JP2009246901A - Main communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide main communication equipment securing a radio channel used for radio communication while radio wave interference of radio communication is suppressed. <P>SOLUTION: In 89 DCL channels (dch1 to dch89), a plurality of (45, for example) DCL channels where radio wave interference with radio LAN channels (wch1 to wch14) included in a priority list with high priority is suppressed are selected with the DCL priority list in a priority table A (priority table B) as reference by MFP1. Since possibility that a band used in DCL radio communication 300 is overlapped with a band used in LAN radio communication 200 corresponding to the priority list with high priority can be reduced, possibility of radio wave interference with LAN radio communication 200 corresponding to the priority list with high priority is reduced, and DCL radio communication 300 is achieved with a DCL slave machine 61. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a main communication device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, communication devices that perform data communication and telephone calls using a predetermined frequency band are known. In this type of communication apparatus, frequency bands used for data communication and telephone calls are used in an overlapping manner. For example, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) for data communication and a digital cordless telephone (hereinafter referred to as “DCL (Digital Cordless)”) for the purpose of calling all have the same frequency of 2.4 GHz band. Use bandwidth.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 10, frequency bands and frequency channels used in the wireless LAN and DCL will be described. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing frequency bands and frequency channels used in wireless LAN and DCL.

  As shown in FIG. 10, each of the wireless LAN and DCL communication systems uses a frequency band (2.4 GHz band) from 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz. Corresponding to wireless LAN and DCL communication systems, a channel obtained by dividing the frequency band into a plurality of parts is set. In order to distinguish channels in each communication method, hereinafter, a channel used in the wireless LAN is referred to as a wireless LAN channel, and a channel used in the DCL is referred to as a DCL channel.

  In the wireless LAN, the frequency band from 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz is divided into 14 wireless LAN channels (wch1 to wch14). In the wireless LAN, one of the 14 wireless LAN channels is continuously used.

  On the other hand, in DCL, the frequency band from 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz is divided into 89 DCL channels (dch1 to dch89). Then, the DCL channel to be used is changed (hopping) among, for example, 45 DCL channels selected in advance among 89 DCL channels at a predetermined cycle (for example, 1/100 second) called a hopping cycle. )

  Under the situation where two or more communication methods as described above are mixed, the same frequency band is used by each communication method, so there is a possibility that radio wave interference occurs between the communication methods.

On the other hand, in the following Patent Document 1, before starting wireless communication, for all of a plurality of wireless channels that can be used for wireless communication, it is detected whether wireless communication using the wireless channel is performed, A technique for starting wireless communication using a wireless channel in which wireless communication is not performed (free) is described.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-110572 (paragraphs such as 0037)

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1 described above, when wireless communication is performed in all wireless channels and there is no free wireless channel, the wireless channel used for wireless communication cannot be determined, and wireless communication is not performed. There was a problem that communication could not be started.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a main communication device that can secure a radio channel used for radio communication while suppressing radio wave interference of radio communication. To do.

  In order to achieve this object, the main communication device according to claim 1 uses a plurality of first radio channels individually indicating one band obtained by dividing a predetermined frequency band into a plurality of sub-communication devices. 1st wireless communication means for performing wireless communication, which is a wireless channel used for wireless communication by an external communication device, and includes a band of the first wireless channel that is continuous among the predetermined frequency bands. The second wireless channel is configured by using a second wireless channel configured to detect a use state of the second wireless channel and a second wireless channel detected by the state detection unit. Among wireless communications, a wireless communication performed by the first wireless communication means is used as a reference, a first setting means for setting wireless communication having a higher priority than the reference, and a setting by the first setting means. Selection means for selecting a predetermined number of first wireless channels that are less affected by radio wave interaction from the plurality of first wireless channels, and the predetermined number selected by the selection means. Wireless communication is performed between the sub-communication device using channel determination means for determining one of the first wireless channels for each first period and the first wireless channel determined by the channel determination means Communication execution means.

  The main communication device according to claim 2 is the main communication device according to claim 1, wherein the external communication device identifies the wireless communication when performing wireless communication using the second wireless channel. It is configured to transmit a radio signal including information, and the status detection unit detects identification information transmitted by radio communication using the second radio channel as a usage status of the second radio channel, Operation acquisition for acquiring identification information instructed by a user operation from display means for performing display according to the identification information detected by the situation detection means, and display according to the identification information displayed on the display means And the first setting means is identified by identification information obtained by the operation obtaining means in wireless communication performed using the second wireless channel. The wireless communication is set in the wireless communication priority higher than the reference.

  The main communication device according to claim 3 is the main communication device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first setting means uses the wireless communication performed by the first wireless communication means as a reference, and the priority is higher than the reference. Prioritizing and setting high wireless communication, and the selecting means obtains a priority channel obtaining means for obtaining a second wireless channel used in the wireless communication in the order of wireless communication with the highest priority order; First exclusion means for excluding the first wireless channel included in the second wireless channel acquired by the priority channel acquisition means from the plurality of first wireless channels, and excluded by the first exclusion means. A predetermined number of first radio channels are selected from the remaining first radio channels.

  The main communication apparatus according to claim 4 is the main communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first setting means has a remaining number of remaining first radio channels when the first setting means is excluded by the first excluding means. First determination means for determining whether the number is greater than or equal to the number, and when the first determination means determines that the remaining number of the first wireless channel is less than the predetermined number, the remaining number of the first wireless channel Second setting means for setting a wireless communication having a lower priority in the wireless communication having a higher priority than the reference to a wireless communication having a lower priority than the reference until wireless communication becomes higher than the predetermined number. And.

  The main communication device according to claim 5 is the main communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the status detection means periodically detects the usage status of the second radio channel, The first setting unit sets wireless communication having a higher priority than the reference again when the usage status of the second radio channel detected by the status detection unit changes.

  A main communication device according to claim 6 is the main communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second communication channel performs wireless communication with the external communication device using the second wireless channel. Wireless communication means and channel acquisition means for acquiring a second wireless channel used by the second wireless communication means for wireless communication with the external communication device, wherein the selection means is acquired by the channel acquisition means. Second excluding means for excluding the first radio channel included in the second radio channel from the plurality of first radio channels, and from among the first radio channels remaining when excluded by the second excluding means. The predetermined number of first radio channels are selected.

  7. The main communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first setting unit determines whether or not a remaining number of first radio channels remaining when excluded by the second excluding unit is equal to or more than the predetermined number. When the first determination means and the first determination means determine that the remaining number of the first wireless channel is less than the predetermined number, until the remaining number of the first wireless channel becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined number The wireless communication apparatus may further include a second setting unit configured to set a wireless communication having a lower priority in the wireless communication having a higher priority than the reference to a wireless communication having a lower priority than the reference.

  The main communication device according to claim 7 is the main communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first setting means determines whether wireless communication is performed using the second wireless channel. 2 determination means, and third setting means for setting the wireless communication determined by the second determination means as not being performed by the second wireless channel to a wireless communication having a lower priority than the reference. It has.

  The main communication device according to claim 8 is the main communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first setting means is based on wireless communication performed by the first wireless communication means, and based on the reference Are set with a priority on the lower priority wireless communication, and the selecting means obtains a second wireless channel used in the wireless communication in the order of the lower priority wireless communication. An acquisition unit is provided, and the first radio channel included in the second radio channel acquired by the low channel acquisition unit is preferentially selected as the predetermined number of first radio channels.

