JP7600316B2 - Communication device and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a communication device, a control method thereof, and a program.

In recent years, portable information terminals such as smartphones and tablets have become widespread. To connect these information terminals to the Internet, users need to connect the information terminals to lines provided by telecommunications carriers, either wired or wirelessly. Mobile communications such as 3G/LTE provided by telecommunications carriers and wireless LANs are often used as access lines for connecting to the Internet. In particular, wireless LANs use frequencies of either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. Many devices have supported 2.4 GHz since wireless LANs first began to spread, but initially only a few devices supported 5 GHz.

However, problems with 2.4 GHz, such as slower communication speeds due to radio interference with other devices such as microwave ovens and security cameras, have been pointed out. Nowadays, as the number of opportunities to send and receive large amounts of data, including videos, has increased, communication at 5 GHz, which has less radio interference with other devices and allows for faster communication than 2.4 GHz, has become mainstream. Therefore, wireless LAN devices released in recent years, such as access points, smartphones, and tablet devices, support not only the 2.4 GHz band but also the 5 GHz band as standard. In particular, access points can independently form multiple networks at different frequencies, the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band. Therefore, it is possible to connect to networks that correspond to the frequency bands supported by smartphones and tablet devices. Even when communication spans between network devices with different frequencies, the access point bridges the communication (between frequencies), ensuring sufficient communication connectivity between devices.

When using the 5 GHz band, attention should be paid to DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection). The 5 GHz band overlaps with the band used by weather radars, etc. Therefore, when a wireless base station and a device such as a printer operate as an access point (a Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark) Group Owner, or a soft AP) to perform P2P communication, the access point must always monitor interference waves on the channel it is using so that the wireless infrastructure communication does not affect the weather radar, etc. A soft AP is a function that uses a wireless chip built into a device such as a printer or a personal computer to perform the role of an access point in software. Wireless infrastructure communication is wireless communication in infrastructure mode. Therefore, if interference waves are detected, it is necessary to quickly switch to another available channel. Patent Document 1 shows a technology that automatically changes to an available channel when a wireless base station detects radio waves from various radars such as weather radars in wireless communication in the 5 GHz band and communication has to be interrupted for a certain period of time. This technology is DFS. In addition to DFS, there is also a function to avoid radio interference called TPC (Transmit Power Control), so caution is also required. 5 GHz bands include W52, W53, W56, W58, etc., and the bands that can be used are regulated by law depending on the country or region. Of these, the bands in which DFS is implemented are W53 and W56. For example, in Japan, W52 (5.2 GHz band (5150-5250 MHz), W53 (5.3 GHz band (5250-5350 MHz)), and W56 (5.6 GHz band (5470-5725 MHz)) are stipulated as usable bands in the 5 GHz band, and W52 is the only band that is not subject to interference waves caused by DFS. For example, W52 uses 36/40/44/48ch.

Patent Document 2 considers a technology for efficiently allocating frequency bands to terminal devices that have restrictions on frequency band usage. Frequency band information indicating which of multiple frequency bands can be used and which can be used simultaneously is stored in advance. A technology is being considered in which the base station and child stations transmit information on available frequency bands to set each other's frequency bands.

JP 2010-278825 A Patent No. 5279151

When it comes to printers, connectivity with other devices is also an important factor. In addition to a method of wireless connection via an external access point (so-called wireless infrastructure mode, hereafter referred to as "wireless infrastructure"), it is also possible to use a P2P (hereafter referred to as "P2P") wireless connection method in which either the printer or the other device acts as an access point and the devices connect wirelessly directly to each other.

Recent printers can run these two communication modes simultaneously (in parallel), and are provided with products that take user experience into full consideration so that users do not have to perform the troublesome operation of switching the communication mode of the wireless device. Wireless communication in the two modes can be run simultaneously (in parallel) on one device. For example, it is possible to run a mode in which the device itself wirelessly connects to an external access point as a client (i.e., a child station), and a mode in which the device itself acts as a GroupOwner (or soft AP, i.e., a parent station) and establishes a P2P wireless connection with an external client between other devices.

When a printer has two wireless interfaces (two communication modes), an embodiment is conceivable in which, for example, the first wireless interface uses wireless infrastructure mode and the second wireless interface uses P2P mode. In that case, it is desirable to be able to use both the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands in both the wireless infrastructure mode and the P2P mode.

However, when multiple wireless communication modes exist, the available frequency bands may be limited due to the constraints of the wireless chipset. The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional examples, and aims to realize appropriate frequency settings in devices that can use multiple wireless communication modes.

To solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication device capable of performing wireless communication using a first frequency band and wireless communication using a second frequency band different from the first frequency band, the communication device comprising:
a communication means capable of executing a first communication mode for enabling wireless communication with an information processing device via an external access point, and a second communication mode for enabling wireless communication with an information processing device as a slave station, without going through the external access point, in which the communication device functions as a master station;
a control means for setting a channel to be used by said communication means and controlling said communication means;
a storage means for storing information regarding whether the communication device is in an initial startup state;
Equipped with
When the communication device is not in the initial startup state,
In the first communication mode, the communication means can communicate using any of a channel of the first frequency band, a channel of a specific frequency band that is included in the second frequency band and to which a DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) function needs to be applied, and a channel of a frequency band that is included in the second frequency band and different from the specific frequency band;
In the second communication mode, the communication means is capable of communicating using either a channel of the first frequency band or a channel of a frequency band included in the second frequency band and different from the specific frequency band, and is controlled not to communicate using a channel of the specific frequency band;
both the first communication mode and the second communication mode are enabled, the communication means communicates using a channel of the specific frequency band in the first communication mode, and the control means sets a channel of the different frequency band as a channel of the second communication mode;
The present invention relates to a communication device .
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication device capable of performing wireless communication using a first frequency band and wireless communication using a second frequency band different from the first frequency band, the communication device comprising:
a communication means capable of executing a first communication mode for enabling wireless communication with an information processing device via an external access point, and a second communication mode for enabling wireless communication with an information processing device as a slave station, without going through the external access point, in which the communication device functions as a master station;
a control means for setting a channel to be used by said communication means and controlling said communication means;
a storage means for storing information regarding whether the communication device is in an initial startup state;
Equipped with
When the communication device is not in the initial startup state,
When both the first communication mode and the second communication mode are enabled, the control means sets a channel to be used in the second communication mode based on a channel to be used in the first communication mode;
The communication means communicates in the first communication mode using a channel of a specific frequency band that is included in the second frequency band and to which a DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) function needs to be applied, and the control means controls the communication means not to execute communication in the second communication mode using a channel of the specific frequency band;
The communication device is characterized in that the communication means communicates using a channel of the specific frequency band in the first communication mode, and the control means sets a channel of a frequency band included in the second frequency band and different from the specific frequency band as the channel of the second communication mode.

This invention makes it possible to set appropriate frequencies in devices that can use multiple wireless communication modes.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a wireless communication system. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of a portable communication terminal device. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the external appearance of an MFP. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an operation display unit of an MFP. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a portable communication terminal device; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an MFP. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a wireless search sequence in mode A (soft AP mode). FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a wireless search sequence in mode B (WFD mode). FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a wireless search sequence in mode C (wireless infrastructure mode). FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an interface selection screen upon initial startup of the MFP. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the initial start-up of the MFP. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing combinations of frequency bands for two communication modes in the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing switching of P2P settings in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing switching of settings of a wireless infrastructure in the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing manual setup of a wireless infrastructure in the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing automatic setup (first half) of a wireless infrastructure in the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the second half of automatic setup of a wireless infrastructure in the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing combinations of frequency bands for two communication modes in the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing P2P setting switching in the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing switching of settings of a wireless infrastructure in the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing manual setup of a wireless infrastructure in the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing automatic setup (second half) of a wireless infrastructure in the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing combinations of frequency bands for two communication modes in the third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing manual setup of a wireless infrastructure in the third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the automatic setup (second half) of the wireless infrastructure in the third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing combinations of frequency bands for two communication modes in the fourth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing manual setup of a wireless infrastructure in the fourth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the automatic setup (second half) of the wireless infrastructure in the fourth embodiment.

<<Embodiment 1>>
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the relative arrangement of components, display screen, and the like described in the present embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified.

<System Configuration>
First, a system configuration for realizing the embodiment described below will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a system including a portable communication terminal device, a printing device (MFP), and an access point (also called a wireless base station). The portable communication terminal device 200 is a terminal device (information processing device) having a wireless LAN (WLAN) communication unit, i.e., a wireless communication function. The portable communication terminal device 200 may be a personal information terminal such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile phone, a digital camera, etc. The printing device (MFP) 300 is a communication device capable of wireless communication with the portable communication terminal device 200, and may have a reading function (scanner), a FAX function, and a telephone function. In addition, the communication device can be applied not only to a printer, but also to a facsimile device, a scanner device, a projector, a mobile terminal, a smartphone, a notebook PC, a tablet terminal, a PDA, a digital camera, a music playback device, a television, etc. In this embodiment, a multi-function printer (MFP: multi-function peripheral device) having a reading function and a printing function is used as an example of a communication device. An external access point 400 provided separately from the portable communication terminal device 200 and the printing device 300 has a WLAN communication unit and provides communication in wireless infrastructure mode by relaying communication between devices that are permitted to connect to the access point.

The portable communication terminal device 200 and the MFP 300 may use their respective WLAN communication units to perform wireless communication in wireless infrastructure mode via the access point 400, or may perform P2P communication (peer-to-peer communication) such as Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark) or soft AP mode. Each mode will be described in detail later using Figures 7 to 9. The portable communication terminal device 200 and the MFP 300 can execute processes corresponding to multiple printing services via WLAN, as described later.

Figure 2 shows the external appearance of the portable communication terminal device 200. In this embodiment, a smartphone is used as an example. A smartphone is a multi-function mobile phone that has a camera, web browser, email function, etc. in addition to the functions of a mobile phone.

The WLAN unit 201 is a unit for communicating via WLAN. The WLAN unit 201 is capable of data (packet) communication in a WLAN system conforming to, for example, the IEEE 802.11 series (IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, etc.). In this example, the WLAN unit 201 is capable of communication in both the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band. In addition, in wireless communication using the WLAN unit 201, communication based on Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) (registered trademark), communication in soft AP mode, communication in wireless infrastructure mode, etc. are possible. Each mode will be described in detail later with reference to Figures 7 to 9. The display unit 202 is, for example, a display equipped with an LCD-type display mechanism. The operation unit 203 is equipped with a touch panel-type operation mechanism and detects operations by the user. A typical operation method is to have the display unit 202 display button icons or a software keyboard, and detect an operation event when the user touches these locations. The power key 204 is a hardware key used to turn the power on and off.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing the external appearance of the MFP 300. In Figure 3, the manuscript table 301 is a glass-like transparent table on which a manuscript to be read by the scanner (reading unit) is placed. The manuscript cover 302 is a cover for holding the manuscript when reading by the scanner and for preventing light from a light source that irradiates the manuscript during reading from leaking to the outside. The print paper insertion port 303 is an insertion port that can set papers of various sizes. Paper set in the print paper insertion port 303 is transported one sheet at a time to the printing unit, where it is printed and discharged from the print paper discharge port 304. The operation display unit 305 is composed of keys such as character input keys, cursor keys, a decision key, and a cancel key, as well as LEDs (light-emitting diodes) and LCDs (liquid crystal displays), and allows the user to start various functions as an MFP and perform various settings. It may also be composed of a touch panel. The WLAN antenna 306 has an antenna embedded therein for communication via WLAN. The MFP 300 can also communicate in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display of the operation display unit 305 of the MFP. Figure 4 (a) is a home screen showing a state (idle state) in which the MFP is powered on and is not performing operations such as printing or scanning. Various settings and function execution are possible from the menu display of copy, scan, and cloud functions using Internet communication by key operation or touch panel operation. Functions different from those shown in Figure 4 (a) can be seamlessly displayed from the home screen of Figure 4 (a) by key operation or touch panel operation. Figure 4 (b) is an example of such a screen, which allows the execution of print and photo functions and the change of LAN settings. Figure 4 (c) is a screen displayed when LAN settings are selected on the screen of Figure 4 (b). From this screen, various LAN setting changes can be performed, such as enabling/disabling the wireless infrastructure mode and enabling/disabling the P2P mode such as WFD and soft AP mode. In addition, the frequency band and channel of the wireless LAN can also be set. The wireless infrastructure mode is sometimes called the first communication mode, and the P2P mode is sometimes called the second communication mode.

