JP6388410B2 - COMMUNICATION DEVICE, ITS CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a communication device and a control method thereof, and about the program.

  Conventionally, when a user searches for a service provided on a network using a mobile terminal, a network service search protocol (mDNS (Multicast DNS), WS-Discovery (Web Services Discovery), SSDP (Simple Service Discovery Protocol), A desired network service can be searched by using SLP (Service-Location Protocol) or the like. Since such a service search protocol uses multicast technology, services on different networks adjacent to the connected network can also be searched.

  As another service search means, when a wireless LAN access point itself provides a service, there is a technique for publicizing the service as access point information and knowing the service by acquiring the information (Patent Document 1). reference).

Special table 2009-521190

In the related art, the communication device cannot be connected to the access point to which the printing device designated by the user from the search result is connected .

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a communication device, connected to each of a plurality of access points, searching means for searching for a printing device via each of the plurality of access points, and display means for displaying a search result of the printing device by the searching means As the search by the search means is completed, the access point to be connected is an access point based on the search result by the search means or the access point that was connected before the search of the printing apparatus was started. Control means for connecting the communication device to the determined access point, the control means, after connecting to the determined access point, the communication device, The access point to which the printing apparatus designated by the user from the search results is connected is connected.

According to the present invention, a communication device can be connected to an access point to which a printing device designated by a user from search results is connected .

The figure which shows the example of a network structure. The figure which shows the hardware structural example. The figure which shows the software structural example of a portable terminal. The service search flowchart. The flowchart of a service search AP list creation process. The flowchart at the time of network service utilization. The flowchart of the connection AP switching process after service search. The figure which shows the example of various data. The figure which shows the example of a setting screen of service search. The figure which shows the result screen example of a service search. The figure which shows the example of service history information.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[System configuration]
A configuration example of the entire system according to the present embodiment and a case where the mobile terminal searches for a service on the network will be described. A mobile terminal 100 which is a mobile terminal according to the present embodiment is an information processing apparatus having a function capable of wireless connection, for example, a smartphone, a mobile phone, and has the same configuration as a general PC (Personal Computer). FIG. 2 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the mobile terminal 100 of the present invention. That is, the mobile terminal 100 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, a wireless LAN card (WLC) 104, a keyboard controller (KBC) 106, a display controller (DC) 107, a disk controller (DKC) 108, and a wireless transceiver 109. These components are connected to each other via a system bus 105 so that they can communicate with each other.

  The CPU 101 executes various software stored in the ROM 102 or the HD 112 or supplied from an external memory (SD) 113 such as an SD card. The CPU 101 comprehensively controls each element connected to the system bus 105.

  The RAM 103 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 101. The KBC 106 controls an instruction input from the KB 110 or a pointing device (not shown). The DC 107 controls display on the display (DISP) 111.

  The DKC 207 controls access to the HD 112 and the SD 113. The HD 112 or SD 113 stores a boot program, a distributed server system program, various applications, an edit file, a user file, and the like. The wireless transceiver 109 is a device for communicating with the Internet through a mobile communication network using a mobile network such as 3G or 4G (W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) or LTE (Long Term Evolution)). .

  The WLC 104 is a device for bidirectionally exchanging data with a network printer, another network device, or an information processing apparatus via a wireless LAN. The CPU 101 controls the wireless transceiver 109 and the WLC 104 to perform communication via any communication line.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the internal configuration of the mobile terminal 100. The mobile terminal 100 mainly includes an application 140 operating inside the mobile terminal, a service search system 125, and an OS 120 of the mobile terminal. These modules are recorded in any of the ROM 102, HD 112, and SD 113 of the mobile terminal 100 and executed by the CPU 101.

  The application 140 is a module that has a function for handling documents, an electronic book reader, and a game function, and can be added later by the user. The application 140 can use a service (function) provided by the OS 120 via the I / F 130. The OS 120 provides a function for operating the hardware of the mobile terminal 100, a function for connecting to a wireless LAN or the mobile base station 202 for communication, a function for searching for a network service for the application 140, and the like. The service search system 125 has a function of searching for a service designated by the application 140 from the network.

