JP7091672B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to electronic devices and the like.

Conventionally, an electronic device that wirelessly communicates with a terminal device by a wireless communication method conforming to a given standard is known. For example, electronic devices such as printers that directly perform wireless communication with a terminal device by functioning as an access point by themselves are known. The wireless communication method here is a communication method or the like conforming to the Wi-Fi standard.

Small printers are equipped with a function in which the SSID (Service Set Identifier) operates as a fixed access point in order to easily set the printer. At this time, the number of terminal devices that can be connected to the printer operating as an access point at one time is limited to a small number. Therefore, if a terminal device that does not execute the printer setting process connects to the printer, the terminal device that executes the setting process cannot connect to the printer, and the setting process cannot be performed properly.

On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of dynamically changing the SSID according to a specified condition. By dynamically changing the SSID, it is possible to suppress the connection with an inappropriate terminal device. An inappropriate terminal device is specifically a terminal device that does not execute a setting process.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-175822

Electronic devices such as small printers may not have a display unit. When the SSID is dynamically changed as in Patent Document 1 in such an electronic device, it is difficult to notify the user who uses the terminal device of the changed SSID. Further, it is necessary to input or select the changed SSID on the terminal device side. As a result, the burden on the user who uses the terminal device increases, and it becomes necessary for the application on the terminal device side to perform processing for estimating the SSID after the change.

According to some aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic device or the like that suppresses the connection with an inappropriate terminal device while reducing the load related to the connection between the electronic device and the terminal device.

One aspect of the present invention includes a communication unit that performs wireless communication using an internal access point of an electronic device and a processing unit that performs communication control of the communication unit, and the communication unit is a connectable terminal device. The wireless communication is performed using the internal access point for which an upper limit value is set and the identifier is fixed, and the processing unit establishes a wireless connection with the terminal device using the internal access point. Therefore, when the time during which the setting process for the electronic device is not performed by the terminal device exceeds the first threshold value, the process for disconnecting the wireless connection with the terminal device and the terminal device for setting the wireless connection refusal target. The processing unit is related to an electronic device that controls to reject a connection request from the terminal device set as the wireless connection refusal target.

In a situation where the identifier of the internal access point is fixed and there is an upper limit to the number of terminal devices that can be connected, the connection request from an inappropriate terminal device is permitted, and the terminal device that should be originally connected becomes an electronic device. You may not be able to connect. On the other hand, in one aspect of the present invention, a terminal device satisfying a given condition is set as a wireless connection refusal target, and a connection request from the terminal device is rejected. This makes it possible to suppress the establishment of a connection with an inappropriate terminal device and increase the probability of establishing a connection with an appropriate terminal device.

Further, in one aspect of the present invention, the processing unit performs the setting process for the electronic device by the terminal device during a period in which the elapsed time from establishing the wireless connection with the terminal device is equal to or less than the second threshold value. If so, the process of setting the terminal device as the wireless connection priority target is performed, and the establishment of the wireless connection with the terminal device set as the wireless connection priority target is not set as the wireless connection priority target. It may be prioritized over the establishment of a wireless connection with the terminal device.

By doing so, it becomes possible to preferentially establish the connection with the terminal device to be connected.

Further, in one aspect of the present invention, the second threshold value may be equal to or less than the first threshold value.

By doing so, it is possible to flexibly set the conditions to be set as the wireless connection refusal target and the conditions to be set as the wireless connection priority target.

Further, in one aspect of the present invention, the processing unit, when the terminal device set as the wireless connection priority target exists, is described until the elapsed time from turning on the power of the electronic device exceeds the third threshold value. Control may be performed to reject a connection request from the terminal device that is not set as a wireless connection priority target.

By doing so, it becomes possible to appropriately control the priority of the connection establishment of the terminal device which is the wireless connection priority target.

Further, in one aspect of the present invention, when the upper limit value of the terminal device that can be connected to the internal access point is N (N is an integer of 2 or more), the processing unit is set as the wireless connection priority target. When the number of the terminal devices is N, a connection request from the terminal device that is not set as the wireless connection priority target is received until the elapsed time from the power-on of the electronic device exceeds the third threshold value. When the number of the terminal devices set as the wireless connection priority target is less than N, the wireless connection is made even if the elapsed time from the power-on of the electronic device is equal to or less than the third threshold value. Control may be performed to allow a connection request from the terminal device that is not set as a priority target.

By doing so, even when a plurality of terminal devices can be connected to the internal access point, the connection with the terminal device that is the wireless connection priority target can be preferentially established, and the priority level can be appropriately controlled. , Will be possible.

Further, in one aspect of the present invention, there is a first storage unit that stores information of the terminal device set as the wireless connection refusal target, and a first storage unit that stores information of the terminal device set as the wireless connection priority target. It may include 2 storage units.

In this way, the information of the wireless connection refusal target and the information of the wireless connection priority target can be stored separately in different storage units.

Further, in one aspect of the present invention, the first storage unit may be a volatile memory, and the second storage unit may be a non-volatile memory.

By doing so, it is possible to make the correspondence when the power of the electronic device is turned off different between the information of the wireless connection refusal target and the information of the wireless connection priority target.

Further, in one aspect of the present invention, after the processing unit establishes a connection with the terminal device using the internal access point, the time during which the setting process for the electronic device is not performed by the terminal device is described. When the first threshold value is exceeded, the terminal device may be set as the wireless connection refusal target for a given set time.

By doing so, the time set for the wireless connection refusal target can be adjusted, so that flexible communication control can be realized.

Further, in one aspect of the present invention, the processing unit performs a process of lengthening the set time set for the wireless connection refusal target as the number of times the terminal device is set for the wireless connection refusal target increases. May be good.

By doing so, the time set as the wireless connection refusal target can be adjusted based on the history set as the wireless connection refusal target, so that flexible communication control can be realized.

Further, in another aspect of the present invention, the communication unit that wirelessly communicates with the terminal device using the internal access point of the electronic device, the processing unit that controls the communication of the communication unit, and the wireless connection rejection target are set. It includes a volatile memory for storing the first list information which is a list of terminal devices and a non-volatile memory for storing a second list information which is a list of the terminal devices set as a wireless connection priority target. The communication unit performs the wireless communication using the internal access point to which the upper limit value of the connectable terminal device is set and the identifier is fixed, and the processing unit performs the wireless communication, and the processing unit performs the first list information. The present invention relates to an electronic device that performs a determination process based on at least one of the second list information and determines whether or not to allow a connection request from the terminal device based on the determination result.

In a situation where the identifier of the internal access point is fixed and there is an upper limit to the number of terminal devices that can be connected, the connection request from an inappropriate terminal device is permitted, and the terminal device that should be originally connected becomes an electronic device. You may not be able to connect. On the other hand, in another aspect of the present invention, it is determined whether to allow or deny the connection request based on the information of the wireless connection refusal target and the information of the wireless connection priority target. This makes it possible to suppress the establishment of a connection with an inappropriate terminal device and increase the probability of establishing a connection with an appropriate terminal device. Further, it is possible to make the correspondence when the power of the electronic device is turned off different between the information of the wireless connection refusal target and the information of the wireless connection priority target.

An example of a communication system including the electronic device of the present embodiment. Configuration example of electronic equipment. Configuration example of terminal device. An example of a POS system including the electronic device of this embodiment. An example of a display screen used for setting processing. An example of a display screen used for setting processing. An example of a display screen used for setting processing. The flowchart explaining the communication control of this embodiment. The flowchart explaining the communication control of this embodiment. The flowchart explaining the communication control of this embodiment. The flowchart explaining the communication control of this embodiment. The flowchart explaining the communication control of this embodiment.

Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described. It should be noted that the present embodiment described below does not unreasonably limit the content of the present invention described in the claims. Moreover, not all of the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential constituent requirements of the present invention.

