JP2020036349A - Communication device, control method and program of communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a communication device and a control method of communication device which stops operation of direct wireless communication mode, when a user can determine that use of the direct wireless communication mode has ended.SOLUTION: A communication device which a user can log-in includes radiocommunication means operating in direct wireless communication mode executing direct radio communication between an external device and the communication device without going through a relay device, determination means for determining whether or not operation of the direct wireless communication mode is stopped, on the basis of the number of radio connections established by the direct wireless communication mode, when the user log out from the communication device, and control means for controlling the radiocommunication means to stop operation of the direct wireless communication mode, when a determination is made to stop operation of the direct wireless communication mode by the determination means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device, a communication device control method, and a program.

  Communication devices such as smartphones, portable game machines, and printing devices have a wireless LAN function. Among wireless LAN functions, a direct wireless communication mode in which a plurality of communication devices are directly connected without using an access point is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a printing apparatus and a mobile terminal are directly connected using an access point mode which is an example of a direct wireless communication mode.

  When using the direct wireless communication mode, the user needs to instruct the communication device to start operation in the direct wireless communication mode. For example, the communication device displays a “start button” for starting operation in the direct wireless communication mode, and when the user presses the “start button”, the communication device starts operation in the direct wireless communication mode. . When ending the use of the direct wireless communication mode, the user instructs the communication device to stop the operation of the direct wireless communication mode. For example, the communication device displays a “stop button” for stopping the operation in the direct wireless communication mode, and the communication device stops the operation in the direct wireless communication mode when the user presses the “stop button”. .

JP-A-2005-023440

  The conventional communication device does not stop the operation in the direct wireless communication mode until the user presses the “stop button” even if it can be determined that the user has finished using the direct wireless communication mode. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to stop the operation of the direct wireless communication mode when it can be determined that the user has finished using the direct wireless communication mode.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a communication device provided by the present invention is a communication device to which a user can log in, and directly executes wireless communication between an external device and the communication device without using a relay device. Wireless communication means operating in the direct wireless communication mode, and when the user logs out of the communication device, the operation of the direct wireless communication mode is performed based on the number of wireless connections established in the direct wireless communication mode. Determining means for determining whether or not to stop; and controlling the wireless communication means to stop the operation in the direct wireless communication mode when the operation in the direct wireless communication mode is determined to be stopped by the determining means. And control means for performing the operation.

  The communication device provided by the present invention is a communication device to which a user can log in, and operates in a direct wireless communication mode in which a wireless communication is directly performed between an external device and the communication device without using a relay device. Wireless communication means to stop the operation of the direct wireless communication mode based on the setting of the SSID used in the direct wireless communication mode, which is set in the communication device when a user logs out of the communication device. Determining means for determining whether or not to perform the operation, and controlling the wireless communication means to stop the operation in the direct wireless communication mode when the operation in the direct wireless communication mode is determined to be stopped by the determining means. Control means.

  According to the present invention, the communication device can stop the operation in the direct wireless communication mode in conjunction with the fact that the user has logged out of the communication device.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a communication system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the printing apparatus. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed by the printing apparatus. It is a figure showing a user management table. It is a figure showing a wireless connection screen. 9 is a flowchart illustrating processing related to user authentication. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process related to an operation in an access point mode. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process related to an operation in an access point mode.

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

(Embodiment 1)
The outline of the communication system will be described with reference to FIG. The communication system according to the present embodiment includes a printing apparatus 100 and a mobile terminal 101.

  The printing apparatus 100 has a wireless LAN function. The wireless LAN function of the printing apparatus 100 includes two types of wireless communication modes: an infrastructure mode and an access point mode. The infrastructure mode is a wireless communication mode in which the printing apparatus 100 wirelessly connects to a relay device such as an access point (not shown) to communicate with a device on a network such as a PC (Personal Computer).

  On the other hand, the access point mode is a wireless communication mode in which the printing apparatus 100 itself acts as an access point by activating a software access point in the printing apparatus 100. A mobile terminal 101 such as a smartphone establishes a wireless connection with the printing device 100 operating in the access point mode, and transmits print data for printing an electronic file such as a photograph to the printing device 100. By the access point mode, direct wireless communication can be performed between the printing apparatus 100 and the mobile terminal 101 without passing through a relay device such as an access point. The access point mode is an example of a direct wireless communication mode for establishing a direct wireless connection between the printing apparatus 100 and the mobile terminal 101. Instead of the access point mode, another wireless communication scheme such as Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark) may be applied to the present embodiment.

