JP2007151195A - Wireless lan system, communication terminal and communication program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the load of a user for wireless LAN setting. <P>SOLUTION: An access point transmits a probe request on the basis of each of a plurality of connection methods (request). This probe request is received by a printer with the same connection method set (request 32) and this printer sends a probe response (response). Subsequently, the access point that receives the reply of this probe response notifies the printer about the connection method set to the access point itself using request prompt data (request prompt). The printer that receives this notification then sets the notified connection method, namely, the same connection method as the access point. The printer is thus set to the same connection method as the access point and radio connection is established between them. Thus, a method of connection to the access point is automatically set to the printer, so that the load of a user for wireless LAN setting can be remarkably reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless LAN system that enables data communication between both by setting a wireless station in the same connection method as a wireless access point, and a communication terminal and a communication program that can be used in this system.

  Currently, so-called wireless LANs that realize wireless data communication between a plurality of wireless stations or between a wireless station and an external network are widely used.

  In wireless LAN networks, there are communication methods such as “infrastructure mode” in which each wireless station performs wireless communication via a relay station and “ad hoc mode” in which wireless stations directly communicate with each other. The communication system can be switched according to the application, but it is generally used in the “infrastructure mode”.

  In such an “infrastructure mode” network, a wireless station can access a wireless access point by performing various settings such as a connection method on the wireless station side. The above-mentioned “connection method” refers to, for example, a wireless LAN standard (for example, IEEE802.11b, -a, -g, etc.) adopted when performing wireless connection, and a frequency band used in these wireless LAN standards ( This is a wireless connection method defined by a so-called channel).

  Here, for various settings on the wireless station side, if the wireless station has a user interface with high operability such as a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”), the setting operation is performed by this user interface. It is easy to do.

  However, in a wireless station that does not have a user interface with higher operability than a PC such as a printer that provides services via a network, setting with this user interface is very troublesome and laborious. It is.

  For this reason, in some of these wireless stations, the communication method for both other wireless stations is switched to “ad-hoc mode”, and data related to settings is exchanged between the two wireless stations to indirectly Configuration (remote setup), or by connecting the PC directly with a cable and exchanging data related to the configuration with the PC, it can be configured indirectly from the PC side. Some are.

  However, in this case, it is necessary to move wireless stations whose communication methods have been switched to “ad hoc mode” to a position where wireless communication is possible, or to move a PC to a place where a cable can be laid. After all, remote setup is still a time-consuming task.

  In particular, when using a wireless station used in "Infrastructure Mode" for remote setup, it is necessary to switch the communication method from "Ad Hoc Mode" to "Infrastructure Mode" again after the remote setup is completed. It takes time and effort.

  As described above, a wireless station that does not have a user interface with higher operability than a PC, such as a printer that provides a service via a network, has a problem in that it takes time to perform various settings. It was.

  Therefore, in recent years, various techniques for reducing the labor of such work have been proposed. For example, add a function as a wireless access point (relay station) to a network device such as a printer that functions as a wireless station, establish an original wireless network with this function (relay function unit), and connect via this wireless network The function as a wireless access point is stopped after indirectly performing the necessary settings (remote setup) for connecting to other wireless networks from the other wireless station side using the wireless station function (terminal function unit) (See Patent Document 1).

With this technology, it is possible to reduce the labor required for work for performing various settings in a wireless station that does not have a user interface with high operability.
JP 2003-143156 A

  However, in the above-described technology, wireless stations whose communication methods are switched to “ad hoc mode” are moved to a position where wireless communication is possible, or a PC is moved to a place where a cable can be laid. Although it is possible to reduce the time and labor associated with the setting, the operation itself for setting must be performed.

  In order to construct a wireless LAN network, not only a setting related to a general LAN (wired LAN) but also a setting “connection method” unique to the wireless LAN is required. Since this setting requires various specialized knowledge, even users who have expertise in wired LANs often cannot easily make settings specific to wireless LANs, and even for users who are unfamiliar with LANs themselves. It can be said that the setting of the LAN is very difficult.

  As described above, the load on the user with respect to the setting of the wireless LAN is currently heavy, and this is considered to be one of the factors hindering the spread of the wireless LAN, and the load on the user with respect to the setting of the wireless LAN is reduced. There was a demand for technology.

  The present invention has been made on the basis of such a demand, and an object thereof is to reduce a load on a user with respect to setting of a wireless LAN.

  In order to solve the above problem, in the wireless LAN system according to claim 1, a wireless station capable of setting a connection method, which is a wireless connection method, to any one of a plurality of connection methods is selected in advance from any of the plurality of connection methods. A wireless LAN system that enables data communication between a wireless access point and a wireless station by setting the same connection method as that of the wireless access point set in the above.

  As a specific configuration, first, the wireless access point includes a response request unit and a method notification unit. Among these, the response request means transmits response request data for requesting a response to the wireless station based on each of the plurality of connection methods. The method notifying means transmits the response request data by the response request means and then receives the response data returned as a response to the response request data. Based on the same connection method as the response data, the method notification means Notification data for notifying the point itself of a preset connection method is transmitted to the wireless station. On the other hand, the wireless station includes response reply means and method setting means. Among these, the response reply means returns the response data to the wireless access point when receiving the request data transmitted from the wireless access point based on the connection method set in advance for the wireless station itself. To do. In addition, the method setting unit notifies the wireless station itself with the notification data when the notification data transmitted based on the connection method set in advance is received after the response data is returned by the response reply unit. The connected connection method is set as a connection method to the wireless access point.

  In the wireless LAN system configured as described above, the wireless access point transmits response request data to the wireless station based on each of a plurality of connection methods. This response request data is received by a wireless station set with the same connection method, and this wireless station returns response data to the wireless access point in response to the response request data. Subsequently, the wireless access point that has received the response data returns a connection method set for the wireless access point itself to the wireless station using the notification data. The wireless station that has received this notification sets the connection method notified by the notification data, that is, the same connection method as the connection method set in the wireless access point. In this way, the wireless station is set to the same connection method as the wireless access point, so that wireless connection can be established between them.

  In this way, in the wireless station, the method for connecting to the wireless access point is automatically set by the method setting means through the reply by the response reply means. Therefore, it is possible to significantly reduce the load on the user for setting the wireless LAN.

  The above-mentioned “connection method” refers to, for example, a wireless LAN standard (for example, IEEE802.11b, -a, -g, etc.) adopted when performing wireless connection, and a frequency band used in these wireless LAN standards ( This is a wireless connection method defined by a so-called channel.

  In the wireless access point described above, the method notification means is means for returning the notification data to the wireless station when the response data is received from the wireless station. The notification data is connected to the same response data as the received response data. It is transmitted by the method (that is, the connection method set for the wireless station).

  In addition, as described in claim 2, the method notifying means transmits request prompting data for requesting permission for wireless connection to the wireless access point as notification data, and permission for wireless connection is transmitted from the wireless station. When an association request, which is data for requesting, is transmitted, an association response for permitting wireless connection to the wireless access point itself may be returned.

  With this configuration, after the connection method is set on the wireless station side, the wireless connection between the wireless access point and the wireless station can be realized through the exchange of association requests and responses.

  In the wireless access point described above, the response request means is means for transmitting response request data based on each of a plurality of connection methods, and the specific configuration for transmitting the response request data is not particularly limited.

  For example, if there is provided a method switching means for switching the connection method to each of a plurality of connection methods in order at predetermined time intervals and then switching back to the connection method set in advance for the wireless access point itself, According to a third aspect of the present invention, it is sufficient that the response request data is transmitted based on the connection method thus switched each time the connection method is switched by the method switching means. In this case, the method notifying means receives the response data from when the response request data is transmitted by the response request means to when the method switching means switches to the next connection method. The notification data may be transmitted based on the connection method switched in FIG.

  If comprised in this way, the wireless access point can transmit response request data based on each connection method, switching a connection method in order. Then, based on the same connection method as the connection method set for the wireless station that has transmitted the response data, only the notification data is transmitted based on the connection method that is switched when the response request data is transmitted. Notification data can be transmitted.

  In this configuration, the timing at which the method switching means in the wireless access point starts switching the connection method is not particularly limited. For example, when receiving a command from the outside, as described in claim 4 What is necessary is just to comprise so that a connection method may be switched.

  With this configuration, the setting of the connection method for the wireless station can be explicitly commanded from the outside.

  The “command from the outside” in this configuration is, for example, a specific operation performed by the user on the operation unit provided in the wireless access point or a communication terminal connected to the wireless access point so as to perform data communication It is data of.

  Further, as described in claim 5, the response request unit described above responds based on a connection method set in advance for the wireless access point itself before switching of the connection method by the method switching unit is started. It may be configured to transmit the request data.

  With this configuration, when the same connection method as that previously set for the wireless access point is initially set, the wireless station immediately establishes wireless connection between the wireless access point and the wireless station. Since it can be established, it is possible to prevent the wireless access point from switching unnecessary connection methods.

  In this configuration, since response request data is first transmitted to the wireless access point itself based on a preset connection method, the method switching means switches to the preset connection method. It is better to configure so that there is no.

  The method setting means in the wireless station described above is a means for setting a connection method to the wireless access point, and the specific configuration for setting is not particularly limited. For example, in the case where notification collection means for collecting notification data transmitted based on a connection method set in advance with respect to the wireless station itself is provided over a predetermined period, as described in claim 6 In addition, after the notification data is collected by the notification collection means, the same connection method as the notification data having the highest reception level among the collected notification data is set as the connection method to the wireless access point. It is good to configure.

  According to this configuration, the same connection method as the notification data having the highest reception level among the notification data collected (received) within a predetermined period is set as the connection method to the wireless access point in the wireless station. be able to.

  Note that the notification collection means in this configuration is means for collecting notification data, and the notification data collected here is, for example, a memory so that the correspondence between the transmission source, connection method, and reception level of the notification data can be specified. You can just memorize it. In this case, the method setting means may be configured to switch to the connection method corresponding to the notification data having the highest reception level among the connection methods specified by the stored correspondence.

  In addition, as described above, the same connection method as the notification data having the highest reception level can be set as the connection method to the wireless access point. It is suitable for preventing the connection method from being set by mistake.

When setting the connection method of the wireless station to the wireless access point, there are other wireless access points provided with response request means and method notification means in addition to this wireless access point (for example, adjacent houses). Then, notification data is also transmitted from the wireless access point to the wireless station. Therefore, depending on the timing at which the notification data is received, the same connection method set at other wireless access points may be set regardless of the user's intention.
However, as described above, since the same connection method as the notification data having the highest reception level can be set as the connection method to the wireless access point, the reception level at the time of wireless communication between the wireless access point and the wireless station is high. It is possible to prevent an incorrect connection method from being set based on notification data from other wireless access points simply by making them close to each other.

  Further, in the above wireless access point, the method notification means may be configured to transmit the notification data regardless of the response data when the response data is received. As described above, the notification data may be transmitted to the wireless station that has transmitted the response data satisfying the predetermined condition.

  With this configuration, the wireless access point can transmit the notification data and set the connection method only to the wireless station that has transmitted the response data that satisfies the predetermined condition.

  The specific content of the “predetermined condition” in this configuration is not particularly limited, but for example, it is conceivable to use response data having the highest reception level as a condition.

  For this purpose, as described in claim 8, response transmission means for collecting response data over a predetermined period after transmission of response request data by the response request means is started, and the method notification means After the notification data is collected by the collecting means, the notification data may be transmitted to the wireless station that is the transmission source of the response data having the highest reception level among the response data collected in this way.

  If comprised in this way, the wireless access point can transmit a notification data and set a connection method to the wireless station which transmitted the response data with the largest reception level.

  Therefore, as in the sixth aspect, a request is made to a wireless station different from the wireless station for which the connection method is to be set only by bringing the wireless access point and the wireless station close so that the reception level at the time of wireless communication becomes high. It is possible to prevent the reminder data from being transmitted by mistake and causing the connection method to be set.

