JP2019161552A - Communication device and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a communication device and a control method therefor that implement both of NAN and a power saving function.SOLUTION: A communication device comprises radio communication means, the radio communication means comprising notification means for notifying, using a first communication mode, an external device of information on a service that the communication device can provide. The communication device includes: power control means for controlling a power state of the communication device; and control means for performing control so that the radio communication means does not execute the notification means in a state in which the power control means has made the communication device transit into a power saving state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication apparatus that performs communication using a NAN and a control method thereof.

  An increasing number of printing apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals and printers have a wireless LAN function. A printing apparatus having a wireless LAN function receives print data from an external apparatus such as a mobile terminal by wireless communication, and executes print processing based on the received print data. In the Wi-Fi Alliance certification program Wi-Fi Aware, NAN (Neighbor Awareness Networking) capable of detecting a service provided by a nearby terminal is defined. A printing apparatus capable of notifying an external apparatus such as a surrounding mobile terminal of a print service or a scan service using NAN can be considered. Patent Document 1 describes a printing apparatus that detects a chat service using a NAN, then establishes a data link, and executes a chat application.

JP 2017-63312 A

  In recent years, in order to reduce the power consumption of communication devices, when the device has not been operated for a certain period of time or longer, the power supply is limited to a part of the device and operates at low power. The power saving function that makes the transition to) is progressing. There is an increasing demand for such a power saving function in a printing apparatus.

  However, when the power supply to the control unit is also stopped in the power saving state, the printing apparatus cannot respond to the connection request transmitted from the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal transmits the connection request due to a timeout. It will wait until it detects it. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to achieve both the power saving state and the NAN function.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication apparatus and a control method therefor that preferably achieve both NAN and power saving functions.

  In order to achieve the above object, a communication apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, the present invention is, for example, a communication device including a wireless communication unit, and the wireless communication unit notifies the external device of information related to a service that can be provided by the communication device in a first communication mode. A power control unit that controls a power state of the communication device; and the power control unit controls the wireless communication unit not to execute the notification unit in a state where the communication device is shifted to the power saving state. And a control means.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the communication apparatus which preferably made NAN and a power saving function compatible preferably, and its control method can be provided.

It is a figure explaining a NAN cluster. It is a hardware block diagram of the printing apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a basic setting screen and a NAN setting screen of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a startup process of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating service notification and P2P connection processing performed by the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating power saving determination processing performed by the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of an operation screen of the printing apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating P2P connection processing of the printing apparatus according to the third embodiment.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the invention.

  The formed NAN cluster will be described with reference to FIG. The printing apparatus (communication apparatus) 100 and the mobile terminals 110 and 120 each include a wireless LAN interface corresponding to NAN. Hereinafter, the printing apparatus and the mobile terminal are collectively referred to as a terminal.

  The terminal group transmits and receives service information during a period called Discovery Window (hereinafter referred to as DW). A group of terminals sharing this DW period schedule is referred to as a NAN cluster. In the present embodiment, the printing apparatus 100 and the mobile terminals 110 and 120 form the NAN cluster 10. Note that DW is a period of a certain length that is repeated at a certain period. For example, the period is 512 msec, and the period is 16 msec. Each terminal in the NAN cluster 10 is responsible for one of the three roles of Master, Non-Master Sync, and Non-Master Non-Sync. Each role may be assigned by a plurality of terminals. Also, the roles assigned to each of the plurality of terminals may change dynamically. In each NAN cluster, at least one terminal operates as a master. A terminal that operates as a master indicates a terminal that transmits both a Discovery Beacon, which will be described later, and a Synchronization Beacon, which will also be described later. A terminal that operates as a non-master sync indicates a terminal that transmits a synchronization beacon without transmitting a discovery beacon. A terminal operating as a non-master non-sync indicates a terminal that does not transmit a discovery beacon or a synchronization beacon. The Discovery Beacon is a signal transmitted outside the DW to notify a nearby terminal not participating in the NAN cluster that the NAN cluster exists. The synchronization beacon is a signal transmitted in the DW in order to synchronize the terminals in the NAN cluster. Each terminal forms and maintains a NAN cluster by the method described so far.