●Configuration of the portable communication terminal device FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the portable communication terminal device 200. The portable communication terminal device 200 has a main board 501 that performs main control of the device itself, and a WLAN unit 201 that performs WLAN communication. In the main board 501, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 502 is a system control unit that controls the entire portable communication terminal device 200. The processing of the portable communication terminal device 200 described below is executed under the control of the CPU 502. The ROM 503 stores a control program executed by the CPU 502, an embedded operating system (OS) program, and the like. In this embodiment, each control program stored in the ROM 503 performs software control such as scheduling and task switching under the management of the embedded OS stored in the ROM 503.

RAM 504 is composed of SRAM (Static RAM) etc., and stores data such as program control variables, as well as setting values registered by the user and management data for the portable communication terminal device 200, and is provided with various work buffer areas.

The image memory 505 is composed of a memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic RAM), and temporarily stores image data received via the WLAN unit 201 and image data read from the data storage unit 513 for processing by the CPU 502.

The non-volatile memory 512 is composed of a memory such as a flash memory, and continues to store data even when the power is turned off. However, the memory configuration is not limited to this. For example, the image memory 505 and the RAM 504 may be shared, or data may be backed up in the data storage unit 513. In addition, in this embodiment, a DRAM is used for the image memory 505, but this is not limited to this, as other storage media such as a hard disk or non-volatile memory may also be used.

The data conversion unit 506 performs data conversion such as analysis of data in various formats, color conversion, and image conversion. The telephone unit 507 controls the telephone line and realizes telephone communication by processing audio data input and output via the speaker unit 514. The operation unit 203 controls the signals of the operation unit 204 (Figure 2). The GPS (Global Positioning System) 509 acquires location information such as the current latitude and longitude of the portable communication terminal device 200. The display unit 202 electronically controls the display contents of the display unit 203 (Figure 2), and can perform various input operations and display the operating status and status of the MFP 300.

The camera unit 511 has the function of electronically recording and encoding images input through the lens. Images taken by the camera unit 511 are stored in the data storage unit 513. The speaker unit 514 realizes the function of inputting or outputting audio for the telephone function, as well as other functions such as alarm notification. The power supply unit 515 is a portable battery, and controls the power supply within the device. Power supply states include a dead battery state in which there is no remaining battery power, a power-off state in which the power key 205 is not pressed, a running state in which the device is normally running, and a power-saving state in which the device is running but in a power-saving mode.

The portable communication terminal device 200 can wirelessly communicate via WLAN. This allows the portable communication terminal device 200 to perform data communication with other devices such as MFPs. In this communication unit, data is converted into packets and the packets are transmitted to other devices. Conversely, packets from other external devices are restored to the original data and transmitted to the CPU 502. The WLAN unit 201 is connected to the main board 501 via a bus cable 516. The WLAN unit 201 is a unit for realizing communication that complies with standards. The WLAN unit 201 can provide two communication modes simultaneously, for example, a wireless infrastructure mode as a first communication mode and a P2P mode as a second communication mode. However, the frequency bands used in each communication mode may be limited by the function or performance of the hardware. The various components (503 to 515 and 201 to 203) in the main board 501 are connected to each other via a system bus 519 managed by the CPU 502.

6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the MFP 300. The MFP 300 has a main board 601 that performs main control of the device itself, and a WLAN unit 617 that performs WLAN communication.

In the main board 601, the CPU (Central Processing Unit) 602 is a system control unit that controls the entire MFP 300. The processes of the MFP 300 described below are executed under the control of the CPU 601. The ROM 603 stores the control programs executed by the CPU 602, the embedded operating system (OS) program, and the like. In this embodiment, each control program stored in the ROM 603 performs software control such as scheduling and task switching under the management of the embedded OS stored in the ROM 603. The RAM 604 is composed of an SRAM (Static RAM) or the like, and stores data such as program control variables, and also stores data such as setting values registered by the user and management data for the MFP 300, and is provided with various work buffer areas.

The non-volatile memory 605 is composed of a memory such as a flash memory, and continues to store data even when the power is turned off. The image memory 606 is composed of a memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic RAM), and stores image data received via the WLAN unit, image data processed by the encoding/decoding processing unit 611, and the like. As with the memory configuration of the portable communication terminal device 200, this memory configuration is not limited to this. The data conversion unit 608 analyzes data of various formats and converts image data into print data, etc.

The reading control unit 607 controls the reading unit 609 (for example, a CIS image sensor (contact image sensor)) to optically read the image on the document. Next, this is converted into electrical image data, and an image signal is output. At this time, various image processing such as binarization and halftone processing may be performed before output.

The operation display unit 305 corresponds to the operation display unit 305 in FIG. 4. The encoding/decoding processing unit 611 performs encoding/decoding processing and enlargement/reduction processing of image data (JPEG, PNG, etc.) handled by the MFP 300. The paper feed unit 613 holds paper for printing. Paper can be fed from the paper feed unit 613 under the control of the print control unit 614. In particular, the paper feed unit 613 can have multiple paper feed units in order to hold multiple types of paper in one device. Then, the print control unit 614 can control which paper feed unit to feed paper from.

The print control unit 614 performs various image processing such as smoothing, print density correction, and color correction on the image data to be printed, and then outputs it to the print unit 612. The print unit 612 can be, for example, an inkjet printer that prints an image by ejecting ink supplied from an ink tank from a print head. The print control unit 614 also periodically reads out information from the print unit 612 and updates the information in RAM 604. Specifically, it updates status information such as the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank and the state of the print head.

The MFP 300 is also equipped with a WLAN unit 616, just like the portable communication terminal device 200, and since its functions are equivalent to those of the WLAN unit 201 of the portable communication terminal device 200, a description thereof will be omitted. Here, the WLAN unit 616 is connected to the main board 601 via a bus cable 615. The portable communication terminal device 200 and the MFP 300 are capable of communication based on WFD, and have a software access point (soft AP) function.

The various components (blocks 602-614, 616-617, 619) within the main board 601 are interconnected via a system bus 620 managed by the CPU 602.

<About the P2P (Peer to Peer) System>
There are several possible modes for implementing P2P (a method in which devices communicate directly with each other over a wireless LAN without going through an external access point) in WLAN communication. In each mode, the searching device searches for and finds a device (called a communication partner device or a counterpart device) that will be a communication partner using the same device search request (e.g., a Probe Request frame). When the MFP 300 is started in the P2P mode, it is possible to use a frequency band of 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz. For example, when the MFP 300 is started with only a 2.4 GHz band set in the P2P mode, the MFP 300 does not respond even if a searching device such as the portable communication terminal 200 transmits a search command in the 5 GHz band. The following two modes are possible as the P2P mode.

・Mode A (Soft AP mode)
Mode B (Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) (registered trademark) mode)
Some devices support each mode, while others do not, and the applications may differ for each mode. Below, the wireless device search sequence for each mode will be described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8. In addition, in a device having a communication function using Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark), a dedicated application that realizes the communication function is called from the operation unit. Then, the Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark) device can execute Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark) communication based on the screen operation of the UI (user interface) provided by the application.

●Device search sequence in soft AP mode Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the wireless device search sequence in mode A (soft AP mode). In the soft AP mode, between devices that communicate (e.g., portable communication terminal device 200 and MFP 300), one device (e.g., portable communication terminal device 200) acts as a client that requests various services. The other device acts as a soft AP (e.g., MFP 300) that realizes the function of an access point in a WLAN by software settings.

In the soft AP mode, the client searches for a device that will become a soft AP by sending a device search request 701. The soft AP that receives the device search request 701 replies with a device search response 702. Through this exchange, the MFP 300, which is a soft AP, is discovered on the client side. Note that commands and parameters sent and received when establishing a wireless connection between the client and the soft AP can be those specified in the Wi-Fi standard, and so a description of these will be omitted here.

● Device search sequence in WFD mode FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a wireless device search sequence in mode B (WFD mode). In WFD mode, a device to be a communication partner is searched for by a device search request 801. The device search request 801 has a WFD attribute, and it is possible to specify that the target of the search is a communication device in WFD mode. When the MFP 300 that has received the device search request 801 returns a device search response 802, the MFP 300 that is the communication partner of P2P is detected on the client side. After determining the roles of the P2P group owner and the P2P client, the remaining wireless connection processing is performed. This role determination corresponds to, for example, GO Negotiation in P2P. However, if there is a restriction of the wireless chipset on the frequency band when the wireless infrastructure mode and the WFD mode operate simultaneously in parallel, as described later, it is necessary to match the channels of the two modes. Therefore, it is desirable that the MFP 300 is fixedly started as a parent station (Autonomous Group Owner) in the WFD mode. In that case, GO Negotiation communication is not required to determine the role. When the MFP 300 is started as a Group Owner in the WFD mode, the MFP 300 itself determines the frequency band and channel as the parent station, so that it is possible to select and use either the 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz frequency band and channel. The P2P mode including the soft AP mode and the WFD mode may be called the second wireless interface or the second communication mode in this example.

<About wireless infrastructure mode>
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a wireless device search sequence in mode C (wireless infrastructure mode). In the wireless infrastructure mode, devices that communicate (for example, the portable communication terminal device 200 and the MFP 300) are connected to an external "access point" (for example, the access point 400) that manages the network, and the devices communicate with each other via the external access point. In other words, the devices communicate with each other via a network built by the external access point. In the wireless infrastructure mode, the portable communication terminal device 200 searches for the access point 400 by a device search request 901. When the access point 400 returns a device search response 902, the access point is discovered. When the portable communication terminal device 200 and the MFP 300 each discover and connect to an access point, communication between the devices can be performed by relaying the access point. Note that commands and parameters that are transmitted and received when a wireless connection is realized between the device and the access point may be those specified in the Wi-Fi standard, and will not be described here. The wireless infrastructure mode may also be referred to as the first wireless interface or the first communication mode in this example.

<Frequency band restrictions and setup method>
This invention provides a method for utilizing wireless communication without impairing user convenience, even when a single wireless device can operate multiple wireless interfaces simultaneously and in parallel, and when the hardware of a low-cost wireless chipset has functional or performance constraints. Before providing a detailed description, the constraints that are the premise of this embodiment will be described.

These wireless usage constraints can arise due to factors such as the fact that only one CPU or antenna can be used by the wireless chipset, and firmware becomes complicated when multiple wireless interfaces are operated simultaneously. In other words, when multiple communication modes operate simultaneously in parallel within a single device, the available frequency bands may be limited due to the constraints of the wireless chipset. In particular, in the case of low-cost wireless chipsets with relatively low performance, there may be constraints on the available frequency bands.

The first constraint is that when operating in wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode simultaneously, the channels (and frequency bands) used in wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode may need to be the same. This is due to the performance of the wireless chipset, which operates with one CPU and one antenna and cannot listen to multiple channels simultaneously.

Next, as a second constraint, in P2P mode (GroupOwner or soft AP), the 5 GHz DFS function may not be available. When a device operates in the 5 GHz band as a wireless base station, it must constantly monitor the radar wave band specified by the weather radar to detect interference waves, and if interference is detected, it must immediately change channels. This is the DFS function, but depending on the wireless chipset, DFS in P2P mode may exceed its performance, and the second constraint arises from such circumstances. This is because the P2P mode operates as a parent station, and the parent station's responsibility for the DFS function is to monitor the band used by radar waves and to avoid channels if interference is detected.