  The network communication management module 122 manages connection of a network for which a service search is performed. Specifically, management of currently connectable access points (hereinafter referred to as APs) and determination or switching of connection destinations are performed. In the present embodiment, the AP means a wireless LAN access point including a radio wave repeater connecting terminals and a mobile phone and a base station connecting to the Internet. The service search module 121 is a module that provides a search function corresponding to various service search protocols. For example, it supports mDNS, WS-Discovery, SSDP, and SLP protocols.

[Service search]
A first embodiment in which the mobile terminal 100 searches for a service on the network will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network configuration according to the present embodiment. The mobile terminal 100 includes authentication information for using the “WiFi AP1” 200 which is a WiFi access point for connecting to the network 400. Further, the printer 303 is capable of WiFiDirect communication, and includes “WiFiAP2” 203 as an access point. “WiFi AP2” 203 is set to not require authentication information in the wireless LAN connection. On the other hand, connection to “WiFi AP3” 201, which is a WiFi access point for connecting to the network 401, requires authentication information. However, it is assumed that the mobile terminal 100 does not hold the authentication information.

  The mobile base station 202 is a base station of a mobile network, and can be connected to the Internet 500 by connecting the mobile terminal 100 to the mobile base station 202 via a 3G / 4G line.

  The networks 400 and 401 are connected to the Internet 500 via the router 300, but the router 300 is set not to allow multicast communication. That is, when the mobile terminal 100 is connected to any network, it is not possible to search for a network service provided outside the connected network using a service search protocol.

  The printing apparatuses 600 to 603 provide a print service that receives a job or the like via a network and performs print processing. Here, the printing apparatus may be a printer that provides only a printing function, or may be an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) that provides other functions (services).

(Network service search processing)
A processing flow in which the service search system 125 of the mobile terminal 100 searches for a print service executed by the CPU 101 under such an environment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 8. The print service refers to a print function provided by the printing apparatus. In this embodiment, a print service will be described as an example of a network service to be searched.

  First, a table of various data handled in this processing flow will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the AP management table 801. Information about each AP is registered.

  FIG. 8B shows a configuration example of the service search AP list 802. The service search AP list 802 is a list for managing AP information to be searched and search status in association with each other. When the service search AP list is created, the search statuses are all unsearched.

  FIG. 8C shows a configuration example of the service search result list 803. The service search result list 803 registers the information of the network service acquired as a result of the service search and the AP information connected when the service is searched. In the service search result list 803 according to the present embodiment, an example is described in which AP information is described together with a printer name, an IP address, and a GeoLocation (latitude / longitude) as network service information, assuming a case where a print service is searched. . For example, when the printer A and the printer B are found as a result of searching the service by connecting to the WiFi AP 1, the information of the printer A and the printer B and the information of the WiFi AP 1 are registered as the AP information in association with the information.

  Note that the information constituting the lists and tables is an example, and other information may be managed in association with each other.

  Processing for searching for a network service will be described with reference to FIG. The process in FIG. 4 is started when, for example, a printer search instruction on the network is received from the user. The search process may be performed periodically.

  When performing a service search, the mobile terminal 100 refers to the AP management table 801, determines an AP of a network to be searched, and creates a service search AP list 802 (S100). Details of this step will be described later with reference to FIG.

  After creating the service search AP list 802, the mobile terminal 100 performs a specified network service search for the network environment to which it is currently connected (S110). The network service search here is a search and information acquisition using a network service search technology such as mDNS, WS-Discovery, SLP or the like.

  When the mobile terminal 100 detects a service, AP information connected at the time of searching is added to the service search result list 803 together with information on the detected service (S120). Then, when the network service search is completed, the mobile terminal 100 records the searched AP as already searched in the service search AP list 802 (S130).