  Each terminal participating in the NAN cluster can perform communication for providing or searching for a service in the DW in addition to the communication related to the formation and maintenance of the NAN cluster described so far. A terminal that searches for a service transmits a Subscribe signal notifying that the service is being searched for in the DW to the NAN cluster to which the terminal belongs. This can be realized by transmitting a Subscribe signal including a character string (hereinafter referred to as a service name) representing a service to be searched for in the signal. For example, when the service is a print service that prints data on paper, the service name is “PRINT-0001”. A terminal that can provide a service transmits a Publish signal that notifies the NAN cluster to which the terminal belongs that the service can be provided in the DW. The Publish signal includes a service name representing a service that can be provided in the signal.

  When a terminal searching for a service receives a Publish signal, if the service name included in the signal is the name of the service searched for by the terminal, the terminal can detect the service. When a terminal providing a service receives a Subscribe signal, if the service name included in the signal is a service name provided by the terminal, the terminal sends a Publish signal to notify the service. Can be sent. A terminal that has transmitted a Subscribe signal using this Publish signal can discover a service.

  An operation mode in which a terminal that provides a service does not transmit a Publish signal until it receives a Subscribe signal is called a solicited mode. In addition, an operation mode in which a terminal that provides a service transmits a publish signal at a constant interval without receiving a subscription is referred to as an unsolicited mode or a constant notification mode.

  After a terminal that searches for a service receives a Publish signal and detects a service, it transmits a connection request to the terminal that provides the service, and establishes a P2P connection. Service can be received from the terminal that provides the service.

  The NAN has been described above. In the following, each embodiment capable of achieving both the power saving function and the NAN will be described.

<First embodiment>
In the first embodiment, a description will be given of a printing apparatus that stops notification of services related to a NAN upon transition to a power saving state.

  FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the printing apparatus 100. Each component constituting the printing apparatus 100 communicates via the system bus 205. The CPU 201 reads a control program stored in the ROM 203 and executes various processes for controlling the operation of the printing apparatus 100. In one example, the CPU 201 has a function as a communication mode control unit that controls an operation (communication mode) of a wireless LAN chip described later. The ROM 203 stores a control program. The RAM 202 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory or work area of the CPU 201. The HDD 204 stores various data such as print data and scanned images. In the case of the printing apparatus 100, it is assumed that one CPU 201 executes each process shown in the flowchart described later, but other modes may be used. For example, a plurality of CPUs may cooperate to execute each process shown in a flowchart described later.

  The printing apparatus 100 includes a printer 207 connected to the system bus 205 via a print interface (I / F) 206 and a scanner 213 connected to the system bus via a scan I / F 212. In the printing apparatus 100, print processing is executed by the printer 207 based on print data received from an external apparatus, a scan image generated by the scanner 213, and the like. The scanner 213 reads a document and generates a scanned image (read image data). A scan image generated by the scanner 213 is printed by the printer 207 or stored in the HDD 204.

  An operation unit 209 connected to the system bus via the operation panel I / F 208 includes a display unit having a touch panel function and a keyboard, and displays various screens to be described later. A user can input instructions and information to the printing apparatus 100 via the operation unit 209.

  The printing apparatus 100 also includes a wireless LAN chip 211 connected to the system bus 205 via the wireless LAN I / F 210 and a wired LAN chip 215 connected to the system bus 205 via the wired LAN I / F 214. The wireless LAN I / F 210 can operate in a plurality of communication modes for performing wireless communication with an external device such as a mobile terminal or a PC terminal via the wireless LAN chip 211. The communication mode includes communication related to NAN, for example. Moreover, you may operate | move in communication modes like the infrastructure mode which operate | moves as a radio | wireless subunit | mobile_unit, the access point mode which operate | moves as a main | base station, or Wi-Fi Direct prescribed | regulated by Wi-Fi Alliance. The wired LAN I / F 214 performs communication with the external device via the wired LAN chip 215 via the wired LAN.

  The power control unit 216 controls power supply to each component described above. Further, in a power saving state described later, the power control unit 216 operates to stop power supply to at least one component and suppress power consumption of the printing apparatus 100.

