JP2017212648A - Printer, control method and program device of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which can perform direct printing via the wireless LAN while ensuring security without requiring complicated wireless LAN setting by a user.SOLUTION: A printer includes: setting means which sets an access point mode that operates as an access point with prescribed authentication information for wireless LAN connection, and performs wireless LAN connection with a device storing the prescribed authentication information without communication with the printer; authentication means which performs authentication to an image processing device requesting connection via the wireless LAN on the basis of the prescribed authentication information stored in advance in the printer when the access point mode is set by the setting means; storage means which stores identification information for identifying the image processing device relevant to the request of connection that has succeeded in authentication by the authentication means; and control means which controls establishment of the new communication via the wireless LAN when the image processing device is connected in the access point mode on the basis of the identification information stored by the storage means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that performs direct printing via a wireless LAN.

  2. Description of the Related Art There is known a printing apparatus having a direct printing function in which a digital camera and a printing apparatus (printer) are connected and an image captured by the digital camera is directly transmitted to the printing apparatus for printing. Conventionally, a printing apparatus having a direct printing function has been mainly connected to a digital camera through a wired connection such as via a USB cable.

  In recent years, products compatible with wireless LAN have become widespread for both digital cameras and printing devices, and there is an increasing demand for camera direct printing via wireless LAN. On the other hand, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for performing direct printing after wireless connection between a digital camera and a printing apparatus.

JP 2007-76187 A

  In general, a digital camera is highly portable and has a battery power limitation. Therefore, in a normal state, a wireless LAN connection is not performed, and a wireless LAN access point that can be used in the location can be connected when necessary. Many. For this reason, in order to perform direct printing via a wireless LAN, it is necessary to first establish a wireless LAN connection between the digital camera and the printing apparatus. At this time, authentication information such as an SSID (Service Set Identifier) and an authentication password for wireless LAN connection is set in both the digital camera and the printing apparatus.

  Further, a method is conceivable in which prescribed authentication information common to both the printing apparatus and the apparatus connected to the printing apparatus is set in advance, for example, when a product is manufactured. If the wireless LAN connection is performed using the specified authentication information in this way, it is not necessary for the user to set authentication information for both the printing apparatus and the apparatus connected to the printing apparatus, and the usability for the user is improved.

  However, for example, when the same authentication information is used for each product model or product lineup, the wireless LAN connection to the printing apparatus may be established from a device of the same model owned by a third party. is there.

  For this reason, for example, even if the user of the printing apparatus intends to connect to a specific device, the device owned by a third party may be connected to the printing device without the user's intention.

  A printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing apparatus that operates as an access point with predetermined authentication information for wireless LAN connection, and that stores the predetermined authentication information without communicating with the printing apparatus. A setting unit that sets an access point mode for performing the wireless LAN connection as a wireless LAN connection mode of the printing apparatus, and a request for connection by the wireless LAN when the access point mode is set by the setting unit. Authentication means for performing authentication on the image processing apparatus based on the predetermined authentication information stored in advance in the printing apparatus, and the image processing apparatus relating to the connection request successfully authenticated by the authentication means. Storage means for storing identification information to be identified, and the image processing based on the identification information stored by the storage means Location is characterized in that the when connected in the access point mode, and control means for controlling the establishment of a new communication by the wireless LAN.

  According to the present invention, a wireless LAN connection can be performed while ensuring security without performing complicated wireless LAN settings by a user.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image printing system in Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus in Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital camera in Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation screen of the printing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation screen of the digital camera according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating state transition inside the printing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the printing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the digital camera according to the first exemplary embodiment. 6 is a sequence diagram related to direct printing in Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram related to direct printing in Embodiment 1. FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. In addition, the component described in this embodiment shows the form as an example of this invention, and does not limit the scope of this invention only to them.

