JP2016178686A - Communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To disclose a technology for enabling first and second communication apparatuses to appropriately execute radio communication of target data.SOLUTION: A printer 10 comprises: an IC tag I/F22 which functions as an IC tag compliant to an NFC standard; a wireless LAN I/F20; and a control unit 30. The IC tag I/F22 transmits an SSID "X1" to a mobile terminal 50 by using NFC connection established between the printer 10 and the mobile terminal 50. The control unit 30 receives print data from the mobile terminal 50 through the wireless LAN I/F20 by using a WFD network to which both printer 10 and mobile terminal 50 belong.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present specification discloses a communication device that performs wireless communication of target data.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a system including a gate installed in a museum or the like, a mobile communication terminal, an access point, and a content server. The gate includes a reader / writer, performs communication with the non-contact IC chip of the mobile communication terminal, and transmits the SSID of the access point and the URL of the content server to the mobile communication terminal. The mobile communication terminal establishes communication with the access point and accesses the URL of the content server. Thereby, the mobile communication terminal can acquire content data from the content server via the access point.

JP2012-134932A

  In the present specification, a technique is disclosed in which the first and second communication devices can appropriately execute wireless communication of target data.

  A first communication device disclosed in the present specification includes a first type interface that functions as an IC (Integrated Circuit) tag, a second type interface, and a control unit. The control unit includes an interface control unit and a data communication unit. The interface control unit causes the first type interface to perform a transmission operation using the first wireless connection established between the first communication device and the second communication device. The transmission operation includes an operation in which the first type interface transmits network identification information used in the first wireless network to which both the first and second communication devices belong to the second communication device. . After the first type interface executes the transmission operation, the data communication unit uses the first wireless network to which both the first and second communication devices belong, and passes through the second type interface. Then, wireless communication of the target data to be communicated is executed with the second communication device.

  According to the above configuration, the first type interface that functions as an IC tag is used in the first wireless network to which both the first and second communication devices belong, using the first wireless connection. The network identification information is transmitted to the second communication device. Thus, since the network identification information is transmitted to the second communication device, the first communication device uses the first wireless network to which both the first and second communication devices belong. The wireless communication of the target data can be appropriately executed with the second communication device via the second type interface. In particular, since the first type interface is an interface that functions as an IC tag, the first communication device performs wireless communication of the target data with the second communication device using a relatively simple configuration. obtain.

The first communication device further receives the first signal from the second communication device via the second type interface when receiving a specific signal including the network identification information via the second type interface. And a second wireless connection may be established between the first communication device and the second communication device to form a first wireless network to which both the first and second communication devices belong. . According to this configuration, when the first communication device receives a specific signal including the network identification information from the second communication device as a result of transmitting the network identification information to the second communication device, The first wireless network to which both the second communication device and the second communication device belong can be appropriately formed. For this purpose, the first communication device uses the first wireless network to which both the first and second communication devices belong to appropriately perform wireless communication of the target data with the second communication device. Can be executed.

  The first communication device is selected in one of a plurality of states including a parent station state that functions as a parent station of the wireless network and an unaffiliated state that does not belong to the wireless network. May operate automatically. The control unit further changes the state of the first communication device from the unaffiliated state to the master station state in the first case where the first wireless connection is established while the state of the first communication device is the unaffiliated state. You may provide the state transfer part which makes it transfer and forms the 1st wireless network to which only the 1st communication apparatus belongs. The forming unit establishes a second wireless connection when receiving a specific signal after the first wireless network to which only the first communication device belongs is formed, and the first and second A first wireless network to which both of the communication devices belong may be formed. According to this configuration, only the first communication device belongs to the first communication device in the first case where the first wireless connection is established while the state of the first communication device is the unaffiliated state. The first wireless network is formed, and then the first wireless network to which both the first and second communication devices belong is formed. The first communication device can appropriately form a first wireless network to which both the first and second communication devices belong.

  The first type interface may supply a specific notification to the control unit when the first wireless connection is established. In the first case, the interface control unit may generate network identification information and supply the network identification information to the first type interface when a specific notification is acquired from the first type interface. . According to this configuration, when the first wireless connection is established, since the specific notification is supplied from the first type interface to the control unit, the control unit confirms that the first wireless connection has been established. I can know. As a result, generation of network identification information and supply of network identification information to the first type interface are executed. For this reason, the first type interface can appropriately transmit the network identification information to the second communication device when the first wireless connection is established.

  In the first case, the state transition unit may cause the state of the first communication device to transition from the unaffiliated state to the master station state after the network identification information is generated.

  When the second wireless network in which the first communication device functions as a master station disappears, the interface control unit uses network identification information used in the first wireless network to be formed after the second wireless network. And the network identification information may be supplied to the first type interface. According to this configuration, when the second wireless network disappears, generation of network identification information and supply of network identification information to the first type interface are executed. For this reason, the first type interface can appropriately transmit the network identification information to the second communication device when the first wireless connection is established.

The first type interface may supply a specific notification to the control unit when the first wireless connection is established. In the first case, the state transition unit may cause the state of the first communication device to transition from the unaffiliated state to the master station state when a specific notification is acquired from the first type interface. According to this configuration, when the first wireless connection is established, since the specific notification is supplied from the first type interface to the control unit, the control unit confirms that the first wireless connection has been established. I can know. As a result, the transition from the unaffiliated state to the master station state is executed.

The first type interface may supply a specific notification to the control unit when the first wireless connection is established. The interface control unit may supply network identification information to the first type interface when a specific notification is acquired from the first type interface. According to this configuration, since the specific notification is supplied from the first type interface to the control unit, the control unit can know that the first wireless connection has been established. Therefore,
The interface control unit can supply the network identification information to the first type interface at an appropriate timing.

  The interface control unit may further control the operation mode of the first type interface so that the first wireless connection is established in a state where the operation mode of the first type interface is the first mode. Good. In the first mode, when the first type interface receives a read command from the outside of the first communication device, an operation of transmitting information to the outside of the first communication device is executed according to the read command. And a mode in which the first type interface does not execute an operation corresponding to the write command even when it receives a write command from the outside of the first communication device. According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress unnecessary information from being written in the first communication device.

  The first type of interface may function as an NFC (Near Field Communication) standard IC tag. The interface control unit may cause the first type interface to execute a transmission operation using the first wireless connection of the NFC standard. According to this configuration, since the first type interface is an interface that functions as an NFC standard IC tag, the first communication device uses the relatively simple configuration and the second communication device. Wireless communication of data may be performed.

  The second type interface may be an interface for performing wireless communication in accordance with a specific standard different from the NFC standard. The interface control unit is configured when the first wireless connection is established even when the second communication device includes an application for performing wireless communication of the target data according to a specific standard or not. The transmission operation may be executed by the first type interface. The data communication unit executes wireless communication of target data with the second communication device when the second communication device includes an application, and wireless communication of the target data when the second communication device does not include the application. May not be executed with the second communication device. According to this configuration, the first type interface transmits network identification information to the second communication device regardless of whether or not the second communication device includes an application. However, the first communication device can appropriately change whether or not to perform wireless communication of the target data with the second communication device, depending on whether or not the second communication device includes an application.

The control unit further includes a second case where the first wireless connection is established while the state of the first communication device is the parent station state, and the first communication device functions as the parent station. In the second case where one wireless network exists, whether or not the number of slave station devices that are slave station devices belonging to the first wireless network matches a predetermined upper limit value. A determination unit for determining In the second case, when it is determined that the number of slave station devices does not match the upper limit value, the interface control unit causes the first type interface to perform a transmission operation, and the data communication unit performs the first wireless communication. Wireless communication of the target data may be performed with the second communication device via the second type interface using the network. In the second case, when it is determined that the number of slave station devices matches the upper limit value, the interface control unit does not cause the first type interface to perform the transmission operation, and the data communication unit performs the first wireless communication. Using the connection, wireless communication of target data may be executed with the second communication device via the first type interface. According to this configuration, in the second case where the first wireless connection is established while the state of the first communication device is the master station state, the first communication device has an upper limit value for the number of slave station devices. The wireless communication of the target data can be appropriately executed with the second communication device via the first type or second type interface.