1. 1. Communication system FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication system 10 including an electronic device 100 according to the present embodiment. The communication system 10 includes an electronic device 100 and a terminal device 200. In FIG. 1, two terminal devices 200-1 and 200-2, which are PCs (Personal Computers), are shown as the terminal devices 200, but the terminal device 200 provided in a range capable of wirelessly connecting to the electronic device 100. The number may be 3 or more. Further, the terminal device 200 is not limited to a PC, and may be a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal.

The electronic device 100 is, for example, a printer (printing device). A printer is a device that prints characters, images, or the like on a print medium based on the print data received or the print data stored by the printer. Alternatively, the electronic device 100 may be a scanner, a facsimile machine or a copier. The electronic device 100 may be a multifunction device (MFP: Multifunction Peripheral) having a plurality of functions, and a multifunction device having a printing function is also an example of a printer.

The electronic device 100 and the terminal device 200 can communicate wirelessly. The wireless communication here is, for example, communication conforming to the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard. The electronic device 100 functions as an access point for constructing the wireless network N1 and directly communicates wirelessly with the terminal device 200 connected to the wireless network N1. The fact that the electronic device 100 functions as an access point means that the electronic device 100 operates an internal access point. Further, direct wireless communication means that the electronic device 100 and the terminal device 200 communicate with each other without going through an external access point, in other words, communicate with each other using the internal access point of the electronic device 100.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electronic device 100. Note that FIG. 2 shows an electronic device 100 (printer, multifunction device) having a printing function. However, as described above, the electronic device 100 can be expanded to other than the printer. The electronic device 100 includes a processing unit 110 (processor), an operation unit 120 (operation button), a printing unit 130, a communication unit 140 (communication interface), and a storage unit 150 (memory).

The processing unit 110 (processor, controller) controls each unit (communication unit, storage unit, printing unit, etc.) of the electronic device 100, and performs various processes of the present embodiment. For example, the processing unit 110 can include a plurality of CPUs (MPU, microcomputer) such as a main CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a sub CPU. The main CPU (main control board) controls each part of the electronic device 100 and controls the whole. For example, when the electronic device 100 is a printer, the sub CPU performs various processes related to printing. Alternatively, a CPU for communication processing may be further provided.

Each process (each function) of the present embodiment performed by the process unit 110 can be realized by a processor (a processor including hardware). For example, each process of the present embodiment can be realized by a processor that operates based on information such as a program and a memory (storage device) that stores information such as a program. In the processor here, for example, the functions of each part may be realized by individual hardware, or the functions of each part may be realized by integrated hardware. For example, the processor includes hardware, which hardware can include at least one of a circuit that processes a digital signal and a circuit that processes an analog signal. For example, a processor can be composed of one or more circuit devices (eg, ICs, etc.) mounted on a circuit board, or one or more circuit elements (eg, resistors, capacitors, etc.). The processor may be, for example, a CPU. However, the processor is not limited to the CPU, and various processors such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) can be used. Further, the processor may be a hardware circuit by ASIC. Further, the processor may be configured by a plurality of CPUs, or may be configured by a hardware circuit composed of a plurality of ASICs (application specific integrated circuits). Further, the processor may be configured by a combination of a plurality of CPUs and a hardware circuit by a plurality of ASICs.

The operation unit 120 includes operation buttons. In the example of FIG. 1, the operation unit 120 includes a power button B12a and a setting button B12b as operation buttons. The power button B12a is an operation button for switching the power on / off of the electronic device 100. The setting button B12b is an operation button for making the electronic device 100 function as an access point for constructing the wireless network N1. FIG. 1 described above is a diagram showing, for example, a system configuration in a state where the setting button B12b of the electronic device 100 is operated.

The printing unit 130 includes a thermal head that forms dots on the roll paper as a printing medium, a transport mechanism that conveys the roll paper, a cutting mechanism that cuts the roll paper, and the like. The printing unit 130, under the control of the processing unit 110, forms dots on the roll paper and records an image while transporting the roll paper. The printing unit 130 cuts the roll paper at a predetermined position under the control of the processing unit 110, and issues a piece of paper on which characters, images, and the like are printed.

The communication unit 140, under the control of the processing unit 110, executes wireless communication in accordance with a predetermined wireless communication standard. The wireless communication here is, in a narrow sense, a communication conforming to the Wi-Fi standard. In the present embodiment, the communication unit 140 constructs a wireless network N1 by operating an internal access point of the electronic device 100, and directly wirelessly communicates with one or a plurality of terminal devices 200 connected to the wireless network N1.

The storage unit 150 stores various information such as data and programs. The processing unit 110 and the communication unit 140 operate, for example, with the storage unit 150 as a work area. The storage unit 150 may be a semiconductor memory such as SRAM or DRAM, a register, a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk device (HDD), or an optical disk device or the like. It may be an expression storage device. For example, the storage unit 150 stores instructions that can be read by a computer, and when the instructions are executed by the processing unit 110 (processor), the functions of each unit (communication unit, processing unit) of the electronic device 100 are realized. Will be done. The instruction here may be an instruction of an instruction set constituting the program, or may be an instruction instructing the hardware circuit of the processing unit 110 (processor) to operate.

As shown in FIG. 2, the storage unit 150 includes a first storage unit 151 and a second storage unit 152. The first storage unit 151 is a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk or EEPROM, and stores information of the terminal device 200 which is a priority target for wireless connection. The second storage unit 152 is a volatile memory such as a SRAM or DRAM, and stores information of the terminal device 200 that is the target of wireless connection refusal. The wireless connection priority target and the wireless connection refusal target will be described later.

Further, the storage unit 150 may store the setting information of the electronic device 100. The storage unit 150 stores a combination of setting items related to the setting of the electronic device 100 and setting values corresponding to the setting items.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the terminal device 200. The terminal device 200 includes a processing unit 210 (processor), a display unit 220 (display), an operation unit 230 (operation buttons and the like), a communication unit 240 (communication interface), and a storage unit 250 (memory).

The processing unit 210 (processor, controller) controls each unit of the display unit 220, the operation unit 230, the communication unit 240, and the storage unit 250.

Each process of the present embodiment performed by the processing unit 210 can be realized by a processor. For example, each process of the present embodiment can be realized by a processor that operates based on information such as a program and a memory that stores information such as a program. In the processor here, for example, the functions of each part may be realized by individual hardware, or the functions of each part may be realized by integrated hardware. For example, the processor includes hardware, which hardware can include at least one of a circuit that processes a digital signal and a circuit that processes an analog signal. For example, a processor can be composed of one or more circuit devices mounted on a circuit board or one or more circuit elements. The processor may be a CPU. However, the processor is not limited to the CPU, and various processors such as GPU or DSP can be used. Further, the processor may be a hardware circuit by ASIC. Further, the processor may be configured by a plurality of CPUs or may be configured by a hardware circuit by a plurality of ASICs. Further, the processor may be configured by a combination of a plurality of CPUs and a hardware circuit by a plurality of ASICs.

The display unit 220 is composed of a display or the like that displays various information to the user, and the operation unit 230 is composed of a button or the like that accepts an input operation from the user. The display unit 220 and the operation unit 230 may be integrally configured by a touch panel. The terminal device 200 may include a notification unit that notifies the user in a mode other than the display. The notification unit may be a speaker that performs notification by sound, a vibration unit that performs notification by vibration, or a combination thereof. The vibrating part is realized by a vibrating motor or the like.

The communication unit 240, under the control of the processing unit 210, performs wireless communication in accordance with a predetermined wireless communication (in a narrow sense, Wi-Fi) standard. The communication unit 240 communicates with the internal access point of the electronic device 100 according to a standard compliant with Wi-Fi (wireless LAN).

The storage unit 250 (storage device, memory) stores various information such as data and programs. The processing unit 210 and the communication unit 240 operate with the storage unit 250 as a work area. The storage unit 250 may be a semiconductor memory, a register, a magnetic storage device, or an optical storage device.

