Information processing apparatus and wireless communication method

• US 9,026,103 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tokumaru, Akiko, Komada, Yasuo, Ogura, Keigo, Unno, Kouichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): GENACK, MATTHEW W
• Application Number:
  US11/679,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20070201084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,989 Days
• Field of Search: 455/420
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00103 specially adapted for radio transmission, e.g. via satellites H04N1/00098 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00315 with a radio transmission apparatus with a cordless telephone H04N1/00305; systems or arrangements for the transmission of a picture signal specially adapted for transmission via radio H04N1/00103; H04N1/00307 takes precedence; radio transmission systems H04B7/00; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00342 with a radio frequency tag transmitter or receiver storage of additional information in an RFID tag attached to an image bearing paper sheet H04N1/32138
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00925 Inhibiting an operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32512 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes a first communication unit configured to communicate with a first communication apparatus; a second communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with each of one or more second wireless communication apparatuses; an acquisition unit configured to acquire from the first communication apparatus via the first communication unit an apparatus ID that is held by the first communication apparatus and that is used for identifying one of the one or more second wireless communication apparatuses to or from which the second communication unit transmits or receives data; and a control unit configured to control the second communication unit to transmit or receive the data to or from the one of the one or more second wireless communication apparatuses that is identified by the apparatus ID acquired by the acquisition unit.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a first communication unit configured to communicate with a first communication apparatus, wherein, in response to the first communication unit transmitting an information processing apparatus identification (ID) of the information processing apparatus to the first communication apparatus in response to a user bringing the first communication apparatus in proximity of information processing apparatus, the first communication unit receives a first user ID, as a valid first user ID, configured to allow the information processing apparatus to be operable;

a second communication unit that is different from the first communication unit and is configured to wirelessly communicate with a second wireless communication apparatus, wherein, in response the first communication unit receiving the valid first user ID allowing the information processing apparatus to be operable, the second communication unit automatically wirelessly receives plural second wireless communication apparatus IDs from second wireless communication apparatuses, of a plurality of second wireless communication apparatuses, that are located within a range in which the information processing apparatus can perform wireless communications; and

a control unit configured to control the first communication unit and the second communication unit,

wherein, in response the first communication unit receiving the valid first user ID allowing the information processing apparatus to be operable and the second communication unit receiving plural second wireless communication apparatus IDs, the control unit controls the first communication unit to transmit the plural second wireless communication apparatus IDs to the first communication apparatus, and

wherein, in response to the first communication unit transmitting the plural second wireless communication apparatus IDs to the first communication apparatus, the information processing apparatus receives registration information having a second user ID and is configured to be used by the information processing apparatus to login a second wireless communication apparatus that was registered in the first communication apparatus prior to the first communication unit transmitting the information processing apparatus ID to the first communication apparatus,

whereby, when the user of the first communication apparatus performs an operation of only bringing the first communication apparatus close to the image processing apparatus, logging into the image processing apparatus and identification of the registered second wireless communication apparatus from among a plurality of second wireless communication apparatuses is achieved such that the control unit is configured to control the second communication unit to wirelessly transmit or receive job data with the registered second communication apparatus.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an authentication unit configured to perform user authentication in accordance with the first user ID, wherein, in response to the first communication unit receiving the first user ID from the first communication apparatus, the authentication unit uses the first user ID to complete the user authentication and, after the authentication unit completes the user authentication, the control unit controls the second communication unit to automatically wirelessly receives plural second wireless communication apparatus IDs from second wireless communication apparatuses.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein, in response to the first communication unit receiving the first user ID from the first communication apparatus, the first communication unit acquires, from the first communication apparatus, the second user ID,

wherein the second user ID allows one second wireless communication apparatus of a plurality of second wireless communication apparatuses registered in the first communication apparatus to be operable, and

wherein the control unit transfers the second user ID to the one second wireless communication apparatus that corresponds to a wireless communication apparatus ID received from the first communication apparatus and, when the one second wireless communication apparatus has completed user authentication using the second user ID, the control unit controls the second communication unit to wirelessly transmit or receive job data with the one second wireless communication apparatus.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface unit configured to inform a user of the information processing apparatus of information and to receive an operation input entered by the information processing apparatus user,

wherein, in a case where the information processing apparatus uses the plural second wireless communication apparatus IDs to determine that a plurality of second wireless communication apparatuses have been registered in the first communication apparatus, the control unit causes a list of the plurality of registered second wireless communication apparatuses to be displayed on the user interface unit, and

wherein the control unit performs control so as to start transmission or reception of the job data to or from a registered second communication apparatus that is selected, in accordance with a user instruction, from the list of the plurality of registered second wireless communication apparatuses displayed on the user interface unit.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface unit configured to inform a user of the information processing apparatus of information and to receive an operation input entered by the information processing apparatus user,

wherein, in a case where the information processing apparatus uses the plural second wireless communication apparatus IDs to determine that no second wireless communication apparatus corresponding to the acquired plural second wireless communication apparatus IDs has been registered in the first communication apparatus, the control unit causes a screen to be displayed on the user interface unit to enable the information processing apparatus user to input a new user ID configured to allow a particular second wireless communication apparatus that is to communicate with the information processing apparatus to be operable, and

