JP6790162B2 - Communication equipment, control methods and programs for communication equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a communication device capable of operating in a direct wireless communication mode.

Communication devices such as smartphones, tablet PCs, and printing devices have wireless communication functions. Among the wireless communication functions, a direct wireless communication mode is known in which a plurality of communication devices are directly connected without going through an access point. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a printing device and a mobile terminal are directly connected by using a software access point mode, which is an example of a direct wireless communication mode.

When connecting a plurality of communication devices using the direct wireless communication mode, the first communication device is operated as an access point, and the second communication device is connected to the first communication device. Conventionally, the first communication device displays an SSID (Service Set Indentifier). Then, when the user inputs this SSID into the second communication device or selects it from the search result of the access point, a wireless connection between the first communication device and the second communication device is established.

JP-A-2015-23440

As described above, when connecting a plurality of communication devices using the direct wireless communication mode, it is necessary to display the connection information (for example, SSID) necessary for establishing the wireless connection. However, in the case of the conventional communication device, the connection information is still displayed even if the wireless connection in the direct wireless communication mode is established. The user who confirmed the displayed connection information is not always on the side of the communication device when the wireless connection in the direct wireless communication mode is established, and the operation to hide the displayed connection information is not performed. Is. By keeping the connection information required to establish a wireless connection displayed, for example, the connection information may be known to a third party (for example, a user who is not authorized to use the communication device). To increase.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for preventing the connection information necessary for establishing a wireless connection from being displayed after the wireless connection in the direct wireless communication mode is established. ..

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the communication device provided by the present invention is a communication device capable of providing an access point, and includes a communication unit capable of wireless communication, a display unit capable of displaying information, and at least the above-mentioned communication device. A means for displaying the first screen on which the key information of the access point can be visually recognized is displayed on the display unit, a means for establishing a connection relationship for wireless communication with an external device that has acquired the key information , and the first screen. The display unit is provided with a means for displaying a second screen in which the SSID is not visually recognized in response to the establishment of the connection relationship in the state where is displayed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the connection information required for the direct wireless communication mode from being displayed after the wireless connection in the direct wireless communication mode is established.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the printing apparatus 100. It is a figure which shows the screen which the printing apparatus 100 displays. It is a flowchart which shows the process which the printing apparatus 100 executes in Embodiment 1. It is a figure which shows the setting screen. It is a flowchart which shows the process which the printing apparatus 100 executes in Embodiment 2. It is a figure which shows the screen which the printing apparatus 100 displays.

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

(Embodiment 1)
First, the hardware configuration of the printing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. Although the printing device 100 of the present embodiment is assumed to be a multifunction device, it may be a printer that does not have a scanner function.

The CPU 101 reads out the control program stored in the ROM 102 and executes various processes for controlling the operation of the printing device 100. The ROM 102 stores the control program. The RAM 103 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 101. The HDD 104 stores various data such as print data and scanned images.

In the case of the printing device 100, one CPU 101 executes each process shown in the flowchart described later, but other modes may be used. For example, a plurality of CPUs may cooperate to execute each process shown in a flowchart described later. Further, a part of the processing shown in the flowchart may be executed by using a hardware circuit.

The printer 106 executes a printing process on a sheet based on the print data received from the external device and the scanned image generated by the scanner 107. The scanner 107 scans the document and generates a scanned image. The scanned image generated by the scanner 107 is printed by the printer 106 or stored in the HDD 104.

The operation unit 108 includes a liquid crystal display unit and a keyboard having a touch panel function, and displays various operation screens. The user can input instructions and information to the printing device 100 via the operation unit 108.

The network I / F 109 connects to the network 110 and executes communication with an external device (for example, a PC) on the network. The network I / F 109 receives the print data transmitted from the external device, and the print process based on the print data received by the printer 106 is executed.

The wireless communication unit 105 has a wireless LAN function and can operate in either an infrastructure mode or a software AP mode (software access point mode). When the wireless communication unit 105 operates in the infrastructure mode, the wireless communication unit 105 executes wireless communication with an external access point (not shown).

On the other hand, when the wireless communication unit 105 operates in the software AP mode, the wireless communication unit 105 does not perform wireless communication with an external access point, and the wireless communication unit 105 itself acts as an access point. Then, by wirelessly connecting the mobile terminal 120 to the wireless communication unit 105 operating in the software AP mode, it is possible to directly execute wireless communication between the mobile terminal 120 and the printing device 100. In the following description, the software AP mode will be referred to as a soft AP mode. After the wireless connection between the mobile terminal 120 and the printing device 100 is established using the soft AP mode, for example, the mobile terminal 120 transmits the print data for printing the photo of the mobile terminal 120 to the printing device 100, and the printing device 100 can print a photo.