  According to the main communication device of claim 1, the use status of the second radio channel, which is a radio channel used by an external communication device and includes a band corresponding to the first radio channel, is detected. In the wireless communication using the detected second wireless channel, wireless communication having higher priority than wireless communication performed with the sub-communication device is set by the first setting unit. Based on the set high-priority wireless communication, a predetermined number of first wireless channels that are less affected by radio wave interaction are selected by the selection means, and one of the selected predetermined number of first wireless channels is The channel is determined by the channel determination unit every first period, and the wireless communication with the sub-communication device is executed by the communication execution unit by the determined first wireless channel. Therefore, the main communication device secures the first radio channel used for the radio communication while suppressing radio wave interference between the radio communication by the second radio channel having the higher priority and the radio communication by the first radio communication means, and the sub communication device There is an effect that wireless communication can be performed.

  According to the main communication device of the second aspect, in addition to the effect achieved by the main communication device of the first aspect, the identification information transmitted by the wireless communication using the second wireless channel is detected as the communication state of the second wireless channel. Detected by the means, and display according to the detected identification information is performed by the display means. Wireless communication in which the identification information instructed by the user operation is acquired by the operation acquisition means from the display corresponding to the identification information, and the wireless communication identified by the acquired identification information is performed with the sub-communication device The first setting means sets the wireless communication with higher priority than the first setting means. Therefore, the user can instruct identification information for identifying the wireless communication whose priority is to be increased from the display corresponding to the identification information displayed on the display means, which is advantageous in terms of usability.

  According to the main communication device of the third aspect, in addition to the effect achieved by the main communication device of the first or second aspect, the second radio channel used in the radio communication is arranged in the order of radio communication having the highest priority. The first radio channel acquired by the priority channel acquisition unit and included in the acquired band of the second radio channel is excluded from the plurality of first radio channels by the first excluding unit. Then, a predetermined number of first radio channels are selected by the selection means from among the first radio channels remaining after exclusion by the first exclusion means. Therefore, the higher the priority ranking, the lower the possibility that the bands of the second radio channel and the first radio channel overlap. Therefore, the main communication device can perform wireless communication with the sub-communication device by reducing the possibility of radio wave interference in radio communication with higher priority in radio wave interference to radio communication. effective.

  According to the main communication device of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the main communication device of the third aspect, the remaining number of the first radio channels remaining when excluded by the first excluding device is a predetermined number or more. If it is determined by the first determination means and the remaining number of the first wireless channel is determined to be less than the predetermined number, the reference is prioritized until the remaining number of the first wireless channel exceeds the predetermined number. Among the high-frequency wireless communications, the wireless communication with the lower priority order is set by the second setting means to the wireless communication with the lower priority than the reference. Therefore, when the remaining number of the first radio channels is less than the predetermined number, the remaining first radio channels from the first radio channel included in the band of the second radio channel used in the radio communication having the lower priority order. It can be included in the radio channel. Therefore, even when the remaining number of the first wireless channels is less than the predetermined number, the main communication device suppresses the radio wave interference in the radio communication with higher priority in the radio wave interference to the radio communication, while suppressing the radio wave interference. There is an effect that a radio channel can be secured.

  According to the main communication device according to claim 5, in addition to the effect of the main communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the use status of the second radio channel is periodically detected by the status detection means, When the usage status of the detected second wireless channel changes, wireless communication having a higher priority than the reference is set again by the first setting means. Therefore, when the usage status of the second radio channel changes, a predetermined number of first radio channels that are less affected by the interaction of radio waves can be selected again, which changes the usage status of the second radio channel. Correspondingly, there is an effect that wireless communication can be performed with the sub communication device.

  For example, if the second wireless channel used in high-priority wireless communication is changed by an external communication device, it may not be possible to suppress the influence of radio wave interaction on high-priority wireless communication. is there. Even in such a case, wireless communication having a higher priority than the reference is set again by the first setting means, and a predetermined number of first wireless devices with less influence of radio wave interaction are set based on the set wireless communication. Since the channel is selected by the selecting means, even when the second wireless channel used in the wireless communication with a high priority is changed by an external communication device or the like, the main communication device has a higher priority than the reference. There is an effect that wireless communication can be performed with the sub communication device while suppressing radio wave interference with respect to high wireless communication.

  According to the main communication device of the sixth aspect, in addition to the effect achieved by the main communication device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wireless communication using the second wireless channel with an external communication device is possible. The second radio channel used by the second radio communication unit and used in the radio communication by the second radio communication unit is acquired by the channel acquisition unit. The first radio channel included in the obtained band of the second radio channel is excluded from the plurality of first radio channels by the second excluding means, and the excluded first radio channels are A predetermined number of first radio channels are selected by the selection means. Therefore, since the duplication of the band of the second radio channel used by the second radio communication means and the remaining first radio channel is suppressed, the first radio communication means and the second radio communication means included in the main communication device. There is an effect that wireless communication can be performed with the sub-communication device while suppressing radio wave interference.

  According to the main communication device of the seventh aspect, in addition to the effect achieved by the main communication device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the second determination means determines whether wireless communication is being performed using the second wireless channel. The wireless communication determined and determined that wireless communication using the second wireless channel is not performed is set by the third setting unit to wireless communication having a lower priority than the wireless communication performed with the sub communication device. . Therefore, since the first wireless channel included in the band of the second wireless channel that is not used in wireless communication is included in the remaining first wireless channel, radio wave interference to the second wireless channel may occur. It is possible to increase the number of first wireless channels with low performance. Therefore, the main communication device can further reduce the possibility of radio wave interference with radio communication with higher priority, and can perform radio communication with the sub communication device.

  According to the main communication device of the eighth aspect, in addition to the effect achieved by the main communication device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the wireless communication device is used in the wireless communication in order of the lower priority communication order. Two radio channels are acquired by the low channel acquisition unit, and the first radio channel included in the acquired band of the second radio channel is preferentially selected by the selection unit as a predetermined number of first radio channels. Therefore, the lower the priority order, the higher the possibility that the first radio channel included in the band of the second radio channel used in the radio communication is selected as the predetermined number of first radio channels. Therefore, as a result, there is an effect that radio communication with the secondary communication apparatus can be performed by reducing radio wave interference to the radio communication having a higher priority order.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a multifunction peripheral device (hereinafter referred to as “MFP (Multi Function Peripheral)”) 1 having an main communication device and an access point (hereinafter referred to as “AP”) 51 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the block diagram which showed the electrical structure with the DCL subunit | mobile_unit 61. FIG. The MFP 1 and the AP 51 are configured to be able to perform data communication with each other via the LAN wireless communication 200, and the MFP 1 (master device) and the DCL slave device 61 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via the DCL wireless communication 300. ing.

  The MFP 1 according to the present embodiment assigns a priority to each of the LAN wireless communication 200 performed around the MFP 1 with the DCL wireless communication 300 as a reference, and prioritizes the DCL wireless communication 300 out of 89 DCL channels. For the LAN wireless communication 200 having a high value, a plurality of (for example, 45) DCL channels capable of suppressing radio wave interference are selected, and the DCL wireless communication 300 is performed with the DCL slave unit 61.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the MFP 1 will be described. The MFP 1 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, an operation button 15, an LCD 16, a wireless LAN communication control circuit 17, a digital cordless communication control circuit (hereinafter referred to as “DCL (Digital Cordless) communication control circuit”) 19, a scanner 21, and a printer 22. The transmitter / receiver 23, the voice processing circuit 24, and the NCU 25 are mainly included.

