JP5795870B2 - COMMUNICATION DEVICE, COMMUNICATION DEVICE CONTROL METHOD, PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device, a communication device control method, and a program. In particular, the present invention relates to a communication device for automatically setting communication parameters, a communication device control method, and a program.

  In wireless communication represented by a wireless LAN compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series, there are many setting items that must be set before use. For example, as setting items, there are communication parameters necessary for wireless communication such as an SSID as a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key. It is very complicated for the user to set these manually.

  In view of this, communication parameter automatic setting methods for easily setting communication parameters in communication devices have been proposed by various manufacturers. In the communication parameter automatic setting method, communication parameters are transmitted from a communication device to a partner device according to a procedure and a message determined in advance between connected communication devices. Then, the counterpart device automatically performs setting according to the received communication parameter. Thereby, the communication parameter between communication apparatuses can be automatically set by a user performing a simple operation.

  Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a PIN code method and a push button method as communication parameter automatic setting methods in wireless LAN infrastructure mode communication. The PIN code method is a method for performing processing for specifying whether or not the partner device is a device selected by the user based on information (PIN (Personal Identification Number) code) input to the partner device. The push button method is a method that does not perform processing for specifying whether or not the partner device is a device selected by the user. In the following, a method for specifying whether or not the partner device is a device selected by the user is a specific method, and a method that does not specify the non-specific method.

  In the non-specific method, since it is not specified whether the counterpart device is a device selected by the user, there may be a plurality of counterpart devices that are executing the non-specific method. In this case, in order to prevent setting with an apparatus that is not intended by the user, the process ends as a duplicate error. Further, in the communication parameter automatic setting method including both the specific method and the non-specific method, the execution period is usually defined as the time during which setting is possible. If the communication parameter automatic setting method is not executed within the determined execution period, the process is terminated as a timeout.

  On the other hand, when the communication device is equipped with a plurality of types of communication parameter automatic setting methods, the user needs to select which communication parameter automatic setting method to execute from among the plurality of types via a menu screen or the like. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult for a user who has little knowledge of the communication parameter automatic setting method to determine which communication parameter automatic setting method should be selected. Further, in the case of an apparatus that does not have a user interface capable of displaying a menu screen, there is a problem that it is difficult to select the communication parameter automatic setting method itself.

  On the other hand, there is a method of automatically selecting a communication parameter automatic setting method executed by its own device using a beacon signal or a probe signal transmitted from surrounding devices (hereinafter referred to as a method automatic selection method). Proposed. This is based on a beacon signal or a probe signal transmitted from a peripheral device, confirming the communication parameter automatic setting method being executed by the device, and selecting the confirmed method as the communication parameter automatic setting method executed by the own device. Is the method. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a method automatic selection method.

JP 2007-143117 A

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED (TM) for Wi-Fi Protected Setup: Easing the User Experience for Home and Small Office Wi-Fi (R) Networks, http: // www. wi-fi. org / wifi-protected-setup

  Consider an environment where a plurality of surrounding communication devices are executing different types of communication parameter automatic setting methods when the communication device executes the method automatic selection method. In this case, since the communication device confirms a plurality of communication parameter automatic setting methods, the communication parameter automatic setting method to be executed by itself cannot be specified. As a result, the communication apparatus performs processing as a duplicate error, and there is a problem that communication cannot be established. However, this problem can be solved by allowing the user to select an appropriate communication parameter automatic setting method. However, as described above, when communication parameters are set by a communication device that does not have a user interface capable of displaying a menu screen when the user has little knowledge about the communication parameter automatic setting method, the selection itself is difficult. There was a problem.

  An object of this invention is to provide the technique which solves this subject. That is, it is an object of the present invention to provide a technique for easily identifying and connecting a partner to be connected in an environment in which a plurality of surrounding communication devices are each executing a communication parameter automatic setting method.

To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an information providing apparatus which is a communication apparatus and is capable of executing communication settings for performing communication with the communication apparatus. When the number of detecting means for detecting based on the signal transmitted by the detecting means and the information providing apparatus detected by the detecting means is one, the communication parameter is received from the detected information providing apparatus, and the communication parameter is And executing the communication setting with the communication apparatus when the execution means for performing the communication setting with the information providing apparatus and the information providing apparatus detected by the detecting means are not one. And a control unit that controls the detection unit to detect again the information providing device in a state in which the detection is possible, and the control unit first detects the plurality of information providing devices. Time Within a predetermined time period, if the number of detected the information providing device in said detection means does not become one, the communication device is provided for controlling said detecting means to stop the detection of the information providing apparatus .

  According to the present invention, in a communication device capable of executing the communication parameter automatic setting method, the user can easily use the communication device by specifying the other party to be connected and executing the communication setting.

The hardware functional block diagram of the apparatus which concerns on embodiment. The software functional block diagram of the apparatus which concerns on embodiment. 1 is a system configuration diagram according to an embodiment. The operation | movement flowchart of the communication parameter automatic setting process of a communication apparatus. The operation | movement sequence diagram of a multi system automatic selection. The operation | movement sequence diagram of timeout processing. The operation | movement sequence diagram when the same non-specific method is performed by the some information provision apparatus. The operation | movement sequence diagram at the time of multi-system automatic selection duplication error generation in another communication apparatus. The operation | movement sequence diagram at the time of the multi system automatic selection duplication error in a communication apparatus.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments capable of carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Below, although the example using the wireless LAN system based on IEEE802.11 series is demonstrated, a communication form is not necessarily restricted to this.