  As will be described in detail later, the printing apparatus 100 has a user authentication function, and a user logs in to the printing apparatus 100 by the user authentication function. A user who has logged in to the printing apparatus 100 can use the access point mode. Then, when the user logs out of the printing apparatus 100, the printing apparatus 100 stops the operation in the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user.

  Next, a hardware configuration of the printing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The CPU 201 reads out a control program stored in the ROM 202 and executes various processes for controlling the operation of the printing apparatus 100. The ROM 202 stores a control program. The RAM 203 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 201. The HDD 204 is a nonvolatile storage medium that stores various data.

  Note that, in the case of the printing apparatus 100, one CPU 201 executes the processing shown in the flowchart described later, but may have another mode. For example, a plurality of CPUs may cooperate to execute a process shown in a flowchart described later. Further, a part of the processing of the flowchart described later may be executed using a hardware circuit such as an ASIC.

  The wireless LAN I / F 205 executes wireless LAN communication with an external device such as the mobile terminal 101 and an access point. The wireless LAN communication executed by the wireless LAN I / F 205 is a wireless communication such as IEEE802.11a / b / g / n / ac. The wireless LAN I / F 205 can operate in an infrastructure mode and an access point mode. The wireless LAN I / F 205 operates by selecting one of the infrastructure mode and the access point mode according to the device settings set in advance by the user.

  The network I / F 210 connects to a wired LAN via a LAN cable. The network I / F 210 can communicate with an external device (for example, a PC) on a wired LAN.

  The printer 206 executes print processing on a sheet based on print data received by the wireless LAN I / F 205 or the network I / F 210. The scanner 207 reads a document placed by a user and generates a document image. The document image generated by the scanner 207 is printed by the printer 206 (so-called copy processing) or stored in the HDD 204.

  The operation unit 208 includes a liquid crystal display unit having a touch panel function and a keyboard, and displays various operation screens. The user can input instructions and information to the printing apparatus 100 via the operation unit 208.

  The IC card reader 209 reads user information from the IC card. In the case of the present embodiment, the user ID and the password are stored as user information in the IC card. Then, the printing apparatus 100 executes user authentication based on the user information read from the IC card by the IC card reader 209.

  Note that the printing apparatus 100 is described as an example of a communication apparatus that can operate in the access point mode. The communication device to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to the printing device 100. The present invention can be applied to various communication devices such as a digital camera, a video camera, a smartphone, and a portable game machine as long as the device can operate in the access point mode.

  Next, an operation screen provided by the printing apparatus 100 and an operation procedure when a user uses the access point mode will be described.

  A login screen 300 in FIG. 3A is a screen displayed by the operation unit 208 of the printing apparatus 100. When the activation of the printing apparatus 100 is completed, the operation unit 208 initially displays the login screen 300. The user holds his / her own IC card over the IC card reader 209.

  The user management table 400 in FIG. 4 is information for managing user information (user name, user ID, password) of a user who is permitted to log in to the printing apparatus 100, and is stored in the HDD 204 of the printing apparatus 100. Have been. A user registered in the user management table 400 can log in to the printing apparatus 100. When the user holds his / her IC card over the IC card reader 209, the IC card reader 209 reads user information (user ID and password) from the IC card. Then, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the user information read from the IC card by the IC card reader 209 is registered in the user management table 400. If the user information read from the IC card is registered in the user management table 400, the authentication is OK, and the operation unit 208 displays the menu screen 310 shown in FIG. The user whose authentication is determined to be OK is logged in to the printing apparatus 100 and can use the printing apparatus. On the other hand, if the user information read from the IC card is not registered in the user management table 400, the authentication becomes NG, the operation unit 208 notifies the user of the authentication NG, and the menu screen 310 is not displayed.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the user may input the user ID and the password in the input fields 301 and 302 without using the IC card reader 209. When the user inputs a user ID and a password in the input fields 301 and 302 and the user presses the login button 303, the printing apparatus 100 executes user authentication.