The storage unit 250 stores the setting application. The setting application is an application for executing operations such as initial setting and setting change of the electronic device 100, and provides a user interface related to initial setting and setting change.

Next, a specific situation in which the electronic device 100 of the present embodiment is used will be described. However, the following description is an example of the usage mode of the electronic device 100, and it does not prevent the electronic device 100 from being used in other modes.

The electronic device 100 of this embodiment is a printer used in a POS (Point Of Sale) system. The POS system is a system used in the retail business such as shopping centers, convenience stores, and in-car sales, and the food and beverage business such as restaurants, coffee shops, and taverns. It has a function to perform and a function to issue a receipt according to the accounting.

When the electronic device 100 is used in a POS system, various initial settings are required. The initial setting is the initial setting for the electronic device 100 executed by the terminal device 200 when the electronic device 100 is introduced into the POS system. Further, even after the initial setting, the setting process for changing the setting content is performed as appropriate. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 100 of the present embodiment directly wirelessly communicates with the terminal device 200 connected to the wireless network N1 to execute setting processing such as initial setting. Then, the electronic device 100 whose initial settings have been completed is introduced into the POS system.

FIG. 4 is a configuration example of the POS system 11 which is a communication system including the electronic device 100 after the setting process. In the POS system 11, the electronic device 100, which is a POS printer, is connected to the external access point AP, and the terminal device 300 for printing execution is connected to the external access point AP. The terminal device 300 for printing execution may be the terminal device 200 according to the present embodiment, or may be a device different from the terminal device 200 according to the present embodiment. That is, the terminal device 200 according to the present embodiment may be a dedicated terminal that performs setting processing, or may be a terminal device that performs both setting and printing execution. The electronic device 100 of the present embodiment is configured to be able to switch between a first communication mode that functions as an access point and a second communication mode that connects to an external access point AP. The first communication mode is specifically an ad hoc mode, which corresponds to FIG. 1. The second communication mode is specifically an infrastructure mode and corresponds to FIG.

The external access point AP is a device that relays the wireless communication of the device in the wireless network N2 constructed by the external access point AP. By connecting the electronic device 100 and the terminal device 300 to the wireless network N2, the electronic device 100 and the terminal device 300 can communicate with each other via the external access point AP. Note that connecting to the wireless network N2 corresponds to communicating with the external access point AP.

The external access point AP that constructs the wireless network N2 has network identification information that is identification information for identifying the wireless network N2. Further, the external access point AP has authentication information for connecting to the wireless network N2. In the present embodiment, the wireless network N2 is a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) defined by IEEE802.11x. In this case, the network identification information is the SSID. The authentication information also includes a passphrase and an encryption method. A passphrase is an encryption key used to encrypt communication via a wireless LAN. The passphrase may be a password. Examples of the encryption method include WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access), and an encryption method that is an extension / improvement of these.

In the initial setting using the terminal device 200, the setting information including the SSID and the authentication information of the external access point AP is stored in the storage unit 150 of the electronic device 100. The communication unit 140 of the electronic device 100 connects to the wireless network N2 by using the set SSID and the authentication information. Details of the setting process will be described later with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. Further, the terminal device 300 (300-1, 300-2) connects to the wireless network N2 by acquiring the SSID and the authentication information of the external access point AP. The terminal device 300 can acquire the SSID and authentication information of the external access point AP from the electronic device 100.

The terminal device 300 transmits job data to the electronic device 100 using the wireless network N2, and the electronic device 100 executes a job based on the job data. The job data is specifically print data, and the job represents a job for executing printing.

2. 2. Method of this embodiment Next, the method of this embodiment will be described. First, an outline of the present embodiment will be described, and then an example of the configuration of the storage unit 150 and an example of the setting process of the electronic device 100 performed via the terminal device 200 will be described. After that, a specific flow of processing according to the situation will be described with reference to the sequence diagrams of FIGS. 8 to 12.

2.1 Overview Generally, when the electronic device 100 functions as an access point, the number of terminal devices 200 that can be connected to the wireless network N1 is limited. Here, since "connecting to the wireless network N1" corresponds to "connecting to the internal access point of the electronic device 100", the upper limit is the number of terminal devices 200 that can be connected to the internal access point of the electronic device 100. It is possible to paraphrase that there is. Therefore, even if the communication unit 140 of the electronic device 100 operates the internal access point, the appropriate terminal device 200 is connected to the internal access point because the terminal device 200 not intended by the user is connected to the internal access point. You may not be able to connect to. In the above-mentioned example of initial setting or setting change of the electronic device 100, the terminal device 200 having the intention of setting, that is, the terminal device 200 in which the setting application is started may not be able to connect to the internal access point.

For example, it is assumed that the terminal device 200-1 is the terminal device 200 in which the setting application is started, and the terminal device 200-2 is the terminal device 200 in which the setting application is not started. Further, it is assumed that the number of terminal devices 200 that can be connected to the internal access point of the electronic device 100 is 1.

If the terminal device 200-2 has previously connected to an internal access point, the storage unit 250 of the terminal device 200-2 stores the SSID and passphrase of the internal access point of the electronic device 100. Therefore, when the internal access point of the electronic device 100 is activated, the terminal device 200-2 attempts to connect to the internal access point using the stored SSID and passphrase. Although it depends on the settings of the OS (Operating System) and the like, the connection attempt using the stored SSID and passphrase may be automatically performed without requiring the user's operation.

As a result, the terminal device 200-2 connects to the internal access point before the terminal device 200-1 even though the user who uses the terminal device 200-2 does not intend to set the electronic device 100. there is a possibility. When the terminal device 200-2 connects to the internal access point before the terminal device 200-1, the number of the terminal devices 200 that can be connected to the internal access point is 1, so that the terminal device 200-1 becomes the internal access point. Cannot connect and cannot execute the setting process.

For example, when the person in charge of setting the electronic device 100 is changed from the user of the terminal device 200-2 to the user of the terminal device 200-1, the above problem occurs.

Alternatively, it is conceivable that the initial values of the SSID and the passphrase are shared by the plurality of electronic devices 100. In this case, since the given SSID and passphrase can be diverted to the setting process of the plurality of electronic devices 100, the convenience of the user can be improved. More specifically, the user can omit the selection of SSID and the input of the passphrase when connecting for the setting process. In this example, when the setting process of the given electronic device 100 (first electronic device) is performed by using the terminal device 200-2, the terminal device 200-2 is an internal access point of the first electronic device. Memorize the SSID and passphrase of. After that, when trying to set a different electronic device 100 (second electronic device) from the terminal device 200-1, the SSID and passphrase held by the terminal device 200-2 are common to the second electronic device. Therefore, the terminal device 200-2 may be connected to the second electronic device before the terminal device 200-1.

Such a case may occur when the user tries to introduce a plurality of electronic devices 100. Alternatively, when a plurality of electronic devices 100 are introduced, it is conceivable that a specialist company (manufacturer of the electronic device 100, a sales agent, etc.) will perform the initial setting on behalf of the user. In the terminal device 200 used by a specialist, the setting process is performed on a large number of electronic devices 100, so that the above-mentioned problems are particularly likely to occur.

On the other hand, as in Patent Document 1, a method of dynamically changing the SSID of the electronic device 100 that functions as an access point, that is, the SSID of the internal access point can be considered. If the SSID is changed, the SSID stored in the terminal device 200-2 and the changed SSID do not match, so that the connection between the terminal device 200-2 and the electronic device 100 is not established, and the desired terminal device 200 is not established. The connection establishment of (terminal device 200-1) is not hindered.

