JP2020108117A - Communication device and control method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a communication device and a control method of the same, capable of reducing unintended communication connection in wireless communication.SOLUTION: The communication device having a communication unit includes: detection means for detecting external devices; accepting means for accepting selection of a first device from the detected external devices; means for determining whether a second device having the same device identifier as the first device and having unique information different from the first device exists among the detected external devices; and control means for controlling a communication connection process by the first connection method with the external device via the communication unit. The control means interrupts the communication connection process using the first connection method when the second device is determined by the determination means to be present.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a communication connection control technique.

In recent years, not only PCs (Personal Computers) but also terminal devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, and printers are equipped with a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) function. By the way, when connecting devices equipped with a wireless LAN function, it is necessary to set wireless LAN parameters and perform a connection process. The connection includes a connection via a wireless LAN access point (base station) and a direct connection not via a wireless LAN access point. Generally, in order to set the wireless LAN parameters, the user needs to input the SSID of the wireless LAN and the encryption key to the device, and the operation is complicated. Therefore, various measures have been conventionally applied to the setting of the wireless connection. Patent Document 1 discloses a setting method using DPP (Wi-Fi Device Provisioning Protocol) which is a communication setting protocol using a QR code (registered trademark) or Bluetooth Low Energy.

JP, 2018-42058, A

In the above DPP, communication parameters are transmitted and received based on the MAC address of the device. However, the MAC address can be changed to any value. Therefore, under the operation of changing the MAC address based on a predetermined rule for security purposes (for example, changing it at random), there may be a plurality of devices having the same MAC address. In such a case, there is a possibility that the user will send the communication parameters to an unintended device. When the communication parameter is transmitted to an unintended device and the wireless connection process is started, various information is transmitted to the unintended device, which may lead to information leakage.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for reducing unintended communication connections in wireless communication.

In order to solve the above problems, the communication device according to the present invention has the following configuration. That is, the communication device having the communication unit is
Detection means for detecting an external device,
Accepting means for accepting selection of a first device from external devices detected by the detecting means;
Whether or not a second device having the same device identifier as the first device and unique information different from that of the first device exists in the external devices detected by the detection means is checked. Determination means for determining,
Control means for controlling communication connection processing according to a first connection method with an external device via the communication section;
Have
When the determination unit determines that the second device exists, the control unit suspends the communication connection process according to the first connection method.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for reducing unintended communication connections in wireless communication.

It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of a communication apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of a communication apparatus. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of a communication system. It is a figure which shows the operation sequence of a communication apparatus system. It is a flow chart which shows operation of a smart phone. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of a smart phone. It is a figure which shows the other example of a screen display of a smart phone. It is a figure which shows the structure of a communication parameter.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

(First embodiment)
As a first embodiment of a communication device according to the present invention, a communication device using a wireless LAN conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series will be described as an example and described below. However, the wireless communication is not limited to the wireless LAN compliant with the IEEE 802.11 series.

<Device configuration>
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the communication system. The communication system includes an access point 302, a smartphone 304, a printer 305, and a printer 306. The access point 302 forms a wireless LAN network 303. In the following, a process when the printer 305 participates in the network 303 formed by the access point 302 will be described. In particular, it is assumed that processing according to DPP using the smartphone 304 is performed. Although the communication device in the communication system will be described here as a smartphone, an access point, and a printer, other types of devices may be used. For example, it may be another communication device such as a mobile phone, a camera, a PC, a video camera, a smart watch, or a PDA. Although FIG. 1 shows four devices, three or less devices or five or more devices may be used.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a communication device. The communication device 101 is each communication device (access point 302, smartphone 304, printer 305, and printer 306) included in the communication system.

The control unit 102 is configured by a processor such as one or a plurality of CPUs, and controls the entire apparatus by executing a control program stored in the storage unit 103. The control unit 102 also controls setting of wireless LAN communication parameters with other devices. The storage unit 103 stores a control program executed by the control unit 102 and various kinds of information such as wireless LAN communication parameters. Various operations described below are performed by the control unit 102 executing the control program stored in the storage unit 103. The wireless communication unit 104 performs wireless communication such as a wireless LAN conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series. The wireless communication includes near field communication, such as NFC (Near Field Communication (registered trademark)).

