JP2014238790A - Communication system, information communication terminal, and information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To determine service providing equipment corresponding to desired equipment settings, before an information communication terminal connects to a network including the service providing equipment.SOLUTION: A communication system includes: equipment search means 103 which transmits an equipment search request signal for searching for an image forming apparatus 200 located in a service area of wireless communication; service search means 104 which transmits a service search request signal for searching for a service to be provided by the image forming apparatus 200; equipment search response means 203 which transmits an equipment search response signal in response to the equipment search request signal; service search response means 204 which transmits a service search response signal in response to the service search request signal; and search result determination means 105 which determines whether the image forming apparatus 200 corresponds to desired equipment settings, on the basis of the equipment search response signal and the service search response signal.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system, an information communication terminal, and an information processing apparatus.

  TCP / IP (Transmission) between information communication terminals such as personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “PCs”) and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistance) and peripheral devices such as printers, scanners, and digital still cameras connected via a network. Information communication can be performed by establishing a connection using a Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) protocol. In recent years, wireless LANs have become widespread, and information communication terminals such as PCs and PDAs, and peripheral devices such as printers, scanners, and digital still cameras can be connected to a network via the wireless LAN to perform information communication. is there.

  SLP (Service Location Protocol) and Jini are techniques for searching for peripheral devices existing on the network and service contents provided by the peripheral devices from information communication terminals such as PCs and PDAs, and for automatically setting necessary devices. Etc. are known. In SLP and Jini, devices that centrally manage service information called Directory Agent and Lookup Table are defined. Each device registers service information in the centralized management device, and the service search side makes an inquiry to the centralized management device by one-to-one communication by unicast (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, in order to perform a service search using the above-described protocol, it is necessary to first perform a service search after an information communication terminal using the service establishes a connection to a network in which devices such as printers that provide the service participate. There is.

  In other words, in the case of the infrastructure mode of wireless LAN communication, a procedure such as setting an information communication terminal using an SSID set in an access point connected to a device providing a service, encryption setting such as WEP or WPA, etc. After establishing the network connection, the information communication terminal needs to execute a service search. Even in the ad hoc mode of wireless LAN communication, the information communication terminal needs to execute a service search after establishing a network connection after performing a connection procedure.

  Thus, for example, when the information communication terminal causes the image forming apparatus to execute print processing via the wireless LAN, the user must wait until the information communication terminal establishes a wireless connection to the network in which the image forming apparatus participates. There is a problem that it is impossible to know whether or not a desired printing process can be executed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides a service providing device corresponding to a desired device setting before establishing connection of an information communication terminal to a network in which the service providing device participates. An object of the present invention is to provide a communication system, an information communication terminal, and an information processing apparatus that are determined.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a communication system before establishing a network connection between a first device and a second device by wireless communication, and the communication of the wireless communication A device search means for transmitting a device search request signal for searching for the second device existing in the range, and the second device searched for existing in the communication range of the wireless communication, Service search means for transmitting a service search request signal for searching for a service that can be provided by the second apparatus, device search response means for transmitting a device search response signal in response to the device search request signal, and the service Service search response means for transmitting a service search response signal in response to a search request signal, and the second device is desired based on the device search response signal and the service search response signal Characterized in that it comprises a determining search result determination means whether or not the true instrument settings.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that a service providing device corresponding to a desired device setting is determined before establishing connection of an information communication terminal to a network in which the service providing device participates.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration using the communication system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the information communication terminal and the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the information communication terminal. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 5 is a layer structure diagram showing the software configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram in a connection establishment stage between the information communication terminal and the two image forming apparatuses. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of service information included in the service search response signal. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the search result determination method based on the device search response signal and the service search response signal. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen display when the search result determination method is performed.

  Exemplary embodiments of a communication system, an information communication terminal, and an information processing apparatus will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Communications system)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration using the communication system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system according to the present embodiment is used in a network including at least an information communication terminal 100 as a first apparatus and an image forming apparatus 200 as a second apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system according to the present embodiment is a communication system using a direct network connection (so-called P2P connection) using a wireless LAN. For example, Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark) is known as an example of P2P connection by wireless LAN.