  Next, an example of the setting screen of the printing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  A setting screen 301 is a setting screen for setting basic operations of the printing apparatus 100. For the power saving function, one of valid 3011 and invalid 3012 can be selected. The power saving standby time 3013 is a predetermined time when the printing apparatus 100 transitions to the power saving state when the power saving function is set to valid 3011 and the printing apparatus 100 does not operate. An arbitrary time can be set as the power saving standby time 3013, and the power saving standby time 3013 is set to 20 minutes on the setting screen 301. That is, when 20 minutes set in the power saving standby time 3013 have elapsed, a power saving determination process described later can be executed.

  As the wired LAN, either one of valid 3014 and invalid 3015 can be selected. When the valid 3014 is selected in the setting, the printing apparatus 100 executes wired communication via the wired LAN chip 215. Similarly, for the wireless LAN, either one of valid 3016 or invalid 3017 can be selected, and when valid 3016 is selected in the setting, the printing apparatus 100 wirelessly transmits via the wireless LAN chip 211. Execute communication. Either one of valid 3018 and invalid 3019 can be selected as the NAN. When the valid 3018 is selected, the wireless LAN I / F 214 executes the NAN described above. Details of the operation of the NAN will be described later.

  A setting screen 302 is a setting screen for performing settings related to the NAN. An arbitrary character string can be set for the password 3021 on the setting screen 302. The password 3021 is used for the NAN P2P connection described later. Either one of valid 3022 or invalid 3023 can be set as the constant notification mode. Details regarding the constant notification mode will be described later. The notification service can be set to either valid or invalid for each of the print 3024, scan 3025, and FAX 3026. The notification service is a service included in the Publish signal in the NAN that is transmitted by the printing apparatus 100. That is, the notification service is a service notified by the printing apparatus 100 that it can be provided to nearby terminals.

  The service is, for example, a print service. In this case, the printing apparatus 100 receives print job data from a mobile terminal (hereinafter referred to as an opposite terminal). The job data is job data including the contents of print data composed of documents and pictures, and print settings such as single-sided / double-sided settings and black-and-white or color settings. The printing apparatus 100 prints the print data according to the print settings included in the received job data. Alternatively, the service is, for example, a scan service. In this case, the printing apparatus 100 scans the content of the original sheet placed on the scan tray, converts it to image data, and transmits the image data to the opposite terminal. Alternatively, the service is, for example, a FAX service. In this case, the printing apparatus 100 receives FAX destination information from the opposite terminal, scans the content of the original paper placed on the scan tray of the printing apparatus 100, and converts it into image data. After that, the fax is sent to the destination. Alternatively, FAX job data is received from the opposite terminal. The job data is job data including the contents of FAX data composed of documents and pictures, transmission destination information that is a FAX destination, and print settings. The printing apparatus 100 transmits the print data to the destination by fax using the print settings included in the received job data. The contents set on these setting screens 301 and 302 are stored in the RAM 202.

  Next, the activation process of the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG. Each step shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is processed by the CPU 201 developing and executing a control program stored in a memory such as the ROM 203 on the RAM 202.

  After the printing apparatus 100 is turned on, in step S401, the CPU 201 refers to the contents set via the setting screen 301 and stored in the RAM 202, and determines whether the wired LAN setting is valid or invalid. If the setting is valid, the CPU 201 validates the wired LAN I / F 210 in S402. In step S <b> 403, the CPU 201 determines whether the wireless LAN setting is valid or invalid based on the content stored in the RAM 202. If the setting is valid, the CPU 201 validates the wireless LAN I / F 214 in S404. Here, the interface validation is a process for validating up to the data link layer of the interface and further assigning a valid IP address to each interface so that TCP / IP communication can be performed.

  In step S <b> 405, the CPU 201 determines whether the NAN setting is valid or invalid based on the content stored in the RAM 202. If it is determined that the NAN setting is valid, in step S406, the CPU 201 performs setting related to the NAN for the wireless LAN chip 211, and starts communication processing related to the NAN described in FIG. Specifically, the setting is the above-described constant notification mode and notification service setting for the wireless LAN chip 211. When the setting of the continuous notification mode or the notification service is changed by a user input or the like, the CPU 201 may execute S406 again.