  Further, the user management table 400 may not be provided in the printing apparatus 100 but may be provided in an external authentication server. When the authentication server includes the user management table 400, the printing device 100 transmits the user information to the authentication server. When the printing apparatus 100 receives the result of the authentication process (authentication OK or authentication NG) from the authentication server, the printing apparatus 100 executes user authentication.

  On the menu screen 310 in FIG. 3B, buttons for allowing the user to use the functions provided by the printing apparatus 100 are displayed. The logout button 315 is a button for a user to log in from the printing apparatus 100. When the user presses the logout button 315, the logged-in user logs out of the printing apparatus 100. Note that a logout screen is also displayed on each screen described below, and the user can input a logout instruction regardless of which screen is displayed by the operation unit 208.

  The button 311 is a button for the user to use the copy function. When the user presses the button 311, the operation unit 208 displays a copy screen (not shown).

  The button 312 is a button for the user to use a SEND function (a function of transmitting a document image generated by the scanner 207 to an external device). When the user presses button 312, operation unit 208 displays a SEND screen (not shown).

  The button 314 is a button for the user to set the device of the printing apparatus 100. When the user presses the button 314, the operation unit 208 displays various setting screens according to the user operation. The setting screen 320 in FIG. 3C is one of the operation screens provided by the printing apparatus 100 to the user, and is displayed by the operation unit 208. Items that can be set on the setting screen 320 will be described in detail. The setting screen 320 is a screen that can be accessed by a user having special authority such as a system administrator.

  The item 321 sets whether to use a fixed SSID or a one-time SSID as an SSID (Service Set Identifier) used in the access point mode. The fixed SSID is a setting indicating that the same SSID is used every time the device operates in the access point mode. The system administrator inputs a desired SSID in the input field 322. When operating in the access point mode, the printing apparatus 100 uses the SSID input in the input field 322 as a fixed SSID. On the other hand, the one-time SSID is a setting indicating that a random SSID is generated and a random SSID is used.

  The registration button 323 is a button for reflecting the settings on the setting screen 320 on the printing apparatus 100. When the system administrator presses the registration button 323, the setting result on the setting screen 320 is stored in the HDD 204, and the setting on the setting screen 320 is reflected on the printing apparatus 100.

  The description returns to the menu screen 310. The button 313 is a button for the user to use the access point mode. When the user uses the access point mode, the user first presses the button 313. When the user presses button 313, operation unit 208 displays wireless connection screen 500 in FIG. 5A.

  A start button 501 is displayed on the wireless connection screen 500. The start button 501 is a button for the user to instruct the printing apparatus 100 to start the operation in the access point mode. When the operation unit 208 displays the wireless connection screen 500, the printing apparatus 100 has not started operation in the access point mode. Therefore, even if the mobile terminal 101 searches for a nearby access point, the printing device 100 cannot be found, and a wireless connection cannot be established between the mobile terminal 101 and the printing device 100. In order to establish a wireless connection between the mobile terminal 101 and the printing apparatus 100, the user needs to cause the printing apparatus 100 to start operating in the access point mode. When the user presses the start button 501, the printing apparatus 100 starts operation in the access point mode. Then, the operation unit 208 displays the wireless connection screen 510 shown in FIG.

  When the printing apparatus 100 starts operating in the access point mode, the printing apparatus 100 generates an SSID and a connection key (for example, a WEP key). In the area 511 of the wireless connection screen 510, the SSID and the connection key generated by the printing apparatus 100 are displayed. If the setting screen 320 is set to use a fixed SSID, a fixed SSID is generated and displayed in the area 511. On the other hand, when the setting screen 320 is set to use the one-time SSID, a random SSID is generated and displayed in the area 511.

  After confirming the contents displayed in the area 511, the user searches his / her mobile terminal 101 for surrounding access points, and selects the access point of the SSID displayed in the area 511 from the search result list. Then, when the user inputs the connection key displayed in the area 511 to the mobile terminal 101, a wireless connection based on the access point mode is established between the printing apparatus 100 and the mobile terminal 101. After wirelessly connecting the mobile terminal 101 to the printing apparatus 100 using the access point mode, the user selects a photograph to be printed on the mobile terminal 101. When the user inputs a print instruction to the mobile terminal 101, the mobile terminal 101 transmits print data for printing a photo selected by the user to the printing apparatus 100 using wireless communication in the access point mode. The printing apparatus 100 that has received the print data executes a printing process on a sheet based on the received print data.