  The plurality of states may further include a slave station state in which the first communication device functions as a slave station of the wireless network. In the third case where the first wireless connection is established while the state of the first communication device is the slave station state, the interface control unit does not execute the transmission operation on the first type interface, and performs data communication. The unit may perform wireless communication of the target data with the second communication device via the first type interface using the first wireless connection. According to this configuration, in the third case where the first wireless connection is established while the state of the first communication device is the slave station state, the first communication device is connected via the first type interface. The wireless communication of the target data can be appropriately executed with the second communication device.

  The interface control unit may further control the operation mode of the first type interface so that the first wireless connection is established in a state where the operation mode of the first type interface is the first mode. Good. In the first mode, when the first type interface receives a read command from the outside of the first communication device, an operation of transmitting information to the outside of the first communication device is executed according to the read command. And a mode in which the first type interface does not execute an operation corresponding to the write command even when it receives a write command from the outside of the first communication device. Furthermore, the interface control unit may change the operation mode of the first type interface from the first mode to the second mode when the transmission operation is not performed by the first type interface. In the second mode, when a write command is received from the outside of the first communication device, information is received from the outside of the first communication device and information is supplied to the control unit in response to the write command. It may be. The data communication unit uses the first wireless connection in a state where the operation mode of the first type interface is the second mode, and transmits the target data from the second communication device via the first type interface. May be received. According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress unnecessary information from being written in the first communication device. In addition, when the first type interface does not execute the transmission operation, the operation mode of the first type interface is changed from the first mode to the second mode. The target data can be appropriately received from the second communication device via the interface.

  The communication speed of wireless communication via the second type interface may be faster than the communication speed of wireless communication via the first type interface. According to this configuration, the first communication device can quickly perform wireless communication of the target data via the second type interface.

  The data communication unit may receive the target data from the second communication device through the second type interface using the first wireless network. The first communication device may further include a printing mechanism that executes printing of an image represented by the received target data. According to this configuration, the first communication device can receive the target data from the second communication device and appropriately execute image printing.

  A control method, a computer program, and a computer-readable recording medium storing the computer program for realizing the first and / or second communication device are also novel and useful. A communication system including the first and second communication devices is also novel and useful.

1 shows a configuration of a communication system. 2 is a flowchart of processing performed by a CPU of the printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of the printer and the mobile terminal according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of processing performed by a CPU of a printer according to a second embodiment. The sequence diagram showing operation | movement of the printer of 2nd Example and a portable terminal is shown. FIG. 6 shows a sequence diagram continued from FIG. 5. 7 is a flowchart of processing performed by a CPU of a printer according to a third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of a printer and a mobile terminal according to a third embodiment.

(First embodiment)
(Configuration of communication system 2)
As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 2 includes a printer 10 and a mobile terminal 50. In FIG. 1, a PC (abbreviation of personal computer) 110 is shown, but the PC 110 is used in a third embodiment to be described later.

(Configuration of Printer 10)
The printer 10 is a peripheral device that can execute a printing function (that is, a peripheral device such as the PC 110). The printer 10 includes an operation panel 12, a display mechanism 14, a printing mechanism 16, a wireless LAN (abbreviation for Local Area Network) interface 20, and an IC (abbreviation for Integrated Circuit).
A tag interface 22 and a control unit 30 are provided. Each part 12-30 is connected to a bus line (reference number omitted). Hereinafter, the interface is described as “I / F”.

  The operation panel 12 includes a plurality of keys. The user can give various instructions to the printer 10 by operating the operation panel 12. The display mechanism 14 is a display for displaying various information. The printing mechanism 16 is a printing mechanism such as an inkjet method or a laser method.

The wireless LAN I / F 20 is an I / F for executing wireless communication (hereinafter referred to as “WFD communication”) according to the WFD (abbreviation of Wi-Fi Direct) method. The WFD method is a wireless communication method described in a standard document “Wi-Fi Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Technical Specification Version 1.1” created by Wi-Fi Alliance. The WFD system is, for example, wireless in accordance with the 802.11 standard of IEEE (abbreviation of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) and standards conforming thereto (for example, 802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, etc.). It is a wireless communication system for executing communication.

  Hereinafter, a device (for example, the printer 10) capable of executing WFD communication in accordance with the WFD method is referred to as a “WFD-compatible device”. In the WFD standard document, the states of the WFD-compatible device are group owner state (hereinafter referred to as “G / O state”), client state (hereinafter referred to as “CL state”), and device state. Two states are defined. A WFD-compatible device is normally operable selectively in one of the above three states.

When a pair of WFD-compatible devices in a device state should newly form a wireless network, the pair of WFD-compatible devices usually perform wireless communication called G / O negotiation. In the G / O negotiation, one of the pair of WFD compatible devices is determined to be in the G / O state (that is, the G / O device), and the other is determined to be in the CL state (that is, the CL device). decide. Thereafter, the pair of WFD-compatible devices establish a connection and form a wireless network (that is, a WFD network). In FIG. 3 and the like to be described later, the WFD network is described as “WFDNW”.

  At the stage where a WFD network is newly formed by G / O negotiation, only one G / O device and one CL device belong to the WFD network. However, the G / O device can establish a connection with another device, and can newly join the other device as a CL device to the WFD network. In this case, two or more CL devices belong to the WFD network. That is, in the WFD network, there can be one G / O device and one or more CL devices.

  The G / O device manages one or more CL devices. Specifically, the G / O device registers the MAC addresses of one or more CL devices in the management list in the memory of the G / O device. Further, when the CL device leaves the WFD network, the G / O device deletes the MAC address of the CL device from the management list. The upper limit value of the number of CL devices that can be managed by the G / O device (that is, the upper limit value of the number of MAC addresses of CL devices that can be registered in the management list) is determined in advance by the G / O device. Generally speaking, the upper limit value may be an integer of 1 or more.

  The G / O device can execute wireless communication of the target data with the CL device registered in the management list without using other devices. The target data is data including information on the network layer of the OSI reference model and information on an upper layer (for example, application layer) than the network layer, and includes, for example, print data, scan data, and the like. In addition, the G / O device can relay wireless communication of target data between a plurality of CL devices. In other words, the pair of CL devices can perform wireless communication of the target data via the G / O device.

  As described above, in the WFD network, access between the WFD-compatible device that is the transmission source of the target data and the WFD-compatible device that is the transmission destination of the target data is configured separately from these WFD-compatible devices. Wireless communication of target data can be performed without going through a point. That is, it can be said that the WFD communication and the WFD method are wireless communication that does not use an access point and a wireless communication method that does not use an access point, respectively.

  The G / O device cannot execute wireless communication of target data with a WFD compatible device (that is, a device device) in a device state, but can execute wireless communication of WFD connection data with a device device. That is, the G / O device can establish a connection with the device device by executing wireless communication of WFD connection data with the device device, and can join the device device to the WFD network. In other words, the device device can establish a connection with the G / O device and participate in the WFD network by performing wireless communication of WFD connection data with the G / O device. In this case, the device device shifts from the device state to the CL state. The WFD connection data is data including information of lower layers (for example, physical layer and data link layer) than the network layer of the OSI reference model (that is, data not including information of the network layer). Includes a Probe Request signal, Probe Response signal, Provision Discovery Request signal, Provision Discovery Response signal, Association Request signal, Association Response signal, Authentication Request signal, Authentication Response signal, 4-Way Handshake signal, and the like.