  In step S <b> 407, the CPU 201 determines whether the power saving function has been set to valid or invalid on the setting screen 301. If it is determined that the power saving setting is valid, in step S408, the CPU 201 starts timing by the power saving timer and starts the power saving determination process. The power saving determination process is a process executed in parallel with other processes, and details will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the details of the communication processing related to the NAN will be described. This process is executed by the wireless LAN chip 211 or the CPU 201 when the NAN setting is valid.

  First, in step S501, the CPU 201 transmits Discovery Beacon and Sync Beacon via the wireless LAN chip 211, and starts DW. In this embodiment, since the printing apparatus 100 operates as a master node, the process of S501 is performed. However, S501 may be changed depending on the role of the printing apparatus 100.

  Next, in S502, the wireless LAN chip 211 determines whether the continuous notification mode is valid or invalid. If the continuous notification mode is valid, the CPU 201 transmits a Publish signal via the wireless LAN chip 211 in S503. At this time, the Publish signal includes a service name corresponding to the notification service set as valid on the setting screen 302. When a plurality of notification services are valid, each time a Publish signal is transmitted, the service name included in the Publish signal is switched to that of another notification service that is set to be valid. In other words, a plurality of services are notified in a time division manner. In step S504, the wireless LAN chip 211 determines whether a P2P connection request is received via the wireless LAN I / F 210. The P2P connection request is a P2P connection request from a mobile terminal, for example. If a P2P connection request has been received, the process proceeds to S505; otherwise, the process proceeds to S501.

  If it is determined in S501 that the constant notification mode is invalid, in S506, the wireless LAN chip 211 waits until a Subscribe signal is received from the opposite terminal. When receiving the Subscribe signal from the opposite terminal, in S507, the wireless LAN chip 211 determines whether or not the service name included in the received Subscribe signal is the same as the service name corresponding to the set notification service. judge. If it is determined in S506 that the Subscribe signal has not been received for the specified time, or if the Subscribe signal received in S506 is determined not to be a service that can be notified in S507, the CPU 201 advances the process to S501. If the Subscribe signal received in S506 is determined to be a service that can be notified in S507, the wireless LAN chip 211 transmits a Publish signal including the service name in S508. In step S509, the wireless LAN chip 211 waits for reception of a P2P connection request. The P2P connection request is a P2P connection request from the opposite terminal that has transmitted the Subscribe signal. If no P2P connection request is received for a predetermined time, it is determined that a timeout has occurred, and the process proceeds to S501. The predetermined time is an arbitrary value set by the control program or the user, and is 5 seconds in one example. When the wireless LAN chip 211 receives the P2P connection request, the CPU 201 advances the process to step S505.

  The communication related to the service notification described above may be performed without the wireless LAN chip 211 of the printing apparatus 100 being controlled by the CPU 201.

  In step S <b> 505, the CPU 201 transmits a P2P connection response to the opposite terminal via the wireless LAN interface 210. The P2P connection response is a signal notifying that the P2P connection request has been successfully received. If the signal is not transmitted, the opposite terminal cannot determine whether the request transmitted by itself is accepted, It will continue to wait until it times out.

  In step S511, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the number of terminals currently connected by P2P is the maximum number of connections. The maximum number of connections is 5, for example. If the number of terminals connected in P2P is the maximum number of connections, the CPU 201 notifies the opposite terminal that connection is not possible in S516, and returns the process to S501. When the CPU 201 determines in S511 that the number of terminals currently connected in P2P is smaller than the maximum number of connections, the CPU 201 determines in S512 whether the information on the opposite terminal is cached. If the CPU 201 determines that the terminal information is cached, the CPU 201 advances the process to step S515. If the CPU 201 determines that the information of the terminal is not cached in S512, the printing apparatus 100 and the terminal authenticate using the pre-shared key in S513, and the CPU 201 advances the process to S514. The pre-shared key is a password set on the setting screen 302. In step S514, the CPU 201 caches terminal information in the HDD 204. In step S515, the CPU 201 increments the current number of connections by 1, and advances the process to step S501.

