JP6316241B2 - Access point search apparatus, access point search method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is an access point searching apparatus for searching an access point, the search process of the access point, and a program, on how to configure the wireless LAN in a wireless LAN station.

  In recent years, wireless LAN (local area network) technology based on IEEE802.11b / 11g / 11n has been applied to various devices. By using this wireless LAN technology, various devices can be connected via a wireless line. If various devices are connected by a wireless line, it is not restricted by the installation location of the device, and it is not necessary to use a cable or the like as in the case of wired communication, so there is no trouble for the user. From this point of view, there is a tendency that a wireless LAN access point is arranged in many homes and a wireless LAN environment is constructed in the home.

  The wireless LAN access point can be set with a unique ID for identifying an access point called SSID (Service Set Identifier) and security for protecting the wireless communication. When an access point is searched for by a device such as a printer that supports a wireless LAN, a list of SSIDs, security settings, and the like are displayed as search results on a display panel provided in the device.

  The SSID and security need to be set by the user in advance, but in general, default settings are made by the manufacturer, and many users use devices such as printers without changing the default settings. Therefore, when searching for an access point in an environment where many access points such as an apartment are crowded, a plurality of access points having the same SSID setting may be detected. In such a case, the device side needs to select an access point that the user wants to connect from among the searched access points.

  At this time, access points that satisfy specific conditions such as radio wave intensity are registered as selection candidates in advance, and when a plurality of access points with the same SSID setting are detected, an access point is selected from the registration candidates. There is a thing (refer patent document 1).

JP 2001-308866 A

  However, a device that does not have sufficient memory resources (that is, memory capacity) cannot secure a sufficient area for storing search results. Therefore, in an environment where a plurality of access points can be found as a result of the search, not all search results can be stored in the memory, even if the access point has a radio wave intensity of a predetermined level or higher. There is a possibility of missing it.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism that can reduce the possibility of missing an access point with strong radio field intensity from the search result when searching for an access point.

In order to achieve the above object, an access point search apparatus according to the present invention is an access point search apparatus having a search means for searching for an access point, wherein first information on an access point newly searched by the search means is stored. First control means for storing in the storage area, second control means for storing information on the access point stored in the first storage area in the second storage area, and the second storage Display means for displaying an access point search result based on information stored in the area, and the information on the access point stored in the second storage area is sorted in descending order of radio wave intensity. is, the information about the newly searched access point by searching means is stored in the first storage area, and When the serial search means can not store information about the newly searched access point in the second storage area, said second control means, radio wave strength of the access points newly searched by said searching means When the second comparing the field intensity of the access point indicated by the information stored at the end of the storage area, the result of the comparison, the radio wave intensity of the access point that is newly searched by said search means, When the information stored at the end of the second storage area is stronger than the radio wave intensity of the access point indicated by the information, the second control means deletes the information stored at the end of the second storage area to the stored information about the newly searched access point to the second storage area by the search means, the result of the comparison, the new by said search means If the field intensity of the radio wave intensity of the found access point is weaker than the radio wave intensity of the access point indicated by the information stored at the end of the second storage area, the second control means, the search characterized in that it does not store information about the newly searched access point in the second storage area by means.

An access point search method according to the present invention includes a search step for searching for an access point, a first storage step for storing information on an access point newly searched for in the search step in a first storage area, A second storage step for storing information on the access point stored in the first storage area in the second storage area, and a search for the access point based on the information stored in the second storage area and a display step of displaying a result, the information about the second said access point stored in the storage area of, are sorted field intensity is strong order new at the search step valleys a infos searched access point is stored in the first storage area, and that is newly searched in the search step If you can not store information about Seth points in the second storage area, wherein in the second storage step, and the radio wave strength of the access points newly searched in the searching step, the end of the second storage area compares the radio field intensity of the access point indicated by the information stored in the result of the comparison, the radio wave intensity of the newly searched access point at the search step, stored at the end of the second storage area If stronger than the radio wave intensity of the access point indicated by the information that is, in the second storage step, by deleting the information stored at the end of the second storage area, new in the search step valleys information about the found access point is stored in the second storage area, the result of the comparison, collecting the newly searched access point at the search step Field intensity of strength, if weaker than the radio wave intensity of the access point indicated by the information stored at the end of the second storage area, wherein in the second storage step, is newly searched in the search step Information on the access point is not stored in the second storage area.