The printing device 100 is given as an example of a communication device capable of operating in the soft AP mode. The communication device to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to the printing device 100. The present invention can be applied to various electronic devices such as digital cameras, video cameras, smartphones, and tablet PCs as long as they can operate in the soft AP mode.

Next, using FIG. 2, an operation procedure for connecting the mobile terminal (for example, the mobile terminal 120) owned by the user to the printing device 100 using the soft AP mode will be described. The menu screen 200 of FIG. 2A is a screen displayed by the operation unit 108. Button 201 is a button for using the copy function. When the user selects button 201 (touches in the case of a touch panel), the operation unit 108 displays a copy screen. The button 202 is a button for using the SEND function (a function of transmitting the original image read by the scanner 107 to an external device on the network 110). When the user selects the button 202, the SEND screen is displayed. Button 204 is a button for displaying various setting screens.

The button 203 is a button for displaying connection information necessary for connecting to the printing device 100 operating in the soft AP mode. When the user selects the button 203, the wireless communication unit 105 generates an SSID and displays the generated SSID. The user confirms this SSID. Then, by inputting the confirmed SSID into the mobile terminal 120 or selecting the confirmed SSID from the search result list of the access point, a wireless connection between the printing device 100 and the mobile terminal 120 is established. In the case of the printing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, a random SSID is generated, but a fixed SSID may be used. Further, the SSID may be generated not only at the timing when the button 203 is selected by the user but also at different timings such as when the printing device 100 is started.

When the user selects the button 203, the operation unit 108 displays the wireless connection screen 210 of FIG. 2B. In the display area 211 of the wireless connection screen 210, the connection information necessary for establishing the wireless connection in the soft AP mode, that is, the SSID and KEY generated by the printing device 100 are displayed. When the user selects the button 212, the operation unit 108 changes the display screen from the wireless connection screen 210 to the menu screen 200.

The wireless connection screen 210 allows the user to grasp the connection information necessary for establishing a wireless connection in the soft AP mode. However, if the wireless connection screen 210 is left displayed after the wireless connection is established, the possibility that the connection information will be known to a third party increases. Therefore, the present embodiment is characterized in that the connection information is hidden after the wireless connection in the soft AP mode is established. For example, when the wireless connection in the soft AP mode is established while the wireless connection screen 210 is displayed, the printing device 100 changes the display screen from the wireless connection screen 210 to the menu screen 200. As a result, the connection information (in the case of the present embodiment, the SSID and KEY displayed in the display area 211) can be hidden.

The method for hiding the connection information may be another method. For example, when a wireless connection in the soft AP mode is established while the wireless connection screen 210 is displayed, the printing device 100 displays an object such as pop-up 221 as in the wireless connection screen 220 of FIG. 5C. It may be displayed. The connection information can be hidden by hiding the connection information with an object such as a pop-up display. When the user selects the button 222 included in the pop-up 221, the operation unit 108 displays the menu screen 200.

Next, the process for hiding the connection information will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is a process executed when the operation unit 108 is displaying the menu screen 200. Each step shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is processed by the CPU 101 expanding the control program stored in the memory such as the ROM 102 into the RAM 103 and executing it.

In step S301, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the connection information display instruction has been received from the user. In the case of the present embodiment, when the button 203 of the menu screen 200 is selected by the user, the CPU 101 determines that the user has received the connection information display instruction, and the process proceeds to step S302. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S301 that the connection information display instruction is not received from the user, the CPU 101 waits until the connection information display instruction is received from the user.

Next, step S302 will be described. In step S302, the CPU 101 displays the connection information. In the case of the present embodiment, the operation unit 108 displays the wireless connection screen 210 including the connection information SSID and KEY.

Next, in step S303, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the wireless connection in the soft AP mode has been established. In the case of the present embodiment, when a wireless connection is established for the SSID (SSID displayed in the display area 211) generated by the CPU 101, the CPU 101 determines that the wireless connection in the soft AP mode has been established. When the CPU 101 determines that the wireless connection in the soft AP mode has been established, the process proceeds to step S304. Then, in step S304, the CPU 101 hides the connection information. In the case of the present embodiment, the CPU 101 hides the connection information by changing the display screen from the wireless connection screen 210 to the menu screen 200. Alternatively, the CPU 101 hides the connection information by displaying the pop-up 221.

