JP2007288722A - Radio communication apparatus and information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radio communication apparatus capable of working an ad-hoc mode just as needed, and an information processor such as a printer or a scanner comprising the radio communication apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A radio communication apparatus 100 which performs radio communication with a terminal device 41, comprises: an ad-hoc mode radio communication means 103 for communicating with the terminal device 41 in the ad-hoc mode; a reception field strength change detection section 114 for detecting the movement of the terminal device 41; and a control means 109 which initiates or stops the ad-hoc mode radio communication means 103 in a case where it is detected by the reception field strength change detection section 114 that the terminal device 41 moves. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication device and an information processing device, and more particularly to a wireless communication device capable of wireless communication with a terminal device and an information processing device such as a printer device and a scanner device including the wireless communication device.

  A printer device (printing device) such as a dedicated printer or a multifunction device is equipped with a network communication using a wired LAN (Local Area Network), and print data is transmitted via a LAN from a terminal device such as a PC. It is common in offices and the like to share a single printer device with a plurality of terminal devices such as a PC. In addition, wireless communication has been accelerated and standardized, and wireless network connection has become common. For example, wireless LAN communication based on the IEEE802.11 standard is widespread including PCs, and printer devices are equipped with such a wireless communication function, so that not only in offices but also in stores, public spaces, etc. In addition, it is possible to print by connecting wirelessly to a printer using a terminal device such as a PC.

  IEEE802.11 wireless LAN communication includes an infrastructure network in which each station communicates via an access point and an ad hoc network in which short-distance stations communicate directly with each other.

  In general offices and the like, terminal devices such as a plurality of PCs often use one or several printer devices in common and assume that they are connected to a LAN via an access point. A printer device such as a printer is also provided on the LAN by an infrastructure network. Therefore, in a case where printing is performed from a PC in an office or the like outside, it is necessary to first connect to an access point and output to a printer device on the network. In that case, it is necessary to search for an access point and acquire an ESS-ID, a MAC address, and an IP address of the access point. In order to connect to an access point, it may be necessary to register client information in advance from the viewpoint of security.

  However, even if connected to the access point, if the information such as the IP address or host name of the printer device to be printed out is not known, it cannot be printed out to the desired printer device. Even if the printer device that wants to print out is in front of you, if you do not know this information, you cannot print out on the infrastructure network, and even if you know the information, the connection itself is complicated.

  As a method for eliminating such troublesome connection, an infrastructure network that wirelessly communicates with other wireless communication devices by wirelessly communicating with other wireless communication devices together with an ad hoc network that wirelessly communicates directly with a terminal device such as a PC. There is an invention of a printer device that can be mounted simultaneously (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the printer device of the invention, the ad hoc mode and the infrastructure mode always operate simultaneously as communication modes, and two or more wireless system units (such as an RF unit and a baseband unit, a modulation / demodulation unit and a transmission / reception unit) operate. The power consumption of the wireless system unit has increased. Further, when the two communication modes are mixed, radio waves are mixed and communication quality is deteriorated.

In general, in an office or the like, access point and printer information is already installed in a terminal device such as a PC, and data to the printer device is transmitted in the infrastructure mode, so the ad hoc mode is not used. In order to make a connection from a terminal device such as a PC outside the office that is frequently infrequently prepared, the ad hoc mode is always prepared, which is inefficient in terms of power consumption and communication quality.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-066452