  When the printing apparatus 100 starts operating in the access point mode, the printing apparatus 100 enters a standby state for receiving a request for establishing a wireless connection from an external device such as the mobile terminal 101. When the printing apparatus 100 starts operating in the access point mode, the mobile terminal 101 can find the printing apparatus 100 when searching for surrounding access points. When receiving a request for establishing a wireless connection from an external device, the printing device 100 establishes a wireless connection in an access point mode with the external device. After the wireless connection is established, actual data communication (for example, transmission of print data from the mobile terminal 101 to the printing apparatus 100) is performed between the printing apparatus 100 and the external apparatus.

  In addition, a stop button 512 is displayed on the wireless connection screen 510. The stop button 512 receives a stop instruction from the user to stop the operation in the access point mode. To stop the operation of the printing apparatus 100 in the access point mode, the user presses the stop button 512. When the user presses the stop button 512, the printing apparatus 100 stops operating in the access point mode. Also, when the user logs out of the printing apparatus 100, the printing apparatus 100 stops the operation in the access point mode.

  Next, processing executed by the printing apparatus 100 when a user logs in to the printing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. Each step shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is processed by the CPU 201 developing a control program stored in a memory such as the ROM 202 in the RAM 203 and executing the control program. Note that the printing apparatus 100 may be configured such that at least a part of the steps in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is executed by the CPU 201 and the remaining steps are executed by another CPU (not shown) different from the CPU 201.

  First, in step S601, the CPU 201 determines whether to execute user authentication. When the IC card reader 209 reads the user information from the IC, or when the user inputs the user ID and the password in the input fields 301 and 302 and presses the login button 303, the CPU 201 executes the user authentication. judge. Then, the process proceeds to step S602.

  Next, in step S602, the CPU 201 determines whether the user indicated by the user information is a user permitted to log in. This determination is made by confirming whether the user information is registered in the user management table 400. If the user information is registered in the user management table 400 (authentication OK), the process proceeds to step S603. Then, in step S603, the CPU 201 executes a login process. The CPU 201 controls the operation unit 208 to log in the user determined to be authentication OK to the printing apparatus 100 and display the menu screen 310.

  On the other hand, if the user information is not registered in the user management table 400 (determined as authentication NG), it is determined in step S602 that the user indicated by the user information is not permitted to log in. The CPU 201 notifies the user of the authentication NG without executing the login process, and ends the process.

  Next, a process executed by the printing apparatus 100 when the user uses the access point mode and the printing apparatus 100 automatically stops the operation in the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This will be described with reference to FIG. Each step shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 is processed by the CPU 201 developing a control program stored in a memory such as the ROM 202 in the RAM 203 and executing the control program. Note that the printing apparatus 100 may be configured so that the CPU 201 causes the CPU 201 to execute at least some steps of the flowchart in FIG. 7 and executes the remaining steps by another CPU (not shown) different from the CPU 201.

  First, in step S701, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the start button 501 has been pressed by the user. When the CPU 201 detects that the start button 501 has been pressed by the user, the process proceeds to step S702. Then, in step S702, the CPU 201 controls the wireless LAN I / F 205 so as to start the operation in the access point mode. The wireless LAN I / F 205 generates a fixed SSID or a one-time SSID according to the setting result on the setting screen 320, and starts the operation in the access point mode.

  Next, in step S703, the CPU 201 sets 0 as the value of the variable N. The variable N is a variable for managing the number of devices that have established a wireless connection with the printing apparatus 100 in the access point mode. In the case of the present embodiment, it is assumed that the printing apparatus 100 can establish wireless connection in the access point mode with up to five devices at the same time. The value of 5 is an example of the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections, and may be another value. Further, in the present embodiment, the description will be made assuming that the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections does not change regardless of whether the fixed SSID or the one-time SSID is used. And the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections may be different.

  Next, in step 704, the CPU 201 determines whether a request to establish a wireless connection has been received from an external device. When the wireless LAN I / F 205 receives a request to establish a wireless connection from an external device, the process proceeds to step S705. On the other hand, if the wireless LAN I / F 205 has not received the wireless connection establishment request from the external device, the process proceeds to step S709.

