JP2016111485A - Communication device, control method of communication device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a plurality of processes using close proximity wireless communication. When it is determined that a communication device according to the present invention is connected to a wireless network by a second wireless communication method, a communication device for communicating in the wireless network connected by the second wireless communication method is provided. 1 setting information and application information for starting an application are written in the memory, and when it is determined that the wireless communication network is not connected by the second wireless communication method, the application information is written in the memory and the writing is performed. When the received information is transmitted to the communication partner apparatus by the first wireless communication method that is close proximity wireless communication, a second for communicating in the wireless network newly connected by the second wireless communication method in response to the transmission. Setting information is written in the memory. [Selection] Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to communication technology.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, portable terminals that can use near field communication such as NFC (Near Field Communication), IrDA (Infrared Data Association), and TransferJet (registered trademark) are known. In close proximity wireless communication, data can be transmitted and received between devices simply by performing operations such as bringing the devices closer together (Patent Document 1). In addition, there is a technique for performing handover from such close proximity wireless communication to a different wireless communication method such as a wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11 series) or Bluetooth (registered trademark). Here, handover refers to an act of switching from communication via the first communication path, which is the first communication means, to communication via the second communication path via the second communication means.

  Furthermore, there is a function of automatically starting the application indicated by the information when data including the information related to the application is received by NFC.

JP 2007-221355 A

  As described above, it has been proposed to use proximity wireless communication such as NFC for various processes. However, there is a single process realized using close proximity wireless communication between the same apparatuses, and no consideration has been given to realizing a plurality of processes using close proximity wireless communication between the same apparatuses.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize a plurality of processes using close proximity wireless communication.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a communication device according to the present invention includes a first wireless communication unit that transmits information stored in a memory to a communication partner device using a first wireless communication method that is close proximity wireless communication; A second wireless communication means for communicating with the communication counterpart device by a second wireless communication method different from the communication method, a determination means for determining whether or not the second wireless communication means is connected to a wireless network, When it is determined that the wireless communication means is connected to the wireless network, the first setting information for communicating in the wireless network connected by the second wireless communication means and the application information for starting the application, Is determined not to be connected to the wireless network by the first writing means and the second wireless communication means. A second writing means for writing the application information to the memory; a first sending means for sending the information written by the second writing means to the communication counterpart device by the first wireless communication means; When transmission is performed by the transmission means, second setting information for newly communicating in the wireless network connected by the second wireless communication means is written to the memory in response to the transmission by the first transmission means. And writing means.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of processes can be realized using close proximity wireless communication.

It is a figure which illustrates a communication system structure. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a printer. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of a smart phone. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block configuration of a printer. It is a figure which shows an example of the functional block structure of a smart phone. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printer. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a smart phone. It is a figure which shows the communication sequence chart between a printer and a smart phone.

  Hereinafter, a communication device and a communication system according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram of a device configuration of a system 100 assumed in the present embodiment described below. Reference numerals 101 and 102 denote communication apparatuses according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, 101 is a printer, and 102 is a smartphone. In addition, although the apparatus in the communication system in this embodiment is described as a printer and a smartphone, for example, apparatuses such as a digital camera, a PC, a video camera, a smart watch, and a PDA may be used.

  The smartphone 102 can communicate with the printer 101 using NFC (Near Field Communication) communication 103 which is near field communication. In this embodiment, the smartphone 102 communicates in the reader / writer mode defined in the NFC form, and the printer 101 communicates in the card emulation mode defined in the NFC form. Note that the reader / writer mode is a mode for reading from and writing to a memory of a device operating in the card emulation mode. The card emulation mode is a mode in which reading and writing are performed on a memory from a device operating in the reader / writer mode. Note that the NFC communication 103 between the smartphone 102 and the printer 101 may perform bidirectional communication in the P2P mode defined in the NFC Form. Further, the printer 101 and the smartphone 102 can communicate with each other using the wireless LAN communication 104. Furthermore, the printer 101 and the smartphone 102 can communicate with each other even using the wireless LAN communication 104 via the access point (AP) 105.

