Communication apparatus

• US 10,430,138 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2018
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Suga, Kenichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Diaby, Moustapha
• Application Number:
  US16/056,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20190050186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/36 by user or terminal equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/362 Conditional handover
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

In a case where the setting information does not include a frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band and does not include a frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band or in a case where the setting information includes the frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band and the frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band, the communication apparatus wirelessly connects with the external apparatus using the first frequency band with priority than the second frequency.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus that wirelessly communicates in a first frequency band and a second frequency band, the communication apparatus comprising:

at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor performs operations of;

a first receiving unit configured to receive setting information used in processing for wirelessly connecting with an external apparatus;

a connection unit configured to establish a first wireless connection between the external apparatus that operates as a parent station and the communication apparatus that operates as a child station using the first frequency band with priority over the second frequency band, in a case where the setting information does not include frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band and does not include frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band, and configured to establish a first wireless connection between the external apparatus that operates as a parent station and the communication apparatus that operates as a child station using the first frequency band with priority over the second frequency band, in a case where the setting information includes the frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band and does not include the frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band;

a control unit configured to perform control so as to enable an operation unit to accept, from a user, a predetermined operation for executing process to establish a second wireless connection between an apparatus that operates as the child station and the communication apparatus that operates as the parent station in a state that the first wireless connection using the second frequency band is not established, and configured to perform control so as to disable the operation unit to accept the predetermined operation from the user in a state that the first wireless connection using the second frequency band is established;

an execution unit configured to execute the process for establishing the second wireless connection based on which the operation unit receives the predetermined operation;

a second receiving unit configured to receive a print job via the first wireless connection with the external apparatus; and

a printing unit configured to perform printing on a recording medium using a recording agent based on the print job,

wherein a channel used in the first wireless connection using the second frequency band is changed from a first channel corresponding to the second frequency band to a second channel that is different from the first channel by Dynamic Frequency Selection or Transmit Power Control.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the setting information does not include the frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band and does not include the frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band and establishing the first wireless connection using the first frequency band has failed, the first wireless connection using the second frequency band is established.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the first wireless connection, the external apparatus determines a communication channel to be used in the first wireless connection, and the communication apparatus uses the communication channel determined by the external apparatus in the first wireless connection.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first wireless connection and the second wireless connection are maintained in parallel.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least one processor further performs operations of a first identification unit configured to identify the communication channel to be used in the first wireless connection as the communication channel to be used in the second wireless connection in a case where the second wireless connection is newly established in a state that the first wireless connection is established.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus receives the setting information from the external apparatus based on one of the following setting methods:

AirStation One-Touch Secure System, Rakuraku Musen Start, and Wi-Fi Protected Setup.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus receives the setting information from an apparatus other than the external apparatus.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting information includes at least one of connection information for the first wireless connection, information about an authentication method to be used in the first wireless connection, or information about an encryption method to be used in the first wireless connection.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band is information about a communication channel corresponding to the first frequency band and the frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band is information about a communication channel corresponding to the second frequency band.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the second frequency band is used with priority over the first frequency band to establish the first wireless connection in a case where the setting information includes the frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band and does not include the frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band.

11. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the communication apparatus executes establishing the first wireless connection with the external apparatus using the first frequency band with priority over the second frequency band by searching for the external apparatus using the first frequency band before searching for the external apparatus using the second frequency band, and

wherein in a case where the external apparatus is not found as a result of searching the external apparatus using the first frequency band, the communication apparatus searches for the external apparatus using the second frequency band.

12. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the recording agent is an ink.

13. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first frequency band is a 2.4 GHz frequency band, and

wherein the second frequency band is a 5 GHz frequency band.

14. A communication apparatus that wirelessly communicates in a first frequency band and a second frequency band, the communication apparatus comprising:

at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor performs operations of;

a first receiving unit configured to receive setting information used in processing for wirelessly connecting with an external apparatus;

a connection unit configured to establish a first wireless connection between the external apparatus that operates as a parent station and the communication apparatus that operates as a child station using the first frequency band with priority over the second frequency band, in a case where the setting information does not include frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band and does not include frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band, and configured to establish the first wireless connection between the external apparatus that operates as the parent station and the communication apparatus that operates as the child station using the first frequency band with priority over the second frequency band, in a case where the setting information includes the frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band and does not include the frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band;

an accepting unit configured to accept, from a user, a predetermined operation for executing process to establish a second wireless connection between an apparatus that operates as the child station and the communication apparatus that operates as the parent station;

a control unit configured to perform control so as to execute the process to establish the second wireless connection based on the operation unit accepting, from the user, the predetermined operation in a state that the first wireless connection using the second frequency band is not established, and configured to perform control so as to display a predetermined screen in a display unit and not to execute the process to establish the second wireless connection based on the operation unit accepting the predetermined operation from the user in a state that the first wireless connection using the second frequency band is established;

a second receiving unit configured to receive a print job via the first wireless connection with the external apparatus; and

a printing unit configured to perform printing on a recording medium using a recording agent based on the print job,

wherein a channel used in the first wireless connection using the second frequency band is changed from a first channel corresponding to the second frequency band to a second channel that is different from the first channel by Dynamic Frequency Selection or Transmit Power Control.