  Next, step S705 will be described. In step S705, the CPU 201 determines whether the value of the variable N is smaller than the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections. If the value of the variable N, that is, the number of devices currently establishing a wireless connection in the access point mode is smaller than the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections, the process proceeds to step S706. In step S706, the CPU 201 controls the wireless LAN I / F 205 so as to establish a wireless connection with the device that has requested establishment of the wireless connection. The wireless LAN I / F 205 establishes a wireless connection in an access point mode with a device that has requested establishment of a wireless connection. Then, in step S707, the CPU 201 increases the value of the variable N by one. On the other hand, if the value of the variable N, that is, the number of devices currently establishing a wireless connection in the access point mode is equal to the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections, the process proceeds to step S708. Then, in step S708, the CPU 201 rejects the request for establishing a wireless connection. If the device requests wireless connection establishment, it fails to establish a wireless connection with the printing apparatus 100 in the access point mode.

  Next, step S709 will be described. In step S <b> 709, the CPU 201 determines whether the user who has logged in to the printing apparatus 100 has logged out of the printing apparatus 100. In the case of this embodiment, the user logs out when the user presses the logout button or when a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) elapses without any user operation. When the logged-in user logs out of the printing apparatus 100, the process proceeds to step S710. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S709 that the logged-in user has not logged out of the printing apparatus 100, the process proceeds to step S711.

  Next, step S710 will be described. In step S710, the CPU 201 determines whether the value of the variable N is 1 or less. If the value of the variable N, that is, the number of devices currently establishing a wireless connection in the access point mode is one or less, the process proceeds to step S712. Then, in step S712, the CPU 201 controls the wireless LAN I / F 205 so as to stop the operation in the access point mode. The wireless LAN I / F 205 stops the operation in the access point mode under the control of the CPU 201. On the other hand, if the value of the variable N, that is, the number of devices that are currently establishing a wireless connection in the access point mode is two or more, the wireless LAN I / F 205 does not stop the operation in the access point mode. The indicated process ends. The printing apparatus 100 determines whether to stop the operation in the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user, based on the number of wireless connections established in the access point mode.

  If the value of the variable N, that is, the number of devices that are currently establishing a wireless connection in the access point mode is 0, it is determined as Yes in step S710, and the wireless LAN I / F 205 stops operating in the access point mode. . When the value of the variable N is 0, it can be determined that there is no user using the access point mode. Therefore, when the value of the variable N is 0, the wireless LAN I / F 205 stops the operation in the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user.

  If the value of the variable N, that is, the number of devices that are currently establishing a wireless connection in the access point mode is 1, the determination is Yes in step S710, and the wireless LAN I / F 205 performs an operation in the access point mode. Stop. When the value of the variable N is 1, it can be determined that there is a high possibility that only the logged-in user uses the access point mode and other users do not use the access point mode. Therefore, when the value of the variable N is 1, the wireless LAN I / F 205 stops the operation in the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user.

  If the value of the variable N, that is, the number of devices that are currently establishing a wireless connection in the access point mode is two or more (plural), it is determined as No in step S710, and the wireless LAN I / F 205 Do not stop operation in access point mode. When there are a plurality of values of the variable N, it can be determined that there is a high possibility that other users in addition to the login user are also using the access point mode. In this state, if the operation of the access point mode is stopped in conjunction with the logout of the user, other users cannot use the access point mode. Therefore, when the value of the variable N is plural, the wireless LAN I / F 205 does not stop the operation in the access point mode even if the user logs out.

  Next, step S711 will be described. In step S711, the CPU 201 determines whether the stop button 512 has been pressed by the user. When the CPU 201 detects that the stop button 512 has been pressed by the user, the process proceeds to step S712. Then, in step S712, the CPU 201 controls the wireless LAN I / F 205 to stop the operation in the access point mode, and the wireless LAN I / F 205 stops the operation in the access point mode. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S711 that the stop button 512 has not been pressed by the user, the process returns to step 704.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in response to the user logging out of the printing apparatus 100, the printing apparatus 100 can stop the operation in the access point mode. In the case of the printing apparatus 100, the wireless LAN I / F 205 operates in either the infrastructure mode or the access point mode, and cannot operate the infrastructure mode and the access point mode simultaneously. Therefore, while the wireless LAN I / F 205 is operating in the access point mode, the wireless LAN I / F 205 cannot operate in the infrastructure mode and cannot receive print data from a PC via an external access point. Become. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the wireless LAN I / F 205 automatically stops the operation in the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user. By automatically stopping the operation in the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user, the operation mode of the wireless LAN I / F 205 can be switched from the access point mode to the infrastructure mode.