The display unit 105 is a functional unit that performs various displays, and outputs visually recognizable information like an LCD or LED and/or outputs a sound like a speaker. That is, the display unit 105 has a function of outputting at least one of visual information and sound information.

The antenna control unit 106 controls wireless communication in the antenna 107. The input unit 108 receives various inputs from the user and operates the communication device 101. The image capturing unit 109 is a functional unit that captures a QR code and the like. The communication device 101 may have another hardware configuration. For example, when the communication device 101 is the printer 305 or 306, it further has a printing unit. Further, when the communication device 101 is the access point 302, the image capturing unit 109 and the display unit 105 may not be provided.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the communication device. Specifically, it shows a functional block realized by the control unit 102 of the communication apparatus 101 reading and executing the program stored in the storage unit 103. Note that at least a part of the functional blocks shown in FIG. 2 may be realized by hardware. For example, a dedicated circuit is generated on the FPGA from a program for realizing each functional block by using a predetermined compiler. Then, the generated dedicated circuit may be used as a hardware module. FPGA is an abbreviation for Field Programmable Gate Array. Further, a Gate Array circuit may be formed in the same manner as the FPGA and realized as hardware.

The entire functional block 201 includes a communication parameter control unit 202, a reading control unit 203, a generation control unit 204, and a service control unit 205. It also includes a packet receiving unit 206, a packet transmitting unit 207, a station (STA) function control unit 208, an access point (AP) function control unit 209, a data storage unit 210, and a Bluetooth (BT) control unit 211.

The communication parameter control unit 202 executes a wireless LAN communication parameter sharing process for sharing wireless LAN communication parameters between devices. In the communication parameter sharing process, the providing device provides the receiving device with communication parameters for performing wireless LAN communication. Here, the communication parameters include SSID (Service Set Identifier) as a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, an authentication key, and other wireless communication parameters necessary for performing wireless LAN communication. It may also include a connector defined by DPP, a MAC address, a PSK, a passphrase, an IP address for performing communication in the IP layer, information necessary for higher-level services, and the like. Here, it is assumed that the wireless LAN communication parameter sharing process executed by the communication parameter control unit 202 is DPP. However, the wireless LAN communication parameter sharing process executed by the communication parameter control unit 202 may be another process such as WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) or Wi-Fi Direct, and is not limited to DPP.

The reading control unit 203 controls reading of the image captured by the image capturing unit 109. Here, the reading control unit 203 causes the image capturing unit 109 to capture a code image including a public key used when executing the wireless LAN communication parameter sharing process, and acquires the captured code image. The code image may be a one-dimensional code such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code such as a CP code or a QR code (registered trademark).

The reading control unit 203 also analyzes the acquired code image and acquires the encoded information. Here, the coded information may include information used in the wireless LAN communication parameter sharing process. Specifically, it is information unique to each device such as a public key used for the authentication process and an identifier of the device. The public key is information used to enhance security during the wireless LAN communication parameter sharing process, and may be information such as a certificate or a password. Here, the public key is a kind of encryption key used in the public key cryptosystem.

The generation control unit 204 controls the generation of code images. The generation control unit 204 generates a code image including information such as a public key used when executing the wireless LAN communication parameter sharing process and an identifier of the communication device. Specifically, control is performed to generate a two-dimensional code such as a barcode or a QR code (registered trademark) and display the generated code image on the display unit 105.

The service control unit 205 is in the application layer. The application layer here refers to the service providing layer in the upper layer of the fifth layer and above in the OSI reference model. That is, the service control unit 205 executes print processing, image streaming processing, file transfer processing, and the like using wireless communication by the wireless communication unit 104.

The packet receiving unit 206 and the packet transmitting unit 207 control transmission/reception of all packets of wireless LAN communication conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard, including a communication protocol of an upper layer. However, a Bluetooth (BT) communication control unit 211 controls a Bluetooth communication packet described later. Further, the packet receiving unit 206 and the packet transmitting unit 207 control the wireless communication unit 104 in order to transmit and receive packets conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard with the opposite device.