  In view of the above-described problems of the prior art, the present invention is a wireless communication apparatus capable of operating an ad hoc mode only when necessary in order to connect from a terminal apparatus such as a PC outside the office, which is less frequent. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus such as a printer apparatus or a scanner apparatus provided with a wireless communication apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a wireless communication device that wirelessly communicates with a terminal device, an ad hoc mode wireless communication unit that communicates with the terminal device in an ad hoc mode, a terminal detection unit that detects movement of the terminal device, Control means for starting or stopping the ad hoc mode wireless communication means when it is detected by the terminal detection means that the terminal device has moved. As a result, when a terminal device such as a PC comes close, the control means activates the ad hoc mode wireless communication means, so that the wireless communication apparatus can communicate in the ad hoc mode. In addition, when a terminal device such as a PC moves away, the control unit stops the ad hoc mode wireless communication unit. Therefore, a complicated procedure for connecting in the ad hoc mode can be eliminated.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication device according to the first aspect, the wireless communication device includes an infrastructure mode wireless communication unit that communicates with another terminal device different from the terminal device in an infrastructure mode. . Thereby, the complicated procedure for connecting in the ad hoc mode can be made unnecessary.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication apparatus according to the second aspect, the terminal detection unit sets a set threshold value for the received electric field strength of the radio wave received by the infrastructure mode wireless communication unit at predetermined time intervals. It is characterized by detecting whether or not it has been exceeded and determining whether or not the terminal device has moved based on the detected result. As a result, when a terminal device such as a PC approaches, a signal having a received electric field strength exceeding the set threshold is detected, and it can be determined that the terminal device such as a PC is close. Further, when a terminal device such as a PC moves away, a signal that once exceeds the set threshold value falls below the set threshold value. That is, it can be determined that a terminal device such as a PC has moved away from the state in which the setting threshold is exceeded by transitioning to a state in which the setting threshold is not exceeded.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication apparatus according to the third aspect, the terminal detection unit sets a set threshold value for the received electric field strength of the radio wave received by the infrastructure mode wireless communication unit at predetermined time intervals. It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not the terminal device has moved by detecting a maximum electric field strength exceeding and detecting a temporal change in the maximum electric field strength. Thereby, when a terminal device such as a PC approaches, a temporal change in the maximum electric field strength exceeding the set threshold is detected, and it can be determined that the terminal device such as a PC is further closer. Further, when a terminal device such as a PC moves away, a temporal change in the maximum electric field strength exceeding the set threshold is detected, and it can be determined more accurately that the terminal device such as a PC has moved away.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication apparatus according to the second aspect, the terminal detection unit is configured such that the received electric field strength of the radio wave received by the infrastructure mode wireless communication unit is equal to the predetermined time interval. It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not the terminal device has moved by detecting a sum of times exceeding a set threshold within an interval and detecting a temporal change in the sum of the times. As a result, when a terminal device such as a PC approaches, a temporal change in the sum of time in the received electric field strength exceeding the set threshold is detected, and it can be determined that the terminal device such as a PC is close. Further, when a terminal device such as a PC moves away, a temporal change in the sum of time in the received electric field strength exceeding the set threshold is detected, and it can be determined that the terminal device such as a PC has moved away.

  The invention according to claim 6 is a wireless communication device that wirelessly communicates with a terminal device, an ad hoc mode as a communication mode for wireless communication with the terminal device, and a communication mode that wirelessly communicates with another terminal device different from the terminal device. Wireless communication means having both infrastructure mode, terminal detection means for detecting movement of the terminal device, and when the terminal detection means detects that the terminal device has moved, the wireless communication means is And control means for switching from the structure mode to the ad hoc mode or from the ad hoc mode to the infrastructure mode. As a result, when a terminal device such as a PC approaches, the control unit switches the wireless communication unit from the infrastructure mode to the ad hoc mode, so that the wireless communication device can communicate in the ad hoc mode. When a terminal device such as a PC is moved away, the control unit switches the wireless communication unit from the ad hoc mode to the infrastructure mode. Therefore, a complicated procedure for connecting in the ad hoc mode can be eliminated.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is the wireless communication apparatus according to the sixth aspect, wherein the terminal detection unit determines whether the received electric field strength of the radio wave received by the wireless communication unit exceeds a set threshold value every predetermined time interval. And determining whether or not the terminal device has moved based on the detected result. As a result, when a terminal device such as a PC approaches, a signal having a received electric field strength exceeding the set threshold is detected, and it can be determined that the terminal device such as a PC is close. Further, when a terminal device such as a PC moves away, a signal that once exceeds the set threshold value falls below the set threshold value. That is, it can be determined that a terminal device such as a PC has moved away from the state in which the setting threshold is exceeded by transitioning to a state in which the setting threshold is not exceeded.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the wireless communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the terminal detecting means is a maximum electric field in which a received electric field intensity of a radio wave received by the wireless communication means exceeds a set threshold value at every predetermined time interval. It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not the terminal device has moved by detecting an intensity and detecting a temporal change in the maximum electric field intensity. Thereby, when a terminal device such as a PC approaches, a temporal change in the maximum electric field strength exceeding the set threshold is detected, and it can be determined that the terminal device such as a PC is further closer. Further, when a terminal device such as a PC moves away, a temporal change in the maximum electric field strength exceeding the set threshold is detected, and it can be determined more accurately that the terminal device such as a PC has moved away.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication device according to the sixth aspect, the terminal detecting means has a received electric field strength of a radio wave received by the wireless communication means within the predetermined time interval every predetermined time interval. It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not the terminal device has moved by detecting a sum of times exceeding a set threshold and detecting a temporal change in the sum of times. As a result, when a terminal device such as a PC approaches, a temporal change in the sum of time in the received electric field strength exceeding the set threshold is detected, and it can be determined that the terminal device such as a PC is close. Further, when a terminal device such as a PC moves away, a temporal change in the sum of time in the received electric field strength exceeding the set threshold is detected, and it can be determined that the terminal device such as a PC has moved away.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus including the wireless communication apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the information processing apparatus includes a display unit that displays detection information of the terminal device. Accordingly, it is possible to clearly indicate to the user that the information processing apparatus such as a printer apparatus or scanner apparatus close to the terminal apparatus such as a PC is ready for communication in the ad hoc mode.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the tenth aspect, the control means detects that the terminal apparatus has approached by a signal from the terminal detection means, and detects information detected by the display means. Is displayed. Accordingly, it is possible to clearly indicate to the user that the information processing apparatus such as a printer apparatus or scanner apparatus close to the terminal apparatus such as a PC is ready for communication in the ad hoc mode.