In other words, if a wireless chipset has the first and second constraints, the available frequency bands (2.4 GHz band, 5 GHz band) may be limited by the wireless interface depending on the settings of each wireless interface (e.g., single IF/multiple IF). Since there is a trade-off between the available frequency bands and the simultaneous use of multiple interfaces, these constraints can be avoided by controlling the wireless device internally, allowing the wireless device to be used without compromising user convenience.

In this embodiment, in order to avoid the first and second constraints, when the wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode operate simultaneously in parallel, the device is controlled to operate only in the 2.4 GHz band across communication modes (i.e., both communication modes). Also, when the wireless infrastructure mode is operated alone, the device is controlled to operate in either the 5 GHz band or the 2.4 GHz band according to the wireless access point to which it is connected. Also, when the P2P mode is operated alone, the device is controlled to operate only in the 2.4 GHz band. There are several methods for setting the wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode, including initial setup[11], IF enable/disable switching by LAN settings, manual wireless setup, and automatic wireless setup, which will be explained in order.

<Initial startup setup>
When a user who has purchased the main body turns on the power for the first time, the MFP 300 is configured to start a process sequence (initial setup) dedicated to initial startup that is different from normal, in order to perform initial settings from the factory shipping state (shipped state). For example, when the MFP 300 is shipped from the factory, the printing unit 612 is shipped in a state in which no ink tanks or print heads are installed. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare the MFP 300 for use, such as by prompting the user to install the ink tanks and print heads that are included in the package immediately after the initial startup that the user operates for the first time. Whether or not the MFP 300 is in the initial startup state, which indicates that the MFP 300 remains in the factory shipping state, is controlled using a flag (initial startup flag) stored in the non-volatile memory 605, and when preparation for use at the user's site is completed, the state of the initial startup flag changes, and the process sequence dedicated to initial startup is not started thereafter. In this embodiment, focusing on the fact that the MFP 300 performs a unique process at the initial startup, the process at the initial startup includes setting of the wireless interface. The IF setting process sequence at the initial startup of the MFP 300 will be described with reference to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. At the time of initial startup, an initial setup sequence other than IF setting is also processed, but sequences that are not directly related to this embodiment are not shown here.

When the power is turned on, the CPU 602 of the MFP 300 refers to the initial startup flag stored in the non-volatile memory 605 in step S1101 to determine whether the MFP 300 is currently in an initial startup state. This initial startup flag is preset to a specific value when the MFP 300 is shipped from the factory.

If it is determined in step S1101 that the initial startup state is not established, then in step S1112, the CPU 602 enables the IF according to the IF enable/disable setting stored in the non-volatile memory. Then, in step S1113, the normal startup standby screen as shown in FIG. 4(a) is displayed and awaits user operation. Steps 1112 and S1113 are a sequence equivalent to the startup process during normal user use.

The processing sequence of this embodiment begins with step S1102. If it is determined in step S1101 that the initial startup state is established, in step S1102, the CPU 602 displays a screen for selecting the IF to be used by the user, as shown in FIG. 10, on the operation display unit 305. When this screen is displayed, the user selects the IF that he or she intends to use from the items displayed on the screen.

In step S1103, the CPU 602 determines whether or not a wireless LAN has been selected by a user operation. If it is determined that a wireless LAN has not been selected, the process proceeds to step S1110. In step S1110, the CPU 602 determines whether or not a wired LAN has been selected. If a wired LAN has not been selected, the process proceeds to step S1114. Here, the case in which the process proceeds to step S1114 is when neither a wireless LAN nor a wired LAN has been selected, and a USB has been selected. In step S1114, the CPU 602 enables the USB, and ends the IF setting process at the time of initial startup. Although not shown here, when the entire arrival processing sequence, including the interface selection, is completed, the value of the initial startup flag stored in the non-volatile memory 605 is changed from the initial startup state to a non-initial startup state. Thereafter, the initial startup processing sequence will not be started.

If the CPU 602 determines in step S1110 that the wired LAN has been selected, it performs processing to enable the wired LAN in step S1111. In addition, assuming that the wired LAN has been enabled, the setting is saved in the non-volatile memory 605, and is referenced as an IF to be enabled during normal startup.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1103 that the wireless LAN has been selected by the user operation, the CPU 602 starts the cableless setup mode in step S1104. The cableless setup mode is a dedicated mode that allows wireless settings of the wireless infrastructure. In the cableless setup mode, the MFP 300 starts as a soft AP mode that operates in the same manner as an access point (parent device). Therefore, external devices such as personal computers, smartphones, and tablets can easily connect to the MFP 300 as clients (child devices) and communicate with it. The frequency band used during this cableless setup is 2.4 GHz. In the cableless setup mode, not only the soft AP mode but also the WFD mode can be used. However, in the case of WFD, the standard requires that the SSID, which is a wireless parameter, contains a character string of a randomly generated value, and the soft AP mode is more suitable for cableless setup that uses a reserved SSID. The LAN setting application that runs on an external device such as a PC, smartphone, or tablet is configured to allow even a user with little knowledge of LANs to easily connect to the MFP 300. The LAN setting application is configured to send information required to identify an access point and security information for connection to the MFP 300, which is a soft AP, without the user needing to know the details of the settings.

In the cableless setup mode, in step S1105, the CPU 602 mainly accepts settings necessary for connection in wireless infrastructure mode. After connecting to the MFP 300, an external device such as a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet transmits wireless infrastructure setting information to the MFP 300 using the same application.

The wireless setting information that the MFP 300 receives from the external device includes the SSID of the external access point that is creating the network you want to join, the frequency band used by that external access point (either 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz, or the wireless channel value related to the frequency band), the encryption method, the authentication method, etc. After receiving the wireless setting information, the MFP 300 stops the soft AP mode and executes the wireless setting process for the wireless infrastructure mode.

When the settings are received, in step S1106, the CPU 602 ends the cableless setup mode. Then, in step S1107, the CPU 602 starts communication in wireless infrastructure mode according to the LAN setting value received in step S1105, and performs connection processing to the external access point 400. Then, the CPU 602 stores the settings in the non-volatile memory 605, assuming that the wireless infrastructure mode has been enabled.

In step S1108, the CPU 602 determines whether multiple wireless interfaces are enabled or disabled in accordance with the second constraint on the frequency band of the wireless chipset. At this time, the frequency band of the wireless infrastructure mode to be set by the MFP 300 is determined according to the frequency band of the wireless infrastructure transmitted from the external device (either 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz, or a wireless channel value related to the frequency band is transmitted). In other words, the MFP 300 determines whether the wireless infrastructure mode and the P2P mode are enabled or disabled based on the information on the frequency band transmitted from the external device contained in the LAN setting value instructed in step S1105. When a wireless channel value is transmitted from the external device, the MFP 300 converts it to a frequency band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz) and determines whether the wireless infrastructure mode and the P2P mode are enabled or disabled. In step S1105, information indicating the 5 GHz band is transmitted as the frequency band of the wireless infrastructure, and in S1107, if the wireless infrastructure mode is activated with a wireless access point of the 5 GHz frequency band as the connection destination (Yes in S1108), the process proceeds to step S1114 with the P2P mode disabled, and the USB is activated. Note that, as the initial value (default) of the factory settings, both the wireless infrastructure mode and the P2P mode are set to an inactive state. On the other hand, in step S1105, information indicating the 2.4 GHz frequency band is transmitted as the frequency band of the infrastructure, and in S1107, if the wireless infrastructure mode of the 2.4 GHz frequency band is activated (No in S1108), the P2P mode is activated in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, and a process of activating the P2P mode is performed (S1109). By activating the P2P as the parent station, a beacon is transmitted, and it becomes possible to detect it from the terminal device on the host side. Then, the setting is stored in the non-volatile memory 605 as the P2P mode being set to be active. In addition, in a printer capable of operating simultaneously in wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode, if the user selects wireless infrastructure mode alone in the setup flow at initial startup, the printer should autonomously enable P2P mode and automatically set up both modes to operate simultaneously. In other words, the process of enabling P2P mode and saving the settings is performed regardless of whether a setting to enable P2P mode was received in the previous step S1105. However, only when an external access point in the 5 GHz band is selected in wireless infrastructure mode, P2P mode remains disabled due to restrictions of the wireless chipset.

After that, regardless of whether a wired LAN or a wireless LAN is selected, the USB IF is enabled in step S1114, and the IF setting process at initial startup is completed.

As described above, when WLAN is selected by operating the main body operation unit at the initial startup, if the 2.4 GHz band is set as the communication in the wireless infrastructure mode, the processing flow enables simultaneous communication in the wireless infrastructure mode and communication in the P2P mode (Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark) or soft AP). On the other hand, if the 5 GHz band is set as the communication in the wireless infrastructure mode, communication in the P2P mode (Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark) or soft AP) is disabled, and only the wireless infrastructure mode is enabled. In other words, when the 5 GHz band is set, communication in the wireless infrastructure mode and communication in the P2P mode are set so that they cannot operate simultaneously (in parallel). This makes it possible to set, at the initial setup when starting to use the MFP, in accordance with the first constraint that the same channel in the same band may have to be used for multiple communication modes, and the second constraint that DFS may not function in the P2P mode and the 5 GHz band may not be usable.

<Enabling/disabling IF via LAN settings>
Next, a method for setting the wireless infrastructure mode and the P2P mode when switching between the enable and disable of the IF will be described. The operation display unit 305 of the MFP main body is configured to be able to set the enable/disable of the IF to be used via the main body operation screen shown in FIG. 4C or via the cableless setup. In this embodiment, the use of the wired LAN and the wireless LAN is exclusive, and the wireless LAN cannot be enabled at the same time as the wired LAN is enabled. Conversely, the wired LAN cannot be enabled at the same time as the wireless LAN is enabled. It is possible to set the wired LAN and the wireless LAN to be disabled at the same time. The USB IF cannot be disabled by the user's settings, but is always enabled at startup and is configured to be usable at the same time as the wired LAN or the wireless LAN. The wireless LAN has settings for the P2P mode and the wireless infrastructure mode, and can be set to be enabled/disabled individually and independently. It is possible to set the P2P mode and the wireless infrastructure mode to be enabled at the same time. At that time, the MFP 300 will be able to simultaneously perform P2P communication and wireless infrastructure communication. The enabled/disabled state that has been set is saved in the non-volatile memory 605 and will be referenced the next time the MFP is started, and each IF will be enabled based on the saved information. When the LAN setting items of the main body are initialized, the P2P mode and wireless infrastructure mode are disabled. The wired LAN is also disabled, and neither the wired nor wireless LAN will be used. The user who has initialized the LAN settings will be able to change the settings of the desired IFs individually to enabled and use them.

The IF switching will be explained using FIG. 12. FIG. 12 shows the possible combinations of communication mode and frequency band as LAN setting values. According to FIG. 12, there are three possible combinations of communication mode settings, but in combination with the setting of the frequency band to be used, there are four possible settings, from communication mode setting 1 to communication mode setting 4.

Communication mode setting 1 is a pattern in which wireless infrastructure mode is enabled and P2P mode is disabled. For example, starting from a disabled LAN state, setup is performed with an external wireless access point in wireless infrastructure mode, and the wireless settings at the time of connection completion with the external wireless access point in the 2.4 GHz band are saved.

Communication mode setting 2 is a pattern in which wireless infrastructure mode is enabled and P2P mode is disabled, similar to communication mode setting 1. For example, from a LAN disabled state, setup with an external wireless access point is performed in wireless infrastructure mode, and the wireless settings at the time of connection to the wireless access point in the 5 GHz band are saved. Also, if wireless infrastructure mode is specified in step S1105 of FIG. 11 at initial startup and a connection is made to an external wireless access point in the 5 GHz band in step S1108, the settings are saved as communication mode setting 2.

Communication mode setting 3 is a pattern in which the wireless infrastructure mode is disabled and the P2P mode is enabled. For example, when the LAN is disabled and the P2P mode is switched from disabled to enabled on the operation display unit in FIG. 4(c), the setting is saved as communication mode setting 3.