The station (STA) function control unit 208 provides a STA function that operates as a station (STA) in the infrastructure mode defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard. The STA function control unit 208 performs authentication/encryption processing and the like when operating as an STA. The access point (AP) function control unit 209 provides an AP function that operates as an access point (AP) in the infrastructure mode defined by the IEEE 802.11 standard. The AP function control unit 209 forms a wireless network and performs authentication/encryption processing for the STA, management of the STA, and the like.

The data storage unit 210 controls writing and reading of software such as various control programs, communication parameters, and barcode information to the storage unit 103.

The BT control unit 211 performs transmission/reception of packets based on the Bluetooth standard, profile control, and the like. The Bluetooth 5 standard has a role of an advertiser device that transmits an advertisement (advertisement) signal, a scanning device that receives an advertisement signal, and the like. Note that the Bluetooth SIG has been omitted from the specification because specifications related to Bluetooth have been issued by Bluetooth SIG. Further, here, the BT control unit 211 implements communication based on the Bluetooth standard, but is not limited thereto. Another wireless communication standard such as ZIGBEE (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi may be used.

Further, when the communication device 101 is the access point 302, the reading control unit 203 and the like do not have to exist. Further, the functional blocks shown in FIG. 2 are merely examples, and a plurality of functional blocks may constitute one functional block, or any of the functional blocks may be further divided into blocks that perform a plurality of functions. ..

<Device operation>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the smartphone. Specifically, it is a flowchart for starting a wireless LAN connection process (setting and connection) with the printer 305. Each functional unit in the smartphone 304 executes.

In S501, the BT control unit 211 starts scanning a signal transmitted from an external device existing in the vicinity. In S502, the BT control unit 211 determines whether or not one or more advertisement signals have been received by the scan started in S501 and an external device has been detected. If it has been received, the process proceeds to S503. If not received, the process proceeds to S502.

In S503, the service control unit 205 displays a list of one or more devices that have transmitted the advertisement signal based on the one or more advertisement signals received in S502, and presents the list to the user. In this device list, the information of each device includes the device identifier of the device, the wireless LAN network name of the device, the radio field intensity of the signal received from the device, and the like. Therefore, the above list of devices can also be a list of networks. Based on this list, the user decides which device (or network) he wants to connect to. The device identifier may include a Bluetooth device name, a Bluetooth address, a wireless LAN MAC address, and the like.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of a smartphone. FIG. 6A is a diagram showing an example of a list presented to the user in S503. Here, the "wireless LAN MAC address" and "radio wave intensity" of each device are displayed based on the information obtained from each received advertisement signal. The smartphone 304 receives the selection of the connection partner from the user via the screen display shown in FIG.

In S504, the service control unit 205 determines whether or not the user has selected a device from the device list. If so, the process proceeds to S505. If not selected, the process proceeds to S504. Although the user is allowed to select the device after displaying the list of the peripheral devices here, the user may set the information of the device to be connected in advance.

In S505, the service control unit 205 determines whether or not another device having the same MAC address as the MAC address of the device selected by the user exists in the device list described above. That is, it is determined whether or not there are a plurality (two or more) of devices having the MAC address of the selected device. If another device having the same MAC address exists, the process proceeds to S506, and if not, the process proceeds to S507. Although the determination is performed here based on whether the wireless LAN MAC addresses are the same, the present invention is not limited to this. Other identifiers such as a Bluetooth device name, a Bluetooth address, a wireless LAN network name configured by the device may be used.

It should be noted that the determination as to whether or not another device having the same MAC address as the selected device's MAC address exists in the above-mentioned device list may be performed based on the information included in the received advertisement signal. .. For example, if there is a device that transmits an advertisement signal with the same MAC address but different information other than that, it is determined that there is another device with the same MAC address as the MAC address of the selected device. .. That is, it is determined that there are a plurality (two or more) of devices having the MAC address of the selected device. Alternatively, when devices having the same MAC address and different predetermined information are present in the list, it is determined that there are a plurality of devices having the MAC address of the selected device. Here, the predetermined information is information assumed to be unique information unique to the device that is unlikely to be duplicated between devices (for example, public key information or a device identifier other than the MAC address). Further, the device position may be estimated based on the radio field intensity of the received advertisement signal, and it may be determined that there are a plurality of devices having the MAC address of the selected device based on the estimation result. When there are multiple devices, one of them should be the device selected by the user.

