JP6541815B2 - Communication system, communication apparatus, control method therefor, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a communication system, a communication apparatus and control method therefor, and a program, and in particular, between devices connected to a wireless personal area network (hereinafter also referred to as "WPAN") performing short distance wireless communication. The present invention relates to communication control technology.

  As a communication method in the case of constructing WPAN, for example, IEEE802.15.4, which has a low transmission speed of 250 Kbps but low cost and low power consumption, is used. These are called IrDA, Bluetooth (registered trademark), and Zigbee (registered trademark), and are technologies that are expected to be used in the future.

  By the way, conventionally, in order to reduce the operation of network participation, there has been proposed a technique in which an ID is registered in advance in each device (Patent Document 1). Further, a technology has been proposed in which a network frame period in which a plurality of wireless networks can be used is set, a plurality of channel slots are prepared, and coexistence of a plurality of networks is realized (Patent Document 2).

JP, 2009-171407, A Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2003-309572

  However, according to Patent Document 1, when the device and the device capable of managing it are not configured in an appropriate topology when setting the device, the setting data and the like are transmitted to other devices in the network. And there is a problem that security can not be maintained. Furthermore, communication traffic may be increased by sequentially transmitting setting data and the like to other devices on the network having a tree structure.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, in order to make a plurality of independent networks coexist, management such as setting of a frame period and securing of a channel slot has to be performed, and many resources are required.

An object of the present invention is to return a connection destination of an information processing apparatus to a network connected before connection to a setting network in accordance with transmission of setting data to an image processing apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, a communication system according to the present invention is a communication system in which a first communication device provided with a first wireless communication interface and a second communication device provided with a second wireless communication interface can communicate with each other. The first communication device and the second communication device belong to a first network in which the first wireless communication interface and the second wireless communication interface can communicate with each other via an external device; In accordance with the fact that the first communication device receives a predetermined instruction in the above state, the first communication device is subjected to a process of broadcasting a leaving instruction to the first network and then leaving the first network. means Ru is, the second communication device based on the withdrawal instruction is associated device the first communication device from the first network And means for de, after the first communication device and the second communication device is disconnected from the first network, the first wireless communication interface and the second wireless communication interface is directly connected Means for performing the procedure of establishing the second network using a beacon, and the second network being canceled according to completion of predetermined data communication using the second network, which is communication based on the predetermined instruction And means for causing the first communication device and the second communication device to belong again to the first network.

  According to the present invention, as the setting data is transmitted to the image processing apparatus, the connection destination of the information processing apparatus can be returned to the network connected before the connection to the setting network.

It is a figure which shows an example of the network topology at the time of normal operation (or waiting | standby) of the radio | wireless communications system containing the device (information processing apparatus) which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a network topology when an administrator device transfers to setting change mode. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the MFP in FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing operation processing of the MFP and the administrator device when transitioning to the setting change mode. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation of wireless connection between the administrator device and the MFP. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation of transmitting data between the administrator device and the MFP. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of reconnection processing between an administrator device and an MFP. It is a figure which shows an example of the network topology in other embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a network topology at the time of normal operation (or standby) of a wireless communication system including a device (information processing apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Each device in the figure can be connected to a wireless communication network and can perform Zigbee (registered trademark) communication. The PC (Co1) 100 is a coordinator that manages the illustrated WPAN, and constructs a network topology. An MFP 1 (R 10) 101 is a router connected to the PC 100, and is connected to another router, MFP 3 (R 11) 103, an end device operation panel 1 (ED 11) 104, and an operation panel 2 (ED 12) 105. The MFP 2 (R 20) 102 is connected to the PC 100. In the present embodiment, the operation panel 1_104 and the operation panel 2_105 can operate the MFP 1_101, the MFP 2_102, and the MFP 3_103 through Zigbee (registered trademark) communication. The administrator device (ED 111) is a device capable of managing the MFP 3 _ 103 and the MFP 2 _ 102 and performing various settings.

  As an example of data communication in such a wireless communication system, the flow of data when the user operates MFP 3 _ 103 from operation panel 1 _ 104 will be described.