However, when the SSID of the internal access point of the electronic device 100 is changed, the terminal device 200 must know the changed SSID in order to make a wireless connection with the electronic device 100. When the electronic device 100 has a display unit such as a liquid crystal panel, the SSID can be notified to the user of the terminal device 200 by displaying the SSID on the display unit. However, as in the printer for the POS system shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 100 may not have a display unit. When the electronic device 100 is a printer, it is possible to notify by printing the SSID, but it is not preferable because paper is consumed every time the SSID is changed. Further, even on the terminal device 200 side, the input operation or the selection operation of the SSID after the change is required, so that the convenience of the user is low.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic device 100 of the present embodiment includes a communication unit 140 that performs wireless communication using an internal access point of the electronic device, and a processing unit 110 that performs communication control of the communication unit 140. Then, the communication unit 140 performs wireless communication using an internal access point in which the upper limit of the connectable terminal device 200 is set and the identifier is fixed. When the processing unit 110 exceeds the first threshold Th1 for the time during which the setting process for the electronic device 100 is not performed by the terminal device 200 after establishing the wireless connection with the terminal device 200 using the internal access point, the terminal 110 A process of disconnecting the wireless connection with the device 200 and a process of setting the terminal device 200 as a wireless connection refusal target are performed. Then, the processing unit 110 controls to reject the connection request from the terminal device 200 set as the wireless connection refusal target.

Here, the identifier of the internal access point is information for identifying the internal access point, and specifically, the SSID described above. The setting process is a process for setting the electronic device 100, and details thereof will be described later with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

In this way, by disconnecting the wireless connection with the terminal device 200 that does not perform the setting process and rejecting the connection request from the terminal device 200, the wireless connection is occupied by the inappropriate terminal device 200. Can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the connection between the appropriate terminal device 200 for performing the setting process and the electronic device 100 from being hindered.

In the present embodiment, whether or not the terminal device 200 is set as a wireless connection refusal target is used as a condition for rejecting the connection request. Further, it is determined whether or not the terminal device 200 is set as the wireless connection refusal target based on the time when the setting process is not performed after the connection is established. By doing so, it is possible to appropriately determine whether or not the user of the terminal device 200 for which the connection has been established intends the setting process. Although the details will be described later, the setting process here is not limited to the process of changing the setting, and includes various processes related to the setting such as the process of acquiring the current setting content.

Further, when the processing unit 110 performs setting processing for the electronic device 100 by the terminal device 200 during a period in which the elapsed time from establishing the wireless connection with the terminal device 200 is the second threshold value Th2 or less, the terminal device 110 Performs a process of setting 200 as a wireless connection priority target. Then, the processing unit 110 gives priority to the establishment of the wireless connection with the terminal device 200 set as the wireless connection priority target over the establishment of the wireless connection with the terminal device 200 not set as the wireless connection priority target.

As described above, when it is determined that the user of the terminal device 200 for which the connection has been established intends the setting process, the electronic device 100 gives priority to the terminal device 200 over the other terminal devices 200. Target for connection. This makes it possible for the user to properly execute the setting process.

In the setting process, it is often the case that the setting content is fine-tuned after the setting process is performed once. As shown in FIG. 5, when the printing speed and density are set, test printing is performed, and the setting contents are finely adjusted so as to have an appropriate speed and density according to the result. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, when the logo is set, the setting content is finely adjusted so that the logo is displayed at a desired position and in a desired mode according to the result of test printing. As described above, it is highly probable that the terminal device 200 that has been set once again performs the setting process for the same electronic device 100 again. Therefore, if the terminal device 200 is set as a wireless connection priority target on condition that the setting process is performed within a predetermined time, appropriate communication control can be realized.

The term "priority" here means that the probability of establishing a connection with the terminal device 200 set as the wireless connection priority target is higher than that of other terminal devices 200. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 11, the connection request from the terminal device 200 set as the wireless connection priority target is permitted in a given period, and the connection request from the terminal device 200 not set as the wireless connection priority target is permitted. By rejecting, the connection establishment of the terminal device 200, which is the wireless connection priority target, may be prioritized.

In the present embodiment, the response to the connection request from the terminal device 200 is changed depending on whether the terminal device 200 is a wireless connection refusal target or a wireless connection priority target. When the connection with the terminal device 200 is established, the terminal device 200 is set as a wireless connection refusal target or a wireless connection priority target, or the setting is canceled, depending on the elapsed time from the connection establishment. This makes it possible to establish an appropriate connection with the terminal device 200 even when the identifier is fixed and the number of connected devices has an upper limit.

2.2 Configuration example of the storage unit of the electronic device As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic device 100 is wirelessly connected to the first storage unit 151 that stores the information of the terminal device 200 set as the wireless connection refusal target. A second storage unit 152 for storing information of the terminal device 200 set as a priority target is included. Here, the first storage unit 151 is a volatile memory, and the second storage unit 152 is a non-volatile memory.

By doing so, it is possible to make a difference in the handling of information between the wireless connection refusal target and the wireless connection priority target. Hereinafter, the information of the terminal device 200 set as the wireless connection refusal target is referred to as the first list information, and the information of the terminal device 200 set as the wireless connection priority target is referred to as the second list information.

The first list information includes the identification information of the terminal device 200 set as the wireless connection refusal target. The identification information of the terminal device 200 here is a MAC address of the terminal device 200, an individual number unique to the device, or the like. Further, the first list information can hold identification information for a maximum of M units, and M here can be set to an arbitrary integer. The second list information includes the identification information of the terminal device 200 set as the wireless connection priority target. Further, the second list information can hold identification information for up to N units, where N is a number corresponding to the maximum number of units that can be simultaneously connected to the internal access point of the electronic device 100. Hereinafter, an example in which N = 1 will be described except for a modification described later.

Since the first storage unit 151 is a volatile memory, the first list information can be reset by turning off the power of the electronic device 100. Therefore, even if the terminal device 200 that performs the setting process is erroneously set as the wireless connection refusal target, the connection can be established by turning the power of the electronic device 100 off and then on again. After establishing the connection between the electronic device 100 and the terminal device 200 in order to perform the setting process of the electronic device 100, the user of the terminal device 200 leaves the seat due to a sudden situation, or performs other work such as telephone correspondence. Therefore, the time when the setting process is not performed may exceed the first threshold value. Even in such a case, the user of the terminal device 200 can start the setting work by temporarily turning the power of the electronic device 100 on and off after returning to his / her own seat or after completing the work such as telephone correspondence.

Further, since the second storage unit 152 is a non-volatile memory, the second list information is not lost even when the power of the electronic device 100 is turned off. Therefore, when the power of the electronic device 100 is turned on, the connection with the wireless connection priority target is preferentially established, and the setting process by the user can be smoothly performed. Depending on the configuration of the electronic device 100, a restart may be required when changing whether to connect to the external access point AP or to operate its own internal access point, that is, when changing the communication mode. In this case, when the internal access point is started to perform the setting process, the power of the electronic device 100 is always turned off once. Therefore, in order to preferentially establish a connection with an appropriate terminal device 200 at the start of the setting process, it is highly necessary to store the information of the wireless connection priority target in the non-volatile memory.

Further, in the method of the present embodiment, the communication unit 140 that wirelessly communicates with the terminal device 200 using the internal access point of the electronic device 100, the processing unit 110 that controls the communication of the communication unit 140, and the wireless connection rejection target are set. Volatile memory (first storage unit 151) that stores the first list information that is the information of the terminal device 200, and the second list information that is the information of the terminal device 200 set as the wireless connection priority target. It can be applied to the electronic device 100 including the non-volatile memory (second storage unit 152) for storing the information. The communication unit 140 of the electronic device 100 performs wireless communication using an internal access point in which the upper limit of the connectable terminal device 200 is set and the identifier is fixed, and the processing unit 110 is the first list. A determination process is performed based on at least one of the information and the second list information, and it is determined whether or not to allow the connection request from the terminal device 200 based on the determination result.