  The response collecting means in this configuration is means for collecting response data, and collects response data after the transmission of response request data is started. The response request data collected here may be stored in a memory or the like so that the correspondence relationship between the transmission source of the response request data, the connection method, and the reception level can be specified. In this case, the method notification means may be configured to transmit the notification data by the connection method having the highest reception level among the connection methods specified by the stored correspondence.

  Further, the method notifying unit in the wireless access point described above may include a command from the outside of the response data returned after the response request data is transmitted by the response request unit. The notification data may be transmitted to the wireless station that is the transmission source of the response data determined based on the above.

  According to this configuration, the wireless access point can transmit the notification data and set the connection method only to the wireless station that is the transmission source of the response data determined based on the command from the outside.

  In addition, the wireless access point includes response collection means for collecting response data over a predetermined period after transmission of response request data by the response request means is started. After the response data is collected by the response collecting means, the means transmits the notification data to the wireless station that is the transmission source of the response data determined based on the command from the outside among the collected response data It is good to configure as follows.

  With this configuration, the wireless access point transmits the notification data only to the wireless station that can transmit the response data determined based on the command from the outside among the response data collected over a predetermined period. Can be set.

  Note that the response collection means in this configuration collects response data after transmission of response request data is started over a predetermined period, as described above. The response data collected here may be stored in a memory or the like in a state where the connection method and the transmission source of the response data can be specified, for example. In this case, the method notification means may be configured to transmit the notification data to the wireless station that has transmitted the response data determined based on the command from the outside among the collected response data.

  In addition, the “command from the outside” in this configuration may be, for example, a predetermined operation by the user performed on the operation unit provided in the wireless station. It is conceivable to configure as described in the above.

  In the wireless LAN system according to claim 11, after the response data is collected by the response collection means at the wireless access point, one or more wireless stations from which the response data collected in this way are transmitted are collected. First user selecting means for allowing the user to select the wireless station is provided, and the method notifying means transmits the notification data to the wireless station selected by the user by the first user selecting means.

  According to this configuration, the wireless access point can transmit the notification data only to the wireless station arbitrarily selected by the user and set the connection method.

  In order to set a predetermined operation by the user as an “external command”, a configuration as described in claim 12 may be considered.

  In the wireless LAN system according to the twelfth aspect, in the wireless station, the response return means transmits the response data in a state where identification data for identifying the wireless station itself is associated. In the access point, the response collecting means is configured to collect the response data together with the identification data corresponding to the response data, and further collected after the response data is collected by the response collecting means. Second user selection means for allowing the user to select one or more identification data from among the identification data corresponding to each response data is provided, and the method notification means is identification data selected by the user by the second user selection means. Send notification data to the identified wireless station.

  With this configuration, the wireless access point can transmit the notification data to the wireless station identified by the identification data arbitrarily selected by the user (corresponding to the identification data) and set the connection method. it can.

  In addition, the “command from the outside” in claim 10 described above may refer to data from a communication terminal connected to the wireless station so that data communication is possible. For this purpose, as described in claim 13. It is conceivable to configure.

  14. The wireless LAN system according to claim 13, wherein in the wireless access point, the method notification means receives a command from a communication terminal connected to the wireless access point itself so as to perform data communication and should transmit notification data. Is configured to determine.

  If comprised in this way, a wireless access point will transmit notification data only to the wireless station which transmitted the response data determined based on the instruction | command from a communication terminal among the response data collected over the predetermined period. To set the connection method.

  In this configuration, in order to exchange commands with the communication terminal, for example, a configuration as described in claim 14 can be considered.

  15. The wireless LAN system according to claim 14, wherein the wireless access point includes response collection means and list transmission means. Among these, the response collection unit collects the response data over a predetermined period after the transmission of the response request data by the response request unit is started, and thus collects the response data and the wireless that is the transmission source of the response data The correspondence relationship between stations is stored in the storage unit. The list transmission means transmits the list data indicating the list to the communication terminal when receiving the request data from the communication terminal for requesting the list of wireless stations whose correspondence is stored by the response collecting means. To do. The method notifying means transmits the list data to the communication terminal by the list transmitting means, and then communicates selection data indicating one or more radio stations selected from the list indicated by the list data on the communication terminal side. After receiving from the terminal, the notification data is returned to the wireless station indicated by the selection data. Further, the communication terminal includes a list request unit, a user selection unit, and a selection transmission unit. Among these, the list request means transmits list request data to the wireless access point. Further, the third user selecting means receives the list data from the wireless access point after the list request data is transmitted to the wireless access point by the list requesting means, and selects one of the lists indicated by the list data. The user selects the above radio station. The selection transmission means transmits selection data indicating one or more wireless stations selected by the user by the third user selection means to the wireless access point.

  With this configuration, the wireless access point transmits the notification data only to the wireless station arbitrarily selected by the user on the communication terminal side based on the correspondence collected by the response collecting means, and causes the connection method to be set. Can do.

  Note that the response collection means in this configuration collects response data after transmission of response request data is started over a predetermined period, as described above. The response data collected here may be stored in a memory or the like in a state where the connection method and the transmission source of the response data can be specified, for example. In this case, the method notification means may be configured to transmit the notification data to the wireless station that has transmitted the response data determined based on the command from the outside among the collected response data.

  In order to exchange commands with the communication terminal according to the thirteenth aspect, a configuration as described in the fifteenth aspect can be considered.

  In the wireless LAN system according to claim 15, the wireless station transmits the response data in a state where the response reply means associates identification data for identifying the wireless station itself. The wireless access point is provided with response collection means and list transmission means. Among these, the response collection means collects the response data together with the identification data corresponding to the response data for a predetermined period after the transmission of the response request data by the response request means is started. The correspondence relationship between the wireless station and the identification data is stored in the storage unit. The list transmitting means transmits list data indicating the list to the communication terminal side when receiving request data from the communication terminal for requesting a list of identification data whose correspondence is stored by the response collecting means. The method notifying means transmits the list data to the communication terminal by the list transmitting means, and then communicates selection data indicating one or more identification data selected from the list indicated by the list data on the communication terminal side. After receiving from the terminal, the notification data is returned to the wireless station corresponding to the identification data indicated by the selection data. The communication terminal includes a list request unit, a fourth user selection unit, and a selection transmission unit. Among these, the list request means transmits list request data to the wireless access point. When the list request data is transmitted to the wireless access point by the list requesting means and then the list data is received from the wireless access point, the fourth user selection means receives one or more from the list indicated by the list data. Let the user select the identification data. The selective transmission means transmits selection data indicating one or more wireless stations selected by the user by the fourth user selection means to the wireless access point.

  With this configuration, the wireless access point transmits and connects the notification data only to the wireless station corresponding to the identification data arbitrarily selected by the user on the communication terminal side based on the correspondence collected by the response collecting means. You can set the method.

  Note that the response collection means in this configuration collects response data after transmission of response request data is started over a predetermined period, as described above. The response data collected here may be stored in a memory or the like in a state where the correspondence between the identification data corresponding to the response data and the connection method (or the response data itself) can be specified, for example. In this case, the list transmitting means may be configured to transmit list data indicating a list of identification data specified by the stored correspondence relationship to the communication terminal side.

  Each of the user selection means described above is a means for allowing the user to make a selection. For example, the selection item (wireless station, identification data) is selected on the operation unit by a display unit, a printing unit, a speaker, or the like. A configuration may be adopted in which notification to the effect of selection is made and an operation unit is selected based on the notification.

  By the way, in the wireless LAN system described above, even if the wireless station is wirelessly connected to the wireless access point, if the wireless access point is set to encrypt data communication, normally, the wireless station side Similarly, data communication cannot be performed normally unless encryption is set to perform data communication.

  Therefore, in order to enable normal data communication without causing the user to perform an operation, the wireless access point transmits the notification data by the method notification unit as described in claim 16. When data communication at the wireless access point itself is set to be performed in the state encrypted with the first encryption key, encryption is performed only for data communication with the wireless station to which the notification data is transmitted. It is preferable to provide encryption switching means for performing the method without performing encryption.

  With this configuration, even if the wireless access point is set to perform encrypted data communication, data communication is normally performed without setting the wireless station to perform encrypted data communication. Will be able to. Thereby, it is possible to realize data communication between the wireless access point and the wireless station while maintaining a security level for data communication performed by the wireless access point with another wireless station or an external network.

  Further, as another configuration for enabling normal data communication without any operation by the user, a configuration as described in claim 17 can be considered.

  In the wireless LAN system according to claim 17, in the access point, the notification return means uses a second encryption different from the first encryption key used for encrypting the notification data for data communication in the wireless access point itself. It is configured to reply with the key added. Further, after the notification data is transmitted by the method notification means, the cipher switching for switching the encryption method so that the data communication with the wireless station to which the notification data is transmitted is performed in the state encrypted with the second encryption key. Means are provided. On the other hand, in the wireless station, after receiving the notification data from the wireless access point, there is encryption setting means for setting to perform data communication with the wireless access point by encrypting with the second encryption key added to the notification data. Is provided.

  With this configuration, the wireless access point switches the encryption method to perform data communication encrypted with the second encryption key to the wireless station that has returned the notification data, while receiving the notification data. The wireless station configured to perform data communication with the wireless access point by encrypting with the second encryption key. Thus, data communication can be normally performed between the wireless access point and the wireless station in a state encrypted with the second encryption key. This ensures a certain level of security for data communication between the wireless access point and the wireless station while maintaining the security level for data communication performed by the wireless access point with other wireless stations or external networks. Can be realized in the state.

  In the configurations of claims 16 and 17, the data communication between the wireless access point and the wireless station can be realized even when the wireless access point is set to perform data communication with encryption. However, the security level for data communication between the two is not sufficiently high. In the configuration of claim 16, the encryption itself is not performed. In the configuration of claim 17, the second encryption key may be leaked in the process of being transmitted from the wireless access point to the wireless station. Because.

  Therefore, in order to increase the security for data communication between the two, for example, a configuration as described in claim 18 may be adopted.

  19. The wireless LAN system according to claim 18, wherein the wireless station acquires a first encryption key via a wireless access point from a communication terminal connected to the wireless access point so as to perform data communication by a public key encryption method. When the first encryption key is acquired from the communication terminal by the means and the encryption acquisition means, the wireless connection with the wireless access point is canceled, and the wireless connection is performed in the state encrypted with the first encryption key, so that the wireless access is performed. Encryption changing means for changing the setting so that data communication with the point is performed with the first encryption key encrypted. In addition, the communication terminal is provided with encryption delivery means for delivering the first encryption key to the wireless station via a wireless access point using a public key cryptosystem. In the wireless access point, the encryption switching unit does not switch the encryption method after the wireless connection with the wireless station is released.

  According to this configuration, data communication between the wireless access point and the wireless station can be performed by encrypting with the first encryption key transferred from the communication terminal to the wireless station. Therefore, data communication between the wireless access point and the wireless station can be realized at the same security level as that of data communication performed by the wireless access point with another wireless station or an external network.

  In addition, since the delivery of the first encryption key to the wireless station is performed by a public key encryption method, the possibility of leakage in the process of transmitting the first encryption key to the wireless station is naturally reduced.

  In this configuration, it is preferable that when the first encryption key is transferred from the communication terminal to the wireless station, it can be confirmed whether or not the communication terminal is a correct wireless station to which the first encryption key should be transferred. For this purpose, for example, a configuration as described in claim 19 is conceivable.

  The communication terminal in the wireless LAN system according to claim 19 is configured such that the encryption delivery means delivers the authentication message to the wireless station by public key cryptography before delivering the first encryption key. Furthermore, after the authentication message is delivered by the encryption delivery means, a confirmation operation means is provided for causing the user who confirmed the authentication message output on the wireless station side to perform a confirmation operation, and the encryption delivery means However, the first encryption key is transferred when the confirmation operation is performed by the confirmation operation means. In addition, the wireless station is configured such that the cipher acquisition unit acquires an authentication message that is delivered from the communication terminal by a public key encryption method prior to the first encryption key, and is further acquired by the cipher acquisition unit. A message output means for outputting the authentication message, and the cipher acquisition means confirms the authentication message output by the message output means and the user confirming the authentication message output by the message output means to the communication terminal After the operation is performed, a first encryption key that is transferred from the communication terminal is acquired.