  An information communication terminal 100 as a first device is, for example, a PC or a PDA, and includes a wireless LAN HW (“HW” is an abbreviation of hardware, the same applies hereinafter) 101 that performs direct network connection by wireless communication. The image forming apparatus 200 as the second apparatus is an image forming apparatus 200 such as an MFP including a printer, a scanner, and a FAX function in the printer, and includes a wireless LAN HW 201 that performs direct network connection by wireless communication.

  Note that the device including the wireless LAN HW 301 that performs direct network connection by wireless communication is not limited to the information communication terminal 100 and the image forming apparatus 200, and other information such as a TV monitor, a speaker, a home theater system, a PC, or a camera, for example. The processing device 300 may be included in the network configuration. In that case, the other information processing apparatus 300 is included as one of the second apparatuses.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the information communication terminal and the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, an example in which the image forming apparatus 200 is used as the second apparatus will be described. However, the second apparatus is a TV monitor, a speaker, a home theater system, a PC, or another information processing apparatus 300 such as a camera. However, the same explanation is valid.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the information communication terminal 100 includes a wireless LAN HW 101 as wireless communication means. On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 200 includes a wireless LAN HW201 as wireless communication means. As the wireless LAN HW 101 provided in the information communication terminal 100 and the wireless LAN HW 201 provided in the image forming apparatus 200, those corresponding to the same communication standard are used so that direct network connection by wireless communication is possible.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the information communication terminal 100 includes a wireless LAN control unit 102 for controlling the wireless LAN HW 101. The wireless LAN control unit 102 controls the wireless LAN HW 101 to place a communication signal on a transmission wave corresponding to the wireless communication standard and perform direct network communication with the image forming apparatus 200.

  The wireless LAN control unit 102 includes a device search unit 103 and a service search unit 104. The device search unit 103 is a function of the wireless LAN control unit 102 that transmits a device search request signal for searching for the image forming apparatus 200 existing in the vicinity of the information communication terminal 100. The service search unit 104 can provide the image forming apparatus 200 or other information processing apparatus 300 to the image forming apparatus 200 or other information processing apparatus 300 that has been searched to exist in the vicinity of the information communication terminal 100. This is a function of the wireless LAN control unit 102 that transmits a service search request signal for searching for a service.

  The information communication terminal 100 further includes a search result determination unit 105 and a determination result display unit 106. The search result determination unit 105 is a function of the information communication terminal 100 that determines the result of the above-described device search and service search. The determination result display unit 106 is a function of the information communication terminal 100 that displays the determination result by the search result determination unit 105 and presents information such as possible services to the user. For example, a display or the like provided in the information communication terminal 100 It is realized by.

  On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 200 includes a wireless LAN control unit 202 for controlling the wireless LAN HW 201. The wireless LAN control unit 202 controls the wireless LAN HW 201 so as to place a communication signal on a transmission wave corresponding to the wireless communication standard and perform network communication directly with the information communication terminal 100.

  The wireless LAN control unit 202 includes device search response means 203 and service search response means 204. The device search response unit 203 is a function of the wireless LAN control unit 202 that transmits a device search response signal in response to a device search request signal received from the information communication terminal 100. The service search response unit 204 is a function of the wireless LAN control unit 202 that transmits a service search response signal in response to a service search request signal received from the information communication terminal 100.

  The device search response unit 203 transmits a device search response signal based on the device information of the image forming apparatus 200 stored in the device information storage unit 205 of the image forming apparatus 200. Therefore, the information communication terminal 100 that has received the device search response signal can acquire the device information of the image forming apparatus 200. The service search response unit 204 transmits a service search response signal based on the service information of the image forming apparatus 200 stored in the service information storage unit 206 of the image forming apparatus 200. Therefore, the information communication terminal 100 that has received the service search response signal can acquire service information of the image forming apparatus 200.

  The image forming apparatus 200 includes a network control unit 207. The network control unit 207 is used for controlling a normal wired network.

(Information communication terminal)
Here, an example of the hardware configuration of the information communication terminal 100 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the information communication terminal 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the information communication terminal 100 includes a CPU 111, a memory 112, a wireless LAN I / F (“I / F” is an abbreviation of an interface, the same applies hereinafter) 113, an antenna 114, a display I / F F115 and a display 116 are provided. Therefore, the information communication terminal 100 corresponds to a general PC, PDA, smartphone or the like. In addition, when the information communication terminal 100 is a PC, PDA, smartphone, or the like, the information communication terminal 100 includes appropriate additional components not shown in FIG.

