JP7141437B2 - Communication device, communication method and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to communication control technology in wireless communication.

A wireless LAN system represented by the IEEE802.11 standard series is used by many devices. In a wireless LAN, a network is controlled by an access point (hereinafter referred to as "AP") that operates as a base station capable of accommodating one or more wireless terminals. A wireless LAN network is composed of an AP and a station (hereinafter referred to as "STA") which is a wireless terminal existing within the reach of radio waves emitted by the AP and establishing a wireless connection with the AP. be done. In recent years, not only simple wireless network configurations using conventional APs and STAs, but also products and specification standards for implementing various types of wireless LAN networks have appeared.

In order to participate in multiple wireless networks, an AP function (hereinafter referred to as "AP mode") that communicates as a base station and an STA function (hereinafter referred to as STA function) that communicates by connecting to other devices that operate as base stations. , called “STA mode”) in parallel. Such a communication device can operate as an STA and connect to another AP while operating as an AP to construct another network (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2011-259033 A JP 2013-172275 A

When a communication device executes the STA mode and the AP mode in parallel, restrictions may occur on the wireless channels that the communication device can use for communication, and such restrictions impair the user's convenience. There is

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to prevent user convenience from being impaired due to restrictions on usable communication channels in a communication apparatus capable of executing a plurality of communication modes in parallel. do.

A communication device of the present invention is a communication device capable of executing a first mode of participating in a first wireless network constructed by another communication device and a second mode of constructing a second wireless network. and a control means for switching the radio channel used in the second radio network according to the first radio channel used in the first radio network in which the communication device participates, If the first radio channel is a 5 GHz band radio channel and is a specific radio channel that is required to have a predetermined function for avoiding radio interference , When the second wireless network is constructed using a second wireless channel different from the first wireless channel, and the first wireless channel is a wireless channel in the 5 GHz band and is not the specific wireless channel constructs the second wireless network on the first wireless channel.

Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, in a communication device capable of concurrently executing a plurality of communication modes, it is possible to prevent user's convenience from being impaired due to restrictions on usable communication channels.

The figure which shows the structural example of a radio|wireless communications system. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the STA-AP 101; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example of STA-AP 101; 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of STA mode connection processing; 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of AP mode activation processing; FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of processing in a wireless communication system; 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of STA mode connection processing; 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of AP mode activation processing; 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of print processing; FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of processing in a wireless communication system; FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of processing in a wireless communication system;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, after describing the configuration of a wireless communication system and the configuration of a communication device (STA-AP 101, which will be described later) included in the wireless communication system, which are common to each embodiment, the flow of processing according to each embodiment will be described.

(Configuration of wireless communication system)
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a wireless communication system according to each embodiment. This wireless communication system is a wireless LAN communication system conforming to the IEEE802.11 standard series, and includes a plurality of communication devices (STA-AP101, AP102, STA103, and STA104).

The STA-AP 101 is a communication device that complies with the IEEE 802.11 standard and has both STA (station) mode and AP (access point) mode functions, and is capable of performing communication in parallel with the STA mode and AP mode. It is a device. On the other hand, the AP 102 is a communication device that functions as an access point conforming to the IEEE802.11 standard, and the STA103 and STA104 are communication devices that function as stations conforming to the IEEE802.11 standard.

The STA-AP 101 can participate in the first wireless network constructed by other communication devices having AP functions in the STA mode. Furthermore, the STA-AP 101 can establish a second wireless network in AP mode that is different from the first wireless network that it participates in in STA mode. FIG. 1 shows that STA-AP 101 can establish wireless network 106 in AP mode while joining wireless network 105 established by AP 102 in STA mode. FIG. 1 further shows a state in which STA 103 can participate in wireless network 105 constructed by AP 102, and STA 104 can participate in wireless network 106 constructed by STA-AP 101 in AP mode.

In a communication device such as the STA-AP 101 that can execute the STA mode and the AP mode in parallel, there are cases where the radio channels that the communication device can use for communication are restricted as described above. For example, due to hardware restrictions, a communication device that can only communicate with one radio channel must use the same radio channel in the STA mode and the AP mode. That is, when such a communication device participates in a 2.4 GHz band 1ch (2412 MHz) wireless network in STA mode, it is necessary to construct a wireless network with 2.4 GHz band 1ch (2412 MHz) in AP mode as well.

Note that there are also communication devices that have multiple RF control modules and multiple antennas so that they can participate in wireless networks on different wireless channels. However, having multiple RF control modules and antennas can complicate the arrangement of circuits and antennas, increase costs, and increase the size of the device. Therefore, it is not necessarily realistic for all communication devices capable of concurrently executing AP mode and STA mode to have such multiple RF control modules and antennas.

Therefore, the STA-AP 101 according to this embodiment has one RF control circuit and can operate only on one wireless channel at one time. Therefore, when STA-AP 101 executes STA mode and AP mode in parallel, wireless network 105 and wireless network 106 must be constructed with the same wireless channel.

Note that there may be various usage restrictions depending on the radio channel. For example, most communication devices having a wireless LAN function can communicate in the 2.4 GHz band, but even such communication devices may not be compatible with communication in the 5 GHz band. Therefore, when a wireless network is constructed in the 5 GHz band, it may be impossible to communicate with some communication devices in the wireless network.