  Operation information (for example, data indicating a return instruction from the power saving mode) input from the operation panel 1_104 is transmitted to the MFP 1_101 together with the address of the MFP 3_103 by Zigbee (registered trademark) communication. MFP 1 _ 101 transfers the data received from operation panel 1 _ 104 to MFP 3 _ 103. The MFP 3_103 recovers from the power saving mode by the received data. As described above, data communication is performed according to the topology.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a network topology when the administrator device 106 shifts to the setting change mode in the WPAN shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, when the administrator device 106 receives an instruction to shift to the setting change mode from the administrator, the administrator device 106 switches to the coordinator (Co2), and reconstructs a star network with the MFP 2 _ 102 and the MFP 3 _ 103. Thus, the setting data is directly transmitted from the administrator device 106 to each of the MFPs (MFP2_102, MFP3_103). On the other hand, other devices such as the MFP 1 101 continue to be connected to the same WPAN as in the normal operation.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of each device in FIG. In addition, since the administrator device also has the same configuration as illustrated, the description thereof is omitted.

  70 shows the whole apparatus. Reference numeral 701 denotes a controller unit. The controller unit 701 includes a CPU, and includes an SOC 702 that executes an apparatus control program to control each unit. A flash ROM 703 stores compressed programs or unique data of the apparatus.

  A DRAM 704 is a DRAM that decompresses and saves the compressed program in the FLASH ROM 703 or temporarily stores image data and the like.

  An external I / F unit 705 is connected to an external PC or the like to transmit and receive data. An external I / F unit 705 is connected to a PC or the like via a USB cable or a LAN.

  706 is a Zigbee (registered trademark) unit for performing Zigbee (registered trademark) communication with other devices on WPAN. An operation display unit 707 displays the state of the device 70, and receives an input from a user regarding setting values and instructions of the device.

  Reference numeral 708 denotes a reading I / F unit for connecting the reading unit 710 and the SOC 702. The SOC 702 controls the reading unit 710 via the reading I / F unit 708, processes the image data read by the reading unit 710, and stores the processed image data in the DRAM 704.

  An engine I / F unit 709 connects the engine unit 711 (print unit) to the SOC 702. The SOC 702 controls an engine unit 711 via an engine I / F unit. The engine unit 711 performs print processing based on print data received from the SOC 702 via the engine I / F unit 709.

  Next, operation processing of the MFP and the administrator device when transitioning to the setting change mode will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing operation processing of the MFP and the administrator device when transitioning to the setting change mode.

  In FIG. 4, in step S101, it is determined whether the administrator has issued a transition instruction from the operation display unit 707 to the mode (setting change mode) for changing the setting values of the MFP3_103 and MFP2_102 by the SOC 702 in the administrator device 106. Do. If there is an instruction to shift to the setting change mode, the process proceeds to step S102. In the present embodiment, devices managed by the administrator device 106 will be described as MFP 3 _ 103 and MFP 2 _ 102.

  In step S102, the SOC 702 in the administrator device 106 controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706, broadcasts a leave command in the network, and from the WPAN (first wireless communication network) in connection break away. Here, broadcast means transmitting the same data simultaneously to all network devices connected to the WPAN. In step S102, the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706 in the administrator device 106 functions as a first detachment unit.

  The MFP 3_103 and the SOC 702 in the MFP 2_102 that have received the detachment instruction from the administrator device 106 via the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706 cause the administrator device 106 to leave the connected WPAN (first wireless communication network) Recognize that. Thus, it is recognized that the administrator device 106 has shifted to the setting change mode.

  Next, in step S103, the device whose setting can be changed from the administrator device 106 leaves the WPAN currently connected to receive the setting data from the administrator device 106. That is, the SOC 702 in the MFP 2 _ 102 and the MFP 3 _ 103 controls the Zigbee unit (registered trademark) 706 and broadcasts a disconnection instruction to the currently connected WPAN. As a result, the MFP 3 _ 103 and the MFP 2 _ 102 leave the WPAN (here, the first wireless communication network). In step S103, the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706 in the MFP 2 _ 102 and the MFP 3 _ 103 functions as a second detachment unit.

  In step S104, the SOC 702 in the administrator device 106 controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706 using the setting WPAN ID (setting network ID) to set the setting WPAN (second wireless communication network). To construct.