[Example 1]
<Image printing system configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image printing system in the present embodiment. In the image printing system 100, a printing apparatus 200 and a digital camera (imaging apparatus) 300 as an image processing apparatus in the present embodiment can be wirelessly connected via an access point 101 of a wireless LAN. The wireless LAN in this case is the wireless LAN 102 via the access point 101. In addition, the printing apparatus 200 itself can operate as a wireless LAN access point, whereby the digital camera 300 and the printing apparatus 200 can directly communicate without passing through the access point 101. The wireless LAN in this case is the wireless LAN 103. A mode in which the printing apparatus 200 operates as a wireless LAN access point in this way is referred to as a specific access point mode (specific AP mode) in the following description. The specific AP mode is a connection mode dedicated to direct printing between the digital camera 300 and the printing apparatus 200. The mode in which the printing apparatus 200 communicates via the access point 101 (infrastructure mode) is a wireless LAN connection mode of the printing apparatus 200 when direct printing is not performed, and is referred to as a normal connection mode in the following description.

<Configuration of printing device>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the printing apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment. The printing apparatus 200 is an image forming apparatus having a printing function for printing an image on a recording medium such as paper, and may have a function (for example, a scanner function) other than the printing function. The printing apparatus 200 includes a CPU 201, a program memory 203 that is a ROM, a data memory 204 that is a RAM, a printing unit 205, an operation unit control unit 207, a wireless LAN control unit 209, and a nonvolatile memory 210. Each component is connected to each other via an internal bus 202, and data can be transmitted and received between the components. The CPU 201 in the form of a microprocessor operates in accordance with a control program stored in the program memory 203 and data stored in the data memory 204, and controls each component centrally.

  The printing unit 205 can print an image stored in the image memory 206 in the data memory 204 on a recording medium under the control of the CPU 201. Further, the operation unit control unit 207 can display the state of the printing apparatus and the function selection menu on the operation unit 208 or accept a user operation (user input) from the operation unit 208 in accordance with control by the CPU 201. It is. The operation unit 208 is configured by a touch panel, for example, and the user can perform an operation on the object by touching the displayed object.

  The wireless LAN control unit 209 can communicate with other devices (for example, the digital camera 300 shown in FIG. 1 or a server not shown) connected by the wireless LAN 102 according to the control of the CPU 201. Accordingly, the printing apparatus 200 can also receive a print job from another apparatus and execute printing by the printing unit 205. In addition, the wireless LAN control unit 209 can operate the printing apparatus 200 itself as a wireless LAN access point so as to establish a wireless LAN connection with the digital camera 300 according to control by the CPU 201. The printing apparatus 200 can perform direct printing via the established wireless LAN.

  The nonvolatile memory 210 includes a battery backup RAM, an EEPROM, a flash memory, and the like, and is a memory in which stored data is not lost even when power supply is cut off. Data that needs to be retained even when the power supply is cut off, such as setting information for the printing apparatus 200, is written into the nonvolatile memory 210.

  The printing apparatus 200 can operate as an access point corresponding to a unique SSID and password for the specific AP mode. The SSID, password, and program for operating as an access point are also stored in the program memory 203 or the nonvolatile memory 210.

  Furthermore, the printing apparatus 200 can operate as another access point (hereinafter referred to as a normal access point) different from the access point in the specific AP mode. Therefore, in addition to the unique SSID and password for the access point in the specific AP mode, an SSID and password for operating as the normal access point are stored in the program memory 203 or the nonvolatile memory 210. Note that the normal connection mode by the printing apparatus 200 in the present embodiment may be an infrastructure mode via the wireless LAN access point 101, or may be a case where the printing apparatus 200 operates as a normal access point as described above. May be.

  The unique SSID and password for the specific AP mode are stored in advance in the digital camera 300 as will be described later, but the SSID and password for the normal access point are not stored in the digital camera 300 in advance. When the user connects a terminal device such as a digital camera 300 or a smartphone to the normal access point of the printing apparatus 200, the user uses the SSID displayed by the printing apparatus 200 or the password set in the printing apparatus 200 in the terminal apparatus. input.