  Next, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the printer 101. The printer 101 includes a display unit 201, an operation unit 202, a storage unit 203, a power supply unit 204, a control unit 205, a ROM 206, a RAM 207, an NFC tag unit 208, a wireless LAN communication unit 209, and a printing unit 210.

  The display unit 201 is configured by, for example, an LCD or an LED, and has a function of outputting information that can be visually recognized by the user, and displays various UIs. The operation unit 202 has a function for the user to perform various inputs and operate the communication apparatus. The storage unit 203 includes, for example, a storage medium such as an HDD, a flash memory, or a removable SD card, and stores and manages various data such as wireless communication network information, data transmission / reception information, and image data. The power supply unit 204 is, for example, an AC (Alternating Current) power supply, acquires a power supply for operating the entire apparatus from an outlet, and supplies power to each hardware.

  The control unit 205 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), for example, and controls the operation of each component of the printer 101. The ROM 206 stores control commands, that is, programs, and various operations described later are realized by the control unit 205 executing the control programs stored in the ROM 206. The RAM 207 is used for temporary storage of work memory and data when executing a program.

  Reference numeral 208 denotes an NFC tag unit that performs the NFC communication 103. The NFC tag unit 208 has a nonvolatile memory inside, and can read / write data stored in the memory from the reader / writer via the NFC communication 103. The NFC tag unit 208 performs wireless communication complying with the communication rules defined by the NFC Forum. Note that the memory of the NFC tag unit 208 can rewrite stored information internally from the control unit 205 or can rewrite stored information by writing from a reader / writer as an external device. In addition, the NFC tag unit 208 automatically establishes the NFC communication 103 when detecting a communicable device within the communication range, and automatically stores information stored in the memory in response to a read command from the communication partner device. Send. The NFC tag unit 208 performs wireless communication conforming to the NFC standard. However, for example, the NFC tag unit 208 performs communication using other close proximity wireless communication such as infrared communication (IrDA) and Transfer Jet, or other wireless communication methods. Anyway. Further, the NFC tag unit 208 may use a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) system defined by Bluetooth (registered trademark) 4.0.

  A wireless LAN communication unit 209 performs wireless LAN communication 104. The wireless LAN communication unit 209 performs wireless communication conforming to the IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) 802.11 series. In the present embodiment, the wireless LAN communication unit 209 performs wireless communication conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series, but other communication methods such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) may be used. The printing unit 210 is a hardware element for performing printing.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the smartphone 102 will be described with reference to FIG. The smartphone 102 includes a display unit 301, an operation unit 302, a storage unit 303, a power supply unit 304, a control unit 305, a ROM 306, a RAM 307, an NFC communication unit 308, and a wireless LAN communication unit 309. The display unit 301 is configured by, for example, an LCD or LED, has a function of outputting information visually recognizable by the user, and displays various UIs. The operation unit 302 has a function for the user to perform various inputs and operate the communication apparatus. Note that the display unit 301 and the operation unit 302 may be integrally configured by a touch panel or the like.

  The storage unit 303 includes a storage medium such as an HDD, a flash memory, or a removable SD card, and stores and manages various data such as wireless communication network information, data transmission / reception information, image data, and applications. The power supply unit 304 is, for example, a battery, holds a power supply for operating the entire apparatus, and supplies power to each hardware.

  The control unit 305 is a CPU, for example, and controls the operation of the entire smartphone 102. The ROM 306 stores control instructions, that is, programs. Various operations to be described later are realized by the control unit 305 executing a control program stored in the ROM 306. The RAM 307 is used for temporary storage of work memory and data when executing a program.