Program according to the present invention, Ru program der for executing the method of searching for the access point of the above described computer.

According to the present invention, when searching for an access point, it is possible to reduce the possibility of missing an access point with strong radio field intensity from the search result.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation panel shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen displayed on an operation panel, (A) is a figure which shows a wireless LAN setting screen, (B) is a figure which shows the message that it is searching, (C) is a search result list. (D) is a diagram showing a key information input screen, (E) is a diagram showing a message to start connection, (F) is a diagram showing an example of a message when connection is successful, (G) Is a diagram showing an example of a message when connection fails, (H) is a diagram showing an SSID manual setting screen, and (I) is a diagram showing a security setting screen. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the software configuration of the conventional AP search function. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the AP search function shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the search progress by the AP search function in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a software configuration of an AP search function used in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the AP search function shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, an example of an access point search device (hereinafter referred to as a wireless access point search device) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus as an example of a wireless access point search apparatus according to the present embodiment. Examples of the image forming apparatus include a printer having a wireless transmission / reception function and an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral). In the following description, an image forming apparatus having a wireless transmission / reception function will be described. The present invention can be similarly applied.

  In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a printing unit 107, a reading unit 109, an operation panel 110, a line I / F (interface) 112, and a controller unit 101. The controller unit 101 includes a CPU 102, a RAM 103, a ROM 104, a printing unit I / F 106, a reading unit I / F 108, a modem (MODEM) 111, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) I / F 115, a network I / F 116, and a wireless LAN I / F 117. Have. These blocks are connected to each other by a system bus 105.

  The CPU 102 comprehensively controls the image forming apparatus according to the control program. This control program is stored in the program area (program ROM 104 b) of the ROM 104, and the CPU 102 reads the control program from the ROM 104 and executes it. In the illustrated example, the ROM 104 includes a font ROM 104a, a program ROM 104b, and a data ROM 104c.

  When the control program is stored in the program area of the ROM 104 as compressed data, the CPU 102 decompresses the compressed data, expands it in the RAM 103, and executes the control program. The control program may be stored in a compressed state / uncompressed state in a hard disk drive (HDD) not shown.

  The wireless LAN I / F 117 communicates with an access point (hereinafter simply referred to as AP) 120 via a wireless network 119. The MODEM 111 is connected to the public line network via the line I / F 112 and performs communication processing with other image forming apparatuses, facsimile apparatuses, or devices (not shown) such as telephones. The line I / F 112 and the public line network are generally connected by a telephone line.

  The printing unit I / F 106 is used as an interface for outputting a recording image signal (image data) to the printing unit (printer engine) 107. The reading unit I / F 108 is used as an interface for inputting a read image signal obtained as a result of reading by the reading unit (scanner engine) 109. The CPU 102 processes the read image signal input from the reading unit I / F 109 and outputs the processed image signal to the printing unit I / F 106 as a recording image signal.

  The CPU 102 displays characters and symbols on the display unit of the operation panel 110 using the font information stored in the font ROM 104a. Further, the CPU 102 receives a user instruction from the operation panel 110.

  The CPU 102 stores information (status information) related to the image forming apparatus, user telephone directory information, department management information in the organization, and the like in the data ROM 104c. Then, the CPU 102 reads out and updates these pieces of information from the data ROM 104c as necessary.

  As described above, the illustrated image forming apparatus 100 has a copy function, a scan function, and a facsimile function. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 100 also has a function of performing printing (printing) instructed from a PC (personal computer) or the like via the USB I / F 116 or the wireless network 119.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the operation panel 110 shown in FIG.

