JP2013183396A - Wireless communication device, wireless communication control method, and wireless communication control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce stress a user feels when the user is waiting for an access point search in operating a wireless communication device.SOLUTION: A wireless communication device for searching for access points of a wireless LAN and wirelessly connecting with an access point selected from access points that are connection destination candidates extracted by the search comprises: operation means for accepting operation input; menu processing means for performing control of presenting a layered menu including at least an access point selection menu for promoting selection from the access points that are the connection destination candidates, and making a menu to be presented transit in the layered menu on the basis of the operation input; device control means for making the wireless communication device function according to the operation input performed to the menu; and access point search control means for starting search for access points to be the connection destination candidates at preceding search start timing prior to request for transition to the access point selection menu in the layered menu, on the basis of the operation input.

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication apparatus connected to a wireless LAN, for example, a network compatible printer capable of wireless connection.

  For example, when a user performs a predetermined operation, a wireless communication device that performs communication via an access point of a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) is connected to the access point and becomes capable of wireless communication. For example, a printer equipped with a wireless LAN function can be connected to a PC (personal computer) by wireless LAN at the time of initial setting or the like. Therefore, the initial setting can be easily performed without connecting the printer to the PC with a cable.

  In general, when connecting to a wireless LAN access point, the wireless communication device first searches for an access point to which radio waves reach and presents the extracted list of access points to the user. When the user selects any access point from the list, the wireless communication apparatus connects to the selected access point (see Patent Document 1).

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for searching for an access point when an electronic camera has various operation modes such as a shooting mode and a wireless LAN mode, and switching to the wireless LAN mode is instructed by a user operation input. .

JP 2011-120279 A

  In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, the search for an access point is started after the user gives an instruction to establish a connection via a wireless LAN. The search for the access point takes a certain amount of time, for example, about 3 to 5 seconds. Therefore, the user waits for a while after inputting the operation to switch to the wireless LAN mode until the list of access points is presented. This waiting time made the user feel stressed.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for reducing stress felt by a user due to a waiting time for access point search in operation of a wireless communication apparatus.

  A wireless communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is a wireless communication apparatus that searches for an access point of a wireless LAN and wirelessly connects to an access point selected from access point candidate access points extracted by the search. And controlling to present a hierarchical menu including at least an operation means for accepting an operation input and an access point selection menu for prompting selection of the access point candidate access point, based on the operation input to the operation means Menu processing means for changing a menu to be presented among the hierarchized menu, and an apparatus for operating the wireless communication device in response to an operation input to the operation means performed on the menu by the menu processing means Based on the operation input to the control means and the operation means, the hierarchical menu is displayed. Access point search control means for causing the device control means to start searching for an access point as the connection destination candidate at a preceding search start timing before the transition to the access point selection menu is requested. ing.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the stress which a user feels by the waiting time of an access point search in operation of a radio | wireless communication apparatus can be reduced.

1 is a configuration diagram of a system for wirelessly connecting a PC and a printer. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a printer. It is a figure which shows an example of the transition of the hierarchized menu which the printer of this embodiment displays. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the search start conditions in the start timing of AP search. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other example of the search start conditions in the start timing of AP search. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the further another example of the search start conditions in the start timing of AP search.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system for wirelessly connecting a PC and a printer. Referring to FIG. 1, the system of this embodiment includes an access point (AP) 10, a printer 11, and a personal computer (PC) 12.

  The AP 10 is a wireless LAN access point device connected to a peripheral wireless communication device via a wireless line. The PC 12 and the printer 11 are wireless communication devices that can be connected to the AP 10. When both the PC 12 and the printer 11 are connected to the AP 10, the printer 11 can be operated from the PC 12.

  The printer 11 is a printing device that prints an image or text on a printing medium such as recording paper. The printer 11 is connected to the PC 12 as a kind of output device, and prints a desired image or the like by an operation from the PC 12. Although the printer 11 is connected to the PC 12 via the AP 10 here, it can be directly connected to the PC 12 via the USB cable 13 or the like, or can be connected to the PC 12 via the wired LAN 14. The printer 11 can be operated from the PC 12 even when connected by the USB cable 13 or the wired LAN 14.