The NFC communication unit 308 performs NFC communication 103 compliant with the NFC standard. Further, the NFC communication unit 308 automatically establishes the NFC communication 103 when a device capable of communication within the communication range is detected. In the present embodiment, the NFC communication unit 308 operates as a reader / writer and can read data in the internal memory of the NFC tag 208. The NFC communication unit 308 performs wireless communication in conformity with the NFC standard. For example, the NFC communication unit 308 may perform communication using other close proximity wireless communication such as infrared communication (IrDA) or Transfer Jet, or other wireless communication methods. Anyway. The NFC communication unit 308 may use the BLE method. 309 is a wireless LAN communication unit that performs the wireless LAN communication 104. The wireless LAN communication unit 209 performs wireless communication conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series. In the present embodiment, the wireless LAN communication unit 309 performs wireless communication conforming to the IEEE 802.11 series, but other communication methods such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) may be used.

  The public communication unit 310 is connected to a public wireless base station of a mobile communication carrier, and performs communication for telephone communication or access to the Internet via a public communication network.

  Next, functional block diagrams of the printer 101 and the smartphone 102 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In the present embodiment, the functional blocks of the printer 101 and the smartphone 102 are stored as programs in the ROMs 206 and 306, respectively, and the functions are implemented by executing the programs by the control units 205 and 305. The control units 205 and 305 implement each function by performing control of each hardware and calculation and processing of information according to a control program. A part or all of the functional blocks may be implemented as hardware. In this case, a part or all of the functional blocks are configured by, for example, ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram (400) of the printer 101. The printer 101 includes an NFC tag control unit 410, a wireless LAN communication control unit 420, a print control unit 430, and a display control unit 440. The NFC tag control unit 410 has a function of reading and writing data in the internal memory of the NFC tag unit 208. The NFC tag control unit 410 also has a function of detecting that the NFC communication 103 has been established / disconnected. The NFC tag control unit 410 measures a predetermined period after the NFC communication is disconnected with a timer, and determines whether the NFC communication is reconnected before the predetermined period elapses. The NFC tag control unit 410 also has a function of detecting that reading / writing has been performed from an external reader / writer by the NFC communication 103.

  The wireless LAN communication control unit 420 is a processing unit that controls wireless LAN communication via the wireless LAN communication unit 209. The wireless LAN communication control unit 420 includes an STA function that operates as a station in an infrastructure mode of the wireless LAN and an AP function that operates as an access point. The print control unit 430 is a processing unit that executes a print request input from an external device by controlling the printing unit 210. The display control unit 440 processes output to the display unit 201 and input from the operation unit 202.

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram (500) of the smartphone. The smartphone 102 includes an NFC communication control unit 510, a wireless LAN communication control unit 520, an application control unit 530, and a display control unit 540. The NFC communication control unit 510 is a processing unit that controls the NFC communication 103 via the NFC communication unit 308. When the NFC communication control unit 510 detects an NFC tag within the range of the NFC communication 103, the NFC communication control unit 510 reads the internal memory of the NFC tag without any user operation. In addition to the functions described in the wireless LAN communication control unit 420 of the printer 101, the wireless LAN communication control unit 520, when reading wireless LAN setting information described later by the NFC communication 103, the wireless LAN network indicated by the wireless LAN setting information It also has a function to automatically connect to. The application control unit 530 is a control unit that reads an application installed in the storage unit 303 of the smartphone into the RAM 307 and executes the application. When the application information to be described later is read by the NFC communication 103, a function of starting an application corresponding to the application information without a user input operation is also provided. In addition, when an application corresponding to the application information is not installed, a function for displaying a download site of the application and guiding the installation to the user is also provided. Since other functional blocks are the same as those of the printer 101, description thereof is omitted here.

  The operation of the communication system having the above configuration will be described.

  An operation procedure of the printer 101 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 is realized by the control unit 205 executing a control program stored in the ROM 206 to execute calculation and processing of information and control of each hardware. A part or all of the steps shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 may be realized by hardware such as ASIC.