Note that the G / O device can also establish a connection with a device that cannot execute WFD communication according to the WFD scheme (hereinafter referred to as “legacy device”), and allow the legacy device to participate in the WFD network. When establishing a connection with a legacy device, the G / O device describes the MAC address of the legacy device in the management list. Accordingly, the legacy device can participate in the WFD network. Legacy devices have three states (ie G / O state, CL
The device does not selectively operate in any one of the state and the device state), but operates in the same state as the CL device while belonging to the WFD network.

  The printer 10 is a WFD compatible device, but cannot operate in the CL state in this embodiment. The printer 10 does not have a program for executing G / O negotiation with other WFD compatible devices. That is, the printer 10 can selectively operate in one of the two states of the G / O state and the device state.

The IC tag I / F 22 is an I / F for performing wireless communication (hereinafter referred to as “NFC communication”) in accordance with an NFC (Near Field Communication) method for so-called short-range wireless communication. The NFC scheme is a wireless communication scheme based on, for example, ISO / IEC 21481 or 18092 international standards. As types of I / F for executing NFC communication, an I / F called an NFC Forum Device and an I / F called an NFC Forum Tag are known. The IC tag I / F 22 is an NFC forum tag and functions as an IC tag of the NFC standard (that is, ISO / IEC21481 or 18092).

NFC Forum Device selectively operates in any of P2P (Peer To Peer) mode, R / W (Reader / Writer) mode, and CE (Card Emulation) mode Possible I / F. For example, when both the NFC I / F of the first device and the NFC I / F of the second device operate in the P2P mode, the first and second devices execute bidirectional communication of information. can do. For example, when the NFC I / F of the first device operates in the Reader mode of the R / W mode and the NFC I / F of the second device operates in the CE mode, the first device Can read information from the second device, that is, receive information from the second device. For example, when the NFC I / F of the first device operates in the Writer mode of the R / W mode and the NFC I / F of the second device operates in the CE mode, the first device Can write information to the second device, i.e., send information to the second device.

  The NFC forum tag (that is, the IC tag I / F 22) is not an I / F that can selectively operate in any one of the above three modes, but an I / F that functions only as an IC tag. For example, when the NFC I / F of the mobile terminal 50 operates in the Reader mode of the R / W mode, the mobile terminal 50 reads information from the IC tag I / F 22 of the printer 10, that is, from the printer 10. Can be received. For example, when the NFC I / F of the mobile terminal 50 operates in the Writer mode of the R / W mode, the mobile terminal 50 writes information to the IC tag I / F 22 of the printer 10, that is, the printer The transmission of information to 10 can be executed.

  Since the NFC forum tag (that is, the IC tag I / F 22) is not an I / F that can selectively operate in any one of the three modes described above, the NFC forum tag has a simpler configuration than the NFC forum device ( That is, the configuration of the IC chip is simple). Generally speaking, an IC chip that functions as an NFC forum tag is less expensive than an IC chip that functions as an NFC forum device.

Note that the method of supplying power to the IC tag I / F 22 may be a so-called passive type or active type. The passive type is configured to activate a circuit of the IC chip in the IC tag I / F 22 by receiving electric waves from the NFC I / F of the portable terminal 50 and generating electric power. Since the passive IC tag I / F has a simple structure as compared with the active IC tag I / F, the passive IC tag I / F is relatively inexpensive and can realize downsizing of the I / F itself. However, the passive IC tag I / F has a feature that a short communication distance can be realized as compared with the active IC tag I / F. On the other hand, the active type is configured to activate the circuit of the IC chip in the IC tag I / F 22 upon receiving power supply from the power source in the IC tag I / F or the power source in the printer 10. The active IC tag I / F is more expensive than the passive IC tag I / F and has a feature that a long communication distance can be realized.

  In the present embodiment, since the IC tag I / F 22 transmits information supplied from the control unit 30 to an external device (for example, the portable terminal 50), a buffer memory (not shown) for temporarily storing the information. ). However, the IC tag I / F 22 does not include a RAM for storing information supplied from the control unit 30 for a long period of time (for example, a period until other information is supplied from the control unit 30). In the second embodiment described later, the IC tag I / F 22 includes a RAM 24 (see FIG. 5).

  As the operation mode of the IC tag I / F 22, there are a ReadOnly mode and a Writeable mode. In the ReadOnly mode, when the IC tag I / F 22 receives an NFC standard read command from an external device (for example, the portable terminal 50), an operation for transmitting information to the external device in response to the read command (hereinafter referred to as “read response”). This mode is called “operation”. However, the ReadOnly mode is a mode in which even if the IC tag I / F 22 receives an NFC standard write command from an external device, an operation corresponding to the write command (hereinafter referred to as a “write response operation”) is not executed. On the other hand, the writeable mode is a mode in which both a read response operation and a write response operation are executed.

  The write response operation is an operation of supplying the information to the control unit 30 when information is received together with a write command from an external device, for example. In the ReadOnly mode, since the write response operation is not executed, the information received from the external device is not supplied to the control unit 30. As a result, the information in the IC tag memory 36 of the control unit 30 is stored in the external device. It is possible to suppress overwriting by information received from the network. Further, in the second embodiment to be described later, it is possible to prevent information in the RAM 24 of the IC tag I / F 22 from being overwritten by information received from an external device.

  Here, differences between the wireless LAN I / F 20 and the IC tag I / F 22 will be described. The communication speed of wireless communication via the wireless LAN I / F 20 (for example, the maximum communication speed is 11 to 600 Mbps) is the communication speed of wireless communication via the IC tag I / F 22 (for example, the maximum communication speed is 100 to 424 Kbps). Faster than). In addition, the frequency of the carrier wave in the wireless communication via the wireless LAN I / F 20 (for example, 2.4 GHz band and 5.0 GHz band) is the frequency of the carrier wave in the wireless communication via the IC tag I / F 22 (for example, 13.56 MHz). Different from obi). For example, when the distance between the printer 10 and the portable terminal 50 is about 10 cm or less, the control unit 30 can execute NFC communication with the portable terminal 50 via the IC tag I / F 22. On the other hand, regardless of whether the distance between the printer 10 and the mobile terminal 50 is 10 cm or less or 10 cm or more (for example, about 100 m at the maximum), the control unit 30 can connect the mobile terminal via the wireless LAN I / F 20. 50 and WFD communication can be executed. That is, the maximum distance that the printer 10 can perform wireless communication with a communication destination device (for example, the portable terminal 50) via the wireless LAN I / F 20 is the maximum distance that the printer 10 can communicate with the communication destination device via the IC tag I / F 22. It is larger than the maximum distance at which wireless communication can be performed.

The control unit 30 includes a CPU 32, a main memory 34, and an IC tag memory 36. The CPU 32 executes various processes according to programs stored in the main memory 34. The main memory 34 is composed of RAM, ROM, and the like. The main memory 34 stores not only the above program but also various data generated or obtained in the course of the printer 10 executing various processes. The IC tag memory 36 is a memory for storing data to be supplied to the IC tag I / F 22.

(Configuration of mobile terminal 50)
The portable terminal 50 is a portable terminal device such as a cellular phone (for example, a smartphone), a PDA, a notebook PC, a tablet PC, a portable music player, a portable video player, and the like. The portable terminal 50 includes a wireless LAN I / F and an NFC I / F (not shown).

  The portable terminal 50 is a WFD-compatible device, and can selectively operate in any one of the three states of the G / O state, the CL state, and the device state. Therefore, the mobile terminal 50 can execute WFD communication via the wireless LAN I / F of the mobile terminal 50.

  In the modification, the portable terminal 50 may be a legacy device instead of a WFD compatible device. Even in this configuration, the portable terminal 50 can establish a connection with the G / O device (for example, the printer 10) and participate in the WFD network.

  Further, the mobile terminal 50 can execute NFC communication via the NFC I / F of the mobile terminal 50. Note that the NFC I / F of the portable terminal 50 is the NFC forum device described above, and can operate at least according to the R / W mode.

(Processing executed by CPU 32 of printer 10; FIGS. 2 and 3)
Next, processing executed by the CPU 32 of the printer 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of processing executed by the CPU 32, and FIG. 3 shows a specific example realized by the flowchart of FIG.