  By bringing a terminal device such as a PC in use close to an information processing device such as a printer device or a scanner device that wants to capture print output or scan data, the terminal device such as a PC can automatically communicate wirelessly. It becomes possible, and the complicated procedure for connecting in the ad hoc mode can be made unnecessary.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described using examples. In this embodiment, a terminal device such as a PC that transmits / receives print data, scan data, a processing signal related to printing, or a processing signal related to scanning via a wireless communication interface, and a plurality of multifunction devices having a printer function and a scanner function And a case where the present invention is applied to a multi-function peripheral system in which a system including an access point is constructed using a wireless LAN. In this embodiment, the printer function of the multifunction peripheral will be described as a representative example, but the same configuration and operation can be implemented for the scanner function.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example and an outline of operation of a multifunction machine system 10 according to the present embodiment.
As illustrated, the multifunction machine system 10 includes a multifunction machine 20, an access point 30, and terminal devices 41, 42, and 43 such as a plurality of PCs. The multifunction machine 20 and terminal devices 41 such as PCs, 42 and 43 each have a wireless communication function. In addition, the multifunction peripheral 20 and terminal devices 42 and 43 such as a PC are included in the network of the access point 30.

  The multi-function device 20 is equipped with a wireless communication device 100 shown in FIG. Normally, the wireless communication device 100 is connected to terminal devices 42 and 43 such as a PC via the access point 30 in the infrastructure mode as a communication mode. In offices or the like, terminal devices 42 and 43 such as the multifunction machine 20 and PCs are fixedly installed. In the case of fixed installation, terminal devices 42 and 43 such as PCs search the access point 30 to obtain an ESS-ID, perform encryption setting if necessary, and provide an IP address for LAN connection. Acquire and connect to the MFP 20 in the infrastructure mode. By connecting in the infrastructure mode, the multifunction device 20 can be shared by the terminal devices 42 and 43 such as a PC. Of course, the same is true even if the number of terminal devices such as multifunction peripherals and PCs further increases.

  Next, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the system configuration of the wireless communication apparatus 100 as an embodiment of the present invention.

  The wireless communication apparatus 100 includes two antennas 101 and 102, two wireless signal processing (RF) units 104 and 107, two transmission / reception units 105 and 108, a control unit 109, and a host communication unit 110. The reception field strength detection unit 112, the timer unit 113, the reception field strength change detection unit 114, and the start / stop control unit 115 are configured. The wireless communication apparatus 100 is connected to the printer host system 111 of the multifunction machine 20 via the host communication unit 110.

  Since the wireless communication function including the RF unit 104 and the transmission / reception unit 105 performs wireless communication in the ad hoc mode, the wireless communication function is referred to as an ad hoc mode wireless communication unit 103. Since the wireless communication function including the RF unit 107 and the transmission / reception unit 108 performs wireless communication in the infrastructure mode, this is referred to as the infrastructure mode wireless communication unit 106. Therefore, the ad hoc mode wireless communication unit 103 and the infrastructure mode wireless communication unit 106 have independent communication modes. Furthermore, when the movement of the terminal device 41 such as a PC is detected, the activation / deactivation control unit 115 performs activation or deactivation control of the RF unit 104 and the transmission / reception unit 105.