Also, in some countries and regions, wireless channels called W53 (ch52-60: 5260MHz-5320MHz) and W56 (ch100-140: 5500MHz-5700MHz) in the 5GHz band are used to prevent interference with other systems. restrictions are imposed. For example, communication devices are required to have mechanisms such as DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) and TPC (Transmit Power Control) in order to use these radio channels. In particular, an AP that builds a W53/W56 wireless network needs to have hardware for detecting radar, which may increase manufacturing/operating costs and complicate control. In addition, since such an AP needs to detect radar for a certain period of time in order to establish a wireless network, wireless communication cannot be performed during that period, and as a result, user convenience may be reduced. Also, when such an AP detects radar, it is necessary to switch the channel to be used to another wireless channel, and at that time radar detection may be required again.

The STA-AP 101 according to this embodiment performs communication control on the assumption that such restrictions exist. Specifically, when the STA-AP 101 is connected to a surrounding AP in STA mode, for example, when the wireless channel is a 5 GHz band wireless channel or a wireless channel included in W53/W56, For example, the AP mode is not activated or stopped. Further, when the wireless channel for connecting to APs existing in the vicinity in the STA mode is the above-described predetermined wireless channel, the STA-AP 101 activates the AP mode in the 2.4 GHz band, for example, and connects to the AP mode. STA mode and STA mode are switched in a time division manner and started. If the STA mode and the AP mode are executed in parallel by activating the AP mode on the wireless channel used in the STA mode by these controls, problems such as other devices being unable to connect to the wireless network constructed in the AP mode will occur. can be prevented from occurring. If the wireless channel for connecting to APs existing in the vicinity in the STA mode is not the above-mentioned predetermined wireless channel, the STA-AP 101 uses the same wireless channel as the wireless channel used in the STA mode. start/restart the . As a result, the STA-AP 101 can execute the STA mode and the AP mode in parallel on a wireless channel that does not cause problems such as other devices being unable to connect to the wireless network constructed in the AP mode.

(Configuration of STA-AP101)
FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration example of the STA-AP 101. As shown in FIG. The STA-AP 101 includes, for example, a storage unit 201, a control unit 202, a function unit 203, an input unit 204, an output unit 205, a communication unit 206, and an antenna 207 as its hardware configuration.

The storage unit 201 is configured by, for example, both ROM and RAM, or either one of them, and stores various information such as programs for performing various operations described later and communication parameters for wireless communication. Here, ROM is an acronym for Read Only Memory and RAM is an acronym for Random Access Memory. As the storage unit 201, in addition to memories such as ROM and RAM, storage media such as flexible disks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, DVDs, etc. may be used.

The control unit 202 is composed of at least one CPU or MPU, and controls the entire STA-AP 101 by executing programs stored in the storage unit 201 . Here, CPU is an acronym for Central Processing Unit and MPU is an acronym for Micro Processing Unit. Note that the control unit 202 may control the entire STA-AP 101 in cooperation with the programs stored in the storage unit 201 and the OS. Here, OS is an acronym for Operating System. Also, the control unit 202 controls the function unit 203 to perform predetermined processing such as imaging, printing, and projection.

The functional unit 203 is hardware for the STA-AP 101 to execute predetermined processing. For example, when the STA-AP 101 is a camera, the functional unit 203 is an imaging unit and performs imaging processing. Also, for example, if the STA-AP 101 is a printer, the functional unit 203 is a printing unit and performs print processing. Further, for example, when the STA-AP 101 is a projector, the functional unit 203 is a projection unit and performs projection processing. The data processed by the functional unit 203 may be data stored in the storage unit 201, or may be data communicated with another communication device via the communication unit 206, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the STA-AP 101 is a printer and executes print processing as a predetermined process. It can be a functional device.

The input unit 204 receives various operations from the user. The output unit 205 performs various outputs to the user. Here, the output from the output unit 205 includes at least one of display on a screen, audio output from a speaker, vibration output, and the like. Note that both the input unit 204 and the output unit 205 may be realized by one module like a touch panel.

The communication unit 206 controls wireless communication conforming to the IEEE802.11 standard series and IP communication. IP is an acronym for Internet Protocol. Also, the communication unit 206 controls the antenna 207 to transmit and receive wireless signals for wireless communication. The STA-AP 101 communicates contents such as image data, document data, and video data with other communication devices via the communication unit 206 . Note that the communication unit 206 of the STA-AP 101 according to this embodiment uses one RF control module (so-called wireless chip) and one antenna, and can perform communication only on one wireless channel at a certain time.

FIG. 3 shows a functional configuration example of the STA-AP 101. As shown in FIG. The STA-AP 101 has, for example, a wireless LAN control unit 301, an STA control unit 302, an AP control unit 303, a print control unit 304, and an operation control unit 305 as functional configurations.

The wireless LAN control unit 301 performs control for transmitting/receiving wireless signals according to the signal format of the corresponding wireless LAN with a communication device capable of communicating by another wireless LAN. Also, the wireless LAN control unit 301 executes various controls related to the wireless LAN according to the IEEE802.11 standard series. The STA control unit 302 is a control unit that performs control in the STA mode, and performs control for connecting to a communication device functioning as an AP different from itself. The AP control unit 303 is a control unit that performs control in the AP mode, and controls itself to function as an AP and configure a wireless network.