  The antenna 114 transmits and receives radio waves for performing wireless communication with an external device such as the image forming apparatus 200. The wireless LAN I / F 113 is an interface with the antenna 114 and controls the physical layer in wireless LAN communication.

  The memory 112 is configured by appropriately combining RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), nonvolatile semiconductor memory, HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and the like. For example, when the information communication terminal 100 is a PC, an HDD is generally used as the configuration of the memory 112, and when the information communication terminal 100 is a PDA, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory is generally used as the configuration of the memory 112. The configuration of the memory 112 is selected as appropriate.

  The memory 112 is used for storing a program, work data, and the like. The CPU 111 executes the program stored in the memory 112 and rewrites the work data stored in the memory 112.

  As a program stored in the memory 112, there is a device search program for transmitting a device search request signal for searching for the image forming apparatus 200 or the like existing in the vicinity of the information communication terminal 100 and the information communication terminal 100. There is a service search program for transmitting a service search request signal for searching for a service that can be provided by the image forming apparatus 200 or the like to the image forming apparatus 200 or the like that has been searched.

  The CPU 111 instructs the wireless LAN I / F 113 according to the device search program and service search program stored in the memory 112, and the wireless LAN I / F 113 searches for the device according to the wireless LAN communication standard via the antenna 114. A request signal and a service search request signal are transmitted.

  Further, as a program stored in the memory 112, there is a search result determination program for determining the result of device search and service search. The CPU 111 processes the device information included in the device search response signal received from the image forming apparatus 200 and the service information included in the service search response signal according to the search result determination program.

  A display I / F 115 is an interface with the display 116 and performs display control on the display 116. The device information and service information of the image forming apparatus 200 and the like determined according to the search result determination program are transmitted to the display I / F 115, and the device information and service information are presented to the user of the information communication terminal 100 through the display 116.

  The device search program, service search program, and search result determination program executed by the information communication terminal 100 described above are files in an installable format or executable format, such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), and a CD-R. And can be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).

  The device search program, service search program, and search result determination program executed by the information communication terminal 100 are stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet, and are provided by being downloaded via the network. You may do it. The device search program, service search program, and search result determination program executed on the information communication terminal 100 may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  Further, a device search program, a service search program, and a search result determination program executed on the information communication terminal 100 may be provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like.

  The device search program, service search program, and search result determination program executed in the information communication terminal 100 are shown in FIG. 2 in cooperation with other hardware configurations as the CPU 111 reads from the memory 112 and executes it. It functions as device search means 103, service search means 104, and search result determination means 105.

(Image forming device)
Next, an example of the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 200 will be described. The image forming apparatus 200 has a copy function, a facsimile function, a print function, a scanner function, and a function for distributing an input image (for example, an image of a document read by the scanner function or an image input by the facsimile function). Although described as a compound MFP (Multi Function Peripheral), the configuration of the image forming apparatus 200 is not limited to this.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 200. As shown in FIG. 4, the image forming apparatus 200 has a configuration in which a controller 210, a plotter 220, a scanner 230, and other hardware resources 240 are connected by a PCI (Peripheral Component Interface) bus. Further, the controller 210 is connected to an operation unit 250 that receives a command for operating the image forming apparatus 200.

  The controller 210 is a control unit that executes control of the entire image forming apparatus 200, drawing control by the plotter 220, reading control by the scanner 230, control of other hardware resources 240, and input control from the operation unit 250.

  The plotter 220 is a printer engine or the like that can be connected to the PCI bus, and is, for example, a black and white plotter, a one-drum color plotter, or a four-drum color plotter. The scanner 230 is an image scanner that reads a document and generates image data of the document. As the other hardware resources 240, various devices other than the above are representatively shown.

  The controller 210 includes a CPU 211, a RAM 212, a ROM 213, a timer 214 as a timing unit, and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 215. The controller 210 includes a local memory RAM 216 and an HDD 217 connected to the ASIC 215.

  The controller 210 further includes a serial bus I / F 261, a NIC (Network Interface Controller) 262, a wireless LAN I / F 263, a USB host 264, and a memory card I / F 265.