2.3 Setting process Next, the setting process will be described in detail. Here, an example in which the electronic device 100 is a printer will be described. In the present embodiment, the setting items related to the printer are roughly classified into the setting items related to printing and the setting items related to communication. The setting items related to printing include setting items related to setting printing operations such as print density and printing speed, and setting items related to settings such as characters and images printed by the printer such as margins. The setting items related to communication include setting items related to communication settings such as SSID, authentication information, and IP address of the printer.

5 to 7 are examples of setting screens displayed on the display unit 220 of the terminal device 200 when performing the setting process. FIG. 5 is an example of a screen for displaying setting items and setting values related to print control. In FIG. 5, there are three setting items, "paper width-number of digits", "printing speed", and "print density", and the current setting values are "80 mm-42 digits", "level 13", and "70", respectively. The value "%" is set. In the case of FIG. 5, a pull-down menu is displayed by performing a selection operation for the display area of each set value. The user selects a desired value from the pull-down menu and presses the setting button at the lower right of the screen. As a result, the terminal device 200 gives an instruction to update the set value to the electronic device 100, and the storage unit 150 of the electronic device 100 overwrites the set value with the updated value.

Further, FIG. 6 is an example of a screen for setting a logo when displaying a predetermined logo on the upper part of the print medium. From the screen of FIG. 6, it is possible to select an image file corresponding to the logo, set the display magnification of the logo, and set the display position. After selecting the desired set value, the "register with printer" button is pressed to update the set value stored in the storage unit 150 of the electronic device 100.

FIG. 7 is an example of a screen for displaying setting items and setting values related to communication control. The setting items related to communication control are "band", "communication mode", "SSID", etc., and in the example of FIG. 7, the current setting values are "2.4 GHz band", "infrastructure", "Printer", respectively. The value is set. As shown in FIG. 7, setting items such as "communication standard", "channel", and "security type" can be added.

When the "communication mode" is "infrastructure", the electronic device 100 connects to the external access point AP. When the "communication mode" is "ad hoc", the electronic device 100 operates the internal access point and accepts the connection from the terminal device 200. The communication mode may be changed from the setting screen or may be changed by operating the setting button B12b shown in FIG. Although not shown in FIG. 7, when the electronic device 100 operates in the “infrastructure” mode, the SSID or passphrase of the external access point AP to be connected may be added to the setting items.

The “SSID” is the SSID of the internal access point of the electronic device 100, and is assumed to be fixed in the present embodiment. However, the SSID of the present embodiment may be one that is not automatically changed by the electronic device 100, and the user is not prevented from changing the SSID based on his / her own operation.

Note that FIGS. 5 to 7 have described examples of screens used in the setting application. However, the setting process may be executed by a Web browser or the like instead of a dedicated application. The communication unit 140 of the electronic device 100 activates the Web server, and the communication unit 240 of the terminal device 200 communicates with the electronic device 100 using a Web browser. In this case, the same screens as those in FIGS. 5 to 7 are displayed in the display area of the Web browser. The setting screen and the items that can be set may be changed between the dedicated setting application and the Web browser.

The setting process in the present embodiment is, in a narrow sense, a process of changing the set value using the setting screen described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7 and reflecting the change result on the electronic device 100. Not limited. For example, the setting process may include a process of starting a setting application of the terminal device 200 or connecting to a Web server of the electronic device 100 using a Web browser.

As can be seen from FIGS. 5 to 7, in the setting process, the terminal device 200 acquires the current set value and performs a process of presenting it to the user. That is, even before the setting value is changed, communication is performed between the terminal device 200 and the electronic device 100, and the electronic device 100 can detect that there is a connection by the setting application or the Web browser. If the user of the terminal device 200 does not intend to perform the setting process, the setting application is not started in the first place. That is, from the viewpoint of the electronic device 100, it can be estimated that the user of the terminal device 200 intends to make the setting when the connection is made by using the setting application or the like. That is, the determination of "whether or not the setting process has been performed" may be realized by determining whether or not the set value has actually been changed, and whether or not there has been a connection from the setting application or the like of the terminal device 200. It may be realized by the determination of.

2.4. Processing flow The processing sequence according to the situation will be described below.

2.4.1 When the first list information and the second list information are empty FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process when the first list information and the second list information are empty. The fact that the first list information and the second list information are empty corresponds to the fact that the terminal device 200 that makes a connection request is not set as either a wireless connection refusal target or a wireless connection priority target. Further, the case where the second list information is empty and the first list information is not empty and the terminal device 200 requesting the connection is not the target of the wireless connection refusal is also considered as in FIG.

First, the user turns on the power of the electronic device 100 (S101). At this point, the first list information has been reset and emptied. Further, in the example of FIG. 8, it is assumed that the terminal device 200 has not been set as the wireless connection priority target before that, and the second list information is also empty.

In this state, the terminal device 200-2, which does not perform the setting process, makes a connection request to the internal access point of the electronic device 100 using the SSID and the passphrase stored by itself (S102). The processing unit 110 of the electronic device 100 first determines whether or not the terminal device 200-2 is set as the wireless connection priority target (S103). Specifically, the identification information included in the second list information and the identification information of the terminal device 200-2 are collated. The identification information of the terminal device 200-2 can be acquired at the time of the connection request of S102. For example, the terminal device 200-2 transmits a management frame including its own identification information to the electronic device 100 after selecting the SSID of the internal access point of the electronic device 100. In FIG. 8, as a result of the collation process, it was determined that the second list information was empty (S104).

By the processing of S103 and S104, it can be seen that the terminal device 200-2 is not a wireless connection priority target. However, since it can be seen that devices other than the terminal device 200-2 are not set as wireless connection priority targets, there is still room for permitting the connection request of the terminal device 200-2.

Next, the processing unit 110 of the electronic device 100 determines whether or not the terminal device 200-2 is set as the wireless connection refusal target (S105). Specifically, the identification information included in the first list information and the identification information of the terminal device 200-2 are collated. In FIG. 8, as a result of the collation process, it was determined that the identification information of the terminal device 200-2 was not included in the first list information (S106).

From S105 and S106, it can be determined that the processing unit 110 of the electronic device 100 does not need to positively reject the connection request from the terminal device 200-2. Therefore, based on the processing of S103 to S106, the processing unit 110 of the electronic device 100 controls to allow the connection request from the terminal device 200-2 (S107), and connects the electronic device 100 and the terminal device 200-2. Is established.

However, since the user of the terminal device 200-2 did not intend to perform the setting process, the setting process was not performed even if the elapsed time from the establishment of the connection exceeded the first threshold value Th1 (S108). The first threshold value Th1 here is about several tens of seconds, but various modifications can be made for specific values. As described above, the determination of "whether or not the setting process has been performed" may be realized by determining whether or not there is a connection from the setting application or the like of the terminal device 200. In this case, even if the first threshold value Th1 is a short time of about several tens of seconds, it can be appropriately determined whether or not the user of the terminal device 200 intends to perform the setting process.

The processing unit 110 of the electronic device 100 disconnects the wireless connection from the terminal device 200-2 (S109), and further registers the terminal device 200-2 as a wireless connection refusal target (S110). Specifically, the process of S110 is a process of adding the identification information of the terminal device 200-2 to the first list information.

Further, the user performs an operation for connecting to the electronic device 100 to the terminal device 200-1 (S111), and the terminal device 200-1 makes a connection request to the internal access point of the electronic device 100 (S112). On the other hand, the electronic device 100 collates the identification information of the terminal device 200-1 with the second list information (S113, S114), and collates the identification information of the terminal device 200-1 with the first list information. (S115, S116) is performed.

In the case of FIG. 8, the processing of S113 to S116 is the same as that of S103 to S106, and the processing unit 110 of the electronic device 100 controls to allow the connection request from the terminal device 200-1 (S117), and the electronic device 100 And the terminal device 200-1 are established.