As an example, the printer 11 of the present embodiment includes a touch panel display that serves as both an input device and a display device. The touch panel display displays a menu screen and the like. In addition, operation input can be performed when the user touches the touch panel display with a finger or the like.
Image printing operations and various setting operations can be performed from a touch panel display. For example, the printer 11 displays a hierarchical menu on the touch panel display, and transitions the display menu according to the touch operation, that is, switches the menu screen to be displayed. At that time, the printer 11 controls the state and / or operation of the own apparatus in accordance with the transition of the display menu.

  For example, when the printer 11 is connected to the AP 10 of the wireless LAN, the printer 11 searches for a wireless LAN AP in a range where radio waves reach based on a user's touch operation, and displays a list of extracted APs (AP list). . When the user selects any AP from the AP list, the printer 11 wirelessly connects to the selected AP. At that time, the printer 11 according to the present embodiment starts searching for an AP before the user performs an operation for requesting display of the AP list.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printer. Referring to FIG. 2, the printer 11 includes a menu processing unit 21, an AP search control unit 22, and a device control unit 23. Each of these units may be realized by a CPU included in the printer 11 executing a software program.

  The menu processing unit 21 displays a hierarchized menu and changes the display menu based on a user operation. The hierarchized menu includes an access point selection menu that prompts the user to select APs as connection destination candidates as an AP list in wireless LAN connection.

  The device control unit 23 controls the state and operation of the printer 11 in accordance with the menu transition by the menu processing unit 21. For example, the apparatus control unit 23 changes various settings of the printer 11 or prints an image requested by the user in a mode requested by the user.

  Based on the user's operation, the access point search control unit 22 causes the device control unit 23 to start searching for APs that are connection destination candidates before a transition to the access point selection menu is requested. That is, when the access point search control unit 22 determines that there is a high possibility that an AP search is requested from a user operation, the access point search control unit 22 starts an AP search for the device control unit 23 before the request is actually definitive. Let

  As described above, since the printer 11 according to the present embodiment starts searching for an AP before the request from the user is confirmed, the time until the AP list is displayed after the user requests the AP search. It can be shortened, and the stress felt by the user due to the waiting time can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described more specifically.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the transition of the hierarchical menu displayed by the printer of the present embodiment. Here, as an example, the transition of the menu display from the main menu to the hierarchical menu is displayed until the AP list as the connection destination candidate is displayed.

  Referring to FIG. 3A, three selection items “print”, “scan”, and “setting” are displayed on the “main menu” screen. Here, the user selects “Settings” surrounded by a bold line. “Setting” is a selection item for proceeding to a hierarchy for performing some setting. When “Setting” is selected, a “Setting” screen as shown in FIG. 3B is displayed.

  On the “setting” screen, three selection items “basic setting”, “network setting”, and “others” are displayed. Here, the user selects “Network Settings” surrounded by a bold line. The “network setting” is a selection item for proceeding to a layer for performing network setting among various settings. When “network setting” is selected, a “network setting” screen as shown in FIG. 3C is displayed.

  On the “network setting” screen, three selection items “TCP / IP”, “wired LAN”, and “wireless LAN” are displayed. Here, the user selects “wireless LAN” surrounded by a thick line. The “wireless LAN” is a selection item for selecting a wireless LAN as the type of network to which the printer 11 is connected and proceeding to a layer for setting the wireless LAN. When “wireless LAN” is selected, a “wireless LAN setting” screen as shown in FIG. 3D is displayed. On the “wireless LAN setting” screen, three selection items “selection from AP list”, “easy setting”, and “initialization” are displayed. Here, the user selects “select from AP list”.

“Selection from the AP list” is a selection item for proceeding to a hierarchy for selecting an AP to be connected from the AP list. When “Select from AP list” is selected, an “AP list” screen as shown in FIG. 3E is displayed.

  The “AP list” screen displays a list of APs that are connection destination candidates, that is, a list of APs that are extracted by AP search and that have reached the printer 11 with radio waves.