Upon receiving a print job from another communication apparatus via the wireless LAN control unit 301, the print control unit 304 executes printing according to the print job. In this embodiment, the case where the STA-AP 101 is a printer has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the STA-AP 101 is a camera, it may have a photographing control unit, and if it is a scanner, it may have a reading control unit. can have a part The operation control unit 305 receives and manages operations from the user of the STA-AP 101, and in response to the operations, the wireless LAN control unit 301, the STA control unit 302, the AP control unit 303, and the print control unit 304. , to deliver the right signal at the right time.

In one example, the functions of these control units 301 to 305 are realized by the control unit 202 executing a program stored in the storage unit 201 . At this time, the control unit 202 realizes each function by controlling each hardware and calculating and processing information according to the control program. Note that part or all of the functional configuration of FIG. 3 may be implemented as hardware. In this case, part or all of the control units 301 to 305 are configured by, for example, ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

(Processing flow)
Next, several embodiments of the processing executed by the STA-AP 101 described above will be described.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 4 shows an example of the processing flow when STA-AP 101 joins wireless network 105 in STA mode. This processing is executed when the user of the STA-AP 101 has completed the setting for allowing the STA-AP 101 to participate in the wireless LAN network. Settings for participating in a wireless LAN network include settings such as SSID for identifying the network, security method, and passphrase. Also, after the user executes this setting once, the STA-AP 101 executes this process when it is not participating in the network in STA mode or when the power is turned on. It is assumed here that the STA 104 can communicate only in the 2.4 GHz band and does not support the 5 GHz band. For this reason, the STA-AP 101 of the present embodiment stops or does not start the AP mode when using the 5 GHz band in the STA mode, and uses the same radio as the STA mode when using the 2.4 GHz band in the STA mode. Activate AP mode on the channel.

The flow chart shown in FIG. 4 can be realized by executing the control program stored in the storage unit 201 by the control unit 202 of the STA-AP 101 to perform calculation and processing of information and control of each hardware. .

First, the STA-AP 101 searches for APs according to the settings input by the user through the input unit 204 (S401). The STA-AP 101, for example, searches for an AP that matches the SSID and security scheme specified by the user by transmitting a Probe Request defined in the IEEE802.11 standard series. While the STA-AP 101 cannot find an AP (NO in S402), it continues searching for an AP, and when it finds an AP (YES in S402), the process proceeds to S403. Here, a case has been described where the user completes wireless settings in advance and then searches for an AP, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, after searching for surrounding APs, the STA-AP 101 notifies the user of connection candidate APs via the output unit 205, for example. you can go

In S403, the STA-AP 101 determines whether it itself is executing the AP mode. That is, STA-AP 101 determines whether or not wireless network 105 is established by AP control section 303 . If the STA-AP 101 determines that the AP mode is being executed (YES in S403), it determines whether the AP discovered in S401 is operating in the 5 GHz band, that is, constructs a wireless network in the 5 GHz frequency band. It is determined whether or not (S404). If the STA-AP 101 determines that the discovered AP operates in the 5 GHz band (YES in S404), it then determines whether it is waiting for a print job in the AP mode currently being executed by itself. (S405). This can also be said to be a judgment as to whether or not the STA-AP 101 is currently receiving a print job from another communication apparatus participating in the wireless network 106 constructed in the AP mode and is currently printing. That is, if the STA-AP 101 is printing, it determines that it is not waiting for a print job (NO in S405). ). Even if printing is not in progress, a print job received from another communication apparatus is stored in the storage unit 201, that is, a job waiting to be printed is held. It may be determined that there is no (NO in S405). For example, even if an error such as out of paper or out of ink occurs during printing and printing is interrupted, it may be determined that the printer is not waiting for a print job (NO in S405). If the STA-AP 101 determines that it is printing and is not waiting for a print job (NO in S405), it waits until it is waiting for a print job. If the STA-AP 101 determines that it is waiting for a print job in the AP mode (YES in S405), it stops the AP mode (S406). That is, the STA-AP 101 maintains communication in the AP mode without stopping the AP mode until the print process is not executed at that time, and after the print process is not executed, the STA-AP 101 Stop AP mode. This prevents the AP mode from being stopped when printing is being executed based on a print job received from another communication device participating in a network constructed in the AP mode, thereby preventing a print request from another communication device. is successfully completed, the network can be removed.

Note that the STA-AP 101 may notify the user that the operation in the AP mode has been stopped when the AP mode is stopped. As a result, for example, the user of the STA 104 needs to connect the STA 104 to the AP to which the STA-AP 101 is connected in the STA mode instead of directly connecting the STA 104 to the STA-AP 101 in order to execute printing with the STA-AP 101. can know. Also, the STA-AP 101 may accept the user's selection as to whether or not to stop the AP mode before stopping the AP mode in S406. For example, the STA-AP 101 may display a selection screen on the output unit 205 and advance the process to S407 only when the user permits stopping the AP mode.

After that, the STA-AP 101 connects to the AP (operating in the 5 GHz band) discovered in S401 (S407). When the STA-AP 101 operates at 5 GHz in the STA mode and simultaneously operates in the AP mode, the STA-AP 101 operates at the 5 GHz band even in the AP mode. If the STA-AP 101 activates the wireless network 106 in the 5 GHz band in AP mode, other communication devices operating only in the 2.4 GHz band cannot join the wireless network 106 . As a result, even though the STA-AP 101 is running the AP mode, an event may occur in which the communication device cannot participate in the wireless network constructed in the AP mode, which may confuse the user. be. In contrast, the STA-AP 101 according to this embodiment stops operating in the AP mode when operating in the 5 GHz band in the STA mode. As a result, the STA-AP 101 can operate in the 5 GHz band in the STA mode and simultaneously suppress the operation in the 5 GHz band in the AP mode. Such user confusion can be prevented.