Since the user of the terminal device 200-1 intends to perform the setting process, the setting process is performed during the period when the elapsed time from the establishment of the wireless connection is the second threshold value Th2 or less (S118). In this case, it is determined that the terminal device 200-1 has a high probability of repeating the setting process for the electronic device 100 for fine adjustment or the like. Therefore, the electronic device 100 registers the terminal device 200-1 as a wireless connection priority target (S119). Specifically, the process of S119 is a process of adding the identification information of the terminal device 200-1 to the second list information.

When the use of the electronic device 100 is completed, the user turns off the power of the electronic device 100 (S120).

Here, the first threshold value Th1 used in the processing of S108 to S110 and the second threshold value Th2 used in the processing of S118 and S119 are Th2 ≦ Th1. When Th2 = Th1, the terminal device 200 whose elapsed time from the connection establishment to the setting process exceeding Th1 is set as the wireless connection refusal target, and the terminal device 200 whose elapsed time is Th1 (= Th2) or less is set. It is set as a wireless connection priority target. That is, when a connection with a terminal device 200 that is not set as either a wireless connection refusal target or a wireless connection priority target is established, the terminal device 200 becomes a wireless connection refusal target depending on the status of the setting process. It is set to one of the wireless connection priority targets.

When Th2 <Th1, the terminal device 200 whose elapsed time from the connection establishment to the setting process exceeds Th1 is set as the wireless connection refusal target, and the terminal device 200 whose elapsed time is Th2 or less is the wireless connection priority target. The terminal device 200, which is set to and whose elapsed time is greater than Th2 and less than or equal to Th1, is not set as either a wireless connection refusal target or a wireless connection priority target. In this case, the setting conditions for the wireless connection priority target become stricter, and it becomes possible to set the terminal device 200, which is determined to have a stronger intention to perform the setting process, as the wireless connection priority target.

2.4.2 Registered in the first list information In FIG. 9, the identification information of the terminal device 200 to be rejected by wireless connection is registered in the first list information, and the terminal set as the target of wireless connection refusal. It is a sequence diagram explaining the process when the connection request is made from the apparatus 200.

After the power of the electronic device 100 is turned on (S201) and the first list information is reset, the process of registering the terminal device 200-2 as the wireless connection refusal target, that is, the identification information of the terminal device 200-2 is the first. The process of adding to the list information of 1 was performed (S202). The processing of S202 corresponds to the processing of S102 to S110 of FIG.

As described above, depending on the settings of the OS and the like, even after the wireless connection is disconnected (S109 in FIG. 8), the connection is automatically tried using the same SSID and passphrase. That is, a connection request is made from the terminal device 200-2 (S203). In this case, the processing unit 110 of the electronic device 100 first determines whether or not the terminal device 200-2 is set as the wireless connection priority target (S204). As a result, it is determined that the second list information is empty, that is, the identification information of the terminal device 200-2 is not included in the second list information (S205).

The processing of S204 and S205 is the same as that of S103 and S104 of FIG. 8, the terminal device 200-2 is not a wireless connection priority target, and the devices other than the terminal device 200-2 are not set as a wireless connection priority target. Therefore, at this point, there is still room for permitting the connection request of the terminal device 200-2.

Next, the electronic device 100 determines whether or not the terminal device 200-2 is set as a wireless connection refusal target (S206). Specifically, the identification information included in the first list information and the identification information of the terminal device 200-2 are collated. In the case of FIG. 9, it was determined that the identification information of the terminal device 200-2 is included in the first list information (S207).

According to S206 and S207, it can be determined that the terminal device 200-2 is not a terminal device that performs setting processing, but is a target for positively rejecting the connection request. Therefore, the processing unit 110 of the electronic device 100 controls to reject the connection request from the terminal device 200-2 (S208).

By the process shown in FIG. 9, since the electronic device 100 rejects the connection request from the inappropriate terminal device 200, it is possible to prevent the wireless connection from being occupied by the inappropriate terminal device 200.

2.4.3 Registered in the Second List Information FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process when the identification information of the terminal device 200 to be prioritized for wireless connection is registered in the second list information.

First, a process of registering the terminal device 200-1 as a wireless connection priority target, that is, a process of adding the identification information of the terminal device 200-1 to the second list information is performed (S301), and then the power supply of the electronic device 100 is supplied. Was turned off. The processing of S301 corresponds to the processing of S111 to S119 in FIG.

After that, the power of the electronic device 100 is turned on (S302). As described above, since the second storage unit 152 is a non-volatile memory, even if the power of the electronic device 100 is once turned off, the second list information is retained without being reset.

When the electronic device 100 starts operating as an access point, a connection request is made from the terminal device 200-2 (S303). In this case, the electronic device 100 first determines whether or not the terminal device 200-2 is set as the wireless connection priority target (S304). As a result, it is determined that the identification information has already been registered in the second list information, and that the identification information does not match the identification information of the terminal device 200-2 (S305).

From the processes of S304 and S305, it can be seen that the terminal device 200-2 is not a wireless connection priority target, and that devices other than the terminal device 200-2 are set as wireless connection priority targets. Here, since the maximum number of units that can be connected to the internal access point of the electronic device 100 is one, if the connection request of the terminal device 200-2 is permitted, the terminal device 200- set as the wireless connection priority target. When there is a connection request from 1, it becomes impossible to establish a wireless connection with the terminal device 200-1.

Therefore, the processing unit 110 of the electronic device 100 controls to reject the connection request from the terminal device 200-2 without determining whether or not the terminal device 200-2 is set as the wireless connection refusal target (S306). ).

Further, the user performs an operation for connecting to the electronic device 100 to the terminal device 200-1 (S307), and the terminal device 200-1 makes a connection request to the internal access point of the electronic device 100 (S308). On the other hand, the electronic device 100 determines whether or not the terminal device 200-1 is set as the wireless connection priority target (S309). As a result, the identification information of the terminal device 200-1 is registered in the second list information, and it is determined that the terminal device 200-1 is the wireless connection priority target (S310).

Therefore, the processing unit 110 of the electronic device 100 controls to allow the connection request from the terminal device 200-1 without determining whether or not the terminal device 200-1 is set as the wireless connection refusal target (S311). ), The connection between the electronic device 100 and the terminal device 200-1 is established.

Since the user of the terminal device 200-1 intends to perform the setting process, the setting process is performed (S312). Considering the process of FIG. 12, which will be described later, the setting process by the terminal device 200-1 is performed during a period in which the elapsed time from the establishment of the wireless connection is the fourth threshold value Th4 or less. The fourth threshold will be described later with reference to FIG.

2.4.4 Exception handling when registered in the second list information 1
FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating the first exception handling when the identification information of the terminal device 200 to be the wireless connection priority target is registered in the second list information.

S401 to S406 in FIG. 11 are the same as S301 to S306 in FIG. That is, when the terminal device 200-1 is registered as the wireless connection priority target, the connection request from the other terminal device 200-2 is rejected by the collation process using the second list information.

However, in the case of FIG. 11, even if the elapsed time from turning on the power in S402 exceeds the third threshold value Th3, the wireless connection between the electronic device 100 and the terminal device 200 is not established (S407). Considering that the connection request from the device other than the terminal device 200-1 is rejected in the same flow as in S403 to S406, the S407 is wireless between the electronic device 100 and the terminal device 200-1 which is the wireless connection priority target. Corresponds to the fact that the connection was not established after the time of the third threshold Th3.

Specifically, it is conceivable that the terminal device 200-1 may be moved due to a change in the arrangement of the person in charge, and wireless communication with the electronic device 100 may not be performed. Alternatively, if the terminal device 200-1 is a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone, it is conceivable that the user is away from the desk while holding the terminal device 200-1.

In any case, in S407, it can be estimated that there is a low probability that the connection request from the terminal device 200-1, which is the wireless connection priority target, will be made. Even in such a case, it is not rational to give priority to the terminal device 200-1 and reject the connection request from the other terminal device 200.