  As an initial state, it is assumed that the printer 101 can accept a print job, and the printer 101 and the smartphone 102 are located outside the NFC communication 103 range.

  First, when the printer 101 starts processing when the power is turned on, the printer 101 determines whether it is connected to the wireless network formed by the access point 105 by the wireless LAN communication 104 by the wireless LAN communication unit 209 (S601). Note that the determination in S601 is that the connection with the access point 105, which is an external device, is determined. However, whether or not the wireless LAN communication control unit 420 forms a wireless network by the AP function of the printer 101 is determined. It is good also as a structure to determine. The determination in step S601 may be performed by determining whether or not the wireless LAN communication control unit 420 forms a wireless network by the AP function of the printer 101 and is connected to another device via the formed wireless network. Good.

  If it is determined in step S601 that the wireless LAN is not connected, the control unit 205 of the printer 101 writes application information in the internal memory of the NFC tag unit 208 (S602). Here, the application information is information including an identifier of an application that can be executed by the application control unit 530 of the smartphone 102. As described above, when the smartphone 102 reads the application information through the NFC communication 103, the smartphone 102 activates an application corresponding to the identifier or leads to a download site. That is, the printer 101 can activate the application indicated by the application information on the smartphone 102 by transmitting the application information to the smartphone 102. Note that the application information written in the memory of the NFC tag unit 208 is information for transmitting image data stored in the smartphone 102 to the printer 101 and starting a printing application for printing. Other application information may be used.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S601 that the wireless LAN connection is established, the control unit 205 of the printer 101 writes application information and wireless LAN setting information related to the connected network in the internal memory of the NFC tag unit 208 (S603). . The wireless LAN setting information includes various wireless communication parameters for performing wireless communication in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 standard. The wireless LAN setting information includes wireless communication parameters necessary for performing wireless LAN communication such as an SSID (Service Set Identifier) as a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key. Further, an IP address for performing communication in the IP layer may be included. In addition, a wireless network type such as BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier), Infrastructure mode, or Adhoc mode may be included. Further, a role on the wireless network such as an access point mode or a client mode may be included.

  Then, the NFC tag unit 208 of the printer 101 determines whether the NFC communication 103 has been established (S604). Here, when the user brings the smartphone 102 close to the range of the NFC communication 103 with the printer 101, the smartphone 102 starts the NFC communication 103. Then, the printer 101 detects that the NFC communication 103 has been established in response to the proximity of the smartphone 102 that is a reader / writer. If the NFC communication 103 is not established, the above-described processing from S601 to S603 is repeated.

  When the NFC communication 103 is established, the printer 101 transmits information stored in the NFC tag unit 208 to the smartphone 102 through the NFC communication 103 in response to a read command from the smartphone 102 (S605). Then, the NFC tag unit 208 of the printer 101 determines whether or not the NFC communication 103 has been disconnected (S606). When the user moves the smartphone 102 away from the NFC communication 103 with the printer 101, the printer 101 detects disconnection of the NFC communication 103.

  When the printer 101 detects disconnection of the NFC communication 103, the printer 101 switches processing depending on whether the wireless LAN setting information is transmitted in S605. When the wireless LAN setting information is transmitted in S605 (YES in S607), it is determined whether or not the wireless network of the transmitted wireless LAN setting information is connected to the communication partner (smartphone 102) of NFC communication in S604 (S608). .

Here, the connection with the smartphone 102 means that cooperation processing such as printing, scanning, and status acquisition can be executed with the printer 101 via the wireless LAN communication 104. Specifically, the determination is made based on whether or not the smartphone 102 is found by a discovery process such as SSDP (Simple Service Discovery Protocol). Further, the determination is made under the condition that the smartphone 102 is connected by TCP (Transmission Control Protocol). That is, the printer 101 determines whether it is connected to the smartphone 102 via the wireless LAN 104 and the IP layer.
The determination is made based on the identification information of the smartphone 102 included in the read command from the smartphone 102.