  The operation panel 110 has function keys 201 to 203 for selecting the various functions described above. Then, the user presses the function keys 201 to 203 corresponding to the function to be used. Further, the operation panel 110 is provided with a display unit 204. The display unit 204 displays a setting state by the user, a device status (status) of the image forming apparatus 100, and the like.

  An arrow key 206 is used for moving a cursor or the like displayed on the display unit 204. The arrow key 206 has four buttons, up, down, left, and right. An OK key 207 is arranged at the center of the arrow key 206 and functions as a “decision key” for setting and inquiry. For example, to change the copy setting (paper size), the user presses the function key 201 (copy function button) to display the copy function screen on the display unit 204. Then, the user selects an item (paper size) to be changed with the arrow key 206 and presses the OK key 207. As a result, a selectable setting screen is displayed on the display unit 204. Then, when the user moves the cursor to a desired setting position (here, paper size) with the arrow key 206 and presses the OK key 207 on the setting screen, the paper size is set.

  Note that the user uses the numeric keypad 208 when inputting the number of copies or a telephone number in the facsimile function.

  In the illustrated example, there are a monochrome start key 209 and a color start key 210 as keys for instructing the start of copying, scanning, or facsimile. The stop key 211 is a key for giving an instruction to stop the operation of each function. A menu key 212 is a key for transitioning to a menu screen for changing various settings of the image forming apparatus 100.

  Further, the illustrated operation panel 110 includes an LED (Light Emitting Diode: Wi-Fi) 205 that indicates the state of the wireless LAN. The LED 205 is turned off when not connected to the wireless LAN, and blinks when connected to the AP 120. When the connection with the AP 120 is completed, the LED 205 is turned on.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the operation panel 110.

  When the user connects the image forming apparatus 100 to the AP 120, first, the menu key 212 on the operation panel 110 is selected. Thus, the CPU 102 displays the wireless LAN setting screen shown in FIG. In the wireless LAN setting screen shown in FIG. 3A, the user can select a wireless LAN setting method.

  In the illustrated example, two selection methods of access point selection 301 and manual setting 302 are displayed on the wireless LAN setting screen. Access point selection 301 is a method of selecting and connecting an arbitrary AP from a search result obtained by searching for APs around the image forming apparatus 100. On the other hand, the manual setting 302 is a method in which a user inputs setting information of a specific AP and connects.

  Here, when the access point selection 301 is selected, the CPU 102 starts searching for an AP and, as shown in FIG. 3B, displays a message 303 (“searching in progress”) indicating that searching is in progress. 204. When the AP search is completed, the CPU 102 displays a search result list shown in FIG.

  Here, it is assumed that four APs are found as a result of the search. In the search result list, the radio wave intensity, the radio channel (hereinafter simply referred to as a channel), security, and the SSID name are displayed for each AP.

  Assume that the user has selected the top (first) search result 304 in the search result list. When security is set when the selection is made, the CPU 102 displays a key information input screen shown in FIG. In FIG. 3D, a WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) key is shown as key information. For example, in the access point selection screen (search result list) shown in FIG. 3C, WPA (Wi-Fi Protected) is shown. If the access (AP) is selected, the WPA key is shown.

  When the key information 305 is input on the key information input screen, the CPU 102, as shown in FIG. 3E, displays a message to start connection on the display unit 204 (“Do you want to start connection? Are you sure?” ) 306 is displayed. In the screen shown in FIG. 3E, when “Yes” is selected, the CPU 102 starts connection with the AP, and when “No” is selected, the CPU 102 cancels the connection with the AP.

  If the connection is successful after completion of the connection process, the CPU 102 displays a message (“connected”) on the display unit 204 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the connection fails, the CPU 102 displays a message (“No access point was found. Please check the settings”) 308 as shown in FIG. Note that the message when the connection fails is an example, and an error message corresponding to the connection error is displayed.

