JP6643841B2 - Communication device, communication device control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device including a plurality of wireless communication units.

  In recent years, a device that can communicate with an external device by a plurality of wireless communication means is known. In such a device, it has been proposed that, even when communicating with the same external device, the communication means is appropriately switched by utilizing the characteristics of the respective wireless communication means. For example, in Patent Literature 1, a power-saving communication unit is set in a power save state until data communication timing, and a power-saving communication unit transmits and receives data communication timing to reduce power consumption. It is disclosed. It is also disclosed that the timing of the data communication is transmitted to a plurality of devices so that the timing of the data communication is not duplicated between the devices.

JP 2006-20289 A

  However, Patent Document 1 does not consider the case where there are devices that can be connected simultaneously with a plurality of devices and devices that are not. For example, recently known low-power-consumption communications include Bluetooth (registered trademark) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). This communication method has a role of a central and a peripheral in communication between devices. A central can be connected to multiple peripherals simultaneously, but a peripheral cannot be connected to multiple centrals at the same time. In many cases, this role is determined at the time of product shipment for each device. When a communication means having such a restriction is used, a method as in Patent Document 1 cannot be adopted.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce power consumption in communication even when using a communication method that cannot simultaneously connect to a plurality of external communication devices.

  In order to achieve the above object, a communication device according to the present invention has the following configuration.

First wireless communication means that can be simultaneously connected by wireless communication with a plurality of external communication devices, and second wireless communication means that can be connected by wireless communication with one of the plurality of external communication devices,
Control means,
The control means includes:
When determining whether to establish a connection with the external communication device by the first wireless communication means, disconnect the connection by the second wireless communication means,
If it is determined to disconnect the connection with the external communication device by the first wireless communication means, through the connection by the first wireless communication means, the external communication device, the connection of the second wireless communication means Transition to a state of waiting for establishment, disconnect the connection by the first wireless communication means,
When it is determined that the first wireless communication unit establishes a connection with the external communication device, a connection by the second wireless communication unit is established with the external communication device, and the connection by the second wireless communication unit is established. Using the connection, a connection by the first wireless communication unit with the external communication device is established, and then the connection by the second wireless communication unit is disconnected.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the power consumption in communication can be reduced, even when using the communication system which cannot connect with several external communication apparatuses simultaneously.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating wireless communication between a communication device and a plurality of external communication devices according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an external communication device according to the present embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating control (first communication control) for disconnecting the first wireless communication of the communication device according to the present embodiment. Control (second communication control) flowchart for establishing a connection of the first wireless communication of the communication device according to the present embodiment 4 is a flowchart illustrating switching control between the first wireless communication and the second wireless communication of the external communication device according to the present embodiment.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating wireless communication between a communication device and a plurality of external communication devices according to the present embodiment.

  FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an example in which a communication device and a plurality of external communication devices are simultaneously connected by first wireless communication. The communication device 100 is a digital camera, and the external communication devices 110, 120, and 130 are each a mobile phone terminal such as a smartphone. In the present embodiment, a wireless LAN, particularly Wi-Fi, is used as a communication standard of the first wireless communication. The communication device 100 serving as an access point establishes first wireless communication connections 111, 121, and 131 to the external communication devices 110, 120, and 130, respectively. The communication device 100 and the external communication devices 110, 120, and 130 can transmit and receive image data and various processing instructions such as captured image data while maintaining the connection of the first wireless communication at the same time. As the first wireless communication, any other communication method may be used as long as the communication method includes a master station capable of communicating with a plurality of slave stations as an access point and a slave station that is a terminal communicating with the access point. Is also good.

  FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating an example in which a communication device and a plurality of external communication devices are connected by a second wireless communication. In this example, the communication standard of the second wireless communication is Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (BLE). According to the BLE specification, a plurality of BLE peripheral devices can be simultaneously connected to one BLE central device, but a plurality of BLE central devices cannot be simultaneously connected to one BLE peripheral device. Since the communication device 100 is a BLE peripheral device and the external communication devices 110, 120, and 130 are BLE central devices, the communication device 100 and the external communication devices 110, 120, and 130 cannot be simultaneously connected by the second wireless communication. For example, an Android (registered trademark) terminal of version 4.4 or earlier functions only as a BLE central and does not function as a peripheral. A device that attempts to communicate with such a communication terminal using BLE, for example, a digital camera, needs to be a BLE peripheral device. In FIG. 1B, the communication device 100 has established a connection 112 for the second wireless communication with the external communication device 110. Therefore, the communication device 100 cannot connect to the external communication devices 120 and 130 by the second wireless communication. In order to make a connection, it is necessary to disconnect the connection 112 of the second wireless communication. The second wireless communication may be any other communication method as long as the communication method includes a master station that can communicate with a plurality of peripheral devices as a central device and a slave station that is a peripheral device that communicates with the central device. You may.

  FIG. 1C is a diagram illustrating an example in which a communication device transmits an advertising beacon (hereinafter, referred to as a beacon) by a second wireless communication to a plurality of external communication devices. The communication device 100, which is a BLE peripheral device, enters the beacon transmission mode and transmits the beacons 113, 123, and 133. The external communication devices 110, 120, and 130, which are central devices of the BLE, enter the beacon reception mode and receive the beacons 113, 123, and 133, respectively. Since the communication device 100 unilaterally transmits a beacon to the surroundings, whether or not to receive a beacon is determined by whether or not the external communication devices 110, 120, and 130 are in a beacon reception mode. The beacon reception mode is a mode of waiting for a beacon to be received, and a connection request is transmitted in response to the reception of the beacon to establish a connection of the second wireless communication. I could say that.

  BLE, which is the second wireless communication, is slower but consumes less power than Wi-Fi, which is the first wireless communication. Therefore, power consumption can be reduced by disconnecting the first wireless communication and switching to the second wireless communication during a period in which there is no data transmission / reception by the first wireless communication. Then, if the connection of the second wireless communication is maintained, when data transmission / reception by the first wireless communication is resumed, the first wireless communication transmits / receives the setting required for the first wireless communication, so that the first wireless communication can be easily performed. Switching to wireless communication connection is possible. However, since the communication device 100 and the external communication devices 110, 120, and 130 cannot be disconnected at the same time by the first wireless communication and cannot be simultaneously connected by the second wireless communication, the switching control of the communication connection is restricted. I will. That is, the connection between the communication device 100 and the external communication device by the second wireless communication can be maintained only one-to-one. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the above-described restriction on the switching control of the communication connection is reduced by using the communication in the beacon transmission mode and the beacon reception mode described with reference to FIG. Although the configuration of one communication device and three external communication devices has been described with reference to FIG. 1, the present invention is not limited to this example. That is, any number of external communication devices can be applied.

Hereinafter, the details of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
<Configuration of Communication Device 100>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the communication device according to the present embodiment. In the communication device 100 as a digital camera, each unit is connected to an internal bus 213, and each unit can transmit and receive data to and from each other via the internal bus 213.

  The control unit 201 controls each unit of the communication device 100 using the memory 202 as a work memory according to a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 203. The memory 202 includes, for example, a RAM (a volatile memory using a semiconductor element or the like). The non-volatile memory 203 is a memory that can be electrically erased and recorded, and is composed of, for example, an EEPROM. The non-volatile memory 203 stores image data, audio data, other data, various programs for operating the control unit 201, and the like. The various programs include programs for executing various flowcharts described later in the present embodiment.

  The image processing unit 204 performs various types of image processing on image data stored in the nonvolatile memory 203 or the recording medium 210, image data output from the imaging unit 205, and the like based on the control of the control unit 201. The image processing performed by the image processing unit 204 includes A / D conversion processing, D / A conversion processing, image data encoding processing, compression processing, decoding processing, enlargement / reduction processing (resize), noise reduction processing, and color conversion. Processing is included. Also, depending on the type of image processing, the control unit 201 can perform image processing according to a program without using the image processing unit 204.