  The serial bus I / F 261 is connected to, for example, a cartridge substrate, and is used for reading / writing management information of an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM) of each cartridge. The NIC 262 is connected to a network such as a LAN.

  The wireless LAN I / F 263 is an interface with the antenna 266. The antenna 266 transmits and receives radio waves for performing wireless communication with an external device such as the information communication terminal 100 using a communication method compliant with the wireless LAN standard.

  The USB host 264 detects connection with various USB devices and transmits / receives data to / from the connected USB device. The memory card I / F 265 detects a connection with the memory card and transmits / receives data to / from the connected memory card.

  The ASIC 215 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) for image processing having hardware elements for image processing, and also has a role of a bridge for connecting the AGP bus, the PCI bus, the RAM 216, and the HDD 217, respectively.

  The ASIC 215 includes a PCI target and an AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that forms the core of the ASIC 215, a memory controller that controls the RAM 216, and a plurality of DMACs (Direct Memory Access Controllers) that perform image data rotation by hardware logic. And a PCI unit that performs data transfer via the PCI bus. The plotter 220, the scanner 230, and other hardware resources 240 are connected to the PCI unit of the ASIC 215.

  A RAM 216 connected to the ASIC 215 is a local memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer. An HDD 217 connected to the ASIC 215 stores image data, programs, font data, and forms. Storage.

  On the other hand, the RAM 212 connected to the bus to which the CPU 211 belongs is, for example, a memory used for various application programs, OS, various drivers, data expansion, printer drawing, and the like, and is a writable and readable memory. Similarly, the ROM 213 connected to the bus to which the CPU 211 belongs is a read-only memory used as a memory for storing various programs and data. The CPU 211 executes a program stored in the ROM 213 or the RAM 212 and rewrites work data stored in the RAM 212.

  As a program stored in ROM 213, a device search response program for transmitting a device search response signal in response to a device search request signal received from information communication terminal 100, and a service search request signal received from information communication terminal 100 There is a service search response program for transmitting a service search response signal in response to. Data stored in the ROM 213 includes device information and service information of the image forming apparatus 200.

  When the CPU 211 receives a device search request signal from the information communication terminal 100, the CPU 211 reads device information of the image forming apparatus 200 stored in the ROM 213 according to a device search response program stored in the ROM 213, and The content of the device search response signal including device information is generated. Thereafter, the CPU 211 instructs the wireless LAN I / F 263 and transmits a device search response signal according to the wireless LAN communication standard via the antenna 266.

  When the CPU 211 receives a service search request signal from the information communication terminal 100, the CPU 211 reads out service information of the image forming apparatus 200 stored in the ROM 213 according to the service search response program stored in the ROM 213, and the image forming apparatus The content of the service search response signal including 200 service information is generated. Thereafter, the CPU 211 instructs the wireless LAN I / F 263 and transmits a service search response signal according to the wireless LAN communication standard via the antenna 266.

  The device search response program and the service search response program executed by the image forming apparatus 200 are preferably provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like. However, the device search response program and the service search response program executed by the image forming apparatus 200 are files in an installable format or an executable format, and are CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, DVD (Digital). It is also possible to be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as Versatile Disk).

  Further, the device search response program and the service search response program executed by the image forming apparatus 200 may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. good. Further, the device search response program and the service search response program executed by the image forming apparatus 200 may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  The device search response program and the service search response program executed by the image forming apparatus 200 are read from the ROM 213 and executed by the CPU 211, so that the device search response means shown in FIG. 203, which functions as service search response means 204. The ROM 213 storing the device information of the image forming apparatus 200 functions as the device information storage unit 205 shown in FIG. 2, and the ROM 213 storing the service information of the image forming apparatus 200 is the service shown in FIG. It functions as the information storage unit 206.

  Next, an example of the software configuration of the image forming apparatus 200 will be described. FIG. 5 is a layer structure diagram illustrating a software configuration of the image forming apparatus 200.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 200 basically includes the controller 210 and hardware resources such as the plotter 220, the scanner 230, and other hardware resources 240. Each hardware resource executes physical printing, reading, and other processing in accordance with the control of the controller 210 via the engine control board 270.

  The function of each hardware resource is controlled by a software group separated into a service module layer and an application module layer.

  The service module layer is executed on an OS (Operation System) 280, for example, a system control service 281, an engine control service 282, a memory control service 283, an operation unit control service 284, a network control service 285, And an authentication control service 286.