  Specifically, the main block of the RF unit 104 is configured by an RF chip or an RF module, and the transmission / reception unit 105 is a part of the MAC layer and is a constituent element of the baseband chip. These RF chips, RF modules, and baseband chips have a standby mode, and the standby mode is generally set by inputting a signal for controlling the standby. Specifically, it is performed by inputting an L / H signal to a standby control terminal such as each chip. In this way, activation or deactivation control of the RF unit 104 and the transmission / reception unit 105 is performed.

  In the ad hoc mode wireless communication unit 103 and the infrastructure mode wireless communication unit 106, when wireless transmission is performed, transmission signals output via the transmission / reception units 105 and 108 are subjected to processing such as frequency modulation by the RF units 104 and 107. When wirelessly transmitted from the antennas 101 and 102 and wirelessly received, the signals wirelessly received by the antennas 101 and 102 are subjected to processing such as frequency modulation by the RF units 104 and 107, and the control unit via the transmission / reception units 105 and 108. 109 is input.

  In this embodiment, the minimum number of wireless communication functions is two, but two or more may be used.

  Next, an operation for starting or stopping the ad hoc mode when the terminal device 41 such as a PC is physically brought close to or away from the multi-function device 20 will be described.

In the present embodiment, normally, by using the infrastructure mode wireless communication unit 106 configured by the RF unit 107 and the transmission / reception unit 108, a terminal device 42 such as a PC fixedly arranged in the infrastructure mode, 43 and the access point 30 are connected.
At this time, the ad hoc mode wireless communication unit 103 including the RF unit 104 and the transmission / reception unit 105 is stopped.

  When the user brings the terminal device 41 such as a PC close to the multi-function device 20 that the user wants to print out, the control unit 109 receives the signal when the terminal device 41 such as the PC detects the proximity by the detection method described later. The proximity of the terminal device 41 such as a PC is detected based on a signal from the electric field strength change detection unit 114, and the activation / deactivation control unit 115 is instructed to activate the ad hoc mode wireless communication unit 103 including the RF unit 104 and the transmission / reception unit 105. To do. The activation / deactivation control unit 115 activates the ad hoc mode wireless communication unit 103 including the RF unit 104 and the transmission / reception unit 105. The ad hoc mode wireless communication unit 103 wirelessly communicates with a terminal device 41 such as a PC that is in close proximity after startup in an ad hoc mode.

  As a connection procedure for wireless communication, it is possible to use a configuration in which a private address is transmitted to a terminal device 41 such as a PC by using a DHCP function in which an IP address necessary for ad hoc mode communication is provided in the multi-function device 20. It is. The DHCP function has a function of allocating IP addresses to users. As described above, in this embodiment, the user can print out the desired multifunction device 20 by bringing the terminal device 41 such as a PC close to the multifunction device 20 to be printed and connecting in the ad hoc mode.

  In addition, when the user finishes print output to the multi-function device 20 and moves away the terminal device 41 such as a PC, the control unit 109 detects that the terminal device 41 such as the PC has moved away by a detection method described later. Detects that the terminal device 41 such as a PC has moved away from the signal from the received electric field strength change detection unit 114, and the ad hoc mode wireless communication unit 103 configured by the RF unit 104 and the transmission / reception unit 105 in the start / stop control unit 115. Instruct to stop. The start / stop control unit 115 stops the ad hoc mode wireless communication unit 103 including the RF unit 104 and the transmission / reception unit 105.

  In this way, it is possible to determine whether the terminal device 41 such as a PC has moved by detecting that the terminal device 41 such as a PC has approached or moved away.

  Next, a method for detecting that the terminal device 41 such as a PC has approached or moved away in FIG. 3 will be described.

  In FIG. 3A, the x-axis is time, and the y-axis is received electric field strength. Here, a temporal change in the received electric field strength is shown. The received electric field strength change detecting unit 114 is normally connected to the terminal devices 42, 43 such as a PC connected in the infrastructure mode by the received electric field strength detecting unit 112 via the RF unit 107 of the infrastructure mode wireless communication unit 106. The radio wave output from the access point 30 is detected. These radio waves are output for a certain period of time for each frame, and a certain level of signal is detected at certain time intervals as shown in FIG. In general, since the RF unit has means for outputting an RSSI (Receive Signal Strength Indicator) signal, the received electric field strength detection unit 112 can detect the received electric field strength by acquiring the RSSI signal.