  If comprised in this way, it can be confirmed that this radio station is the right radio station which should deliver the 1st encryption key from a communication terminal by whether the message for authentication was output from the radio station. Then, after confirming the authentication message output from the wireless station, the user performs a confirmation operation on the communication terminal, whereby the first encryption key can be transferred from the communication terminal to the wireless station.

  The above-mentioned “authentication message” is a message for confirming that the communication terminal is the correct wireless station to which the first encryption key should be delivered, and the content is output on the wireless station side to the user. It is for making it confirm.

  Further, the message output means in the wireless station is means for outputting the above-described authentication message by, for example, a display unit, a printing unit, a speaker, or the like.

  As described above, the wireless access point is configured to support the transmission of the notification data by the method notification means and to set the connection method in the wireless station. It may be configured to be performed only in the state of.

  Specifically, for example, as described in claim 20, the operation mode of the wireless access point itself, the support mode for supporting the setting of the connection method in the wireless station by realizing transmission of notification data by the method notification means, In addition, there is provided mode switching means capable of switching to any one of normal modes that do not support connection method setting without realizing transmission of notification data by the method notification means.

  With this configuration, only when the wireless access point's operation mode is switched to the support mode, the wireless access point will inadvertently set the connection method at the wireless station to support the setting of the connection method at the wireless station. Can be prevented. This indicates that the connection method in the wireless station can be set at an arbitrary timing if transmission of response data on the wireless station side is started while the operation mode of the wireless access point is switched to the support mode. .

  In addition, the trigger when the mode switching unit in this configuration switches the operation mode is not particularly limited. For example, as described in claim 21, the operation mode is switched when an instruction from the outside is received. What is necessary is just to comprise.

  With this configuration, the operation mode of the wireless access point can be explicitly switched from the outside.

  Note that the “command from the outside” in this configuration refers to, for example, a specific operation performed by the user on the operation unit included in the wireless station, or a communication terminal connected to the wireless station so as to perform data communication. It is data of.

  In addition, with this configuration, each time an explicit command is given from the outside, the operation mode is switched to the support mode and the normal mode. However, the user must switch back to the normal mode from the state switched to the support mode. If forgotten, as described above, the wireless access point may inadvertently set the connection method in the wireless station.

  Therefore, as described in claim 22, the mode switching means may be configured to switch the operation mode back to the normal mode when a predetermined period has elapsed after switching the operation mode to the support mode.

  With this configuration, even if you forget to switch back to normal mode from the state switched to support mode, the operation mode is automatically switched back to normal mode after a predetermined period of time. Can do.

  However, even with such a configuration, there is no possibility that the wireless access point will inadvertently set the connection method in the wireless station within a predetermined period after switching the operation mode to the support mode. I can't say that.

  Therefore, as described in claim 23, after the mode switching means is switched from the operation mode to the support mode, when the notification data is returned a predetermined number of times by the reply notification means, the operation mode is switched back to the normal mode. It may be configured as follows.

  With this configuration, even when the operation mode is switched to the support mode and within a predetermined period, when the notification data is returned a predetermined number of times by the reply notification unit, it is possible to switch back to the normal mode. In other words, connection method setting can be supported only for the same number of wireless stations as the predetermined number of times.

  As a result, if the “predetermined number of times” described above is set according to the number of wireless stations for which a connection method is to be set, the wireless access point may inadvertently set the connection method at the wireless station more than necessary. Can be prevented.

  In the wireless LAN system according to claim 24, the wireless station is provided with content determination means and operation stop means. Among these, the content determination means is the setting content related to the connection method to the wireless access point, and the setting content that needs to set the connection method to the wireless access point through the reply by the response reply means and the setting by the method setting means. It is determined whether or not there is. The operation stopping means is configured such that, when it is determined by the content determination means that the connection method needs not be set, either or both of the reply by the response reply means and the setting by the method setting means is not performed. To.

  In the wireless LAN system configured as described above, the wireless station can set the connection method to the wireless access point only when the setting contents need to set the connection method to the wireless access point.

  The operation stop means in this configuration is means for preventing either or both of the reply by the response reply means and the setting by the method setting means, and these operations (reply, setting) are performed. The configuration for avoiding this is not particularly limited. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which either or both of the reply by the response reply unit and the setting by the method setting unit are stopped.

  26. The wireless LAN system according to claim 25, wherein the wireless station sets a connection method to the wireless access point after the setting content related to the connection method to the wireless access point is set by the reply by the response reply means and the setting by the method setting means. Content determination means for determining whether or not the setting content needs to be set is provided. The response reply unit is configured to transmit the response data in a state where it can be specified whether or not it is necessary to set a connection method by the content determination unit. Further, the wireless access point is configured such that the method notification means returns the notification data only when the response data received from the wireless station is data that can specify that the connection method needs to be set. Yes.

  In the wireless LAN system configured as described above, the wireless access point can transmit the notification data and set the connection method only when the wireless station has a setting content that requires the connection method to be set.

  Note that the “setting contents that need to set the connection method” determined by the contents determination means in these configurations are, for example, when the setting contents related to the connection method are in the initial state (factory shipment state), or in the wireless connection This is a case where a part of necessary setting contents is not included (not registered).

  A communication terminal according to a twenty-sixth aspect is a communication terminal that functions as a wireless station according to any one of the first to twenty-fifth aspects.

  According to the communication terminal configured as described above, a part of the wireless LAN system according to any one of claims 1 to 25 can be configured.

  A communication terminal according to claim 27 is a communication terminal that functions as a wireless access point according to any one of claims 1 to 25.

  According to the communication terminal configured as described above, a part of the wireless LAN system according to any one of claims 1 to 25 can be configured.

  A communication terminal according to a twenty-eighth aspect is a communication terminal that functions as the communication terminal according to any one of the thirteenth to fifteenth, eighteenth and nineteenth aspects, and a claim that cites only these claims. .

  According to the communication terminal configured as described above, a part of the wireless LAN system according to claims 13 to 15, claim 18, claim 19, and any one of claims to which only these claims are cited. be able to.

  A communication program according to claim 29 is a program for causing a computer system to execute various processing procedures for causing the wireless station according to any one of claims 1 to 25 to function as all means. .

  A computer system controlled by such a program can constitute a part of a radio station according to any one of claims 1 to 25.

  A communication program according to claim 30 is a program for causing a computer system to execute various processing procedures for causing the wireless access point according to any of claims 1 to 25 to function as all means. is there.

  A computer system controlled by such a program can constitute a part of a wireless access point according to any one of claims 1 to 25.

  A communication program according to a thirty-first aspect is a process for causing a communication terminal to function as the communication terminal according to any one of the thirteenth to fifteenth, the eighteenth, the nineteenth, and the claims that cite only these claims. A program for causing a computer system to execute a procedure.

  A computer system controlled by such a program can constitute a part of a communication terminal according to claims 13 to 15, claim 18, claim 19 and any one of claims which refer only to these claims.

  Each communication program described above is composed of an ordered sequence of instructions suitable for processing by the computer system, and is a program for causing the computer system to execute the respective functions. This program is, for example, a wireless access point, a wireless station and a communication terminal (hereinafter referred to as “communication terminal etc.”) via a recording medium such as an FD, a CD-ROM, a memory card, or a communication network such as the Internet. It is provided to a computer system or a user who uses these. As a computer system for executing this program, for example, a computer system built in a communication terminal or the like, a computer system connected to the communication terminal or the like through a wireless or wired communication path, etc., can be used. be able to.

  Hereinafter, as a best mode for carrying out the present invention, a wireless LAN system in which a plurality of network devices (hereinafter simply referred to as “devices”) are LAN-connected will be described as an example.

[First Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless LAN system includes an access point 10, a network printer (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer”) 20, and the like.

  The access point 10 is a wireless access point that relays data communication between a device (or external network) connected via the cable 100 and a wireless station. The access point 10 is a CPU 11, ROM 12, RAM 13, network controller 14, wireless A LAN controller 15, an operation panel 16, a display panel 17 and the like are provided.

  The CPU 11 provided in the access point 10 controls the operation of the access point 10 as a whole by sending commands to each component while recording the processing result in the RAM 13 according to the processing procedure recorded in the ROM 12.

  The ROM 12 indicates an SSID (service set identifier or ESSID: extended SSID) used when the access point 10 itself communicates with a wireless station, and a wireless connection method (hereinafter referred to as “connection method”). This is a readable / writable nonvolatile memory having storage areas for storing parameters and the like. The “connection method” means any one of the first to i-th wireless LAN standards (for example, three types of IEEE802.11a, IEEE802.11b, and IEEE802.11g), and this wireless LAN. It is defined by any one of a plurality of channels that can be used in the standard, and shows a method for realizing wireless connection with a wireless station as a wireless access point.

  The network controller 14 is an interface for realizing data communication with other devices (or an external network) such as the PC 30 connected via the cable 100.

  The wireless LAN controller 15 is an interface for realizing communication in accordance with the wireless LAN standard based on each parameter stored in the ROM 12, and is connected to the wireless station according to the connection method indicated by “parameter indicating connection method”. A communication function as a wireless access point is realized by establishing a connection.

  In the access point 10 configured as described above, after the “SSID” and the “parameter indicating the connection method” are stored in the ROM 12, the wireless station that has accessed based on the same SSID and the same connection method as the SSID is accessed. Wireless communication is allowed.

  The access point 10 exchanges data related to settings with other devices wirelessly or by wire, and when an indirect setting (remote setup) is performed from the other device side, the “SSID” The “parameter indicating the connection method” is generated and stored in the ROM 12. In the present embodiment, as the “parameter indicating the connection method”, the parameter indicating the connection method defined by the second channel in the first wireless LAN standard is stored (initially set) in the ROM 12 through the remote setup. And

  Next, the printer 20 is a device having a function as a wireless station, and includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a wireless LAN controller 24, a PC interface unit (PC I / F) 25, an operation panel 26, a display panel 27, and a print. An engine 28 and the like are provided.

  The CPU 21 of the printer 20 controls the overall operation of the printer 20 by sending commands to each component while recording the processing results in the RAM 23 according to the processing procedure recorded in the ROM 22.

  The ROM 22 is a readable / writable nonvolatile memory having storage areas for storing an SSID used when the printer 20 communicates with a wireless access point as a wireless station, a parameter indicating a connection method, and the like.

  The wireless LAN controller 24 is an interface for realizing communication in accordance with the wireless LAN standard based on each parameter stored in the ROM 22 and is indicated by “parameter indicating connection method” as described above. A communication function as a wireless station is realized by establishing a wireless access point according to the connection method.

  Further, the PC interface unit 25 is an interface for connecting the printer 20 to another PC via a communication cable, thereby enabling data communication between the printer 20 and the PC.

In the printer 20 configured as described above, after “SSID” and “parameter indicating connection method” are stored in the ROM 22, data communication using the SSID can be performed through wireless connection according to this connection method. Become. In the printer 20, “SSID” and “parameter indicating connection method” are generated and stored (set) in the ROM 22 in connection method setting processing (FIG. 4) described later. Connection Method Instruction Processing by Access Point 10 Hereinafter, a processing procedure of connection method instruction processing executed by the CPU 11 provided in the access point 10 will be described with reference to FIG. In this connection method instruction processing, an instruction operation (for example, pressing a specific button) for switching the operation mode of the access point 10 to the support mode that supports setting of the connection method in the wireless station is performed by the operation panel 26. Be started when. Note that this support mode is an operation mode only during the execution of the connection method instruction process, and the operation mode of the access point 10 is switched from the support mode to the normal mode at the end of the connection method instruction process. Will be.