  In the following description, in order to simplify the description, in the communication parameter automatic setting method, a communication device that provides communication parameters is referred to as an information providing device, and a communication device that receives communication parameters is simply referred to as a communication device. That is, when the information providing apparatus and the communication apparatus execute the communication parameter automatic setting method, the communication parameter is transmitted from the information providing apparatus to the communication apparatus. And the communication setting for communicating between a communication apparatus and an information provision apparatus is performed using this communication parameter.

<< Embodiment 1 >>
In the present embodiment, a case where the communication apparatus can execute a plurality of types of communication parameter automatic setting methods will be described. In an environment where one communication parameter automatic setting method is executed, the communication device can determine the communication parameter automatic setting method to be executed by the method automatic selection method. However, in a state where a plurality of information providing devices are each executing the communication parameter automatic setting method, the communication device cannot execute the communication parameter automatic setting method selection by the method automatic selection method. This is because a plurality of communication parameter automatic setting methods that can be executed by the communication device are executed around the communication device. In such a case, the communication apparatus normally determines that there is a duplication error and ends the setting process.

  However, according to the method according to the present embodiment, the communication apparatus immediately continues the setting process without causing a duplicate error, and repeats the search for the information providing apparatus for a certain period. Thereby, for example, the communication apparatus continues to wait for the information providing apparatus that is not the connection target to complete the communication parameter automatic setting method with another communication apparatus. Then, after the information providing device that is not the connection target completes the communication parameter automatic setting method, the communication device executes communication parameter automatic setting processing with the connection target information providing device.

(Hardware configuration)
A hardware configuration in a case suitable for the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a communication device. Reference numeral 101 denotes the entire communication apparatus. Reference numeral 102 denotes a control unit that controls the entire communication apparatus 101 by executing a control program stored in the storage unit 103. The control unit 102 is, for example, a processor such as a CPU or MPU or a computer. The control unit 102 also controls a communication parameter automatic setting method performed with the information providing apparatus. Reference numeral 103 denotes a storage unit that stores a computer program for control executed by the control unit 102 and various types of information such as communication parameters. Various operations described later are performed by the control unit 102 executing a control program stored in the storage unit 103. Note that the storage unit 103 may be a memory such as a ROM or a RAM, or a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a DVD, or the like. .

  Reference numeral 104 denotes a wireless unit for performing wireless communication. Reference numeral 105 denotes a display unit that performs various displays, and has a function capable of outputting visually recognizable information such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and an LED (Light Emitting Diode), or outputting sound such as a speaker. Reference numeral 106 denotes a setting button for giving a trigger for starting processing of the communication parameter automatic setting method. When the control unit 102 detects an operation of the setting button 106 by the user, the control unit 102 detects the information providing apparatus and performs settings necessary for executing communication with the detected information providing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “communication setting”). Perform various processes. Details will be described later. Reference numeral 107 denotes an antenna control unit, and reference numeral 108 denotes an antenna. Reference numeral 109 denotes an input unit for the user to perform various inputs.

(Functional configuration)
FIG. 2 is a configuration example of software function blocks of the communication apparatus. Reference numeral 201 denotes an entire software function of the communication apparatus. A block 202 provides a communication parameter automatic setting function. In this embodiment, in the block 202, communication parameters necessary for wireless communication such as SSID as a network identifier, encryption method, encryption key, authentication method, and authentication key are automatically set. The block 202 that provides the communication parameter automatic setting function includes an automatic setting control unit 206, a communication parameter receiving unit 207, a providing device search unit 208, a setting method selection unit 209, a timer control unit 210, and the same method detection unit 211.

  A receiving unit 203 receives information related to various types of communication. The receiving unit 203 receives various signals such as a beacon (notification signal) and a probe response which is a response signal to the probe request. A transmission unit 204 transmits information related to various communications. The transmission unit 204 transmits various signals such as a probe request as a network search signal for searching the network. A network control unit 205 controls network connection. Connection processing to the wireless LAN network is performed by the network control unit 205.

  The automatic setting control unit 206 controls various protocols in the communication parameter automatic setting method. Processing of the communication parameter automatic setting method, which will be described later, is performed based on the control of the automatic setting control unit 206. The communication parameter receiving unit 207 receives communication parameters provided by the information providing apparatus. The providing device search unit 208 searches for an information providing device when executing communication parameter automatic setting. A process for searching for an information providing apparatus to be described later is performed by the providing apparatus search unit 208. The setting method selection unit 209 selects a communication parameter automatic setting method to be executed. A process for selecting a communication parameter automatic setting method, which will be described later, is performed by the setting method selection unit 209. The timer control unit 210 performs timing and time-out determination. The same method detection unit 211 determines whether another communication apparatus is executing the automatic selection method of the same communication parameter automatic setting method.

(System configuration)
FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration example of a system according to the present embodiment. In this system, there are a communication device A (301), a communication device B (304), an information providing device A (302), and an information providing device B (303). The communication device A and the communication device B have the configurations shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 described above. The communication device A and the communication device B execute communication parameter automatic setting processing according to a user instruction. The information providing apparatus A or the information providing apparatus B is realized by a general access point or the like. The communication device A and the communication device B receive communication parameters from either the information providing device A or the information providing device B by the communication parameter automatic setting method.

(Operation flow of communication device)
FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of communication parameter automatic setting processing that is performed when the setting button 106 is pressed by the user in the communication apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is performed, for example, when the control unit 102 reads and executes a computer program stored in the storage unit 103.

  The automatic setting control unit 206 monitors whether the setting button 106 has been pressed. When it is detected that the setting button 106 has been pressed by the user, the automatic setting control unit 206 activates the providing device search unit 208. The providing device search unit 208 transmits a probe request (search signal) using the transmission unit 204 (S401).