Therefore, when the connection request from the terminal device 200-2 is made (S408), the processing unit 110 of the electronic device 100 skips the collation process of the second list information, and the terminal device 200-2 is wirelessly connected. It is determined whether or not it is set as a rejection target (S409). As a result, if the terminal device 200-2 is not the target of wireless connection refusal (S410), control is performed to allow the connection request from the terminal device 200-2 (S411), and the electronic device 100 and the terminal device 200-2 are connected to each other. The connection is established.

As shown in FIG. 11, the processing unit 110 of the electronic device 100 has an elapsed time from turning on the power of the electronic device 100 when the terminal device 200 (200-1) set as the wireless connection priority target exists. Control is performed to reject the connection request from the terminal device 200 (200-2) that is not set as the wireless connection priority target until the third threshold value Th3 is exceeded. Further, when the elapsed time from the power-on of the electronic device 100 exceeds the third threshold value Th3, the connection request from the terminal device 200 which is not set as the wireless connection priority target may be permitted.

That is, in the present embodiment, "the establishment of a wireless connection with the terminal device 200 set as the wireless connection priority target is prioritized over the establishment of the wireless connection with the terminal device 200 not set as the wireless connection priority target". The control with is realized by the control of permitting the connection request from the terminal device 200 of the wireless connection priority target and rejecting the connection request from the other terminal device 200 in the period until the third threshold value Th3 is exceeded. .. In other words, if the terminal device 200 to be prioritized for wireless connection makes a connection request before the lapse of time corresponding to the third threshold value Th3, the establishment of wireless connection with the electronic device 100 is guaranteed.

By doing so, while giving priority to establishing a wireless connection with the terminal device 200 to be prioritized for wireless connection, it is possible to establish a wireless connection with another terminal device 200 depending on the situation, so that highly flexible communication control can be achieved. It will be possible.

2.4.5 Exception handling when registered in the second list information 2
FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating the second exception handling when the identification information of the terminal device 200 to be the wireless connection priority target is registered in the second list information.

S501 to S507 in FIG. 12 are the same as S301, S302, and S307 to S311 in FIG. That is, when the terminal device 200-1 is set as the wireless connection priority target, the connection request from the terminal device 200-1 is permitted by the collation process using the second list information, and the connection request with the electronic device 100 is permitted. A wireless connection is established.

However, in the case of FIG. 12, even if the elapsed time from the establishment of the connection between the electronic device 100 and the terminal device 200-1 exceeds the fourth threshold value Th4, the setting process is not executed (S508). Specifically, the terminal device 200-1 is arranged at a position where it can be wirelessly connected to the electronic device 100, but the terminal device 200-1 is used for the setting process of the electronic device 100 due to a change in the arrangement of the person in charge or the like. It is possible that the device cannot be used.

In this case, if the wireless connection with the terminal device 200-1 is maintained, the connection is occupied by the terminal device 200-1 that does not perform the setting process, which is not preferable. Further, as long as the terminal device 200-1 does not perform the setting process, it is of little significance to prioritize the establishment of the wireless connection with the terminal device 200-1 as compared with the other terminal devices 200.

Therefore, the processing unit 110 of the electronic device 100 performs a process of releasing the terminal device 200-1 from the wireless connection priority target (S509). The process of S509 is a process of deleting the identification information of the terminal device 200-1 from the second list information. Further, the electronic device 100 disconnects the wireless connection from the terminal device 200-1 (S510).

By the process shown in FIG. 12, even if the terminal device 200 is once set as the wireless connection priority target, the wireless connection can be disconnected or excluded from the wireless connection priority target depending on the execution status of the subsequent setting process. .. Since the inappropriate terminal device 200 is not given excessive priority, appropriate communication control can be realized.

3. 3. Modification Examples Some modifications will be described below.

3.1 Expansion to a plurality of devices In the above, an example in which one terminal device 200 can be simultaneously connected to an electronic device 100 functioning as an access point has been described. However, the number of units that can be connected at the same time can be expanded to N (N is an integer of 2 or more). In this case as well, since N does not become an excessively large number, it should be suppressed that the terminal device 200 that does not perform the setting process is connected to the electronic device 100.

In this case, the upper limit of the number of terminal devices 200 that can be set as the wireless connection priority target, that is, the upper limit of the identification information included in the second list information is N. When the number of terminal devices 200 that are the wireless connection priority targets is i (i is an integer in which 0 ≦ i <N), even if a connection frame for the terminal devices 200 that is the wireless connection priority target is secured, N -There is room for the i-unit terminal device 200 to connect to the electronic device 100.

In the process using the second list information, first, it is determined whether or not the terminal device 200 that has made the connection request is the wireless connection priority target, and if it is the wireless connection priority target, the connection request is permitted. This process corresponds to S309 to S311 in FIG. 10 and S505 to 507 in FIG. In this case, the same process is performed even when the number of units that can be connected at the same time reaches N units. That is, each identification information of the identification information included in the second list information is collated with the identification information of the terminal device 200 that has requested the connection.

If it is determined that the terminal device 200 that has made the connection request is not the wireless connection priority target, there is still room for permitting the connection request from the terminal device 200 that is not the wireless connection priority target by referring to the second list information. Whether or not it is determined. This process corresponds to S103 to S104, S113 to S114 in FIG. 8, S204 to S205 in FIG. 9, S304 to S305 in FIG. 10, and S404 to S405 in FIG.

If there is room to allow the connection request, the process proceeds to the reference processing of the first list information (S105, S115, S206), and if there is no room to allow, the connection request is rejected (S306, S406). When the number of connectable terminal devices 200 is one, it is sufficient to determine whether or not there is room for permitting the connection request by determining whether or not the second list information is empty.

When the number of units that can be simultaneously connected is N, the determination of whether or not the second list information is empty is expanded to the determination of whether or not the second list information has reached the upper limit. Specifically, as a result of referring to the second list information, if the number of terminal devices 200 that are the wireless connection priority targets is i (0≤i <N), there is a margin of N-i units, so that the second list is available. Move to the reference processing of the list information of 1. On the other hand, as a result of referring to the second list information, if the number of terminal devices 200 that are the priority targets for wireless connection is N, there is no margin and the connection request is rejected.

By expanding as described above, it is possible to perform the same processing as in FIGS. 8 to 12 even when there are a plurality of terminal devices 200 that can be connected to the electronic device 100 at the same time. In particular, when FIG. 11 is expanded, it becomes as follows. That is, when the upper limit value of the terminal device 200 that can be connected to the internal access point is N (N is an integer of 2 or more), the processing unit 110 has the number of terminal devices 200 set as the wireless connection priority target. In the case of N units, control is performed to reject 200 connection requests from terminal devices that are not set as wireless connection priority targets until the elapsed time from turning on the power of the electronic device 100 exceeds the third threshold value Th3. Further, when the number of terminal devices 200 set as the wireless connection priority target is less than N, the processing unit 110 wirelessly performs even if the elapsed time from the power-on of the electronic device 100 is the third threshold value Th3 or less. Control is performed to allow a connection request from a terminal device 200 that is not set as a connection priority target.

3.2 Modification example regarding wireless connection refusal target In the above, when a given terminal device 200 is registered as a wireless connection refusal target, the registration is canceled by turning off the power of the electronic device 100. Indicated. However, various modifications can be made to register / cancel the wireless connection refusal target.

When the processing unit 110 of the electronic device 100 receives the operation input to the operation unit 120, the registration of the wireless connection refusal target is reset, that is, the first list information stored in the first storage unit 151 is initially initialized. Perform the process of resetting. By doing so, the terminal device 200 can be excluded from the wireless connection refusal target by the user's operation. When the terminal device 200 for performing the setting process is erroneously set as the target for refusing the wireless connection, the setting process can be started without restarting the electronic device 100, so that the convenience of the user can be improved. At this time, all of the first list information may be initialized, or the information of any terminal device 200 may be specified and deleted from the first list information.

