JP6168867B2 - COMMUNICATION DEVICE, COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device, a communication method, and a program for performing wireless connection.

  One wireless communication standard is called Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark) (hereinafter referred to as WFD). WFD is a wireless communication standard approved by the Wi-Fi Alliance, and does not require a relay access point (AP) that is used in the normal Wi-Fi connection method. It is a standard that can be done.

  WFD has a protocol specification that automatically determines whether each electronic device operates as a wireless LAN AP or a wireless LAN station. This rule eliminates the need for a conventional relay AP-dedicated machine and realizes direct connection between electronic devices. In addition to WFD, there is an “ad hoc mode” as a method of directly connecting terminals in a wireless LAN, and the ad hoc mode is a method of connecting terminals in a P2P (peer-to-peer) method. The difference between WFD and ad hoc mode is that WFD is a method in which any terminal implements the AP function of the wireless LAN by software, and ad hoc mode is a method that does not use an AP.

  As a technique using WFD, there is Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a PC wirelessly communicates with a printer using a WFD function and transmits print data.

JP2013-42400A

  It is convenient if one communication apparatus is configured to be able to simultaneously use a Wi-Fi Direct P2P wireless connection method and a method for performing wireless communication via an AP (for example, an infrastructure mode). There are version 4 and version 6 of the internet protocol (IP) used for wireless communication. Some communication devices have a dual stack mode in which these two protocol versions can be used simultaneously. Therefore, when operating in the dual stack mode in each of the P2P wireless connection method and the method of performing wireless communication via the AP, the four IP stacks are operated. However, in the case of embedded device resources, resources such as memory may be insufficient if four IP stacks are operated simultaneously. In addition, the increase in the number of sockets may cause a decrease in communication speed.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a communication device capable of saving communication resources when performing wireless communication in a peer-to-peer mode and an infrastructure mode, a control method therefor, and a program. .

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a communication device of the present invention includes a first-type wireless connection wirelessly connected to a first communication partner device via an external device, and a second communication counterpart device not via the external device. A communication apparatus that can use a wireless connection of a second system that is directly wirelessly connected in parallel, wherein both a first version protocol and a second version protocol are used for wireless connection in the first system. A control means for enabling the first version of the protocol for wireless connection in the second scheme and disabling the second version of the protocol when enabled. If one of the first and second version protocols is disabled in one scheme, the first and second version protocols are used for wireless connection in the second scheme. Characterized in that it Enabling.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to save communication resources when performing wireless communication in the peer-to-peer mode and the infrastructure mode.

2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an MFP. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of a portable terminal. It is a figure which shows the radio | wireless connection sequence of soft AP mode. It is a figure which shows the wireless connection sequence of WFD mode. It is a figure which shows the radio | wireless connection sequence of WFD expansion mode. It is a figure explaining a protocol stack. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow of processing by an MFP.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be exemplarily described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the relative arrangement of components and the display screen described in the present embodiment are not intended to be limited to them.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a multi function printer (MFP) 100 having a wireless LAN (WLAN) communication function, which is an example of an embodiment of a communication apparatus according to the present invention. In this example, the MFP 100 has a reading function and a recording (printing) function as an example. However, the MFP 100 does not have one or both of these functions but has other functions, and these functions and other functions. It is applicable to those having various functions such as those having As other functions, a telephone / facsimile function (for telephone line / IP network), a short-range wireless communication function (Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication, NFC (Near Field Communication)) and the like can be employed.

  The MFP 100 includes a CPU 102, a ROM 103, a RAM 104, a nonvolatile memory 105, an image memory 106, an operation unit 107, a display unit 108, a reading control unit 109, a recording control unit 111, a battery unit 115, and a power supply unit 116 on the main board 101. Have. The MFP 100 also has a WLAN unit 114 connected via a bus cable 113. These components are connected via a system bus 117 and can communicate with each other via a system bus 117. The MFP 100 further includes a reading unit 110 for realizing a reading function for reading an image on a document, and a recording unit 112 for realizing a recording function for recording an image on a recording medium.