  It should be noted that various information (hereinafter referred to as self-information) of the transmission source communication apparatus or information providing apparatus is added to signals such as probe requests, probe responses, and beacons. The self information includes, for example, information indicating that the information providing apparatus is being activated as a communication parameter providing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as activation information), and automatic setting of communication parameters being executed by the communication apparatus or the information providing apparatus. Information indicating a method (hereinafter referred to as setting method information) is included. The self information includes information for identifying a transmission source device such as a MAC address.

  In the probe request transmitted by the providing device search unit 208, in addition to the self-information, the multi-method automatic selection indicating that the control according to the present embodiment (hereinafter, this control is referred to as “multi-method automatic selection”) is executed. Add information and send it out. The multi-system automatic selection is a method specified by a part or all of FIG. 4, and is a control for automatically recognizing and selecting a system to be executed from a plurality of communication parameter automatic setting systems. The process of adding the multi-system automatic selection information is realized, for example, by including the multi-system automatic selection information in the probe request or beacon self-information. The multi-system automatic selection information is represented by, for example, a specific bit pattern indicating whether or not the multi-system automatic selection is being executed, but is not limited thereto. For example, when multi-system automatic selection is always executed in a specific device, the ID of the device can be used as multi-system automatic selection information. The multi-system automatic selection information may be information indicating whether or not the communication apparatus supports multi-system automatic selection regardless of whether or not the communication apparatus is performing multi-system automatic selection. In this case, in addition to the specific bit pattern described above, for example, it can be represented by vendor information, device version information, device product type, and device model name. In this case, the communication device that has received this information may consider that the transmission source communication device is executing the multi-mode automatic selection.

  In S401, after the transmission unit 204 transmits a probe request, the reception unit 203 waits for reception of a probe response (search response) for a certain period. The following processing is executed based on the signal received during the probe response reception waiting period. The providing device search unit 208 confirms the activation information included in the received probe response signal, and detects an information providing device that is executing the communication parameter automatic setting method as a communication parameter providing device (S402).

  In the present embodiment, the transmission unit 204 transmits a probe request and the reception unit 203 receives a probe response. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the transmission unit 204 does not transmit a probe request, the reception unit 203 receives a beacon signal, and acquires information on the communication parameter automatic setting method being executed by the surrounding information providing apparatus based on the beacon signal. Also good. Further, the providing device search unit 208 may check the setting method information together with the information during activation, and may exclude information providing devices that cannot execute communication setting from the block 202 of the communication parameter automatic setting function from detection targets. . That is, it is possible to detect an information providing apparatus capable of executing communication setting with a communication apparatus by a communication parameter automatic setting method and in a state where the communication parameter automatic setting method is activated. As a result, the communication apparatus can no longer detect information providing apparatuses that cannot execute communication settings, and subsequent processing can be omitted. For confirmation of activation information and setting method information, for example, self-information is extracted from a probe response signal, and it is determined whether information indicating activation is stored.

  If the providing device search unit 208 cannot detect the information providing device that is executing the communication parameter automatic setting method, the automatic setting control unit 206 determines whether or not the search processing repetition period has been entered at that time ( S403). The search processing repetition period is a period during which the communication apparatus repeats the detection of the information providing apparatus. After the processing apparatus first detects a plurality of information providing apparatuses, the search period repetition timer is set in S420 described later. The period starts. In the initial state, the search processing repetition period has not started, and therefore has not entered the period. If it is not within the search process repetition period, the search process of S401 is executed again. If it is within the search processing repetition period, it is determined that all of the plurality of information providing devices that have been detected no longer exist, and an error indicating that the processing has failed is notified to the user via the display unit 105, and the processing ends. (S404).

  On the other hand, in S402, when the providing apparatus search unit 208 detects an information providing apparatus that is executing the communication parameter automatic setting method, the automatic setting control unit 206 activates the setting method selection unit 209. The setting method selection unit 209 confirms the setting method information of the received signal, and confirms whether or not a plurality of communication parameter automatic setting methods are being executed (S405). When the setting method selection unit 209 detects that a single communication parameter automatic setting method is being executed (No in step S405), the setting method selection unit 209 selects the detected communication parameter automatic setting method. Thereafter, the automatic setting control unit 206 activates the communication parameter receiving unit 207, and the communication parameter receiving unit 207 executes the selected automatic setting method and receives communication parameters (S406).

  In step S405, when it is detected that a plurality of communication parameter automatic setting methods are being executed (Yes in step S405), the setting method selection unit 209 checks the self information of the received signal. Then, the setting method selection unit 209 confirms whether or not the same information providing apparatus executes all of the detected plurality of communication parameter automatic setting methods (S407). The process of step S407 is realized by confirming an identifier included in the probe response, for example. As the identifier, for example, information unique to each device such as a MAC address of the transmission source device or a UUID (Universally Unique IDentifier) is used. The setting method selection unit 209 extracts and compares these pieces of information from the received probe response, and confirms whether or not the information is being executed on the same apparatus. When all the detected communication parameter automatic setting methods are executed by the same information providing apparatus, the setting method selection unit 209 selects an arbitrary method from the detected communication parameter automatic setting methods. In this case, for example, the setting method selection unit 209 associates an executable communication parameter automatic setting method with an appropriate numerical value, generates a random number, and executes the communication parameter automatic setting method corresponding to the random number. To do. In addition to this, when there are circumstances such as communication speeds and security strengths differing from one system to another, according to the requirements of the communication device, for example, a system capable of communication that can obtain the fastest communication speed may be selected. Good. The automatic setting control unit 206 activates the communication parameter receiving unit 207, executes the selected communication parameter automatic setting method, and receives communication parameters from the information providing apparatus (S408).