  When the network service search is completed for the currently connected AP, the mobile terminal 100 checks the service search AP list 802 to check whether the network service search has been performed for all registered APs (S140). . If an unsearched AP exists in service search AP list 802 (YES in S140), mobile terminal 100 disconnects from the currently connected AP and newly connects to an unsearched AP (S150). ).

  Thereafter, the mobile terminal 100 returns to S110 and continues the network service search process for the unsearched AP. If there is no unsearched AP in service search AP list 802 (NO in S140), mobile terminal 100 ends the network service search process because service search has been performed for all APs.

  After this processing flow is completed, the mobile terminal 100 displays a print service search result as shown in FIG. 10 as a list (selection screen) of print devices (print services) available to the user as a result of the network service search. A screen 1001 is displayed. Here, since the printer is searched, the printer selection screen is displayed.

(Service search AP list creation process)
Next, the flow of the process for creating the service search AP list 802 in S100 of FIG. 4 will be described using FIG. 5 and FIG. This processing flow is realized by the service search system 125 of the mobile terminal 100 being executed by the CPU 101.

  FIG. 9 shows a setting screen 900 for setting a service search range. The setting screen 900 includes a setting item 901 for designating a service search range and a setting item 906 for designating settings relating to the AP setting after the search.

  When the mobile terminal 100 searches for a network service on the network, it can be set in the setting item 901 whether to search only the connected network or all connectable networks (AP) (controller). 902, 903). In the case of setting to search for all connectable networks, a setting button 904 for selecting whether to include mobile networks (3G / 4G) and WiFi is provided. Note that the connection methods that can be selected here are not limited to the above, and a network corresponding to another connection method may be selected. Further, a setting button 905 related to network switching is provided at the time of search, and when the switching confirmation is set to “valid” here, when changing the AP during the network service search process, the user can determine whether to switch the AP. Can be sought.

  For example, when the network switching setting is “valid”, a confirmation screen 1002 is displayed every time the AP is switched in the network service search, as in the print service search result screen 1001 of FIG. As a result, the user is requested to continue the network service search. Note that the print service search result screen 1001 in FIG. 10 is displayed based on the contents of the service search AP list 802. The print service search result screen 1001 may be displayed by, for example, calculating the distance of the print service from the position information of the print service (printing apparatus) and the position information of the mobile terminal 100, and sorting the distances in the order of closest distance. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which can preset the order which a user displays, or can rearrange according to the objective.

  When the creation process of the service search AP list 802 is started, the mobile terminal 100 confirms the setting value set in itself and determines the search range (S111). If the search range is limited to the currently connected network (YES in S111), mobile terminal 100 includes only the currently connected AP in service search AP list 802 (S116). Then, this processing flow ends.

  When the search range is set as a connectable network (NO in S111), the mobile terminal 100 checks whether the mobile network (3G / 4G) is valid as a search target (S112). If valid (YES in S112), mobile terminal 100 confirms the communication status of the mobile network, and if the connection is possible (in the radio wave range), AP corresponding to the network is added to service search AP list 802. (S113). If invalid (NO in S112), the process proceeds to S114.

  Next, the mobile terminal 100 checks whether the WiFi network is valid as a service search target (S114). If it is valid (YES in S114), the mobile terminal 100 checks the status / settings of the WiFi AP, and if the connection is possible, adds the AP to the service search AP list 802 (S115). The AP included in the service search AP list 802 includes, for example, an AP whose radio wave condition is within range and does not require authentication for connection, and an AP that requires authentication for connection but has authentication information registered in the mobile terminal 100. It is done. For example, in the case of the AP management table 801 shown in FIG. 8A, WiFi AP1 and WiFi AP2 correspond.

(Network service usage processing)
Next, a flow of network service use processing will be described with reference to FIG. This processing flow is realized by the service search system 125 of the mobile terminal 100 being executed by the CPU 101. This processing flow is started, for example, by designating a service (printing apparatus) to be used by the user from the list displayed on the print service search result screen 1001 in FIG.