(Embodiment 2)
Embodiment 2 will be described. In the present embodiment, a process of switching whether to stop the operation in the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user based on the type of the SSID used in the access point mode will be described. The configuration of the printing apparatus 100 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  The printing apparatus 100 uses the setting screen 320 to set either the fixed SSID or the one-time SSID as the SSID to be used in the access point mode. In the present embodiment, the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections when using the fixed SSID is plural (for example, 5), and the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections when using the one-time SSID is 1. Then, in the case of setting to use the one-time SSID, the wireless LAN I / F 205 stops the operation in the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user. On the other hand, in the case of the setting using the fixed SSID, even if the user logs out, the wireless LAN I / F 205 does not stop the operation in the access point mode.

  This processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Each step shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is processed by the CPU 201 developing a control program stored in a memory such as the ROM 202 in the RAM 203 and executing the control program. Note that the printing apparatus 100 may be configured such that at least a part of the steps in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is executed by the CPU 201, and the remaining steps are executed by another CPU (not shown) different from the CPU 201.

  In step S <b> 801, the CPU 201 determines whether or not a user who has logged in to the printing apparatus 100 has logged out of the printing apparatus 100. In the case of this embodiment, the user logs out when the user presses the logout button or when a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) elapses without any user operation. When the logged-in user logs out of the printing apparatus 100, the process proceeds to step S802. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S801 that the logged-in user has not logged out of the printing apparatus 100, the process proceeds to step S803.

  Step S802 will be described. In step S802, the CPU 201 determines whether the setting regarding the access point mode set in the printing apparatus 100 is a setting using the one-time SSID. This determination is made by confirming the result of the setting on the setting screen 320. If the setting regarding the access point mode is a setting using the one-time SSID, the process proceeds to step S804. Then, in step S804, the CPU 201 controls the wireless LAN I / F 205 so as to stop the operation in the access point mode. The wireless LAN I / F 205 stops the operation in the access point mode under the control of the CPU 201. On the other hand, if the setting regarding the access point mode is a setting using the fixed SSID, the processing shown in the flowchart ends without the wireless LAN I / F 205 stopping the operation in the access point mode.

  If the setting regarding the access point mode is a setting using the one-time SSID, it is determined as Yes in step S802, and the wireless LAN I / F 205 stops the operation in the access point mode. When the setting regarding the access point mode is a setting using the one-time SSID, the maximum value of the number of simultaneous wireless connections in the access point mode is one. The fact that the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections is 1 assumes that only the login user uses the access point mode, and it can be determined that the use of the access point mode has ended when the user logs out. Therefore, if the setting is to use the one-time SSID, the wireless LAN I / F 205 stops the operation in the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user.

  If the setting regarding the access point mode is a setting using the fixed SSID, the determination is No in step S802, and the wireless LAN I / F 205 does not stop the operation in the access point mode. When the setting regarding the access point mode is a setting using the fixed SSID, the maximum value of the number of simultaneous wireless connections in the access point mode is plural (for example, five). The fact that the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections is plural means that a plurality of users use the access point mode at a desired timing of each user, and therefore it is preferable not to stop the operation of the access point mode. . Therefore, when the setting is to use the fixed SSID, the wireless LAN I / F 205 does not stop the operation in the access point mode even if the user logs in from the printing apparatus 100, and continues the operation in the access point mode.

  As described above, the printing apparatus 100 determines whether to stop the operation in the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user based on the setting of the SSID used in the access point mode. . If the SSID used in the access point mode is a one-time SSID, the printing apparatus 100 stops operating in the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user. On the other hand, if the SSID used in the access point mode is a fixed SSID, the printing apparatus 100 does not stop the operation in the access point mode even if the user logs out.