  The CPU 11, ROM 12, and RAM 13 are connected to each other via a bus line 28. The handset 23 and the NCU 25 are connected to the voice processing circuit 24. Further, the operation button 15, LCD 16, wireless LAN communication control circuit 17, DCL communication control circuit 19, scanner 21, printer 22, audio processing circuit 24, NCU 25, and bus line 28 are connected to each other via an input / output port 29. ing.

  The CPU 11 performs various functions of the MFP 1 according to fixed values and programs stored in the ROM 12 and the RAM 13 or various signals transmitted and received via the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17, the DCL communication control circuit 19, or the NCU 25. It is an arithmetic device that controls and controls each unit connected to the input / output port 29.

  The ROM 12 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory that stores a control program executed by the MFP 1. Programs for executing the priority order setting process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the communication channel selection process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, and the DCL channel selection process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 are stored in the ROM 12.

  The ROM 12 is provided with a channel correspondence table memory 12a. The channel correspondence table memory 12a is a memory in which a channel correspondence table indicating DCL channels (dch1 to dch89) whose frequency bands overlap with the wireless LAN channels (wch1 to wch14) is stored.

  Here, the channel correspondence table will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the contents of the channel correspondence table. The channel correspondence table is composed of a wireless LAN channel and a DCL channel, and every DCL channel whose frequency band overlaps with that wireless LAN channel is associated with each wireless LAN channel.

  For example, since the frequency band used in the wireless LAN channel “wch1” overlaps with the frequency band used in the DCL channels “dch4 to dch25”, the wireless LAN channel “wch1” and the DCL in the channel correspondence table. Channels “dch4 to dch25” are associated with each other.

  Similarly, the wireless LAN channel “wch2” and the DCL channels “dch9 to dch30” are associated with each other, and the wireless LAN channel “wch3” and the DCL channels “dch15 to dch36” are associated with each other. Similarly, for the other wireless LAN channels (wch4 to wch14), each wireless LAN channel and all DCL channels whose frequency bands overlap with the wireless LAN channel are associated with each other, and the description thereof is omitted.

Here, returning to FIG. 1, the description will be continued. The RAM 13 is a rewritable volatile memory, and is a memory for temporarily storing various data when each operation of the MFP 1 is executed. The RAM 13 includes a wireless LAN channel memory 13a, an SSID memory 13b,
A DCL channel memory 13c, a communication status table memory 13d, a priority order table memory 13e, a DCL order change flag memory 13f, and a DCL channel selection table memory 13g are provided.

  The wireless LAN channel memory 13a is a memory in which one wireless LAN channel used by the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 for LAN wireless communication 200 with the AP 51 is stored. Although details will be described later, one wireless LAN channel used for the LAN wireless communication 200 is determined by the AP 51 and notified from the AP 51 to the MFP 1. When notified of one wireless LAN channel from the AP 51, the MFP 1 stores the wireless LAN channel in the wireless LAN channel memory 13a.

  The SSID memory 13b is a memory in which an SSID used for identifying the communication partner AP 51 when the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 performs the LAN wireless communication 200 with the AP 51 is stored.

  The SSID is identification information used by the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 and the AP 51 to identify a communication partner when a plurality of APs 51 are performing the LAN wireless communication 200. The SSID is composed of up to 32 alphanumeric characters. For example, an alphanumeric character “AAA” is stored in the SSID memory 13b.

  Although details will be described later, an SSID is set in advance by the user or the like in advance in the MFP 1 or AP 51, and the MFP 1 or AP 51 transmits the SSID to each other during the LAN wireless communication 200. Then, the LAN wireless communication 200 is continuously performed only between the AP 51 and the MFP 1 having the same SSID.

  The DCL channel memory 13c is a memory in which, for example, 45 DCL channels used by the DCL communication control circuit 19 for the DCL wireless communication 300 with the DCL communication control circuit 61a of the DCL slave unit 61 are stored. When a DCL channel selection process (see FIG. 8) described later is executed, 45 DCL channels to be used for the DCL wireless communication 300 are determined and stored in the DCL channel memory 13c. Further, each determined DCL channel is notified to the DCL slave unit 61.

  Although details will be described later, the DCL communication control circuit 19 selects one DCL channel from among the 45 DCL channels stored in the DCL channel memory 13c every hopping cycle (for example, 1/100 second). Then, DCL wireless communication 300 with the DCL slave device 61 is performed.

  The communication status table memory 13d is a memory in which a communication status table indicating the communication status of the LAN wireless communication 200 performed around the MFP 1 is stored. When the communication status acquisition circuit 17a of the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 acquires the usage status of the wireless LAN channel (the used wireless LAN channel, the SSID, and the received electric field strength), based on the content, the periphery of the MFP 1 A communication status table indicating the communication status of the LAN wireless communication 200 performed in step S2 is created (processing of S2 in FIG. 5).

  Here, the communication status table will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram schematically showing the contents of the communication status table stored in the communication status table memory 13d of the RAM 13. As shown in FIG. The communication status table is a table indicating the communication status of the LAN wireless communication 200 performed in the vicinity of the MFP 1 and includes a communication status list. One communication status list includes one SSID, one wireless LAN channel to which the SSID is transmitted, and reception field strength of the one wireless LAN channel.

  Hereinafter, in order to make the explanation easy to understand, the contents (SSID, wireless LAN channel, and received electric field strength) included in one communication status list are referred to as a communication status list (SSID, wireless LAN channel, received electric field strength). Called.

  When the same SSID is transmitted in a plurality of wireless LAN channels, a communication status list including the same SSID and the received electric field strength of the wireless LAN channel is created for each wireless LAN channel. Is done.

  The received electric field intensity indicates the intensity of the radio wave received in the band to be measured (here, the band corresponding to one wireless LAN channel), and is a value from “0” to “10”. Indicated. The closer the received electric field strength is to “0”, the weaker the received radio wave is, and the closer the received electric field strength is to “10”, the stronger the received radio wave is. For example, when the received electric field strength of one measured wireless LAN channel is “0”, it indicates that no radio wave was received in the band corresponding to the measured wireless LAN channel. That is, the measured wireless LAN channel is not used in the LAN wireless communication 200 around the MFP 1.

  On the other hand, when the received electric field strength of one measured wireless LAN channel is “10”, it indicates that a very strong radio wave has been received in the band corresponding to the measured wireless LAN channel. Specifically, the measured wireless LAN channel is used in the LAN wireless communication 200 around the MFP 1, and the DCL channel whose band overlaps with the wireless LAN channel is used for the wireless communication 300 with the DCL slave unit 61. Then, the radio wave interference occurs and a state where a call cannot be made is shown. For other received electric field strengths (“1” to “9”), the received electric field strengths “0” and “10” are equally divided.

  For example, if the wireless LAN channel usage status acquired by the communication status acquisition circuit 17a is the wireless LAN channel “wch1”, the SSID “AAA” is transmitted and the received electric field strength is “3”. As shown in FIG. 3A, a communication status list (AAA, wch1, 3) is created.

  The wireless LAN channel usage status acquired by the communication status acquisition circuit 17a is the same if the SSID “AAA” is transmitted on the wireless LAN channel “wch13” and the received electric field strength is “5”. Since the communication status list is created for each channel even if the SSID is, the communication status list (AAA, wch13, 5) is newly created as shown in FIG.