  Therefore, the user can connect more easily in the specific AP mode than in the wireless LAN connection via the normal access point, but the security level is higher in the connection by the normal access point than in the specific AP mode.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the printing apparatus 200 operates so that the number of apparatuses connected to the access point in the specific AP mode is limited to one. On the other hand, when the printing apparatus 200 operates as a normal access point, the printing apparatus 200 can connect to a plurality of apparatuses via a normal access point via a wireless LAN. As a result, it is possible to provide a specific AP mode in which simple wireless LAN connection is possible and security is ensured.

  Details of the specific AP mode in this embodiment will be described later.

<Configuration of imaging device>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital camera (imaging device) 300 in this embodiment. The digital camera 300 includes a CPU 301, a program memory 303 that is a ROM, a data memory 304 that is a RAM, an imaging unit 305, a memory card control unit 307, an operation unit control unit 309, a wireless LAN control unit 311, And a non-volatile memory 312. Each component is connected to each other via an internal bus 302, and data can be transmitted and received between the components. The CPU 301 in the form of a microprocessor operates in accordance with a control program stored in the program memory 303 and data stored in the data memory 304, and controls each component centrally.

  The imaging unit 305 performs imaging in accordance with control by the CPU 301 and stores the captured image in the image memory 306 in the data memory 304. The captured image stored in the image memory 306 is converted into an image file format and stored in the memory card 308 via the memory card control unit 307. In addition, the operation unit control unit 309 may display the captured image on the operation unit 310 and display various function selection menus according to the control by the CPU 301 or accept a user operation (user input) from the operation unit 310. Is possible.

  The wireless LAN control unit 311 can communicate with other devices connected by the wireless LAN 102 according to the control of the CPU 301. As a result, the captured image can be stored in a terminal device or a shared folder on the network, or a print job can be transmitted to the printing apparatus 200 via the wireless LAN 102. The wireless LAN control unit 311 may have a function of operating the digital camera 300 itself as a wireless LAN access point.

  In this embodiment, a configuration example of a digital camera is shown as an example of an imaging apparatus. However, an image acquisition apparatus applicable to this embodiment is not limited to this, for example, a mobile phone, a tablet device, a personal computer, or the like. It may be.

  The digital camera 300 stores in the program memory 303 a unique SSID and password when the printing apparatus 200 operates as an access point in the specific AP mode. Then, when shifting to a specific AP mode described later, connection with an access point is attempted according to the unique SSID and password stored in the program memory 203 even if the user does not input the SSID and password.

  That is, the above-described unique SSID and password are stored in advance in each device without the digital camera 300 and the printing device 200 communicating with each other and without being input by the user through the operation unit 208 and the operation unit 310. is there.

  Therefore, the digital camera 300 can be easily connected to the printing apparatus 200 in the specific AP mode using the unique SSID and password. On the other hand, a unique SSID and password that are common to a specific model may be stored. Therefore, when a third party unintended by the user of the printing apparatus 200 has the same type of digital camera, the digital camera may be connected to the printing apparatus 200 in the specific AP mode.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the printing apparatus 200 operates so that the number of apparatuses connected to the access point in the specific AP mode is limited to one.

<Operation screen in printing device>
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen displayed on the operation unit 208 of the printing apparatus 200. FIG. 4A shows a home screen 220 that is a normal standby screen. On the home screen 220, a copy button 221, a print button 222 from the card, and a print button 223 from the camera are arranged. When the copy button 221 is pressed, the printing apparatus 200 shifts to a copy mode for copying a document. When the print button 222 is pressed from the card, the printing apparatus 200 shifts to a mode for printing an image stored in a memory card attached to the printing apparatus 200. When the print button 223 is pressed from the camera, the printing apparatus 200 shifts to a mode in which an image captured by the digital camera 300 is received and printed.

  FIG. 4B shows a camera print standby screen 230. The camera print standby screen 230 is a screen that is displayed in a print job waiting state after the print button 223 is pressed from the camera and an image captured by the digital camera 300 is received and shifted to a mode for printing. On the camera print standby screen 230, a message prompting to perform a print operation from the digital camera 300 is displayed, and a cancel button 231 is arranged. When the cancel button 231 is pressed, the printing apparatus 200 ends the mode for receiving and printing the image captured by the digital camera 300, and displays the home screen 220 instead of the camera print standby screen 230.

  FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating a camera printing screen 240 that is displayed while a print job is received from the digital camera 300 and printing is being performed. On the camera printing screen 240, a message indicating that the printing process based on the print job transmitted from the digital camera 300 is being executed is displayed, and a cancel button 241 is arranged. When the cancel button 241 is pressed, the printing apparatus 200 stops the print job being executed, ends the mode for receiving and printing the image captured by the digital camera 300, and replaces the camera printing screen 240 with the home screen. A screen 220 is displayed.

<Operation screen in imaging device>
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image playback screen displayed on the operation unit 310 of the digital camera (imaging device) 300. On the image reproduction screen 320, a captured image 321 is displayed over the entire screen, and a print execution button 322 is arranged. When the print execution button 322 is pressed by the user, the digital camera 300 transmits a print job for printing the displayed image to the printing apparatus 200.

<Status transition of printing device>
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state transition inside the printing apparatus 200. The state transition diagram in FIG. 6 is described in accordance with UML description rules. Each block indicates a state of the printing apparatus 200, and an arrow connecting the states indicates a state transition of the printing apparatus 200. The description appended to each arrow indicates an event that triggers a state transition, and an action that is executed after the “/” at the time of the state transition.

  When the printing apparatus 200 receives the power-on event E601 from the initial state (power-off state), the printing apparatus 200 enters the standby state S601. At this time, the printing apparatus 200 is activated in the normal connection mode. In general, the stationary printing apparatus 200 is activated in an infrastructure mode in which communication is performed via the access point 101. That is, the printing apparatus 200 is connected as a client of the wireless LAN 102. When the printing apparatus 200 enters the standby state S601, the home screen 220 is displayed on the operation screen.

  When the user presses the print button 223 from the camera in the standby state S601, an event E602 is generated. In response to event E602, the printing apparatus 200 switches the connection mode from the normal connection mode to the specific AP mode, and shifts to the camera print mode state S602. Here, the specific AP mode is a connection mode in which the printing apparatus 200 operates as a wireless LAN access point so as to establish direct communication with the digital camera 300, and is a direct printing dedicated connection between the digital camera 300 and the printing apparatus 200. Mode. In this embodiment, common authentication information (SSID and authentication password) is preset for the printing apparatus 200 and the digital camera 300. In response to event E602, the printing apparatus 200 disconnects the existing network connection (connection to the wireless LAN 102) and activates the specific AP mode. In the specific AP mode, the printing apparatus 200 receives a connection request including common authentication information from the digital camera 300 as an access point, authenticates the digital camera 300, and permits the connection request from the digital camera 300. When the connection of the digital camera 300 to the wireless LAN 103 is established, the printing apparatus 200 and the digital camera 300 can directly communicate via the wireless LAN 103.

  The camera printing mode state S602 includes a camera printing standby state S603 and a camera printing state S604 as sub-states. When the printing apparatus 200 enters the camera print mode state S602, it shifts to the camera print standby state S603 as a sub state. When the printing apparatus 200 enters the camera print standby state S603, the camera print standby screen 230 is displayed on the operation screen.

  When a print job is received from the digital camera 300 via the wireless LAN 103 in the camera print standby state S603, an event E603 occurs. In response to event E603, the printing apparatus 200 transitions to the camera printing state S604. When the printing apparatus 200 enters the camera printing state S604, a camera printing screen 240 is displayed on the operation screen.

  In the camera print mode state S602, an event E604 occurs when a predetermined time has elapsed since the end of the print job, a mismatch with the stored digital camera, or the operation screen cancel buttons 231 and 241 are pressed. In response to the event E604, the printing apparatus 200 ends the specific AP mode to recover the connection in the normal connection mode, and shifts to the standby state S601.

  The above is a series of state transitions when printing from the digital camera 300 in the printing apparatus 200. Although the home screen 220 is configured to accept various operations in addition to operations from the copy button 221 and the card to the print button 222, the printing apparatus 200 executes processes other than direct printing. The explanation is omitted because it is not the main point of the example.