In step S506, the service control unit 205 suspends/suspends the wireless LAN communication connection process according to the first connection method triggered by the Bluetooth (BT) communication. Then, instead, the wireless LAN connection process triggered by the transmission/reception (display and reading) of the QR code is started, and the process of this flowchart ends. Note that the processing of this flowchart may be ended without starting the wireless LAN connection processing triggered by the transmission and reception of the QR code.

In S507, the service control unit 205 starts the wireless LAN connection process with the selected device, and ends the process of this flowchart. The specific sequence of the wireless LAN connection process is almost the same as the description of F409 and the subsequent steps of FIG. However, the difference is that S507 is public key acquisition by BT communication, whereas F409, which will be described later, is public key acquisition by QR code.

Hereinafter, a specific example in the case where it is determined in S505 that there are a plurality of devices having the MAC address of the selected device will be described. 6B to 6D show examples of screen displays displayed when it is determined that there are a plurality of devices having the MAC address of the selected device. FIG. 6B is an example of a screen display when the wireless LAN connection process triggered by BT communication is stopped. FIG. 6C shows an example of the screen of the smartphone 304 that allows the user to select another method. As described above, not only the QR code but also a selection instruction for starting the wireless LAN connection process triggered by another connection method such as NFC communication or Wi-Fi Aware communication may be accepted from the user. FIG. 6D is an example of a screen display when the user receives a selection as to whether to continue/resume the interrupted process. In this way, the user may be asked whether or not there is a possibility that the desired device may not be connected to the device, but if the user wishes to continue, the wireless LAN connection process triggered by the BT communication may be restarted. ..

FIG. 7: is a figure which shows the other example of a screen display of a smart phone. FIGS. 7A to 7C are diagrams showing examples of screen displays when continuing/resuming the wireless LAN connection process triggered by the BT communication. Specifically, the radio field intensity of each of the plurality of devices included in the list may be presented to the user, and then one device may be selected from the list. After that, the wireless LAN connection process triggered by the BT communication with the selected one device is restarted.

FIG. 7A illustrates an example of a screen display that prompts the user to move the smartphone 304 closer to or farther from the printer 305 that is the device to be connected. Since it is conceivable that the printer 305 is a device whose radio field intensity increases when approaching the device and decreases when it approaches the user, the user selects such a device from the list. FIG. 7B shows an example of a screen display that prompts the user to bring the smartphone 304 closer to the printer 305 to be connected. That is, since the device having the highest radio field intensity is considered to be the printer 305, the user selects such a device from the list. FIG. 7C illustrates another example of a screen display that prompts the user to bring the smartphone 304 closer to the printer 305 to be connected. Unlike FIG. 7B, the smartphone 304 selects a device based on the change in radio field intensity. For example, at the timing when the user touches “OK” shown in FIG. 7C, the device having the highest radio field intensity is selected. Alternatively, it may be configured to select a device whose radio field intensity exceeds a predetermined level or a device whose radio field intensity has changed by a predetermined level or more.

FIG. 7D is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen display when the user is presented with the MAC address of the printer 305 to be changed. That is, or, when it is assumed that the user can change the MAC address of the printer 305 that is the device to be connected, the user may be prompted to change the MAC address of the printer 305. In that case, the user inputs the MAC address via the input unit 108 of the printer 305, or re-executes the MAC address generation process. Alternatively, if the MAC address is automatically changed over time, it waits until the change.

<Example of operation sequence>
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of the communication device system. Specifically, an example of an operation sequence when the smartphone 304 is used to connect the printer 305 and the access point 302 to a wireless LAN is shown. Here, the printer 305 is assumed as the first device to be connected, and the printer 306, which is the second device having the same MAC address as the printer 305, is assumed to exist.

In F400, the BT control unit 211 of the smartphone 304 starts scanning to wait for the advertisement signal transmission in the BT communication.