  FIG. 5 shows the construction flow of the setting WPAN for the administrator device 106 that has become the coordinator (Co2) of the setting WPAN, and the MFP 2 _ 102 and the MFP 3 _ 103. The illustrated connection operation is performed for each device to be connected. Therefore, in the present embodiment, only the wireless connection operation between the administrator device 106 and the MFP 2_102 will be described (the MFP 3_103 is also connected in the same flow).

  In FIG. 5, in S201, the SOC 702 in the administrator device 106 controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706, makes a beacon request to the MFP 2_102, and waits for a beacon from the MFP 2_102.

  Next, in step S202, the SOC 702 in the MFP 2_102 controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706, transmits a beacon, and then transmits an address in step S203. In response to this, in S204, the SOC 702 in the administrator device 106 controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706, and sends an Ack to the MFP 2_102.

  Next, in S205, the SOC 702 in the administrator device 106 controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706, and transmits a WPAN ID for setting. In response to this, the SOC 702 in the MFP 2 _ 102 confirms that the WPAN ID sent via the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706 is the setting WPAN ID, and transmits an Ack (S 206).

  In step S207, the SOC 702 in the administrator device 106 that has received the Ack controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706, and transmits a participation request to the MFP 2_102. In response to this, the SOC 702 in the MFP 2_102 controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706, transmits an Ack (S208), and a setting WPAN is constructed. In FIG. 5, the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706 in the administrator device 106 functions as a first connection unit, and the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706 in the MFP 2 _ 102 and the MFP 3 _ 103 functions as a second connection unit.

  When the setting WPAN is constructed, setting data is transmitted from the administrator device 106 to the MFP 2 _ 102 and the MFP 3 _ 103 as shown in FIG. 6 to change these settings.

  In FIG. 6, in S301, the SOC 702 in the administrator device 106 controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706 to send out a beacon. In response to this, the SOC 702 in the MFP 2_102 controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706, and transmits a data request to the administrator device 106 (S302).

  The SOC 702 in the administrator device 106 controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706 to transmit an ACK (S303). After that, the SOC 702 in the administrator device 106 controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706, and transmits setting data to the MFP 2_102 (S304). The SOC 702 in the MFP 2_102 that receives the setting data controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706, and sends back an Ack (S305). In S304, the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706 in the administrator device 106 functions as a setting data transmission unit.

  As described above, data communication is performed between the administrator device and each device to set the device. Data set in the setting WPAN includes, but is not limited to, telephone directory data, counter data, communication history data, user setting data, factory setting data, and the like.

  Returning to FIG. 4, in step S105, when the setting of each device by the administrator device 106 ends, the SOC 702 in the administrator device 106 controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706, and transmits data indicating the end of the setting. (Step S106). In response to this, the SOC 702 in the MFP 2_102 controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706, broadcasts a withdrawal instruction to the administrator device 106, and leaves the setting WPAN (step S107). Similarly, the SOC 702 in the MFP 3 _ 103 controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706 and leaves the WPAN for setting. Thereafter, the SOC 702 in the administrator device 106 controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706 to cancel the setting WPAN (step S108).

  Next, in step S109, MFP2_102 and MFP3_103, which are devices that have left the setting WPAN, and the administrator device 106, which has returned from the coordinator to the end device after setting completion, reconnects to the WPAN connected before the setting change. Do. In step S109, the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706 in the administrator device 106 functions as a first reconnection unit, and the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706 in the MFP 2 _ 102 and the MFP 3 _ 103 functions as a second reconnection unit. .

  Here, the process of reconnecting MFP 2 _ 102, MFP 3 _ 103 and administrator device 106 to WPAN will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The MFP 2 _ 102, the MFP 3 _ 103, and the administrator device 106 perform the same processing, and thus the MFP 2 _ 102 will be representatively described.

  In FIG. 7, in step S401, the SOC 702 in the MFP 2_102 controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706, and executes the scan operation shown in FIG. 5 using the WPAN ID connected before the setting change. At the same time, in step S402, the SOC 702 in the MFP 2_102 starts a timer.

  In step S403, it is determined whether the scan operation shown in FIG. 5 is successful. If the scan operation is successful, the SOC 702 in the MFP 2_102 controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706 and has previously connected. It connects to WPAN (step S405). On the other hand, if the scan operation is not successful (NO in step S403) and the timer ends (YES in step S404), SOC 702 in MFP 2_102 ends without connecting to the previous WPAN.