Also, the AP 102 having only the AP function often has RF control functions for both the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band. Therefore, the AP 102 may be able to construct a separate network (not shown) in the 2.4 GHz band while constructing the network 105 accommodating the STA-AP 101 in the 5 GHz band. In such a case, STA 104 having a 2.4 GHz band wireless LAN function may be able to communicate with STA-AP 101 via AP 102 . Therefore, the STA-AP 101 stops the AP mode instead of executing the AP mode in the 5 GHz band, and notifies the user to that effect, thereby allowing the user to connect the STA 104 to the STA-AP 101 via the AP 102. You can perform operations for

Returning to S403, if the STA-AP 101 determines that the AP mode is not being executed (NO in S403), it immediately connects to the AP found in S401 (S407). This is because there is no need to consider radio channel restrictions unless the STA mode and AP mode can be executed in parallel. In addition, if the operating frequency of the discovered AP is not in the 5 GHz band in S404 (NO in S404), the STA-AP 101 does not match the wireless channel of the discovered AP with the wireless channel it uses in AP mode. It is determined whether or not they are different (S408). If these radio channels are the same (NO in S408), STA-AP 101 connects to the discovered AP (S407). On the other hand, if these radio channels are different from each other (YES in S408), the STA-AP 101 changes the radio channel used in its own AP mode to the same radio channel as the found AP, and switches to the AP mode. Restart (S409). After restarting the AP mode, the STA-AP 101 connects to the AP found in S401 (S407). This makes it possible to realize simultaneous operation in the STA-AP 101, which can execute the STA mode and AP mode on only one radio channel at the same time. In S409, as in S405, if there is a print job before changing the wireless channel used in the AP mode, the process may wait until the printing is completed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the printing from being interrupted in the middle. On the other hand, if the wireless channel is changed before the print job is finished, the communication device sending the print job immediately tries to reconnect, so that printing can be performed normally without interruption. Also, in this case, the STA-AP 101 can quickly connect to the AP discovered in S401.

Next, the flow of processing when the STA-AP 101 activates the AP mode will be described using FIG. This processing is executed when the user of the STA-AP 101 completes the setting for configuring the wireless LAN network in the STA-AP 101. FIG. Settings for configuring a wireless LAN network include settings such as SSID for identifying the network, security method, and passphrase. Also, after the user executes this setting once, the STA-AP 101 executes this process when the power is turned on. STA-AP 101 can re-execute this processing when the AP mode is once stopped according to the flowchart of FIG. good. The flowchart shown in FIG. 5 can be realized by executing the control program stored in the storage unit 201 by the control unit 202 of the STA-AP 101, and by executing calculation and processing of information and control of each hardware. .

First, the STA-AP 101 determines whether or not it is connected to another AP in STA mode (S501). If the STA-AP 101 determines that it is connected to the AP in the STA mode (YES in S501), it next determines whether the frequency band used in the STA mode is the 5 GHz band (S502). ). The STA-AP 101 notifies the user that the AP mode cannot be activated when the frequency band used in the STA mode is the 5 GHz band (S503). At this time, if this processing is not started by an explicit instruction from the user, the STA-AP 101 can activate the AP mode by displaying an icon or the like on the display provided as the output unit 205. You can let us know you can't.

If the frequency band used in the STA mode is not the 5 GHz band but the 2.4 GHz band (NO in S503), the STA-AP 101 activates the AP mode using the same radio channel as the radio channel used in the STA mode ( S504). As a result, the STA-AP 101, which is capable of wireless communication only on one wireless channel, can simultaneously perform wireless communication in the STA mode and the AP mode.

On the other hand, when the STA-AP 101 determines that it is not connected to the AP in the STA mode (NO in S501), it searches for an available channel in the 2.4 GHz band (S505) and determines that it is available. AP mode is activated using a wireless channel (S506).

Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the flow of processing executed in the wireless communication system according to this embodiment will be described. First, the STA-AP 101 starts STA mode connection processing in response to being activated (S601). This processing is executed according to the flowchart of FIG. The STA-AP 101 transmits a Probe Request to search for the AP 102 according to the wireless settings preset by the user (S602). At this time, it is assumed that the AP 102 does not transmit a Probe Response because it is not powered on or is located away from the STA-AP 101, and the STA-AP 101 cannot find the AP 102 at this time. .

Next, it is assumed that the user operates the input unit 204 to instruct the STA-AP 101 to activate the AP mode (S603). Upon receiving the AP mode activation instruction, the STA-AP 101 executes AP mode activation processing according to FIG. 5 (S604). At this time, since the STA-AP 101 is not connected to the AP in STA mode, it searches for an available radio channel in the 2.4 GHz band (S605). Here, it is assumed that STA-AP 101 determines that 1ch is available as a result of searching. The STA-AP 101 activates the AP mode on 1ch according to this determination result and constructs the wireless network 106 (S606).

Here, it is assumed that the STA 104 has executed connection processing to request printing from the STA-AP 101 (S607). Connection processing is performed according to the IEEE802.11 standard, and connection is established after Authentication, Association, and key exchange are performed. After joining the wireless network 106, the STA 104 requests the STA-AP 101 to print (S608). Upon receiving a print request, STA-AP 101 continuously receives data for printing from STA 104 . Although not shown, the transmission and reception of data for printing at this time is assumed to continue until printing is completed in S611, which will be described later.