<Processing procedure of printing apparatus>
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the printing apparatus 200 according to the present exemplary embodiment, and illustrates processing executed by the CPU 201 of the printing apparatus 200 when the print button 223 is pressed from the camera illustrated in FIG. Yes. The processing shown in FIG. 7 is realized by the CPU 201 executing a control program stored in the program memory 203.

  In step S <b> 701, the CPU 201 controls the wireless LAN control unit 209 to activate a mode in which the printing apparatus 200 operates as a wireless LAN access point so as to establish direct communication with the digital camera 300. Here, the specific AP mode is set as the wireless LAN connection mode of the printing apparatus 200. When the wireless LAN connection mode of the printing apparatus 200 is the normal connection mode, the mode is switched to the specific AP mode. At this time, since it operates as an access point having a prescribed SSID and authentication password (authentication information), it is called a specific access point mode (specific AP mode). In this embodiment, prescribed authentication information common to both the printing apparatus 200 and the digital camera 300 is set in advance, and wireless LAN connection is performed using the prescribed authentication information set in advance. This eliminates the need for the user to set authentication information in both the printing apparatus 200 and the digital camera 300, and improves the usability of the user.

  In step S701, the CPU 201 resets the MAC address stored in the data memory 204. That is, if there is a stored MAC address in the data memory 204, it is deleted.

  In step S <b> 702, the CPU 201 controls the wireless LAN control unit 209 to wait for a wireless LAN connection request from the digital camera 300. When the wireless LAN connection request is received, the process proceeds to step S703.

  In step S703, the CPU 201 authenticates the connection request source based on the authentication information included in the received wireless LAN connection request. Since the wireless LAN connection request from the digital camera 300 includes the specified authentication information, the digital camera 300 is successfully authenticated based on the specified authentication information. Then, the CPU 201 determines whether there is a stored MAC address in the data memory 204. If there is no stored MAC address, the process proceeds to step S704. If there is a stored MAC address, the process proceeds to step S711.

  In step S704, the CPU 201 stores the MAC address of the connection request source of the wireless LAN connection request received in step S702 in the data memory 204. As a result of the processing in this step, the MAC address of the device that has succeeded in authentication first within the duration of the specific AP mode is stored in the data memory 204.

  In step S705, the CPU 201 permits the wireless LAN connection request of the digital camera 300. Communication via the wireless LAN 103 is established between the printing apparatus 200 and the digital camera 300.

  In step S <b> 706, the CPU 201 controls the wireless LAN control unit 209 to wait for reception of a print job from the digital camera 300. When the print job is received, the process proceeds to step S707.

  In step S707, the CPU 201 controls the printing unit 205 to print an image included in the print job on a recording medium. Note that the process of receiving and printing an image follows a procedure defined by a standard such as DPS over IP, and is a known technique, and therefore detailed description thereof is omitted here. During execution of the print job, the printing apparatus 200 periodically repeats the process of step S708 below.

  In step S <b> 708, the CPU 201 determines whether the operation unit control unit 207 has received a pressing operation on the cancel button 241 on the operation screen of the printing apparatus 200. When the operation unit control unit 207 receives an operation of pressing the cancel button 241, the print job is canceled and the process proceeds to step S709.

  In step 709, the CPU 201 deletes the stored MAC address from the data memory 204. Finally, in step S710, the CPU 201 controls the wireless LAN control unit 209 to end the specific AP mode.

  On the other hand, if there is a MAC address stored in the data memory 204 in step S703, the process proceeds to step S711. In step 711, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the stored MAC address matches the MAC address of the connection request source. If it is determined that they match, the process proceeds to step S705, and a connection request is permitted in step 705. If it is determined that they do not match, the process proceeds to step S712. In step 712, the CPU 201 rejects the connection request, and the process proceeds to step S709.

