JP2006217197A - Radio communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radio communication system which enables an imaging apparatus and a printer having only a poor user interface to be easily added to a radio network. <P>SOLUTION: A DSC for easily setting wireless LAN parameters to equipment with a poor UI such as a DSC with a direct printing function and a printer has a MAC address storage device and a function of calculating radio parameters by designated algorithm on the basis of a MAC address. Software packed together with the DSC has a function of calculating the radio parameters by inputting the MAC address from a PC and reporting the radio parameters to the printer connected by wire or wirelessly. The printer has a means of storing the reported parameters. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera that supports a printing method in which a captured image is directly transferred to a printing apparatus via a wireless communication without using a PC and printed, and in particular, includes a PC and a printing apparatus. The present invention relates to a registration method for adding an imaging device to an existing wireless network.

  In order to connect devices using wireless communication, it is necessary to specify a communication partner or make settings for grouping communicable devices. Conventionally, as the setting method, a method of setting individually using an input unit of a communication device has been common.

As another conventional example, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 can be cited.
JP 2003-110543 A JP 2003-143156 A

  However, in the conventional method, in a device that is inconvenient as a means for inputting parameters necessary for communication, such as a printing apparatus or an imaging apparatus, the user has to perform a complicated procedure. It was very time consuming.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problem, a wireless communication apparatus including an imaging apparatus having wireless communication means and imaging means, a printing apparatus having wireless communication means and printing means, and an information processing apparatus having communication means. In the communication system, the imaging apparatus includes means for automatically generating and storing parameters necessary for connection by wireless communication, and the information processing apparatus generates means for generating the same parameters as the imaging apparatus. It has a means for transferring the parameter to the printing apparatus using a communication means, and the printing means has a means for storing the parameter notified from the information processing apparatus as a parameter for wireless communication. It is possible to easily add an imaging apparatus or a printing apparatus having only a user interface to a wireless network.

  In the second claim, the printing apparatus has means for storing at least one parameter, and the notified parameter can be used as a parameter when performing direct wireless communication with the imaging apparatus. In other words, assuming an 802.11 standard wireless LAN system, even if the printing device and the information processing device are configured in an infrastructure mode using an access point, the imaging device and the printing device are connected to the 802.11 standard. Are stored in the printing apparatus as parameters when connecting in the ad hoc mode in the wireless LAN system, and communication in the ad hoc mode is enabled.

  In the third claim, the printing apparatus uses the notified parameter as a parameter when performing communication by the wireless communication network including the information processing apparatus, so that the wireless LAN system of the 802.11 standard already uses the infrastructure. Even when the network in the mode is constructed, the imaging device can be added to the existing network by using the newly generated parameters.

  In the fourth claim, the information processing apparatus temporarily stores the existing parameter that has been communicating by the wireless communication network including the printing apparatus and the information processing apparatus, and the parameter generated in the same manner as the imaging apparatus. Means for notifying a device constituting a network as a general communication parameter, and after constructing the network based on the temporary communication parameter, the imaging device is used as a parameter for performing communication via the wireless communication network using the parameter temporarily stored through the network. By including the means for notifying the network configuration device including the image capturing apparatus, it is possible to add the imaging apparatus to the network while leaving the parameters of the existing infrastructure mode.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in a wireless communication system comprising an imaging apparatus having wireless communication means and imaging means, a printing apparatus having wireless communication means and printing means, and an information processing apparatus having communication means. The imaging apparatus has means for automatically generating and storing parameters necessary for connection by wireless communication, and the information processing apparatus generates means for generating the same parameters as the imaging apparatus, The communication means has a means for transferring to the printing apparatus, and the printing means has a means for storing the parameter notified from the information processing apparatus as a parameter for wireless communication. It is possible to easily add an imaging device or a printing device that does not have to a wireless network.

  Further, according to the present invention, even when the information processing apparatus and the printing apparatus have already established a network in the infrastructure mode, the printing apparatus and the imaging apparatus can communicate with each other in the ad hoc mode, and have already been established in the infrastructure mode. It is possible to add an imaging device to a network that has already been established in the infrastructure mode without changing the parameters that have already been set.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.