  The mobile terminal 100 selects a service to be used from the service search result list 803, compares the AP information of the service recorded in the service search result list 803 with the currently connected AP information, and the APs match. It is determined whether or not (S200). If the APs match (YES in S200), the mobile terminal 100 is connected to the network environment (AP) that can communicate with the service at the present time. The service is used (S201).

  On the other hand, when the APs are different (NO in S200), the mobile terminal 100 disconnects from the currently connected AP and switches to the connection to the AP to which the service to be used belongs (S202). Thereafter, the mobile terminal 100 communicates with the service to be used and uses the service (S201).

  If the currently connected AP is different from the AP when the service is searched, the connection is switched because there is a high possibility that communication with the service found from the network of the currently connected AP is not possible. For example, let us consider a case where Printer C in the service search result list 803 is used in a situation where the mobile terminal 100 is connected to the WiFi AP 1. In this case, when trying to communicate with the Printer C in a state where it is connected to the WiFi AP 1, the WiFi AP 1 communicates with the Printer A operated with the same IP address as the Printer C. In order to prevent such a situation, it is necessary to switch between APs when the APs of services to be used are different.

(AP switching process)
Next, processing for improving convenience from network service search to service use processing will be described with reference to FIG. Specifically, after the network service search, it is a process of determining to which AP the mobile terminal 100 is connected (switched). As a result, after searching for a service by connecting to a plurality of APs, it is possible to switch between using the status of connecting to the AP of the service actually used or returning to the status before the search. This processing flow is realized by the service search system 125 of the mobile terminal 100 being executed by the CPU 101.

  Before performing the network service search, the mobile terminal 100 confirms the AP switching setting after the service search, and determines whether or not the switching is linked to the search result (S300). Here, the AP switching setting after the service search corresponds to, for example, a setting item 906 set on the setting screen 900 of FIG. A setting item 906 is a setting for the user to select an AP to be connected after the network service search. When the user wants to connect to the AP before the service search after the network service search, the setting 907 that is not linked to the search result is selected. On the other hand, when it is desired to connect to an AP of a service that is highly likely to be used in conjunction with the search result after the network service search, the setting 908 that is linked to the search result is selected.

  Furthermore, in the case of interlocking with the search result, two settings are possible in this embodiment as shown in FIG. The first is a setting 909 for connecting to the AP of the service with the shortest distance. The second is a setting 910 for connecting to an AP of a recently used service. When the user validates these settings, the mobile terminal 100 connects to the AP of the service that meets the conditions from the service search result list 803 after the network service search. As a result, after the network service search, the frequency of connection switching when using the discovered service can be reduced, and the processing waiting time when the user uses the service can be reduced.

  When the post-search AP setting after the service search is not linked to the search result, the mobile terminal 100 needs to return to the AP before the service search after the service search. Therefore, when not linked to the search result (NO in S300), the mobile terminal 100 temporarily stores the AP information connected before the service search (S301). Thereafter, the mobile terminal 100 performs a network service search on the designated network (S302). The processing in this step corresponds to the processing shown in FIG. When the service search is completed, the mobile terminal 100 connects to the pre-search AP stored in S301 (S303). Then, this processing flow ends.

  If the post-search AP setting after the service search is a setting linked to the search result (YES in S300), the mobile terminal 100 searches for a service on the designated network (S304). The processing here corresponds to the processing shown in FIG. Then, the mobile terminal 100 determines an AP to be connected based on the service information of the service search result (S305). When the mobile terminal 100 determines an AP to connect to, the mobile terminal 100 connects to the AP (S306). Then, this processing flow ends.

[Process using service search history]
In the above, it was a process in the case of searching for a service to be used by performing a network service search. However, the present invention is applicable even when service search history information is used. The service search history information will be described with reference to FIG.