  Similarly, a communication status list is created on the basis of the SSID acquired by the communication status acquisition circuit 17a, the wireless LAN channel, and the received electric field strength of the wireless LAN channel, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  Here, returning to FIG. 1, the description will be continued. The priority table memory 13e is a memory in which the priority table A and the priority table B are stored. The priority table memory 13e is provided with a priority table A memory 13e1 in which the priority table A is stored and a priority table B memory 13e2 in which the priority table B is stored. The priority order table A and the priority order table B are tables used in a DCL channel selection process (see FIG. 8) described later.

  Here, the priority table A and the priority table B will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram schematically showing the contents of the priority table A stored in the priority table A memory 13e1 of the RAM 13. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the contents of the priority table B stored in the priority table B memory 13e2 of the RAM 13. As shown in FIG.

  First, the priority table A will be described. The priority order table A is a table in which priorities are set for each communication status list in the communication status table by a user input operation (steps S4 to S5 in FIG. 5), and is configured by the priority order list. Yes. One priority list includes one priority, one SSID, one wireless LAN channel to which the SSID is transmitted, and reception field strength of the one wireless LAN channel.

  Hereinafter, in order to make the explanation easy to understand, the contents (priority, SSID, wireless LAN channel, and received electric field strength) included in one priority list are changed to the priority list (priority, SSID, wireless LAN channel). , Received electric field strength).

  The priority order here is a LAN that preferentially suppresses radio wave interference in the LAN wireless communication 200 performed around the MFP 1 with the DCL wireless communication 300 performed with the DCL slave device 61 as a reference. The order of the wireless communication 200 is shown. That is, radio interference with the DCL radio communication 300 is suppressed as the LAN radio communication 200 has a higher priority.

  Specifically, the priority order table A includes a priority order list corresponding to the DCL wireless communication 300 (hereinafter referred to as “DCL priority order list”), which has priority over the DCL priority order list. The more the LAN wireless communication 200 corresponding to the higher priority order list, the more the radio wave interference with the DCL wireless communication 300 is suppressed. In the priority order table A (priority order table B) of this embodiment, the priority order list corresponding to the DCL wireless communication 300 is referred to as a priority order list (priority order, DCL,-,-).

  For example, when the priority is designated by the user's input operation, as shown in FIG. 3B, the priority list (1, AAA, wch13, 5) or the DCL priority list (4, DCL, − ,-) Is created. Similarly, a priority list is created based on the user's input operation, and the description thereof is omitted. In this priority table A (priority table B), a priority list having a lower priority than the DCL priority list (4, DCL,-,-) is a received electric field regardless of the user's input operation. High priority is set in descending order of strength.

  Next, the priority table B will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the contents of the priority table B stored in the priority table B memory 13e2 of the RAM 13. As shown in FIG.

  In the priority table B, the priority of the priority list including the same SSID as the SSID transmitted by the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 in the priority table A is moved down from the DCL priority list. It is a table.

  For example, when the contents of the priority table A are in the state shown in FIG. 3B and the SSID transmitted by the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 is “AAA”, the priority list (1, AAA, Each priority list of wch13, 5) and priority list (2, AAA, wch1, 3) is moved below DCL priority list (4, DCL,-,-).

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the priority of the priority list (3, EEE, wch7, 4) is set to “1”, and the priority of the DCL priority list (4, DCL, −, −) is set. The rank is set to “2”. In the priority list having a lower priority than the DCL priority list (2, DCL,-,-), as in the priority table A, the higher priority is set in the descending order of the received electric field strength. .

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the priority list (1, AAA, wch13, 5) is set to “7”, and the priority list (2, AAA, wch1, 3) is set to “8”. "Is set.

  Here, returning to FIG. 1, the description will be continued. The DCL rank change flag memory 13f is a memory in which a DCL rank change flag is stored. The DCL rank change flag suppresses radio wave interference of the LAN wireless communication 200 in which the same SSID as the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 is transmitted when the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 is not performing the LAN wireless communication 200. Is also a flag indicating whether to suppress the radio wave interference of the DCL wireless communication 300 with priority.

  When preferentially suppressing the radio wave interference of the DCL wireless communication 300, the DCL rank change flag is set to on (for example, “1”), and otherwise, it is set to off (for example, “0”). When the DCL rank change flag is off, the priority table A is used for the process in the DCL channel selection process (see FIG. 8) described later, and when the DCL rank change flag is on, the priority table. B is used for processing.

  The DCL channel selection table memory 13g is a memory in which a DCL channel selection table is stored. The DCL channel selection table is a table used in a DCL channel selection process (see FIG. 8) to be described later. Among the DCL channels (dch1 to dch89), priority according to the priority order table A or the priority order table B is used. FIG. 9 is a table for selecting 45 DCL channels in order of suppressing radio wave interference with the LAN wireless communication 200 performed in the vicinity of the MFP 1 (see FIG. 9A).

  The DCL channel selection table includes a DCL channel and a status value indicating whether or not the DCL channel is used for the DCL wireless communication 300. For each DCL channel, a status corresponding to the one DCL channel. A value is associated.

  The status value is a value indicating whether or not the associated DCL channel is used for the DCL wireless communication 300 between the MFP 1 and the DCL slave device 61, and is a value indicating use prohibition (for example, “−1”). ) And a value indicating availability (for example, “1”). Hereinafter, in order to make the explanation easy to understand, a status value indicating prohibition of use is referred to as “x”, and a status value indicating availability is referred to as “◯”.

    Here, returning to FIG. 1, the description will be continued. The operation button 15 includes a priority order setting button 15a for setting the priority order of the LAN wireless communication 200 performed around the MFP 1, a wireless communication function by wireless LAN, a wireless communication function by DCL, a print function, and the like. There are provided buttons for setting each function, input buttons for instructing various operations, number buttons for inputting a telephone number, and the like.

  The LCD 16 is a display device for displaying menus, operation states, and the like according to the operation of the operation buttons 15. When the user operates the operation button 15, information corresponding to the operation is displayed on the LCD 16.

  The wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 has a wireless LAN antenna 18 and is a known circuit that transmits and receives digital signals constituting various data while performing LAN wireless communication 200 with the AP 51. SSIDs are set in advance in the MFP 1 and the AP 51 by a user or the like, and when the LAN wireless communication 200 is performed by each of them, the SSIDs are transmitted to each other. The LAN wireless communication 200 is continuously performed only between the AP 51 and the wireless LAN control circuit 17 having the same SSID.

  Specifically, when performing the LAN wireless communication 200 with the AP 51, the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 transmits and receives the SSID stored in the SSID memory 13b of the RAM 13 together with various data. Only the digital signal that matches the SSID stored in the SSID memory 13b is extracted from the LAN wireless communication 200 to form various data.

  Further, when starting the wireless LAN communication 200 with the AP 51, the wireless LAN communication control device 17 stores one wireless LAN channel value notified from the AP 51 in the wireless LAN channel memory 13a. Then, LAN wireless communication 200 is performed with the AP 51 using the stored wireless LAN channel. When the LAN wireless communication 200 with the AP 51 is completed, the wireless LAN channel value stored in the wireless LAN channel memory 13a is cleared (deleted).

  Note that even when the AP 51 has already started the LAN wireless communication 200 with the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17, the AP 51 changes the wireless LAN channel used for the LAN wireless communication 200 according to the state of radio wave interference. . When notified of the change of the wireless LAN channel from the AP 51, the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 stores the notified wireless LAN channel in the wireless LAN channel memory 13a, and continues using the stored wireless LAN channel. LAN wireless communication 200 is performed with the AP 51.