  Also, in the present embodiment, a one-time SSID has been described as an example of the SSID having the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections being one. The present invention may be applied instead of the SSID. As another type of SSID, for example, a setting for generating an SSID corresponding to a user and using the generated SSID in the access point mode can be considered. When using the SSID corresponding to the user, the printing apparatus 100 switches the SSID to be used according to the login user. For example, if the user A is logged in, the printing apparatus 100 uses a user SSID dedicated to the user A, and if the user B is logged in, the printing apparatus 100 uses a user SSID dedicated to the user B. When the SSID corresponding to such a user is used in the access point mode, it is preferable that the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections is set to 1, and the operation in the access point mode is automatically performed in conjunction with the logout of the user. It is desirable to stop.

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

100 printing device 201 CPU
205 Wireless LAN I / F
208 Operation unit 209 IC card reader

In order to solve the above-described problem, a communication device provided by the present invention is a communication device to which a user can log in, and performs wireless communication between an external device and the communication device without passing through an external relay device. A wireless communication unit having a direct wireless communication function, wherein the wireless communication unit stops the direct wireless communication function according to a user logging out of the communication device when the type of the direct wireless communication function is the first type; Control means for controlling the means, and when the type of the direct wireless communication function is a second type different from the first type, the direct wireless communication function is not stopped at a timing when a user logs out of the communication device. It is characterized by the following.

Claims (13)

A communication device to which a user can log in,
A wireless communication unit operating in a direct wireless communication mode for directly performing wireless communication without a relay device between the external device and the communication device,
When a user logs out of the communication device, a determining unit that determines whether to stop the operation of the direct wireless communication mode based on the number of wireless connections established in the direct wireless communication mode,
Control means for controlling the wireless communication means so as to stop the operation in the direct wireless communication mode when the operation in the direct wireless communication mode is determined by the determining means to be stopped. apparatus.   2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the number of the wireless connections is 0, the determination unit determines to stop the operation in the direct wireless communication mode.   The communication device according to claim 1, wherein when the number of the wireless connections is one, the determination unit determines to stop the operation in the direct wireless communication mode. A communication device to which a user can log in,
A wireless communication unit operating in a direct wireless communication mode for directly performing wireless communication without a relay device between the external device and the communication device,
When a user logs out of the communication device, it is determined whether to stop the operation of the direct wireless communication mode based on the setting of the SSID used in the direct wireless communication mode set in the communication device. Means for determining
Control means for controlling the wireless communication means so as to stop the operation in the direct wireless communication mode when the operation in the direct wireless communication mode is determined by the determining means to be stopped. apparatus.   When the setting using the SSID with the maximum number of simultaneous wireless connections of 1 is set in the communication device, the determining unit determines to stop the operation of the direct wireless communication mode. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein   The method according to claim 4, wherein the setting unit determines to stop the operation of the direct wireless communication mode when a setting using a randomly generated SSID is set in the communication device. Communication device.   The communication according to claim 4, wherein the setting unit determines to stop the operation in the direct wireless communication mode when a setting using an SSID corresponding to a user is set in the communication device. apparatus. Further comprising an authentication means for performing user authentication,
The communication device according to claim 1, wherein a user determined by the user authentication to be a user who can log in to the communication device logs in to the communication device. .   The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the direct wireless communication mode is an access point mode in which the communication device acts as an access point.   The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is a printing device that executes a printing process on a sheet. A method of controlling a communication device operable in a direct wireless communication mode for directly performing wireless communication without a relay device between the external device,
A login step for receiving a user login,
When the user logs out of the communication device, based on the number of wireless connections established by the direct wireless communication mode, a determining step to determine whether to stop the operation of the direct wireless communication mode,
A stopping step of stopping the operation of the direct wireless communication mode when the operation of the direct wireless communication mode is determined to be stopped in the determining step. A method of controlling a communication device operable in a direct wireless communication mode for directly performing wireless communication without a relay device between the external device,
A login step for receiving a user login,
When a user logs out of the communication device, it is determined whether to stop the operation of the direct wireless communication mode based on the setting of the SSID used in the direct wireless communication mode set in the communication device. Decision steps to
A stopping step of stopping the operation of the direct wireless communication mode when the operation of the direct wireless communication mode is determined to be stopped in the determining step.   A program for causing a computer to execute the communication device control method according to claim 11.

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