  In step S409, the automatic setting control unit 206 determines whether the communication parameter automatic setting in steps S406 and S408 has been successful. If the determination result is successful, the user is notified via the display unit 105 that the communication parameter automatic setting has been successful (S410), and the process ends. On the other hand, if the determination result is unsuccessful, the user is notified through the display unit 105 that the communication parameter automatic setting has failed (S411), and the process ends.

  If it is determined in step S407 that the detected plurality of communication parameter automatic setting methods are being executed by the plurality of information providing apparatuses, the setting method selection unit 209 checks the setting method information of the received signal. Then, the setting method selection unit 209 checks whether different apparatuses are executing the same communication parameter automatic setting method (S412). When a plurality of information providing apparatuses are executing the same communication parameter automatic setting method, the setting method selecting unit 209 notifies the automatic setting control unit 206 to that effect. Upon receiving this notification, the automatic setting control unit 206 outputs a duplicate error, notifies the user via the display unit 105 (S418), and ends the process. Even when different information providing apparatuses execute the same communication parameter automatic setting method, for example, when a specific method (PIN method) is used, it is not necessary to make a duplicate error. This is because the specific method does not connect to an information providing device other than the desired connection partner.

  On the other hand, if a plurality of information providing apparatuses do not execute the same communication parameter automatic setting method (No in S412), has the same method detection unit 211 received a multi-method automatic selection duplication error notification from another device? It is determined whether or not (S413). The multi-system automatic selection duplication error notification is a notification to that effect when another communication apparatus that has started multi-system automatic selection receives the multi-system automatic selection information transmitted in S401. The process of notifying the multi-system automatic selection duplication error is realized by, for example, a method of adding the multi-system automatic selection duplication error notification to the probe response, the beacon self-information, or a specific packet and transmitting it. The multi-system automatic selection duplication error notification is represented by, for example, vendor information or a specific bit pattern, but is not limited thereto.

  When receiving the multi-system automatic selection duplication error notification, the same method detection unit 211 notifies the user of the duplication error via the display unit 105 (S418). After the notification, the automatic setting control unit 206 ends the process. When the multi-system automatic selection duplication error notification has not been received, the receiving unit 203 performs reception processing of the probe request transmitted by the surrounding devices (S414). The automatic setting control unit 206 determines whether a probe request is received as a result of the reception process (S415). If a probe request has been received, it is determined whether or not the multi-system automatic selection information is included in the probe request (S416). As a result of the determination, if the multi-system automatic selection information is included, the automatic setting control unit 206 transmits a signal using the transmission unit 204 to the device that has transmitted the probe request, and generates a multi-system automatic selection duplication error. Notification is made (S417). After notifying the multi-system automatic selection duplication error, the automatic setting control unit 206 notifies the user of the duplication error via the display unit 105, and ends the process (S418).

  On the other hand, when the probe request is not received in S415 or when the multi-system automatic selection information is not included in S416, the automatic setting control unit 206 determines whether or not the search processing repetition timer has been set. (S419). The search processing repetition timer continues to start the multi-mode automatic selection until the set predetermined timeout value is reached, and repeats the process of searching for an information providing device in a state where communication with the communication device can be set. Used. The search processing repetition timer measures the period of time that has elapsed since the first detection of a plurality of information providing apparatuses. Here, “first detection” means that a plurality of information providing apparatuses are detected for the first time in the process every time multi-system automatic selection is activated. In other words, after performing multi-method automatic selection and detecting a plurality of information providing devices, performing multi-method automatic selection again at another timing and detecting a plurality of information providing devices for the first time in the process, “First detected”. When the search processing repetition timer is not set (No in S419), the timer control unit 210 determines that a plurality of information providing apparatuses are first detected in the processing, and sets the search processing repetition timer. To start timing (S420). Then, the process returns to S401.

  On the other hand, if the timer is set (Yes in S419), the timer control unit 210 determines whether the search processing repetition period is timed out (S421). If the timer control unit 210 determines that a timeout has occurred, it notifies the automatic setting control unit 206 to that effect, and the automatic setting control unit 206 notifies the user of a duplication error via the display unit 105 and ends the processing (S418). ). If it is determined in S421 that no timeout has occurred, the process returns to S401.

  Note that the timeout value used here is preferably shorter than the period during which the information providing apparatus maintains a state in which communication setting can be performed, that is, the communication parameter automatic setting method. For example, in the case of FIG. 3, it is shorter than the timeout value determined by the communication parameter automatic setting method executed by the information providing apparatus A and the information providing apparatus B. Thus, for example, even if there are two information providing devices and the communication parameter automatic setting method of one information providing device that the user desires to connect is terminated due to a timeout, the other information providing device is erroneously set. Connection can be prevented.

  With the above-described processing, when a plurality of information providing apparatuses are executing the communication parameter automatic setting method, the communication apparatus can appropriately select the information providing apparatus to be connected and execute the connection process. . In the present embodiment, the operation has been described along the flow of FIG. 4, but the multi-method automatic selection may be realized by other methods. For example, the multi-system automatic selection may be executed by each step of S401, S405, and S406 in FIG. In this case, a probe response is received (S401), and it is determined whether one communication parameter automatic setting is being executed (S405). If one communication parameter automatic setting method is being executed, communication setting is executed using that method (S406). As a result, the communication parameter automatic setting method can be executed, and the information providing apparatus that is the counterpart to execute the communication setting can be identified without fail. Further, S407 may be added to this to determine whether one information providing apparatus is performing a plurality of automatic communication parameter settings. Thus, if the information providing apparatus to be connected is detected, even if the information providing apparatus is executing a plurality of communication parameter automatic settings, it can be connected to the information providing apparatus by any method. It becomes like this.

