JP6308719B2 - COMMUNICATION DEVICE, ITS CONTROL METHOD, PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device capable of communicating with an external device, a control method thereof, and a program.

  With the spread of wireless communication, it is considered that a portable terminal such as a digital camera is equipped with a wireless communication function and transmits an image file or the like (Patent Document 1). For example, when data communication is performed using a wireless LAN, a method of first joining a wireless LAN network and then establishing communication with an external device in the network is employed. In this case, it is common to confirm whether or not file transmission / reception can be properly performed with the external apparatus after establishing communication with the external apparatus.

JP 2009-152689 A

  However, once it is determined that the wireless layer connection and communication with the external device have been established, and it is determined that data transmission / reception with the external device cannot be performed properly, the connection processing executed so far is wasted. End up.

A communication apparatus according to the present invention is a communication apparatus that can communicate with an external apparatus via a wireless network, and includes a selection unit that selects at least one of a plurality of functions, and an external apparatus that provides a predetermined service. Search means for searching, acquisition means for acquiring function information related to functions of the predetermined service when the external device providing the predetermined service is searched by the search means, and the function acquired by the acquisition means Based on the information, a determination unit that determines whether the searched external device has a function that is paired with the function selected by the selection unit before connecting to a wireless network; and If it is determined that the external device does not have a function that is paired with the function selected by the selection unit, the external device communicates with the searched external device. Control means for controlling to not connect to the wireless network for the function, the function paired with the function selected by the selection means uses a service common to the function selected by the selection means, and The function is different from the function selected by the selection means .

  According to the present invention, the possibility that a useless connection process is executed can be reduced.

The block diagram which comprises the communication apparatus in 1st Embodiment. Software functional block diagram in the communication device in the first embodiment The figure which shows an example of the network structure in 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the service selection screen in 1st Embodiment The sequence diagram between the communication apparatuses with which this invention in 1st Embodiment is applied Sequence diagram between communication apparatuses to which the present invention is applied in the second embodiment

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of each communication device to be described later, according to an embodiment to which the present invention can be applied. Reference numeral 101 denotes the entire communication apparatus.

  An imaging unit 102 includes a lens unit, an aperture, a shutter, an image sensor, and the like. An optical subject image is converted into an electrical signal.

  Reference numeral 103 denotes a control unit that controls the entire communication apparatus by executing a control program stored in the storage unit 104. The control unit 103 includes one or more processors such as a CPU and an MPU. The control unit 103 also performs communication parameter setting control with other devices.

  A storage unit 104 stores a control program executed by the control unit 103 and various types of information such as communication parameters. In addition, the storage unit 104 may store image data, a file, or the like generated by a communication device or received from an external device. The storage unit 104 includes various memories such as a ROM, a RAM, an HDD, and a flash memory. Various operations described later are performed by the control unit 103 executing a control program stored in the storage unit 104.

  Reference numeral 105 denotes a display unit that performs various displays, and has a function capable of outputting visually recognizable information such as an LCD or LED, or outputting sound such as a speaker. The display unit 105 has a function of outputting at least one of visual information and sound information.

  Reference numeral 106 denotes a wireless unit for performing wireless LAN communication conforming to the IEEE802.11 series.

  Reference numeral 107 denotes an antenna control unit, and reference numeral 108 denotes an antenna. The antenna control unit 107 controls the antenna 108 to transmit / receive a signal by wireless communication.

  An operation unit 109 is used by the user to perform various inputs and operate the communication apparatus. The operation unit 109 includes various buttons, a touch panel, and the like.

  Reference numeral 110 denotes a printing unit that realizes fixing and printing of drawing image data on a medium such as paper.

  When this communication apparatus is a digital camera, for example, an imaging function is provided, the imaging unit 102 is included, and the printing unit 110 is not included. If the communication apparatus is a printer, for example, it provides a printing function, has a printing unit 110, and does not have an imaging unit 102. When the communication apparatus is a digital camera with a printing function, the communication apparatus provides an imaging function and a printing function, and includes an imaging unit 102 and a printing unit 110.

  FIG. 1 is an example, and the communication apparatus 101 may have a hardware configuration other than the hardware configuration shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of software function blocks that execute a communication control function described later. Reference numeral 201 denotes an entire software function block. Reference numeral 202 denotes a Discovery control unit that operates a search process for searching for a device to be a communication partner.

  Reference numeral 203 denotes a GO Negotiation control unit. Control based on the Wi-Fi Direct protocol specification is performed, and a role in the wireless layer such as which becomes a wireless LAN access point and which becomes a wireless LAN station between devices is determined. In Wi-Fi Direct, a device that performs a wireless LAN access point function is referred to as a P2P group owner (hereinafter referred to as GO), and a device that performs a wireless LAN station function is referred to as a P2P client (hereinafter referred to as CL). When it becomes a GO or wireless LAN access point, a wireless LAN access point function control unit 211 described later is activated, and when it becomes a CL or wireless LAN station, a wireless LAN station function control unit 210 described later is activated.