Here, it is assumed that the STA-AP 101 was able to discover the AP 102 by transmitting a Probe Request during the print request and receiving a Probe Response from the AP 102 (S609, S610). Also, at this time, it is assumed that the wireless channel used by the AP 102 is 36ch in the 5 GHz band. When the STA-AP 101 discovers the AP 102, it will connect to the AP 102 in the STA mode. However, since printing is being performed in the AP mode at this point, connection processing will not be performed until the printing is completed.

After that, when printing in the AP mode is completed, the STA-AP 101 transmits a print completion notification to the STA 104 (S611). After transmitting the print completion notification, the STA-AP 101 next executes disconnection processing for disconnecting from the STA 104 participating in the wireless network 106 (S612). For example, the STA-AP 101 disconnects an established connection by sending a Deauthentication message according to the IEEE802.11 standard. After completing the disconnection process, the STA-AP 101 stops operating in the AP mode (S613). After stopping the operation in the AP mode, the STA-AP 101 executes connection processing for establishing connection with the AP 102 (S614). After that, the STA-AP 101 can accept print requests and the like from communication devices (for example, the STA 103) participating in the wireless network 105. FIG.

As described above, the STA-AP 101 controls to use the same radio channel of the 2.4 GHz band instead of using the radio channel of the 5 GHz band during simultaneous operation of the STA mode and the AP mode. be able to. In addition, operation in the 5 GHz band is also possible during independent operation in the STA mode.

In the above description, in order to support a communication device (for example, STA 104) that operates only in the 2.4 GHz band in the AP mode, the STA-AP 101 is connected in the STA mode to an AP that operates in the 5 GHz band. In this case, the AP mode is stopped. However, STA-AP 101 may originally communicate with STA 104 in the 5 GHz band in AP mode. In this case, the STA-AP 101 may determine in S404 whether the discovered AP is operating in the 2.4 GHz band. That is, the STA-AP 101 stops the AP mode when the frequency band used in the currently operating AP mode and the frequency band used by the AP to be connected in the STA mode are different from each other. can be In addition, the frequency band here refers to one frequency band including a plurality of radio channels such as the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band, and the radio channel refers to one or more of those frequency bands. Refers to sub-bands. That is, STA-AP 101 determines in S404 whether or not the used frequency bands match. A determination is made (S408). Also, if the STA 104 connected in AP mode supports the frequency band used by the discovered AP, the STA-AP 101 does not have to stop the AP mode. Therefore, STA-AP 101 may perform communication to confirm the frequency band supported by STA 104 connected in AP mode.

In addition, when the STA 104 can use only the 5 GHz band, or when the 5 GHz band should be used when operating in the AP mode, the STA-AP 101 uses the 2.4 GHz band in the STA mode. , the AP mode cannot be activated. Therefore, in this case, the STA-AP 101 can determine in S502 that the AP mode cannot be activated when the frequency band used in the STA mode is the 2.4 GHz band. Also, in this case, the STA-AP 101 can search for a free channel in the 5 GHz band in S505.

<Embodiment 2>
In the first embodiment, parallel execution of the STA mode and the AP mode in the 5 GHz band is restricted. Restricts parallel execution with AP mode. When the STA-AP 101 activates the AP mode on the wireless channel W53/W56, it must perform radar detection processing for a certain period of time before activation in order to confirm that it does not interfere with weather radar. , wireless communication cannot be performed during that period. Further, even if the STA-AP 101 builds the wireless network 106 without detecting radar radio waves for a certain period of time, it is necessary to continuously execute radar detection processing thereafter. Further, when the STA-AP 101 detects radar radio waves, it is necessary to stop wireless communication on that wireless channel for a certain period of time and switch to another wireless channel. Furthermore, since the STA-AP 101 may need to perform radar detection again at the time of this switching, the period during which communication is not possible may extend over a long period of time, resulting in reduced convenience for the user. For example, even though the STA-AP 101 is printing in the STA mode, it detects radar radio waves in the AP mode, switches to another wireless channel, and then performs radar detection processing for a certain period of time on the switched wireless channel. You may have to do something. In this case, the STA-AP 101 cannot receive the job being printed in the STA mode in the middle, so printing may not end normally.

For this reason, in this embodiment, the STA-AP 101 does not determine whether or not the frequency band used by the discovered AP is the 5 GHz band in S404 of FIG. Determine if the channel is included in W53/W56. Also, in S502 of FIG. 5, the STA-AP 101 does not determine whether the frequency band used in the STA mode is the 5 GHz band, but determines whether the wireless channel being used is included in W53/W56. confirm whether or not The STA-AP 101 then determines that the AP mode cannot be activated when the wireless channel used in the STA mode is included in W53/W56. Also, if the radio channel used in the STA mode is not included in W53/W56, the STA-AP 101 activates the AP mode using the same radio channel as the radio channel used in the STA mode.

Furthermore, in S505 and S506, the STA-AP 101 can increase the possibility of being able to connect with various communication devices by activating the AP mode in an empty wireless channel in the 2.4 GHz band. That is, the STA-AP 101 activates the AP mode in the 2.4 GHz band instead of activating the AP mode in the 5 GHz band when the STA mode is not activated. This allows more communication devices to connect to the STA-AP 101 in AP mode.