Communication mode setting 4 is a pattern in which the wireless infrastructure mode is disabled and the P2P mode is enabled.
For example, when the P2P mode is switched from disabled to enabled on the operation display unit in Fig. 4C from communication mode setting 1, it is saved as communication mode setting 4. Also, when the wireless infrastructure mode is designated as the LAN setting value in step S1105 of Fig. 11 at the initial startup and a connection is made in the 2.4 GHz band in step S1108, the P2P mode is started in 2.4 GHz in step S1109 and saved as communication mode setting 4.

As described above, in the wireless communication settings permitted in this embodiment, the 5 GHz band is used only for wireless infrastructure mode, and is not used in P2P mode. Furthermore, the frequency band used in wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode is the same. Note that when the MFP 300 is initially started up, the communication mode set in the procedure of FIG. 11 is the same as communication mode setting 2 if the 5 GHz band is specified in S1105, and is the same as communication mode setting 4 if the 2.4 GHz band is specified.

Enabling P2P mode As a pattern in which the constraints of the wireless chipset become an obstacle to IF switching, there is a switch from communication mode setting 2 to another communication mode setting. In the state of communication mode setting 2, the wireless infrastructure mode is 5 GHz, and when the P2P mode is switched from the disabled setting to the enabled setting on the operation display unit of FIG. 4C, the first and second constraints of the wireless chipset become obstacles. That is, due to the first constraint, in order to operate the two modes in parallel at the same time, the P2P mode must also be started at 5 GHz in accordance with the channel and frequency band of the wireless infrastructure mode. However, due to the second constraint, the P2P mode cannot use the DFS function of 5 GHz, and therefore can only be started at 2.4 GHz. For this reason, FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of switching to communication mode setting 3 in which the P2P mode can be used, with priority given to the setting change to the P2P mode explicitly set by the user. FIG. 13 shows a process executed by the MFP 300, particularly the CPU 602.

In step S1301 of FIG. 13, the CPU 602 executes an instruction to switch the P2P mode from an invalid setting to an valid setting in response to a user operation on the operation display unit of FIG. 4(c). In step S1302, the CPU 602 determines whether the wireless infrastructure setting is valid or invalid. If the wireless infrastructure is invalid, the process proceeds to step S1306, where the CPU 602 specifies a channel in the 2.4 GHz band and starts the P2P mode. If the wireless infrastructure is valid, the process proceeds to step S1303, where the CPU 602 determines whether the frequency band set for the wireless infrastructure mode already saved as the LAN setting is 5 GHz or not. If the band setting for the wireless infrastructure mode is 5 GHz, the CPU 602 prioritizes the setting change to the P2P mode explicitly set by the user, and switches to communication mode setting 3 in which the P2P mode can be used. Therefore, it is preferable that the CPU 602 issues a warning (notification) that the wireless infrastructure mode will be disabled in step S1304, for example by displaying a warning message, and then disables the wireless infrastructure mode in step S1305. Then, in S1306, the CPU 602 activates the desired P2P mode at 2.4 GHz. If the wireless infrastructure setting is 2.4 GHz in step S1303, the process proceeds to step S1307, where the same channel and 2.4 GHz frequency band as the wireless infrastructure mode are set for the P2P mode, and the process proceeds to step 1306 to activate the P2P mode.

By following the above procedure, when enabling P2P mode, both the first and second constraints are satisfied and P2P mode communication can be started.

●Enablement of infrastructure mode As a pattern in which the constraints of the wireless chipset become an obstacle to IF switching, there is a case in which the communication mode setting 3 is changed to another communication mode setting using 5 GHz. In the state of the communication mode setting 3, the P2P mode is 2.4 GHz, and when the wireless infrastructure mode previously set up in the 5 GHz band is switched from disabled to enabled on the operation display unit of FIG. 4C, the first and second constraints of the wireless chipset become obstacles. That is, due to the first constraint, in order to operate the wireless infrastructure mode and the P2P mode in parallel at the same time, P2P must also be started at 5 GHz in accordance with the channel and frequency band of the wireless infrastructure mode. However, due to the second constraint, the P2P mode cannot use the 5 GHz DFS function and can only be started at 2.4 GHz. For this reason, FIG. 14 shows a flowchart for switching to the communication mode setting 2, with priority given to the setting change to the wireless infrastructure mode explicitly set by the user. FIG. 14 shows a process executed by the MFP 300, particularly the CPU 602.

In step S1401 of FIG. 14, the CPU 602 executes an instruction to switch the wireless infrastructure mode from an invalid setting to an valid setting in response to a user operation on the operation display unit of FIG. 4(c). In step S1402, the CPU 602 determines whether the P2P mode setting is valid or invalid. If the P2P mode is invalid, the process proceeds to step S1406, where the CPU 602 specifies the saved frequency band and channel to activate the wireless infrastructure mode. If the P2P mode is valid, as in communication mode setting 3 of FIG. 12, the process proceeds to step S1403, where a determination is made as to whether the frequency band set for the wireless infrastructure mode already saved as the LAN setting is 5 GHz or not. If the band setting for the wireless infrastructure mode is 5 GHz, the setting change to the wireless infrastructure mode explicitly set by the user takes precedence. Therefore, in order to switch to communication mode setting 2, it is preferable that in step S1404, the CPU 602 outputs a warning message, for example by displaying, to warn that the P2P mode will be disabled, and then disables the P2P mode setting in step S1405. Then, in step S1406, the CPU 602 activates the desired wireless infrastructure mode at 5 GHz. In step S1403, if the wireless infrastructure setting is 2.4 GHz, the CPU 602 proceeds to step S1407, where the CPU 602 sets the same 2.4 GHz frequency band and the same channel as the wireless infrastructure mode for the P2P mode, and in step 1406, the CPU 602 activates the P2P mode.

By following the above procedure, when enabling wireless infrastructure mode, it is possible to start communication in wireless infrastructure mode while satisfying both the first and second constraints.

<Manual wireless setup>
Next, a method for setting the wireless infrastructure mode and the P2P mode during manual wireless setup will be described. Fig. 15 is a flow chart showing manual setup of the wireless infrastructure performed by the MFP 300. In manual setup, a list of surrounding wireless access points searched (or discovered) by user instructions is displayed on the operation display unit 305 of the MFP, and the user manually selects a wireless access point from the search results. Fig. 15 shows the process executed by the MFP 300, particularly the CPU 602.

In step S1501, the CPU 602 executes an instruction to manually set up the wireless infrastructure in response to a user operation on the operation display unit 305 of the MFP 300. If the wireless LAN is disabled in the MFP 300, the wireless IF has not yet been started, so in step S1502 the CPU 602 starts the wireless IF. For example, in the procedure of FIG. 11, if the wired LAN or USB is selected, the wireless LAN becomes disabled.

In step 1503, the CPU 602 searches for surrounding wireless access points using the WLAN unit 616. In FIG. 9, the MFP 300 transmits a device search request 903, and a device search response 904 is returned from the surrounding external wireless access points. The device search request is broadcast without specifying the ESSID or BSSID in the command, thereby detecting surrounding wireless access points. In addition, a broadcast search is performed sequentially for all available channels for both the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands. In this case, the search may be performed starting from the smallest channel in the order of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, or vice versa, starting from the largest channel in the order of 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz. The device search response 904 returned from the wireless access point 400 includes information such as the ESSID, BSSID, and channel, and based on this, the search results for wireless access points are displayed in a list on the operation display unit 305 of the MFP.

From the list of search results, the user can select the desired wireless access point in step S1504, and the CPU 602 accepts the selection result. It is easy to understand that the ESSID of the wireless access point is displayed as an identifier in the list of search results, but other information such as encryption information (WPA2, WPA, WEP, etc.), BSSID, channel, frequency band, and signal strength may also be displayed.

In step S1505, the CPU 602 connects the MFP 300 to the selected wireless access point in wireless infrastructure mode. In step S1506, the CPU 602 determines whether the P2P setting is already enabled. If the P2P setting is already enabled, the CPU 602 determines in step S1506 whether the wireless access point is connected in the 5 GHz band. If the connection is made in the 2.4 GHz band, in step S1508, the CPU 602 enables the P2P mode according to the channel acquired in wireless infrastructure mode in the first embodiment. If the connection is made in the 5 GHz band, in step S1509, a warning message is output, for example, by display, to warn that the P2P mode will be disabled, and the P2P mode is disabled in step S1510.

As described above, in the first embodiment, due to the first and second constraints of the wireless chipset, there is an advantage in that the user can use the 2.4 GHz band without interfering with the simultaneous use of wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode by prioritizing the connection. Furthermore, when connecting to a wireless access point in the 5 GHz band, a warning is displayed to the user, and the user is guided to set up a LAN that avoids the constraints by disabling the P2P mode. Furthermore, when searching for an access point using the access point search function, the frequency band to be used can be set while avoiding the constraints.

<Automatic wireless setup (2.4GHz band priority)>
Next, a method for setting the wireless infrastructure mode and the P2P mode when the 2.4 GHz band is prioritized during the automatic wireless setup will be described. The automatic setup is called automatic setup because the wireless access point to be connected to can be automatically selected using a push button or a PIN code method. Specifically, there are methods such as WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) (trademark), AOSS (trademark), and Raku-Raku Wireless Start (registered trademark). During the automatic wireless setup, it is necessary to try to connect in the order of priority given to either the 2.4 GHz band or the 5 GHz band from the frequency information of the wireless parameters acquired from the wireless access point. In the first embodiment, due to the second constraint of the wireless chipset, the possibility of satisfying the conditions for simultaneous use of the wireless infrastructure mode and the P2P mode is increased by prioritizing the connection to the 2.4 GHz band. Therefore, a method for trying to connect with priority given to the 2.4 GHz band will be described first.

FIGS. 16 and 17 are flow charts showing the automatic setup of the wireless infrastructure mode performed by the MFP 300. In step S1601 in FIG. 16, the MFP 300 transitions to the automatic setup mode of the wireless infrastructure mode in response to a user key operation or the like. FIGS. 16 and 17 show the processing executed by the MFP 300, particularly the CPU 602.

In step S1602, the MFP 300 determines whether or not it has connected to an external access point 400 that is undergoing automatic setup in wireless infrastructure mode.

If connected (YES in step S1602), it is determined in step S1603 whether n wireless connection profiles have been received from the access point 400 (n is a positive integer). One wireless connection profile is information consisting of "SSID," "frequency," "authentication method," "encryption method," and "passphrase."

On the other hand, if no connection has been made (NO in step S1602), the MFP 300 determines in step S1605 whether a predetermined timeout has occurred. If a timeout has occurred (YES in step S1605), the MFP 300 displays an error screen on the operation display unit 305 and ends the automatic setup of the wireless infrastructure mode. On the other hand, if a timeout has not occurred (NO in step S1605), the MFP 300 returns to step S1602 and waits for connection to be made with the access point 400 that is undergoing automatic setup in the wireless infrastructure mode.

If n (i.e., at least one) wireless connection profiles have been received from the access point 400 (YES in step S1603), the wireless connection profile counter variable m is initialized to "1" in step S1604.

On the other hand, if n wireless connection profiles have not been received from the access point 400 (NO in step S1603), it is determined in step S1606 whether a predetermined timeout has occurred. If a timeout has occurred (YES in step S1606), the MFP 300 displays an error screen on the operation display unit 305 and ends the automatic setup of the wireless infrastructure mode. On the other hand, if a timeout has not occurred (NO in step S1606), the process returns to step S1603 and continues to wait for n wireless connection profiles to be sent from the access point 400.

In step S1607, it is determined whether the frequency of the m-th wireless connection profile is in the 2.4 GHz band. If it is in the 2.4 GHz band (YES in step S1607), in step S1608, the m-th wireless connection profile is stored in an area of the RAM 604 of the MFP 300 that stores the 2.4 GHz connection information.

On the other hand, if it is not the 2.4 GHz band (NO in step S1607), in step S1611, it is determined whether the frequency of the mth wireless connection profile is the 5 GHz band. If it is 5 GHz (YES in step S1611), in step S1612, the mth wireless connection profile is saved in an area of RAM 604 of MFP 300 that stores connection information for the 5 GHz band. On the other hand, if it is not the 5 GHz band (NO in step S1611), details will be explained later in (Case 2).