  Configurations other than S401, S405, and S406 can be selectively added. For example, multi-system automatic selection may be executed by a configuration in which steps S418 to S421 are added. In this case, when it is first determined that a plurality of information providing apparatuses are executing communication parameter automatic setting, the search processing repetition timer is set to start timing (S420). When the search process of the information providing apparatus that is executing the communication parameter automatic setting is repeated and a predetermined period has elapsed, the search process repeat period times out (Yes in S421), a duplicate error is notified (S418), and the process ends. To do. With this configuration, when the information providing apparatus to be connected cannot be identified even if it is repeated within a predetermined period, it is possible to prevent the process from being repeated indefinitely by stopping the process.

  Further, the multi-system automatic selection may be executed by a configuration obtained by adding the steps S402 to S404 to any one of the above configurations. Note that if the search process repetition timer is not used, S403 functions as a step of determining whether or not a plurality of information providing apparatuses that have been performing communication parameter automatic setting have been detected in the past in a series of processes. In this case, a probe response is received (S401), and it is determined whether or not there is an information providing apparatus that is executing communication parameter automatic setting (S402). As a result, when there is no information providing apparatus that is executing communication parameter automatic setting, it is determined whether or not there is an information providing apparatus that is executing communication parameter automatic setting in the past (S403). As a result of the determination, if there is an information providing apparatus that has been executing communication parameter automatic setting in the past, an error is notified (S404), and the process ends. In this series of processing, when there is one information providing apparatus that is executing the communication parameter automatic setting method, connection processing is executed (S405 to S408). For this reason, the process of S403 is executed when either a plurality of information providing apparatuses are detected in the immediately preceding search or when no information providing apparatus is detected in the search. As a result, an error is notified in S404 when a plurality of information providing devices are detected in the previous search, but the information providing device is not detected in the next search. As a result, it is possible to identify that the information providing apparatus to be connected is no longer detected due to a communication setting with another communication apparatus. And since it stops detecting the information provision apparatus of a connection object, the process of multi-system automatic selection can be complete | finished and it can prevent setting up communication with the other information provision apparatus which is not a connection object.

  Further, the multi-system automatic selection may be executed by a configuration obtained by adding steps S401 and S413 to S417 to any of the above configurations. In this case, the communication apparatus transmits a probe request (search signal) including multi-system automatic selection information (S401). When the multi-system automatic selection duplication error notification is received (Yes in S413), the duplication error is notified and the process is stopped (S418). In addition, another communication device sends out a probe request to which multi-system automatic selection information is added, and the communication device receives the signal (S414 to S416). When the multi-system automatic selection is being executed in the communication apparatus, the communication apparatus outputs a multi-system automatic selection duplication error (S417) and stops the processing. Here, both the multi-system automatic selection information and the multi-system automatic selection duplication error indicate that the transmission source communication apparatus is executing the multi-system automatic selection. That is, in this embodiment, when a communication apparatus performs multi-system automatic selection simultaneously with other communication apparatuses in the vicinity, information indicating that multi-system automatic selection is being performed is received from the other communication apparatus. . Then, regardless of whether the received information is a multi-system automatic selection duplication error or multi-system automatic selection information, the communication device can end the processing, so that a plurality of communication devices can simultaneously perform multi-system automatic selection. Disappear. Accordingly, when there are a plurality of information providing apparatuses in a state where communication setting can be performed, it is possible to prevent the plurality of communication apparatuses from timing out without being able to identify the information providing apparatuses that are connected to each other. As a result, useless processing such as searching for an information providing apparatus can be omitted.

  Note that according to the above-described configuration, the communication apparatus that simultaneously performs the multi-system automatic selection ends the process, but the communication apparatus that previously performed the multi-system automatic selection may continue the process. In this case, the communication apparatus that has received the multi-system automatic selection duplication error ends the process, but the communication apparatus that has received the multi-system automatic selection information continues the process. The communication apparatus that has received the multi-system automatic selection information returns a multi-system automatic selection duplication error in S417, and returns to, for example, S414 and returns to the probe request reception process. As a result, there is only one communication device that performs multi-mode automatic selection, and a plurality of communication devices can be prevented from timing out together without being able to identify a connection partner.

  Further, prior to the flow of FIG. 4 or any of the above-described configurations, communication parameter automatic setting by a specific method may be tried. Specifically, the communication device first acquires, for example, specific information specifying a connection target information providing device according to a user input or the like, and searches for an information providing device corresponding to the specific information. Here, the specific information is, for example, a PIN code. In this case, the PIN code is allocated in advance to the information providing apparatus, and the user of the communication apparatus acquires the PIN code from, for example, information pasted on the housing of the information providing apparatus and inputs it to the communication apparatus. For example, the communication device transmits a signal including specific information, and when the information providing device corresponding to the specific information receives the signal, the communication device transmits a communication parameter to the communication device that is the transmission source. When the communication device detects an information providing device corresponding to the specific information, the communication device performs communication setting with the information providing device. On the other hand, when the communication apparatus does not detect the information providing apparatus corresponding to the specific information, the communication apparatus shifts to the flow of FIG. 4 and executes the multi-system automatic selection. With the above-described method, the communication device does not immediately terminate the process as an error because the information providing device corresponding to the specific information cannot be detected, and also executes the non-specific method. Thereby, for example, even when the user erroneously causes the information providing apparatus to execute the non-specific method instead of the specific method, the communication setting can be executed. In the above description, the specific method is the PIN code method. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the communication device may specify the information providing device by infrared communication or proximity wireless communication. As a result, it is possible to reduce the trouble of the user inputting information such as a PIN code.