  When the printer 10 is turned on (that is, when the printer 10 is activated), the printer 10 is not connected to any wireless network and is in a device state of the WFD standard. When the printer 10 is powered on, the CPU 32 stores a value indicating the device status in the main memory 34 as a value indicating the status of the printer 10 (hereinafter referred to as “WFD status value”).

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the printer 10 is turned on, the CPU 32 of the printer 10 supplies a mode setting instruction to the IC tag I / F 22 to change the operation mode of the IC tag I / F 22. Set to ReadOnly mode. Thereby, it can suppress that the information in the memory 36 for IC tags of the control part 30 is overwritten by the information received from an external apparatus (for example, portable terminal 50). As a result, as will be described in detail later, the printer 10 can appropriately supply information (a WFD WSI described later) in the IC tag memory 36 to the portable terminal 50.

  The IC tag I / F 22 transmits a detection radio wave for detecting a device capable of performing NFC communication (for example, the portable terminal 50). The NFC I / F of the portable terminal 50 also transmits a detection radio wave for detecting a device (for example, the printer 10) that can perform NFC communication. When the user brings the NFC I / F of the portable terminal 50 close to the IC tag I / F 22 of the printer 10, the distance between the NFC I / F of the portable terminal 50 and the IC tag I / F 22 of the printer 10 is the distance that radio waves reach each other. (For example, 10 cm). In this case, one of the IC tag I / F 22 of the printer 10 and the NFC I / F of the portable terminal 50 receives the detected radio wave from the other and transmits a response radio wave.

Next, wireless communication is established between the IC tag I / F 22 of the printer 10 and the NFC I / F of the portable terminal 50 to establish an NFC connection (that is, an NFC wireless connection). In the wireless communication process, the IC tag I / F 22 of the printer 10 indicates that the IC tag I / F 22 itself functions as an NFC standard IC tag (that is, an NFC forum tag I / F). Is transmitted to the NFC I / F of the portable terminal 50. As a result, the portable terminal 50 can know that the communication partner (that is, the printer 10) is an NFC forum tag.

  When an NFC connection is established between the IC tag I / F 22 of the printer 10 and the NFC I / F of the mobile terminal 50, the mobile terminal 50 determines which mode of the R / W mode to operate. To do. Whether the portable terminal 50 should operate in the R / W mode is determined in advance by a program (for example, an application) installed in the portable terminal 50. For example, when a print application for causing the printer 10 to execute a print function has already been installed in the portable terminal 50, the portable terminal 50 operates in the Reader mode of the R / W mode according to the print application. decide. On the other hand, when the print application has not been installed in the mobile terminal 50, the mobile terminal 50 can select one of the R / W modes according to an application different from the print application or the operation system (ie, OS) of the mobile terminal 50. It may be determined to operate in the Reader mode, or may be determined to operate in the Writer mode of the R / W mode.

  When the portable terminal 50 determines to operate in the Reader mode of the R / W mode, the portable terminal 50 transmits a read command to the IC tag I / F 22 of the printer 10. In addition, when the portable terminal 50 determines to operate in the writer mode of the R / W mode, the portable terminal 50 transmits a write command to the IC tag I / F 22 of the printer 10.

  Even when the IC tag I / F 22 of the printer 10 receives a write command from the portable terminal 50, the IC tag I / F 22 does not execute a write response operation. This is because the operation mode of the IC tag I / F 22 is set to the ReadOnly mode. On the other hand, the IC tag I / F 22 of the printer 10 executes a read response operation when receiving a read command from the portable terminal 50. Specifically, the IC tag I / F 22 first supplies the control unit 30 with a specific notification for notifying that the NFC connection has been established between the printer 10 and the portable terminal 50.

  As shown in S <b> 10 of FIG. 2, the CPU 32 monitors the acquisition of a specific notification from the IC tag I / F 22. When acquiring a specific notification from the IC tag I / F 22 (YES in S10), the CPU 32 proceeds to S12.

  In S12, the CPU 32 generates wireless setting information used in the WFD network to which both the printer 10 and the portable terminal 50 should belong. Hereinafter, the wireless setting information used in the WFD network is referred to as “WFDWSI”. The WFD WSI includes an SSID (abbreviation of service set identifier), BSSID (abbreviation of basic service set identifier), an authentication method, an encryption method, and a password. The SSID and BSSID are identification information for identifying the WFD network. More specifically, SSID is a network identifier of the WFD network, and BSSID is a MAC address of the printer 10. The authentication method, encryption method, and password are information for executing device authentication, data encryption, and the like in the WFD network. In FIG. 3, “X1” is shown as a specific value of the SSID.

  The CPU 32 newly generates a SSID and a password by randomly generating a character string. However, the BSSID, the authentication method, and the encryption method are predetermined information, and are not information newly generated by the CPU 32. The CPU 32 writes the generated WFD WSI in the IC tag memory 36.

  Next, in S <b> 14, the CPU 32 supplies WFDWSI in the IC tag memory 36 to the IC tag I / F 22. As a result, the IC tag I / F 22 transmits the WFD WSI to the portable terminal 50 using the NFC connection (that is, the NFC connection used for communication of the read command). When WFDWSI is transmitted from the IC tag I / F 22, the NFC connection is disconnected.

  As described above, since the IC tag I / F 22 is set to the ReadOnly mode, even if a write command is received from the portable terminal 50 after the WFDWSI is stored in the IC tag memory 36 ( For example, even if a write command transmitted by an application other than the printing application of the portable terminal 50 is received), it is possible to prevent the WFD WSI in the IC tag memory 36 from being overwritten by other information. For this reason, the printer 10 can appropriately transmit the WFD WSI to the portable terminal 50.

  Subsequently, in S16, the CPU 32 changes the state of the printer 10 from the device state to the G / O state. In S16, the CPU 32 voluntarily shifts the state of the printer 10 to the G / O state without executing the G / O negotiation. Specifically, the CPU 32 first changes the WFD state value in the main memory 34 from a value indicating the device state to a value indicating the G / O state. Next, the CPU 32 generates a management list in the main memory 34 in which the MAC address of the CL device is to be described. At the stage of S16, no MAC address is described in the management list. That is, at the stage of S16, the CPU 32 forms a WFD network to which only the printer 10, which is a G / O device, belongs.

As shown in case A in FIG. 3, when the print application has been installed in the mobile terminal 50, when the mobile terminal 50 receives WFDWSI from the printer 10, the mobile application 50 uses the WFDWSI to A process for establishing a WFD wireless connection (hereinafter referred to as “WFD connection”) with a certain printer 10 is executed. Specifically, the mobile terminal 50 transmits a Probe Request signal including the SSID included in WFDWSI via the wireless LAN I / F of the mobile terminal 50. On the other hand, as shown in case B of FIG. 3, when the print application has not been installed in the mobile terminal 50, the mobile terminal 50 can operate in the Reader mode and receive WFD WSI from the printer 10. The Probe Request signal is not transmitted. This is because a print application for interpreting WFDWSI and transmitting a Probe Request signal is not installed.

In S <b> 18 of FIG. 2, the CPU 32 monitors whether a Probe Request signal including the SSID “X1” is received via the wireless LAN I / F 20. The CPU 32 uses the SSID “X1”.
In the case of receiving a Probe Request signal including the signal (that is, in the case A of FIG. 3), Y in S18
Determine ES and proceed to S20. On the other hand, the CPU 32 does not receive a probe request signal including the SSID “X1” after the printer 10 shifts to the G / O state in S16 (that is, the case B in FIG. 3). In step S18, NO is determined in S18, S20 to S24 are skipped (that is, the print data reception process and the print process are not executed), and the process proceeds to S26.