wherein the control unit controls the second communication unit to start transmission or reception of the job data to or from the particular second wireless communication apparatus that corresponds to the new user ID input via the user interface unit.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit uses an acquired second wireless communication apparatus ID and the first communication unit to determine that a second wireless communication apparatus of the plurality of second wireless communication apparatuses has been registered in the first communication apparatus by transmitting the acquired second wireless communication apparatus ID from the first communication unit to the first communication apparatus and receiving, in response to the transmission and from the first communication apparatus, an identification of a registered second wireless communication apparatus.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein, in response determining that image data is not stored in the registered second communication apparatus, a user of both the information processing apparatus and the first communication apparatus is prevented from requesting receipt of image data by the information processing apparatus from the registered second communication apparatus and the second communication unit wirelessly transmits image data to the registered second communication apparatus, and

wherein, in response determining that image data is stored in the registered second communication apparatus, the user of both the information processing apparatus and the first communication apparatus is permitted to request transmission of image data from the second communication unit to the registered second communication apparatus and the second communication unit wirelessly receives image data from the registered second communication apparatus.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first communication unit is configured to continually emit radio waves that are weaker than radio waves emitted by the second communication unit.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to control to display a list of second wireless communication apparatuses capable of communication via the second communication unit and, without a user selecting a desired second wireless communication apparatus from a displayed list of second wireless communication apparatuses, the control unit controls the second communication unit to wirelessly transmit or receive job data with the registered second communication apparatus automatically.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second user ID is different from the first user ID and is a password.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is a multifunction peripheral (MFP) that is provided with a copy function, a printer function, a fax function, and a scanner function.

6. A method for wireless communication for use in an information processing apparatus having a first communication unit configured to communicate with a first communication apparatus and a second communication unit that is different from the first communication unit and is configured to wirelessly communicate with a second wireless communication apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving, in response to the first communication unit transmitting an information processing apparatus identification (ID) of the information processing apparatus to the first communication apparatus in response to a user bringing the first communication apparatus in proximity of information processing apparatus, a first user ID, as a valid first user ID, configured to allow the information processing apparatus to be operable;

automatically wirelessly receiving, in response the first communication unit receiving the valid first user ID allowing the information processing apparatus to be operable, plural second wireless communication apparatus IDs from second wireless communication apparatuses, of a plurality of second wireless communication apparatuses, that are located within a range in which the information processing apparatus can perform wireless communications; and

controlling the first communication unit and the second communication unit,

wherein, in response the first communication unit receiving the valid first user ID allowing the information processing apparatus to be operable and the second communication unit receiving plural second wireless communication apparatus IDs, controlling includes controlling the first communication unit to transmit the plural second wireless communication apparatus IDs to the first communication apparatus, and

wherein, in response to the first communication unit transmitting the plural second wireless communication apparatus IDs to the first communication apparatus, the information processing apparatus receives registration information having a second user ID and is configured to be used by the information processing apparatus to login a second wireless communication apparatus that was registered in the first communication apparatus prior to the first communication unit transmitting the information processing apparatus ID to the first communication apparatus,

whereby, when the user of the first communication apparatus performs an operation of only bringing the first communication apparatus close to the image processing apparatus, logging into the image processing apparatus and identification of the registered second wireless communication apparatus from among a plurality of second wireless communication apparatuses is achieved such that controlling includes controlling the second communication unit to wirelessly transmit or receive job data with the registered second communication apparatus.

7. A non-transitory storage medium storing a program for causing an information processing apparatus to perform a method, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a first communication unit configured to communicate with a first communication apparatus and a second communication unit that is different from the first communication unit and is configured to wirelessly communicate with a second wireless communication apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving, in response to the first communication unit transmitting an information processing apparatus identification (ID) of the information processing apparatus to the first communication apparatus in response to a user bringing the first communication apparatus in proximity of information processing apparatus, a first user ID, as a valid first user ID, configured to allow the information processing apparatus to be operable;

automatically wirelessly receiving, in response the first communication unit receiving the valid first user ID allowing the information processing apparatus to be operable, plural second wireless communication apparatus IDs from second wireless communication apparatuses, of a plurality of second wireless communication apparatuses, that are located within a range in which the information processing apparatus can perform wireless communications; and

controlling the first communication unit and the second communication unit,

wherein, in response the first communication unit receiving the valid first user ID allowing the information processing apparatus to be operable and the second communication unit receiving plural second wireless communication apparatus IDs, controlling includes controlling the first communication unit to transmit the plural second wireless communication apparatus IDs to the first communication apparatus, and

wherein, in response to the first communication unit transmitting the plural second wireless communication apparatus IDs to the first communication apparatus, the information processing apparatus receives registration information having a second user ID and is configured to be used by the information processing apparatus to login a second wireless communication apparatus that was registered in the first communication apparatus prior to the first communication unit transmitting the information processing apparatus ID to the first communication apparatus,

whereby, when the user of the first communication apparatus performs an operation of only bringing the first communication apparatus close to the image processing apparatus, logging into the image processing apparatus and identification of the registered second wireless communication apparatus from among a plurality of second wireless communication apparatuses is achieved such that controlling includes controlling the second communication unit to wirelessly transmit or receive job data with the registered second communication apparatus.