(System operation)
FIG. 5 shows an example of the operation of the system in this embodiment. In the example, it is assumed that the information providing apparatus A and the information providing apparatus B execute communication parameter automatic setting, and activate different non-specific methods 1 and non-specific methods 2, respectively. In that environment, the user of the communication device A presses the setting button 106 of the communication device A to activate the communication parameter automatic setting method. Then, after that, the user of the communication apparatus B depresses the setting button 106 of the communication apparatus B and the communication parameter automatic setting method is activated. In this sequence, the communication device A executes the non-specific method 1 and the non-specific method 2, and the communication device B executes the non-specific method 2.

  When the setting button of the communication device A is pressed, the communication device A activates the multi-method automatic selection method described with reference to FIG. 4 and executes a search process for the communication parameter automatic setting method being executed in the surroundings (F501). The communication device A sends a probe request, which is a network search signal, in order to search for a communication parameter automatic setting method being executed in the surroundings (F501, S401). When receiving the probe request from the communication device A, the information providing device A adds self-information including that the non-specific method 1 is being executed to the probe response and transmits the probe response to the communication device A (F502). Further, when receiving the probe request from the communication device A, the information providing device B adds self-information including that the non-specific method 2 is being executed to the probe response and transmits the probe response to the communication device A (F503). The communication device A recognizes from the received information in the probe response that any one of the information providing devices is executing the communication parameter automatic setting method (Yes in S402). Then, it is determined that a plurality of communication parameter automatic setting methods are being executed by different information providing apparatuses (information providing apparatus A and information providing apparatus B) (Yes in S405, No in S407), and the search process is repeated. (F504). In this example, there is no communication device other than the communication device A and the communication device B, and the communication device B has not started the communication parameter automatic setting method at this time. For this reason, the communication apparatus A has not received a probe request including a multi-system automatic selection duplication error or multi-system automatic selection information from another communication apparatus.

  Next, when the setting button of the communication device B is pressed, the communication device B executes the non-specific method 2 as the communication parameter automatic setting method, and executes the information providing device search process (F505). The communication apparatus B transmits a probe request which is a network search signal in order to search for a communication parameter automatic setting method being executed in the vicinity (F505). Note that, since the communication device B executes the non-specific method 2, the multi-method automatic selection is not executed. For this reason, even if the communication apparatus A receives the probe request of the communication apparatus B (Yes in S415), the communication apparatus A does not determine that it is a multi-system automatic selection duplication error (No in S416). As a result, the search for the information providing device by the communication device A and the search for the information providing device by the communication device B are performed in parallel.

  Here, since information related to non-specific method 1 is not added to the probe request received from communication device B, information providing device A does not add information related to non-specific method 1 and sends a probe response to communication device B. Transmit (F507). On the other hand, when receiving the probe request from the communication device B, the information providing device B adds self-information including that the non-specific method 2 is being executed to the probe response, and transmits the probe response to the communication device B (F506). The communication apparatus B participates in the network of the information providing apparatus B based on the received information in the probe response (F508), and executes communication setting by the communication parameter automatic setting method based on the non-specific method 2 with the information providing apparatus B (F509). .

  When the processing of F509 ends, the communication apparatus A sends out a probe request again within the repetition period of the search processing of F504 (F510, S401). When receiving the probe request from the communication device A, the information providing device A adds self-information including that the non-specific method 1 is being executed to the probe response and transmits the probe response to the communication device A (F511). When the information providing apparatus B receives the probe request from the communication apparatus A, the execution of the communication parameter automatic setting method is ended by the end of the process of F509. For this reason, the probe response is transmitted to the communication device A without adding information related to the non-specific method 2 (F512).

  The communication device A is executing the communication parameter automatic setting method from the information in the received probe response (Yes in S402), and there is only one information providing device in a state in which communication setting can be executed with itself. Detect (Yes in S405). Then, it joins the network of the detected information providing apparatus A (F513), and executes the communication parameter automatic setting method based on the information providing apparatus A and the non-specific method 1 (F514, S406).

  As described above, in the processing according to the present embodiment, even when a plurality of information providing apparatuses are executing the communication parameter automatic setting method, when they are different non-specific methods, the repeated information providing apparatus is not detected as a duplicate error. I do. As a result, even in the situation as described above, the communication device can execute the communication parameter automatic setting process with the information providing device selected by the user.

  FIG. 6 shows that in the environment where the non-specific method 1 is activated in the information providing apparatus A and the non-specific method 2 is activated in the information providing apparatus B, the communication device A is pressed to set the communication parameter automatically. It is a process sequence at the time of implementing a process. The difference from FIG. 5 is that the communication device B does not exist.

  When the setting button of the communication device A is pressed, the communication device A activates the multi-method automatic selection described with reference to FIG. 4 and executes a search process for the communication parameter automatic setting method being executed in the surroundings (F601). The communication device A transmits a probe request which is a network search signal in order to search for a communication parameter automatic setting method being executed in the surroundings (F601, S401).

  When the information providing apparatus A receives the probe request from the communication apparatus A, the information providing apparatus A adds it to the self-information probe response including that the non-specific method 1 is being executed, and transmits it to the communication apparatus A (F602). Further, when receiving the probe request from the communication device A, the information providing device B adds self-information including that the non-specific method 2 is being executed to the probe response and transmits the probe response to the communication device A (F603).