Further, when the processing unit 110 exceeds the first threshold Th1 for the time during which the setting process for the electronic device 100 is not performed by the terminal device 200 after establishing the connection with the terminal device 200 using the internal access point, the terminal The device 200 may be set as a wireless connection refusal target for a given set time. In other words, after the terminal device 200 is registered in the wireless connection refusal target, the terminal device 200 is excluded from the wireless connection refusal target after a lapse of a given set time.

By doing so, it is possible to suppress the connection with the terminal device 200 that has not been set, and to allow the connection request from the terminal device 200 after the set time has elapsed, so that flexible communication control can be performed. Will be possible. When the terminal device 200 that performs the setting process is erroneously set as the wireless connection refusal target, the user can execute the setting process without restarting or canceling the electronic device 100.

However, if the given set time is excessively shortened, the effect of suppressing the establishment of a connection with an inappropriate terminal device 200 is impaired. On the other hand, if the set time is excessively long, if the terminal device 200 that performs the setting process is erroneously set as the wireless connection refusal target, the user waits for a long time, which is not convenient.

Therefore, the processing unit 110 performs a process of lengthening the set time set as the wireless connection refusal target as the number of times the terminal device 200 is set as the wireless connection refusal target increases. For example, when the wireless connection is rejected for the first time, the set time is set to 10 seconds, the second time is set to 20 seconds, and the third time is set to 30 seconds. It should be noted that various modifications can be made regarding the relationship between the number of times and the set time.

By doing so, the higher the probability that the terminal device 200 does not perform the setting process, the longer the time for setting the wireless connection refusal target becomes, so that it is possible to suppress the establishment of a connection with an inappropriate terminal device 200. Further, even if the terminal device 200 that performs the setting process is mistakenly set as the wireless connection refusal target, it is assumed that the number of times the setting process is set as the wireless connection refusal target is small, so that the setting process is started in a relatively short time. can.

In this case, the first storage unit 151 stores the identification information of the terminal device 200 and the number of times the terminal device 200 is set as the wireless connection refusal target in association with each other as the first list information. The number of times set as the wireless connection refusal target is reset to 0 when the power of the electronic device 100 is turned off. Further, the storage unit 150 stores information relating the number of times set as the wireless connection refusal target and the set time. Since it is preferable that the information relating the number of times and the set time is not erased when the power of the electronic device 100 is turned off, the information is stored in a non-volatile memory such as the second storage unit 152. The information relating the number of times and the set time may be information such as a look-up table or information on a relational expression.

The processing unit 110 performs timekeeping processing using a timekeeping unit (not shown), and monitors whether or not the set time corresponding to the number of times has elapsed for each terminal device 200 set as the wireless connection refusal target. When it is determined that the set time has elapsed, the processing unit 110 performs a process of deleting the identification information of the terminal device 200 to be processed from the first list information.

Various modifications can be made to the information format and management method in this modification. For example, the number of times set as the wireless connection refusal target may be managed as information different from the first list information. Alternatively, the terminal device 200 in which the flag information indicating active / inactive is added to the first list information, the identification information is stored in the first list information, and the flag information is active is rejected by wireless connection. It may be processed as a target. In this case, the process of canceling the terminal device 200 for which the set time has elapsed from the wireless connection refusal target is realized not by the process of deleting the identification information but by the process of deactivating the flag information.

Although the embodiments to which the present invention is applied and the modified examples thereof have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the respective embodiments and the modified examples as they are, and at the implementation stage, the present invention is within a range that does not deviate from the gist of the invention. The components can be transformed and embodied with. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the above-described embodiments and modifications. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components described in each embodiment or modification. Further, the components described in different embodiments and modifications may be combined as appropriate. Also, in the specification or drawings, a term described at least once with a different term having a broader meaning or a synonym may be replaced with the different term in any part of the specification or the drawing. As described above, various modifications and applications are possible within a range that does not deviate from the gist of the invention.

10 ... communication system, 11 ... POS system, 100 ... electronic device, 110 ... processing unit,
120 ... Operation unit, 130 ... Printing unit, 140 ... Communication unit, 150 ... Storage unit,
151 ... 1st storage unit, 152 ... 2nd storage unit, 200 ... terminal device, 210 ... processing unit,
220 ... Display unit, 230 ... Operation unit, 240 ... Communication unit, 250 ... Storage unit,
300 ... Terminal device (printing terminal device), AP ... External access point,
B12a ... Power button, B12b ... Setting button, N1, N2 ... Wireless network

Claims (10)

A communication unit that performs wireless communication using the internal access point of an electronic device,
A processing unit that controls communication of the communication unit and
Including
The communication unit
Perform the wireless communication using the internal access point in which the upper limit of the connectable terminal device is set and the identifier is fixed.
The processing unit
When the time during which the setting process for the electronic device is not performed by the terminal device exceeds the first threshold after establishing the wireless connection with the terminal device using the internal access point, the wireless connection with the terminal device is performed. Performs a process of disconnecting the connection and a process of setting the terminal device as a wireless connection refusal target.
The processing unit
Control to reject the connection request from the terminal device set as the wireless connection rejection target ,
An electronic device characterized in that the setting process for the electronic device is an initial setting process of the electronic device by the terminal device or a setting change process of the electronic device by the terminal device . In claim 1,
The processing unit
When the setting process for the electronic device is performed by the terminal device during a period in which the elapsed time from establishing the wireless connection with the terminal device is equal to or less than the second threshold value, the terminal device is set as the wireless connection priority target. Perform the setting process and
An electronic device characterized in that the establishment of a wireless connection with the terminal device set as the wireless connection priority target is prioritized over the establishment of a wireless connection with the terminal device not set as the wireless connection priority target. .. In claim 2,
An electronic device characterized in that the second threshold value is equal to or lower than the first threshold value. In claim 2 or 3,
The processing unit
When the terminal device set as the wireless connection priority target exists, the terminal device not set as the wireless connection priority target is used until the elapsed time from turning on the power of the electronic device exceeds the third threshold value. An electronic device characterized by controlling the rejection of a connection request. In claim 2 or 3,
When the upper limit value of the terminal device that can be connected to the internal access point is N (N is an integer of 2 or more).
The processing unit
When the number of the terminal devices set as the wireless connection priority target is N, the terminal device is not set as the wireless connection priority target until the elapsed time from the power-on of the electronic device exceeds the third threshold value. Rejecting the connection request from the terminal device,
When the number of the terminal devices set as the wireless connection priority target is less than N, the wireless connection priority target is set even if the elapsed time from the power-on of the electronic device is equal to or less than the third threshold value. An electronic device characterized by performing control to allow a connection request from the terminal device that has not been set. In any of claims 2 to 5,
A first storage unit for storing information of the terminal device set as the wireless connection refusal target, and a first storage unit.
An electronic device including a second storage unit that stores information of the terminal device set as the wireless connection priority target. In claim 6, the first storage unit is a volatile memory.
The second storage unit is an electronic device characterized by being a non-volatile memory. In any one of claims 1 to 7,
The processing unit
When the time during which the setting process for the electronic device is not performed by the terminal device exceeds the first threshold value after the connection with the terminal device is established by using the internal access point, the terminal device is used. An electronic device characterized by performing a process of setting a wireless connection refusal target for a given set time. In claim 8,
The processing unit
An electronic device characterized in that a process of lengthening the set time set as the wireless connection refusal target is performed as the number of times the terminal device is set as the wireless connection refusal target increases. In any of claims 1 to 9,
The electronic device is characterized in that the setting process is the initial setting process or the setting change process for a setting item related to printing of an electronic device or a setting item related to communication of an electronic device.

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