configuration information storage module;

a connection module that establishes temporary wireless connection using the first configuration information with the another communication device that has received the request including the first configuration information when the first configuration information is stored in the configuration information storage module;

a configuration information acquisition module that acquires from the another communication device second configuration information stored in the another communication device via the established temporary wireless connection; and

a configuration change module that changes the configuration information to be used by the connection module from the first configuration information to the acquired second configuration information,

wherein the connection module changes state of wireless connection with the another communication device from the temporary wireless connection to second wireless connection using the second configuration information when the configuration change module completes the change of the configuration information to be used by the connection module,

wherein the communication device further comprises a notification module that notifies a user of successful establishment of the temporary wireless connection by the connection module,

and wherein the notification module notifies a user of successful setting connectable to the another communication device via the second wireless connection.

8. The communication device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the communication device is a printer.

9. A communication device that makes wireless communication, the communication device comprising:

a configuration information storage module that stores configuration information;

a connection request module that transmits a request for a wireless connection to another communication device, the request including first configuration information stored in the configuration information storage module;

a connection module that establishes temporary wireless connection using the first configuration information with the another communication device that has received the request including the first configuration information when the first configuration information is stored in the configuration information storage module;

a configuration information acquisition module that acquires from the another communication device second configuration information stored in the another communication device via the established temporary wireless connection; and

a configuration change module that changes the configuration information to be used by the connection module from the first configuration information to the acquired second configuration information,

wherein the connection module changes state of wireless connection with the another communication device from the temporary wireless connection to second wireless connection using the second configuration information when the configuration change module completes the change of the configuration information to be used by the connection module,

wherein the communication device further comprises a notification module that makes a first notification and a second notification to a user, the first notification indicating an establishment of the temporary wireless connection by the connection module, the second notification being executed after a successful setting connectable to the another communication device via the second wireless connection.

10. The communication device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the communication device is a printer.