  In step S713, the CPU 201 determines whether the time during which the wireless LAN connection request has not been received has exceeded a predetermined time. If the predetermined time has been exceeded, the process proceeds to step S709.

  According to the processing in FIG. 7, when the printing apparatus 200 is connected in the specific AP mode, the specific AP mode is maintained unless the user presses the cancel button 241. Even if the wireless LAN connection request is received in S702, the wireless LAN connection is not performed unless the stored MAC address (the MAC address of the connected device) is received. Therefore, the number of devices to which the printing apparatus 200 is connected in the specific AP mode can be limited to one.

  In the example shown in FIG. 7, the normal connection mode is not restored unless the user presses the cancel button 241, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the normal connection mode may be restored when a predetermined time elapses after shifting to the specific AP mode, or when no data is received in the specific AP mode for a predetermined time.

  In the above description, the specific AP mode is activated in step S701. However, the printing apparatus 200 may be configured to activate the specific AP mode after disconnecting the existing network connection. That is, in step S701, the connection mode of the printing apparatus 200 is switched from the normal connection mode to the specific AP mode. With this configuration, safer communication can be realized. In this case, the specific AP mode is terminated in step S710, and the network connection disconnected in step S701 is restored. That is, in step S710, the connection mode of the printing apparatus 200 is switched from the specific AP mode to the normal connection mode.

<Processing Procedure of Imaging Device>
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the digital camera (imaging device) 300 in the present embodiment, and shows processing executed by the CPU 301 of the digital camera 300 when the print execution button 322 of FIG. 5 is pressed. Yes. The processing shown in FIG. 8 is realized by the CPU 301 executing a control program stored in the program memory 203.

  In step S801, the CPU 301 controls the wireless LAN control unit 311 to establish a connection as a wireless LAN client to the printing apparatus 200 in the specific AP mode. Specifically, a wireless LAN access point is searched for using a specified SSID and authentication password that are set in advance in the printing apparatus 200 and stored in advance in the digital camera 300 without communicating with the printing apparatus 200 to establish a connection. . After the connection is established, the process proceeds to step S802.

  In step S <b> 802, the CPU 301 controls the wireless LAN control unit 311 to transmit a print job for printing the image displayed on the image reproduction screen 320 to the printing apparatus 200. During the transmission of the print job, the digital camera 300 periodically executes the following steps S803 to S805.

  In step S <b> 803, the CPU 301 determines whether the operation unit control unit 309 has received a cancel operation for canceling the print job. When the operation unit control unit 309 receives a cancel operation, the CPU 301 stops transmission of the print job, and the process proceeds to step S806.

  In step S804, the CPU 301 determines whether the connection between the digital camera 300 and the printing apparatus 200 has been disconnected. If the connection is disconnected, the CPU 301 stops sending the print job, and the process proceeds to step S806.

  In step S <b> 805, the CPU 301 determines whether transmission of all print jobs has been completed. If not completed, the process returns to step S802. If completed, the process proceeds to step S806.

  Finally, in step S806, the CPU 301 controls the wireless LAN control unit 311 to return the wireless LAN connection state of the digital camera 300 to the original connection state. That is, in step S801, the printer 200 is returned to the state before connection as a wireless LAN client to the printing apparatus 200 in the specific AP mode, and the processing according to this flowchart ends.

<Sequence for direct printing>
FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating an exchange when direct printing is performed by establishing a connection between the printing apparatus 200 and the digital camera 300. In step S <b> 901, the user 500 presses the print button 223 from the camera on the home screen 220 of the printing apparatus 200. In response to this, the printing apparatus 200 switches the connection mode of the printing apparatus to the specific AP mode in step S902.

  Subsequently, the user 500 presses the print execution button 322 on the playback screen 320 of the digital camera 300 in step S903. In response to this, the digital camera 300 requests a wireless LAN connection using the specified authentication information (SSID and authentication password) in step S904. After confirming that the MAC address is not yet stored (no stored MAC address), the printing apparatus 200 stores the MAC address of the digital camera 300 in step S905, and permits a connection request in step S906. Accordingly, a connection is established with the digital camera 300 as a wireless LAN client using the printing apparatus 200 operating in the specific AP mode as an access point.