<Embodiment 3>
Although communication is limited to a single wireless channel at a time due to hardware limitations, by dynamically switching channels in time division, it is possible to participate in multiple wireless networks using different wireless channels in parallel. Device exists. Such a communication device can participate in a wireless network different from 1ch such as 6ch in AP mode even when participating in a 1ch wireless network in STA mode. At this time, the communication device enters the Power Save defined by the IEEE802.11 standard, thereby notifying the AP of the wireless network participating in the STA mode that packets cannot be received at timings other than before and after the beacon is transmitted. to be notified. Then, the communication device operates in the AP mode radio channel at timings other than before and after the beacon is transmitted. Then, the communication device transmits RTS/CTS in the radio channel of the wireless network participating in the AP mode at the timing when the beacon is transmitted in the wireless network participating in the STA mode, and the other communication device transmits the packet. restrain from doing. Then, the communication device can switch to the radio channel of the wireless network and communicate with the communication device in the wireless network at the timing when the beacon is transmitted in the wireless network participating in the STA mode.

In this embodiment, the STA-AP 101 dynamically switches between a plurality of radio channels in this manner, thereby enabling time-division (pseudo) parallel communication on a plurality of radio channels. Then, when the STA-AP 101 executes the STA mode and the AP mode in parallel, if the frequency band used by the AP discovered when the STA mode is activated is the 5 GHz band, the AP mode is operated in the 2.4 GHz band. .

Differences in this embodiment from the first embodiment will be described below. 7 to 9, which will be described later, the control unit 202 of the STA-AP 101 executes a control program stored in the storage unit 201, and executes calculation and processing of information and control of each hardware. It can be realized by

FIG. 7 shows an example of the flow of processing when STA-AP 101 joins wireless network 105 in STA mode. S701 to S704, S707, and S708 are the same as S401 to S404, S408, and S409, respectively, in FIG. 4, so description thereof will be omitted. When the used frequency band of the discovered AP is the 5 GHz band, the STA-AP 101 sets its own operation mode to the dynamic channel change mode in order to connect to the AP while using the 2.4 GHz band in the AP mode. (S705). In the dynamic channel change mode, the STA-AP 101 can dynamically change the radio channel to be used by time division. After setting the dynamic channel change mode, the STA-AP 101 connects to the AP found in S702 in the 5 GHz band (S706).

FIG. 8 shows the flow of processing when the STA-AP 101 activates the AP mode. S801, S805, and S806 are the same as S501, S505, and S506 in FIG. 5, respectively, so description thereof will be omitted. When the STA-AP 101 determines in S801 that it is connected to the AP in the STA mode, it determines whether the frequency band used in the STA mode is the 2.4 GHz band (S802). When the STA-AP 101 determines that the frequency band used in the STA mode is the 2.4 GHz band (YES in S802), it activates the AP mode with the same radio channel as the radio channel used in the STA mode. (S803). On the other hand, when the STA-AP 101 determines that the frequency band used in the STA mode is the 5 GHz band (NO in S802), it sets its own operation mode to the dynamic channel change mode (S804). Then, in S805 and S806, the STA-AP 101 searches for an empty radio channel in the 2.4 GHz band and activates the AP mode on the empty channel.

As described above, even if the frequency band used in the STA mode is the 5 GHz band, the AP mode can be operated in the 2.4 GHz band, which is supported by more communication devices, so that other communication devices can can improve connectivity with Also, when the frequency band used in the STA mode is the 2.4 GHz band, the STA-AP 101 operates in the same radio channel as the radio channel used in the STA mode in the AP mode. This eliminates the need to dynamically switch wireless channels in a time-division manner, thereby stabilizing wireless communication.

Next, the flow of print processing will be described with reference to FIG. This processing is executed when the STA-AP 101 receives a print job from another communication device in either AP mode or STA mode. When the STA-AP 101 receives a print job, it first determines whether its own operation mode is the dynamic channel change mode (S901). When the STA-AP 101 determines that its own operation mode is not the dynamic channel change mode (NO in S901), it starts print processing based on the received print job (S902). On the other hand, if the STA-AP 101 determines that its own operation mode is the dynamic channel change mode (YES in S901), the STA-AP 101 does not receive a print job in order to stably execute printing. Wireless communication in one mode is temporarily stopped (S903). For example, when the STA-AP 101 receives a print job from a communication device participating in the wireless network 105, it temporarily suspends the AP mode. That is, STA-AP 101 stops communication on wireless network 106 . On the other hand, when the STA-AP 101 receives a print job from a communication device participating in the wireless network 106 , the STA-AP 101 temporarily suspends the STA mode and leaves the wireless network 105 . When the STA-AP 101 stops the wireless communication on the side from which the print job is not received, the STA-AP 101 executes print processing from the communication apparatus participating in the wireless network on the side that received the print job (S904). After completing the printing, the STA-AP 101 resumes the wireless communication in the mode stopped in S903 (S905). That is, the STA-AP 101 reconstructs the wireless network 106 if the AP mode was stopped in S903, and rejoins the wireless network 105 if the STA mode was stopped in S903.

Next, the flow of processing in the wireless communication system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. FIG. 10 shows an example of the flow of processing when the AP 102 operates using the 5 GHz band, and FIG. 11 shows an example of the flow of processing when the AP 102 operates using the 2.4 GHz band. shows an example.