  If the connection with the smartphone 102 is detected in step S608, the printer 101 advances the process to step S616 described later. If the connection with the smartphone 102 is not detected in step S <b> 608, the printer 101 advances the process to step S <b> 618 described later.

  On the other hand, when the wireless LAN setting information is not transmitted in S605, if the disconnection of the NFC communication 103 is detected (NO in S607), the wireless LAN communication unit 209 of the printer 101 activates the AP function and creates a wireless LAN network. (S609). Further, the control unit 205 of the printer 101 overwrites the wireless LAN setting information relating to the wireless LAN network generated in S609 in the internal memory of the NFC tag unit 208 (S610). In addition, after overwriting the wireless LAN setting information, the display unit 201 or 301 of the printer 101 or the smartphone 102 may display information for prompting the establishment of NFC communication by bringing the smartphone 102 closer to the printer 101 again. The overwriting of the wireless LAN setting information in S610 may be automatically performed when a certain time has elapsed after the detection of the establishment of NFC communication in S604.

  After the wireless LAN setting information is written in S610, the control unit 205 of the printer 101 starts measuring a predetermined period using a timer (S611). When the control unit 205 of the printer 101 finishes overwriting the wireless LAN setting information, the control unit 205 determines whether the NFC communication 103 has been established before the predetermined period elapses (S612 and S613).

  Note that the determination in S612 may determine reconnection with the communication partner apparatus of the NFC communication 103 established in S604. In this case, when the NFC communication 103 is established, the smartphone 102 writes identification information in the NFC tag unit 208. In step S <b> 604, the printer 101 compares the identification information written in the NFC tag unit 208 with the identification information written in the NFC tag unit 208 when the next NFC communication 103 is established. If the written identification information matches, the printer 101 determines that reconnection has been established with the communication partner apparatus of the NFC communication 103 established in S604. If it is determined that the connection has been reconnected, the process proceeds to S614 described later. When determining reconnection in S612, if NFC communication 103 is established with a device different from the communication partner device of NFC communication 103 established in S604, an error may be displayed, and the process may proceed to S618 described later. .

  As described above, by determining reconnection in S612, it is possible to reduce passing of wireless LAN setting information to another unintended apparatus, and thus security can be improved.

  The NFC tag unit 208 of the printer 101 transmits the stored wireless LAN setting information by the NFC communication 103 in response to the read command from the smartphone 102 when the NFC communication 103 is established before the predetermined period elapses ( S614).

  Then, the printer 101 determines whether communication by the smartphone 102 and the wireless LAN communication 104 has been established in the network indicated by the transmitted wireless LAN setting information (S615). When the wireless LAN communication unit 209 receives a wireless LAN connection request from the smartphone 102, the printer 101 connects to the wireless LAN communication 104. Then, the establishment of the connection with the smartphone 102 is determined by the discovery process similar to S608 described above. If it is not detected that the communication of the wireless LAN communication 104 has been established after the lapse of a predetermined period from the start of the process of S615, the process may be advanced to S618.

  When the wireless LAN communication unit 209 of the printer 101 receives a print process from the smartphone 102, the wireless LAN communication unit 209 receives print data through the wireless LAN communication 104 (S616). Then, the printer 101 prints the received print data by the printing unit 210 (S617). Note that when printing is completed in S617, the wireless connection determined to be connected in S601 may be disconnected, or the wireless LAN network created in S609 may be terminated. Note that when the printing process is completed, the network created by the self apparatus in the AP function in S609 is terminated, but the connection to the network already connected at the time of the determination in S601 may be maintained. Further, when the printing process is completed, the network created by the own apparatus in the AP function in S609 may be maintained, and the connection to the network that has already been connected at the time of the determination in S601 may be disconnected. Further, in preparation for a further print request, the connection with the smartphone 102 via the wireless LAN communication 104 may be maintained until a disconnection instruction is received from the user.