  After the connection is established, a print job is transmitted from the digital camera 300 to the printing apparatus 200 in step S907. In response to this, the printing apparatus 200 executes a printing process in step S908.

  In step S909, the digital camera 300 notifies the printing apparatus 200 of the end of the print job, and in step S910, the connection as the wireless LAN client using the specified authentication information is disconnected. In step S911, the digital camera 300 returns the wireless LAN connection state to the original connection state.

  On the other hand, the printing apparatus 200 maintains the specific AP mode even after the end of the print job, and waits for the next wireless LAN connection request using the specified SSID.

  When the user 500 wants to continue printing, the user presses the print execution button 322 on the playback screen 320 of the digital camera 300 in step 912, as in step S903 in the first printing. In response to this, the digital camera 300 requests a wireless LAN connection using the specified authentication information in step S913 as in step S904 in the first printing. The printing apparatus 200 compares the MAC address already stored in step S914 with the MAC address of the connection request source. If the two match, the printing apparatus 200 permits the connection request in step S915. Thereafter, steps S916 to S920 are the same as steps S907 to S911 in the first printing, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  When the user 500 presses the cancel button on the operation screen of the printing apparatus 200 in step S921 after the printing is finished, in response to this, the printing apparatus 200 deletes the stored MAC address in step S922. In step S923, the printing apparatus 200 returns its connection mode to the normal connection mode.

  In the above description, the case where the printing apparatus 200 is controlled to return the connection mode of the printing apparatus 200 to the normal connection mode by a cancel operation from the user has been described. However, the printing apparatus 200 is returned to the normal connection mode according to other conditions. You may make it control. For example, it is possible to receive an instruction from the digital camera 300 to explicitly return to the normal connection mode, and the printing apparatus 200 can be controlled to return to the normal connection mode based on the instruction. In addition, after the user 500 performs the printer UI operation in step S912, the user 500 may be left without performing the operation on the digital camera 300 side. In preparation for this, if a connection request from the digital camera 300 is not received even after a predetermined time has elapsed, control may be performed so as to return to the normal connection mode.

  In the above description, the MAC address is used to determine whether or not the connection request source is the digital camera 300. However, if the identification information can identify the device that is the connection request source, the MAC address is not necessarily used. There is no need to use it. For example, it is possible to identify the connection request source by assigning an ID uniquely defined in advance to the digital camera and exchanging the ID instead of the MAC address.

  FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram when a connection request is received from the digital camera 600, which is a device different from the digital camera 300, after establishing a connection between the printing device 200 and the digital camera 300 and performing direct printing. . The steps from the user operation until the digital camera 300 returns to the original connection mode shown in steps S901 to S911 in FIG. 10 are the same as the steps with the same reference numerals in FIG.

  In step S1001 and step S1002, a connection request is received from a digital camera 600, which is a device different from the digital camera 300. In response to this, as a result of comparing the MAC address already stored in step S1003 with the MAC address of the connection request source, a mismatch between the two is detected. In step S1004, the connection request from the digital camera 600 is rejected. Next, in response to the rejection of the connection request, the digital camera 600 restores its own connection state to the original connection state in step S1005.

  On the other hand, the printing apparatus 200 deletes the stored MAC address in step S1006, and returns its own connection mode to the normal connection mode in step S1007.

  In the above description, the case has been described in which the printing apparatus 200 performs control to return its own connection mode to the normal connection mode after detecting a mismatch between the stored MAC address and the MAC address of the connection request source. The control method is not limited to this, and the specific AP mode may be maintained and control may be performed to wait for the next wireless LAN connection request using the specified authentication information.

  As described above, with the configuration of this embodiment, a connection dedicated for direct printing is established using a specified SSID and authentication password common to the printing apparatus 200 and the digital camera 300 without performing complicated wireless LAN settings. Can do. At the same time, when the digital camera 300 and the printing apparatus 200 are connected in the specific AP mode, the digital camera 600 is not connected to the printing apparatus 200. Therefore, when the user 500 performs direct printing from the digital camera 300, it is possible to prevent the digital camera 600 and the printing apparatus 200 from being connected by the user 700 not intended by the user 500. That is, the user can perform direct printing via the wireless LAN while ensuring simple security without performing difficult wireless LAN settings.