  In offices or the like, the positions of the terminal devices 42 and 43 such as PCs connected in the infrastructure mode and the access point 30 and the multifunction device 20 are fixed, and the reception level changes as shown in FIG. Absent. However, when the user places the terminal device 41 such as a PC close to the multifunction device 20 to be printed and connects in the ad hoc mode as in this embodiment, the user prints out the desired multifunction device 20 as shown in FIG. As shown in (b), since the radio wave output from the terminal device 41 such as a PC is output at a position close to the multi-function device 20, the received electric field strength when the terminal device 41 such as the PC outputs a frame signal as a radio wave is output. The detection unit 112 detects a radio wave having a higher intensity than the radio waves of the other terminal devices 42 and 43 and the access point 30.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the signal having the received electric field intensity indicating the maximum value a is a signal from a terminal device 41 such as a nearby PC. The received electric field strength change detecting unit 114 detects whether the signal detected by the received electric field strength detecting unit 112 has a received electric field strength larger than the set threshold at regular intervals in the signal from the timer unit 113, and the maximum When the value exceeds the set threshold value, it is determined that the terminal device 41 such as a PC has approached the multifunction device 20.

  Specifically, in FIG. 3A, a signal exceeding the set threshold value is not detected from each predetermined time T1 to T4, and it is determined that there is no terminal device 41 such as a PC in the vicinity. On the other hand, in FIG. 3B, a signal exceeding the set threshold value was not detected at the fixed times T1 and T2, but a signal having the maximum value a exceeding the set threshold value was detected at T3 and T4, and between T2 and T3. A change in the maximum value of the received electric field strength is detected. As a result, it is determined that the terminal device 41 such as a PC has come close.

  When the user finishes printing output to the multi-function device 20 and moves away the terminal device 41 such as a PC, a signal exceeding the set threshold is not detected as indicated by T5 in FIG. It is determined that the terminal device 41 has moved away.

  Furthermore, it can be determined that the terminal device 41 such as a PC is closer by detecting the amount of change in which the magnitude of the signal of the maximum value a exceeding the set threshold value changes between T3 and T4.

  When the terminal devices 42 and 43 such as a PC and the access point 30 are fixedly arranged in the vicinity of the multifunction device 20, a signal having a received electric field strength larger than the set threshold is always detected. In this case, the maximum values of the signals of the terminal devices 42 and 43 such as PCs connected in the infrastructure mode and the access point 30 are constant, but the maximum values a of T3 and T4 shown in FIG. It is possible to determine that the terminal device 41 such as a PC has come close by detecting the change in time of.

  Next, in FIG. 4, another detection method for detecting that the terminal device 41 such as a PC has approached or moved away will be described.

  Differences from FIG. 3 will be described. As described above, when the terminal devices 42 and 43 such as a PC and the access point 30 are fixedly arranged in the vicinity of the multifunction machine 20, the change may not be detected by the change in the maximum value. In FIG. 4A, a signal exceeding the set threshold value is detected during a certain time, and the detection time during each certain time from T1 to T4 is t1, and there is no change. In FIG. 4B, T1 and T2 similarly have a detection time of t1, but T3 and T4 have a detection time of t1 + t2 because a signal of a terminal device 41 such as a PC is detected, and between T2 and T3 A temporal change in the total time of the received electric field strength exceeding the set threshold is detected. As a result, it is determined that the terminal device 41 such as a PC has come close.

  When the terminal device 41 such as a PC moves away, as shown in T5 of FIG. 4B, the detection time becomes t1, and the total time of the received electric field strength exceeding the set threshold value is between T4 and T5. A time change is detected, and it is determined that the terminal device 41 such as a PC has moved away.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of the system configuration of the wireless communication apparatus 300 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Since the configuration of the second embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, only the differences will be described.

  In this embodiment, there is one wireless communication function including an RF unit and a transmission / reception unit. The wireless communication function shown in this embodiment includes an RF unit 303 and a transmission / reception unit 304 that operate by switching between ad hoc mode and infrastructure mode communication. Further, in place of the start / stop control unit 115 of FIG. 2 in the first embodiment, a communication mode switching control unit 311 is provided as means for switching the communication mode. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG. 2 in the first embodiment, and the antenna 301 corresponds to the antennas 101 and 102, and the control unit 305 corresponds to the control unit 109. The same applies to other configurations as well. In the present embodiment, the terminal devices 42 and 43 such as PCs, which are fixedly arranged in the infrastructure mode, usually by using the wireless communication unit 302 including the RF unit 303 and the transmission / reception unit 304. And connected to the access point 30.