  The service provision notification and the P2P connection establishment flow have been described above. The printing apparatus 100 transmits and receives information necessary for executing the service via the established P2P connection, and executes the service. In this way, the printing apparatus 100 executes the service after the P2P connection is established, but continues to execute the service provision notification and the P2P connection establishment flow in parallel. Alternatively, the CPU 201 may execute the process of executing the service and the process of executing the service provision notification and the probability flow of the P2P connection in a time division manner.

  Next, the power saving determination process will be described with reference to FIG. The power saving determination process is a process executed in parallel with other processes. In step S <b> 601, the CPU 201 determines whether the setting of the power saving function set via the setting screen 301 is valid or invalid. If it is determined that the power saving setting is valid, in step S602, the CPU 201 determines whether the current number of connections is zero. The number of connections is the number of NAN P2P connections established as described above. When it is determined in S602 that the number of connections is not 0, in S603, the CPU 201 resets the count of the power saving timer. That is, the CPU 201 does not transition to the power saving state while establishing the P2P connection with the opposite terminal. If it is determined in S602 that the number of connections is 0, in S604, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the power saving count is equal to or greater than the power saving standby time. The power saving standby time is a value set on the setting screen 301. If it is determined in S604 that the count of the power saving timer is greater than the power saving standby time, the CPU 201 instructs the power control unit 216 to transition to the power saving state in S605 and ends the power saving determination process. When the power control unit 216 is instructed to transition to the power saving state, the power control unit 216 stops power supply to at least one or more constituent elements included in the printing apparatus 100 including the CPU 201.

  In the first embodiment, in the power saving state, power supply to all the components other than the power control unit 216 is also stopped, and power supply to the wireless LAN chip 211 is not performed, so that FIG. 5 is used. All of the communication related to the described NAN is not performed. However, in one example, power supply to the wireless LAN chip 211 is not stopped, but all communication related to the NAN for notifying the service described with reference to FIG. 5 may be stopped. For this reason, the Publish signal is not transmitted to the opposite terminal, and the opposite terminal does not transmit a useless P2P connection request to the printing apparatus 100. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the opposite terminal cannot receive a P2P connection response and continues to wait for a timeout. In the power saving state, power supply is not stopped to at least a part of the operation unit 209, and only power necessary for detecting an arbitrary operation is supplied.

  In the power saving state, the power control unit 216 monitors a power saving state end event. The power saving state end event is, for example, detection of an arbitrary operation by the operation unit 209. When ending the power saving state, the power control unit 216 resumes power feeding for the components that have stopped power feeding. When the power supply to the wireless LAN chip 211 is stopped, the power supply to the wireless LAN chip 211 is restarted in response to the power saving state end event, and the communication related to the NAN described with reference to FIG. 5 is also restarted. When power supply to the CPU 201 is stopped in the power saving state, the CPU 201 that has resumed power supply restarts the power saving determination process.

  Alternatively, the power saving state may be terminated by any factor other than the operation unit 209 detecting the operation. For example, power supply to the wired LAN chip 215 is not stopped even in the power saving state, and when the wired LAN chip 215 receives data of a certain size or more or a specific packet, a signal is transmitted to the power control unit 216, You may control to complete | finish a power saving state.

  As described above, the communication device according to the first embodiment includes the wireless LAN chip that is controlled so as not to transmit the Publish signal by the communication mode control unit when the state is changed to the power saving state. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the opposite terminal that has received the Publish signal and transmitted the connection request for the P2P connection from waiting for a response to the connection request and causing a timeout.

  In addition, the communication device according to the first embodiment includes a power control unit that stops power supply to the wireless LAN chip when transitioning to the power saving state. Thereby, power consumption in the power saving state can be suppressed.

<Second Embodiment>
In the second embodiment, a printing apparatus 200 that is a modified example of the first embodiment and does not transition to the power saving state in a state where the NAN is enabled will be described. Since the hardware configuration of the printing apparatus 200 is the same as that of the printing apparatus 100 of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. In addition, the activation process, service provision notification, P2P connection process, and power saving determination process performed by the printing apparatus 200 will be described only with respect to differences from the process performed by the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.