In S20, the CPU 32 executes a process for establishing a WFD connection with the portable terminal 50 (that is, a process for allowing the portable terminal 50 to participate in the WFD network in which the printer 10 is a G / O device). Specifically, the CPU 32 performs communication of connection data such as a probe response signal, an authentication request signal, and an authentication response signal with the portable terminal 50 via the wireless LAN I / F 20.

  The portable terminal 50 transmits an authentication method, an encryption method, a password, and the like included in the WFD WSI to the printer 10 in the process of communication of the connection data. Then, the CPU 32 of the printer 10 performs authentication of the portable terminal 50. Since WFDWSI is transmitted from the printer 10 to the portable terminal 50, authentication is normally successful. As a result, a WFD connection is established between the wireless LAN I / F 20 of the printer 10 and the wireless LAN I / F of the portable terminal 50.

  When the WFD connection is established, the CPU 32 describes the MAC address of the portable terminal 50 in the management list. Thereby, the portable terminal 50 participates as a CL device in the WFD network in which the printer 10 is a G / O device. That is, the CPU 32 forms a WFD network to which both the printer 10 and the portable terminal 50 belong.

  When the WFD connection is established, the portable terminal 50 (that is, the printing application) transmits print data to the printer 10 via the wireless LAN I / F of the portable terminal 50 using the WFD network. Since the portable terminal 50 is a CL device and the printer 10 is a G / O device, print data is directly transmitted from the portable terminal 50 to the printer 10 without passing through other devices. The print data is data designated as a print target by the user of the portable terminal 50, and is, for example, an image file, a document file, or the like.

  In S22, the CPU 32 receives print data from the portable terminal 50 via the wireless LAN I / F 20 using the WFD network. Next, in S <b> 24, the CPU 32 supplies print data to the printing mechanism 16. Thereby, the printing mechanism 16 prints the image represented by the print data on the print medium.

  Since the print data is an image file or the like, it has a relatively large data size. The communication speed of NFC communication is slower than the communication speed of WFD communication. Therefore, if a configuration in which print data wireless communication is executed using NFC communication between the printer 10 and the portable terminal 50 is employed, a long time is required for the print data wireless communication. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the printer 10 and the portable terminal 50 execute the print data wireless communication using the WFD communication, so that the print data wireless communication can be quickly executed.

  In S26, the CPU 32 changes the state of the printer 10 from the G / O state to the device state. That is, the CPU 32 changes the WFD state value in the main memory 34 from a value indicating the G / O state to a value indicating the device state. Next, the CPU 32 deletes the management list from the main memory 34. As a result, the WFD network disappears. After finishing S26, the CPU 32 returns to S10.

(Effects of the first embodiment)
According to the printer 10 of the present embodiment, the IC tag I / F 22 that functions as an NFC standard IC tag uses the NFC connection (that is, executes NFC communication) to transmit the WFD WSI including the SSID “X1” to the mobile terminal. 50. Then, the printer 10 shifts to the G / O state and forms a WFD network to which only the printer 10 belongs. When the printer 10 receives the probe request signal including the SSID “X1” from the portable terminal 50, the printer 10 establishes a WFD connection between the printer 10 and the portable terminal 50, and both the printer 10 and the portable terminal 50 belong to the printer 10. Forming a WFD network. Next, the printer 10 receives print data from the portable terminal 50 using the WFD network (that is, executing WFD communication). The printer 10 prints an image represented by print data on a print medium. Thereby, the printed print medium can be provided to the user of the portable terminal 50.

As described above, the NFC forum tag (that is, the IC tag I / F 22) has a simple configuration (that is, the configuration of the IC chip is simple) as compared with the NFC forum device. Therefore, as compared with the case where the NFC forum device is used as an I / F for executing NFC communication, the printer 10 of this embodiment can be realized with a simple configuration. As a result, for example, the printer 10 can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

  When the IC tag I / F 22 includes a RAM as in the second embodiment described later, the CPU 32 needs to write WFDWSI to the RAM in the IC tag I / F 22 in S14 of FIG. is there. In contrast, in this embodiment, since the IC tag I / F 22 does not include a RAM, the CPU 32 does not need to write WFDWSI to the RAM in the IC tag I / F 22 in S14 of FIG. Therefore, the process of S14 can be executed quickly, and as a result, the supply of WFD WSI from the printer 10 to the portable terminal 50 can be executed quickly.

(Correspondence)
The printer 10 and the portable terminal 50 are examples of “first communication device” and “second communication device”. The IC tag I / F 22 and the wireless LAN I / F 20 are examples of “first type interface” and “second type interface”, respectively. The operation of transmitting the WFD WSI including the SSID “X1” to the portable terminal 50 is an example of the “transmission operation”. The print data is an example of “target data”. The WFD standard is an example of a “specific standard”. The ReadOnly mode is an example of the “first mode”. NFC connection and WFD connection are examples of “first wireless connection” and “second wireless connection”, respectively. The G / O state and the device state are examples of the “master station state” and the “unaffiliated state”, respectively. The WFD network, SSID “X1”, and Probe Request signal are examples of “first wireless network”, “network identification information”, and “specific signal”, respectively. The print application is an example of “application”. The processing of S12 and S14 in FIG. 2 is an example of processing executed by the “interface control unit”. The process of S16, the process of S20, and the process of S22 are examples of processes executed by the “state transition unit”, “formation unit”, and “data communication unit”, respectively.

(Second embodiment)
Differences from the first embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the IC tag I / F 22 includes a RAM 24 for storing information supplied from the control unit 30 over a long period of time.

(Processes executed by the CPU 32 of the printer 10; FIGS. 4 to 6)
The contents of processing executed by the CPU 32 of the printer 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Unlike the first embodiment, the CPU 32 (that is, the control unit 30) of the printer 10 generates WFD WSI when the printer 10 is turned on and supplies the generated WFD WSI to the IC tag I / F 22. The WFD WSI generation method is the same as S12 in FIG. In FIG. 5, “X1” is shown as a specific value of the SSID included in the WFD WSI generated when the printer 10 is powered on. The IC tag I / F 22 stores WFDWSI in the RAM 24.

  The processes S10 to S26 in FIG. 4 are the same as the processes S10 to S26 in FIG. 2, but the order of the processes is different. As shown in FIG. 5, the NFC connection is established between the IC tag I / F 22 of the printer 10 and the NFC I / F of the portable terminal 50, and then the read command is communicated using the NFC connection. The same as in the first embodiment.

The IC tag I / F 22 of the printer 10 supplies a specific notification to the control unit 30 when receiving a read command from the portable terminal 50. As a result, the CPU 32 determines YES in S10 of FIG. 4 and proceeds to S16. In the present embodiment, the CPU 32 does not execute generation of WFDWSI (S12) and supply of WFDWSI to the IC tag I / F 22 (S14) when YES in S10. This is because the WFDWSI is supplied to the IC tag I / F 22 when the printer 10 is turned on, or at the time of processing of S14 described later, and the WFDWSI is already stored in the RAM 24 of the IC tag I / F 22. Therefore, when the IC tag I / F 22 of the printer 10 receives a read command from the mobile terminal 50, the IC tag I / F 22 acquires the WFD WSI (that is, SSID “X1”) in the RAM 24 without acquiring the WFD WSI from the control unit 30. Send to.

  Each process of S16-S26 of FIG. 4 is the same as each process of S16-S26 of FIG. When the processes of S16 to S26 in FIG. 4 are executed, as shown in FIG. 5, the formation of a WFD network to which only the printer 10 belongs, and the WFD to which both the printer 10 and the portable terminal 50 belong. Network formation and print data communication are performed, and then the WFD network disappears.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the CPU 32 finishes S26 (that is, when the WFD network disappears), the CPU 32 generates the WFD WSI (S12) and supplies the WFD WSI to the IC tag I / F 22 (S14). . In S12, the CPU 32 generates an SSID and a password by randomly generating a character string. Therefore, the SSID and password generated in S12 are different from the SSID and password generated when the power is turned on (or during the past execution of S12). In FIG. 6, “X2” is shown as a specific value of the SSID generated in S12. The IC tag I / F 22 deletes the WFD WSI in the RAM 24 (that is, the WFD WSI generated when the power is turned on), and stores a new WFD WSI (that is, the WFD WSI supplied in S14) in the RAM 24.