In FIG. 10, S1001 to S1007 are the same as S601 to S607 in FIG. 6, so the description is omitted. It is assumed that STA-AP 101 discovers AP 102 after S1007 (S1008, S1009). In this case, the STA-AP 101, according to FIG. 7, is starting the AP mode, and since the discovered AP is operating using the 5 GHz band, the STA-AP 101 sets its own operation mode to the dynamic channel change mode (S1010 ). STA-AP 101 then connects to AP 102 and joins wireless network 105 (S1011). Here, it is assumed that STA-AP 101 receives a print request from STA 104 participating in wireless network 106 (S1012). Then, according to FIG. 9, the STA-AP 101 temporarily withdraws from the wireless network 105 that has not received the print request because its operation mode is the dynamic channel change mode (S1013). When the printing is completed, the STA-AP 101 transmits a print completion notification to the STA 104 (S1014), and joins the wireless network 105 again (S1015).

Next, FIG. 11 will be described. In FIG. 11, steps S1101 to S1109 are the same as steps S1001 to S1009 in FIG. 10, so description thereof will be omitted. Since the STA-AP 101 is in the process of activating the AP mode and the AP 102 is using 6ch of the 2.4 GHz band, the STA-AP 101 restarts the AP mode with 6ch according to FIG. 7 (S1110). Then, STA-AP 101 connects to AP 102 via 6ch (S1111), and reconnects to STA 104 in wireless network 106 whose wireless channel is switched to 6ch (S1112). After that, when the STA-AP 101 receives a print request from the STA 104 (S1113), since its operation mode in this case is not the dynamic channel change mode, the STA-AP 101 executes printing without stopping the STA mode according to FIG. . After completing the printing process, the STA-AP 101 notifies the STA 104 of the completion of printing (S1114). Similarly, even if the STA-AP 101 receives a print request from the STA 103 (for example, through the AP 102) (S1115), it executes printing without stopping the AP mode according to FIG. (S1115).

As described above, in this embodiment, when the frequency band used in the STA mode is the 2.4 GHz band, the STA-AP 101 stabilizes communication in the AP mode using the same radio channel as in the STA mode, A state in which many communication devices can be connected can be established. On the other hand, the STA-AP 101 operates in the 2.4 GHz band in the AP mode even when the frequency band used in the STA mode is the 5 GHz band, so that many communication devices can be connected. can. Further, when the STA-AP 101 operates on different channels in the STA mode and the AP mode, when application communication is started, the STA-AP 101 enables wireless communication in one of the modes used in the communication and performs other wireless communication. By stopping, communication can be stabilized.

<Embodiment 4>
In the third embodiment, the simultaneous operation of the STA mode and the AP mode in the 5 GHz band is restricted. Limit concurrent operations.

In this embodiment, the STA-AP 101 does not determine in S704 of FIG. 7 whether or not the used frequency band of the discovered AP is the 5 GHz band. /W56. Also, in S802 of FIG. 8, the STA-AP 101 does not determine whether the frequency band used in the STA mode is the 5 GHz band, but determines whether the wireless channel being used is included in W53/W56. confirm whether or not If the wireless channel used in STA mode is included in W53/W56, STA-AP 101 uses a wireless channel not included in W53/W56 in AP mode. This eliminates the need for the STA-AP 101 to execute radar detection processing, thereby reducing the processing load. Also, the STA-AP 101 can prevent a situation in which the connection is cut off in response to detection of radar radio waves. Also, the STA-AP 101 can simultaneously operate in the STA mode and the AP mode even if it does not have a radar detection function. Also, when the STA-AP 101 does not use the radio channel included in W53/W56 in the STA mode, the radio channel used in the AP mode is the same as in the STA mode. As a result, the STA-AP 101, which is capable of wireless communication only on one wireless channel at one point in time, can simultaneously operate in the STA mode and the AP mode.

Furthermore, the STA-AP 101 activates the AP mode on an empty wireless channel in the 2.4 GHz band in S805 and S806, thereby increasing the possibility of connecting with various communication devices. That is, the STA-AP 101 activates the AP mode in the 2.4 GHz band instead of activating the AP mode in the 5 GHz band when the STA mode is not activated. This allows more communication devices to connect to the STA-AP 101 in AP mode.

<Other embodiments>
In Embodiments 1 and 3, when the STA-AP 101 discovers an AP that uses the 2.4 GHz band and an AP that uses the 5 GHz band as candidates for connection destination APs, the AP that uses the 2.4 GHz band is given priority. may be selected as a connection destination. This eliminates the need for the STA-AP 101 to stop the AP mode or set its own operation mode to the dynamic channel change mode. For this reason, the STA-AP 101 can prevent the AP mode from becoming unusable, thereby improving convenience for the user. Further, when both an AP using the 2.4 GHz band and an AP using the 5 GHz band are found, the STA-AP 101 connects the AP using the 5 GHz band only when the AP using the 5 GHz band can communicate at a higher speed. It may be preferentially selected as the first AP. For example, consider a case where a first AP using the 2.4 GHz band supports the IEEE802.11n communication standard, and a second AP using the 5 GHz band supports the IEEE802.11ac communication standard. In this case, the STA-AP 101 can select the second AP as the connection destination AP because the second AP can communicate at a higher speed. On the other hand, consider a case where both the first AP using the 2.4 GHz band and the second AP using the 5 GHz band are expected to comply with the IEEE 802.11n communication standard and communicate at the same communication rate. In this case, since the STA-AP 101 can only communicate at the same speed with both the first AP and the second AP, even when the AP mode is activated, the STA-AP 101 can communicate without restriction. An AP may be selected as the AP to connect to.