  When the user brings the terminal device 41 such as a PC close to the multifunction machine 20 to be printed out, when the proximity of the terminal device 41 such as the PC is detected by the method shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 305 detects the proximity of the terminal device 41 such as a PC based on a signal from the received electric field strength change detection unit 310, and the communication mode switching control unit 311 includes a communication mode of the wireless communication unit 302 including the RF unit 303 and the transmission / reception unit 304. Is switched from the infrastructure mode to the ad hoc mode. The communication mode switching control unit 311 outputs a signal for switching to the ad hoc mode to the wireless communication unit 302 including the RF unit 303 and the transmission / reception unit 304. After switching to the ad hoc mode, the wireless communication unit 302 performs wireless communication with the terminal device 41 such as a nearby PC in the ad hoc mode.

  Further, when the user finishes print output to the multi-function device 20 and moves away the terminal device 41 such as a PC, it detects that the terminal device 41 such as a PC has moved away by the method shown in the description of FIGS. In this case, the control unit 305 detects that the terminal device 41 such as a PC has moved away from the signal from the received electric field strength change detection unit 310, and is configured by the communication mode switching control unit 311 with the RF unit 303 and the transmission / reception unit 304. The wireless communication unit 302 is instructed to switch the communication mode from the ad hoc mode to the infrastructure mode. The communication mode switching control unit 311 outputs a switching signal to the infrastructure mode to the wireless communication unit 302 configured by the RF unit 303 and the transmission / reception unit 304. After switching to the infrastructure mode, the wireless communication unit 302 performs wireless communication in the infrastructure mode with terminal devices 42 and 43 such as PCs that are fixedly arranged.

  Next, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure for switching the communication mode in the present embodiment. The procedure is shown below.

  First, when the wireless communication device 300 is operating in the infrastructure mode (S10), when the control unit 305 detects the proximity of the terminal device 41 such as a PC by a signal from the received electric field strength change detection unit 310 (S20). The control unit 305 instructs the communication mode switching control unit 311 to switch the communication mode of the wireless communication unit 302 to the ad hoc mode. (S30) The communication mode switching control unit 311 outputs a switching signal to the wireless communication unit 302. (S40) After switching, the wireless communication unit 302 performs wireless communication with the terminal device 41 such as a PC in an ad hoc mode. (S50) When the control unit 305 detects that the terminal device 41 such as a PC has moved away from the signal from the received electric field strength change detection unit 310 (S60), the control unit 305 instructs the communication mode switching control unit 311 to An instruction is given to switch the communication mode of the wireless communication unit 302 to the infrastructure mode. (S70) The communication mode switching control unit 311 outputs a switching signal to the wireless communication unit 302. (S80) After switching, the wireless communication unit 302 performs wireless communication in the infrastructure mode with the terminal devices 42 and 43 such as PCs that are fixedly arranged, and returns to the start state of the processing procedure.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an outline of the system configuration of a wireless communication apparatus 400 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Since the third embodiment is substantially similar in configuration and operation to the first embodiment, only the differences will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the printer host system 411 further includes a display unit 416, and the configuration other than this is the same as that in FIG. 2 in the first embodiment. The antenna 401 corresponds to the antenna 101, the RF unit 404 corresponds to the RF unit 104, and the control unit 409 corresponds to the control unit 109. The same applies to other configurations as well.

  In this embodiment, the activation / deactivation control unit 415 activates the ad hoc mode wireless communication unit 403 including the RF unit 404 and the transmission / reception unit 405 when it detects that the terminal device 41 such as a PC is approaching or moving away. Alternatively, the operation of stopping is the same as in the first embodiment. In addition, in this embodiment, the activation / deactivation control unit 415 confirms that the ad hoc mode wireless communication unit 403 has been activated or deactivated by the control unit 409 simultaneously with the operation of activating or deactivating the ad hoc mode wireless communication unit 403. Inform. The control unit 409 displays on the display unit 416 of the printer host system 411 via the host communication unit 410 that the terminal device 41 such as a PC that has approached is detected or no longer detected. Thus, the user can easily determine whether or not the terminal device 41 such as a PC is detected by looking at the display unit 416 of the copying machine 20.

