Communication device, control method therefor, and program

• US 9,838,952 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2015
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Goto, Fumihide
• Primary Examiner(s): Abelson, Ronald B
• Application Number:
  US14/975,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20160105842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 370338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Even when a plurality of communication parameter providing devices exist, a communication parameter setting process is enabled. When a plurality of communication parameter providing devices exist, one of the communication parameter providing devices is determined. For example, all the communication parameter providing devices are caused to stop the providing process. Alternatively, a user is allowed to select a communication parameter providing device. Alternatively, a communication parameter providing device is determined in accordance with a predetermined rule.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a determination unit configured to determine whether the communication device participates in a wireless network;

a first transmission unit configured to transmit a search signal having a setting function to a plurality of channels in a case where the communication device does not participate in the wireless network;

a second transmission unit configured to transmit, on a part of the plurality of channels and where the communication device belongs, the search signal in a case where the communication device participates in the wireless network; and

an execution unit configured to execute, with another communication device which has responded to the search signal, a setting process of a communication parameter.

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

a control unit configured to control the communication device to operate as a providing device that provides the communication parameter in a case where the determination unit has determined that the communication device participates in the wireless network.

3. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detection unit configured to detect a predetermined user operation,

wherein, in a case where the detection unit has detected the predetermined user operation, the determination unit determines whether the communication device participates in the wireless network.

4. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a decision unit configured to decide, based on a predetermined condition, whether the setting process of the communication parameter is to be executed, in a case where the determination unit has determined that the communication device does not participate in the wireless network.

5. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication parameter includes at least one of a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key.

6. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the execution unit executes the setting process of the communication parameter according to a procedure based on a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS).

7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the setting function indicates the setting process is in progress.

8. A method comprising:

determining whether a communication device participates in a wireless network;

transmitting a search signal having a setting function to a plurality of channels in a case where the communication device does not participate in the wireless network;

transmitting, to a part of the plurality of channels and where the communication device belongs, the search signal in a case where the communication device participates in the wireless network; and

executing, with another communication device which has responded to the search signal, a setting process of a communication parameter.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

providing the communication parameter in a case where the communication device participates in the wireless network.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

detecting a predetermined user operation,

wherein, in a case where the detecting has detected the predetermined user operation, the determining determines whether the communication device participates in the wireless network.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

deciding, based on a predetermined condition, whether the setting process of the communication parameter is to be executed, in a case where the determining has determined that the communication device does not participate in the wireless network.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the communication parameter includes at least one of a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the executing executes the setting process of the communication parameter according to a procedure based on a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS).

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the setting function indicates the setting process is in progress.

15. A computer readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program of instructions for causing a computer to perform a method comprising:

determining whether a communication device participates in a wireless network;

transmitting a search signal having a setting function to a plurality of channels in a case where the communication device does not participate in the wireless network;

transmitting, on a part of the plurality of channels and where the communication device belongs, the search signal in a case where the communication device participates in the wireless network; and

executing, with another communication device which has responded to the search signal, a setting process of a communication parameter.

16. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising:

detecting a predetermined user operation,

wherein, in a case where the detecting has detected the predetermined user operation, the determining determines whether the communication device participates in the wireless network.

17. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising:

providing the communication parameter in a case where the communication device participates in the wireless network.

18. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising:

deciding, based on a predetermined condition, whether the setting process of the communication parameter is to be executed, in a case where the determining has determined that the communication device does not participate in the wireless network.

19. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the communication parameter includes at least one of a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key.

20. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the executing executes the setting process of the communication parameter according to a procedure based on a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS).

21. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the setting function indicates the setting process is in progress.