It has been explained that the STA-AP 101 continues the process of searching for an AP in S401 and S701, but when printing in AP mode, even if an AP is found, connection processing may not be performed until printing is completed. , the search process may be stopped during printing. By stopping the AP search process during printing, the STA-AP 101 can complete printing at high speed, and can also reduce power consumption and radio band occupation related to the search process.

In the third embodiment, the STA-AP 101 always uses the 2.4 GHz band when activating the AP mode. However, if the STA-AP 101 knows in advance that the communication device participating in the wireless network 106 can use the 5 GHz band, and if the frequency band used in the STA mode is the 5 GHz band, the STA-AP 101 activates the AP mode in the 5 GHz band. You may For example, on the UI of the STA-AP 101, a setting item may be prepared that allows the 5 GHz band as the frequency band used in the AP mode so that the user can intentionally select the 5 GHz band. However, even in this case, the default setting of STA-AP 101 can be set so that the AP mode always uses the 2.4 GHz band for users who are not very knowledgeable about radio.

Also, the STA-AP 101 may activate the AP mode via Wi-Fi Direct Group Owner Negotiation (hereinafter referred to as “Go Nego”). In this case, the STA-AP 101 can know wireless channels available for communication by communication devices participating in the wireless network 106 before activating the AP mode. Note that the AP mode here corresponds to the role defined as Group Owner in the Wi-Fi Direct standard, and the communication device as an STA participating in the wireless network 106 corresponds to the Client in the Wi-Fi Direct standard. In such a case, the STA-AP 101 uses a specific radio channel of the 5 GHz band in the STA mode, and if the Client supports the radio channel of the 5 GHz band, the AP mode is changed to the 5 GHz band. can start. This eliminates the need for the STA-AP 101 to dynamically switch radio channels, and allows the STA-AP 101 to communicate with a partner device with which it wishes to communicate in the AP mode. However, even when the STA-AP 101 activates the AP mode via GO Nego, there is a possibility that the STA-AP 101 may communicate in the wireless network 106 constructed in the AP mode with a communication device other than the communication device that executed GO Nego. . In such a case, the STA-AP 101 may activate AP mode in the 2.4 GHz band. Also, STA-AP 101 may set whether or not it is possible to communicate with a communication device other than the communication device that executed GO Nego, by accepting a prior operation by the user of STA-AP 101 . For example, the STA-AP 101 prepares a mode in which direct communication can be occupied by itself and a mode in which a plurality of communication devices can communicate in the direct mode, and the user can switch between them from the UI of the STA-AP 101. may be

Also, the STA-AP 101 may use other methods such as an invitation in the Wi-Fi Direct standard in order to know in advance the wireless channels that can be used by communication devices participating in the wireless network 106 .

In addition, although the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band have been described as examples in each of the above-described embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these frequency bands. When there are more restrictions in using one frequency band than the other frequency band, each of the above-described embodiments can be applied to devices capable of wireless communication in parallel in those frequency bands.

Further, in Embodiments 2 and 4, when the radio channel used in the STA mode is a radio channel that requires radar detection, such as the radio channel included in W53/W56, the STA mode and AP mode are executed in parallel. However, it is not limited to this. That is, if the radio channel used in the STA mode is a radio channel that is required to have a predetermined function when used in the AP mode, the radio channel that is not included in W53/W56 can be used in the same way. Restrictions may be made.

The present invention supplies a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by processing to It can also be implemented by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

201: storage unit, 202: control unit, 206: communication unit, 301: wireless LAN control unit, 302: STA control unit, 303: AP control unit, 304: print control unit, 305: operation control unit

Claims (9)

A communication device capable of executing a first mode of joining a first wireless network constructed by another communication device and a second mode of building a second wireless network,
a control means for switching a radio channel to be used in the second radio network according to the first radio channel to be used in the first radio network in which the communication device participates;
If the first radio channel is a 5 GHz band radio channel and is a specific radio channel that is required to have a predetermined function for avoiding radio wave interference, the control means , when the second wireless network is constructed using a second wireless channel different from the specific wireless channel, and the first wireless channel is a 5 GHz band wireless channel and is not the specified wireless channel; A communication device, wherein the second wireless network is constructed on the first wireless channel. 2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said specific radio channel is a radio channel belonging to W53 or W56 of the 5 GHz band. 3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined function is a function of detecting radio waves of radar. 4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first mode and the second mode are wireless communication modes conforming to the IEEE802.11 standard. The first mode is a mode in which the other communication device having an access point function participates in the first wireless network constructed, and the second mode is a mode in which the communication device operates as an access point. 5. The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that it is a mode for constructing the second wireless network. 6. A communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said communication device is a printer having printing means. 6. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein said communication device is a projector having projection means. A communication method executed by a communication device capable of executing a first mode of participating in a first wireless network constructed by another communication device and a second mode of constructing a second wireless network There is
A control step of switching a wireless channel to be used in the second wireless network according to a first wireless channel to be used in the first wireless network in which the communication device participates;
In the control step, if the first radio channel is a 5 GHz band radio channel and is a specific radio channel that is required to have a predetermined function for avoiding radio wave interference, , when the second wireless network is constructed using a second wireless channel different from the specific wireless channel, and the first wireless channel is a 5 GHz band wireless channel and is not the specified wireless channel; A communication method, wherein said second wireless network is constructed on said first wireless channel. A program for operating a computer as the communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 .

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