  CPU 102 controls the entire MFP 100. The following processing of MFP 100 is executed under the control of CPU 102. The ROM 103 stores a control program executed by the CPU 102, an embedded operating system (OS) program, and the like. In the present embodiment, each control program stored in the ROM 103 performs software control such as scheduling and task switching under the management of the embedded OS stored in the ROM 103. Further, the CPU 102 operates a protocol stack (including an IP stack) in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 103 when communicating with the communication partner apparatus. At this time, a plurality of sockets necessary for communication operation are also set. The RAM 104 stores data such as program control variables, stores data such as setting values registered by the user and management data of the MFP 100, and is provided with various work buffer areas. The nonvolatile memory 105 is configured by a memory such as a flash memory, and continues to store data even when the power is turned off. The image memory 106 is configured by a memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic RAM), and stores image data input by the reading unit 110 and image data received from the outside.

  The operation unit 107 includes a hard switch and the like, receives an operation from the user, and transmits the operation content to the CPU 102. Display unit 108 performs various displays relating to MFP 100 (displays for guiding operations to be performed by the user, information indicating the state of MFP 100, and the like). Further, a touch panel or the like in which the operation unit 107 and the display unit 108 are integrated can be employed.

  The reading control unit 109 controls a reading unit (scanner) 110 (for example, a CIS image sensor (contact image sensor)) to optically read an image on a document and generate image data corresponding to the read image. To do.

  The recording control unit 111 converts the input image data into recording data to be recorded (printed) by the recording unit (printer) 112, and controls the recording unit 112 to record on the recording medium such as paper. To record an image. As the recording unit 112, an ink jet printer that records an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink as a recording material from a recording head can be employed.

  The WLAN unit 114 communicates with a terminal on a network (a network capable of communication according to TCP / IP) by wireless communication. It is assumed that the WLAN unit 114 is capable of data (packet) communication in a WLAN system compliant with, for example, the IEEE 802.11 series. Further, in wireless communication using the WLAN unit 114, communication based on Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) is possible, and a software access point (soft AP) function is provided. Further, the WLAN unit 114 can perform communication in an ad hoc mode and an infrastructure mode. The MFP 100 can communicate according to both version 4 and version 6 of the Internet protocol (IP). Prior to communication, the IP stack according to each version is operated. In addition, a predetermined number of sockets are set for communication, and communication processing is executed. Further, communication is possible according to a communication protocol selected from a plurality of communication protocols according to IP. The communication protocol that can be selected here is an application layer protocol of the OSI reference model, and includes UPnP / Bonjour / WSD / IPP / SMB and the like.

  The battery unit 115 is a unit (battery) that supplies power for the operation of the MFP 100, and can supply power to the MFP 100 without power supply from an external power source such as a commercial power source (AC power source). Therefore, the user can freely carry the MFP 100 while the battery unit 115 supplies power. The battery unit 115 can be built in the MFP 100 or can be detachable. Further, the battery unit 115 can be charged by receiving power from an external power source (commercial power source or the like), and the MFP 100 supplies power from the external power source while the charged charge remains for the MFP 100 to operate. It is possible to operate without. The power supply unit 116 is supplied with power from an external power supply (commercial power supply (AC power supply)) via a power cable, and supplies power for operating the MFP 100 to the MFP 100. When the battery unit 115 is attached to the MFP 100, the power source unit 116 can supply power to the battery unit 115 and charge it. The power supply unit 116 also includes a function of converting an alternating current from an external power source into a direct current.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a mobile terminal 200 which is an example of an embodiment of a communication apparatus of the present invention. As the mobile terminal 200, various devices such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a notebook PC, a tablet terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a digital camera, and the like can be used.