  The GO Negotiation protocol is determined by the Wi-Fi Direct specification. Since it is not the point of this invention, description is omitted. In Wi-Fi Direct, a network constructed by GO is referred to as a P2P group. Also in this specification, a network may be described as a P2P group. In the present embodiment, these are described with the same meaning.

  In this specification, a P2P group owner (GO), a P2P client (CL), and a device group whose role has not been determined are collectively referred to as a P2P device.

  A DHCP client control unit 204 is activated when the GO Negotiation control unit 203 has its own role as a wireless LAN station. Reference numeral 205 denotes a DHCP server control unit which is activated when the role of its own device becomes a wireless LAN access point in the GO Negotiation control unit 203.

  A WPS enrollee control unit 206 receives communication parameters necessary for wireless LAN communication from other WPS registrar devices. Similar to the DHCP client control unit 204, it operates when its own role is a wireless LAN station. A WPS registrar control unit 207 provides communication parameters necessary for wireless LAN communication to other WPS enrollee devices. Similar to the DHCP server control unit 205, it operates when its own role is a wireless LAN access point. The communication parameters provided by the WPS registrar are parameters such as an SSID as a network identifier, an encryption key, an encryption method, an authentication key, and an authentication method.

  A wireless LAN packet receiving unit 208 and a wireless LAN packet transmitting unit 209 handle transmission / reception of all packets including upper layer communication protocols.

  Reference numeral 210 denotes a wireless LAN station function control unit. It performs authentication / encryption processing when its own device operates as a wireless LAN station, and participates in a wireless network constructed by a device operating as a wireless LAN access point. A wireless LAN access point function control unit 211 constructs a wireless network when the own device operates as a wireless LAN access point function, and performs authentication / encryption processing, management of a communication partner apparatus, and the like. The wireless LAN station function control unit 210 and the wireless LAN access point function control unit 211 can operate either one function or simultaneously.

  A packet routing control unit 212 bridges and routes a communication packet when the wireless LAN access point function control unit 211 is operating. A data storage unit 213 stores and holds software itself, wireless LAN parameters, and various tables such as the aforementioned DHCP address table and ARP table.

  A service discovery control unit 214 is responsible for a service discovery function unique to Wi-Fi Direct. The service discovery function exchanges service information held by the counterpart device by transmitting and receiving action frames defined by IEEE802.11u. Specifically, an SD Query is transmitted, and an SD Response is received as a response. Alternatively, an SD Query from the partner apparatus is received and an SD Response is transmitted as a response.

  A P2P invitation function control unit 215 controls the invitation function defined by the Wi-Fi Direct standard. The invitation function is omitted because it is defined in the Wi-Fi Direct specification, but it is a function that prompts a P2P device for which a GO device or CL device has no determined role as a P2P client.

  A service providing unit 216 provides an application layer service. Here, the application layer refers to a service providing layer in an upper layer above the fifth layer in the OSI reference model. That is, the service providing unit 216 provides, for example, a print function (print service), an image streaming function (moving image streaming service), a function related to file transmission processing and reception processing (file transfer service), and the like.

  Reference numeral 217 denotes a service utilization unit in the application layer. The service provided by the service providing unit of the application layer of the opposite device is used. That is, it controls a function of transmitting a printed matter to a print service providing apparatus, a function of transmitting a moving image to a digital display, a function of transmitting a file to a smartphone or a digital camera, and the like.

  Note that all the functional blocks shown in FIG. 2 are not limited to those provided by software, and at least some of them may be provided by hardware. Each functional block shown in FIG. 2 has a mutual relationship. Each functional block shown in FIG. 2 is an example, and a plurality of functional blocks may constitute one functional block, or any functional block may be further divided into blocks that perform a plurality of functions. Good.

  In the present embodiment, the service in the application layer is realized by a device that provides the service and a device that uses the service.

  Taking a transmission service as an example of a service in the application layer, the service providing device is a smartphone, and the service using device is a device such as a digital camera. At this time, the digital camera as the service using device transmits the image file to the smartphone as the service providing device.

  3 shows a communication device A32 (hereinafter referred to as STA-A), a communication device B33 (hereinafter referred to as STA-B), a communication device C34 (hereinafter referred to as STA-C), a communication device D35 (hereinafter referred to as STA-D), and a network A31. It is the figure which showed (henceforth, network A). All these communication apparatuses have the configurations shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 described above.