In step S1609, the wireless connection profile counter variable m is incremented by one. In step S1610, the magnitude relationship between n (number of wireless connection profiles) and m (wireless connection profile counter variable) is determined. If n (number of wireless connection profiles) is smaller than m (wireless connection profile counter variable) (YES in step S1610), the process proceeds to step S1717 in FIG. 17. Then, it is determined whether or not there is a wireless connection profile in the area of RAM 604 of MFP 300 that stores connection information for the 2.4 GHz band.

On the other hand, if n (number of wireless connection profiles) is greater than m (wireless connection profile counter variable), or if n (number of wireless connection profiles) is the same as m (wireless connection profile counter variable) (NO in step S1610), the process returns to step S1607. Then, it is determined whether the frequency of the mth wireless connection profile is in the 2.4 GHz band. Thereafter, the process is repeated until step S1610 becomes YES.

When the mth wireless connection profile is saved in the area of the RAM 604 of the MFP 300 that stores the connection information for the 2.4 GHz band in step S1608, it may be saved in order of the authentication method and the strength of the encryption method, for example. Also, when the mth wireless connection profile is saved in the area of the RAM 604 of the MFP 300 that stores the connection information for the 5 GHz band in step S1612, it may be saved in order of the authentication method and the strength of the encryption method, for example.

In step S1717 in FIG. 17, it is determined whether a wireless connection profile is stored in an area of RAM 604 of MFP 300 that stores connection information for the 2.4 GHz band. If a wireless connection profile is stored (YES in step S1717), in step S1718, connection information for the 2.4 GHz band is specified and connection processing for wireless infrastructure mode is performed. In this connection processing, MFP 300 performs connection processing starting from the wireless connection profile at the top of the table.

In step S1719, it is determined whether or not the connection in the 2.4 GHz band was successful. If successful (YES in step S1719), in step S1720, the P2P mode setting is read from the non-volatile memory 605 of the MFP 300, and it is determined whether the setting is valid or invalid. If the P2P mode setting is valid (YES in step S1720), the MFP 300 starts the P2P mode in step S1721. On the other hand, if the P2P mode setting is invalid (NO in step S1720), the process ends.

On the other hand, if a wireless connection profile is not stored in the area of RAM 604 of MFP 300 that stores connection information for the 2.4 GHz band in step S1717 (NO in step S1717), the process branches to step S1722.

In step S1722, it is determined whether a wireless connection profile is stored in an area of RAM 604 of MFP 300 that stores connection information for the 5 GHz band. If a wireless connection profile is stored (YES in step S1722), in step S1723, the connection information for the 5 GHz band is specified and connection processing for wireless infrastructure mode is performed. In this connection processing, MFP 300 performs connection processing starting from the wireless connection profile at the top of the table.

On the other hand, if the setting has not been saved (NO in step S1722), the MFP 300 reads the P2P mode setting from the non-volatile memory 605 in step S1720 and determines whether the setting is valid or invalid. If the P2P mode setting is valid (YES in step S1720), the MFP 300 starts the P2P mode in step S1715. On the other hand, if the P2P mode setting is invalid (NO in step S1720), the process ends.

In step S1724, it is determined whether or not the connection in the 5 GHz band was successful. If successful (YES in step S1724), in step S1725, the P2P mode setting is read from the non-volatile memory 605 of the MFP 300, and it is determined whether the setting is valid or invalid. If the P2P mode setting is valid (YES in step S1725), the MFP 300 displays a warning to the user on the operation screen in step S1726, for example by displaying a warning message, informing the user that the P2P mode will be disabled, and then disables the P2P mode setting in step S1727. The warning displayed to the user on the operation screen should inform the user that the P2P mode setting, which is not directly related to user operation, will be automatically disabled. If the P2P mode setting is invalid (NO in step S1725), the process ends.

On the other hand, if the connection fails (NO in step S1724), the MFP 300 displays an error screen on the operation display unit 305 and ends the automatic setup of the wireless infrastructure mode.

The above method realizes wireless setup for the 2.4 GHz band or 5 GHz band using a common processing flow for WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), AOSS, and Rakuraku Wireless Start (registered trademark). The frequency band at the time of wireless setup completion is stored in a storage area and fixed to either the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band. If access points for both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands are found, the 2.4 GHz band is given priority for connection, increasing the opportunity for simultaneous use with P2P. This prevents the wireless chipset from unintentionally running into the first or second constraint, which would cause the wireless infrastructure mode or P2P mode to become unusable after reconnection after wireless disconnection.

<Automatic wireless setup (5GHz band priority)>
Next, a method for setting the wireless infrastructure mode and the P2P mode when the 5 GHz band is prioritized during the automatic wireless setup will be described. During the automatic wireless setup, it is necessary to try to connect in the order of priority of either the 2.4 GHz band or the 5 GHz band from the frequency information of the wireless parameters acquired from the wireless access point. In the above example of the 2.4 GHz band priority, due to the second constraint of the wireless chipset, the possibility of satisfying the conditions for simultaneous use of the wireless infrastructure mode and the P2P mode is increased by prioritizing the 2.4 GHz band, so the connection is prioritized to the 2.4 GHz band. However, there are also users who want to prioritize the use of the 5 GHz frequency band over the simultaneous use of multiple wireless interfaces. Here, a method for attempting a connection with priority given to the 5 GHz band will be described.

When connecting to a wireless access point with 5 GHz priority, the wireless connection profile is received and saved in the same manner as steps S1601 to S1616 in FIG. 16 described in <Wireless automatic setup (2.4 GHz priority)>. However, to prioritize 5 GHz, the processes of steps S1607, S1608, and S1613 are replaced with processes for the 5 GHz band instead of the 2.4 GHz band. Also, 5 GHz is prioritized by replacing the processes of steps S1611, S1612, and S1615 with the 2.4 GHz band instead of the 5 GHz band.

When connecting to a wireless access point with 5 GHz priority, the wireless infrastructure mode connection process is performed according to the saved wireless connection profile, similar to steps S1717 to S1727 in FIG. 17 described in <Wireless automatic setup (2.4 GHz priority)>. However, to prioritize 5 GHz, steps S1717 and S1718 are replaced with processing for the 5 GHz band instead of the 2.4 GHz band. Also, 5 GHz is prioritized by replacing the processing for steps S1722 and S1723 with the 2.4 GHz band instead of the 5 GHz band.

In addition, the warning display in step S1726 is unnecessary since it is a warning specifically for the 5 GHz band; instead, it is desirable to display the warning just before step S1721 when processing the 5 GHz band. Furthermore, in step S1721, P2P mode is disabled, and in step S1727, P2P mode is activated on the same band and channel as the wireless infrastructure mode. In other words, steps S1719 to S1721 are performed as a set of processes after a successful connection to the 2.4 GHz band. Steps S1725 to S1727 are performed as a set of processes after a successful connection to the 5 GHz band.

The above processing flow makes it possible to implement automatic setup when there are constraints on the wireless chipset and you want to prioritize use of the 5 GHz frequency band over the simultaneous use of multiple wireless interfaces (communication modes). Note that when any communication mode is disabled, communication using the communication mode to be disabled is simply stopped. In that case, the settings related to the disabled communication mode are saved as they are. This is the same in other embodiments.

With the configuration and procedures described above, according to the first embodiment, in a device that supports two communication modes, wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode, the bandwidth of each communication mode can be appropriately set so as to satisfy the bandwidth constraints caused by hardware limitations. At the same time, if the user specifies settings, the settings can be implemented while respecting those settings as much as possible.

<<Embodiment 2>>
A method for utilizing wireless communication without impairing user convenience even when multiple wireless interfaces can operate simultaneously in parallel in one wireless device and there are restrictions on the hardware of a low-cost wireless chipset will be described in embodiment 2. As described in embodiment 1, restrictions on wireless communication may arise due to the fact that only one CPU or antenna can be adopted for the wireless chipset, and firmware becomes complicated when multiple wireless interfaces are operated simultaneously.

The first constraint for low-cost wireless chipsets is that when operating in wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode simultaneously, the channels (and frequency bands) used in the wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode must be the same.

The second constraint of low-cost wireless chipsets is that the 5 GHz DFS function cannot be used in P2P mode (GroupOwner or soft AP). In other words, if a wireless chipset has the first and second constraints, the available frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz) may be limited by wireless interface depending on the settings (single IF/multiple IF) of each wireless interface. Since there is a trade-off between the available frequency bands and the simultaneous use of multiple interfaces, the convenience of the wireless device can be improved by avoiding these constraints through control within the wireless device.

In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the 5 GHz band is permitted for wireless infrastructure mode when P2P mode is disabled. When two communication modes, wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode, are used simultaneously, their use is permitted by setting both to the 2.4 GHz band. This allows the same frequency band to be used in both communication modes in accordance with the two constraints described above, and prevents the 5 GHz band from being used without DFS functioning. Here, the 5 GHz band includes bands specified by DFS (e.g. W53, W56) and bands that do not require DFS. Therefore, the 5 GHz band can be used in P2P mode by avoiding bands that require DFS.

In this embodiment, in order to avoid the first and second constraints, when the wireless infrastructure mode and the P2P mode operate simultaneously, the device is controlled to operate in the 2.4 GHz band or the 5 GHz band other than the frequency band specified in DFS (for example, bands other than W53 and W56, such as W52). Also, when the wireless infrastructure mode operates alone, the device is controlled to operate in either the 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz band according to the wireless access point to which it is connected. In the wireless infrastructure mode, there are no constraints on the DFS function, so in this case any band in the 5 GHz band may be selected. When the P2P mode operates alone, the device is controlled to operate in the 2.4 GHz band or the 5 GHz band other than the frequency band specified in DFS. As a specific example of a method for setting the wireless infrastructure mode and the P2P mode, the IF enable/disable switching by LAN setting, the manual wireless setup, and the automatic wireless setup method will be described in order. In the following explanation, the diagrams and explanations common to the first embodiment will be omitted, and the differences will be mainly explained. In particular, the system configuration of this embodiment, the configuration of each device, and basic explanations of the wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode are the same as those of the first embodiment, so explanations will be omitted.

<Enabling/Disabling IF by LAN Settings>
The main body operation unit is configured to be able to set the IF to be used to be enabled/disabled via the main body operation screen shown in Fig. 4(c) or via cableless setup. In this embodiment, the use of wired LAN and wireless LAN is exclusive, and the wireless infrastructure cannot be enabled at the same time as the wired LAN is enabled. Conversely, the wired LAN cannot be enabled at the same time as the wireless LAN is enabled. It is possible to disable the wired LAN and wireless LAN at the same time. The USB IF cannot be disabled by the user's settings, but is always enabled at startup and is configured to be usable at the same time as the wired LAN or wireless LAN.

The wireless LAN has settings for P2P mode and wireless infrastructure mode, which can be enabled/disabled independently. It is possible to enable both P2P mode and wireless infrastructure mode at the same time. In that case, the MFP 300 will be able to simultaneously carry out P2P communication and wireless infrastructure communication. The enabled/disabled state that has been set is saved in non-volatile memory 605 and will be referenced the next time the device is started, and each IF will be enabled based on the saved information.

When the LAN settings on the device are initialized, P2P mode and wireless infrastructure mode are disabled. The wired LAN is also disabled, and neither wired nor wireless LAN will be used. Users who have initialized the LAN settings will need to individually enable and use the desired IF.

Communication mode setting according to embodiment 2 IF switching will be described with reference to FIG. 18. FIG. 18 shows possible combinations of communication mode and frequency band as LAN setting values. Communication mode setting 1 and communication mode setting 2 are patterns in which wireless infrastructure mode is enabled and P2P mode is disabled. For example, when the LAN is disabled and a wireless access point is set up in wireless infrastructure mode, and the wireless settings at the time of connection completion with the wireless access point in the 2.4 GHz band are saved, the communication mode becomes 1. Communication mode setting 1 and communication mode setting 2 are the same settings as the LAN settings (enabled/disabled) of the wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode, but the saved frequency bands are different as a result of successful wireless connection, so they are explicitly distinguished and indicated in the table.