  The DCL communication control circuit 19 has a DCL antenna 20 and performs a DCL wireless communication 300 with the DCL communication control circuit 61a of the DCL slave device 61, while making a digital signal (voice data) constituting the voice of the call. ).

  Between the DCL communication control circuit 19 and the DCL communication control circuit 61a of the DCL slave 61, one DCL channel used for the DCL wireless communication 300 is changed every hopping period (for example, 1/100 second). DCL wireless communication 300 is performed by the frequency hopping method. The DCL channel used for the DCL wireless communication 300 is selected from among 45 DCL channels stored in the DCL channel memory 13c of the RAM 13.

  The scanner 21 reads an image from a document set at a predetermined reading position (not shown) and generates image data that can be displayed on the LCD 16 or printed by the printer 22. The image data read by the scanner 21 is stored in a predetermined storage area in the RAM 13.

  The printer 22 is composed of an ink jet printer that prints an image on a recording sheet set at a predetermined paper feed position (not shown). The printer 22 includes a print head that uses four colors of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black), a paper feeding device, and a recovery device, and performs color printing. The print head is provided with a plurality of nozzles (ink ejection ports), and the recording paper is fed by the paper feeding device while the ink is ejected from the nozzles, and the image is printed on the recording paper.

  The handset 23 is a device for making a call, and has a microphone and a speaker. The audio processing circuit 24 is a circuit that converts an analog audio signal into a digital signal and a digital signal into an analog audio signal. The digital signal transmitted from the DCL slave unit 61 and received by the DCL communication control circuit 19 is converted into an analog audio signal. The data is converted and output to the handset 23 and the NCU 25.

  Also, an analog voice signal output when voice is input to the handset 23 and an analog voice signal received by the NCU 25 from the external device (not shown) via the telephone line network 100 are converted into a digital signal (voice data). And output to the DCL communication control circuit 19. The digital signal (audio data) input to the DCL communication control circuit 19 is transmitted to the DCL slave unit 61 via the DCL wireless communication 300.

  The NCU 25 is connected to the telephone line network 100 and sends a dial signal to the telephone line network 100 or responds to a call signal from the telephone line network 100 to make a call with an external device (not shown). It is something to control.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the AP 51 will be described. The AP 51 is connected to the LAN 500, and a relay device having a known circuit for connecting a terminal device (each communication device connected to the AP 51) connected via the LAN wireless communication 200 to the LAN 500. It is.

  The AP 51 has a wireless LAN antenna 51a, and is configured to be able to communicate with the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 of the MFP 1 and the LAN wireless communication 200. A plurality of terminal devices including the MFP 1 can be connected to the AP 51 simultaneously, and each terminal device (MFP 1 and other communication devices (not shown)) connected to the AP 51 is connected to the LAN 500.

  In addition, the AP 51 has an SSID set in advance by a user or the like, and the LAN wireless communication 200 is continuously performed only between the wireless LAN control circuit 17 in which the set SSID matches the SSID. Has been.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the DCL slave unit 61 will be described. The DCL slave unit 61 is a device for making a call with an external device (not shown) connected via the DCL wireless communication 300 between the MFP1 and the telephone line network 100. is there. The DCL slave device 61 mainly has a DCL communication control circuit 61a.

  The DCL communication control circuit 61a has a DCL antenna 61b, and transmits and receives digital signals constituting the voice of a call while performing DCL wireless communication 300 with the DCL communication control circuit 19 of the MFP 1 serving as a master unit. This is a known circuit. The DCL communication control circuit 61a performs the DCL wireless communication 300 with the MFP 1 by the frequency hopping method using the 45 DCL channels notified from the DCL communication control circuit 19 of the MFP 1.

  Next, priority order setting processing executed by the CPU 11 of the MFP 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing priority order setting processing of the MFP 1. This priority order setting process is a process for setting the order of the LAN wireless communication 200 that preferentially suppresses radio wave interference among the LAN wireless communication 200 performed around the MFP 1 with the DCL wireless communication 300 as a reference. Yes, this process is executed when the priority order setting button 15a of the operation button 15 is pressed.

  In this priority order setting process, first, the use status of the wireless LAN channel is acquired by the communication status acquisition circuit 17a of the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 (S1). As a result, the wireless LAN channel, the SSID, and the received electric field strength used in the LAN wireless communication 200 are acquired.

  Next, a communication status table (see FIG. 6) in which the acquired wireless LAN channel and the received electric field strength are classified for each SSID is created and stored in the communication status table memory 13d of the RAM 13 (S2). Then, a priority order setting table in which a temporary priority order is assigned to each SSID in the communication state table of the communication state table memory 13d is created, and the contents are displayed on the LCD 16 (S3).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the designation of the SSID priority by the user's input operation has been completed (S4). If the input operation by the user is continuing (S4: No), the priority designated by the user is given priority. The result is reflected in the order setting table, displayed on the LCD 16 (S5), the process returns to S4, and the processes of S4 and S5 are repeated.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 6, the priority setting table and a method of changing the priority by the user will be described. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the contents of the priority order setting table.

  The priority order setting table classifies the communication status list of the communication status table for each SSID, adds a communication status list corresponding to the DCL radio communication 300, and temporarily assigns priority to each SSID and DCL radio communication 300. Is a table to which When this priority order setting table is displayed on the LCD 16, the user can specify the priority order of the SSID by performing a button operation.

  For example, a high priority is assigned to each SSID in the order in which the SSIDs are designated by an arrow button or the like. More specifically, when the SSID is specified in the order of “AAA” → “EEE” → “DCL” → “BBB” → “CCC” with an arrow button or the like in the priority order setting table shown in FIG. The priority order of “AAA” is set to “1”, the priority order of SSID “EEE” is set to “2”, the priority order of “DCL” is set to “3”, and so on. Is set.

  Here, returning to FIG. 5, the description will be continued. In the process of S4, when the input operation by the user is completed (S4: Yes), in the priority setting table, priority is given to all the communication status lists in order from the communication status list including the SSID having the highest priority. The priority order table A is created and stored in the priority order table A memory 13e1 of the RAM 13 (S6).

  Next, in the priority table A stored in the priority table A memory 13e1 of the RAM 13, the priority of the priority list including the SSID stored in the SSID memory 13b of the RAM 13 is set lower than that of the DCL priority list. A priority table B is created and stored in the priority table B memory 13e2 of the RAM 13 (S7).

  Next, on the LCD 16, “When the wireless LAN is not used by the own device, the radio interference of the DCL wireless communication 300 is suppressed rather than suppressing the radio interference of the LAN wireless communication 200 that transmits the same SSID as the own device. Is it preferentially suppressed? "Is displayed (S8).

Then, it is determined whether or not the “Yes” button is pressed (S9). If the “Yes” button is pressed (S9: Yes), the DCL rank change flag stored in the DCL rank change flag memory 13f of the RAM 13 is set. It is set to ON (S10), and this priority setting process is terminated.
On the other hand, if any other button is pressed (S9: No), the DCL rank change flag stored in the DCL rank change flag memory 13f of the RAM 13 is set to OFF (S11), and this priority setting process is terminated. .

  By the priority order setting process of the flowchart of FIG. 5 described above, when the priority order setting button 15a of the operation button 15 is pressed by the user, the priority order selection table A or the priority order selection table B can be created, and the user's button operation The state of the DCL order change flag can be set according to

  Further, the LCD 16 displays a list of communication statuses of the LAN wireless communication 200 performed in the vicinity of the MFP 1, so that the user can set the priority higher than the DCL wireless communication 300 while watching the display. Is easy to use.