  In the transition of the menu display as described above, the “AP list” in FIG. 3E is an access point selection menu that presents the connection destination candidate access points to the user for selection. Then, when the user selects the item “Select from AP list” on the “Wireless LAN setting” screen shown in FIG. 3D, the presentation of the access point selection menu is requested. In the present embodiment, the AP search control unit 22 of the printer 11 causes the apparatus control unit 23 to start searching for an AP before the item “Select from AP list” is selected.

  Hereinafter, some examples of the timing for starting the AP search in this embodiment will be described. A plurality of AP search start timings shown below may be applied together, or only one of them may be applied. In addition, embodiments not shown here may be applied, and embodiments not shown here may be applied in combination with the embodiments shown here.

  The transition of the menu display illustrated in FIG. 3 increases the possibility that the display of the AP list is required as the selection proceeds. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the AP search is started at any timing of the transition of the menu display shown in FIG. That is, the AP search control unit 22 causes the device control unit 23 to start searching for an AP when the menu processing unit 21 presents a predetermined menu to the user in response to a user operation.

  Specifically, as an example, the AP search may be started when the “setting” selection item is selected on the “main menu” screen of FIG. As another example, an AP search may be started when a selection item of “network setting” is selected on the “setting” screen of FIG. As yet another example, the AP search may be started when the “wireless LAN” selection item is selected on the “network setting” screen of FIG.

  If the AP search is started unconditionally at the timing as in the first embodiment, if the frequency of use of the wireless LAN module by the AP search is high and power consumption becomes a problem, the following conditions are further added. Also good. That is, in the second embodiment, when the menu processing unit 21 presents a predetermined menu to the user according to the user's predetermined operation, the AP search control unit 22 determines that the device state satisfies the predetermined condition. The control unit 23 is made to start searching for APs.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the search start condition at the AP search start timing. FIG. 4 shows an example of a search start condition when the “setting” selection item is selected on the “main menu” screen of FIG.

  When “setting” is selected by a user operation, the AP search control unit 22 first determines whether or not the PC 12 and the printer 11 are directly connected by the USB cable 13 (step 101). If the PC 12 and the printer 11 are directly connected by the USB cable 13, the AP search control unit 22 proceeds to step 104. Proceeding to step 104 means approaching the determination result that the AP search is not performed. This is because the possibility of using a wireless LAN is low when the USB cable 13 is directly connected.

  If the PC 12 and the printer 11 are not directly connected via the USB cable 13 in step 101, the AP search control unit 22 next determines whether or not the printer 11 is connected to the wired LAN 14 (step 102). If the printer 11 is connected to the wired LAN 14, the AP search control unit 22 proceeds to step 104. This is because the possibility of using a wireless LAN is low when the wired LAN 14 is connected.

  If the PC 12 and the printer 11 are not connected via the wired LAN 14 in step 102, the AP search control unit 22 next determines whether there is a history of setting the wireless LAN connection in the past (step 103). If there is a wireless LAN connection setting history, the AP search control unit 22 proceeds to step 104. This is because if there is a wireless LAN connection setting history, the possibility of newly setting a wireless LAN is low.

  If there is no wireless LAN connection setting history in step 103, the AP search control unit 22 determines to start the AP search in advance.

  In step 104, the AP search control unit 22 determines whether data of a predetermined protocol (hereinafter referred to as “protocol data”) is being received in order to perform printer settings. At that time, it does not matter which interface among the USB cable 13, the wired LAN 14, and the wireless LAN is receiving the protocol data. If the protocol data is being received, the AP search control unit 22 determines to start the AP search in advance. This is because the initial setting of the printer is performed thereafter, and there is a high possibility that the wireless LAN connection setting is performed.

  In step 104, the AP search control unit 22 determines that the AP search advance start is not performed unless protocol data for initial setting of the printer is being received.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the search start condition at the AP search start timing. FIG. 5 shows an example of a search start condition when the selection item “network setting” is selected on the “setting” screen in FIG.

  When “network setting” is selected by a user operation, the AP search control unit 22 first determines whether the PC 12 and the printer 11 are connected via the wired LAN 14 (step 201). If the PC 12 and the printer 11 are connected by the wired LAN 14, the AP search control unit 22 determines not to start the AP search in advance. The connection with the wired LAN 14 is because there is a high possibility that the menu display has changed in order to perform an operation such as setting change regarding the wired LAN 14.