  The mobile terminal 200 has a CPU 202, ROM 203, RAM 204, nonvolatile memory 205, image memory 206, operation unit 207, display unit 208, and battery unit 211 on the main board 201. In addition, the mobile terminal 200 includes a WLAN unit 210 connected via a bus cable 209. These components are connected via a system bus 212 and can communicate with each other via the system bus 212. Each of these components is the same as the description given for the components of the same name shown in FIG. 1, and thus description thereof is omitted here.

  However, the battery unit 211 of the portable terminal 200 can be directly charged from an external power source. Therefore, if the battery unit 211 is not attached to the mobile terminal 200, power cannot be supplied to the mobile terminal 200 even if it is connected to an external power source. If the battery unit 211 has enough charge for the portable terminal 200 to operate, the portable terminal 200 can operate even if it is not connected to an external power source, and the user can freely carry it and use it. . Charging of the battery unit 211 using an external power source is performed by supplying power from a commercial power source (AC power source) via a charger. The battery unit 211 is charged by charging a charger connected to a commercial power source and the portable terminal 200 via a cable, or by wireless power transmission using electromagnetic induction, magnetic field resonance, microwave, DC resonance, or the like. It is possible to adopt what to do. Other methods such as solar power generation that converts received sunlight into electric power can also be adopted. Note that the power supply to the portable terminal 200 is not limited to this, and may be various, such as those using the same battery unit and power supply unit described in FIG.

  In addition, various application software can be stored in the non-volatile memory 205, and various functions can be realized by being executed by the CPU 202. Application software includes a web browser function and an e-mail function. FIG. 2 shows the main components of the mobile terminal 200. In addition to these, various functions such as a telephone function, a camera function, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication function, an NFC function, a GPS (Global Positioning System) function, a microphone function, a speaker function, and a television receiving function may be included.

<About P2P (Peer to Peer) method>
A plurality of modes can be considered as a method for realizing a P2P mode (peer-to-peer mode) in which devices communicate with each other without using an AP in communication in a WLAN. In each mode, the device on the search side searches for and discovers a device (communication partner device) as a communication partner using the same device search command (for example, a Probe Request frame). Various attributes (parameters) can be attached to the device search command and transmitted. The response to the device search command is normally maximally interpretable within the range defined by the specification of the mode and the premise specification (Wi-Fi if WFD) when an attribute is specified in the search command. It is recommended to respond with attributes. Further, even when information accompanying the device search command (including the above attributes) includes information that cannot be interpreted, it is possible to respond based on only information that can be interpreted for the received device search command. .

The following three modes can be considered as modes of the P2P mode.
・ Mode A (Software AP mode)
・ Mode B (Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) mode)
・ Mode C (WFD expansion mode)
Each mode may correspond to different devices, and the available applications may also differ. Hereinafter, the wireless connection sequence in each mode will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a wireless connection sequence in mode A (software AP mode). In the software AP mode, one device (for example, the mobile terminal 200) serves as a client for requesting various services between the devices (for example, the mobile terminal 200 and the MFP 100) that perform communication. The other device (for example, MFP 100) becomes a software AP that realizes the function of the access point in the WLAN by setting with software. In the software AP mode, the client searches for a device to be a software AP by a device search command. When the software AP is searched, the remaining wireless connection processing (such as establishment of a wireless connection) is performed between the client and the software AP, and then IP connection processing (such as IP address allocation) is performed. . Note that commands and parameters transmitted and received when realizing wireless connection between the client and the software AP may be those defined in the Wi-Fi standard, and description thereof is omitted here.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a wireless connection sequence in mode B (WFD mode). In the WFD mode, after a device as a communication partner is searched for by a device search command, a wireless connection is established after determining the roles of the P2P group owner and the P2P client. This role determination corresponds to GO Negotiation in P2P, for example. Specifically, first, one device issues a device search command with a device that performs communication to search for a device to be connected in the WFD mode. When the other device to be a communication partner is searched, information on services and functions that can be supplied by each other device is confirmed between them (device supply information confirmation). Note that this equipment supply information confirmation is optional and not essential. This device supply information confirmation phase corresponds to provision discovery (PD) in P2P, for example. Next, by confirming the device supply information with each other, it is determined which role is the P2P client and which is the P2P group owner. For example, the portable terminal 200 becomes a client, and the MFP 100 becomes a group owner. Next, when the P2P client and the group owner are determined, parameters for performing communication by Wi-Fi Direct are exchanged between them (parameter exchange phase). Based on the exchanged parameters, the remaining wireless connection processing and IP connection processing are performed between the client and the group owner. This parameter exchange phase corresponds to, for example, automatically exchanging wireless LAN security parameters using Wi-Fi Protected Setup. The device that becomes the group owner periodically outputs a beacon signal as an AP via the WLAN unit.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a wireless connection sequence in mode C (WFD extended mode). The WFD extension mode is an extension of the WFD mode, and requires device supply information confirmation as an option in the WFD mode. Here, a service desired to be used is exchanged using a Service Discovery (SD) command. Other than this, the processing described with reference to FIG. 4 is performed. In mode C, after the IP connection process, a service connection process for using the service determined in the previous exchange is performed as an extension process.