  CPU32 will return to S10, after complete | finishing S14 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, when the NFC connection is established again between the printer 10 and the portable terminal 50, the IC tag I / F 22 uses the WFD WSI (that is, SSID “X2”) in the RAM 24 to the portable terminal 50. Send to. The subsequent processing is the same as in FIG. 5 except that SSID “X2” is used instead of SSID “X1”.

(Effect of the second embodiment)
In this embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. In this embodiment, since the IC tag I / F 22 includes the RAM 24, the WFD WSI can be stored in the RAM 24 in advance before the NFC connection is established. For this reason, the IC tag I / F 22 can quickly transmit the WFD WSI in the RAM 24 to the portable terminal 50 without acquiring the WFD WSI from the control unit 30 when the NFC connection is established.

(Correspondence)
In the present embodiment, the WFD network in FIG. 5 and the WFD network in FIG. 6 are examples of the “second wireless network” and the “first wireless network”, respectively. The SSID “X2” is an example of “network identification information”.

(Third embodiment)
Differences from the first embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the IC tag I / F 22 does not include a RAM as in the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the printer 10 selectively operates in one of two states, a G / O state and a device state. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the printer 10 selectively operates in any one of the three states of the G / O state, the CL state, and the device state. For example, the printer 10 may perform G / O negotiation with a device different from the printer 10 to determine that the printer 10 is a CL device.

(Processes executed by the CPU 32 of the printer 10; FIGS. 7 and 8)
The contents of processing executed by the CPU 32 of the printer 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. When the user desires to form a WFD network to which the printer 10 and the PC 110 belong, the user performs a predetermined operation on the operation panel 12 of the printer 10 and executes a predetermined operation on the PC 110. As a result, the CPU 32 of the printer 10 performs G / O negotiation with the PC 110 via the wireless LAN I / F 20.

  In the G / O negotiation, the CPU 32 transmits information indicating the G / O priority of the printer 10 (more specifically, an Intent value) to the PC 110 and receives information indicating the G / O priority of the PC 110 from the PC 110. To do. The G / O priority of the printer 10 is an index indicating the degree to which the printer 10 should be in the G / O state, and is determined in advance in the printer 10. Similarly, the G / O priority of the PC 110 is an index indicating the degree to which the PC 110 should be in the G / O state, and is determined in advance in the PC 110.

  The CPU 32 compares the G / O priority of the printer 10 with the G / O priority of the PC 110 and determines that the device with the higher priority will be in the G / O state. Determine that the device is in the CL state. In case C of FIG. 8, it is determined that the printer 10 is in the G / O state and the PC 110 is in the CL state. That is, the CPU 32 changes the WFD state value in the main memory 34 from a value indicating the device state to a value indicating the G / O state. Further, the CPU 32 generates a management list including the MAC address of the PC 110 in the main memory 34. In case D, it is determined that the printer 10 is in the CL state and the PC 110 is in the G / O state. That is, the CPU 32 changes the WFD state value in the main memory 34 from a value indicating the device state to a value indicating the CL state.

  When the printer 10 is a G / O device (that is, case C), the printer 10 (that is, the CPU 32) generates WFDWSI. Then, the CPU 32 supplies the generated WFD WSI to the PC 110 via the wireless LAN I / F 20. As a result, a WFD connection is established between the printer 10 and the PC 110, and a WFD network to which the printer 10 as a G / O device and the PC 110 as a CL device belong is formed.

  On the other hand, when the printer 10 is a CL device (that is, case D), the PC 110 generates WFDWSI. Then, the CPU 32 receives WFD WSI from the PC 110 via the wireless LAN I / F 20. As a result, a WFD connection is established between the printer 10 and the PC 110, and a WFD network to which the printer 10 as a CL device and the PC 110 as a G / O device belong is formed.

  When the WFD network to which the printer 10 and the PC 110 belong is formed as in the case C or D above, the printer 10 receives print data from the PC 110 using the WFD network and performs print processing. Can be executed.

  In the first or second embodiment, the NFC connection is established between the printer 10 and the portable terminal 50 while the printer 10 is in the device state, but the printer 10 is in the G / O state or the CL state. While NFC connection is not established. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the WFD network to which the printer 10 and the PC 110 belong can be formed, the NFC connection can be established even when the printer 10 is in the G / O state or the CL state. .

  As shown in FIG. 8, the NFC connection is established between the IC tag I / F 22 of the printer 10 and the NFC I / F of the portable terminal 50, and thereafter, the read command is communicated using the NFC connection. This is the same as FIG. 5 of the first embodiment.

  The IC tag I / F 22 of the printer 10 supplies a specific notification to the control unit 30 when receiving a read command from the portable terminal 50. Accordingly, the CPU 32 determines YES in S10 of FIG. 7 and proceeds to S50.

  In S50, the CPU 32 determines whether or not the current state of the printer 10 is a device state. Specifically, if the WFD state value in the main memory 34 is a value indicating the device state, the CPU 32 determines YES in S50 and proceeds to S12. Each process of S12-S26 is the same as each process of S12-S26 of FIG.

  On the other hand, when the WFD state value in the main memory 34 is a value indicating the G / O state or the CL state, the CPU 32 determines NO in S50 and proceeds to S52. In S52, the CPU 32 determines whether or not the current state of the printer 10 is the CL state. Specifically, if the WFD state value in the main memory 34 is a value indicating the CL state (that is, case D in FIG. 8), the CPU 32 determines YES in S52 and proceeds to S58. On the other hand, if the WFD state value in the main memory 34 is a value indicating the G / O state (that is, case C in FIG. 8), the CPU 32 determines NO in S52 and proceeds to S54.

  In S54, the CPU 32 determines whether or not the number of CL devices belonging to the WFD network in which the printer 10 is a G / O device matches a predetermined upper limit value. Specifically, the CPU 32 first reads the number of MAC addresses described in the management list in the main memory 34, and specifies the number of CL devices. If the number of CL devices matches the upper limit value, the CPU 32 determines YES in S54 and proceeds to S58. On the other hand, if the number of CL devices does not match the upper limit value, that is, if the number of CL devices is less than the upper limit value, the CPU 32 determines NO in S54 and proceeds to S56.

  In S56, the CPU 32 uses the WFD WSI currently used in the WFD network in which the printer 10 is a G / O device (that is, the WFD WSI generated by the printer 10 after the above G / O negotiation) as the IC tag memory. Write to 36. Then, the CPU 32 supplies the WFD WSI in the IC tag memory 36 to the IC tag I / F 22. As a result, the IC tag I / F 22 transmits the WFD WSI to the portable terminal 50 using the NFC connection.

After finishing S56, the CPU 32 proceeds to S18. When receiving a Probe Request signal from the portable terminal 50 (YES in S18), the CPU 32 causes the portable terminal 50 to participate in the WFD network to which the printer 10 and the PC 110 belong (S20), and is carried using the WFD network. Print data is received from the terminal 50 (S22), and print processing is executed (S24). Note that the CPU 32 does not shift from the G / O state to the device state even after finishing S24 (ie, does not execute the process of S26). If the processing of S26 is executed, the WFD network to which the printer 10 and the PC 110 belong will disappear, and the printer 10 will not be able to receive print data from the PC 110.