  Reference numeral 101 denotes an imaging apparatus having wireless communication means. A printing apparatus 102 has wireless communication means and has a function of printing an image captured by the imaging apparatus. Reference numeral 103 denotes an information processing apparatus, for example, that generates the same value as the connection parameter stored in the imaging apparatus by installing a program storage medium that stores a parameter generation program that is included when the imaging apparatus 101 is sold. And can be transferred to a printing apparatus. A wireless access point 104 has a function of relaying when a wireless network system is constructed. A wired communication cable 106 that connects the information processing apparatus 103 and the printing apparatus 102 has a function of transferring wireless communication parameters generated by the information processing apparatus to the printing apparatus.

  The configuration of the imaging apparatus 101 in the present embodiment will be described using the functional block diagram shown in FIG.

  The imaging device 101 includes at least a wireless communication unit 201, an imaging device control unit 202, a user interface unit 203, an imaging unit 204, an imaging data storage unit 205, a connection parameter storage unit 206, and a device unique number storage unit 207. It has a functional block.

  The wireless communication unit 201 has a function of performing wireless communication with surrounding terminals using a wireless communication method.

  The imaging device control unit 202 has a function of performing operation control of the entire imaging device 101 and generating parameters necessary for communication.

  The user interface unit 203 has a function of transmitting an input from the user to the imaging apparatus control unit 202 and a function of outputting a message to the user transmitted from the imaging apparatus control unit 202.

  The imaging unit 204 has a function of performing an imaging process, which is a main function of the imaging apparatus 101.

  The imaging data storage unit 205 has a function of storing image data captured by the imaging unit 204, and specifically includes a memory card, a video tape, and the like.

  The connection parameter storage unit 206 has a function of storing parameters necessary for connection generated by the imaging device control unit.

  The device unique number storage unit 207 stores a number unique to the imaging apparatus, and specifically corresponds to a wireless LAN MAC address or the like.

  Next, the configuration of the printer 102 in this embodiment will be described with reference to the functional block diagram shown in FIG.

  The printing apparatus 102 includes at least a wireless communication unit 301, a printing apparatus control unit 302, a print processing unit 303, and a connection parameter storage unit 304. There may also be a wired communication unit 305.

  The wireless communication unit 301 has a function of performing wireless communication with surrounding terminals using a wireless communication method.

  The printer control unit 302 has a function of controlling the operation of the entire printing apparatus.

  The print processing unit 303 performs a process of printing based on the received print data, and has a function of notifying the printer control unit of failure information when a failure occurs during printing.

  The connection parameter storage unit 304 has a function of storing parameters necessary for connection notified from the information processing apparatus.

  The wired communication unit 305 has a function of transmitting and receiving data to and from the information processing apparatus, and operates when receiving parameters necessary for communication before wireless communication is possible.

  Next, an actual procedure will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the following description, the imaging device is packaged with a CD-ROM or the like containing a program (setting utility) for an information processing device (hereinafter referred to as a PC) such as a personal computer that sets the same parameters for the connection partner. It is assumed that the parameter is calculated by inputting the device unique number of the imaging apparatus to the utility.

  Further, the description will be made assuming that the wireless LAN device conforms to the IEEE802.11b standard as a communication means.

  FIG. 4 is a flow showing operations up to communication parameter setting in the present application.

  This will be described according to the following flow.

  The operation on the imaging device side is as follows.

When the imaging device is turned on (S401), the imaging device control unit reads the MAC address stored in the device unique number storage device (S402), and based on this, the connection parameters in the wireless LAN are predetermined. This is calculated and determined by the algorithm (S403). Here, the ESSID, WEP key, and channel used in ad hoc mode are determined as connection parameters. The determined parameter is stored in the connection parameter storage unit. (S404)
The setting operation to the printer is as follows.