  The administrator device 106 may not be a device, but may be a Zigbee (registered trademark) communicable PC installed with software for controlling the setting of the MFP.

  According to the present embodiment, the administrator device 106 leaves the wireless communication network (FIG. 1) being connected at the time of setting change of the MFP. Thereafter, the wireless communication network in which the MFP 2 _ 102 and the MFP 3 _ 103 are connected is disconnected, and a setting PAN is established with the administrator device 106 (FIG. 2). Further, communication of setting data is performed between the administrator device and the MFP, and the setting of the MFP is changed. As described above, the communication control is performed such that the administrator device and the device to be managed thereby establish a wireless communication network for setting, thereby minimizing the resource usage of the device and information such as the setting of the device Can communicate safely.

[Other embodiments]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, In the range which deviates from the meaning of this invention, a change, a modification, etc., it can deform variously.

  In the above embodiment, in the setting change mode of the MFP3_103 and the MFP2_102 under the management of the administrator device (Co2) 106, each device is connected by the operation shown in FIG.

  When the administrator device 106 and the MFP 3_103 perform setting in a one-to-one connection, the SOC 702 in the administrator device 106 does not transmit an Ack in S204 in response to the connection request in S203 of FIG. 5 of the MFP 2_102. As a result, the MFP 2 _ 102 can not connect to the setting WPAN constructed by the administrator device 106. Therefore, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the SOC 702 in the MFP 2_102 controls the Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 706, and reconnects to WPAN connected before disconnection in the same operation as in FIG.

  On the other hand, the MFP 3 _ 103 is connected to the SOC 702 in the administrator device 106 by the operation shown in FIG. 5 and becomes a one-to-one connection with the MFP 3 _ 103. This state is shown in FIG.

  Further, by using the setting network ID when the administrator device 106 changes the settings of the MFP, the connection operation for constructing the setting WPAN can be simplified. The setting network ID is stored in the FLASH ROM 703 or the like.

  Furthermore, when changing the setting of the MFP, the administrator device 106 becomes a coordinator, and the MFP managed by the administrator device becomes an end device. Therefore, the administrator device 106 can construct a manageable MFP and a star WPAN. As a result, the administrator device and the MFP managed thereby are connected one by one, and communication security can be improved.

  The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to execute.

100 pcs
101, 102, 103 MFP
104, 105 Operation panel 106 Administrator device 701 Controller unit 702 SOC
706 Zigbee (registered trademark) unit 707 Operation display unit

Claims (28)