  When manual setting 302 is selected on the wireless LAN setting screen shown in FIG. 3A, the CPU 102 displays the SSID manual setting screen shown in FIG. Here, when the user sets an arbitrary SSID (for example, SSID 309), the CPU 102 displays a security setting screen shown in FIG.

  In this security setting screen, it is necessary to select the same security as that set for the AP. As shown in the figure, three options 310 to 1 of “none”, “WEP”, and “WPA / WPA2-PSK” are selected. You need to choose one. In the illustrated example, if WEP is selected, the processing described in FIGS. 3D to 3G is performed.

  Here, in order to facilitate understanding of the AP search method in the present embodiment, first, a conventional AP search method will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The configuration of the image forming apparatus that can execute the conventional AP search method is the same as that of the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a software configuration of a conventional AP search function. The software functions shown in FIG. 4 are realized by the CPU 102 included in the conventional image forming apparatus executing a control program.

  The panel control unit 401 receives the instruction content input by the user via the operation panel 110. When the AP search instruction input by the user via the operation panel 110 is received, the scan processing unit 402 is requested to start AP search. Further, the result of AP search is displayed on the operation panel 110.

  Upon receiving the AP search start request from the panel control unit 401, the scan processing unit 402 makes an AP search request to the wireless LAN driver 403. The wireless LAN driver 403 makes a search request to the wireless LAN I / F 117. At this time, the wireless LAN driver 403 requests the wireless LAN I / F 117 to search for all channels from the first channel to the maximum channel. Since the allowable frequency band differs depending on the radio wave law of each country, the maximum channel means the maximum allowable channel (in the case of Japan, it is 1 to 13 channels). In the present embodiment, description will be made assuming that 13 channels are the maximum channels.

  The result receiving unit 404 receives a search result by the wireless LAN I / F 117 via the wireless LAN driver 403 and stores the search result in a search area provided on the RAM 103. In addition, the result receiving unit 404 notifies the panel control unit 401 that the search result storage has been completed.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the conventional AP search function. Steps S501 and S502 are processed by the CPU 102 provided in the conventional image forming apparatus developing the program stored in the memory such as the ROM 104 on the RAM 103 and executing it.

  When the user inputs an AP search instruction via the operation panel 110, the wireless LAN driver 403 requests the wireless LAN I / F 117 to search all channels from the first channel to the maximum channel. In step S501, the wireless LAN I / F 117 that has received the request searches for access points for all channels.

  When the wireless LAN I / F 117 searches for all channels, the result receiving unit 404 stores the search results in a search area provided on the RAM 103. In step S502, the operation panel 110 displays the search result. At this time, the screen displayed on the operation panel 110 as a search result is, for example, an access point selection screen (search result list) shown in FIG.

  Next, the AP search method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a search progress by the AP search method in the present embodiment. FIG. 6 shows an example in which 40 APs exist around the image forming apparatus 100. An AP list 601 indicating 40 APs sequentially shows the SSID name, radio wave intensity, and channel.

  In the conventional AP search function, the wireless LAN driver 403 instructs the wireless LAN I / F 117 to search all channels, but when the memory capacity is small, the capacity of the search area provided in the RAM 103 itself. Is limited. Therefore, in an environment where many access points can be found, a situation in which search results are missed tends to occur toward the last channel among all available channels. In order to prevent such a situation, the AP search function in the present embodiment first performs AP search by designating one channel, and acquires the search result. Then, the search is performed for each channel up to 13 channels in order of 2 channels and 3 channels, and a search result is obtained for each channel.

  First, in this embodiment, AP search is performed by designating one channel (hereinafter referred to as ch). In the example shown in FIG. 6, data related to one AP (hereinafter referred to as access point data (AP data)) is obtained as a search result 602 when 1ch is specified, and a search is performed in a search area 620 provided in the RAM 103. The result 602 is stored. This search result 602 is stored as AP search data 603 in a result area 630 provided in the RAM 103.