  The application module layer includes, for example, a copy application 291, a printer application 292, a scanner application 293, and a web application 294.

  For example, when printing is performed by the image forming apparatus 200, the printer application 292 issues a command to the engine control service 282 and other necessary services via an API (Application Programming Interface), and the engine control service 282 receives the OS 280, The plotter 220 is controlled via the engine I / F and the engine control board 270.

  Note that the software configuration of the image forming apparatus 200 described above is merely an example, and the service module layer may have more service modules, or the application module layer may have more applications.

(Communication sequence)
Next, a processing procedure at the stage of establishing a direct network connection between the information communication terminal 100 and the image forming apparatus 200 described above will be described. In the following, a communication procedure of an example in which the image forming apparatus A 200a and the image forming apparatus B 200b exist in the communication range of the information communication terminal 100 used by the user will be described. Not only the communication terminal 100 and the image forming apparatus 200 but also other information processing apparatuses 300 such as a television monitor, a speaker, a home theater system, a PC, or a camera may be included in the network configuration. In this case, in the following description, the same processing can be performed even if the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus are replaced.

  FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram at the stage of establishing a wireless network connection between the information communication terminal 100 and the two image forming apparatuses A 200a and B 200b. That is, at the start of the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 6, no connection has been established yet between the information communication terminal 100 and the two image forming apparatuses A 200a and B 200b.

  As shown in FIG. 6, first, the user instructs the information communication terminal 100 to start device search (S1.0). Then, the information communication terminal 100 instructed to start the device search performs a device search with respect to the image forming apparatus A 200a (S1.1). This device search (S1.1) is performed when the information communication terminal 100 transmits a device search request signal to the image forming apparatus A 200a.

  The image forming apparatus A 200a that has received the device search request signal from the information communication terminal 100 generates a response content (S1.1.1). In this response content generation (S1.1.1), the device information of the image forming apparatus A 200a stored in the device information storage unit included in the image forming apparatus A 200a is referred to, and the generated response content includes the device information. It will be included.

  Next, the image forming apparatus A 200a converts the generated response content into a signal conforming to the wireless LAN communication standard, and transmits it as a device search response signal to the information communication terminal 100 (S1.1.2).

  Further, the information communication terminal 100 performs a device search for the image forming apparatus B 200b in the same manner (S1.2). In addition, the image forming apparatus B 200b that has received the device search request signal from the information communication terminal 100 generates a response content (S1.2.1), and converts the generated response content into a signal in accordance with the wireless LAN communication standard. Then, it is transmitted to the information communication terminal 100 as a device search response signal (S1.2.2).

  Next, the information communication terminal 100 performs a service search for the image forming apparatus A 200a that has been searched for being within the communication range by receiving the device search response signal (S1.3). This service search (S1.3) is performed when the information communication terminal 100 transmits a service search request signal to the image forming apparatus A 200a.

  The image forming apparatus A 200a that has received the service search request signal from the information communication terminal 100 generates a response content (S1.3.1). In the response content generation (S1.3.1), the service information of the image forming apparatus A 200a stored in the service information storage unit included in the image forming apparatus A 200a is referred to, and the generated response content includes the service information. It will be included. As the response content in this response content generation (S1.3.1), for example, service information shown in FIG. 7 can be considered.

  Next, the image forming apparatus A 200a converts the generated response content into a signal conforming to the wireless LAN communication standard, and transmits it as a service search response signal to the information communication terminal 100 (S1.3.2).

  Further, the information communication terminal 100 similarly performs a service search for the image forming apparatus B 200b (S1.4). Further, the image forming apparatus B 200b that has received the service search request signal from the information communication terminal 100 generates a response content (S1.4.1), and converts the generated response content into a signal in accordance with the wireless LAN communication standard. Then, it is transmitted to the information communication terminal 100 as a service search response signal (S1.4.2).

  Here, an example in which the image forming apparatus A 200a and the image forming apparatus B 200b exist in the communication range of the information communication terminal 100 is used, but direct network connection by wireless communication is used in the communication range of the information communication terminal 100. When there is an image forming apparatus or other device to perform, the information communication terminal 100 executes the device search and service search for all devices.