  First, the variable M is initialized (s110). In this process, the variable M is set to “1” (1 → M). Note that “m” described below indicates a value set in the variable M.

  Next, the variable N is initialized (s120). In this process, the variable N is set to “1” (1 → N). Note that “n” described below indicates the value set in the variable N.

  Next, the wireless connection method with the wireless station (hereinafter referred to as “connection method”) is switched to the connection method using the n-th channel in the m-th wireless LAN standard (s130). In this process, a parameter indicating that the communication function is realized by the connection method defined by the n-th channel in the m-th wireless LAN standard is stored in the storage area for “parameter indicating connection method” in the RAM 13, and the connection method is stored. Is controlled according to the stored contents of the RAM 23 to switch the connection method by the wireless LAN controller 14. In this way, control is performed according to the stored contents of the RAM 23 until switching to control according to the stored contents of the ROM 22 in subsequent processing (processing of s250). If a parameter is already stored in the storage area for “parameter indicating connection method”, it is rewritten to a new parameter.

  Next, the probe request is broadcast (destination is transmitted as a broadcast address) (s140). This “probe request” is well-known frame data that is transmitted by the wireless access point to inquire about the existence of a wireless station located in the vicinity. In the present embodiment, transmission is performed for the purpose of supporting setting of a connection method in a wireless station (see “Request 11 to Request 3 j” in FIG. 3). The printer 20 that has received the probe request returns a probe response by a connection method setting process (FIG. 4) described later (see “response” in FIG. 3).

  Next, a timer is started (s150). The timer that is started in this process is for checking whether or not a probe response is transmitted within the time limit from a wireless station (printer 20) that should support wireless connection setting.

  Next, it is checked whether a probe response is returned from the wireless station (s160).

  If no probe response is returned in the process of s160 (s160: NO), it is checked whether or not a timeout (that is, time-out) has occurred for the transmission of the probe request (s170). In this process, if the count value of the timer that started counting in the process of s150 has reached a predetermined value (250 ms in the present embodiment), it is determined that a timeout has occurred.

  In the process of s170, if the timeout has not occurred (s170: NO), the process returns to the process of s160. On the other hand, if the timeout has occurred (s170: YES), the timer that has started counting in the process of s150 is stopped and reset. (S180), “1” is added to the variable N (n + 1 → N) (s190).

  Next, it is checked whether or not the probe request transmission by all channels in the m-th wireless LAN standard has been completed (s200). Since each wireless LAN standard defines the number of channels that can be used, the value n of the variable N is larger than the number of channels j that can be used in the m-th wireless LAN standard (n If <j), it is determined that the transmission of probe requests by all channels has been completed.

  If the probe request transmission by all channels in the m-th wireless LAN standard has not been completed in the process of s200 (s200: NO), the process returns to s130. Thereafter, by repeating the processing from s130 to s200, the probe request is transmitted in order by each channel in the m-th wireless LAN standard (see “request 11 to request 1j” in FIG. 3).

  In this way, after repeating the process from s130 to s200, if the probe request transmission by all channels in the m-th wireless LAN standard is completed in the process of s200 (s200: YES), “1” is set to the variable M. Addition (m + 1 → M) is performed (s210).

  Next, it is checked whether or not transmission of probe requests based on all wireless LAN standards has been completed (s220). In this process, if the value m of the variable M is larger than the number i of wireless LAN standards that can be communicated by the wireless LAN controller 15 (i <m), transmission of probe requests based on all wireless LAN standards is completed. It is determined that

  If the transmission of probe requests based on all wireless LAN standards has not been completed in the process of s220 (s220: NO), the process returns to s120.

  Thereafter, in the processing after s120, the probe request is transmitted according to the next wireless LAN standard, and by repeating the processing from s120 to s220, the probe request is transmitted according to all the wireless LAN standards (in FIG. 3). (See "Request 11 to Request 3j").

  In this way, after the processing from s120 to s220 is repeated, if the transmission of all the wireless LAN standard probe requests is completed in the processing of s220 (s220: YES), the processing returns to s110.

  If a probe response is returned in the process of s160 while the processes of s120 to s220 are repeated (s160: NO), the timer that started counting in the process of s150 is stopped and reset (s230), and then the probe is returned. The request prompt data is transmitted to the wireless station that is the transmission source of the response (s240). This “request prompting data” is frame data for prompting the access point 10 to request permission of wireless connection (association request), and the access point 10 uses it for data communication with the wireless station. And a parameter indicating a connection method (second channel in the first wireless LAN standard) preset for the access point 10 is stored. The printer 20 that has received the request prompt data transmits an association request based on the same connection method as the access point 10 in the connection method setting process (FIG. 4) described later.

  Next, the connection method is returned to the initial setting (s250). In this process, the “parameter indicating connection method” stored in the RAM 13 is deleted, and data communication is performed based on the “parameter indicating connection method” stored in the ROM 12. Since the parameters stored in the ROM 12 are initially set for the access point 10, the connection method is returned to the initial setting. Thereafter, the access point 10 performs data communication based on the initial setting until returning to the process of s110.

  Next, a timer is started (s260). The timer started in this process is for checking whether or not an association request is transmitted from the wireless station (printer 20) within the time limit.

  Next, it is checked whether an association request has been received from the wireless station (s270).

  If the association request is not received in the process of s270 (s270: NO), it is checked whether or not a time-out (that is, time-out) has occurred with respect to the transmission of the request prompt data (s280). In this process, if the count value of the timer that started counting in the process of s260 has reached a predetermined value (250 ms in the present embodiment), it is determined that a time-out has occurred.

  If it is not timed out in this process of s280 (s280: NO), the process returns to the process of s270, while if it is timed out (s280: YES), the timer that started counting in the process of s260 is stopped and reset. (S290), the process returns to s110.

  If the association request is received in the process of s270 (s270: YES), the timer is stopped and reset in the same manner as in the process of s290 (s300), and then the wireless connection to the access point 10 itself is permitted. Is returned to the printer 20 which is the transmission source of the association request (s310).

  Thus, the wireless connection between the access point 10 and the printer 20 is established through the exchange of the association request and response.

Although detailed description is omitted, in the present embodiment, before the association request and response are exchanged, the request prompt data from the access point 10 is received by the printer 20 in the same manner as the normal wireless connection procedure. Then, an authentication request and a response are exchanged (see “Authentication Request to Authentication Response” in FIG. 3). However, since the data communication is not encrypted in the first embodiment, authentication requests and responses are exchanged by open authentication (that is, not encrypted). A connection method setting process performed by the printer 20 A connection method setting process executed by the CPU 21 of the printer 20 will be described below with reference to FIG. This connection method setting process is started when the printer 20 is activated.

  First, it is checked whether or not the printer 20 is in a factory-shipped state (s410). In this process, if the “parameter indicating the connection method” is not stored in the ROM 22, it is determined that the factory shipment state is set.

  If the process of s410 is a factory shipment state (s410: YES), initial setting is performed (s420). In this processing, initial setting is performed by storing a predetermined parameter in the ROM 22 as a “parameter indicating the connection method”. In the present embodiment, as the “parameter indicating the connection method”, a parameter indicating the connection method defined by the second channel in the third wireless LAN standard is stored in the ROM 22.

  Next, a timer is started (s430). The timer that is started in this process is for checking whether or not data is transmitted within the time limit from the wireless access point that should set the connection method. In the present embodiment, the “wireless access point for which a connection method is to be set” refers to the access point 10, and transmitted data is transmitted by the access point 10 in the connection method instruction process (FIG. 2) described above. It is the data that comes. That is, the user starts the connection method instruction process (FIG. 2) described above by the access point 10 and then activates the printer 20 to start the connection method setting process. (See “Instruction Operation” for the access point 10 and “Startup” for the printer 20 in FIG. 3).

  Next, it is checked whether a probe request is received from the wireless access point (s440). This “probe request” is well-known frame data (MAC frame) that is transmitted by the wireless access point to inquire about the existence of wireless stations located in the vicinity, and is transmitted from the access point 10 in the process of s140 in FIG. It is the data that comes. In the process of s440, it is checked whether or not a probe request based on the connection method set for the printer 20 itself (that is, the initially set connection method) has been transmitted (FIG. 5). 3 (refer to “Request 11” to “Request 3j”).

  If a probe request is received in the process of s440 (s440: YES), a probe response is returned (s450). This probe response is data received by the access point 10 in the process of s160 in FIG. 2 (see “response” in FIG. 3).

  After the process of s450 is completed, or if the probe request is not received in the process of s440 (s440: NO), it is checked whether the request prompting data is received from the wireless access point (s460). This request prompting data is data transmitted by the access point 10 that has received the probe response returned in the process of s450 in the process of s240 in FIG.

  If the request prompting data is not received in the process of s460 (s460: NO), it is checked whether or not a time-out has occurred for reception of data from the wireless access point (s470). In this process, if the count value of the timer that started counting in the process of s430 has reached a predetermined value (30 s in the present embodiment), it is determined that a timeout has occurred.

  If the time out is not reached in the process of s470 (s470: NO), the process returns to the process of s440.

  In this way, after the processing from s440 to s470 is repeated, if a time-out occurs in the processing of s470 (s470: YES), the timer started in the processing of s430 is stopped and reset (s480), and an error is notified. After (s490), this connection method setting process is terminated. In the process of s490, an error is notified to the user by causing the display panel 27 to display a message indicating that there is no normally functioning wireless access point around the printer 20.

  If the request prompt data is received in the process of s460 while the process of s440 to s470 is being repeated (s460: YES), the timer started in the process of s430 is stopped and reset (s500).

  Next, a connection method to the wireless access point is set based on the request prompt data received in the process of s460 (s510). In this process, the “SSID” stored in the request prompting data and the “parameter indicating the connection method” are stored in the ROM 22 to set the connection method to the wireless access point. Thus, the printer 20 performs data communication based on the SSID and the connection method, thereby enabling data communication with the access point 10.

  After completing the process of s510, or when the process of s410 described above is not in the factory-shipped state (s410: NO), an association request for requesting permission for wireless connection is transmitted to the access point 10 (s520). ). The “association request” is frame data (management frame) for requesting permission of wireless connection to the access point 10, and in the process of s520, the SSID recorded in the ROM 22 in the process of s510 is stored. (See “association request” in FIG. 3). In this association request, the device ID (MAC address) of the printer 20 is set in the header information. The access point 10 that has received this association request transmits an association response that is frame data (management frame) for permitting wireless connection to the access point 10 (see “association response” in FIG. 3).

  Next, the timer count is started (s530). The timer started in this process is for checking whether or not the above-mentioned association response is returned within the time limit.

  Next, it is checked whether or not a timeout has occurred for transmission of the association request (s540). In this process, if the count value of the timer that started counting in the process of s530 has reached a predetermined value (250 ms in the present embodiment), it is determined that a timeout has occurred.

  If no timeout has occurred in the process of s540 (s540: NO), it is checked whether an association response has been received from the access point 10 (s550). If not received (s550: NO), the process of s540 is performed. Return to.

  After this, the processes of s540 and s550 are repeated, and when the time-out occurs for the transmission of the association request in the process of s540 (s540: YES), the timer that started counting in the process of s530 is stopped and reset (s570). , S420 is returned to.

  On the other hand, if an association response is received in the process of s550 (s550: YES), the timer that started counting in the process of s530 is stopped and reset (s580), and then this connection method setting process is terminated.

[Effect of the first embodiment]
In the wireless LAN system configured as described above, the access point 10 transmits a probe request to the wireless station (printer 20) based on each of a plurality of connection methods (see “Request” in FIG. 3). This probe request is received by the printer 20 in which the same connection method is set (see “Request 32” in the figure), and this printer 20 returns a probe response to the access point 10 in response to the probe request ( (See “Response” in the figure.) Subsequently, the access point 10 that has received the response of the probe response notifies the printer 20 of the connection method set for the access point 10 by request request data (see “request request” in FIG. 3). Upon receiving this notification, the printer 20 sets the connection method notified by the request prompting data, that is, the same connection method as the connection method set in the access point 10. Thus, the printer 20 is set to the same connection method as that of the access point 10, so that wireless connection can be established between the two.