  Similarly, the search result when 2ch is designated is stored in the search area 620 as the search result 604. At this time, the search result 604 is stored in the search area 620 by overwriting the search result 602. The search result 604 is added to the result area 630 and stored as AP search data 605. At this time, the AP data stored in the result area 630 is sorted according to a specific condition. In the present embodiment, sorting is performed in descending order of radio field intensity, but the specific condition is not limited to this.

  AP search data 606 indicates the result of AP search from 1ch to 12ch being completed. At this time, 16 pieces of AP data, which is the maximum number of cases in the result area 630, are stored in the result area 630. When AP search is performed by specifying 13ch in this state, five pieces of AP data are stored in the search area 620 as search results 607. Since the search result 607 cannot be added to the result area 630 as it is, in this embodiment, which radio wave intensity is the AP data 609 at the end of the AP search data 606 and the AP data 608 at the top of the search result 607. Compare strong or not. In the diagram shown in FIG. 6, the AP data 608 has stronger radio field strength than the AP data 609, so the AP data 609 and the AP data 608 are exchanged and stored in the result area 630. The result is AP search data 610. According to the AP search data 610, it can be seen that the AP data 608 is stored in the result area 630 as the AP data 611. The AP search data 612 is obtained by sorting the AP search data 610 in descending order of the radio wave intensity. Since there are four other AP data in the search result 607, the same processing is performed on these AP data.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining the software configuration of the AP search function in the present embodiment. The software function shown in FIG. 7 is realized by the CPU 102 included in the image forming apparatus 100 executing a control program. Components having the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 4 have the same functions as those in FIG.

  The channel designation unit 701 designates a channel for AP search for the wireless LAN driver 403. In the present embodiment, 1ch to 13ch are designated in order, but the present invention is not limited to this. You may specify to search in the order preset by the user.

  The overflow determination unit 702 determines that the sum of the number of AP data stored in the search area 620 as a result of the AP search and the number of AP data stored in the result area 630 as a result of the previous search is the result area 630. It is determined whether or not the maximum number of cases is exceeded. Hereinafter, the number of AP data stored in the search area 620 as the AP search result is “search number”, and the number of AP data stored in the result area 630 as the search result so far is “stored number”. The maximum number of result areas 630 will be referred to as “result area number”.

  When the overflow determination unit 702 determines that the sum of the number of searches and the number of storages is larger than the number of result areas, the exchange unit 703 stores the AP data stored at the end of the result area 630 and the search area 620. It is determined which radio wave intensity is stronger than the AP data. If it is determined that the AP data stored in the search area 620 has stronger radio wave strength than the AP data stored at the end of the result area 630, the exchange unit 703 searches for the AP data stored at the end of the result area 630 and the search data. The AP data stored in the area 620 is exchanged. On the other hand, if it is determined that the AP data stored at the end of the result area 630 has stronger radio field strength than the AP data stored in the search area 620, the exchange unit 703 determines that the AP data stored at the end of the result area 630 The AP data stored in the search area 620 is not exchanged. When a plurality of AP data is searched as in the search result 602 and the search result 607, the processing by the exchange unit 703 is performed on all AP data.

  The sort unit 704 sorts the AP data in descending order of the radio wave intensity when the exchange data is exchanged by the exchange unit 703 or the AP data is stored in the result area 630.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the AP search function in this embodiment. Steps S801 to S811 are processed by the CPU 102 provided in the image forming apparatus 100 developing a program stored in a memory such as the ROM 104 on the RAM 103 and executing the program.

  In step S801, the channel specifying unit 701 specifies a channel to be searched. In this embodiment, one channel is designated in order from 1ch.

  In step S802, the wireless LAN I / F 117 searches for an access point for a designated channel (here, 1ch) (first search means).