  The printing apparatus 200 does not transition to the power saving state when the NAN is enabled. Specifically, in the activation process of FIG. 4, if it is determined in S405 that the NAN is set to be valid, S407 and S408 are not executed. In one example, the power saving determination process can be stopped or started when the NAN setting is changed even when the activation process is not performed. Specifically, when the NAN setting is changed from invalid to valid, the CPU 201 stops the power saving determination process described in FIG. 6, and when the NAN setting is changed from valid to invalid, the power saving determination process is performed. May start.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen displayed on the operation unit 209 of the printing apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment. A setting screen 701 is a setting screen for setting basic operations of the printing apparatus 200. Since the transition to the power saving state is not performed in a state where the NAN is enabled, the power saving function setting itself is invalid. The setting screen 701 shows a state in which “valid” is set in the NAN setting, and the power saving function is disabled by the shaded display 711.

  As described above, the communication device according to the second embodiment does not transition to the power saving state when the NAN setting is valid. Therefore, it is possible to transmit a P2P connection response when a P2P connection request is received from the opposite terminal, and it is possible to prevent the opposite terminal from waiting for the P2P connection response by transmitting the P2P connection request.

<Third embodiment>
In the third embodiment, a printing apparatus 300 that returns from a power saving state using communication related to NAN as a trigger will be described. Since the configuration of the printing apparatus 300 according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. In addition, the start processing, service provision notification, P2P connection processing, and power saving determination processing performed by the printing apparatus 300 according to the third embodiment are the same as those performing the same processing as in the first or second embodiment. Description will be omitted using reference numerals, and only different points will be described.

  When transitioning to the power saving state in step S605, the power control unit 216 can stop power supply to one or more components of the printing apparatus 300 including the CPU 201 but not including the wireless LAN chip 211 and the power control unit 216. . Further, the power control unit 216 handles reception of the Subscribe signal by the wireless LAN chip 211 as a power saving state end event. That is, even in the power saving state, the wireless LAN chip 211 executes communication (S501 to S504 and S506 to S510) related to the service notification in FIG. 5, and ends the power saving state when receiving the Subscribe signal.

  Hereinafter, a process for the printing apparatus 300 to end the power saving state will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. Note that the Sync signal and the Discovery Beacon transmitted during DW are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In step S801, the printing apparatus 300 transitions to a power saving state. In the third embodiment, the transition to the power saving state performed by the printing apparatus 300 does not stop the power supply to the wireless LAN chip 211. In step S802, the wireless LAN chip 211 receives a subscribe signal from the mobile terminal 110, which is an external terminal. The processing of S803 is executed with the reception of the Subscribe signal as a trigger.

  In step S <b> 803, the power control unit 216 restarts power supply to the components included in the printing apparatus 300 including the CPU 201, and starts recovery processing. The timing for starting the return processing is shown as ret-start on the sequence diagram. Further, the timing for completing the return processing is shown as ret-end on the sequence diagram. During the time between ret-start and ret-end, the printing apparatus 300 is in the return process state. Since the CPU 201 is performing the recovery process in the recovery process in progress state, the P2P connection response cannot be transmitted via the wireless LAN I / F 210. In S804 and S805, since the printing apparatus 300 is in the return process, it does not need to respond even if it receives the Subscribe signal from the opposite terminal.

  If the continuous notification mode is invalid, the printing apparatus 300 transmits a Publish signal corresponding to the Subscribe signal in S802, which triggers the return process, in S807. Alternatively, the Publish signal may be transmitted in response to the subscribe signal received in S806 after the return process is completed. If the continuous notification mode is valid, transmission of the Publish signal is started from the DW after completion of the return process. In step S808, the printing apparatus 300 establishes a P2P connection with the mobile terminal 110. The process of S808 corresponds to the processes of S505 and S511 to S516 in FIG.

  Heretofore, the printing apparatus 300 that returns from the power saving state using communication related to the NAN as a trigger has been described. The printing apparatus 300 starts to return to the power saving state by using the reception of the Subscribe signal as a trigger, and transmits the Publish signal after the return processing from the power saving state is completed. As a result, when a P2P connection request is received later, a P2P connection response can be immediately returned. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the waiting time after the mobile terminal transmits the P2P connection request from being extended or timed out.