15. The communication apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein, in a case where the setting information does not include the frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band and does not include the frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band, and establishing the first wireless connection using the first frequency band has failed, the first wireless connection using the second frequency band is established.

16. The communication apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein, in the first wireless connection, the external apparatus determines a communication channel to be used in the first wireless connection, and the communication apparatus uses the communication channel determined by the external apparatus in the first wireless connection.

17. The communication apparatus according to claim 16,

wherein the first wireless connection and the second wireless connection are maintained in parallel.

18. The communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the at least one processor further performs operations of a first identification unit configured to identify the communication channel to be used in the first wireless connection as the communication channel to be used in the second wireless connection in a case where the second wireless connection is newly established in a state that the first wireless connection is established.

19. The communication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the communication apparatus receives the setting information from the external apparatus based on one of the following setting methods:

AirStation One-Touch Secure System, Rakuraku Musen Start, and Wi-Fi Protected Setup.

20. The communication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the communication apparatus receives the setting information from an apparatus other than the external apparatus.

21. The communication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the setting information includes at least one of connection information for the first wireless connection, information about an authentication method to be used in the first wireless connection, or information about an encryption method to be used in the first wireless connection.

22. The communication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band is information about a communication channel corresponding to the first frequency band and the frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band is information about a communication channel corresponding to the second frequency band.

23. The communication apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the second frequency band is used with priority over the first frequency band to establish the first wireless connection in a case where the setting information includes the frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band and does not include the frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band.

24. The communication apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the communication apparatus executes establishing the first wireless connection with the external apparatus using the first frequency band with priority over the second frequency band by searching for the external apparatus using the first frequency band before searching for the external apparatus using the second frequency band, and

wherein in a case where the external apparatus is not found as a result of searching the external apparatus using the first frequency band, the communication apparatus searches for the external apparatus using the second frequency band.

25. The communication apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the recording agent is an ink.

26. The communication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined screen is a screen to confirm with the user whether or not to disconnect the first wireless connection.

27. The communication apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the first frequency band is a 2.4 GHz frequency band, and

wherein the second frequency band is a 5 GHz frequency band.

28. A communication apparatus that wirelessly communicates in a first frequency band and a second frequency band, the communication apparatus comprising:

at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor performs operations of;

a first receiving unit configured to receive setting information used in processing for wirelessly connecting with an external apparatus;

a connection unit configured to establish a first wireless connection between the external apparatus that operates as a parent station and the communication apparatus that operates as a child station using the first frequency band with priority over the second frequency band, in a case where the setting information includes both frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band and frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band, and configured to establish the first wireless connection between the external apparatus that operates as the parent station and the communication apparatus that operates as the child station using the first frequency band with priority over the second frequency band, in a case where the setting information includes the frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band and does not include the frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band;

a control unit configured to perform control so as to enable an operation unit to accept, from a user, a predetermined operation for executing process to establish a second wireless connection between an apparatus that operates as the child station and the communication apparatus that operates as the parent station in a state that the first wireless connection using the second frequency band is not established, and configured to perform control so as to disable the operation unit to accept the predetermined operation from the user in a state that the first wireless connection using the second frequency band is established;

an execution unit configured to execute the process for establishing the second wireless connection based on which the operation unit receives the predetermined operation;

a second receiving unit configured to receive a print job via the first wireless connection with the external apparatus; and

a printing unit configured to perform printing on a recording medium using a recording agent based on the print job,

wherein a channel used in the first wireless connection using the second frequency band is changed from a first channel corresponding to the second frequency band to a second channel that is different from the first channel by Dynamic Frequency Selection or Transmit Power Control.

29. The communication apparatus according to claim 28,

wherein, in a case where the setting information does not include the frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band and does not include the frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band, and establishing the first wireless connection using the first frequency band has failed, the first wireless connection using the second frequency band is established.

30. The communication apparatus according to claim 28,

wherein, in the first wireless connection, the external apparatus determines a communication channel to be used in the first wireless connection, and the communication apparatus uses the communication channel determined by the external apparatus in the first wireless connection.

31. The communication apparatus according to claim 30,

wherein the first wireless connection and the second wireless connection are maintained in parallel.

32. The communication apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the at least one processor further performs operations of a first identification unit configured to identify the communication channel to be used in the first wireless connection as the communication channel to be used in the second wireless connection in a case where the second wireless connection is newly established in the state that the first wireless connection is established.

33. The communication apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the communication apparatus receives the setting information from the external apparatus based on one of the following setting methods:

AirStation One-Touch Secure System, Rakuraku Musen Start, and Wi-Fi Protected Setup.

34. The communication apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the communication apparatus receives the setting information from an apparatus other than the external apparatus.

35. The communication apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the setting information includes at least one of connection information for the first wireless connection, information about an authentication method to be used in the first wireless connection, or information about an encryption method to be used in the first wireless connection.