  In this way, the printer 20 automatically sets the connection method to the access point 10 through the return of the probe response and the reception of the request prompting data (the processing from s450 to s510 in FIG. 4). Therefore, it is possible to significantly reduce the load on the user for setting the wireless LAN.

  Further, after the connection method is set on the printer 20 side, the wireless connection between the access point 10 and the printer 20 can be established immediately after exchange of association requests and responses.

In addition, the access point 10 transmits a probe request while sequentially switching the connection method to each of the plurality of connection methods at predetermined time intervals (processing of s110 to s220 in FIG. 2), and before switching to the next connection method. When the probe response is received (process of s160 in the figure), the request prompting data is transmitted based on the connection method switched at the time of reception (process of s240 in the figure).
As described above, the access point 10 can transmit a probe request based on each connection method while sequentially switching the connection methods. Further, it is possible to cause the printer 20 to set the connection method set in advance for the access point 10 only by transmitting the request prompting data based on the connection method switched at the time of transmitting the probe request. it can.

  Further, the access point 10 can explicitly instruct the start of the connection method instruction process (FIG. 2) from the outside by an instruction operation.

  Further, the printer 20 can explicitly instruct the start of the connection method setting process (FIG. 4) from the outside by starting.

  Further, the printer 20 can set the connection method to the access point 10 only when the printer 20 is in the factory-shipped state (the process of s410 in FIG. 4).

[Configuration that can be modified in the first embodiment]
In this embodiment, as shown below, it can implement in the state which changed some structures into another structure. In addition, the structure shown below is applicable also to the same structure in other embodiment.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the processing in s410 in FIG. 4 is illustrated as being configured such that the processing after s420 is performed when the printer 20 is in the factory shipment state. However, even in a state other than the factory-shipped state, when the connection method needs to be set, the processing after s420 may be performed. Specifically, this is the case where some of the “parameters indicating the connection method” stored in the ROM 22 are insufficient. Further, in the processing of s410, it is configured that the fact that the “parameter indicating the connection method” is not stored in the ROM 22 is determined to be the factory shipment state. For example, a predetermined flag is set at the time of factory shipment. The flag may be set, and it may be determined that the factory shipment state is set when this flag is set, and the flag may be reset when the parameters are stored.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, after exchanging an authentication request | requirement and a response, what was comprised so that an association request | requirement and a response might be exchanged was illustrated. However, it is also possible to configure such that only the association request and response are exchanged without performing the authentication request and response exchange.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the setting of the connection method for the printer 20 is instructed by the activation of the printer 20 is exemplified. However, the setting of the connection method for the printer 20 may be configured to be instructed by a specific operation using the operation panel 26 (see “command” in FIG. 3).

  Moreover, in this embodiment, what was comprised so that the operation mode of the access point 10 might be switched by instruction | indication operation was illustrated. However, the switching of the operation mode may be configured to be instructed by data from another device configured to be capable of data communication with the printer 20, for example.

  In the above embodiment, immediately after the connection method setting process is started, the printer 20 checks whether or not it is in the factory-shipped state (the process of s410 in FIG. 4), and then performs the processes after s420. However, it is not always necessary to check whether or not the factory shipment state is present immediately after the connection method setting process is started. For example, before the process of s440, before the process of s510.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the access point 10 illustrated what was comprised so that a probe request might be transmitted as data for supporting the setting of the connection method in a radio station. However, data other than the probe request can be adopted if the same purpose can be achieved. In this case, data other than the probe response may be adopted as data returned from the printer 20 side.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the order in which the access point 10 switches the connection method is exemplified from the first channel in the first wireless LAN standard in the order of numbers. However, the order is not particularly limited. For example, the order in the same wireless LAN standard may be such that radio wave interference does not occur.

  As a specific example, a plurality of channels are divided into a plurality of groups (for example, two groups of a high frequency side and a low frequency side which are divided into two frequency bands), and after a jth channel (j is an arbitrary number) in a certain group. It is preferable that the switching to the j-th channel in another group is performed in order on all channels in each group. In this case, it is not possible to continuously switch to a channel in the same group having a close frequency band, so that radio wave interference can be suppressed.

  Similarly, after switching a plurality of channels in order at a predetermined channel number k (for example, 5 channels) from the first channel in order, switching from the second channel in order at a predetermined channel number interval, You may comprise so that it may repeat from the 1st-k-1th channel. In this case, radio wave interference can be reliably suppressed by setting the predetermined number k of channels to an interval at which radio wave interference can be sufficiently suppressed.

Further, in the present embodiment, first, after the processing after s140 is performed by the connection method set in advance for the access point 10, the same processing is performed in the order of the numbers from the first channel in the first wireless LAN standard. You may comprise as follows. For this purpose, for example, before the process of s110 in FIG. 2, as shown in FIG. 5, the same processes (s101 to s105) as the processes from s140 to s180 are provided, and the connection method set in advance is set. If a probe response is received in response to the probe request transmitted based on (s103: YES), the process proceeds to s230, and after a time-out (s104: YES), after stopping and resetting the timer (s105), the process of s110 What is necessary is just to comprise so that it may transfer to a process. Further, when the connection method after adding “1” to the variable N between the process of s190 and the process of s200 is not the same as the initial setting, the process proceeds to the process of s200. A step (s192) for returning to the processing may be provided.
With this configuration, when the printer 20 is initially set to the same connection method as the connection method set in advance for the access point 10, the wireless connection between the access point 10 and the printer 20 is immediately established. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the access point 10 from switching unnecessary connection methods.

  In the above embodiment, the access point 10 is configured to return to the process of s110 when it determines “YES” in the process of s220 in FIG. However, if “YES” is determined in the process of s220, as shown in FIG. 5, the connection method instruction process (FIG. 2) is terminated through the step of returning to the initial setting (s221) as in the process of s250. You may comprise.

[Second Embodiment]
The wireless LAN system according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as that of the wireless LAN system according to the first embodiment, and only part of the processing content in the printer 20 is different. Therefore, only this difference will be described in detail. . A connection method setting process by the printer 20 A connection method setting process executed by the CPU 21 of the printer 20 will be described below with reference to FIG. This connection method setting process includes a s482 process described later between the s480 process and the s490 process in the connection method setting process (FIG. 4) in the first embodiment, and is described later instead of the s500 process. Since the processes of s462 and s464 are provided, only these processes will be described in detail. In addition, the same step number is attached | subjected about the step same as 1st Embodiment, and detailed description shall be abbreviate | omitted.

  First, when the request prompt data is received from the access point 10 in the process of s460 (s460: YES), it is checked whether or not the request prompt data is already registered (s462). In this connection method setting process, the parameter indicated by the request prompt data is registered in the subsequent processes. Therefore, in the process of s462, if the same parameter as indicated by the received request prompt data is registered, Judge that it is already registered.

  If the requested prompting data is not already registered in the process of s462 (s462: NO), the parameter indicated by the requested prompting data is registered by storing it in the parameter storage area in the RAM 23 (s464). . In this embodiment, the access point 10 stores not only the SSID but also the device ID of the access point 10 and parameters such as the connection method set in advance for the access point 10 in the process of s240 in FIG. It is configured to send requested reminder data. In the process of s464, the reception level (the radio wave intensity) when the request prompt data is received is registered in association with these parameters. An example of a data table in which parameters indicated by the request prompting data are registered is shown in FIG.

  After the process of s464 is completed, or when the process is already registered in the process of s462 (s462: YES), the process proceeds to the process of s470 as in the case where “NO” is determined in the process of s460. To do.

  After completing the processing of s470 and s480, it is checked whether or not the parameter has been registered through the processing of s464 (s482). In this process, if data indicating a parameter (data table) is stored in the parameter storage area in the RAM 23, it is determined that the parameter has been registered in the process of s464.

  If the parameter registration is performed in the process of s482 (s482: YES), the process proceeds to the process of s510. On the other hand, if the parameter is not registered (s482: NO), the process proceeds to the process of s490.

  In the process of s510, among the “parameters indicating the connection method” registered in the process of s464, the parameter having the highest reception level is stored in the ROM 22 and set as the connection method.

[Effects of Second Embodiment]
In the wireless LAN system configured as described above, the following operations and effects can be obtained in addition to the operations and effects obtained by the same configuration as the first embodiment.

  The printer 20 has the same connection as the requested prompting data collected (registered) within a predetermined time (the process of s464 in FIG. 6) and the requested prompting data having the highest reception level (connection method when the is sent). The method can be set as a method for connecting to a wireless access point (the process of s510 in FIG. 5).

  In addition, as described above, the same connection method as the request prompting data having the highest reception level can be set as the connection method to the wireless access point. The connection method in the printer 20 is different from the wireless access point to be originally set. This is suitable for preventing the connection method from being set by mistake.

When setting the connection method of the printer 20 to the wireless access point, in addition to the access point 10 of the present invention, other wireless access points having the same function as the access point 10 are in the vicinity (for example, adjacent houses). If present, request prompting data is also transmitted from this wireless access point. Therefore, depending on the timing at which the request prompting data is received, the same connection method set in other wireless access points may be set irrespective of the user's intention.
However, as described above, since the same connection method as the request prompting data having the highest reception level can be set as the connection method to the wireless access point, the reception level at the time of wireless communication between the access point 10 and the printer 20 is high. It is possible to prevent an erroneous connection method from being set based on request prompting data from another wireless access point simply by keeping the height higher.

[Third Embodiment]
The wireless LAN system according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the wireless LAN system according to the first embodiment, and only part of the processing contents in the access point 10 is different. Therefore, only this difference will be described in detail. . O Connection Method Instruction Processing by Access Point 10 Hereinafter, a processing procedure of connection method instruction processing executed by the CPU 11 provided in the access point 10 will be described with reference to FIG. This connection method instruction process includes a s162 process described later in place of s230 in the connection method instruction process (FIG. 2) in the first embodiment, and a s222 process described later after the s220 process. Therefore, only these processes will be described in detail. In addition, the same step number is attached | subjected about the step same as 1st Embodiment, and detailed description shall be abbreviate | omitted.

  First, when a probe response is received in the process of s160 (s160: YES), the parameter indicated by this probe response is registered by storing it in the parameter storage area in the RAM 13 (s162). In the present embodiment, the printer 20 returns a probe response storing the SSID and device ID in the process of s450 in FIG. In the process of s162, in addition to these SSID and device ID, the connection method and the parameter indicating the reception level when the probe response is received in the process of s160 are registered in association with each other.

  After the process of s162 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of s170 as in the case where “NO” is determined in the process of s160.

  If it is determined “YES” in the process of s220 through the process of s170 to s220, it is checked whether or not the parameter is registered in the process of s162 (s222). In this process, if data indicating a parameter is stored in the parameter storage area in the RAM 13, it is determined that the registration has been performed through the process of s162.

  If registration is performed in the process of s222 (s222: YES), the process proceeds to the process of s240 instead of returning to the process of s110. In the process of s240, the request prompting data is transmitted only to a single wireless station based on the SSID and connection method corresponding to the maximum reception level among the parameters registered through the process of s162.

  On the other hand, if registration is not performed in the process of s222 (s222: NO), this connection method instruction process is terminated.

[Effect of the third embodiment]
In the wireless LAN system configured as described above, the following operations and effects can be obtained in addition to the operations and effects obtained by the same configuration as the first embodiment.

  The access point 10 can cause the wireless station that has transmitted the probe response having the highest reception level to transmit the request prompting data and set the connection method.

  Thus, as in the second embodiment, the access point 10 and the printer 20 are moved closer to each other so that the reception level at the time of wireless communication becomes higher, and other than the wireless station (printer 20) where the connection method should be set. It is possible to prevent the request prompting data from being erroneously transmitted to the wireless station and causing the connection method to be set.