  In this embodiment, the example in which the display unit 416 is provided in the configuration of the first embodiment has been described, but it is needless to say that the display unit 416 may be provided in the configuration of the second embodiment.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is in no way limited to the configurations described in the above embodiments. With respect to these points, the present invention can be changed within a range that does not detract from the gist of the present invention, and can be appropriately determined according to the application form.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a multifunction machine system of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless communication apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the detection method of a terminal device. It is a figure which shows another detection method of a terminal device. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the radio | wireless communication apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows switching of a communication mode. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the radio | wireless communication apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 MFP system 20 MFP 30 Access point 41-43 Terminal device 100, 300, 400 Wireless communication device 101, 102, 301, 401, 402 Antenna 103 Ad hoc mode wireless communication unit 106 Infrastructure mode wireless communication unit 104, 107, 303, 404, 407 RF unit 105, 108, 304, 405, 408 Transmit / receive unit 109, 305, 409 Control unit 110, 306, 410 Host communication unit 111, 307, 411 Printer host system 112, 308, 412 Received field strength detection Unit 113, 309, 413 Timer unit 114, 310, 414 Received electric field strength change detection unit 115, 415 Start / stop control unit 311 Communication mode switching control unit

Claims (11)

In a wireless communication device that wirelessly communicates with a terminal device,
Ad hoc mode wireless communication means for communicating with the terminal device in ad hoc mode;
Terminal detection means for detecting movement of the terminal device;
And a control unit that activates or stops the ad hoc mode wireless communication unit when the terminal detection unit detects that the terminal device has moved. In the wireless communication device according to claim 1,
A wireless communication device comprising infrastructure mode wireless communication means for communicating with another terminal device different from the terminal device in an infrastructure mode. The wireless communication device according to claim 2,
The terminal detection means detects whether the received electric field strength of the radio wave received by the infrastructure mode wireless communication means has exceeded a set threshold at every predetermined time interval, and the terminal device has moved based on the detection result A wireless communication device characterized by determining whether or not. The wireless communication device according to claim 3.
The terminal detection unit detects a maximum electric field strength at which a received electric field strength of a radio wave received by the infrastructure mode wireless communication unit exceeds a set threshold at every predetermined time interval, and detects a temporal change in the maximum electric field strength. To determine whether or not the terminal device has moved. The wireless communication device according to claim 2,
The terminal detection means detects the sum of the times when the received electric field strength of the radio wave received by the infrastructure mode wireless communication means exceeds the set threshold value within the predetermined time interval for each predetermined time interval, and the time of the total time A wireless communication apparatus, wherein a determination is made as to whether or not the terminal apparatus has moved by detecting a dynamic change. In a wireless communication device that wirelessly communicates with a terminal device,
Wireless communication means having both an ad hoc mode as a communication mode for wireless communication with the terminal device, and an infrastructure mode as a communication mode for wireless communication with another terminal device different from the terminal device;
Terminal detection means for detecting movement of the terminal device;
Control means for switching the wireless communication means from the infrastructure mode to the ad hoc mode or from the ad hoc mode to the infrastructure mode when the terminal detection means detects that the terminal device has moved. Communication device. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein
The terminal detection unit detects whether the received electric field strength of the radio wave received by the wireless communication unit exceeds a set threshold value at every predetermined time interval, and determines whether the terminal device has moved based on the detection result A wireless communication device. The wireless communication device according to claim 7, wherein
The terminal detection means detects the maximum electric field strength at which the received electric field strength of the radio wave received by the wireless communication means exceeds a set threshold at every predetermined time interval, and detects the temporal change of the maximum electric field strength, thereby A wireless communication device that determines whether or not a terminal device has moved. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein
The terminal detection means detects the sum of times when the received electric field strength of the radio wave received by the wireless communication means exceeds a set threshold value within the predetermined time interval for each predetermined time interval, and detects a temporal change in the total time. A wireless communication apparatus that determines whether or not the terminal apparatus has moved by detection. An information processing apparatus comprising the wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1.
An information processing apparatus comprising display means for displaying detection information of the terminal device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the control unit detects that the terminal device is approaching by a signal from the terminal detection unit and displays detection information on the display unit.

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