  A CD-ROM is bundled with the imaging device, and setting utility software for determining wireless LAN parameters from the MAC address is stored using the same algorithm as the imaging device. The user installs setting utility software (S405), and inputs the MAC address of the imaging apparatus from the activated PC (S406). By the operation of the setting utility software, the connection parameters of the channel used in the ESSID, WEP key, and ad hoc mode are determined in the same manner as the operation of the imaging device (S407). The PC that has calculated the parameters checks the network connection environment and determines whether the PC and the printer are already in an environment where a wireless LAN network has been established and there is a printer having a wireless communication function (S408). . If the wireless LAN network including the printer has already been established, the connection parameter is notified to the printer in the network environment (S410). If there is no existing wireless LAN network, it is determined whether a printer is connected to the PC by wired communication means (S409). If not connected, the user is notified using a display function or the like to connect to the printer (S412). If the printer is connected by wired communication means, the connection parameters are notified to the printer through the wired communication means (S411).

  The printer stores the notified parameter as a parameter when connecting to the imaging apparatus in the ad hoc mode (S413), and communicates using the parameter when the ad hoc mode is designated.

  By operating as described above, direct wireless communication is performed between the imaging apparatus and the printing apparatus, and parameters for data transfer can be easily set.

  In the first embodiment, the communication parameter is determined by inputting the MAC address to the PC. However, the communication parameter has a function of displaying the parameter determined by the imaging device on the display unit of the imaging device, By displaying on the display unit of the imaging apparatus by operation, the same effect can be obtained even if the user displays the displayed parameter directly to the PC on which the utility software is activated.

  In the first embodiment, the parameter setting method used for direct connection between the image pickup apparatus using the wireless LAN ad hoc mode and the printer has been described. A method for actually connecting the image pickup apparatus and printer in the ad hoc mode is described below. Will be described as a second embodiment with reference to FIG.

  At this time, it is assumed that the printer side has storage means for storing parameters necessary for connection in both the ad hoc mode and the infrastructure mode. Further, it is assumed that there is means for switching between the ad hoc mode and the infrastructure mode.

  When the imaging apparatus is turned on (S501), the control unit reads the ad hoc mode connection parameters stored in the connection parameter storage unit (S502) and notifies the wireless communication unit (S503). The wireless communication unit prepares for communication using a wireless method using the notified wireless channel, ESSID, and encryption key (S504). On the printer side, when the power is turned on or during normal operation (S521), and it is assumed that the printer is operating in the infrastructure mode (S522), an operation for switching to the ad hoc mode is performed by the mode switching unit in the printer (S523). The control unit that has determined the switching instruction notifies the wireless communication unit of the connection parameters for the ad hoc mode stored in the connection parameter storage unit (S524), and operates the control unit to perform the operation in the ad hoc mode. (S525). The wireless communication unit prepares for communication using a wireless method using the notified wireless channel, ESSID, and encryption key (S526).

  Thus, the printer and the imaging device are grouped. When printing on the printer is desired on the imaging device side, an image to be printed is selected (S505). Thereafter, a print destination selection button provided in the user interface is pressed (S506). The imaging apparatus starts searching for printable devices in the same ESSID group (S507). When the search is completed (S508), devices having the same ESSID and a printing function are displayed (S509). In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, as described above, since the ESSID is created based on the device unique number of the imaging device, only one printer should be displayed (S509). After confirming, the output OK key is pressed (S511). With this operation, the imaging apparatus transmits the selected image to the printer (S512). When the printer receives the image file (S527), printing is started (S528). In S509, when multiple printers are registered in the same ESSID, etc. and there are multiple printers in the same group, the device unique number of the printer is displayed for the number of printers in S509 and the output device is specified. In step S510, the output destination may be selected and output.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the set parameters have been described as being used as parameters in the ad hoc mode. However, as parameters for network construction in the infrastructure mode using an existing wireless LAN network. Can also be used. The operation at that time will be described as a third embodiment with reference to FIG. 4 described in the first embodiment.

  The operation on the imaging device side is the same as that in the first embodiment, but the parameters to be generated are ESSID and encryption key, and the frequency to be used does not need to be generated because it depends on the access point. . The generated parameter is stored in the parameter storage unit as in the first embodiment, but is stored as an infrastructure mode parameter.