  Next, a communication channel selection process executed by the CPU 11 of the MFP 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing communication channel selection processing of the MFP 1. This communication channel selection process is a process for starting the wireless communication 300 between the DCL communication control circuit 19 and the DCL slave unit 61, and between the MFP 1 and the DCL slave unit 61 or in the telephone line network 100. This is a process executed when a call is started between a connected external device (not shown) and the DCL slave device 61.

  In this communication channel selection process, first, it is determined whether the priority table A and the priority table B are stored in the priority table A memory 13e1 of the RAM 13 (S21). When the table A and the priority table B are not stored (S21: No), the priority table A memory 13e1 and the priority table B memory 13e2 are initialized (S22). More specifically, the priority table A and the priority table B configured only by the DCL priority list are created, the created priority table A is stored in the priority table A memory 13e1, and the created priority is stored. The order table B is stored in the priority order table B memory 13e2.

  In the process of S21, when the priority table A is stored in the priority table A memory 13e1 and the priority table B is stored in the priority table B memory 13e2 (S21: Yes), the process of S22 is skipped. , The process proceeds to S23.

  Then, a DCL channel selection process is executed (S23). Although details will be described later (see FIG. 8), the DCL channel selection process (S23) is performed from 89 DCL channels (dch1 to dch89) based on the priority order of the priority order table A or the priority order table B. This is a process of selecting 45 DCL channels in which radio wave interference with the wireless LAN channels (wch1 to wch14) included in the priority list with high priority is suppressed. When this DCL channel selection process (S23) is executed, the selected 45 DCL channels are stored in the DCL channel memory 13c of the RAM 13.

  Next, all (45) DCL channels stored in the DCL channel memory 13c of the RAM 13 are notified to the DCL slave unit 61 (S24), and wireless communication 300 is started with the DCL slave unit 61 ( S25), this communication channel selection process is terminated.

  Next, the DCL channel selection process (S23) executed by the CPU 11 of the MFP 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the DCL channel selection process (S23) of the MFP1. FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram schematically showing an example of the contents of the DCL channel selection table stored in the DCL channel selection table memory 13g. FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram schematically showing an example of the contents of the DCL channel stored in the DCL channel memory 13c.

  The DCL channel selection process (S23) shown in FIG. 8 is performed based on the priority order of the priority order table A or the priority order table B, and the priority order list having the highest priority order is selected from the 89 DCL channels (dch1 to dch89). This is a process of selecting 45 DCL channels in which radio wave interference with included wireless LAN channels (wch1 to wch14) is suppressed.

  In this DCL channel selection process (S23), it is first determined whether or not the DCL rank change flag stored in the DCL rank change flag memory 13f of the RAM 13 is on (S31), and the DCL rank of the DCL rank change flag memory 13f is determined. When the change flag is off (S31: No), the priority table A is acquired from the priority table A memory 13e1 of the RAM 13 (S33).

  In the process of S31, when the DCL order change flag is on (S31: Yes), it is determined whether the wireless LAN channel is stored in the wireless LAN channel memory 13a of the RAM 13 (S32). Here, when the wireless LAN channel is stored in the wireless LAN channel memory 13a, it indicates that the LAN wireless communication 200 is being performed between the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 and the AP 51, When the wireless LAN channel is not stored, it indicates that the LAN wireless communication 200 is not performed with the AP 51.

  If the wireless LAN channel is stored in the wireless LAN channel memory 13a in the process of S32 (S32: Yes), the process proceeds to S33. On the other hand, when the wireless LAN channel is not stored in the wireless LAN channel memory 13a (S32: No), the priority table B is acquired from the priority table B memory 13e2 of the RAM 13 (S34).

  Next, the DCL channel selection table memory 13g in the RAM 13 is initialized (S35). Specifically, in the DCL channel selection table, the status values of all (89) DCL channels are set to “◯ (usable)”. Next, in the priority table A (priority table B) acquired in the processing of S33 or S34, all priority lists having higher priority than the DCL priority list are extracted (S36).

  Then, in the DCL channel selection table in the DCL channel selection table memory 13g, all the DCL channels whose bands overlap with the wireless LAN channels included in the priority list are extracted for all priority lists extracted in the process of S36. The status value is set to “× (unusable)” (S37).

  Here, as an example, processing when the DCL rank change flag is off will be described. When the DCL order change flag is off, the priority order table A is acquired from the priority order table A memory 13e1. If the contents of the acquired priority table A are in the state shown in FIG. 3B, the priority is higher than the DCL priority list (4, DCL,-,-) in the priority table A. As the priority list, a priority list (1, AAA, wch13, 5), a priority list (2, AAA, wch1, 3), and a priority list (3, EEE, wch7, 4) are extracted.

  Then, in the DCL channel selection table of the DCL channel selection table memory 13g, the status value of the DCL channel whose band overlaps with each wireless LAN channel (wch13, wch1, wch7) included in the extracted priority list is indicated by “× ( Unusable) ”. Accordingly, the status value of the DCL channel “dch70 to dch80” whose band overlaps with the wireless LAN channel “wch13”, the status value of the DCL channel “dch4 to dch25” whose band overlaps with the wireless LAN channel “wch1”, and the wireless LAN The status values of the DCL channels “dch37 to dch58” whose bands overlap with the channel “wch7” are set to “× (unusable)”, respectively.

  Next, in the DCL channel selection table of the DCL channel selection table memory 13g, it is determined whether or not the number of DCL channels whose status value is “◯ (available)” is “45ch” or more (S38).

  In the process of S38, when the number of DCL channels whose status value is “◯ (available)” is less than “45ch” (S38: No), one priority table A acquired in the process of S33 or S34 In (B), the priority of the DCL priority list is set one higher (S39), the process returns to S35, and the above-described processes of S35 to S39 are repeated.

  For example, in the DCL channel selection table, the status values of the DCL channels “dch4 to dch25”, the DCL channels “dch37 to dch58”, and the DCL channels “dch70 to dch89” are set to “× (unusable)”. For example, the number of DCL channels whose status value is “◯ (usable)” is “25ch”.

  In this state, the remaining number of DCL channels is “25ch” and the remaining number is less than “45ch”. Therefore, in the extracted priority table A, the priority of the DCL priority list is set higher by 1 so far. The priority of the priority list that is one higher priority than the DCL priority list is set one lower. That is, the DCL priority list (4, DCL,-,-) is set as the DCL priority list (3, DCL,-,-), and the priority list (3, EEE, 7, 4) is set as the priority order. Set as list (4, EEE, 7, 4).

  Then, the DCL channel selection table is initialized again, and the processes of S35 to S37 are executed. Then, as shown in FIG. 9A, in the DCL channel selection table, the status value of the DCL channel “dch4 to dch25” and the status value of the DCL channel “dch70 to dch89” are set to “× (unusable)”. Therefore, the remaining number of DCL channels whose status value is “◯ (available)” is “47ch”.

  In the process of S38, if the number of DCL channels whose status value is “O (available)” is “45ch” or more in the DCL channel selection table of the DCL channel selection table memory 13g (S38: Yes), The three DCL channels “dch1 to dch3” whose bands do not overlap with the wireless LAN channels (wch1 to wch14) are stored in the DCL channel memory 13c of the RAM 13 (S40).