  When the search in step S802 ends, in step S803, the overflow determination unit 702 determines whether the sum of the number of searches and the number of storages is greater than the number of result areas. That is, the overflow determination unit 701 determines whether or not the sum of the AP data stored in the memory and the AP obtained in the current search is larger than the capacity of the memory. If the overflow determination unit 702 determines that the sum of the number of searches and the number of storages is larger than the number of result areas, the process advances to step S804.

  In step S804, the exchange unit 703 determines whether the radio wave intensity of the AP data stored in the search area 620 is stronger than the radio wave intensity of the AP data stored at the end of the result area 630. In other words, here, which of the AP data obtained in the current search and the AP access point data stored in the memory so far satisfies the specific condition (the strength of the radio wave strength) defined in advance. It will be judged. At this time, when a plurality of AP data is stored in the search area 620 as in the search result 607, processing is performed one by one in order. The processing order is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the processing is performed in the order stored in the search area 620.

  If the exchange unit 703 determines that the radio wave intensity of the AP data stored in the search area 620 is stronger than the radio wave intensity of the AP data stored at the end of the result area 630 in step S804 (determination result), the process proceeds to step S805. In step S805, the exchange unit 703 exchanges the AP data stored in the search area 620 and the AP data stored at the end of the result area 630 (data exchange means). In step S806, the sorting unit 704 sorts the AP data stored in the result area 630 in descending order of radio wave intensity.

  On the other hand, when exchange section 703 determines that the radio wave intensity of the AP data stored in search area 620 in step S804 is weaker than the radio wave intensity of the AP data stored at the end of result area 630, processing proceeds to step S807. At this time, the AP data stored in the search area 620 is not stored in the result area 630 because the radio wave intensity is weaker than any AP data stored in the result area 630. Therefore, AP data having a high radio field intensity is stored in the result area 630.

  In step S807, the exchange unit 703 determines whether there is AP data that has not been subjected to the determination process in step S804. If there is AP data that has not yet been subjected to the determination process in step S804 (Yes in step S807), the process returns to step S804 to determine the next AP data. On the other hand, when the determination process of step S804 is performed on all AP data stored in the search area 620 (No in step S807), the process proceeds to step S808.

  The process returns to step S803. If the overflow determination unit 702 determines in step S803 that the sum of the number of searches and the number of storages is smaller than the number of result areas, the process advances to step S810. In step S810, the result reception unit 404 stores the AP data stored in the search area 620 in the result area 630. In step S811, the sorting unit 704 sorts the AP data stored in the result area 630 in descending order of radio wave intensity.

  Next, step S808 will be described. In step S808, the channel specifying unit 701 determines whether it is necessary to specify the next channel. If all 13 channels have not been searched, the channel designation unit 701 determines that it is necessary to designate the next channel, and the process returns to step S801. In step S801, the channel designation unit 701 designates the next channel, and the process indicated by the steps after step S802 is executed.

  On the other hand, if all 13 channels have been searched, the channel designation unit 701 determines in step S808 that it is not necessary to designate the next channel, and the process proceeds to step S809. In step S809, the panel control unit 401 displays a list screen of search results as shown in FIG. 3C on the operation panel 110 as a result of AP search (display control means).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when searching for an AP, the AP search is performed for each channel without searching for all channels at once, and AP data is sequentially stored in the result area. To do. At this time, the AP data is stored in the order of the strongest radio wave intensity according to the capacity of the result area. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility of missing AP data having a high radio field intensity from the result area.

  In general, it is assumed that an AP that the user wants to connect to exists near the user and has high radio field strength. In such a case, AP data with strong radio field intensity is displayed on the operation panel 110, so that even if the memory capacity is small, the data related to the AP that the user wants to connect is less likely to be missed.

[Second Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, an AP search method that combines the conventional AP search method and the AP search method described in the first embodiment is provided.