[Configuration that can be modified in the third embodiment]
In this embodiment, as shown below, it can implement in the state which changed some structures into another structure. In addition, the structure shown below is applicable also to the same structure in other embodiment.

  The access point 10 illustrated the thing comprised so that request | requirement prompt data might be transmitted with respect to the wireless station which transmitted the probe response with the largest reception level by the process of s240 in FIG. However, in the process of s240, for example, the request prompt data may be transmitted to a wireless station that has transmitted a probe response at a reception level equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold.

[Fourth Embodiment]
The wireless LAN system according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the wireless LAN system according to the first embodiment, and only part of the processing contents in the access point 10 is different. Therefore, only this difference will be described in detail. . Connection Method Instruction Processing by Access Point 10 Hereinafter, a processing procedure of connection method instruction processing executed by the CPU 11 provided in the access point 10 will be described with reference to FIG. This connection method instruction process is configured such that, in the connection method instruction process (FIG. 8) in the third embodiment, the process of s222 and the process of s226 described later are performed after the process of s222 is performed. Therefore, only these processes will be described in detail. In addition, the same step number is attached | subjected about the step same as 3rd Embodiment, and detailed description shall be abbreviate | omitted.

  First, in the present embodiment, the printer 20 returns a probe response storing the SSID, device name, and device ID in the process of s450 in FIG. In the process of s162 in this connection method instruction process, in addition to these SSID, device name, and device ID, the connection method and the parameter indicating the reception level when the probe response is received in the process of s160 are associated with each other. be registered.

  If registration has been performed in the process of s222 (s222: YES), notification is performed by causing the display panel 17 to display a list of device names indicated by the parameters registered in the process of s162. After the list is displayed on the display panel 17, the user can perform a selection operation for selecting one of the device names shown in the list using the operation panel 16.

  Next, it waits until selection operation is performed (s226: NO).

  When a selection operation is performed in the process of s226 (s226: YES), the process proceeds to the process of s240. At this time, for the parameter consisting of the device name selected by the selection operation, a selection flag indicating that the device name has been selected by the selection operation is set (a state in which “1” is set from the initial value “0”). To do).

  In the process of s240, the request prompt data is transmitted to the wireless station based on the parameters (SSID and connection method) for which the selection flag is set among the parameters registered through the process of s162.

[Effect of Fourth Embodiment]
In the wireless LAN system configured as described above, the following operations and effects can be obtained in addition to the operations and effects obtained by the same configuration as that of the third embodiment.

  The access point 10 can send the request prompting data and set the connection method only to the wireless station (for example, the printer 20) of the device name arbitrarily selected by the user (s224, s226, s240 in FIG. 9). Processing).

[Configuration that can be modified in the fourth embodiment]
In this embodiment, as shown below, it can implement in the state which changed some structures into another structure. In addition, the structure shown below is applicable also to the same structure in other embodiment.

  For example, in the processing of s224 and s226 in FIG. 9, an example is shown in which the user is made to perform a selection operation based on the device name. However, in these processes, a selection operation may be performed based on the device ID instead of the device name. In this case, it is possible to set the connection method by transmitting the request prompt data only to the wireless station having the device ID arbitrarily selected by the user.

[Fifth Embodiment]
The wireless LAN system of the present embodiment has the same configuration as that of the wireless LAN system of the fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the device name notification and selection operations performed on the access point 10 side are performed with the access point 10 and the cable. It is configured so that it can be performed on the side of a well-known computer system (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 30 connected so as to be capable of data communication via 100 (see FIG. 1). Connection Method Instruction Processing by Access Point 10 Hereinafter, a processing procedure of connection method instruction processing executed by the CPU 11 provided in the access point 10 will be described with reference to FIG. This connection method instruction process is configured such that, in the connection method instruction process (FIG. 9) in the fourth embodiment, the processes of s228 and s229 described later are performed instead of the processes of s224 and s226. Only these processes will be described in detail. This connection method instruction process is started after receiving start command data from the PC 30 (see “start command” in FIG. 11).

  First, if parameter registration has been performed in the process of s222 (s222: YES), list data indicating a list of device names indicated by each registered parameter is generated and the PC 30 (transmission of the above start command data) is generated. To the original device) (s228). In the PC 30 that has received this list data (see “List Data” in FIG. 11), the list indicated by the list data is displayed on the display, so that each device name is notified. When a selection operation for selecting one of the device names is performed, selection data that can identify the selected device name is generated and transmitted (see “Selection Data” in FIG. 11).

  After the list data is transmitted in the process of s228, the process waits until selection data is received from the PC 30 side (s229: NO). When the selection data is received (s229: YES), the process proceeds to s240.

In the process of s240, based on the selection data received in the process of s229, the request prompting data is transmitted to the wireless station based on the parameters (SSID and connection method) corresponding to the device name specified by the selection data. . Setting Command Processing by PC 30 Hereinafter, a processing procedure of setting command processing executed by the PC 30 will be described with reference to FIG. This setting command process is executed according to a program incorporated in the PC 30.

  First, start command data is transmitted to the access point 10 (s610). The access point 10 that has received the start command data starts the connection method instruction process (FIG. 10) described above (see “start command” in FIG. 11), and transmits the list data described above after a predetermined time has elapsed. Come.

  Next, it waits until list data is received from the access point 10 (s620: NO).

  When the list data is received in the process of s620 (s620: YES), the contents indicated by the list data are displayed on the display (s630). After the list of device names indicated by the list data is displayed in this way (see FIG. 13), the user can perform a selection operation to select one of the device names with a keyboard or a mouse.

  And it waits until selection operation is performed (s640: NO), and if selection operation is performed (s640: YES), the selection data which can specify the device name selected by this selection operation will be produced | generated, and the access point 10 will be generated. (S650). The access point 10 that has received the selection data (see “selection data” in FIG. 11) transmits request prompt data to the wireless station having the device name specified by the selection data (“request prompt” in FIG. 11). reference).

[Effects of Fifth Embodiment]
In the wireless LAN system configured as described above, the following operations and effects can be obtained in addition to the operations and effects obtained by the configuration similar to that of the fourth embodiment.

  Of the device names registered based on the probe response, the access point 10 has a device name indicated by the selection data received from the PC 30, that is, a wireless station (for example, the printer 20) having a device name arbitrarily selected by the user on the PC 30 side. Only the request data can be transmitted to set the connection method.

[Configuration that can be modified in the fifth embodiment]
In this embodiment, as shown below, it can implement in the state which changed some structures into another structure. In addition, the structure shown below is applicable also to the same structure in other embodiment.

  For example, in the process of s228 in FIG. 10, an example is shown in which list data indicating a list of device names is generated. However, in this process, list data indicating a list of device IDs is generated and transmitted so that the selection operation is performed based on the device ID instead of the device name. In the process of s240, the device ID is assigned to the device ID. Based on the corresponding parameters (SSID and connection method), the request prompt data may be transmitted to the wireless station. In this case, only the wireless station having the device ID arbitrarily selected by the user on the PC 30 side can return the request prompting data and set the connection method.

  In the present embodiment, the access point 10 is configured to transmit the list data generated based on the parameter after the parameter is registered (collected) for a predetermined time. However, the list data may be generated and transmitted at a timing when a transmission request is received from the PC 30 side (see “list request” in FIG. 11). For this purpose, for example, a step of waiting for an operation for requesting the list data (s612) between the processing of s610 and the processing of s620 in FIG. 12, and the transmission of the list data is requested in response to this operation. Step (s614) is provided (see FIG. 14), and a step (s223) for waiting for a request from the PC 30 side is provided between the processes of s222 and s228 in FIG. 10 (see FIG. 15). do it. Further, in this configuration, as described above, a selection operation may be performed based on the device ID instead of the device name.

  In the present embodiment, after the access point 10 transmits the request prompt data to the wireless station (printer 20), the PC 30 side is notified that the connection method is set (or set) on the wireless station side. You may comprise as follows. For this purpose, for example, after the process of s310 in FIG. 10, a step (s312) of transmitting setting notification data for notifying the setting to the PC 30 is provided (see FIG. 15) and s650 in FIG. Step (s652) of waiting for the transmission of the setting notification data after the process of step (s652) and a step (s654) of notifying that the connection method is set on the wireless station side when the setting notification data is received are provided. (See FIG. 14).

[Sixth Embodiment]
In each of the embodiments described above, even if the printer 20 is wirelessly connected to the access point 10, if the access point 10 is set to perform data communication encryption, the printer 20 side is usually the same. Unless data is encrypted and set to perform data communication, data communication cannot be performed normally. Therefore, the wireless LAN system according to the present embodiment is configured such that the wireless LAN system according to the fifth embodiment can perform data communication normally without being operated by the user.

  First, if a “security parameter” is stored in the ROM 12, the access point 10 communicates with a security measure based on this parameter. Here, as the “security parameter”, for example, there is an encryption key (in this embodiment, WEP key; Wired Equivalent Privacy) for performing communication in an encrypted state. If the encryption key is stored, the access point 10 (CPU 11) performs communication with the wireless station in a state encrypted with the encryption key. The encryption key is generated through remote setup and stored in the ROM 12 as described above.

Also, if “parameters related to security” are stored in the ROM 22, the printer 20 communicates with security measures based on these parameters. Here, the “security parameter” includes an encryption key as described above. If the encryption key is stored, the printer 20 (CPU 21) performs communication with the wireless access point in a state encrypted with the encryption key. Connection Method Instruction Processing by Access Point 10 Hereinafter, a processing procedure of connection method instruction processing executed by the CPU 11 provided in the access point 10 will be described with reference to FIG. This connection method instruction process is a connection method instruction process (FIG. 10) according to the fifth embodiment in which processes s314, s316, and s318 described later are provided after the process of s310. Only detailed.

  First, in the present embodiment, in the process of s240, an encryption key different from the normal encryption key stored in the ROM 12 (hereinafter referred to as “temporary encryption key”) is randomly generated, and this temporary encryption key is added. Send in state.

  After the request prompt data is transmitted in the process of s240 and the process up to s310 is completed, the device name and device ID of the wireless station that transmitted the request prompt data in the process of s240 are added to the request prompt data in the process of s240. In the state associated with the provisional encryption key, it is registered in the reminder list (s314). This “reminder list” is a data table in which data is registered after being generated in the RAM 13.

Then, it waits until the wireless connection with the wireless station registered in the reminder list in the process of s314 is released (s316: NO), and after the wireless connection is released (s314: YES), after deleting the reminder list ( s318) This connection method instruction process is terminated. A connection method determination process performed by the printer 20 A connection method determination process executed by the CPU 21 of the printer 20 will be described below with reference to FIG. This connection method determination process is configured such that the following process is performed after the process of s580 in the connection method setting process (FIG. 6) in the fifth embodiment. The same processes as those in the fifth embodiment are denoted by the same step numbers, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  First, after the request prompt data is received in the process of s460, the SSID specified by the request prompt data is stored in the ROM 22 in the process of s464, and the temporary encryption key is stored in the storage area for “security parameters” in the RAM 23. Remember. After that, by setting the connection method in the process of s510, the data communication with the wireless access point (access point 10) is encrypted with the temporary encryption key stored in the “security parameter” storage area. Do.

  In addition, after completing the processing of s580, the encryption key of the access point 10 is acquired (s700). This process is a process for acquiring the encryption key of the access point 10 from the PC 30 by the public key encryption method (see “Encryption key (encryption with random number)” in FIG. 18), and the detailed processing procedure will be described later. This will be described in the encryption key acquisition process (FIG. 19).

  If the encryption key has been acquired in the process of s700 (s582: YES), this encryption key is stored in the ROM 22 (s584). In this processing, the temporary encryption key is deleted from the RAM 23 as well as the encryption key is stored in the ROM 22.