  Next, one priority order table A acquired in the process of S33 or S34 from the DCL channels whose status value is set to “O (usable)” in the DCL channel selection table of the DCL channel selection table memory 13g. The DCL channels corresponding to (overlapping with) the wireless LAN channels included in the priority list are selected in the order of the priority list having the lowest priority in the (priority table B), and 42 DCL channels are determined. In addition to the three DCL channels already stored, the determined 42 DCL channels are stored in the DCL channel memory 13c of the RAM 13 (S40). That is, a total of 45 DCL channels are stored in the DCL channel memory 13c. And this DCL channel selection process is complete | finished.

  Here, the 45 DCL channels stored in the DCL channel memory 13c will be described. For example, assume that the DCL channel selection table is in the state shown in FIG. Further, the contents of the acquired priority table A are changed from the state shown in FIG. 3B, and the DCL priority list (4, DCL,-,-) is changed to the DCL priority list (3, DCL,-,-). -) Is set, and the priority list (3, EEE, 7, 4) is set to the priority list (4, EEE, 7, 4). That is, in this state, in the DCL channel selection table, the status values of the DCL channels “dch1 to dch3, dch26 to dch69” are set to “◯ (usable)”.

  First, the three DCL channels “dch1 to dch3” are stored in the DCL channel memory 13c of the RAM 13. Next, the priority list (8, BBB, wch1, 5) having the lowest priority is referred to. The DCL channels “dch4 to dch25” whose bandwidth overlaps with the wireless LAN channel “wch1” included in this priority list. Since all status values are set to “× (unusable)”, there is no DCL channel that can be selected.

  Next, referring to the priority list (7, CCC, wch4, 6), status values are selected from the DCL channels “dch20 to dch41” whose bandwidth overlaps with the wireless LAN channel “wch4” included in this priority list. 16 DCL channels “dch26 to dch41” having “◯ (available)” are selected.

  Similarly, referring to the priority list (6, BBB, wch7, 7) and excluding the already selected DCL channels, 17 DCL channels “dch42 to dch58” whose status value is “◯ (available)” are used. , Refer to the priority list (5, CCC, wch9, 8), and except for the already selected DCL channel, the nine DCL channels “dch59 to dch67” whose status value is “O (available)” Is elected.

  In this way, 42 DCL channels are selected based on the contents of the DCL channel selection table, and a total of 45 DCL channels are stored in the DCL channel memory 13c of the RAM 13 in addition to the previously stored 3 DCL channels. To do.

  By the DCL communication channel selection process in the flowchart of FIG. 8 described above, the wireless LAN channel included in the priority list having a high priority with the DCL priority list in the priority table A (or priority table B) as a reference. Are all extracted. Then, DCL channels whose bands overlap with the extracted wireless LAN channels are excluded from 89 DCL channels (dch1 to dch89), and 45 DCL channels are selected from the excluded DCL channels. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the band used in the DCL wireless communication 300 overlaps the band used in the LAN wireless communication 200 corresponding to the priority list having a high priority. Therefore, the MFP 1 can perform the DCL wireless communication 300 with the DCL slave device 61 by reducing the possibility of radio wave interference with the LAN wireless communication 200 corresponding to the priority list having a higher priority.

  When 45 DCL channels are selected from the DCL channel selection table, first, the status values of all the DCL channels in the DCL channel selection table are initialized to “◯ (available)”, and The status value of the DCL channel whose band overlaps with each extracted wireless LAN channel is set to “× (unusable)”.

  That is, the remaining DCL channels include DCL channels whose bands overlap with wireless LAN channels that are not used in the LAN wireless communication 200 in advance. Since the wireless LAN channel that is not used in the LAN wireless communication 200 is a wireless LAN channel for which the received electric field intensity could not be detected, it is needless to say that the DCL channel overlapping the band is less likely to cause radio wave interference. Therefore, since the MFP 1 can select 45 DCL channels from among the DCL channels that include more DCL channels that are less likely to cause radio wave interference, the LAN wireless communication corresponding to the priority list with a high priority. The possibility of radio wave interference with 200 can be further reduced, and the DCL wireless communication 300 can be performed with the DCL slave device 61.

  In addition, when the LAN wireless communication 200 is not performed between the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 and the AP 51, a priority order including the same SSID as the SSID transmitted by the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 is included. Forty-five DCL channels are selected based on priority table B, which is a table in which the priority of the list is moved down from the DCL priority list. When the priority table B is used, the number of remaining DCL channels can be increased, so that the possibility that a DCL channel with a low possibility of radio wave interference is included in the remaining DCL channels can be increased. .

  Further, when 45 DCL channels are selected from the DCL channel selection table, the priority list is arranged in the order of the priority list having the lower priority in the priority list having the lower priority than the DCL priority list. A DCL channel corresponding to the wireless LAN channel included in is selected. Therefore, even when there are a plurality of priority lists having lower priority than the DCL priority list, the MFP 1 is less likely to cause radio wave interference with respect to the LAN wireless communication 200 corresponding to the priority list having a higher priority. Thus, the DCL wireless communication 300 can be performed with the DCL slave device 61.

  In the priority order table A and the priority order table B, the priority order list having a lower priority order than the DCL priority order list is set to a higher priority order in descending order of the received electric field strength. When 45 DCL channels are selected from the DCL channel selection table, the 45 DCL channels corresponding to the wireless LAN channels included in the priority list are arranged in the order of priority list with the lowest priority. Selected as a channel. Therefore, the MFP 1 can perform the DCL wireless communication 300 with the DCL slave device 61 with a lower possibility of radio wave interference as the LAN wireless communication 200 corresponding to the priority list with higher priority is reduced.

  The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be easily made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Can be inferred. For example, the numerical values given in the above embodiments are merely examples, and other numerical values can naturally be adopted.

  For example, the MFP 1 of the present embodiment has a configuration including a wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 and a DCL communication control circuit 19, but instead of the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17, the same frequency band as the DCL communication control circuit 19 is used. May be another communication control circuit (for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication control circuit) that performs wireless communication. Of course, the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17, other communication control circuits, and the DCL communication control circuit 19 may be provided. Even in such a case, the MFP 1 is provided with a circuit that acquires the usage status of the channels used by other communication control circuits for wireless communication, and the priority order is set for each acquired wireless communication. The DCL wireless communication 300 can be performed with the DCL slave device 61 while suppressing radio wave interference with high wireless communication.

  Moreover, although this embodiment suppresses or reduces radio wave interference in wireless communication using part or all of the 2.4 GHz band, for example, other frequency bands such as a 5 GHz band and a 2.5 GHz band. The present invention can also be applied to wireless communication using.

  In the present embodiment, when the priority setting button 15a of the operation button 15 is pressed by the user, the priority setting process of FIG. 5 is executed, and the priority table A and the priority table B are created. If the communication status of the LAN wireless communication 200 performed around the MFP 1 is acquired periodically (for example, every few minutes) and the communication status has changed, the priority table A and the priority table B are You may comprise so that it may be updated. The AP 51 is configured to change one wireless LAN channel used for the LAN wireless communication 200 in accordance with the state of radio wave interference and the like, so that the AP 51 is used by the AP 51 for the LAN wireless communication 200 with a high priority. If the existing wireless LAN channel is changed, radio wave interference cannot be suppressed for the wireless LAN communication 200 having a higher priority. Even in such a case, by updating the priority table A and the priority table B in response to a change in the communication status, 45 DCLs in which radio wave interference is suppressed for the wireless LAN communication 200 having a high priority. A channel can be selected.