  Specifically, first, a conventional AP search method is executed to search for APs for all channels (second search means). When more AP data (data amount) than the result area provided in the RAM 103 is searched, the AP search method according to the first embodiment is switched to search for APs one by one in order. That is, the data amount defined by the number of access point data related to the wireless access point obtained as a result of the search by the second search means is compared with the memory capacity, and the AP of the first embodiment is determined according to the comparison result. It is determined whether to execute the search method.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the search is performed again for each channel only when the number of AP data obtained from the search results of all channels exceeds the memory capacity. be able to.

  As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the search for the access point of the wireless LAN, and various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included.

For example, the function of the above embodiment may be used as an access point search method, and the search method may be executed by a device such as an image forming apparatus. Further, a program having the functions of the above-described embodiments may be executed by a computer provided in a device such as an image forming apparatus. The program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, for example.

  The present invention is also 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, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program code. It is a process to be executed. In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

401 Panel Control Unit 402 Scan Processing Unit 403 Wireless LAN Driver 404 Result Reception Unit 620 Search Area 630 Result Area 701 Channel Designation Unit 702 Overflow Determination Unit 703 Exchange Unit 704 Sort Unit

Claims (6)

An access point search apparatus having search means for searching for an access point,
First control means for storing, in a first storage area, information relating to an access point newly searched by the search means;
Second control means for storing information about the access point stored in the first storage area in a second storage area;
Display means for displaying an access point search result based on the information stored in the second storage area;
Information on the access points stored in the second storage area is sorted in the order of strong radio wave intensity,
Newly information about the searched access point is stored in the first storage area, and can not store information about the newly searched access point to the second storage area by said searching means by the search means when the second control means includes a radio field intensity of the access point that is newly searched by said searching means, and radio field intensity of the access point indicated by the information stored at the end of the second storage area Compare
Result of the comparison, the radio wave intensity of the newly searched access point by said search means, when stronger than the radio wave intensity of the access point to which the second information stored in the end of the storage area is shown, the first second control means, the second by deleting the information stored at the end of the storage area, and stores information about the newly searched access point to the second storage area by said search means,
Result of the comparison, the radio wave intensity of the radio wave strength of the newly searched access point by said search means, when weaker than the radio wave intensity of the access point that the information stored at the end of the second storage area is shown , the second control means, said searching means by the access point searching apparatus characterized by not storing information about the newly searched access point to the second storage area. An instruction means for instructing the search means to search for an access point for a specific channel among a plurality of channels;
When the processing of the second control unit for the access point search result for the specific channel is completed, the instruction unit instructs the search unit to search for an access point for the next channel. The access point search apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an instruction is given.   The access point search apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the information about the access point includes an SSID.   The access point search apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the access point search apparatus is an image forming apparatus capable of executing printing. A search step for searching for an access point;
A first storage step of storing information on the access point newly searched in the search step in a first storage area;
A second storage step of storing information on the access point stored in the first storage area in a second storage area;
A display step of displaying an access point search result on a display unit based on information stored in the second storage area;
Information on the access points stored in the second storage area is sorted in the order of strong radio wave intensity,
Newly information about the searched access point is stored in the first storage area, and can not store information about the newly searched access point at the search step in the second storage area in said search step If, in the second storage step, and the radio wave strength of the access point in the searching step are newly searched, the radio wave intensity of the second access point indicated by the information stored at the end of the storage area Compare
Result of the comparison, the radio wave intensity of the newly searched access point at the search step, when stronger than the radio wave intensity of the access point to which the second information stored in the end of the storage area is shown, the first the second storage step, by deleting the information stored at the end of the second storage area, and storing information relating to the search newly searched access point at step into the second storage area,
Result of the comparison, the radio wave intensity of the radio wave strength of the newly searched access point at the search step, when weaker than the radio wave intensity of the access point that the information stored at the end of the second storage area is shown , in the second storing step, the search method of the access point, characterized in that does not store information about the newly searched access point at the search step to the second storage area. A program for causing a computer to execute the access point search method according to claim 5.

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