In this embodiment, in the WFD network, the G / O device has the authority to join other devices to the WFD network, but the CL device does not have the authority to join other devices to the WFD network. Adopt a policy. Therefore, if YES in S52, that is, if the NFC connection is established while the printer 10 is in the CL state, the printer 10 cannot join the portable terminal 50 to the WFD network. For this reason, in S58, the CPU 32 does not supply the WFD WSI used in the WFD network which is the CL device to the IC tag I / F 22, and indicates that the WFD communication cannot be executed ( (Hereinafter referred to as “impossible information”) is supplied to the IC tag I / F 22. Specifically, in S58, the CPU 32 writes the disabled information in the IC tag memory 36 and supplies the disabled information in the IC tag memory 36 to the IC tag I / F 22. Thereby, the IC tag I / F 22 transmits the disabled information to the portable terminal 50 using the NFC connection.

  If YES in S54, that is, the NFC connection is established while the printer 10 is in the G / O state, but the number of CL devices matches the upper limit value, the CPU 32 Since the number of CL devices cannot be increased any more, the portable terminal 50 cannot participate in the WFD network. Also in this case, in S58, the CPU 32 supplies the disabled information to the IC tag I / F 22.

  Next, in S60, the CPU 32 supplies a mode change instruction to the IC tag I / F 22, and changes the operation mode of the IC tag I / F 22 from the ReadOnly mode to the Writeable mode.

  When receiving the impossibility information from the printer 10, the portable terminal 50 (that is, the printing application) determines that the print data should be transmitted to the printer 10 using NFC communication instead of WFD communication. Then, the mobile terminal 50 determines to operate in the writer mode of the R / W mode, and transmits an NFC standard write command and print data to the printer 10 using the NFC connection.

  Since the IC tag I / F 22 of the printer 10 operates in the writeable mode (see S60), when the write command is received from the portable terminal 50, the write response operation is executed according to the write command. Specifically, the IC tag I / F 22 supplies print data to the control unit 30. As a result, in S <b> 62, the CPU 32 receives print data from the portable terminal 50 via the IC tag I / F 22.

  Next, in S64, the CPU 32 executes a printing process (a process similar to S24). Subsequently, in S66, the CPU 32 supplies a mode change instruction to the IC tag I / F 22, and changes the operation mode of the IC tag I / F 22 from the writeable mode to the read only mode. After finishing S66, the CPU 32 returns to S10.

(Effect of the third embodiment)
In this embodiment, when the NFC connection is established while the printer 10 is in the device state (YES in S50 of FIG. 7), the printer 10 sends WFD WSI to the portable terminal 50 as in the first embodiment. (S14), a WFD network to which only the printer 10 which is a G / O device belongs is formed (S16), and then a WFD network to which both the printer 10 and the portable terminal 50 belong is formed (S16). S20). For this reason, the printer 10 can receive the print data from the portable terminal 50 using the WFD network (S22) and appropriately execute the printing process (S24).

  When the NFC connection is established while the printer 10 is in the G / O state (NO in S52 of FIG. 7), the printer 10 determines whether or not the number of CL devices matches the upper limit value ( S54). If it is determined that the number of CL devices does not match the upper limit value (NO in S54), the printer 10 transmits WFDWSI to the portable terminal 50 (S56), and both the printer 10 and the portable terminal 50 belong. A WFD network is formed (S20). For this reason, the printer 10 can receive the print data from the portable terminal 50 using the WFD network (S22) and appropriately execute the printing process (S24).

On the other hand, the printer 10 determines that the number of CL devices matches the upper limit value (
In S54, the inability information is transmitted to the portable terminal 50 (S58), print data is received from the portable terminal 50 using the NFC connection (S62), and the printing process (S64) is appropriately executed. Can do.

  If the NFC connection is established while the printer 10 is in the CL state (YES in S52 in FIG. 7), the printer 10 transmits the disabled information to the portable terminal 50 (S58) and uses the NFC connection. Then, the print data is received from the portable terminal 50 (S62), and the print process (S64) can be appropriately executed.

  As described above, the printer 10 can appropriately execute a printing process by executing an appropriate process according to the state of the printer 10. In particular, when the printer 10 should receive print data from the portable terminal 50 using NFC connection (YES in S52 or YES in S54), the operation mode of the IC tag I / F 22 is changed to the writeable mode. (S60) The print data can be appropriately received from the portable terminal 50 using the NFC connection (S62).

  When print data is received using an NFC connection (S62), it takes a longer time to communicate print data than when print data is received using a WFD connection (S22). However, for example, a so-called label printer capable of printing on a relatively small print medium such as a label such as a laminate film, not a normal printer capable of printing on a relatively large print medium such as A4 size printing paper. Then, since the data size of the print data is relatively small, even if a configuration for receiving the print data using the NFC connection is adopted, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling dissatisfied with the long communication time of the print data. obtain. That is, the printer 10 may be a normal printer, but is preferably a label printer.

(Correspondence)
The ReadOnly mode and the Writeable mode are examples of the “first mode” and the “second mode”, respectively. The case of YES in S50, the case of NO in S52, and the case of YES in S52 are examples of “first case”, “second case”, and “third case”, respectively. The CL state is an example of “slave station state”. Not only the process of S14 but also the process of S56 is an example of a process executed by the “interface control unit”. Further, the process of S54 is an example of a process executed by the “determination unit”.

  Specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above. The modifications of the above embodiment are listed below.

(Modification 1) The “first communication device” is not limited to the printer 10 and may be a scanner, a copier, a multi-function device, a portable terminal, a PC, a server, or the like. For example, in a modification in which the scanner is an example of “first communication device”, the CPU of the scanner uses the WFD network to which the scanner and the portable terminal belong to and scan data via the wireless LAN I / F. May be transmitted to the mobile terminal. In this modification, the scan data is an example of “target data”. Further, for example, in an embodiment in which the PC is an example of “first communication device”, the CPU of the PC uses the WFD network to which the PC and the mobile terminal belong, via the wireless LAN I / F. A data file (for example, a document file) in the PC may be transmitted to the mobile terminal. In this modification, the data file is an example of “target data”. The “second communication device” is not limited to the portable terminal 50, and may be a printer, a scanner, a copier, a multi-function device, a PC, a server, or the like.

(Modification 2) The “second type interface” is a wireless LAN for executing WFD communication.
The interface is not limited to the I / F 20, and may be a wireless LAN I / F for executing wireless communication via an access point (hereinafter referred to as “AP”), for example. In this modification, the CPU 32 of the printer 10 transmits the SSID of the specific wireless network to the portable terminal 50 using the NFC connection when belonging to the specific wireless network formed by the AP. May be. In this case, the mobile terminal 50 may participate in the specific wireless network by transmitting a Probe Request signal including the SSID to the AP. Also in this case, the CPU 32 of the printer 10 receives print data from the portable terminal 50 by using the specific wireless network to which both the printer 10 and the portable terminal 50 belong (that is, via the AP). be able to.

(Modification 3) The “second type interface” is not limited to the wireless LAN I / F 20, and may be, for example, a BTI / F for executing Bluetooth communication (registered trademark). In this modification, a passkey (that is, a PIN) used in a Bluetooth network of Bluetooth (registered trademark) is an example of “network identification information”. Note that when the NFC communication speed is increased, the wireless communication speed via the BTI / F may be slower than the wireless communication speed via the NFC I / F 22. Generally speaking, the communication speed of wireless communication via the second type interface may be faster or slower than the communication speed of wireless communication via the first type interface.

(Modification 4) In FIG. 2, the CPU 32 of the printer 10 may execute the process of S16 and then execute the process of S14. Generally speaking, the CPU 32 may shift the state of the printer 10 from the device state to the G / O state in the process of S14 after generating the SSID in the process of S12 as in the above embodiments. Then, as in this modification, after the state of the printer 10 is shifted from the device state to the G / O state in the process of S14, the SSID may be generated in the process of S12.

(Modification 5) In S16 of FIG. 2, the CPU 32 of the printer 10 forms a wireless network by shifting the state of the printer 10 from the device state of the WFD standard to the G / O state. Alternatively, the CPU 32 may form a wireless network in which the printer 10 operates as an AP by activating so-called Soft AP. In this modification, the CPU 32 generates wireless setting information (SSID, BSSID, etc.) used in the wireless network in S12, and supplies the wireless setting information to the IC tag I / F 22 in S14. Also in this modification, S18-S24 are performed similarly. In S26, the CPU 32 stops the Soft AP. In the present modification, the state where the Soft AP is activated is an example of the “master station state”.