  FIG. 4 is an example of an operation screen showing a service selection screen of the communication apparatus.

  Here, as an example, a screen for selecting a function for performing a transfer service is described. This screen is displayed on the display unit 105 when the user performs a menu operation using the operation unit 109. The transfer service in this embodiment has two functions, a transmission function and a reception function, which play a role of file transmission and file reception in the transfer service, respectively. In other words, even in the same transfer service, there is a case where the effective function is only one of transmission and reception.

  When the user selects “file transmission” (402) on the service selection screen 401 using the operation unit 109, the communication apparatus provides a transmission function in the transfer service and performs file transmission.

  When the user selects “file reception” (403) on the service selection screen 401 using the operation unit 109, the communication apparatus provides a reception function in the transfer service and receives a file.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation sequence between the apparatuses.

  In the example of FIG. 5, STA-A is a service using device, and STA-B, STA-C, and STA-D are operating as service providing devices. Here, as an example, an operation at the time of connection for performing a transfer service will be described.

  In the following description, it is assumed that the screen operation of FIG. 4 is performed in each device and the function to be enabled by the transfer service is selected. It is assumed that STA-A is set to enable the transmission function in the transfer service, STA-B is set to enable the transmission function in the transfer service, and STA-C is set to enable only the reception function in the transfer service. STA-D does not provide a transfer service, but provides a print service.

  In order to use the transfer service, the STA-A transmits a service search signal for searching for a communication apparatus that provides the transfer service (F501). The STA-B that has received the service search signal provides a transfer service, and transmits a search response signal to the STA-A (F502). At this time, STA-B also notifies that the transmission function in the transfer service is enabled.

  The STA-C that has received the service search signal provides a transfer service, and transmits a search response signal to the STA-A (F503). At this time, STA-B notifies that the reception function in the transfer service is enabled.

  The STA-D that has received the service search signal provides a print service and does not provide a transfer service. Therefore, a search response signal is not transmitted to STA-A searching for the transfer service (F504).

  The STA-A receives the responses from the STA-B and STA-C, and determines whether the STA-B and STA-C have a function that is paired with itself in the transfer service (F505). Since the STA-A has enabled the transmission function in the transfer service as a function of its own device, the pair is a reception function. For this reason, STA-C in which the reception function is valid is a connection target, but STA-B in which only the transmission function is valid and the reception function is not valid is not a connection target.

  Since the STA-A confirms that the STA-C has a paired function in the transfer service, the STA-A transmits a connection process in the wireless layer and a predetermined connection request defined in the service (F507). STA-A does not transmit a predetermined connection request to STA-B because the pairing function of STA-B in the transfer service is not valid (F509). The STA-C that has received the connection request transmits a connection permission signal to the STA-A (F508).

  Even if STA-D does not provide a transfer service, it may receive a service search signal from STA-A and transmit a search response signal to STA-A. In this case, STA-A does not transmit a connection request because STA-D does not have a transfer service.

  This completes the wireless connection and service connection processing. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which connection processing in the wireless layer is performed after service search. However, connection processing in the wireless layer may be performed in advance, and only service connection processing may be performed in F506.

  The connection process at the wireless layer is a connection process based on the Wi-Fi Direct specification described above. That is, either STA-A or STA-B is a P2P group owner, the other is a P2P client, and the CL connects by joining a wireless network constructed by GO.

  After the connection process is completed, the transfer service process is performed between STA-A and STA-C (F510).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the service using apparatus not only confirms whether the service providing apparatus provides the transfer service, but also confirms which function of the transfer service is valid. Then, it is confirmed whether a function effective in the service providing apparatus is paired with a function enabled by the own device, and connection is performed only when the function is paired. For this reason, it is possible to prevent an inefficient connection such that the service providing apparatus does not validate the function that is paired with the own apparatus after the connection and the transfer service processing cannot be performed.

<Second Embodiment>
Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described. Since this embodiment has many parts in common with the first embodiment, description of parts common to the first embodiment will be omitted, and description will be made centering on parts unique to this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation sequence between the apparatuses.

  In the example of FIG. 6, STA-A is a service using device, and STA-B, STA-C, and STA-D are operating as service providing devices.

  Here, as an example, an operation at the time of connection for performing a transfer service will be described. In addition, it is assumed that STA-A enables the transmission function in the transfer service, STA-B enables the transmission function in the transfer service, and STA-C enables only the reception function in the transfer service. STA-D does not provide a transfer service, but provides a print service.

  In order to use the transfer service, the STA-A transmits a service search signal for searching for a communication device that provides the service (F601).

  Since the STA-B that has received the service search signal provides a transfer service, the STA-B transmits a search response signal to the STA-A (F602). At this time, STA-B also notifies that the transmission function in the transfer service is enabled.