In F401, the printer 305 controls the BT control unit 211, and in the next F402, transmits an advertisement position signal indicating at which timing and in which wireless channel an advertisement signal, which will be described later, is transmitted. This corresponds to the ADV_EXT_IND message in the Bluetooth 5 standard. In F402, the printer 305 transmits an advertisement signal including information indicating that the own communication device operates as a peripheral device for BT communication and the own communication device implements the communication parameter sharing service. This corresponds to the AUX_ADV_IND message in the Bluetooth 5 standard. The information indicating that the own communication device implements the communication parameter sharing service includes the wireless LAN MAC address M5 of the own communication device. Further, the information indicating that the own communication device implements the communication parameter sharing service may include public key information for establishing a wireless LAN connection with the printer 305, a wireless channel list, and the like. Here, it is assumed that the public key information is included.

In F403, as in F401, the printer 306 transmits an advertisement position signal indicating the timing, the wireless channel in which the advertisement signal described later is transmitted in F404, and the like. This corresponds to the ADV_EXT_IND message in the Bluetooth 5 standard. In F404, the printer 306 transmits an advertisement signal including information indicating that the own communication device operates as a peripheral device for BT communication and the own communication device implements the communication parameter sharing service. This corresponds to the AUX_ADV_IND message in the Bluetooth 5 standard. The information indicating that the own communication device implements the communication parameter sharing service includes the wireless LAN MAC address M6 of the own communication device. However, here, it is assumed that the MAC address M6 is equal to the MAC address M5. Further, the information indicating that the own communication device implements the communication parameter sharing service may include public key information and a wireless channel list for establishing a wireless LAN connection with the printer 306. Here, it is assumed that the public key information is included. The public key information of the printer 306 is different from the public key information of the printer 305.

In F405, the BT control unit 211 of the smartphone 304 stops scanning. However, although the scanning is stopped here, it is not always necessary to stop it, and the scanning may be continued. In F406, the service control unit 205 of the smartphone 304 analyzes the content of the received advertisement signal as the scan result. That is, here, the contents of each of the advertisement signal received from the printer 305 and the advertisement signal received from the printer 306 are analyzed. As a result, two advertisement signals having the same MAC address but different public key information are present in the device list. Therefore, YES is determined in S505 of FIG. 5, and the wireless LAN connection triggered by the BT communication is interrupted/stopped.

In F407, the service control unit 205 of the smartphone 304 starts the wireless LAN connection triggered by the transmission and reception of the QR code. This may be a result of the user selecting to use the QR code on the screen display of FIG. 6C when the connection process triggered by the BT communication is stopped. Further, it may be a result of the smartphone 304 automatically selecting a wireless LAN connection by another method. For example, the smartphone 304 randomly selects from the functions supported by itself. Alternatively, it is randomly selected from the functions supported by both the smartphone 304 and the printer 305. Alternatively, a communication function of a shorter distance may be preferentially selected instead of random communication.

In F408, the service control unit 205 of the printer 305 starts the wireless LAN connection triggered by the transmission and reception of the QR code. This may be a result of the user selecting to use the QR code on the screen display of FIG. 6C when the connection process triggered by the BT communication is stopped. Further, it may be a result of the smartphone 304 automatically selecting a wireless LAN connection by another method. For example, the smartphone 304 randomly selects from the functions supported by itself. Alternatively, it is randomly selected from the functions supported by both the smartphone 304 and the printer 305. Alternatively, a communication function of a shorter distance may be preferentially selected instead of random communication.

In F409, the generation control unit 204 of the printer 305 generates a QR code including the authentication information, and the reading control unit 203 of the smartphone 304 reads the QR code. The authentication information here includes a public key required for wireless LAN communication with the printer 305. The communication parameter control unit 202 of the smartphone 304 uses the authentication information obtained from the QR code to generate identification information used for the authentication process described below. The smartphone 304 obtains the identification information by calculating the hash value for the public key information included in the QR code.