  Next, the wireless connection with the access point 10 is canceled (s586). Here, the wireless connection with the access point 10 is canceled by transmitting the authentication cancellation to the access point 10 (see “authentication cancellation” in FIG. 18).

  Then, the wireless connection with the access point 10 is established again (s588). In this process, as described above, the wireless connection is established by exchanging the authentication request and response with the access point 10. Here, the authentication request and response are exchanged by shared key authentication (based on encryption) using the encryption key delivered to the printer 20. After the wireless connection is established in this process, data communication is performed in the state encrypted with the encryption key rewritten in the process of s580.

In this way, after completing the process of s588, or if the encryption key has not been acquired in the process of s582 (s582: NO), this connection method determination process is terminated. O Encryption Key Acquisition Processing by Printer 20 Hereinafter, a processing procedure of encryption key acquisition processing executed by the CPU 21 provided in the printer 20 will be described with reference to FIG. This encryption key acquisition process is a detailed processing procedure of the process of s700 in FIG.

  First, a public key / private key pair used in the public key cryptosystem is generated (s710).

  Next, the public key generated in the process of s710 is transmitted to the PC 30 (s720). In this process, public key data is transmitted to the PC 30 which is a preset device. The PC 30 that has received the public key encrypts and returns a random number randomly generated with the public key, and then transmits print data indicating a predetermined message image encrypted with the random number ( FIG. 18 “Random number (encrypted with public key)” and “Print data (encrypted with random number)”).

  Next, the encrypted random number is received from the PC 30 (s730).

  Next, the encrypted print data is received from the PC 30 (s740).

  Next, the message image indicated by the print data received in the process of s740 is decrypted with the secret key generated in the process of s710, and then printed by the print engine 28 (s750). The message image printed in this process includes a message for allowing the user to confirm that the random number received in the process of s730 has been transmitted to the printer 20, and the user who has confirmed this is the PC 30. Thus, a confirmation operation described later is performed (see a setting command process (FIG. 20) described later). After this confirmation operation, the encryption key encrypted by the process of s730 is transmitted from the PC 30.

  Next, a timer is started (s760).

  Next, it is checked whether an encryption key has been received from the PC 30 (s770).

  When the encryption key is received in the process of s770 (s770: YES), the timer started in the process of s760 is stopped and reset (s780), and then the encryption key acquisition process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if an encryption key has not been received in the process of s770 (s770: NO), it is checked whether or not a timeout has occurred (s790). In this process, if the count value of the timer started in the process of s760 has reached a predetermined value (30 s in this embodiment), it is determined that a timeout has occurred.

If no timeout has occurred in the process of s790 (s790: NO), the process returns to the process of s770. If the timeout has occurred (s790: YES), the process proceeds to the process of s780 to obtain an encryption key. The encryption key acquisition process is terminated without any processing. O Setting command processing by PC 30 Hereinafter, a processing procedure of setting command processing executed by the PC 30 will be described with reference to FIG. This setting command process is a process executed in accordance with a program incorporated in the PC 30. This setting command process is configured such that the following process is performed after the process of s650 in the setting command process (FIG. 12) in the fifth embodiment. The same processes as those in the fifth embodiment are denoted by the same step numbers, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  First, after the process of s650 is performed, the process waits until a public key is received from the printer 20 (s810: NO). This public key is data transmitted by the printer 20 in the process of s720 in FIG.

  When the public key is received in the process of s810 (s810: YES), a random number randomly generated with this public key is encrypted and returned (s820). This encrypted random number is data received by the printer 20 in the process of s730 in FIG.

  Next, the print data indicating the message image is encrypted and transmitted using the public key received in the process of s810 (s830). The encrypted print data is data received by the printer 20 in the process of s740 in FIG. In the printer 20 that has received the print data, the message image is printed as described above. After the message image is printed, the user performs a confirmation operation on the PC 30. The confirmation operation is an operation such as pressing a specific key or button or pressing a plurality of buttons or keys in a specific procedure.

  Next, it waits until confirmation operation is performed (s840: NO).

  If a confirmation operation is performed in the process of s840 (s840: YES), the encryption key is encrypted with the random number generated in the process of s820 and transmitted (s850). This encrypted encryption key is data received by the printer 20 in the process of s770 in FIG. The encryption key is stored in advance in a memory or the like.

In this way, after finishing the process of s850, this setting command process is complete | finished. ○ Cryptographic switching process by the access point 10 The access point 10 is configured to perform a cryptographic switching process when it is time to perform data communication (data transmission / reception) with a wireless station after being activated. Hereinafter, the processing procedure of the encryption switching processing will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, it is checked whether or not the wireless station to which data communication is to be performed is a wireless station having a device name or device ID registered in the prompting table in the RAM 12 (s910).

  In the process of s910, if the wireless station has a device name or device ID registered in the reminder table (s910: YES), data communication is performed in a state encrypted with a temporary encryption key corresponding to the device name or device ID. (S920).

  On the other hand, if it is not a wireless station with the device name or device ID registered in the prompting table in the processing of s910 (s910: NO), normal data communication encrypted with the encryption key is performed (s930).

  In this way, after finishing the process of s920 or s930, this encryption switch process is complete | finished.

[Effect of the sixth embodiment]
In the wireless LAN system configured as described above, the following operations and effects can be obtained in addition to the operations and effects obtained by the configuration similar to the above-described embodiments.

  The access point 10 switches the encryption method so as to perform data communication encrypted with the temporary encryption key to the wireless station that has returned the requested reminder data (processing of s910 in FIG. 21), while the requested reminder data Is set to perform data communication with the access point 10 using a temporary encryption key (processing of s510 in FIG. 17). In this way, data communication can be normally performed between the access point 10 and the printer 20 while being encrypted with the temporary encryption key. Thereby, the data communication between the access point 10 and the printer 20 can be realized in a state where a certain security level is secured while maintaining the security level for the data communication performed by the access point 10 with the external network.

  Subsequently, when the printer 20 can acquire the encryption key by the encryption key acquisition process (FIG. 19), the data communication between the access point 10 and the printer 20 is performed from the PC 30 by performing the wireless connection to the access point 10 again. The encryption is performed using the encryption key delivered to the printer 20 (see the processing at s586 and s588 in FIG. 17). At this time, since the access point 10 is deleted from the prompting list (see the process of s318 in FIG. 16), the data communication with the printer 20 is returned after being encrypted with the encryption key. Therefore, data communication between the access point 10 and the printer 20 can be realized at the same security level as the data communication performed by the access point 10 with other wireless stations or external networks.

  Further, since the encryption key is transferred from the PC 30 to the printer 20 by the public key cryptosystem, the possibility of leakage in the process of transmitting the encryption key to the printer 20 is naturally reduced.

  Further, the printer 20 prints the message image indicated by the print data delivered from the PC 30 before the encryption key (see the process of s750 in FIG. 19). Therefore, the user can confirm that the printer 20 is a correct wireless station to which the encryption key is to be delivered from the PC 30 depending on whether or not a message image is printed from the printer 20. Then, after confirming this message image, the user can perform a confirmation operation on the PC 30 (see the process of s840 in FIG. 20), whereby the encryption key can be transferred from the PC 30 to the printer 20.

[Modification]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to said specific embodiment, It can implement with a various form besides this.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the printer 20 is applied as the wireless station of the present invention. However, the wireless station of the present invention can be applied to devices other than the printer 20 as long as the device functions as a wireless station.

  In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the PC 30 is connected to the access point 10 via the cable 100 is illustrated. However, when the PC 30 has a function as a wireless station, the PC 30 is wirelessly connected. It is good also as composition which has.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, an example in which all processes including the reply of the probe response are not performed when the printer 20 is determined to be in the factory shipment state is illustrated (FIG. 4). , See the process of s410 in FIGS. However, on the printer 20 side, the probe response is returned in a state where it can be determined whether or not the printer 20 itself is in a factory-shipped state, and registration on the probe response or transmission of request prompt data is not performed on the access point 10 side. Also good.

  For this reason, on the printer 20 side, for example, as shown in FIG. 22, the process of s410 is provided after the process of s450, and if “YES” is determined in the process of s410, the factory shipment state is indicated. The probe response with the “Unconfigure device” flag indicating “(1” set) is transmitted (s412). If “NO” is determined, the “Unconfigure device” flag is not set (“ It may be configured to shift to the processing of s460 after transmitting a normal probe response (s414).

  On the access point 10 side, first, after the process of s160 in FIGS. 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 15, and 16, or after the process of s220 (s222), It is preferable to provide a process as shown. For example, as shown in FIG. 23, after the processing of s160, if the wireless station (printer 20) is in the factory shipment state as a result of checking the “Unconfigure device” flag of the received probe response (s161: YES), s230 On the other hand, the process proceeds to the process of (s162). On the other hand, if it is not in the factory shipment state (s161: NO), the process proceeds to the process of s170. If it is determined “YES” in the process of s220 (s222), if the “Unconfigure device” flag of the received probe response is checked, if the wireless station is in the factory shipment state (s224: YES), s240 On the other hand, if it is not in the factory-shipped state (s224: NO), the connection method instruction process is terminated.

  With this configuration, the access point 10 can register the probe response or transmit the request prompt data and set the connection method only when the wireless station is in the factory-shipped state.

[Correspondence with the present invention]
In the present invention, the response request means provided in the wireless access point is the processing of s140 and s101 in FIGS. 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 23. The probe request transmitted (broadcast) is the response request data in the present invention. The method notification means is the process of s240 in each of the above figures, and the request prompting data transmitted in these processes is the notification data in the present invention. The method switching means is the processing of s110 to s220, s250, and s221 in each of the above figures. Further, the response collection means is the process of s150 to s170 in each of the above figures (excluding FIGS. 2 and 5). The first and second user selection means are the processes of s224 and s226 in FIG. The list transmission means is the process of s228 in FIGS. 10, 15, and 16. The cipher switching means is the processing of s910 to s930 in FIG. The mode switching means is the CPU 11 that executes connection method instruction processing.

  The response reply means provided in the wireless station is the process of s450 in FIGS. 4, 6, 17 and 22, and the probe response returned in these processes is the response data in the present invention. The method setting means is the process of s510 in each of the above figures. The content determination means is the process of s410 in each of the above figures. The operation stopping means is the process of s410 in each of the above figures (when it is determined “YES”). The notification collection means is the process of s430 to s470 in FIGS. The encryption setting means is the process of s510 in FIG. The cipher acquisition unit is the process of s700 in FIG. The cipher changing means is the process of s584 in FIG. The message output means is the process of s750 in FIG.

  Further, the list request means included in the communication terminal is the process of s610 in FIGS. The third and fourth user selection means are the processes of s630 and s640 in each of the above figures. The selective transmission means is the process of s650 in each of the above figures. Also, the encryption delivery means is the process from s810 to s850 in FIG. The confirmation operation means is the process of s840 in FIG.

Diagram showing network configuration The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the connection method instruction | indication process in 1st Embodiment (the 1) Sequence diagram showing exchange of data between an access point and a printer in the first embodiment The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the connection method setting process in 1st Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the connection method instruction | indication process in 1st Embodiment (the 2) The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the connection method setting process in 2nd Embodiment. Diagram showing data structure of data table The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the connection method instruction | indication process in 3rd Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the connection method instruction | indication process in 4th Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the connection method instruction | indication process in 5th Embodiment. Sequence diagram showing exchange of data between access point and printer in the fifth embodiment Flowchart showing the procedure of setting command processing in the fifth embodiment (part 1) The figure which shows the state where the contents which are indicated with list data are displayed Flowchart showing the procedure of setting command processing in the fifth embodiment (No. 2) The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the connection method instruction | indication process in 5th Embodiment (the 2) The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the connection method instruction | indication process in 6th Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the connection method setting process in 6th Embodiment. Sequence diagram showing exchange of data between access point and printer in the sixth embodiment The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the encryption key acquisition process in 6th Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the setting command process in 6th Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the encryption switching process in 6th Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the connection method setting process in another embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the connection method instruction | indication process in another embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Access point, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... ROM, 13 ... RAM, 14 ... Network controller, 15 ... Wireless LAN controller, 16 ... Operation panel, 17 ... Display panel, 20 ... Printer, 21 ... CPU, 22 ... ROM, 23 ... RAM, 24 ... wireless LAN controller, 25 ... PC interface unit, 26 ... operation panel, 27 ... display panel, 28 ... print engine, 30 ... personal computer, 100 ... cable.