  The STA-C that has received the service search signal provides a transfer service, and transmits a search response signal to the STA-A (F603). At this time, STA-B notifies that the reception function in the transfer service is enabled.

  The STA-D that has received the service search signal provides a print service and does not provide a transfer service. Therefore, a search response signal is not transmitted to STA-A (F604).

  The STA-A transmits a connection process in the radio layer and a predetermined connection request defined in the service to the STA-B and STA-C that have made a search response (F606). At this time, STA-A also notifies that the transmission function in the transfer service is enabled.

Each of the STA-B and STA-C receives a connection request from the STA-A and confirms whether or not the function of the STA-A paired with itself is valid in the transfer service (F607).
Since the transmission function in the transfer service is effective for STA-B, the pair is a reception function. However, STA-A is not a connection target because only the transmission function is valid, and connection is not permitted (F608).

  Since STA-C has enabled the reception function in the transfer service, the pair is a transmission function. Since STA-A has enabled the transmission function, STA-C transmits a connection permission to STA-A (F609).

  This completes the wireless connection and service connection processing. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which connection processing in the wireless layer is performed after service search. However, connection processing in the wireless layer may be performed in advance, and only service connection processing may be performed in F605. After the connection process is completed, the transfer service process is performed between STA-A and STA-C (F610).

  Here, an example is described in which STA-A enables the transmission function in the transfer service, but the same applies when STA-A enables only the reception function. In that case, STA-B transmits a connection permission to STA-A because the paired transmission function is effective. Further, STA-C rejects the connection request from STA-A because the paired transmission function is not valid.

<Other embodiments>
As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these embodiment, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range of the summary.

  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.

Claims (15)

A communication device capable of communicating with an external device via a wireless network,
Selecting means for selecting at least one of a plurality of functions;
Search means for searching for an external device that provides a predetermined service;
An acquisition unit configured to acquire function information related to a function of the predetermined service when an external device providing the predetermined service is searched by the search unit;
Determination means for determining, based on the function information acquired by the acquisition means, whether or not the searched external device has a function that is paired with the function selected by the selection means before connecting to a wireless network; ,
When the determination means determines that the searched external device does not have a function that is paired with the function selected by the selection means, it connects to a wireless network for communicating with the searched external device Control means for controlling not to,
The function paired with the function selected by the selection unit is a function that uses a service common to the function selected by the selection unit and is different from the function selected by the selection unit. Communication device.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined service is a service related to data transmission / reception.   The function of the service related to the transmission / reception of data includes a function of transmitting data and a function of receiving data, and the function of transmitting data and the function of receiving data are the paired functions. The communication device according to claim 2.   The communication apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a setting unit configured to set which function among service functions related to transmission / reception of data is to be enabled.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function information is included in a response to the search by the search unit. A transmission unit that transmits a connection request to any of the external devices searched by the search unit;
When the determination means determines that the searched external device does not have a function that is paired with the function selected by the selection means, the control means requests the external device to connect to the external device. 6. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus is controlled not to transmit a message. A transmission unit that transmits a connection request to any of the external devices searched by the search unit;
When the determining means determines that the searched external device has a function that is paired with the function selected by the selecting means, the control means requests the external device to connect to the external device. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus is controlled to transmit a message.   The search for an external device that provides the predetermined service by the search means does not search for an external device that provides a service different from the predetermined service. Communication equipment.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection to the wireless network is performed based on Wi-Fi Direct.   The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is an imaging device.   The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the external device is a mobile phone. A method of controlling a communication device capable of communicating with an external device via a wireless network, wherein a selection step of selecting at least one function from a plurality of functions;
A search step of searching for an external device that provides a predetermined service;
When an external device that provides the predetermined service is searched in the search step, an acquisition step of acquiring functional information related to the function of the predetermined service;
A determination step of determining, before connecting to a wireless network, whether the searched external device has a function that is paired with the function selected in the selection step, based on the function information acquired in the acquisition step; ,
If it is determined in the determination step that the searched external device does not have a function that is paired with the function selected in the selection step, the wireless device is connected to a wireless network for communicating with the searched external device. And a process of controlling so as not to
The function that is paired with the function selected in the selection step is a function that uses a service common to the function selected in the selection step and is different from the function selected in the selection step. A method for controlling a communication device.   13. The communication apparatus control method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined service is a service related to data transmission / reception. The function of the service related to the transmission / reception of data includes a function of transmitting data and a function of receiving data, and the function of transmitting data and the function of receiving data are the paired functions. The control method according to claim 13, characterized in that :   A computer-executable program that causes a computer to function as each unit of the communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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