  On the other hand, if the NFC communication 103 is not established before the predetermined period of time elapses in S613, or if the smartphone 102 cannot be connected in S608, it is determined whether the wireless LAN communication 104 with the access point 105 is connected ( S618). If the NFC communication 103 is not established before the predetermined period of time elapses in S613, or if the smartphone 102 cannot be connected in S608, the process may be returned to S601. In this case, the process ends when the printer 101 is turned off.

  If it is determined in step S618 that the wireless LAN connection is not established, the control unit 205 of the printer 101 writes application information in the internal memory of the NFC tag unit 208 (S6192), and the process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in S618 that the wireless LAN connection is established, the control unit 205 of the printer 101 writes application information and wireless LAN setting information related to the connected network in the internal memory of the NFC tag unit 208 (S620). The process is terminated.

  Subsequently, an operation procedure of the smartphone 102 in the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. Note that the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 is realized by the control unit 305 executing a control program stored in the ROM 306 to perform calculation and processing of information and control of each hardware. Note that part or all of the steps shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 may be realized by hardware such as ASIC.

First, the NFC communication unit 308 of the smartphone 102 determines whether the NFC communication 103 has been established (S701). Here, when the user brings the smartphone 102 close to the range of the NFC communication 103 with the printer 101, the smartphone 102 starts the NFC communication 103.
The NFC communication unit 308 of the smartphone 102 reads the data written in the internal memory of the NFC tag unit 208 of the printer 101 by transmitting a read command (S702). At this time, the smartphone 102 may write identification information of the own device in the NFC tag unit 208.

  Then, the NFC communication unit 308 of the smartphone 102 determines whether or not the NFC communication 103 is disconnected (S703). When the user moves the smartphone 102 out of the NFC communication 103 with the printer 101, the smartphone 102 detects disconnection of the NFC communication 103.

  Next, the smartphone 102 checks whether application information is included in the read data (S704). As described above, when the smartphone 102 reads the application information through the NFC communication 103, the smartphone 102 activates an application corresponding to the identifier or leads to a download site. Here, the smart phone 102 demonstrates the process in the state which has previously installed the application corresponding to application information.

  If the application information is not included in the data read in S702 (NO in S704), the smartphone 102 ends the process. In this case, the smartphone 102 may display an error.

  If the read data includes application information (YES in S704), the application control unit 530 activates the application identified by the application information (S705). As described above, the smartphone 102 can automatically start the application indicated by the application information by receiving the application information from the printer 101.

  In the example shown in this embodiment, the application identified by the application information is a print application. The print application is a print application for selecting image data stored in the smartphone 102, transmitting the selected image data to the printer 101, and printing the selected image data.

  If the print application is not installed, the application control unit 530 displays a Web page on which the application can be downloaded on the display unit 301. The smartphone 102 may download and install an application according to a user operation.

  Subsequently, the smartphone 102 determines whether the data read in S702 includes wireless LAN setting information. If wireless LAN setting information is included in the data read in S702, the process proceeds to S711, which will be described later.

When the wireless LAN setting information is not included in the data read in S702, the smartphone 102 causes the display unit 301 to display a message for prompting reconnection by NFC communication (S707). Then, the NFC communication unit 308 of the smartphone 102 determines whether the NFC communication 103 has been established (S708). If the NFC communication 103 is not established by the NFC communication unit 308 of the smartphone 102 within the predetermined period, an error is displayed and the process is terminated. In S708, if the NFC communication 103 is established by the NFC communication unit 308 within the predetermined period, The NFC communication unit 308 reads the data written in the internal memory of the NFC tag unit 208 of the printer 101 by transmitting a read command (S709).

  Next, the smartphone 102 checks whether the read data includes wireless LAN setting information (S710). If the wireless LAN setting information is not included in the data read in S709 (NO in S710), the smartphone 102 ends the process. In this case, the smartphone 102 may display an error.