On the other hand, if the CPU 101 determines in step S303 that the wireless connection in the soft AP mode has not been established, the process proceeds to step S305. In step S305, the CPU 101 determines whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) has elapsed while displaying the wireless connection screen 210. In the case of the present embodiment, the CPU 101 starts counting the time at the timing when the wireless connection screen 210 is displayed in step S302. If the CPU 101 determines in step S305 that a predetermined time has elapsed while displaying the wireless connection screen 210, the process proceeds to step S304. Then, in step S304, the CPU 101 hides the connection information being displayed.

If the CPU 101 determines in step S305 that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S306. Then, in step S306, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the operation for hiding the connection information has been accepted from the user. In the case of the present embodiment, when the button 212 is selected by the user, the CPU 101 determines that the user has accepted the operation for hiding the connection information, and the process proceeds to step S304. Then, in step S304, the CPU 101 hides the connection information being displayed. On the other hand, if the operation for hiding the connection information is not accepted from the user, the process returns to step S303.

As described above, the present embodiment is characterized in that the connection information necessary for establishing the wireless connection is hidden in response to the establishment of the wireless connection in the soft AP mode. As a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the connection information necessary for establishing the wireless connection will be known to a third party.

Further, according to the present embodiment, even when the wireless connection in the soft AP mode is not established, the connection information is hidden according to the elapse of a predetermined time while displaying the wireless connection screen 210. As a result, even if the user who performed the display operation of the wireless connection screen 210 does not continue the wireless connection in the soft AP mode for some reason, the connection information necessary for establishing the wireless connection is known to the third party. It is possible to reduce the possibility of being struck.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment will be described as a modification of the first embodiment. In the case of the first embodiment, when the wireless connection in the soft AP mode is established, the connection information necessary for establishing the wireless connection is uniformly hidden. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the wireless connection in the soft AP mode is established, the connection information required for establishing the wireless connection is hidden or displayed. The configuration will be described. The hardware configuration of the printing apparatus 100 of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and will be described with reference to the configuration described with reference to FIG.

The setting screen 400 of FIG. 4 asks the user whether to hide or keep the connection information required for establishing the wireless connection when the wireless connection in the soft AP mode is established. This is a screen for setting by (for example, a system administrator). The operation unit 108 displays the setting screen 400.

If the user wants to hide the connection information according to the establishment of the wireless connection in the soft AP mode, the user selects the icon 401. On the other hand, if the user wants to keep the connection information displayed when the wireless connection in the soft AP mode is established, the user selects the icon 402. Then, when the user presses the confirmation button 403, the setting result on the setting screen 400 is stored in a memory such as the HDD 104 as a device setting. The setting screen 400 shows a state in which the icon 401 is selected.

If the priority is to reduce the possibility that the connection information will be known to a third party, the user preferably selects the icon 401. On the other hand, for example, when it is desired to connect a plurality of mobile terminals to the printing device 100, it is more convenient to maintain the display of the connection information instead of hiding the connection information according to the establishment of the wireless connection. Good. In such a usage environment, the user preferably selects the icon 402.

Next, the process according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Each step shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is processed by the CPU 101 expanding the control program stored in the memory such as the ROM 102 into the RAM 103 and executing it. Since the process according to the present embodiment is similar to the process described with reference to FIG. 3 of the first embodiment, the difference will be described in detail. Among the steps in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the steps having the same numbers as the flowchart of FIG. 3 execute the same processes as those described in FIG.

In step S303, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the wireless connection in the soft AP mode has been established. When the CPU 101 determines that the wireless connection in the soft AP mode has been established, the process proceeds to step S501. In step S501, the CPU 101 determines whether or not to hide the connection information being displayed. In the case of the present embodiment, the CPU 101 determines whether or not to hide the connection information being displayed according to the setting result on the setting screen 400 stored in the memory of the HDD 104 or the like.

When the icon 401 is selected as the setting result on the setting screen 400, the CPU 101 determines to hide the connection information, and the process proceeds to step S304. Then, in step S304, the CPU 101 hides the connection information being displayed. On the other hand, when the icon 402 is selected as the setting result on the setting screen 400, the CPU 101 determines that the connection information is not hidden, and the process proceeds to step S305.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the wireless connection in the soft AP mode is established, the connection information can be kept displayed instead of being uniformly hidden. For the user, in consideration of the usage environment of the printing device 100, it is possible to switch between hiding the connection information and maintaining the display of the connection information when the wireless connection is established.