  In the above embodiment, a digital camera has been described as an example of an image processing apparatus that executes printing. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various devices such as a PC and a smartphone may be used. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the printing apparatus has been described as an example of an apparatus that limits the number of communication partners in the specific AP mode to one. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various devices such as a PC and a smartphone may be used.

  Furthermore, although the example which restrict | limits the communication partner in specific AP mode to one was shown in the above embodiment, it is not restricted to this, The restriction | limiting number of a communication partner may be plural. For example, when the number of devices that can be connected when the printing apparatus 200 operates as the normal access point is 10, the number of devices that can be connected in the specific AP mode is set to 9 or less. This makes it possible to realize a specific AP mode with a higher security level than at the time of operating as a normal access point, at least with respect to the number of devices that can be connected.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

103 wireless LAN
200 Printing Device 204 Data Memory 209 Wireless LAN Control Unit 223 Print Button from Camera 300 Digital Camera

Claims (12)

A printing apparatus that operates as an access point with predetermined authentication information for wireless LAN connection,
Setting means for setting an access point mode for performing a wireless LAN connection with a device storing the predetermined authentication information without communicating with the printing device as a wireless LAN connection mode of the printing device;
When the access point mode is set by the setting unit, authentication for the image processing apparatus that has made a connection request by the wireless LAN is performed based on the predetermined authentication information stored in advance in the printing apparatus. Authentication means;
Storage means for storing identification information for identifying the image processing apparatus related to the connection request, which has been successfully authenticated by the authentication means;
Control means for controlling establishment of new communication by a wireless LAN when the image processing apparatus is connected in the access point mode based on the identification information stored by the storage means. A printing device.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores identification information of an apparatus that has succeeded in the authentication first within a duration of the access point mode.   The control means determines whether or not to permit connection to the wireless LAN for an image processing apparatus that newly makes a connection request to the wireless LAN within the duration of the access point mode. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination is performed using the identification information stored in the storage unit. The control means includes
If the identification information of the image processing device matches the identification information stored in the storage means, permit the image processing device to connect to the wireless LAN;
When the identification information of the image processing device does not match the identification information stored in the storage means, the connection of the image processing device to the wireless LAN is rejected and the access point mode is terminated. The printing apparatus according to claim 3.   5. The control means according to claim 1, further comprising means for terminating the access point mode when a time during which a connection request is not received via the wireless LAN exceeds a predetermined time. The printing apparatus according to any one of the above.   6. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit deletes the identification information stored in the storage unit before ending the access point mode.   The said setting means cut | disconnects the existing network connection of the said printing apparatus based on a user input, Then, the said printing apparatus is started in the said access point mode, The one of Claims 4 thru | or 6 characterized by the above-mentioned. The printing apparatus as described in.   8. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for recovering the disconnected network connection when the access point mode ends.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information is a MAC address.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is a digital camera. A method of controlling a printing apparatus that operates as an access point with predetermined authentication information for wireless LAN connection,
A setting step of setting, as a wireless LAN connection mode of the printing apparatus, an access point mode for performing a wireless LAN connection with an apparatus storing the predetermined authentication information without communicating with the printing apparatus;
When the access point mode is set in the setting step, authentication for the image processing apparatus that has requested connection by the wireless LAN is performed based on the predetermined authentication information stored in advance in the printing apparatus. Certification process;
A storage step of storing in the memory of the printing device identification information for identifying the image processing device related to the connection request, which has been successfully authenticated in the authentication step;
A control step of controlling establishment of new communication by a wireless LAN when the image processing apparatus is connected in the access point mode based on the identification information stored in the memory in the storage step. A printing method characterized by the above.   The program for functioning a computer as each means of the printing apparatus of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 10.

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