  Next, a process for adjusting Owner Intent (group owner intention index) indicating the strength of intention to be a group owner (service provider) in the P2P mode (WFD mode) will be described. Note that the default value of Owner Intent is set in advance in the communication device (before wireless connection). The value is a value stored in the non-volatile memory (105, 205) when the communication device is manufactured, or a value that can be set by the user. Note that Owner Intent can take a value of 0 (Min) -15 (Max), for example, is negotiated between communication devices, and the larger value becomes the group owner.

  When the MFP 100 operates in the infrastructure (infrastructure) mode, the MFP 100 communicates (relays) with a communication partner apparatus via an AP other than itself. In addition, it is possible to operate in parallel with the communication in which it is an AP in the P2P mode as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and the communication via the external AP that operates as the infrastructure mode.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a protocol stack that can be operated by MFP 100 or portable terminal 200.

  A protocol stack of communication protocols that can be used by the MFP 100 or the mobile terminal 200 has a hierarchical structure, and a TCP layer is provided on the IP (Internet Protocol) layer, and an application layer is provided on the TCP layer. IP includes version 4 (IPv4) and version 6 (IPv6).

  Using the operation unit 107 (or 207), the user selects whether to enable IPv4, IPv6, or both (dual stack mode) as the IP used in the infrastructure mode, It can be set in the nonvolatile memory 105 (or 205). When the dual stack mode is enabled, the MFP 100 or the portable terminal 200 activates both the IPv4 and IPv6 protocol stacks so that TCP communication is possible for each. Each time the activated TCP communication occurs, the MFP 100 or the portable terminal 200 (the CPU thereof) searches for all sockets that are currently valid for both IPv4 and IPv6. When the IP stack is established, the MFP 100 or the portable terminal 200 announces a service to be provided (printing, file sharing, etc.) to the network at a specified timing (device supply information confirmation). Announcement timing is determined by the elapsed time from activation, such as 1 minute, 2 minutes, 4 minutes, etc., and schedulers are required for the number of IP stacks to be activated. Announcements are made according to this scheduler.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing up to wireless connection by WFD by MFP 100. This flowchart is a flowchart showing a flow of processing performed when the CPU 102 loads a program stored in the ROM 103 into the RAM 104 and executes it. Similar processing may be performed by the mobile terminal 200. In addition, although the WFD extended mode (mode C) is described as an example of the P2P mode here, other P2P modes may be used.

  When the WFD wireless connection is enabled from the operation unit 107, the CPU 102 determines whether the infrastructure mode is enabled in S701. If valid, the process proceeds to S702, and if invalid, the process proceeds to S704.

  In S702, the CPU 102 determines whether the infrastructure mode is activated in the dual stack mode. If it is activated in the dual stack mode, the process proceeds to S703, and if not, the process proceeds to S704.

  In S703, the CPU 102 activates the IPv4 stack for WFD expansion (the IPv6 stack is invalidated), and performs WFD wireless connection processing.