Communication mode setting 3 and communication mode setting 4 are patterns in which wireless infrastructure mode is disabled and P2P mode is enabled. For example, when the LAN is disabled and the P2P mode is switched from disabled to enabled on the operation display unit in FIG. 4(c), it is saved as communication mode setting 3. It may be possible to change in the user settings whether the P2P mode operates in the 5 GHz band or the 2.4 GHz band. However, the frequency band for P2P mode that can be selected in communication mode setting 4 is limited to bands in which the use of DFS is not specified.

As a pattern in which the constraints of the wireless chipset become a barrier to IF switching, there is a switch from communication mode setting 2 to another communication mode setting. In the state of communication mode setting 2, the wireless infrastructure mode is 5 GHz, and when the P2P mode is switched from disabled to enabled on the operation display unit of FIG. 4(c), the first and second constraints of the wireless chipset become barriers. That is, due to the first constraint, in order to operate simultaneously in parallel, the P2P mode must also be started at 5 GHz in accordance with the channel and frequency band of the wireless infrastructure mode. However, due to the second constraint, the P2P mode cannot use the DFS function of 5 GHz and can only be started at 2.4 GHz. For this reason, FIG. 19 shows a flowchart for switching to a communication mode setting in which the P2P mode can be used, with priority given to the setting change to the P2P mode explicitly set by the user. FIG. 19 shows the process executed by the MFP 300, particularly the CPU 602.

In step S1901 of FIG. 19, an instruction to switch the P2P mode from disabled to enabled is executed upon receiving an input operation from the user via the operation display unit of FIG. 4(c). In step S1902, a determination is made as to whether the wireless infrastructure mode setting is enabled or disabled. If the wireless infrastructure mode is disabled, the process proceeds to step S1906, where the P2P mode is activated on a channel set by the factory or user in the 2.4 GHz/5 GHz band. If the 5 GHz band is set in the P2P mode, a channel in which the use of DFS is not specified is selected, so that the P2P mode can be activated using the set channel. However, if the channel is redesignated by the user or the like when the P2P mode is enabled, in step S1906, a channel in a band in which the use of DFS is not specified is redesignated and P2P is activated. For example, a restriction may be set on the selection screen so that a channel in a band in which the use of DFS is specified (DFS band) cannot be selected for the P2P mode. Alternatively, when a DFS band is set by the user, the settings may be changed to set a channel in a band that is not specified for DFS use, for example, that has been registered in advance.

If the wireless infrastructure mode is enabled, the process proceeds to step S1903, where it is determined whether the frequency band of the wireless infrastructure mode setting already saved as the LAN setting is a frequency band used by the 5 GHz DFS function (hereinafter referred to as the DFS band). If the wireless infrastructure mode setting corresponds to the 5 GHz DFS band, the setting change to the P2P mode explicitly set by the user is prioritized, and the communication mode setting is switched to communication mode setting 3 or 4, in which the P2P mode can be used. For this purpose, a warning is issued in step S1904 that the wireless infrastructure will be disabled, and the wireless infrastructure mode setting is disabled in step S1905. The desired P2P mode is then activated in step S1906. However, if the 5 GHz band is set, a band other than the DFS band is set as described above.

If in step S1903 the wireless infrastructure setting is a band other than the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz DFS band, the process proceeds to step S1907, the same channel and frequency band as the wireless infrastructure are set for P2P mode, and the P2P mode is activated in step 1906.

In addition, one pattern in which wireless chipset restrictions become a barrier to IF switching is when changing from communication mode setting 4 (P2P mode in the 5 GHz band) to a communication mode setting that uses 2.4 GHz by enabling wireless infrastructure mode. In other words, this is a case in which the settings are changed so that wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode use different frequencies.

In the state of communication mode setting 4, the P2P mode is in the 5 GHz band excluding the band used by DFS. Therefore, when the wireless infrastructure mode previously set up to connect in the 5 GHz band is switched from disabled to enabled on the operation display unit in FIG. 4(c), the first and second constraints of the wireless chipset become obstacles. That is, due to the first constraint, in order to operate simultaneously in parallel, P2P must also be started at 5 GHz in accordance with the channel and frequency band of the wireless infrastructure mode. However, due to the second constraint, the P2P mode cannot use the DFS band used by the 5 GHz DFS function. For this reason, FIG. 20 shows a flowchart for switching to communication mode setting 1 or communication mode setting 2, with priority given to the setting change to the wireless infrastructure mode explicitly set by the user. FIG. 20 shows the process executed by the MFP 300, particularly the CPU 602.

In step S2001 of FIG. 20, an instruction to switch the wireless infrastructure mode from disabled to enabled is executed upon receiving an input operation from the user via the operation display unit of FIG. 4(c). In step S2002, a determination is made as to whether the P2P mode setting is enabled or disabled. If the P2P mode is disabled, the process proceeds to step S2006, where the previously saved frequency band and channel are specified to activate the wireless infrastructure mode. On the other hand, if the P2P mode is enabled as in communication mode setting 4, the process proceeds to step S2003, where a determination is made as to whether the previously saved frequency band of the wireless infrastructure setting is a 5 GHz DFS band or not. If a DFS band is set, the setting change to the wireless infrastructure mode explicitly set by the user is prioritized. Then, in order to switch to communication mode setting 1 or communication mode setting 2, a warning is issued in step S2004 that the P2P mode will be disabled, and the P2P mode setting is disabled in step S2005. Then, in step S2006, the desired wireless infrastructure mode is activated at 5 GHz/2.4 GHz. If in step S2003 the wireless infrastructure setting is 2.4 GHz or a band other than the DFS band, the process proceeds to step S2007, the same channel and frequency band as the wireless infrastructure are set for P2P mode, and the P2P mode is activated in step 2006.

<Manual wireless setup>
Fig. 21 is a flow chart showing manual setup of a wireless infrastructure performed by the MFP 300. Fig. 21 shows processing executed by the MFP 300, particularly the CPU 602. In manual setup, a list of surrounding wireless access points searched for by a user instruction is displayed on the MFP's operation display unit 305, and the user manually selects a wireless access point from the search results, hence the name manual setup. The flow chart of steps S2101 to S2106 is the same processing as steps S1501 to S1506 in <Wireless manual setup> in the first embodiment.

If the P2P setting is already enabled in step S2106, it is determined in step S2107 whether or not a connection has been made to a wireless access point in the 5 GHz DFS band. If a connection has been made in a band other than the 5 GHz DFS band or in the 2.4 GHz band, P2P mode is enabled in step 2108 according to the channel obtained from the wireless infrastructure. If a connection has been made in the 5 GHz DFS band, a warning is displayed in step S2109, and P2P mode is disabled in step S2110.

As described above, in the second embodiment, due to the first and second restrictions of the wireless chipset, the frequency bands for wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode can be connected together except when the DFS band is connected, which has the advantage that the user can use the device without hindering simultaneous use. Also, when connecting to a wireless access point in the 5 GHz DFS band, a warning is displayed to the user, and the user is guided to a LAN setting that avoids the restrictions by disabling the P2P mode.

<Automatic wireless setup>
During automatic wireless setup, it is necessary to try to connect in the order of priority between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz from among the frequency information of the wireless parameters acquired from the wireless access point. In the second embodiment, although there is a second restriction of the wireless chipset, if the connection is made in a band other than the 5 GHz DFS band, the condition for simultaneous use of the wireless infrastructure mode and the P2P mode can be met. Here, a method of prioritizing the 5 GHz wireless infrastructure connection and operating the wireless infrastructure and the P2P mode in the same frequency band as possible will be described. Even when connecting to a wireless access point with priority over 5 GHz, the wireless connection profile is received and stored in the same manner as in steps S1601 to S1616 in FIG. 16 according to the description of <Automatic Wireless Setup (5 GHz Priority)> in the first embodiment. The subsequent processing will be described with reference to FIG. 22. FIG. 22 shows processing executed by the MFP 300, particularly the CPU 602. Steps S2201 to S2204 in FIG. 22 are the same as the 5 GHz connection process of <Wireless automatic setup (5 GHz priority)> in the first embodiment described using steps S1717 to S1720 in FIG.

If a wireless connection is successful in the 5 GHz band (YES in step S2203), the P2P mode setting is read from the non-volatile memory 605 of the MFP 300 in step S2204, and it is determined whether the setting is valid or invalid. If the P2P mode setting is valid (YES in step S2204), it is determined in step S2205 whether a connection has been made to a wireless access point in the DFS band.

If it is determined that the connection is made using the DFS band, the MFP 300 displays a warning to the user on the operation screen in step S2206, and then disables the P2P mode setting in step S2207. The warning displayed to the user on the operation screen should inform the user that the P2P mode setting, which is not directly related to user operation, will be automatically disabled. If the P2P mode setting is disabled (NO in step S2204), the process ends.

S2208 to S2210 in FIG. 22 are the same as the 2.4 GHz connection process of <Wireless automatic setup (5 GHz priority)> described in embodiment 1 using steps S1722 to S1724 in FIG. 17. However, in embodiment 2, a different method for avoiding the first and second constraints of the wireless chipset is described. When the wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode operate in parallel at the same time, the device is controlled to operate in the 5 GHz band other than 2.4 GHz or the frequency band specified by DFS. Therefore, if the P2P mode is enabled in step S2211 or S2204, the P2P mode is activated in step S2312 according to the channel/frequency band of the wireless infrastructure mode. If the channel of the wireless infrastructure mode cannot be used in the P2P mode due to a constraint, the P2P mode is disabled (S2207) after issuing a warning (S2206).

By using the above method, a 2.4GHz/5GHz wireless setup is achieved using a common processing flow for WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), AOSS, and Rakuraku Wireless Start (registered trademark). The frequency band at the time of wireless setup completion is stored in a storage area and fixed to either 2.4GHz or 5GHz. This prevents the wireless chipset from unintentionally running into the first or second constraint, which would cause the wireless infrastructure mode or P2P mode to become unusable, after reconnecting after a wireless disconnection.

According to this embodiment, by avoiding the DFS band and using a 5 GHz band channel, the 5 GHz band can be used even in P2P mode. This allows for more room for band selection while complying with the second constraint, making it possible to select a more efficient band and use the wireless interface. Furthermore, by using the same channel in two communication modes (P2P mode and wireless infrastructure mode), the first constraint is also met.

<<Embodiment 3>>
A method is described for utilizing wireless communication without compromising user convenience, even when multiple wireless communication interfaces can operate simultaneously in parallel on a single wireless device and there are hardware constraints on a low-cost wireless chipset.

The first constraint described in the first and second embodiments can be solved in this embodiment by incurring additional costs such as increasing the CPU configuration and antenna configuration of the wireless chipset. As a result, even when the wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode are operated simultaneously in parallel, it is assumed that independent channels (and frequency bands) can be used in the wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode. Therefore, the first constraint does not exist in the third embodiment. However, since the wireless chipset incurs additional costs in proportion to the increase in each configuration, it is difficult to apply this to low-priced products. As a second constraint for low-cost wireless chipsets, it is assumed that the 5 GHz DFS function cannot be used in P2P mode (GroupOwner or soft AP).

In this embodiment, in order to solve the second constraint, the P2P mode is controlled to operate in the 5 GHz band other than the frequency band specified by DFS. As a result, regardless of whether the wireless infrastructure mode is in single interface operation or multiple interface operation, the wireless infrastructure mode is controlled to operate in either 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz in accordance with the wireless access point to which it is connected. Regardless of whether the wireless infrastructure mode is in single interface operation or multiple interface operation, the P2P mode is controlled to operate in 2.4 GHz or in the 5 GHz band other than the frequency band specified by DFS. As specific examples of the setting method of the wireless infrastructure mode and the P2P mode, the IF enable/disable switching by LAN setting, the manual wireless setup, and the automatic wireless setup method will be described in order. In the following description, the figures and the description thereof common to the above-mentioned embodiments will be omitted, and the differences will be described in detail. In particular, the system configuration and the configuration of each device of this embodiment, and the basic description of the wireless infrastructure mode and the P2P mode will be omitted because they are the same as those of the first embodiment.