  After the device search and the service search are completed, the information communication terminal 100 displays the results of the device search and the service search (S1.5). Then, the user selects a device corresponding to the desired device setting based on the displayed device search and service search results (S2.0). Hereinafter, it is assumed that the user has selected the image forming apparatus A 200a.

  Thereafter, the information communication terminal 100 starts connection processing for the selected image forming apparatus A 200a (S2.1). This connection process is constituted by a series of procedures conforming to the wireless LAN communication standard, and includes, for example, an authentication process. When the connection is established through a series of procedures, the image forming apparatus A 200a notifies the information communication terminal 100 that the connection process has been completed (S2.1.1).

  As described above, wireless communication between the information communication terminal 100 and the image forming apparatus A 200a is established, and the user operates the information communication terminal 100 to perform services such as printing from the image forming apparatus A 200a corresponding to the desired device setting. Can be used.

(Search result judgment method)
Next, a search result determination method based on the device search response signal and the service search response signal will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the search result determination method based on the device search response signal and the service search response signal. In the following description, the configurations of the information communication terminal 100 and the image forming apparatus 200 described above are referred to, but the search result determination method of the present embodiment is not limited to the apparatus configuration. For example, even if another information processing apparatus 300 is used instead of the image forming apparatus 200, the following description can be modified as appropriate, and the search result determination method described below can be implemented.

  When the search result determination unit 105 of the information communication terminal 100 executes the search result determination method of the present embodiment, the CPU 111 executes the search result determination program stored in the memory 112 included in the information communication terminal 100, thereby A search result determination method of a form is realized.

  First, in the search result determination method of this embodiment, the results of device search and service search are acquired (step S1). The results of device search and service search are acquired from device information and service information included in the device search response signal and service search response signal received by the information communication terminal 100.

  Next, the service search result is referred to, and it is determined whether or not a printer-equipped device exists in the service search result (step S2). As shown in FIG. 7, the service information includes an item related to printer mounting, so that the search result determination unit 105 refers to the result of the service search so that the printer mounted machine is included in the communication range of the information communication terminal 100. It is determined whether or not exists.

  If there is no printer-equipped machine in the service search result (step S2; No), a screen display indicating that no printing device has been found is displayed (step S3), and the process of the search result determination method of this embodiment is performed. Is terminated. On the other hand, if a printer-mounted device is present in the service search result (step S2; Yes), the process proceeds to the next determination step (step S4).

  Further, the service search result is referred to, and it is determined whether or not a printer language compatible device exists in the service search result (step S4). As shown in FIG. 7, the service information includes an item related to the printer language. Therefore, the search result determination unit 105 refers to the result of the service search, so that the printer corresponding to the printer language of the information communication terminal 100 can be used. It is determined whether or not a language compatible machine exists.

  If there is no printer language compatible machine in the service search result (step S4; No), a screen display indicating that no printing device was found is made (step S3), and the search result determination method of this embodiment is completed. Is done. On the other hand, if a printer language compatible device exists in the service search result (step S4; Yes), the process proceeds to the next processing step (step S5).

  Here, a list of devices that are printer-equipped machines and that have a corresponding printer language is displayed (step S5). Since the device information is included in the device search response signal, the search result determination means 105 is a printer-equipped device and corresponds by associating the determination results of step S2 and step S4 with this device information. Create a list of devices with the printer language (hereinafter referred to as the corresponding device list). The created corresponding device list is displayed on the screen 116 of the information communication terminal 100.

  Further, the result of the service search is referred to, and it is determined whether or not there is a device that requires authentication in use in the corresponding device list (step S6). As shown in FIG. 7, since there is an item related to authentication in the service information, the search result determination unit 105 refers to the result of the service search to determine whether there is a device that requires authentication for use. Determine whether or not.

  If there is a device that requires authentication in use in the corresponding device list (step S6; Yes), it indicates that authentication is required for a device that requires authentication in the corresponding device list on the screen. An icon is displayed (step S7), and the process proceeds to the next determination step (step S8). On the other hand, if there is no device that requires authentication in use in the corresponding device list (step S6; No), the corresponding device list on the screen is not changed, and the process proceeds to the next determination step (step S8).

  The service search result is referred to, and it is determined whether or not there is a device set to leave a log in the corresponding device list (step S8). As shown in FIG. 7, the service information includes an item related to a setting for leaving a log. Therefore, the search result determination unit 105 refers to the result of the service search, and the device is set to leave a log. It is determined whether or not exists.