  If the PC 12 and the printer 11 are not connected via the wired LAN 14 in step 201, the AP search control unit 22 next determines whether there is a history of setting the wireless LAN connection in the past (step 202). If there is no wireless LAN connection setting history, the AP search control unit 22 determines to start the AP search in advance.

  If there is a wireless LAN connection setting history in step 202, the AP search control unit 22 next determines whether or not the printer 11 is already connected to the AP 10 (step 203). If the printer 11 is not connected to the AP 10, the AP search control unit 22 determines to start the AP search in advance. This is because even when there is a wireless LAN setting history, there is a high possibility that a new wireless LAN connection will be set when the AP 10 is not connected.

  If the printer 11 is still connected to the AP 10 in step 203, the AP search control unit 22 next determines whether or not the radio wave intensity of communication with the AP 10 is good (step 204). Whether or not the radio wave intensity is good is determined, for example, by comparing the radio wave intensity with a predetermined threshold value. If the radio wave intensity is equal to or higher than the threshold value, it is good. If the radio wave intensity of communication with the AP 10 in the printer 11 is good, the AP search control unit 22 determines not to start the AP search in advance. If the radio wave intensity of communication with the AP 10 in the printer 11 is not good, the AP search control unit 22 determines to start the AP search in advance. This is because even if the radio wave intensity is not good even when connected to the AP 10, there is a high possibility that a new wireless LAN connection will be set.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining still another example of the search start condition at the AP search start timing. FIG. 6 shows an example of the search start condition when the “wireless LAN” selection item is selected on the “network setting” screen of FIG.

  When “wireless LAN” is selected by the user operation, the AP search control unit 22 next determines whether there is a history of setting the wireless LAN connection in the past (step 301). If there is no wireless LAN connection setting history, the AP search control unit 22 determines to start the AP search in advance.

  If there is a wireless LAN connection setting history, the AP search control unit 22 next determines whether the printer 11 is already connected to the AP 10 (step 302). If the printer 11 is not connected to the AP 10, the AP search control unit 22 determines to start the AP search in advance. If there is no wireless LAN connection setting history, the AP search control unit 22 next determines whether or not the radio field intensity of communication with the AP 10 is good (step 303). If the radio wave intensity of communication with the AP 10 in the printer 11 is good, the AP search control unit 22 determines not to start the AP search in advance. If the radio wave intensity of communication with the AP 10 in the printer 11 is not good, the AP search control unit 22 determines to start the AP search in advance.

  In this embodiment, an operation for starting an AP search (that is, an operation for transitioning to an access point selection menu (AP list)) may be a long press operation. In this case, the AP search control unit 22 searches the device control unit 23 for an AP search at a predetermined advance search start timing before the transition to the AP selection menu is confirmed after the long-press type operation is started. May start. For example, when the transition to the AP selection menu is confirmed by a long press for 3 seconds, the AP search may be started in advance when 1 second has elapsed.

  Similarly, the operation for starting the AP search (that is, the operation for transitioning to the access point selection menu) may be a repetitive operation in which the same operation is repeated a plurality of times. In this case, the AP search control unit 22 performs an AP search to the device control unit 23 at a predetermined advance search start timing after the repetitive operation is started and before the transition to the AP selection menu is confirmed. You may start. For example, when the transition to the AP selection menu is confirmed by three touch operations, the AP search may be started in advance when the single touch operation is performed.

  In the case where the first to fifth embodiments described above or other determination methods are applied, the AP search control unit 22 may perform the previous AP search within the past predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds). Even when the advance search start timing comes, the menu processing unit 21 may present the user with the AP list obtained by the previous search without performing the AP search in the device control unit 23.

  In the above-described embodiments and examples, the network-compatible printer 11 that can be connected to the PC 12 by the wireless LAN is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be widely applied to a wireless communication apparatus that can be connected to a wireless LAN.