(Other embodiments)
In each of the above-described embodiments, the soft AP mode is mentioned as a specific example of the direct wireless communication mode in which the printing device 100 and the mobile terminal 120 directly perform wireless communication, but other wireless communication methods may be used. For example, in the case of Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark), since the printing device 100 can behave as an access point, the present invention can be applied to Wi-Fi Direct as well.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the configuration of displaying the SSID and the KEY as the connection information necessary for establishing the wireless connection in the direct wireless communication mode has been described, but only the SSID is displayed without displaying the KEY. You may.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, as described in the wireless connection screen 210, the configuration for displaying the connection information in a form that can be recognized by the user has been described, but the connection information may be displayed in another form. For example, as in the wireless connection screen 600 of FIG. 6, the CPU 101 may generate a code image 601 showing the SSID and KEY, and the code image 601 may be displayed as connection information. In the case of the wireless connection screen 600, the user can acquire the connection information by reading the code image 601 with the camera of the mobile terminal 120. In the case of the wireless connection screen 600, a QR code (registered trademark) is given as a specific example of the code image, but other types of code images may be used.

The present invention also supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of each of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device implement the program. It can also be realized by the process of reading and executing. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

100 Printing device 101 CPU
105 Wireless communication unit 108 Operation unit 120 Mobile terminal

Claims (20)

A communication device that can provide an access point
Communication unit capable of wireless communication and
A display unit that can display information and
A means for displaying at least a first screen on which the key information of the access point can be visually recognized on the display unit,
A means for establishing a connection relationship for wireless communication with an external device that has acquired the key information,
A means for displaying the second screen in which the key information is not visually recognized on the display unit in response to the establishment of the connection relationship in the state where the first screen is displayed.
A communication device characterized by having. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the second screen is a screen in which a pop-up is superimposed on the information shown on the first screen so that the key information is not visually recognized. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the pop-up includes a selection object for displaying a menu screen on the display unit. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first screen is a screen including a message prompting the user to input the key information. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second screen is a screen for notifying that a wireless communication connection relationship has been established. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the communication device has a means for operating the communication unit in one of a mode for providing the access point and an infrastructure mode. It is characterized by having a means for displaying a designated screen on the display unit, which can specify whether or not to execute a process of displaying the second screen on the display unit in response to the establishment of the connection relationship. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the wireless communication is Wi-Fi Direct. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the communication device is a printing device that executes a printing process. It is a control method of a communication device capable of providing an access point having a communication unit capable of wireless communication and a display unit capable of displaying information.
A step of displaying at least a first screen on which the key information of the access point can be visually recognized is displayed on the display unit.
The process of establishing a connection relationship for wireless communication with the external device that acquired the key information, and
A step of displaying the second screen in which the key information is not visually recognized on the display unit in response to the establishment of the connection relationship in the state where the first screen is displayed.
A control method characterized by having. A communication device that can provide an access point
Communication unit capable of wireless communication and
A display unit that can display information and
A means for displaying a first screen capable of reading a two-dimensional code based on at least the key information of the access point on the display unit.
A means for establishing a connection relationship for wireless communication with an external device that has acquired the key information ,
A means for displaying a second screen on which the two-dimensional code cannot be read is displayed on the display unit according to the establishment of the connection relationship.
A communication device characterized by having. The communication device according to claim 11, wherein the second screen is a screen in which a pop-up is superimposed on the information shown on the first screen so that the two-dimensional code is not visually recognized. The communication device according to claim 12, wherein the pop-up includes a selection object for displaying a menu screen on the display unit. The communication device according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the first screen is a screen including a message prompting the user to read the two-dimensional code. The communication device according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the second screen is a screen for notifying that a wireless communication connection relationship has been established. The communication device according to any one of claims 11 to 15, further comprising means for operating the communication unit in one mode of the mode for providing the access point and the infrastructure mode. It is characterized by having a means for displaying a designated screen on the display unit, which can specify whether or not to execute a process of displaying the second screen on the display unit in response to the establishment of the connection relationship. The communication device according to any one of claims 11 to 16. The communication device according to any one of claims 11 to 17, wherein the wireless communication is a Wi-Fi Direct. The communication device according to any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein the communication device is a printing device that executes a printing process. It is a control method of a communication device capable of providing an access point having a communication unit capable of wireless communication and a display unit capable of displaying information.
A step of displaying on the display unit a first screen capable of reading at least a two-dimensional code based on the key information of the access point.
The process of establishing a connection relationship for wireless communication with the external device that acquired the key information , and
A step of displaying the second screen in which the two-dimensional code is not visually recognized on the display unit in response to the establishment of the connection relationship in the state where the first screen is displayed.
A control method characterized by having.

Images