  The service history information 1101 illustrated in FIG. 11 is stored in a storage area (HD 112, SD 113) where the mobile terminal 100 can use service history information used by the service search system 125 of the mobile terminal 100.

  As the service history information 1101, the last use date and time are recorded together with the service name, the AP information at the time of connection, and the IP address. Since the user is likely to use the service once used again, it is possible to select the service to be used from the service history information without using the service search and use the service. The flow at the time of using the network service in this case is the same as that shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when a mobile terminal that can be connected to a plurality of networks searches for a service on the network, it is possible to surely find a desired service by performing a service search for each connectable network. It becomes.

  Although the network service has been described as a print service in the present embodiment, a service providing apparatus that provides another service may be searched. For example, a fax service can be considered.

<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, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (8)

A communication device,
Search means for connecting to each of the plurality of access points and searching for a printing apparatus via each of the plurality of access points ;
Display means for displaying a search result of the printing apparatus by the search means;
Whether the access point to be connected is an access point based on the search result by the search unit or the access point that was connected before the search of the printing device was started as the search by the search unit is completed And a control means for connecting the communication device to the determined access point;
Have
Wherein, after the connection to the access point with the determined, the communication device, the search result communication device characterized that you print apparatus designated on the user to connect to the access point connected from the . A communication device,
Search means for connecting to each of the plurality of access points and searching for a printing apparatus via each of the plurality of access points ;
The I Ri retrieved printing device to said search means, and display means the distance from the communication device is displayed in order of distance,
Control means for connecting the communication device to an access point to which the printing device closest to the communication device is connected as the search by the search means is completed;
Determining means for determining whether or not the access point connected to the communication device by the control means matches the access point to which the printing device designated by the user from the search results is connected;
Have
If it is determined by the determination means that the control means matches, the control means communicates with the printing apparatus designated by the user without switching the connection destination access point of the communication apparatus, and the determination means matches. If it is determined that the communication device is not to be connected, the connection destination of the communication device is switched to the access point to which the printing device designated by the user is connected, and control is performed to perform communication with the printing device designated by the user. A communication device characterized by:   3. The search unit searches for a printing apparatus by requesting a search for a printing apparatus from an access point to which the communication apparatus is connected and another access point. The communication apparatus as described in. Further comprising generating means for generating a list of access points;
The communication device according to claim 3, wherein the search unit searches for a printing device by requesting a search for the printing device to an access point included in the list generated by the generation unit.   5. The communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the generation unit searches for an access point by a plurality of communication methods and generates a list of found access points. A communication device control method comprising:
A search step of connecting to each of the plurality of access points and searching for a printing apparatus via each of the plurality of access points ;
A display step for displaying a search result of the printing device;
Whether the access point to be connected is the access point based on the search result in the search step or the access point that was connected before the search of the printing device was started as the search in the search step is completed And a control step of connecting the communication device to the determined access point;
Have
In the control step, after the connection to the access point with the determined, the communication device, the search result communication device characterized that you print apparatus designated on the user to connect to the access point connected from the Control method. A communication device control method comprising:
A search step of connecting to each of the plurality of access points and searching for a printing apparatus via each of the plurality of access points ;
A display step for displaying the printing devices searched in the searching step in order of increasing distance from the communication device ;
As the search in the search step is completed, a control step of connecting the communication device to an access point to which a printing device closest to the communication device is connected;
A determination step of determining whether or not the access point connected to the communication device in the control step matches the access point to which the printing device designated by the user from the search results is connected;
If it is determined by the determination step that the two match, the communication device communicates with the printing device designated by the user without switching the connection destination access point of the communication device, and the determination step determines that they do not match. In this case, there is a step of switching the connection destination of the communication device to an access point to which the printing device designated by the user is connected, and controlling to perform communication with the printing device designated by the user. A control method for a communication apparatus.   A program for causing a computer to execute the communication device control method according to claim 6.

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