<Enabling/Disabling IF by LAN Settings>
The main body operation unit is configured to be able to set the IF to be used to be enabled/disabled via the main body operation screen shown in Fig. 4(c) or via cableless setup. In this embodiment, the use of wired LAN and wireless LAN is exclusive, and the wireless infrastructure cannot be enabled at the same time as the wired LAN is enabled. Conversely, the wired LAN cannot be enabled at the same time as the wireless LAN is enabled. It is possible to disable the wired LAN and wireless LAN at the same time. The USB IF cannot be disabled by the user's settings, but is always enabled at startup and is configured to be usable at the same time as the wired LAN or wireless LAN.

The wireless LAN has settings for P2P mode and wireless infrastructure mode, which can be enabled/disabled independently. It is possible to enable both P2P mode and wireless infrastructure mode at the same time. In that case, the MFP 300 will be able to simultaneously carry out P2P communication and wireless infrastructure communication. The enabled/disabled state that has been set is saved in non-volatile memory 605 and will be referenced the next time the device is started, and each IF will be enabled based on the saved information.

When the LAN settings on the device are initialized, P2P mode and wireless infrastructure mode are disabled. The wired LAN is also disabled, and neither wired nor wireless LAN will be used. Users who have initialized the LAN settings will need to individually enable and use the desired IF.

We will explain IF switching using Figure 23. Figure 23 shows the possible combinations of communication modes and frequency bands as LAN setting values.

Communication mode setting 1 and communication mode setting 2 are patterns where wireless infrastructure mode is enabled and P2P mode is disabled. For example, if you start with a disabled LAN and set up a wireless access point in wireless infrastructure mode, and then save the wireless settings when the connection to the wireless access point is completed in the 2.4 GHz band, communication mode 1 will result. Communication mode setting 1 and communication mode setting 2 have the same LAN settings (enabled/disabled) for wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode, but because the saved frequency bands are different as a result of a successful wireless connection, they are explicitly distinguished in the table.

Communication mode setting 3 and communication mode setting 4 are patterns in which wireless infrastructure mode is disabled and P2P mode is enabled. For example, when the P2P mode is switched from disabled to enabled on the operation display unit in FIG. 4(c) from a LAN disabled state, communication mode setting 3 is saved. It may be possible to change in the user settings whether the P2P mode operates in the 5 GHz band or the 2.4 GHz band. There are no patterns in which wireless chipset restrictions are a barrier to IF switching.

If you want to use P2P mode in the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band, you can control it to operate only in bands other than the DFS band.

<Manual wireless setup>
Fig. 24 is a flow chart showing manual setup of a wireless infrastructure performed by the MFP 300. Fig. 24 shows processing executed by the MFP 300, particularly the CPU 602. In manual setup, a list of surrounding wireless access points searched for by a user instruction is displayed on the MFP's operation display unit 305, and the user manually selects a wireless access point from the search results, hence the name manual setup. The first half of the flow chart, steps S2401 to S2405, is the same processing as steps S1501 to S1505 in Fig. 15 described in <Manual wireless setup> of the first embodiment.

If the P2P setting is already enabled in step S2406, the P2P mode is set to a band other than the 5 Hz DFS band or the 2.4 GHz band in step S2407, and the P2P mode is enabled in step S2208. If the P2P setting is disabled in step S2406, the process ends.

As described above, in the third embodiment, since there is no first constraint on the wireless chipset, there is no need to match the frequency band or channel for the wireless infrastructure mode and the P2P mode. However, since there is the second constraint, it is sufficient to activate the P2P mode in a band other than the 5 GHz DFS band or at 2.4 GHz.

<Automatic wireless setup>
During automatic wireless setup, it is necessary to try to connect in the order of priority between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz from among the frequency information of the wireless parameters acquired from the wireless access point. In the third embodiment, due to the second restriction of the wireless chipset, if the connection is made in a band other than the 5 GHz DFS band, the condition for simultaneous use of the wireless infrastructure mode and the P2P mode can be met. Here, a method is described in which the wireless infrastructure connection is made in priority to 5 GHz, and the P2P mode is made in a band other than the 5 GHz DFS band. When connecting to a wireless access point with priority to 5 GHz, the wireless connection profile is received and stored in the same manner as in steps S1601 to S1616 in FIG. 16, according to the description of <Automatic Wireless Setup (5 GHz Priority)> in the first embodiment. The subsequent processing is described with reference to FIG. 25. FIG. 25 shows processing executed by the MFP 300, particularly the CPU 602.

Steps S2501 to S2504 in FIG. 25 are the same as the 5 GHz connection process of <Automatic wireless setup (5 GHz priority)> in embodiment 1 described using steps S1717 to S1720 in FIG. 17.

If a wireless connection is successful in the 5 GHz band (YES in step S2503), the P2P mode setting is read from the non-volatile memory 605 of the MFP 300 in step S2504, and it is determined whether the setting is valid or invalid. If the P2P mode setting is valid (YES in step S2504), the P2P mode is activated in a band other than the DFS usage band (S2505). At this time, since there is no first constraint on the wireless chipset, there is no need to match the frequency band or channel for the wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode. If the P2P mode setting is invalid (NO in step S2504), the process ends.

Steps S2506 to S2508 in FIG. 25 are the same as the 2.4 GHz connection process of <Automatic wireless setup (5 GHz priority)> in embodiment 1 described using steps S1722 to S1724 in FIG. 17. The P2P mode startup process in steps S2504 to S2405 is the same process regardless of whether a connection to the wireless infrastructure is successful at 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.

The above method allows for 2.4GHz/5GHz wireless setup using a common process flow for WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), AOSS, and Rakuraku Wireless Start (registered trademark).

The frequency band at the time of wireless setup completion is stored in a storage area and fixed to either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. However, unlike in embodiments 1 and 2, after reconnection when wireless is disconnected, there is no unintentional restriction of the wireless chipset, and the wireless infrastructure mode or P2P mode becomes unusable. Therefore, it is not necessarily necessary to store the frequency band at the time of wireless setup completion in a storage area and fix it to either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.

16, the wireless connection profile is received and stored, so that the wireless connection profile exists in the area of the RAM 604 of the MFP 300 that stores the connection information for 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz.
A: 2.4GHz
B: 5GHz
C: 2.4GHz+5GHz
The profile can be stored in the non-volatile memory 605 with either of the frequency settings A and B. The combination C is such that the P2P mode and the wireless infrastructure mode use different frequencies, and is further divided into two profiles depending on which communication mode and which frequency are used. If the wireless chipset can use the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands and has the first constraint, the P2P mode may unintentionally become unusable due to the first constraint depending on the frequency band of the access point to which the wireless infrastructure is reconnected. Therefore, it is desirable to fix and store the profile as "A: 2.4 GHz" or "B: 5 GHz" according to the connection destination of the wireless infrastructure.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the wireless chipset can use the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands and there is no first constraint, the P2P mode will not be unintentionally disabled by the first constraint depending on the frequency band of the wireless infrastructure to which it is connected. Therefore, it is desirable to save the frequency band set for each mode (i.e., for each wireless interface) as "C: 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz". By doing so, when the 5 GHz/2.4 GHz wireless infrastructure is disconnected, the P2P mode can be used as is without being disabled, even if the wireless infrastructure is reconnected in either the 5 GHz DFS band or a frequency band other than the DFS band.

According to this embodiment, by avoiding the DFS band and using channels in the 5 GHz band, the 5 GHz band can be used even in P2P mode. This increases the scope for band selection, making it possible to select a more efficient band to use the wireless interface.

<<Embodiment 4>>
A method for using wireless without impairing user convenience will be described even when multiple wireless communication interfaces exist in one wireless device and there are constraints on the hardware of a low-cost wireless chipset. In this embodiment, an example in which multiple wireless interfaces do not operate simultaneously in parallel (i.e., an example in which multiple communication modes operate only independently) will be described. In this embodiment, the first constraint described in the first and second embodiments does not become a substantial constraint on communication. Next, as a second constraint on the low-cost wireless chipset, it is assumed that the 5 GHz DFS function cannot be used in P2P mode (GroupOwner or soft AP). In the following description, the figures and their descriptions common to the above-mentioned embodiments will be omitted, and the differences will be described in detail. In particular, the system configuration and the configuration of each device of this embodiment, and the basic explanation of the wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode will be omitted because they are the same as those of the first embodiment.

<Enabling/Disabling IF by LAN Settings>
The main body operation unit is configured to be able to set the IF to be used to be enabled/disabled via the main body operation screen shown in Fig. 4(c) or via cableless setup. In this embodiment, the use of wired LAN and wireless LAN is exclusive, and the wireless infrastructure cannot be enabled at the same time as the wired LAN is enabled. Conversely, the wired LAN cannot be enabled at the same time as the wireless LAN is enabled. It is possible to disable the wired LAN and wireless LAN at the same time. The USB IF cannot be disabled by the user's settings, but is always enabled at startup and is configured to be usable at the same time as the wired LAN or wireless LAN.

The wireless LAN has settings for P2P mode and wireless infrastructure mode, and can be enabled/disabled independently. However, P2P mode and wireless infrastructure mode cannot be enabled at the same time. The enabled/disabled state is saved in non-volatile memory 605 and is referenced the next time the device is started, and each IF is enabled based on the saved information. When the LAN settings of the device are initialized, the P2P mode and wireless infrastructure mode are disabled. The wired LAN is also disabled, and neither the wired nor wireless LAN is used. The user who initializes the LAN settings can change the settings to enable the desired IF individually and use it. For example, when one of the communication modes is enabled, if the other communication mode is enabled, the other communication mode is disabled before enabling the communication mode to be enabled. Furthermore, to satisfy the second constraint, the use of the 2.4 GHz band is permitted in the P2P mode, and the use of the 5 GHz band is not permitted.

Using Figure 26, IF switching will be explained. Figure 26 shows possible combinations of communication mode and frequency band as LAN setting values. Communication mode setting 1 and communication mode setting 2 are patterns in which wireless infrastructure mode is enabled and P2P mode is disabled. For example, if you start from a disabled LAN state, set up a wireless access point in wireless infrastructure mode, and save the wireless settings when connection to the wireless access point is completed in the 2.4 GHz band, the communication mode will be 1. Communication mode 1 and communication mode setting 2 have the same settings as the LAN settings (enabled/disabled) for wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode, but as a result of successful wireless connection, the saved frequency bands are different, so they are explicitly distinguished in the table.

Communication mode setting 3 is a pattern in which wireless infrastructure mode is disabled and P2P mode is enabled. For example, when the LAN is disabled and P2P mode is switched from disabled to enabled on the operation display unit in FIG. 4(c), communication mode setting 3 is saved. Since DFS cannot be used in P2P mode, it is fixed to operate in the 2.4 GHz band. Since wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode are set to operate exclusively and P2P mode is fixed to 2.4 GHz, there is no pattern in which wireless chipset restrictions become a barrier to IF switching.

<Manual wireless setup>
Fig. 27 is a flow chart showing manual setup of a wireless infrastructure performed by the MFP 300. Fig. 27 shows processing executed by the MFP 300, particularly the CPU 602. In manual setup, a list of surrounding wireless access points searched for by a user instruction is displayed on the MFP's operation display unit 305, and the user manually selects a wireless access point from the search results, hence the name manual setup. The first half of the flow chart, steps S2701 to S2705, is the same processing as steps S1501 to S1505 in Fig. 15 described in <Manual wireless setup> of the first embodiment.

If the P2P setting is already enabled in step S2706, a warning screen is displayed on the MFP operation display unit 305 in step S2707. This is because the wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode operate exclusively, and therefore when the wireless infrastructure is enabled, the P2P mode is disabled in step S2708. If the P2P setting is disabled in step S2706, the process is terminated. Also, in the fourth embodiment, the wireless infrastructure mode and P2P mode operate exclusively, and therefore the first constraint of the wireless chipset is irrelevant.