  Further, as a modification of the DCL channel selection process (see FIG. 8) of the present embodiment, when a wireless LAN channel is stored in the wireless LAN channel memory 13a of the MFP 1, it is stored in the DCL channel selection table. The status value of all DCL channels whose bandwidths overlap with the wireless LAN channel may be set to “× (unusable)”. By doing so, the MFP 1 can select 45 DCL channels that suppress radio wave interference with the wireless LAN communication 200 performed by the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17. Therefore, the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 and the DCL included in the MFP 1 can be selected. The DCL wireless communication 300 can be performed with the DCL slave device 61 while suppressing the occurrence of radio wave interference with the communication control circuit 19.

  In this embodiment, the priority table A and the priority table B are created based on the priority of the SSID specified by the user, but the user can directly set the priority of the priority list. It may be configured.

  In this embodiment, the MFP 1 has the function of the main communication device, and the DCL slave 61 has the function of the sub-communication device. However, the DCL slave 31 has the function of the main communication device, and the MFP 1 May have the function of a sub-communication device.

  Further, the priority order table B of the present embodiment indicates the priority order of the priority order list including the same SSID as the SSID transmitted by the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 in the priority order table A, and the DCL priority order list. In the priority table A, only the priority list corresponding to the LAN wireless communication 200 performed by the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17 is moved down from the DCL priority list. It may be. In other words, this priority table B excludes the communication status list corresponding to the LAN wireless communication 200 performed by the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17, and the priority of each communication status list is the priority of the SSID specified by the user by the button operation. The table is set according to the order. Therefore, even when the LAN wireless communication 200 is not performed by the wireless LAN communication control circuit 17, the priority order of each priority order list can be set according to the priority order of the SSID specified by the user by the button operation. Therefore, the DCL wireless communication 300 can be performed with the DCL slave device 61 while suppressing radio wave interference with the wireless communication with a high priority set according to the priority of the SSID designated by the user by the button operation. .

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an MFP having a main communication device, an AP, and a DCL slave device in an embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic diagram which showed the content of the channel corresponding | compatible table typically. (A) is the schematic diagram which showed typically the content of the communication condition table, (b) is the schematic diagram which showed the content of the priority order table A typically. 4 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the contents of a priority table B. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating MFP priority order setting processing; It is the schematic diagram which showed the content of the priority order setting table typically. 5 is a flowchart showing a communication channel selection process of the MFP. 5 is a flowchart showing a DCL channel selection process of the MFP. (A) is the schematic diagram which showed typically an example of the content of a DCL channel selection table, (b) is the schematic diagram which showed typically an example of the content of a DCL channel memory. It is the schematic which showed the frequency band and frequency channel which are used by wireless LAN and DCL.

Explanation of symbols

dch1 to dch89 DCL channel (example of first radio channel)
wch1 to wch14 Wireless LAN channel (example of second wireless channel)
1 MFP (an example of a main communication device)
17 Wireless LAN communication control circuit (an example of second wireless communication means)
17a Communication status acquisition circuit (an example of status detection means)
19 DCL communication control circuit (an example of channel determination means, an example of first wireless communication means)
61 DCL slave unit (an example of a sub-communication device)
51 AP (an example of an external communication device)
S3 An example of display means S4, S5 An example of operation acquisition means S6 An example of first setting means S23 An example of selection means S25 An example of communication execution means S32 An example of second determination means S33 An example of third setting means S34 A priority channel acquisition means Examples S36, S37 Examples of first exclusion means S38 Examples of first determination means S39 Examples of second setting means S41 Examples of low channel acquisition means

Claims (8)

In a main communication device provided with a first wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with a sub-communication device using a plurality of first wireless channels individually indicating one band obtained by dividing a predetermined frequency band into a plurality of bands,
A wireless channel used by an external communication device for wireless communication, wherein the wireless channel is a second wireless channel in which one wireless channel is configured to include the continuous first wireless channel of the predetermined frequency band; Status detecting means for detecting the usage status of the second radio channel;
Among the wireless communications performed using the second wireless channel detected by the status detection means, the wireless communication performed by the first wireless communication means is set as a reference, and the wireless communication having a higher priority than the reference is set. First setting means for
Selection means for selecting, from the plurality of first wireless channels, a predetermined number of first wireless channels that are less affected by radio wave interaction based on the wireless communication set by the first setting means;
Channel determining means for determining one of the predetermined number of first radio channels selected by the selecting means for each first period;
A main communication device comprising: a communication execution unit that performs wireless communication with the sub communication device using the first wireless channel determined by the channel determination unit. The external communication device is configured to transmit a radio signal including identification information for identifying the radio communication when performing radio communication using the second radio channel,
The status detecting means detects identification information transmitted by radio communication using the second radio channel as a usage status of the second radio channel.
Display means for performing display according to the identification information detected by the situation detection means;
An operation acquisition unit that acquires identification information instructed by a user operation from the display corresponding to the identification information displayed on the display unit,
The first setting means includes
Among the wireless communications performed using the second wireless channel, the wireless communication identified by the identification information acquired by the operation acquisition unit is set to a wireless communication having a higher priority than the reference. The main communication device according to claim 1, wherein: The first setting means is based on wireless communication performed by the first wireless communication means, and ranks and sets wireless communication having a higher priority than the reference,
The selecting means is
Priority channel acquisition means for acquiring a second wireless channel used in the wireless communication in the order of wireless communication with the highest priority order;
First excluding means for excluding the first radio channel included in the second radio channel acquired by the priority channel acquiring means from the plurality of first radio channels,
The main communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a predetermined number of first radio channels are selected from the remaining first radio channels when excluded by the first excluding means. The first setting means includes
First determination means for determining whether the number of remaining first radio channels remaining when excluded by the first exclusion means is equal to or greater than the predetermined number;
When the first determination means determines that the remaining number of the first wireless channel is less than the predetermined number, the first wireless channel has priority over the reference until the remaining number of the first wireless channel becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined number. 4. The wireless communication system according to claim 3, further comprising: a second setting unit configured to set a wireless communication having a lower priority in the wireless communication having a higher priority to a wireless communication having a lower priority than the reference. Main communication device. The status detection means periodically detects the usage status of the second radio channel,
The said 1st setting means sets the radio | wireless communication with a higher priority than the said reference | standard again, when the use condition of the said 2nd wireless channel detected by the said condition detection means changes. Item 5. The main communication device according to any one of Items 1 to 4. Second wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with the external communication device using the second wireless channel;
Channel acquisition means for acquiring a second wireless channel used by the second wireless communication means for wireless communication with the external communication device;
The selecting means is
A second excluding unit for excluding a first radio channel included in the second radio channel acquired by the channel acquiring unit from the plurality of first radio channels;
6. The main communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined number of first radio channels are selected from the remaining first radio channels when excluded by the second excluding unit. . The first setting means includes
Second determination means for determining whether wireless communication is being performed by the second wireless channel;
And third setting means for setting the wireless communication determined by the second determination means as not being performed by the second wireless channel to a wireless communication having a lower priority than the reference. The main communication device according to claim 1, wherein The first setting means is based on wireless communication performed by the first wireless communication means, and ranks and sets wireless communication with a lower priority than the reference,
The selecting means is
Low-channel acquisition means for acquiring a second wireless channel used in the wireless communication in the order of wireless communication with the lowest priority order;
8. The first radio channel included in the second radio channel acquired by the low channel acquisition unit is preferentially selected as the predetermined number of first radio channels. Main communication device.

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