(Modification 6) In the above-described embodiment, the CPU 32 of the printer 10 executes the program (that is, software) in the main memory 34, thereby realizing the processes in FIG. 2, FIG. 4, or FIG. Instead, at least one of the processes in FIG. 2, FIG. 4, or FIG. 7 may be realized by hardware such as a logic circuit.

  The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology illustrated in the present specification or the drawings achieves a plurality of objects at the same time, and has technical utility by achieving one of the objects.

2: communication system, 10: printer, 12: operation panel, 14: display mechanism, 16: printing mechanism, 20: wireless LAN I / F, 22: IC tag I / F, 30: control unit, 34: main memory, 36 : IC tag memory, 50: mobile terminal, 110: PC

Claims (17)

A first communication device,
A first type interface that functions as an IC (Integrated Circuit) tag;
A second type of interface;
A control unit,
The controller is
An interface control unit that causes the first type of interface to perform a transmission operation using a first wireless connection established between the first communication device and the second communication device, wherein the transmission operation includes: The first type interface includes an operation of transmitting network identification information used in the first wireless network to which both the first and second communication devices belong to the second communication device. The interface controller;
After the first type interface performs the transmission operation, the first type wireless network to which both the first and second communication devices belong is used to connect the first type interface via the second type interface. A data communication unit that executes wireless communication of target data to be communicated with the second communication device;
A first communication device comprising: The first communication device further includes:
When a specific signal including the network identification information is received from the second communication device via the second type interface, the first and second types are received via the second type interface. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a forming unit that establishes a second wireless connection between communication devices to form the first wireless network to which both the first and second communication devices belong. The first communication device. The first communication device is in one of a plurality of states including a parent station state that functions as a parent station of a wireless network and an unaffiliated state that does not belong to the wireless network. Works selectively,
The control unit further includes:
In the first case where the first wireless connection is established while the state of the first communication device is the unaffiliated state, the state of the first communication device is changed from the unaffiliated state to the master station state. Including a state transition unit that forms the first wireless network to which only the first communication device belongs,
The forming unit establishes the second wireless connection when receiving the specific signal after the first wireless network to which only the first communication device belongs is formed, The first communication device according to claim 2, wherein the first communication device forms the first wireless network to which both the first and second communication devices belong. The first type interface supplies a specific notification to the control unit when the first wireless connection is established;
In the first case, when the specific notification is acquired from the first type interface, the interface control unit generates the network identification information and converts the network identification information into the first type. The first communication device according to claim 3, wherein the first communication device supplies the interface.   5. The state transition unit according to claim 4, wherein in the first case, after the network identification information is generated, the state transition unit shifts the state of the first communication device from the unaffiliated state to the parent station state. First communication device. The interface control unit is used in the first wireless network to be formed after the second wireless network when the second wireless network in which the first communication device functions as the master station disappears. The first communication device according to claim 3, wherein the network identification information is generated and the network identification information is supplied to the first type interface. The first type interface supplies a specific notification to the control unit when the first wireless connection is established;
In the first case, the state transition unit transitions the state of the first communication device from the unaffiliated state to the master station state when the specific notification is acquired from the first type interface. The first communication device according to claim 6, wherein The first type interface supplies a specific notification to the control unit when the first wireless connection is established;
6. The interface control unit according to claim 1, wherein the interface control unit supplies the network identification information to the first type interface when the specific notification is acquired from the first type interface. 7. 1st communication apparatus of description. The interface control unit further includes the operation mode of the first type interface so that the first wireless connection is established in a state where the operation mode of the first type interface is the first mode. Control
The first mode is:
A mode in which, when the first type interface receives a read command from the outside of the first communication device, an operation of transmitting information to the outside of the first communication device according to the read command And
9. The mode according to claim 1, wherein the first type interface is in a mode in which an operation corresponding to the write command is not executed even when a write command is received from outside the first communication device. 10. 1st communication apparatus of description. The first type interface functions as the IC tag of NFC (Near Field Communication) standard,
10. The first interface according to claim 1, wherein the interface control unit causes the first type interface to execute the transmission operation using the first wireless connection of the NFC standard. 11. Communication equipment. The second type interface is an interface for performing wireless communication according to a specific standard different from the NFC standard,
The interface control unit includes the first wireless connection regardless of whether the second communication device includes an application for performing wireless communication of the target data according to the specific standard or not. Is established, causing the first type interface to perform the transmission operation,
The data communication unit is
When the second communication device includes the application, wireless communication of the target data is executed with the second communication device,
11. The first communication device according to claim 10, wherein when the second communication device does not include the application, wireless communication of the target data is not performed with the second communication device. The control unit further includes:
In the second case where the first wireless connection is established while the state of the first communication device is the parent station state, the first communication device functions as a parent station. Whether the number of slave station devices that are slave station devices belonging to the first wireless network matches a predetermined upper limit value in the second case where there is a wireless network of A determination unit for determining whether
In the second case, when it is determined that the number of slave station devices does not match the upper limit value,
The interface control unit causes the first type interface to perform the transmission operation;
The data communication unit performs wireless communication of the target data with the second communication device via the second type interface using the first wireless network,
In the second case, when it is determined that the number of the slave station devices matches the upper limit value,
The interface control unit does not cause the first type interface to perform the transmission operation;
6. The data communication unit according to claim 3, wherein the data communication unit executes wireless communication of the target data with the second communication device via the first type interface using the first wireless connection. The 1st communication apparatus as described in any one. The plurality of states further include a slave station state in which the first communication device functions as a slave station of the wireless network,
In the third case where the first wireless connection is established while the state of the first communication device is the slave station state,
The interface control unit does not cause the first type interface to perform the transmission operation;
The data communication unit performs wireless communication of the target data with the second communication device via the first type interface using the first wireless connection. The first communication device according to any one of 12. The interface control unit further includes the operation mode of the first type interface so that the first wireless connection is established in a state where the operation mode of the first type interface is the first mode. Control
The first mode is:
A mode in which, when the first type interface receives a read command from the outside of the first communication device, an operation of transmitting information to the outside of the first communication device according to the read command And
The first type interface is a mode that does not execute an operation according to the write command even if the write command is received from outside the first communication device.
The interface control unit further changes the operation mode of the first type interface from the first mode to the second mode when not causing the first type interface to perform the transmission operation.
In the second mode, when the write command is received from the outside of the first communication device, information is received from the outside of the first communication device according to the write command, and the information is A mode for supplying to the control unit;
The data communication unit uses the first wireless connection and the first type interface in a state where the operation mode of the first type interface is the second mode. The first communication device according to claim 12, wherein the target data is received from two communication devices.   The communication speed of wireless communication via the second type interface is faster than the communication speed of wireless communication via the first type interface. Communication equipment. The data communication unit receives the target data from the second communication device via the second type interface using the first wireless network,
The first communication device further includes:
The first communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a printing mechanism that executes printing of an image represented by the received target data. A computer program for a first communication device, comprising:
The first communication device is:
A first type interface that functions as an IC tag;
A second type interface,
The computer program stores the following processes in a computer mounted on the first communication device, that is,
An interface control process for causing the first type of interface to perform a transmission operation using a first wireless connection established between the first communication device and the second communication device, wherein the transmission operation includes: The first type interface includes an operation of transmitting network identification information used in the first wireless network to which both the first and second communication devices belong to the second communication device. The interface control process;
After the first type interface performs the transmission operation, the first type wireless network to which both the first and second communication devices belong is used to connect the first type interface via the second type interface. Data communication processing for executing wireless communication of target data to be communicated with the second communication device;
A computer program that executes

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