In F410, the communication parameter control unit 202 of the smartphone 304 transmits an authentication request signal to the printer 305. The authentication request signal is a signal for requesting authentication processing. Here, the authentication request signal uses an Action frame defined in the 802.11 series. Upon receiving the authentication request signal, the printer 305 performs an authentication process based on the identification information included in the received authentication request signal and the identification information calculated from the public key of the printer 305. Specifically, it is determined whether the identification information included in the received authentication request signal matches the calculated identification information. Below, the case where the authentication process is successful will be described.

In F411, when the identification information included in the received authentication request signal and the calculated identification information match, the printer 305 transmits an authentication response signal indicating that the authentication is successful to the smartphone 304. It should be noted that the authentication response signal includes information necessary for executing the authentication process at the transmission source (here, the smartphone 304) of the authentication request signal. For example, the authentication response signal includes the identification information calculated by the transmission source of the authentication response signal (here, the printer 305). Upon receiving the authentication response signal, the communication parameter control unit 202 of the smartphone 304 performs the authentication process based on the information included in the authentication response signal. The smartphone 304 may perform authentication by determining whether the identification information included in the received authentication response signal and the identification information generated based on the information obtained from the QR code match. The smartphone 304 also generates a common key based on the information included in the authentication response signal. Alternatively, the common key is acquired from the authentication response signal.

In F412, if the authentication is successful, the communication parameter control unit 202 of the smartphone 304 sends an authentication confirmation signal indicating that the authentication is successful to the printer 305.

In F413, when the communication parameter control unit 202 of the printer 305 receives the authentication confirmation signal, the communication parameter control unit 202 transmits a setting request signal requesting the wireless LAN communication parameter to the smartphone 304.

In F414, when the communication parameter control unit 202 of the smartphone 304 receives the setting request signal, it transmits a setting response signal including the wireless LAN communication parameter to the printer 305. Here, the wireless LAN communication parameters are communicated in the encrypted state using the common key shared in the authentication process. The setting response signal may be a DPP_Configuration_Response frame defined by DPP. The communication parameter transmitted in F414 is DPP Credential when DPP is used.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of communication parameters. Specifically, the configuration of DPP Credential is shown, and AKM, legacy PSK/passphrase, Connector (connector), Expiry (expiration date) and the like are set. Here, AKM is an abbreviation for Authentication and Key Management type, and is a value indicating which authentication protocol or key exchange algorithm is used during communication. The legacy PSK/passphrase is an encryption key for performing authentication/key exchange based on conventional WPA or IEEE 802.11, and is information for connecting to an access point that does not support DPP. The connector is various information used in the authentication protocol and the key exchange algorithm defined by the DPP, and is information for connecting to the access point corresponding to the DPP.

The smartphone 304 transmits information including whether the connector included in the DPP_Configuration_Response frame is valid or invalid depending on whether DPP is available or not. For example, consider a case where the smartphone 304 does not have a connector for connecting to the access point 302 or a case where the access point 302 does not support DPP. In such a case, the smartphone 304 transmits the DPP Configuration Response frame including the information indicating that the connector included in the frame is invalid to the printer 305. Therefore, even when the printer 305 receives the connector and the legacy PSK/passphrase, there is information indicating that the connector is invalid, and therefore the printer 305 does not request the access point 302 for connection processing using the connector. .. That is, it is possible to promptly request the access point 302 for connection processing using the legacy PSK/passphrase. Therefore, the printer 305 does not request the connection processing conforming to DPP from the access point 302 that does not support DPP, and it is difficult for the printer 305 and the access point 302 to start communication. Also, since the retry of the connection process is less likely to occur, the printer 305 can quickly start communication with the access point 302.

In F415, upon receiving the setting response signal, the printer 305 transmits a connection request signal to the network 303 to the access point 302 based on the communication parameter included in the setting response signal. Note that the printer 305 conforms to the DPP when the received setting response signal includes information indicating that the connector is valid or does not include information indicating that the connector is invalid. The connection request signal is transmitted to the access point 302. The connection request signal conforming to DPP includes a connector. The connector includes at least management device information indicating that the device (configurator) that has provided the communication parameter is the smartphone 304. Upon receiving the connection request signal, the access point 302 compares the management device information included in the connection request signal with the management device list stored in itself. Then, it is confirmed whether the same device (smartphone 304) is registered in the management device list.