  If it is determined in step S706 or S710 that the wireless LAN setting information has been read, the print application attempts to establish wireless LAN communication indicated by the read wireless LAN setting information (S711). Note that if the network already connected to the smartphone 102 and the network indicated by the read wireless LAN setting information are the same, the process of establishing the wireless LAN communication may be omitted. When the network already connected to the smartphone 102 is different from the network indicated by the read wireless LAN setting information, the smartphone 102 disconnects the already connected network and connects to the network indicated by the wireless LAN setting information.

  If connection to the wireless LAN network has failed (NO in step S711), an error message is displayed on the display unit 301, and the process ends. If the connection with the printer 101 is successful by wireless LAN communication (YES in S711), the print application executes communication for printing with the printer 101 (S712). The communication for printing is, for example, processing for transmitting image data selected by the smartphone 102 to the printer 101 via the wireless LAN communication 104 and printing the image data received by the printer 101 from the smartphone 102. Another example of S712 is a process of transmitting data scanned by the printer 101 to the smartphone 102 via the wireless LAN communication 104, and displaying or storing data received by the smartphone 102. When the process in S <b> 712 is completed, the smartphone 102 may disconnect the connection with the printer 101 via the wireless LAN communication 104. Further, in preparation for further printing communication, the connection with the printer 101 via the wireless LAN communication 104 may be maintained until a wireless disconnection instruction is received from the user. In this case, when the smartphone 102 receives an image selection or transmission instruction from the user, the communication for S712 is started again.

  Next, an example of a communication sequence between the printer 101 and the smartphone 102 in the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In this example, the printer 101 starts NFC communication while being connected to the access point 105. Then, the printer 101 prints image data transmitted from the smartphone 102 via the access point 105.

  Since the printer 101 is connected to the access point 105 as an initial state, application information and wireless LAN setting information for connecting to the wireless network of the access point 105 are written in the internal memory of the NFC tag unit 208. Yes. When the user brings the printer 101 and the smartphone 102 close to the range where the NFC communication 103 is possible, the NFC communication 103 is established between the printer 101 and the smartphone 102 (S801). When detecting the NFC tag unit 208, the smartphone 102 transmits a read command for reading the internal memory of the NFC tag unit 208 to the printer 101 (S802). The NFC tag unit 208 of the printer 101 returns a read response including the application information to the smartphone 102 (S803). Then, the control unit 305 of the smartphone 102 activates an application corresponding to the received application information. Thereafter, when the user moves the printer 101 and the smartphone 102 away from the NFC communication 103 area, the NFC communication 103 is disconnected (S804).

The smartphone 102 connects to the network of the access point 105 based on the read wireless LAN setting information. Then, in the network of the access point 105, the printer 101 and the smartphone 102 perform discovery processing for searching by SSDP and connecting by TCP (S805). When the printer 101 and the smartphone 102 discover each other and a TCP connection is established, when printing is instructed by the operation of the operation unit 302 by the user, a print request is transmitted to the printer 101 via the wireless LAN communication 104. (S806). The smartphone 102 may automatically transmit a print request when the printer 101 is detected in advance when a print instruction by a user operation is received. As described above, according to the present embodiment, If the printer 101 is already connected to the wireless LAN at the start of NFC communication, the printer 101 writes the wireless LAN setting information of the currently connected network in the NFC tag 208 together with the application information. Accordingly, the printer 101 and the smartphone 102 can perform application activation for executing print processing and settings for wireless communication used by the application in accordance with NFC communication. Further, if the printer 101 is connected to the wireless LAN at the start of NFC communication, the wireless LAN setting information of the currently connected network is written in the NFC tag 208, so that a new network is connected to communicate with the smartphone 10. The trouble of forming can be saved.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, even when the NFC communication is not started, the application activation process is performed by the first NFC communication, and the handover from the NFC to the wireless LAN is performed by the second NFC communication. Processing can be performed. Therefore, it is possible to switch and execute processing executed by NFC by performing an operation of bringing devices closer to each other multiple times, and it is possible to perform application startup and settings for wireless communication used by the application Thus, the operability is improved.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the printer 101 does not form a wireless network by itself when connected to the access point 105. However, as long as the printer 101 can simultaneously operate the access point function and the client function of the wireless LAN, the process from S609 may be performed even when the printer 101 is connected to the access point 105.