  The embodiments and examples of the present invention described above are examples for explaining the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to these embodiments and examples. Those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various other modes without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... AP, 11 ... Printer, 12 ... PC, 13 ... USB cable, 21 ... Menu processing part, 22 ... AP search control part, 22 ... Access point search control part, 23 ... Apparatus control part

Claims (10)

A wireless communication device that searches for a wireless LAN access point and wirelessly connects to an access point selected from access point candidate access points extracted by the search,
An operation means for receiving an operation input;
Control is performed to present a hierarchical menu including at least an access point selection menu for prompting selection of the access point candidate access point, and the hierarchical menu is presented based on an operation input to the operation means. Menu processing means for transitioning the menu;
Device control means for operating the wireless communication device in response to an operation input to the operation means performed on the menu by the menu processing means;
Based on the operation input to the operation means, the device control means becomes the connection destination candidate at the preceding search start timing before the transition to the access point selection menu is requested in the hierarchical menu. An access point search control means for starting an access point search;
A wireless communication device.   The access point search control means, when the menu processing means presents a predetermined menu including a selection item for transitioning to an access point selection menu in response to an operation input to the operation means, The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a search for an access point as the connection destination candidate is started.   When the menu processing unit presents a predetermined menu including a selection item for making a transition to the access point selection menu in response to an operation input to the operation unit, the access point search control unit has a predetermined device state. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein if the condition is satisfied, the apparatus control unit starts searching for an access point that is the connection destination candidate.   The access point search control means controls the device if the wireless communication device is connected to the access point via a wireless LAN at the preceding search start timing, and the radio wave intensity in the wireless LAN connection is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. 4. The wireless communication according to claim 1, wherein a search for the access point is started by a means, and the device control unit is not started to search for the access point if the radio field intensity is less than the threshold value. apparatus. The wireless communication device is a printer;
The access point search control means does not cause the apparatus control means to start searching for the access point if the wireless communication apparatus is directly connected by a cable at the preceding search start timing.
The radio | wireless communication apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 to 4.   The access point search control means accesses the apparatus control means when receiving data of a predetermined protocol of printer setting even when the wireless communication apparatus is directly connected by a cable at the preceding search start timing. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein search for points is started. The operation for transitioning to the access point selection menu is a long press type or a repetitive type operation,
The access point search control means sends the device control means to the device control means at the preceding search start timing after the long press type or repeat type operation is started and before the transition to the access point selection menu is confirmed. Start searching for access points that are connection destination candidates.
The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1. If the device control means searches for the previous access point within a predetermined time in the past, the access point search control means sends the access point to the device control means even at the preceding search start timing. Without searching for
The menu processing means presents a list of access points obtained in the previous search to the user.
The radio | wireless communication apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 to 7. A wireless communication control method for a wireless communication device to search for a wireless LAN access point and wirelessly connect to an access point selected from access point candidate access points extracted by the search,
The menu processing means performs control to present a hierarchical menu including at least an access point selection menu that prompts selection of the access point candidate of the connection destination, and the hierarchy is based on an operation input to the operation means that receives an operation input. The menu to be presented is changed
The device control means operates the wireless communication device in response to an operation input to the operation means performed on the menu by the menu processing means,
Based on an operation input to the operation means, the access point search control means has the device control means at a preceding search start timing before a transition to the access point selection menu is requested in the hierarchical menu. To start searching for an access point as the connection destination candidate,
Wireless communication control method. A wireless communication apparatus including a computer that executes a software program executes a process of searching for an access point of a wireless LAN and wirelessly connecting to an access point selected from access point candidates extracted by the search. A wireless communication control program for
The menu processing means performs control to present a hierarchical menu including at least an access point selection menu that prompts selection of the access point candidate of the connection destination, and the hierarchy is based on an operation input to the operation means that receives an operation input. The transition of the menu to be presented among the menus
A procedure in which the apparatus control means operates the wireless communication apparatus in response to an operation input to the operation means performed on the menu by the menu processing means;
Based on an operation input to the operation means, the access point search control means has the device control means at a preceding search start timing before a transition to the access point selection menu is requested in the hierarchical menu. And a procedure for starting a search for an access point as a connection destination candidate.

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