  The communication apparatus A determines that there is an information providing apparatus that is executing the communication parameter automatic setting method by analyzing the received probe response (Yes in S402). Then, the communication device A determines from the information included in the probe response that the information providing device A and the information providing device B are executing different communication parameter automatic setting methods (Yes in S405, No in S407), and searches. The process is repeated (F604). Further, since the communication device A does not receive a probe request or the like from another communication device and does not set the search processing repetition timer (No in S419), the search processing repetition timer is set here (S420). ). Thereafter, the communication device A repeats the search for an information providing device capable of setting communication with itself. However, in the case of this example, the communication device A cannot narrow down the information providing devices to be connected. This is because, unlike the case of FIG. 5, the information providing apparatus does not complete the communication setting with another communication apparatus and terminate the process. For this reason, during the search process repetition period, the communication device A always detects a plurality of information providing devices. As a result, the communication apparatus A determines that a timeout has occurred (Yes in S421), and ends the search process (F605). After the repetition of the search process, a duplicate error is notified to the user via the display unit 105 (S418), and the process ends (F606).

  As described above, when the information providing apparatus selected by the user cannot be specified within the search process repetition period, it is possible to prevent the communication parameter automatic setting process with the unintended apparatus by interruption of the process due to timeout. In addition, by providing a timeout, it is possible to suppress power consumption due to long-time search processing without specifying an information providing device to be connected.

  FIG. 7 shows that in the environment in which the non-specific method 1 is activated in the information providing apparatus A and the non-specific method 1 is activated in the information providing apparatus B, the setting button 106 is pressed in the communication apparatus A to automatically set the communication parameters. It is a process sequence at the time of implementing a process. The difference from FIG. 6 is that both the information providing apparatus A and the information providing apparatus B execute the same communication parameter automatic setting method.

  When the setting button 106 of the communication apparatus A is pressed, a probe request for searching for a communication parameter automatic setting method being executed in the vicinity is transmitted (F702, S401). When receiving the probe request from the communication device A, the information providing device A adds self-information including that the non-specific method 1 is being executed to the probe response, and transmits the probe response to the communication device A (F703). Further, when receiving the probe request from the communication device A, the information providing device B adds self-information including that the non-specific method 1 is being executed to the probe response and transmits the probe response to the communication device A (F704). The communication device A determines from the received information in the probe response that there are a plurality of information providing devices that are executing communication parameter automatic setting (Yes in S402 and S405, No in S407). However, in the case of this example, the communication apparatus A determines that the information providing apparatus A and the information providing apparatus B are performing automatic setting by the same non-specific method (Yes in S412). For this reason, a duplicate error notification is sent to the user via the display unit 105 (S418), and the process is terminated (F705).

  According to this, the communication apparatus A cannot identify either the information providing apparatus A or the information providing apparatus B as the connection target, and as a result, the time-out is prevented and the waste until the time-out occurs. Search processing and the like can be reduced.

  FIG. 8 shows that the information providing apparatus A and the information providing apparatus B activate different non-specific methods 1 and 2 and the communication device A sets in the environment where the setting button 106 is pressed in the communication device B. This is a processing sequence when the button 106 is pressed. In this sequence, it is assumed that the communication device A and the communication device B can execute the multi-method automatic selection according to the present embodiment, and can execute the non-specific method 1 and the non-specific method 2. The difference from FIG. 5 is that the communication apparatus B can execute both the non-specific method 1 and the non-specific method 2 and execute multi-method automatic selection.

  When the setting button 106 of the communication device B is pressed, the communication device B activates the multi-method automatic selection and executes a search for the communication parameter automatic setting method that is being executed in the surroundings. After the search process, the communication device B enters a search signal reception standby state (F801). Note that the search signal is, for example, a probe request from another communication device.

  Next, when the setting button 106 of the communication device A is pressed, the communication device A starts searching for the communication parameter automatic setting method being executed in the surroundings. For this search, the communication apparatus A transmits the probe request with information indicating that the multi-method automatic selection is being executed (F802, S401). When receiving the probe request from the communication device A, the information providing device A adds self-information including that the non-specific method 1 is being executed to the probe response and transmits the probe response to the communication device A (F803). Further, when receiving the probe request from the communication device A, the information providing device B adds self-information including that the non-specific method 2 is being executed to the probe response and returns it to the communication device A (F804). By receiving the probe response, the communication device A determines that the plurality of information providing devices are executing communication parameter automatic setting using different methods (Yes in S402 and S405, No in S407 and S412).

  On the other hand, when the communication device B receives a probe request from the communication device A during the search signal reception standby state, the communication device B determines that the communication device A is executing the multi-method automatic selection, and notifies the multi-method automatic selection duplication error notification. Is transmitted to the communication apparatus A (F805). At the same time, the communication device B notifies the user of a duplicate error via the display unit 105 (F807). Upon receiving the multi-system automatic selection duplication error notification (Yes in S413), the communication apparatus A sends a duplication error notification to the user via the display unit 105 (F806, S418).

  By the processing according to the present embodiment, a plurality of communication devices do not execute multi-mode automatic selection at the same time. For this reason, when there are a plurality of information providing apparatuses in which a plurality of communication apparatuses can execute a plurality of communication parameter automatic setting methods of the same type and communication settings can be executed, the information providing apparatuses connected to each other It is possible to prevent a time-out from being unspecified. As a result, useless processing such as searching for an information providing apparatus can be omitted.

  FIG. 9 shows that the information providing apparatus A and the information providing apparatus B activate different non-specific method 1 and non-specific method 2, respectively, and set in the communication device B in an environment where the setting button 106 is pressed in the communication device A. This is a processing sequence when the button 106 is pressed. In this sequence, it is assumed that the communication device A and the communication device B can execute the multi-method automatic selection according to the present embodiment, and can execute the non-specific method 1 and the non-specific method 2. The difference from FIG. 8 is that the communication apparatus A executes multi-system automatic selection prior to the communication apparatus B.