36. The communication apparatus according to claim 28, the frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band is information about a communication channel corresponding to the first frequency band and the frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band is information about a communication channel corresponding to the second frequency band.

37. The communication apparatus according to claim 28,

wherein the second frequency band is used with priority over the first frequency band to establish the first wireless connection in a case where the setting information includes the frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band and does not include the frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band.

38. The communication apparatus according to claim 28,

wherein the communication apparatus executes establishing the first wireless connection with the external apparatus using the first frequency band with priority over the second frequency band by searching for the external apparatus using the first frequency band before searching for the external apparatus using the second frequency band, and

wherein in a case where the external apparatus is not found as a result of searching the external apparatus using the first frequency band, the communication apparatus searches for the external apparatus using the second frequency band.

39. The communication apparatus according to claim 28,

wherein the recording agent is an ink.

40. The communication apparatus according to claim 28,

wherein the first frequency band is a 2.4 GHz frequency band, and

wherein the second frequency band is a 5 GHz frequency band.

41. A communication apparatus that wirelessly communicates in a first frequency band and a second frequency band, the communication apparatus comprising:

at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor performs operations of;

a first receiving unit configured to receive setting information used in processing for wirelessly connecting with an external apparatus;

a connection unit configured to establish a first wireless connection between the external apparatus that operates as a parent station and the communication apparatus that operates as a child station using the first frequency band with priority over the second frequency band, in a case where the setting information includes both frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band and frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band, and configured to establish the first wireless connection between the external apparatus that operates as the parent station and the communication apparatus that operates as the child station using the first frequency band with priority over the second frequency band, in a case where the setting information includes the frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band and does not include the frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band;

an accepting unit configured to accept, from a user, a predetermined operation for executing process to establish a second wireless connection between an apparatus that operates as the child station and the communication apparatus that operates as the parent station;

a control unit configured to perform control so as to execute the process to establish the second wireless connection based on the operation unit accepting, from the user, the predetermined operation in a state that the first wireless connection using the second frequency band is not established, and configured to perform control so as to display a predetermined screen in a display unit and not to execute the process to establish the second wireless connection based on the operation unit accepting the predetermined operation from the user in a state that the first wireless connection using the second frequency band is established;

a second receiving unit configured to receive a print job via the first wireless connection with the external apparatus; and

a printing unit configured to perform printing on a recording medium using a recording agent based on the print job,

wherein a channel used in the first wireless connection using the second frequency band is changed from a first channel corresponding to the second frequency band to a second channel that is different from the first channel by Dynamic Frequency Selection or Transmit Power Control.

42. The communication apparatus according to claim 41,

wherein, in a case where the setting information does not include the frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band and does not include the frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band, and establishing the first wireless connection using the first frequency band has failed, the first wireless connection using the second frequency band is established.

43. The communication apparatus according to claim 41,

wherein, in the first wireless connection, the external apparatus determines a communication channel to be used in the first wireless connection, and the communication apparatus uses the communication channel determined by the external apparatus in the first wireless connection.

44. The communication apparatus according to claim 43,

wherein the first wireless connection and the second wireless connection are maintained in parallel.

45. The communication apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the at least one processor further performs operations of a first identification unit configured to identify the communication channel to be used in the first wireless connection as the communication channel to be used in the second wireless connection in a case where the second wireless connection is newly established in the state that the first wireless connection is established.

46. The communication apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the communication apparatus receives the setting information from the external apparatus based on one of the following setting methods:

AirStation One-Touch Secure System, Rakuraku Musen Start, and Wi-Fi Protected Setup.

47. The communication apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the communication apparatus receives the setting information from an apparatus other than the external apparatus.

48. The communication apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the setting information includes at least one of connection information for the first wireless connection, information about an authentication method to be used in the first wireless connection, or information about an encryption method to be used in the first wireless connection.

49. The communication apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band is information about a communication channel corresponding to the first frequency band and the frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band is information about a communication channel corresponding to the second frequency band.

50. The communication apparatus according to claim 41,

wherein the second frequency band is used with priority over the first frequency band to establish the first wireless connection in a case where the setting information includes the frequency band information corresponding to the second frequency band and does not include the frequency band information corresponding to the first frequency band.

51. The communication apparatus according to claim 41,

wherein the communication apparatus executes establishing the first wireless connection with the external apparatus using the first frequency band with priority over the second frequency band by searching for the external apparatus using the first frequency band before searching for the external apparatus using the second frequency band, and

wherein in a case where the external apparatus is not found as a result of searching for the external apparatus using the first frequency band, the communication apparatus searches for the external apparatus using the second frequency band.

52. The communication apparatus according to claim 41,

wherein the recording agent is an ink.

53. The communication apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the predetermined screen is a screen to confirm with the user whether or not to disconnect the first wireless connection.

54. The communication apparatus according to claim 41,

wherein the first frequency band is a 2.4 GHz frequency band, and

wherein the second frequency band is a 5 GHz frequency band.