  If there is a device set to leave a log in the corresponding device list (step S8; Yes), it indicates that a log is left for a device set to leave a log in the device list on the screen. An icon is displayed (step S9), and the processing of the search result determination method of this embodiment is terminated. On the other hand, if there is no device set to leave a log in the corresponding device list (step S8; No), the device list on the screen is not changed, and the processing of the search result determination method of this embodiment is performed. Is terminated.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen display when the search result determination method of the present embodiment described above is performed. The example of the screen display shown in FIG. 9 shows the screen display when “Printer 1”, “Printer 2”, and “Printer 3” are determined as corresponding devices in Steps S2 and S4. In addition, “Printer 1” is determined to be a device that requires authentication in step S6, and “Printer 1” and “Printer 3” are set to remain in the log in step S8. It is determined to be a device. The user of the information communication terminal 100 can select a device corresponding to a desired device setting with reference to the screen display illustrated in FIG.

100 Information communication terminal 101 Wireless LAN HW
102 Wireless LAN Control Unit 103 Device Search Unit 104 Service Search Unit 105 Search Result Judgment Unit 106 Judgment Result Display Unit 111 CPU
112 Memory 113 Wireless LAN I / F
114 Antenna 113 Display IF
116 Display 200 Image forming apparatus 201 Wireless LAN HW
202 Wireless LAN Control Unit 203 Device Search Response Unit 204 Service Search Response Unit 205 Device Information Storage Unit 206 Service Information Storage Unit 207 Network Control Unit 210 Controller 211 CPU
212 RAM
213 ROM
214 Timer 215 ASIC
216 RAM
217 HDD
220 Plotter 230 Scanner 240 Other hardware resources 250 Operation unit 261 Serial bus I / F
262 NIC
263 Wireless LAN I / F
H.264 USB Host 265 Memory Card I / F
266 Antenna 270 Engine control board 280 OS
281 System control service 282 Engine control service 283 Memory control service 284 Operation unit control service 285 Network control service 286 Authentication control service 291 Copy application 292 Printer application 293 Scanner application 294 Web application 300 Other information processing apparatus 301 Wireless LAN HW

JP 2006-164175 A

Claims (9)

A communication system before establishing a network connection between a first device and a second device by wireless communication,
A device search means for transmitting a device search request signal for searching for the second device existing in the communication range of the wireless communication;
Service search means for transmitting a service search request signal for searching for a service that can be provided by the second device to the second device searched for being in the communication range of the wireless communication;
Device search response means for transmitting a device search response signal in response to the device search request signal;
Service search response means for transmitting a service search response signal in response to the service search request signal;
Search result determination means for determining whether the second device corresponds to a desired device setting based on the device search response signal and the service search response signal;
A communication system comprising:   The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the device search response unit transmits the device search response signal including device information included in the second device.   The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the service search response unit transmits the service search response signal including service information included in the second device. An information communication terminal for network connection with a second device by wireless communication,
A device search means for transmitting a device search request signal for searching for the second device existing in the communication range of the wireless communication;
Service search means for transmitting a service search request signal for searching for a service that can be provided by the second device to the second device searched for being in the communication range of the wireless communication;
Based on the device search response signal received from the second device as a response to the device search request signal and the service search response signal received from the second device as a response to the service search request signal, the second Search result determination means for determining whether or not the device corresponds to a desired device setting;
An information communication terminal comprising:   5. The information communication terminal according to claim 4, further comprising determination result display means for displaying a determination result by the search result determination means. An information processing apparatus for performing network connection with a first apparatus by wireless communication,
Device search response means for transmitting a device search response signal in response to a device search request signal transmitted by the first device in order to search for a device existing in the communication range of the wireless communication;
Service search response means for transmitting a service search response signal in response to a service search request signal transmitted by the first device in order to search for a service that can be provided by the information processing apparatus. Processing equipment. A device information storage unit that stores device information of the information processing apparatus;
The device search response means refers to the device information storage unit and transmits the device search response signal including the device information.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 6. A service information storage unit that stores service information of the information processing apparatus;
The service search response means refers to the service information storage unit and transmits the service search response signal including the service information;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus.

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