<Automatic wireless setup>
During automatic wireless setup, it is necessary to try to connect in the order of priority given to either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz from among the frequency information of the wireless parameters acquired from the wireless access point. In the fourth embodiment, there is a second restriction of the wireless chipset, and in order to avoid this, the P2P mode is operated at a fixed 2.4 GHz. Here, a method of prioritizing 5 GHz for wireless infrastructure connection and operating at a fixed 2.4 GHz for P2P mode will be described. Even when connecting to a wireless access point with priority given to 5 GHz, the wireless connection profile is received and stored in the same manner as in steps S1601 to S1616 in FIG. 16, according to the description of <Automatic Wireless Setup (5 GHz Priority)> in the first embodiment. The subsequent processing will be described with reference to FIG. 28. FIG. 28 shows processing executed by the MFP 300, particularly the CPU 602.

Steps S2801 to S2804 in FIG. 28 are the same as the 5 GHz connection process of <Automatic wireless setup (5 GHz priority)> in embodiment 1 described using steps S1717 to S1720 in FIG. 17.

If a wireless connection is successful in the 5 GHz band (YES in step S2803), the P2P mode setting is read from the non-volatile memory 605 of the MFP 300 in step S2804, and it is determined whether the setting is valid or invalid. If the P2P mode setting is valid (YES in step S2804), the P2P mode is disabled in step S2805 due to exclusive operation. If the P2P mode setting is invalid (NO in step S2504), the process ends.

Steps S2806 to S2508 in FIG. 28 are the same as the 2.4 GHz connection process of <Automatic wireless setup (5 GHz priority)> in embodiment 1 described using steps S1722 to S1724 in FIG. 17. The P2P mode disabling process in steps S2804 to S2805 is the same process regardless of whether a connection to the wireless infrastructure is successful at 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.

With the above method, 2.4 GHz/5 GHz wireless setup is achieved using a common process flow for WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), AOSS, and Rakuraku Wireless Start (registered trademark).
The frequency band at the time of wireless setup completion is stored in a storage area and fixed to either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. However, unlike in the first and second embodiments, after reconnection when wireless is disconnected, there is no unintentional restriction of the wireless chipset, and the wireless infrastructure mode or P2P mode cannot be used. Therefore, it is not necessarily necessary to store the frequency band at the time of wireless setup completion in a storage area and fix it to either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.

16, the wireless connection profile is received and stored, so that the wireless connection profile exists in the area of the RAM 604 of the MFP 300 that stores the connection information for 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz.
B: 5GHz
C: 2.4GHz+5GHz
In the case where the wireless chipset can use the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands and there is no first constraint, the P2P mode may be unintentionally disabled due to the first constraint depending on the frequency band of the access point to which the wireless infrastructure is to be reconnected. Therefore, it is desirable to fix the frequency setting to "A: 2.4 GHz" or "B: 5 GHz" according to the wireless infrastructure connection destination and save the frequency setting.

Conversely, in the case where the wireless chipset can use the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands as in this embodiment, and the first constraint is not relevant because they operate exclusively, the P2P mode will not be unintentionally disabled by the first constraint depending on the frequency band to which the wireless infrastructure is connected. Therefore, it is desirable to save it as "C: 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz". By doing so, when the 5 GHz/2.4 GHz wireless infrastructure is disconnected, the wireless infrastructure can be reconnected in any frequency band within the 5 GHz DFS band or outside the DFS band.

Note that in the procedures of Figs. 27 and 28 of this embodiment, the connection in P2P mode is not maintained, so the processes of Figs. 27 and 28 may be started after disabling P2P mode first. In this way, the process of testing the validity of P2P mode and the process of disabling P2P mode depending on the results of that process are not necessary.

In addition, in P2P mode, it is possible to use P2P mode in the 5 GHz band by limiting the settings to channels that do not use DFS.

According to this embodiment, the simultaneous use of two communication modes, namely P2P mode and wireless infrastructure mode, is restricted, and the setting of a bandwidth that uses DFS is not permitted in P2P mode, making it possible to simultaneously satisfy two constraints.

[Other embodiments]
In the above-described embodiments, the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band have been described as examples of frequency bands to be used. However, the present invention can also use other frequency bands. For example, the present invention can also be applied when frequency bands other than those mentioned above become available due to addition or modification of wireless LAN communication standards.

The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more of the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments. Processors include CPUs, MPUs, and other processors. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

Storage media for supplying program code may include, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, a DVD, etc.

In addition, not only can the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments be realized by the computer executing the program code it has read, but the OS or applications running on the computer can also perform some or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code. The present invention also includes cases where the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments are realized by the processing of the OS or applications.

200 Portable communication terminal device, 201 WLAN unit, 202 Display unit, 203 Operation unit, 204 Power key, 300 MFP, 301 Document table, 302 Document cover, 303 Print paper insertion slot, 304 Print paper ejection slot, 305 Operation display unit, 306 WLAN antenna

Claims (30)

A communication device capable of performing wireless communication using a first frequency band and wireless communication using a second frequency band different from the first frequency band,
a communication means capable of executing a first communication mode for enabling wireless communication with an information processing device via an external access point, and a second communication mode for enabling wireless communication with an information processing device as a slave station, without going through the external access point, in which the communication device functions as a master station;
a control means for setting a channel to be used by said communication means and controlling said communication means;
a storage means for storing information regarding whether the communication device is in an initial startup state;
Equipped with
When the communication device is not in the initial startup state,
In the first communication mode, the communication means can communicate using any of a channel of the first frequency band, a channel of a specific frequency band that is included in the second frequency band and to which a DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) function needs to be applied, and a channel of a frequency band that is included in the second frequency band and different from the specific frequency band;
In the second communication mode, the communication means is capable of communicating using either a channel of the first frequency band or a channel of a frequency band included in the second frequency band and different from the specific frequency band, and is controlled not to communicate using a channel of the specific frequency band;
both the first communication mode and the second communication mode are enabled, the communication means communicates using a channel of the specific frequency band in the first communication mode, and the control means sets a channel of the different frequency band as a channel of the second communication mode;
A communication device comprising: A communication device capable of performing wireless communication using a first frequency band and wireless communication using a second frequency band different from the first frequency band,
a communication means capable of executing a first communication mode for enabling wireless communication with an information processing device via an external access point, and a second communication mode for enabling wireless communication with an information processing device as a slave station, without going through the external access point, in which the communication device functions as a master station;
a control means for setting a channel to be used by said communication means and controlling said communication means;
a storage means for storing information regarding whether the communication device is in an initial startup state;
Equipped with
When the communication device is not in the initial startup state,
When both the first communication mode and the second communication mode are enabled, the control means sets a channel to be used in the second communication mode based on a channel to be used in the first communication mode;
The communication means communicates in the first communication mode using a channel of a specific frequency band that is included in the second frequency band and to which a DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) function needs to be applied, and the control means controls the communication means not to execute communication in the second communication mode using a channel of the specific frequency band;
a communication means for communicating using a channel of the specific frequency band in the first communication mode, and a control means for setting a channel of a frequency band that is included in the second frequency band and different from the specific frequency band as a channel of the second communication mode. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when both the first communication mode and the second communication mode are enabled, if a channel of the first frequency band is used in the first communication mode, the control means sets the channel to be used in the second communication mode to be the same as the channel to be used in the first communication mode. 4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication means communicates on a channel of the specific frequency band in the first communication mode, and the control means controls the communication means not to communicate in the second communication mode. 4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication means communicates using channels of the different frequency bands in the first communication mode, and the control means sets the same channel to be used in the second communication mode as the channel to be used in the first communication mode. 6. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication means communicates on a channel of the different frequency band in the first communication mode, and the control means controls the communication means not to communicate in the second communication mode. the communication means acquires setting information required for connecting to an external access point through communication with an external device;
The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the communication means connects to the external access point and executes communication in the first communication mode based on information regarding a frequency band included in the acquired setting information. When the information regarding the frequency band included in the acquired setting information indicates a channel of the first frequency band, the communication means executes the second communication mode using the same channel as a channel used for connecting to the external access point;
The communication device according to claim 7, characterized in that, when the information regarding a frequency band included in the acquired setting information indicates a channel of the specific frequency band, the communication means does not execute the second communication mode. when the second communication mode is enabled in a state in which the first communication mode is enabled and a channel of the specific frequency band is set as a channel to be used in the first communication mode, the communication means executes the second communication mode without executing the first communication mode;
9. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein when the second communication mode is enabled in a state in which the first communication mode is enabled and a channel of the first frequency band is set as the channel to be used in the first communication mode, the communication means executes the second communication mode using the same channel as the channel to be used in the first communication mode. when the communication means enables the first communication mode in a state in which the second communication mode is enabled and a channel of the specific frequency band is set as a channel to be used in the first communication mode, the communication means executes the first communication mode without executing the second communication mode;
10. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein when the second communication mode is enabled and a channel of the first frequency band is set as the channel to be used in the first communication mode, the communication means executes the first communication mode using the same channel as the channel to be used in the first communication mode when the first communication mode is enabled and the channel of the first frequency band is set as the channel to be used in the first communication mode. the communication means searches for an external access point and acquires response information including identification information from the external access point;
A communication device as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the communication means connects to an external access point corresponding to identification information selected by a user from among identification information displayed on a display means of the communication device based on the acquired response information, and performs communication in the first communication mode. When the second communication mode is enabled and an external access point corresponding to the selected identification information is connected via a channel of the first frequency band, the control means sets a channel to be used in the second communication mode to the same channel as a channel of the first communication mode;
The communication device according to claim 11, characterized in that when the second communication mode is enabled and a connection is made to an external access point corresponding to the selected identification information via a channel of the specific frequency band, the communication means does not execute the second communication mode. the communication means acquires connection information including information about a frequency band from an external access point by a wireless automatic setup method;
13. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein when the acquired connection information includes information regarding the first frequency band and information regarding the second frequency band, the communication means prioritizes the first frequency band when connecting to the external access point. 14. The communication device according to claim 13, wherein the automatic wireless setup method is any one of Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), AirStation One-Touch Secure System (AOSS), and Raku-Raku Wireless Start. When the second communication mode is enabled and the external access point is connected via a channel of the first frequency band, the control means sets a channel to be used in the second communication mode to the same channel as a channel of the first communication mode;
The communication device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that, when the second communication mode is enabled and the communication means is connected to the external access point via a channel of the specific frequency band, the second communication mode is not executed. 16. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein when either the first communication mode or the second communication mode is disabled, a message is displayed on a display means of the communication device. 17. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication means executes the first communication mode and the second communication mode by communication conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series. 18. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the first communication mode is a mode in which the external access point operates as a master station and the communication device operates as a slave station. In the first communication mode, a channel to be set by the control means is determined based on information about a frequency obtained from the external access point serving as a master station;
19. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein in the second communication mode, a channel set by the information processing device which is a child station is determined based on a channel set by the control means. 20. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein in the second communication mode, the communication device operates fixedly as a master station. 21. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein in the second communication mode, the communication device operates as a master station by executing a negotiation for determining a role. 22. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the second communication mode is a mode in which the communication device operates as a master station by executing an access point function of the communication device. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the second communication mode is a mode in which the communication device operates as a parent station by operating as a Group Owner of Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark). A communication device as described in any one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that when communication in the first communication mode and communication in the second communication mode are executed in parallel, the control means is capable of setting a channel to be used in the second communication mode that is different from the channel of the first communication mode. 25. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein a user can set whether the second frequency band or the first frequency band is to be used by the communication means, and communication in the second communication mode is performed using a channel of a frequency band based on the user's setting. The communication device is further capable of performing communication via a wired LAN;
26. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication means is unable to execute either the first communication mode or the second communication mode when the wired LAN is enabled. 27. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is a scanner device. 28. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is a printer. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 28, characterized in that even if the communication means communicates using a channel of the specific frequency band in the first communication mode and the information processing device is capable of communication using the specific frequency band, the control means controls the communication means not to execute communication in the second communication mode using a channel of the specific frequency band. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means described in any one of claims 1 to 29.

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