  In step S704, both the IPv4 and IPv6 stacks for WFD expansion are activated, and WFD connection processing is performed. When the connection process ends, the wireless connection flow ends.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the total number of infrastructure mode and P2P mode IP stacks is three. As a result, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of a situation where resources such as the memory (RAM 104) are insufficient as compared with a case where a maximum of four IP stacks are activated. In addition, the number of processing steps for socket determination during communication can be reduced, and the occurrence of situations such as a reduction in CPU processing load and communication speed can be reduced. Further, since the number of IP stacks activated simultaneously is reduced, the schedule for service announcements can be reduced, and the resource can be reduced. In addition, the amount of communication on the network can be reduced.

The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed. Further, the number of computers that execute the program may be one, or a plurality of computers may cooperate to execute the program. Furthermore, hardware such as a circuit that executes a part of the program may be provided, and the hardware and the computer that executes the software may cooperate to execute the processing described in the present embodiment.

Claims (11)

A first method wireless connection for wireless connection with a first communication partner device via an external device and a second method wireless connection for direct wireless connection with a second communication partner device without using the external device are performed in parallel. A communication device that can be used as
If both the first version protocol and the second version protocol are enabled for wireless connection in the first scheme, the first version protocol is enabled for wireless connection in the second scheme; have a control means for disabling the second version of the protocol,
The control means validates the first and second version protocols for wireless connection in the second scheme when one of the first and second version protocols is invalidated in the first scheme. A communication device characterized by: The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising recording means for recording an image on a recording medium .   When performing the wireless connection of the second scheme, it further comprises execution means for executing a role determination process for determining which of the second communication partner apparatus and the communication apparatus operates as a group owner. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2.   4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first version of the protocol is IPv4 and the second version of the protocol is IPv6. 5. First determination means for determining whether or not the first method is valid;
Second determination means for determining whether or not the first determination means is operating in a mode that enables both the first and second version protocols when it is determined that the first method is effective. Further comprising
When it is determined that the mobile terminal is operating in the mode, the control means activates the first version protocol for wireless connection in the second scheme, and invalidates the second version protocol. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus is characterized in that: A first method wireless connection wirelessly connected to the first communication partner device via the external device and a second method wireless connection directly wirelessly connected to the second communication partner device not via the external device are performed in parallel. A program executed in a communication device that can be used ,
If both the first version protocol and the second version protocol are enabled for wireless connection in the first scheme, the first version protocol is enabled for wireless connection in the second scheme; Operating the communication device as control means for invalidating the second version of the protocol ;
The control means enables the first and second version protocols for wireless connection in the second method when one of the first and second version protocols is disabled in the first method. A program characterized by that. The program according to claim 6, wherein the communication device further includes recording means for recording an image on a recording medium .   When performing the wireless connection of the second scheme, it further comprises execution means for executing a role determination process for determining which of the second communication partner apparatus and the communication apparatus operates as a group owner. The program according to claim 6 or 7.   9. The program according to claim 6, wherein the first version protocol is IPv4, and the second version protocol is IPv6. First determination means for determining whether or not the first method is valid;
Second determination means for determining whether or not the first determination means is operating in a mode that enables both the first and second version protocols when it is determined that the first method is effective. Further operating the communication device as
When it is determined that the mobile terminal is operating in the mode, the control means activates the first version protocol for wireless connection in the second scheme, and invalidates the second version protocol. The program according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized by the following. A first method wireless connection wirelessly connected to the first communication partner device via the external device and a second method wireless connection directly wirelessly connected to the second communication partner device not via the external device are performed in parallel. A control method executed in a communication device that can be used ,
If both the first version protocol and the second version protocol are enabled for wireless connection in the first scheme, the first version protocol is enabled for wireless connection in the second scheme; Performing a control step of disabling the second version of the protocol ;
The control step enables the first and second version protocols for wireless connection in the second scheme when one of the first and second version protocols is disabled in the first scheme. A control method characterized by:

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