In F416, when the access point 302 confirms that the same device is registered in the management device list, the access point 302 transmits to the printer 305 a connection permission signal permitting connection by the printer 305.

The printer 305 may include a communication parameter such as an encryption key acquired from the smartphone 304 in the connection request signal. Further, the access point 302 may check whether the encryption key included in the connection request signal matches the encryption key required for communication on the network 303, and if they match, send a connection permission signal.

As described above, when the received setting response signal does not include the information indicating that the connector is valid, the printer 305 executes the connection process according to the conventional WPA or IEEE 802.11. Further, when the received setting response signal includes information indicating that the connector is invalid, the printer 305 executes a connection process according to the conventional WPA or IEEE 802.11. In this case, when the printer 305 receives the setting response signal, the printer 305 executes the connection process using the legacy PSK/pass phrase included in the setting response signal.

In F417, upon receiving the connection permission signal, the printer 305 participates in the network 303 by performing necessary connection processing such as 4-Way Handshake with the access point 302.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, in the wireless LAN connection process triggered by the BT communication, when there are a plurality of devices having the device identifier of the connection target, the wireless LAN connection process is stopped. After that, the wireless LAN connection process of another connection method such as a QR code trigger is started. Alternatively, the device selection is performed based on the radio field intensity, and the wireless LAN connection process is continued. By these controls, it is possible to reduce the risk that the user wirelessly connects to an unintended device.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention supplies a program that implements 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. It can also be realized by the processing. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

302 access point; 303 wireless LAN network; 304 smartphone; 305 printer; 306 printer

Claims (12)

A communication device having a communication unit,
Detection means for detecting an external device,
Accepting means for accepting selection of a first device from external devices detected by the detecting means;
Whether or not a second device having the same device identifier as the first device and unique information different from that of the first device exists in the external devices detected by the detection means is checked. Determination means for determining,
Control means for controlling communication connection processing according to a first connection method with an external device via the communication section;
Have
The communication device, wherein the control unit suspends the communication connection process according to the first connection method when the determination unit determines that the second device exists. Further comprising display means for displaying information of the external device detected by the detection means,
The display unit displays that the communication connection process according to the first connection method is interrupted when the determination unit determines that the second device exists. Communication device. The control means starts communication connection processing by a second connection method different from the first connection method when the determination means determines that the second device exists. The communication device according to 1 or 2. The first connection method is a connection method using communication parameters acquired via Bluetooth communication, and the second connection method is acquired via QR code, NFC communication, or Wi-Fi Aware communication. The communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the communication method is a connection method using communication parameters. The reception means accepts whether or not to continue the communication connection processing according to the first connection method when the control means interrupts the communication connection processing according to the first connection method. Or the communication device according to 2. The display unit is configured to further display the radio field intensity of the signal received from the detected external device, and the reception unit is a device to be connected from the first device and the second device. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the communication device is configured to receive the selection. The display means displays, when the determination means determines that the second device exists, a display prompting the user to change the distance between the connection target device and the communication device. 2. The communication device according to item 2. 8. The device according to claim 6, further comprising a selection unit that selects, from the first device and the second device, a device whose received signal has a higher radio field intensity as the device to be connected. The communication device described. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the detection unit detects an external device existing in the vicinity via Bluetooth communication. The communication connection process is a connection process by a wireless LAN,
The device identifier includes a wireless LAN MAC address,
The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the unique information includes any one of a public key used in the communication connection process, a Bluetooth device name, and a Bluetooth address. A method for controlling a communication device having a communication unit, comprising:
A detection step of detecting an external device,
A receiving step of receiving a selection of the first device from the external devices detected by the detecting step;
It is determined whether or not a second device having the same device identifier as the first device and unique information different from the first device exists among the external devices detected by the detecting step. A determination step of determining,
A control step of controlling a communication connection process according to a first connection method with an external device via the communication unit;
Including
In the control step, when the determination step determines that the second device exists, the communication connection process according to the first connection method is interrupted, and the communication device control method. A program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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