  When the setting button of the communication device A is pressed, the communication device A starts searching for the communication parameter automatic setting method being executed in the vicinity. For this reason, the communication apparatus A adds to the probe request information indicating that the multi-method automatic selection is being executed and transmits the probe request (F901, S401). When the information providing apparatus A receives the probe request from the communication apparatus A, it adds self-information including that the non-specific method 1 is being executed to the probe response, and transmits it to the communication apparatus A (F902). Further, when receiving the probe request from the communication device A, the information providing device B adds self-information including that the non-specific method 2 is being executed to the probe response and transmits the probe response to the communication device A (F903). By receiving the probe response, the communication device A determines that the plurality of information providing devices are executing communication parameter automatic setting using different methods (Yes in S402 and S405, No in S407 and S412). At this time, since the communication apparatus B has not performed the multi-system automatic selection, the multi-system automatic selection duplication error is not notified (No in S413). For this reason, the communication apparatus enters a reception standby state where it waits for reception of a search signal (F904, S414).

  Next, when the setting button of the communication device B is pressed, information indicating that the communication device B is executing the multi-method selection method in the probe request for searching the communication parameter automatic setting method being executed in the surroundings. Is added and transmitted (F905). When the information providing apparatus A receives the probe request from the communication apparatus B, the information providing apparatus A adds the self-information storing that the non-specific method 1 is being executed to the probe response and transmits it to the communication apparatus B (F906). Further, when receiving the probe request from the communication device B, the information providing device B adds self-information including that the non-specific method 2 is being executed to the probe response and transmits the probe response to the communication device B (F907).

  When the communication device A receives a probe request from the communication device B during the search signal reception standby state (F904) (Yes in S415), the communication device A determines whether the multi-system automatic selection information is included in the signal. (S416). In this example, the communication apparatus B performs multi-system automatic selection. For this reason, the communication device A determines from the content of the probe request that the communication device B is executing the multi-method automatic selection (Yes in S416), and transmits a multi-method automatic selection overlap error notification to the communication device B ( F908, S417). And the communication apparatus A notifies a duplication error to a user via the display part 105 (F909, S418). On the other hand, when receiving the multi-system automatic selection duplication error notification from the communication device A, the communication device B notifies the user of the error via the display unit 105 (F910).

  In this way, by notifying the information that the multi-method automatic selection is being executed, the communication parameter automatic setting process can be interrupted without waiting for the search process repetition period, so the time for determining whether or not to execute can be determined. Can be shortened. Further, it is possible to prevent connection to an information providing apparatus that is not intended by the user.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but this is an example for explaining the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The embodiment can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention. Also, the above description has been made with reference to an IEEE 802.11-compliant wireless LAN as an example. However, the present invention may use other wireless media. Moreover, you may implement in wired communication media, such as wired LAN.

<< Other Embodiments >>
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (9)

A communication device,
Detecting means for detecting an information providing device in a state capable of executing communication setting for performing communication with the communication device based on a signal transmitted by the information providing device;
When the information providing device detected by the detecting means is one, the communication parameter is received from the detected information providing device, and communication is performed with the information providing device using the communication parameter. An execution means for executing the setting;
When the information providing apparatus detected by the detecting means is not one, the detecting means is configured to detect again the information providing apparatus that is in a state where communication setting with the communication apparatus is possible. Control means for controlling
Have
When the number of the information providing devices detected by the detecting unit does not become one within a predetermined period from the time when the detecting unit first detects a plurality of the information providing devices, the control unit, Controlling the detection means to stop the detection of the information providing device;
Communication device comprising a call. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period is shorter than a period during which the information providing apparatus maintains a state in which communication setting can be performed. The control means, after the detection means first detects a plurality of the information providing devices, and when no information providing device is detected before the detected information providing device becomes one. the communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the controller controls the detecting means so as to terminate the detection of the information providing apparatus. Further comprising an acquisition means for acquiring identification information for identifying the information providing apparatus by the communication device is a connection target,
The execution means executes communication setting with the information providing apparatus when the detecting means detects the information providing apparatus specified by the specific information,
The control unit detects an information providing device in a state where communication setting with the communication device is possible when the detecting unit does not detect the information providing device specified by the specific information. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the detection unit is controlled as follows. The communication apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the specific information is a PIN code. An information providing device capable of executing communication settings with the communication device is detected, and when the detected information providing device is not one, information indicating that the detection of the information providing device is repeated is transmitted. communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a sending means. The control means controls the detection means to end the detection of the information providing apparatus when receiving information indicating that a predetermined function is being executed from another communication apparatus ,
Wherein the predetermined function when the other communication apparatus detects the information providing device is capable of executing the communication settings between the another communication apparatus, it detected information providing apparatus is not one, The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the detection of the information providing apparatus is repeated. A communication device control method comprising:
A detecting step for detecting an information providing device in a state in which communication setting for performing communication with the communication device is possible based on a signal transmitted by the information providing device;
When the information providing apparatus detected by the detecting means is one, the execution means receives a communication parameter from the detected information providing apparatus, and uses the communication parameter to An execution process for performing communication settings between
When the information providing apparatus detected by the detecting means is not one, the control means detects again the information providing apparatus that is in a state in which communication setting with the communication apparatus is possible. A control step for controlling the detection means;
Have
In the control step, when the number of the information providing devices detected is not one within a predetermined period from the time when the plurality of the information providing devices are first detected in the detection step, the information providing device Control to stop detection,
The communication control method according to claim and this. The program for functioning a computer as each means with which the communication apparatus of any one of Claim 1 to 7 is provided.

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