<Fourth embodiment>
In the fourth embodiment, a printing apparatus having a plurality of sleep modes will be described by developing the third embodiment.

  For example, in one mode, power supply to the CPU 201, the wireless LAN chip 211, the scan I / F 212, the scanner 213, the print I / F 206, and the printer 207 is stopped. However, power supply to at least the CPU 201 and the wireless LAN chip 211 is not stopped. In this mode, a Subscribe signal may be received from the opposite terminal after the printing apparatus returns from the sleep mode, for example, by detecting an operation via the operation unit 209 that is powered even in the sleep mode.

  In another mode, except for the wireless LAN chip 211, power supply to the scan I / F 212, the scanner 213, the print I / F 206, the printer 207, and the CPU 201 is stopped. In this mode, when receiving the Subscribe signal from the opposite terminal, the wireless LAN chip 211 performs the return processing from the power saving state as described in the third embodiment, but does not respond to the Subscribe signal. Do not send. Then, after the return processing from the power saving state is completed, the Publish signal is transmitted.

  In this way, when the printing apparatus has a plurality of sleep modes, the printing apparatus 100 may be able to set the time for transitioning to each sleep mode. In one example, a plurality of time intervals for transition to each of a plurality of sleep modes may be set in the power saving standby time 3013 of FIG. In another example, the power saving standby time 3013 in FIG. 3 is set with one time interval for transition to the power saving state, and the printing apparatus 100 may determine which sleep mode to transition to. The determination as to which sleep mode is to be made is made, for example, from information regarding the operating status of the wireless LAN chip 211 such as the number of received P2P connection requests or the number of received subscribe signals in a predetermined period such as the past day. Can be determined.

  As described above, the communication device according to the fourth embodiment has a plurality of power saving states, and determines which power saving state to transition to based on the setting or the operating status. As a result, it is possible to reduce power consumption in the power saving state in accordance with the usage status of the communication device.

<Other embodiments>
The first to fourth embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a printing apparatus capable of transitioning between a power saving state in which power supply to the wireless LAN chip is stopped and a power saving state in which power supply to the wireless LAN chip is not stopped is a wireless LAN chip when the NAN is effectively set. It may be set not to stop the power supply to the. Thus, the power saving state can be set without the user being aware of the presence or absence of communication using the NAN.

  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 the 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.

10: NAN cluster, 100: printing device, 110: mobile terminal, 120: mobile terminal, 201: CPU, 202: RAM, 203: ROM, 204: HDD, 205: bus, 206: print I / F, 207: printer 208: Operation panel I / F, 209: Operation unit, 210: Wireless LAN I / F, 211: Wireless LAN chip, 212: Scan I / F, 213: Scanner, 214: Wired LAN I / F, 215: Wired LAN chip 216: Power control unit

Claims (9)

A communication device comprising wireless communication means,
The wireless communication means includes notification means for notifying an external device of information related to services that can be provided by the communication device, in a first communication mode,
Power control means for controlling the power state of the communication device;
Control means for controlling the wireless communication means not to execute the notification means in a state where the power control means causes the communication device to transition to a power saving state;
A communication apparatus comprising:   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first communication mode is NAN (Neighbor Awareness Networking).   The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the notification unit is executed, the wireless communication unit transmits a Publish signal.   The power control means is characterized in that there is no connection in the second communication mode for providing the service that can be provided, and the communication device is shifted to the power saving state after a predetermined time has elapsed. Item 4. The communication device according to any one of Items 1 to 3.   5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit stops communication in the first communication mode in the power saving state. 6.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power control unit stops power supply to the wireless communication unit in the power saving state. The power control means does not stop power supply to the wireless communication means in the power saving state,
5. The return process for ending the power saving state is started when the wireless communication unit receives a communication requesting information about the service. 6. Communication device.   The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the communication requesting information related to the service is a Subscribe signal. A communication device control method comprising:
A notification step of notifying an external device of information related to services that can be provided by the communication device in a first communication mode;
A power control step for controlling a power state of the communication device;
A control step for controlling not to execute the notification step in a state where the communication device is shifted to a power saving state in the power control step;
A control method characterized by comprising:

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