  As an operation on the PC or printer side, the operation in S410 of FIG. 4 not only notifies the generated connection parameters to the printer, but also notifies the devices in the wireless network group to which it belongs. The device that has received the wireless LAN parameter stores the received parameter in the connection parameter storage unit as a new infrastructure mode parameter. Thereafter, the parameter is operated and operated as a parameter in the infrastructure mode.

  In the third embodiment, the newly created parameter is used as a new parameter for the entire network. However, the newly created parameter can be used to temporarily add an imaging device to an existing network. It is. The operation at that time will be described as a fourth embodiment with reference to FIG.

  As operations on the imaging apparatus side, operations up to S604 are the same as those in the first embodiment described in FIG. That is, a communication parameter is determined from a MAC address by a predetermined algorithm, and an operation is performed based on the setting of the parameter.

  The operation on the PC side also determines the wireless parameters in the same way up to S613, but when determining whether there is an existing wireless LAN network in S614, if there is no existing network, it is not possible to construct a network in infrastructure mode Will be notified. If an existing network exists, the PC once stores the parameters used in the existing network in the storage unit of the PC (S615). Thereafter, the PC notifies the generated connection parameters to the printer and also notifies the devices in the wireless network group to which the PC belongs (S616). The device that has received the wireless LAN parameter starts to operate in the infrastructure mode by temporarily using the received parameter as an infrastructure mode parameter (S617). When the imaging device starts operating with the generated parameters, it searches for an access point with the same ESSID (S605), so when an existing network access point starts operating with the generated parameters, the access point And the imaging apparatus can communicate in the infrastructure mode. When communication is possible, the imaging apparatus issues a request to the PC on the network to notify the existing parameters stored in the PC storage unit (S606). When there is a request for notification of an existing network parameter from the imaging device (S618), the PC side notifies the imaging device of the parameter of the existing network through the network formed using the generated parameter (S619). When the imaging device receives an existing network parameter (S607), the notified imaging device stores the existing parameter instead of the connection parameter generated from the MAC address, and operates in the infrastructure mode using the existing parameter. The control unit controls as described above. When the above processing is completed, the PC notifies the devices constituting the network of the existing parameters and instructs to switch to the connection using the existing parameters (S620). Through the above operation, the communication parameter generated from the MAC address can be used as a temporary parameter for adding to the existing network operating in the infrastructure mode, and the imaging apparatus and the network can be formed.

An example of the proposed embodiment Functional block diagram of the imaging device Functional block diagram of the printer Flow of the first embodiment Flow of the second embodiment Flow of the fourth embodiment

Explanation of symbols

101 Imaging device
102 Printing device
201 Wireless communication unit
202 Imaging device controller
203 User interface
204 Imaging unit
205 Image data storage
206 Connection parameter storage
207 Device unique number storage
301 Wireless communication unit
302 Printer control unit
303 Print processing section
304 Connection parameter storage

Claims (4)

  In a wireless communication system comprising an imaging device having wireless communication means and imaging means, a printing device having wireless communication means and printing means, and an information processing device having communication means, the imaging device is connected by wireless communication Means for automatically generating and storing parameters necessary for the information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus generating means for generating the same parameters as the imaging apparatus, and transferring the generated parameters to the printing apparatus using communication means. A wireless communication system, characterized in that the printing means has means for storing a parameter notified from the information processing apparatus as a wireless communication parameter.   2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus has means for storing at least one parameter, and uses the notified parameter as a parameter when performing direct wireless communication with the imaging apparatus. Wireless communication system.   The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus uses the notified parameter as a parameter for performing communication through a wireless communication network including the information processing apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus temporarily stores existing parameters that have been communicated by the wireless communication network including the printing apparatus and the information processing apparatus, and the parameters generated in the same manner as the imaging apparatus. A means for notifying a device constituting a network as a temporary communication parameter, and after the network is constructed with the temporary communication parameter, the existing temporarily stored parameter is imaged as a parameter for performing communication through the wireless communication network through the network. A wireless communication system comprising means for notifying network configuration equipment including a device.

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