Claims (31)

A wireless station capable of setting a connection method as a wireless connection method to any one of a plurality of connection methods is set to the same connection method as a wireless access point previously set to any one of the plurality of connection methods. A wireless LAN system that enables data communication between the wireless access point and the wireless station,
The wireless access point is
Response request means for transmitting response request data for requesting a response to the wireless station based on each of the plurality of connection methods;
After response response data is transmitted by the response request means, when response data returned as a response to the response request data is received, based on the same connection method as the response data, the wireless access point is A notification means for transmitting notification data for notifying a set connection method to the wireless station, and
The wireless station is
A response reply means for returning the response data to the wireless access point when the request data transmitted based on a connection method set in advance for the wireless station is received from the wireless access point;
After the response data is returned by the response reply means, when the notification data transmitted based on the connection method set in advance to the wireless station is received, the connection method notified by the notification data is And a method setting means for setting as a connection method to the wireless access point. In the wireless access point,
The method notification means transmits, as the notification data, request prompt data for requesting permission for wireless connection to the wireless access point, and an association request which is data for requesting permission for wireless connection from the wireless station. The wireless LAN system according to claim 1, wherein an association response for permitting wireless connection to the wireless access point is returned when the message is transmitted. In the wireless access point,
A method switching means is provided for switching the connection method to each of the plurality of connection methods in order at predetermined time intervals, and then switching back to the connection method set in advance for the wireless access point.
The response request unit transmits the response request data based on the switched connection method every time the connection method is switched by the method switching unit.
The method notifying means is switched at the time of reception when the response data is received after the response request data is transmitted by the response request means until the method switching means switches to the next connection method. The wireless LAN system according to claim 1, wherein the notification data is transmitted based on a connection method. In the wireless access point,
The wireless LAN system according to claim 3, wherein the method switching unit starts switching a connection method when receiving a command from the outside. In the wireless access point,
The response request unit transmits the response request data based on a connection method set in advance to the wireless access point before switching of a connection method by the method switching unit is started. The wireless LAN system according to claim 3 or 4. In the wireless station,
A notification collecting means for collecting the notification data transmitted based on a connection method set in advance for the wireless station over a predetermined period;
After the notification data is collected by the notification collection unit, the method setting unit is configured to change the connection method notified by the notification data having the highest reception level among the collected notification data to the wireless access point. The wireless LAN system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless LAN system is set as a connection method. In the wireless access point,
The wireless LAN system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the method notification unit transmits the notification data to a wireless station that has transmitted the response data that satisfies a predetermined condition. In the wireless access point,
Response transmission means for collecting the response data over a predetermined period after transmission of response request data by the response request means is started,
After the notification data is collected by the response collection unit, the method notification unit transmits the notification data to the wireless station that is the transmission source of the response data having the highest reception level among the collected notification data The wireless LAN system according to claim 7. In the wireless access point,
The method notification means is a wireless that is a transmission source of response data determined based on an external command among the response data returned after the response request data is transmitted by the response request means The wireless LAN system according to claim 1, wherein the notification data is transmitted to a station. In the wireless access point,
Response transmission means for collecting the response data over a predetermined period after transmission of response request data by the response request means is started,
After the response data is collected by the response collecting means, the method notifying means transmits the collected response data to a wireless station that is a transmission source of response data determined based on an external command. The wireless LAN system according to claim 9, wherein the notification data is transmitted. In the wireless access point,
After the response data is collected by the response collecting means, a first user selecting means for causing the user to select one or more wireless stations from the wireless stations that are the transmission sources of the collected response data is provided. And
The wireless LAN system according to claim 10, wherein the method notification unit transmits the notification data to a wireless station selected by a user by the first user selection unit. In the wireless station,
The response reply means transmits the response data in a state in which identification data for identifying the wireless station is associated,
In the access point,
The response collecting means is configured to collect the response data together with the identification data corresponding to the response data;
Furthermore, after the response data is collected by the response collection means, a second user selection means for causing the user to select one or more identification data from among the identification data corresponding to each of the collected response data is provided. And
The wireless LAN system according to claim 10, wherein the method notification unit transmits the notification data to a wireless station identified by the identification data selected by the user by the second user selection unit. In the wireless access point,
The method notifying unit is configured to receive a command from a communication terminal connected to the wireless access point so as to be able to perform data communication, and to determine a wireless station to which the notification data is to be transmitted. The wireless LAN system according to claim 9. In the wireless access point,
After transmission of response request data by the response request means is started, the response data is collected over a predetermined period, and the correspondence relationship between the collected response data and the wireless station that is the transmission source of the response data is stored Response collecting means to be stored in the department;
List transmission for transmitting list data indicating the list to the communication terminal side when receiving request data from the communication terminal for requesting a list of wireless stations whose correspondence is stored by the response collecting means Means,
The method notification means transmits list data to the communication terminal by the list transmission means, and then selects data indicating one or more radio stations selected from the list indicated by the list data on the communication terminal side. Is received from the communication terminal, and the notification data is returned to the wireless station indicated by the selection data. In the communication terminal,
List request means for transmitting the list request data to the wireless access point;
After the list request data is transmitted to the wireless access point by the list request means, when the list data is received from the wireless access point, one or more wireless stations are selected from the list indicated by the list data. Third user selection means for allowing the user to select;
The selection transmission means for transmitting the selection data indicating one or more radio stations selected by the user by the third user selection means to the wireless access point is provided. Wireless LAN system. In the wireless station,
The response reply means transmits the response data in a state in which identification data for identifying the wireless station is associated,
In the wireless access point,
A wireless station that collects the response data together with identification data corresponding to the response data for a predetermined period after transmission of the response request data by the response request unit is started, and a source of the collected response data; , Response collection means for storing the correspondence relationship of the identification data in the storage unit;
List transmission for transmitting list data indicating the list to the communication terminal side when receiving request data from the communication terminal for requesting a list of identification data for which correspondence is stored by the response collecting means Means,
The method notification means is a selection data indicating one or more identification data selected from the list indicated by the list data on the communication terminal side after the list data is transmitted to the communication terminal by the list transmission means. Is received from the communication terminal, and the notification data is returned to the wireless station corresponding to the identification data indicated by the selection data.
List request means for transmitting the list request data to the wireless access point;
After the list request data is transmitted to the wireless access point by the list requesting means, when the list data is received from the wireless access point, one or more identification data is selected from the list indicated by the list data. Fourth user selection means for allowing the user to select;
The selection transmission means for transmitting the selection data indicating one or more wireless stations selected by the user by the fourth user selection means to the wireless access point is provided. Wireless LAN system. In the wireless access point,
After the notification data is transmitted by the method notification means, the notification data is transmitted when data communication at the wireless access point is set to be performed in a state encrypted with the first encryption key. The cipher switching means for performing only the data communication with the wireless station without switching by encrypting the encryption method is provided. Wireless LAN system. In the access point,
The method notification means is configured to return the notification data in a state where a second encryption key different from the first encryption key used for encrypting data communication at the wireless access point is added. ,
Further, after the notification data is transmitted by the method notification means, an encryption method is performed so that data communication with the wireless station to which the notification data is transmitted is performed in a state encrypted with the second encryption key. Encryption switching means for switching is provided,
In the wireless station,
After receiving the notification data from the wireless access point, encryption setting means is provided for setting data communication with the wireless access point by encrypting with the second encryption key added to the notification data. The wireless LAN system according to claim 1, wherein: A communication terminal capable of data communication with the wireless access point is connected to the wireless access point,
In the wireless station,
Cryptography acquisition means for acquiring the first encryption key from the communication terminal via the wireless access point by a public key cryptosystem;
When the first encryption key is acquired from the communication terminal by the encryption acquisition unit, the wireless connection with the wireless access point is canceled, and the wireless connection is performed again with the first encryption key encrypted. Encryption changing means for changing the setting to perform data communication with the wireless access point in a state encrypted with the first encryption key, and
In the communication terminal,
An encryption delivery means for delivering the first encryption key to the wireless station via the wireless access point by a public key cryptosystem;
In the wireless access point,
The wireless LAN system according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the encryption switching unit does not switch an encryption method after the wireless connection with the wireless station is released. In the communication terminal,
The encryption delivery means is configured to deliver an authentication message to the wireless station by public key cryptography before delivering the first encryption key,
further,
After the authentication message is delivered by the encryption delivery means, a confirmation operation means for performing a confirmation operation by a user who confirmed the authentication message output on the wireless station side is provided,
The encryption delivery means is configured to deliver the first encryption key when a confirmation operation is performed by the confirmation operation means.
In the wireless station,
The encryption acquisition means is configured to acquire the authentication message that is transferred from the communication terminal by a public key encryption method prior to the first encryption key,
Further, message output means for outputting the authentication message acquired by the encryption acquisition means is provided,
The cipher acquisition unit outputs an authentication message by the message output unit, and after the confirmation operation to the communication terminal by the user who has confirmed the authentication message output by the message output unit is performed, from the communication terminal The wireless LAN system according to claim 18, wherein the first encryption key to be transferred is acquired. In the wireless access point,
The operation mode of the wireless access point is a support mode in which transmission of notification data by the method notification unit is realized to support setting of a connection method in a wireless station, and transmission of notification data by the method notification unit is not realized. The wireless LAN system according to any one of claims 1 to 19, further comprising a mode switching unit capable of switching to any one of a normal mode that does not support setting of a connection method. In the wireless access point,
The wireless LAN system according to claim 20, wherein the mode switching unit switches an operation mode in response to an external command. In the wireless access point,
The mode switching means switches the operation mode back to the normal mode when a predetermined period elapses after the operation mode is switched to the support mode. Wireless LAN system. In the wireless access point,
The mode switching means switches the operation mode back to the normal mode when notification data is transmitted a predetermined number of times by the method notification means after switching the operation mode to the support mode. The wireless LAN system according to any one of 20 to 22. In the wireless station,
It is determined whether or not the setting content related to the connection method to the wireless access point is the setting content that needs to set the connection method to the wireless access point through the reply by the response reply unit and the setting by the method setting unit. Content determination means;
When it is determined that the connection method needs to be set by the content determination unit, one or both of the reply by the response reply unit and the setting by the method setting unit is not performed. The wireless LAN system according to claim 1, further comprising: an operation stop unit. In the wireless station,
It is determined whether or not the setting content related to the connection method to the wireless access point is the setting content that needs to set the connection method to the wireless access point through the reply by the response reply unit and the setting by the method setting unit. Content determination means is provided,
The response reply unit is configured to transmit the determination result of whether or not the response data needs to be set as a connection method by the content determination unit in a state that can be specified,
In the wireless access point,
The method notification means is configured to return the notification data only when the response data received from the wireless station is data that can specify that a connection method needs to be set. The wireless LAN system according to any one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that:   A communication terminal that functions as a wireless station according to any one of claims 1 to 25.   A communication terminal that functions as a wireless access point according to any one of claims 1 to 25.   A communication terminal that functions as a communication terminal according to any one of claims 13 to 15, claim 18, claim 19, and claim 1 that cites only these claims.   A communication program for causing a computer system to execute various processing procedures for causing the wireless station according to any one of claims 1 to 25 to function as all means.   A communication program for causing a computer system to execute various processing procedures for causing the wireless access point according to any one of claims 1 to 25 to function as all means.   A communication program for causing a computer system to execute various processing procedures for functioning as a communication terminal according to any one of claims 13 to 15, claim 18, claim 19, and any claim claiming only these claims. .

Images