A communication system in which a first communication device provided with a first wireless communication interface and a second communication device provided with a second wireless communication interface can communicate with each other.
In a state where the first communication device and the second communication device belong to a first network in which the first wireless communication interface and the second wireless communication interface can communicate with each other via an external device in accordance with the foregoing the first communication device has received a predetermined instruction, the first of the network to withdrawal instruction from the broadcast first means Ru is executed to the first communication device the process to leave the network When,
Means for causing the second communication device to leave the first network based on an instruction to leave the first communication device as a related device;
Establishes a second network in which the first wireless communication interface and the second wireless communication interface are directly connected after the first communication device and the second communication device leave the first network Means for performing the procedure to be performed using a beacon ,
The second communication apparatus cancels the second network and the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus according to the completion of the predetermined data communication using the second network, which is communication based on the predetermined instruction. Means for rejoining said first network.
The communication system characterized by having.   The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined instruction is an instruction to shift to a setting change mode.   The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the transfer instruction is an instruction issued by a manager of the first communication apparatus.   The data transmitted in the predetermined data communication may be any one of telephone directory data, counter data, communication history data, user setting data, and factory setting data. The communication system described in the section. Wherein the first communication device, after performing the process of leaving the first network from the broadcast disengagement command to the first network, and a third communication device has left the first network The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a procedure for establishing a different network is not performed . The third communication device establishes a different network with the first communication device after leaving the first network based on a disconnection instruction of the first communication device which is the associated device. The communication system according to claim 5, characterized in that it rejoins said first network according to the fact that no procedure is performed .   The communication system according to claim 6, wherein the second communication device performs the disconnection based on the disconnection instruction based on the fact that the second communication device is a device managed by the first communication device.   The first communication device performs a procedure for establishing the second network based at least on the address information of the second communication device transmitted from the second communication device. The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.   The first communication device performs a procedure for establishing the second network based on at least a response to a network ID transmitted to the second communication device. The communication system according to any one of the above.   The second communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the second communication device joins the second network based on a participation request transmitted from the first communication device. Communications system.   The said 2nd communication apparatus leaves the said 2nd network according to having received the notification which shows completion of the said predetermined | prescribed data communication, The any one of the Claims 1 to 10 characterized by the above-mentioned. Communications system.   When belonging to the first network, the first communication apparatus functions as an end device, and when the second network is established, the first communication apparatus functions as a coordinator. The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that:   The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the second communication device includes a reading unit that reads an original.   The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the second communication device includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet.   A communication system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first network and the second network are wireless personal area networks.   The communication system according to claim 15, wherein the wireless personal area network is a network using Zigbee (registered trademark) communication. A communication device comprising a first wireless communication interface, wherein the communication device is capable of communicating with a further communication device comprising a second wireless communication interface,
According to accepted a predetermined instruction in a state in which the first wireless communication interface through the external device and the second wireless communication interface belongs to the first network capable of communicating, the first network It means for executing a process of leaving the first network withdrawal instruction from the broadcast,
The first communication device has left the first network, and the further communication device has left the first network based on a disconnection instruction from the first communication device that is an associated device. And means for performing , using a beacon, a procedure for establishing a second network to which the first wireless communication interface and the second wireless communication interface are directly connected.
According to the completion of the predetermined data communication using the second network, which is communication based on the predetermined instruction, a procedure for canceling the second network and rejoining the first network Means to do,
A communication apparatus comprising:   The communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined instruction is an instruction to shift to a setting change mode.   The communication apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the transfer instruction is an instruction issued by a manager of the communication apparatus.   The data transmitted in the predetermined data communication is any one of telephone directory data, counter data, communication history data, user setting data, and factory setting data. The communication device according to claim 1. After executing the process of leaving the first network from the broadcast disengagement command to said first network, to establish a different network in between the third communication device has left the first network The communication device according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the procedure of is not performed .   18. The communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the communication apparatus performs a procedure for establishing the second network based on at least address information of the further communication apparatus transmitted from the further communication apparatus. 21. The communication device according to any one of 21.   23. The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 22, wherein the communication apparatus performs a procedure for establishing the second network based at least on the response to the network ID transmitted to the further communication apparatus. The communication device according to.   The communication apparatus functions as an end device when belonging to the first network, and the communication apparatus functions as a coordinator when the second network is established. The communication device according to any one of the above.   A communication apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 24, wherein the first network and the second network are wireless personal area networks.   The communication device according to claim 25, wherein the wireless personal area network is a network using Zigbee (registered trademark) communication. A control method of a communication device capable of communicating with a further communication device provided with a first wireless communication interface and provided with a second wireless communication interface, comprising:
According to accepted a predetermined instruction in a state in which the first wireless communication interface through the external device and the second wireless communication interface belongs to the first network capable of communicating, the first network Executing a process of broadcasting the leaving instruction to the network and then leaving the first network ;
The first communication device has left the first network, and the further communication device has left the first network based on a disconnection instruction from the first communication device that is an associated device. And then performing a procedure for establishing a second network to which the first wireless communication interface and the second wireless communication interface are directly connected , using a beacon .
According to the completion of the predetermined data communication using the second network, which is communication based on the predetermined instruction, a procedure for canceling the second network and rejoining the first network The process to be performed,
A control method characterized by comprising: A computer of a communication device capable of communicating with a further communication device comprising a first wireless communication interface and comprising a second wireless communication interface,
According to accepted a predetermined instruction in a state in which the first wireless communication interface through the external device and the second wireless communication interface belongs to the first network capable of communicating, the first network Executing a process of broadcasting the leaving instruction to the network and then leaving the first network ;
After the first communication device has left the first network, and the further communication device has left the first network based on the command to leave the first communication device that is the related device. a step of performing a procedure for said first wireless communication interface second wireless communication interface to establish a second network connected directly with the beacons,
According to the completion of the predetermined data communication using the second network, which is communication based on the predetermined instruction, a procedure for canceling the second network and rejoining the first network And performing the steps of performing.

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