  In the present embodiment, the printer 101 changes the content written in the internal memory of the NFC tag 208 by determining whether or not the printer 101 is already connected to the wireless LAN network. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the writing content may be changed depending on whether or not a wireless LAN network stored in the connection history exists in the vicinity. In this case, if there is a network stored in the connection history in the vicinity, the connection information of the wireless LAN network may be written in addition to the application information.

  In the present embodiment, the printer 101 writes connection information related to one wireless LAN network as wireless LAN connection information. However, a plurality of wireless LAN networks may be written.

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

101 Printer 102 Smartphone 103 NFC Communication 104 Wireless LAN Communication 105 Access Point 105

Claims (10)

First wireless communication means for transmitting information stored in the memory to a communication partner apparatus by a first wireless communication method that is proximity wireless communication;
Second wireless communication means for communicating with the communication partner device by a second wireless communication method different from the first wireless communication method;
Determining means for determining whether the second wireless communication means is connected to a wireless network;
When it is determined that the second wireless communication means is connected to a wireless network, the first setting information for communicating in the wireless network connected by the second wireless communication means and an application for starting the application First writing means for writing information to the memory;
A second writing means for writing the application information to the memory when it is determined by the second wireless communication means that it is not connected to a wireless network;
First transmission means for transmitting information written by the second writing means to the communication counterpart device by the first wireless communication means;
When transmission by the first transmission unit is performed, second setting information for newly communicating in the wireless network connected by the second wireless communication unit in response to transmission by the first transmission unit is stored in the memory. And a third writing means for writing.   When the application information and the first or second setting information are transmitted to the communication counterpart device, the communication device performs an application according to the application information in a wireless network indicated by the first or second setting information. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein communication is performed by the second wireless communication unit with the activated communication partner apparatus.   3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second transmission unit configured to transmit the information written by the second writing unit to the communication partner apparatus using the first wireless communication unit. When communication by the first wireless communication unit is started before a predetermined period has elapsed since the writing by the third writing unit, information written by the third writing unit is transmitted by the first wireless communication unit. Third transmission means for transmitting to the communication counterpart device,
If communication by the first wireless communication unit is not started before the predetermined period has elapsed since writing by the third writing unit, the first or second is determined according to the determination by the determination unit. 4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein writing is performed by a writing unit.   5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication method is NFC (Near Field Communication). 6.   6. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication unit performs communication in an NFC card emulation mode.   The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second wireless communication system is at least one of IEEE 802.11 series and Bluetooth. The application information is information for starting an application for executing print processing,
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus prints data transmitted by the application from the communication partner apparatus by the second wireless communication unit. A first wireless communication means for transmitting information stored in the memory to a communication partner device by a first wireless communication method which is a proximity wireless communication; and a communication partner device by a second wireless communication method different from the first wireless communication method. A second wireless communication means for communicating with the communication device, comprising:
A determination step of determining whether or not the second wireless communication means is connected to a wireless network;
When it is determined that the second wireless communication means is connected to a wireless network, the first setting information for communicating in the wireless network connected by the second wireless communication means and an application for starting the application A first writing step of writing information into the memory;
A second writing step of writing the application information to the memory when the second wireless communication means determines that the wireless network is not connected to the wireless network;
A first transmission step of transmitting the information written in the second writing step to the communication counterpart device by the first wireless communication means;
When transmission in the first transmission step is performed, second setting information for communicating in a wireless network newly connected by the second wireless communication unit in response to transmission in the first transmission step, And a third writing means for writing to the memory.   A program for causing a computer to operate as the communication device according to claim 1.

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