  The imaging unit 205 includes a lens group including a zoom lens and a focus lens, a shutter having an aperture function, an imaging device configured by a CCD or a CMOS device for converting an optical image into an electric signal, an A / D converter, and the like. (Not shown). An analog signal output from the image sensor is converted to a digital signal by an A / D converter, and the image data converted to the digital signal is directly written to the memory 202 via the image processing unit 204.

  The display unit 206 displays an image, a GUI screen configuring a GUI (Graphical User Interface), and the like based on the control of the control unit 201. The control unit 201 controls each unit of the communication device 100 to generate a display control signal according to a program, generate a video signal to be displayed on the display unit 206, and output the video signal to the display unit 206. The display unit 206 displays an image based on the output image signal.

  The operation unit 207 is an input device for receiving a user operation, including a pointing device such as a touch panel, a button, a dial, a touch sensor, and the like. The control unit 201 receives an output signal of the operation unit 207 generated by a user operation.

The power supply unit 208 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit for switching a block to be energized, and the like, and detects whether or not a battery is mounted, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level. The control unit 201 controls the power supply unit 208 based on the detection result, and supplies a necessary voltage to each unit for a necessary period. The power supply unit 208 includes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, or a NiCd
Also includes batteries, secondary batteries such as NiMH batteries and Li batteries, and AC adapters.

  The storage medium I / F 209 can mount a recording medium 210 such as a memory card, and reads data from the mounted recording medium 210 and writes data to the recording medium 210 under the control of the control unit 201. .

  The first wireless communication unit 211 and the second wireless communication unit 212 include an antenna, a wireless transmission unit, and a wireless reception unit. The control unit 201 transmits and receives wireless signals such as processing instructions, processing responses, and various data to and from other communication devices via the first wireless communication unit 211 and the second wireless communication unit 212. As a communication standard of the first wireless communication, a wireless LAN, particularly Wi-Fi is used. The communication standard of the second wireless communication is Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). The BLE communication of the communication device 100 functions only as a peripheral.

<Configuration of Communication Devices 110, 120, and 130>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the external communication device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the external communication device 110. Since the external communication devices 120 and 130 have the same configuration, the description will be omitted.

  The external communication device 110, which is a portable terminal, includes a control unit 301, a memory 302, a nonvolatile memory 303, a display unit 306, an operation unit 307, a power supply unit 308, a storage medium I / F 309, a recording medium 310, and a first wireless communication unit 311. , A second wireless communication unit 312, and an internal bus 313. Regarding each unit, the control unit 201, the memory 202, the non-volatile memory 203, the display unit 206, the operation unit 207, the power supply unit 208, the storage medium I / F 209, the recording medium 210, the first wireless communication unit 211, the second unit The functions are the same as those of the wireless communication unit 212 and the internal bus 213. Therefore, the description is omitted.

  Hereinafter, the operations of the communication device and the external communication device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 4 and 5 are realized in the communication device 100 by the control unit 201 expanding the program stored in the nonvolatile memory 203 into the memory 202 and executing the program. Each process in FIG. 6 is realized in the external communication device 110 by the control unit 301 expanding a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 303 into the memory 302 and executing the program. The external communication devices 120 and 130 perform the same processing as the flowchart in FIG.

<First wireless communication disconnection control by communication device 100>
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing control (first communication control) for disconnecting the first wireless communication of the communication device according to the present embodiment. At the start of the flowchart of FIG. 4, the communication device 100 has established a connection for the first wireless communication with all or a part (ie, at least one) of the external communication devices. Then, the processing of the flowchart in FIG. 4 is started at the timing of starting or stopping data transmission / reception in accordance with the execution order of data transmission / reception in all or some external communication devices with the communication device 100.

  In step S401, the control unit 201 determines whether to disconnect the connection of the first wireless communication to each of the external communication devices. The control unit 201 determines to disconnect (or cancel or terminate) the connection of the first wireless communication with the external communication device that has established the connection of the first wireless communication but is not performing data transmission / reception. In S401, it may be determined that data transmission / reception is not performed if transmission / reception is not performed at the time of the determination, or data transmission / reception is not performed if transmission / reception is not performed within a predetermined time until the execution of S401. May be determined. When the control unit 201 determines to disconnect the connection of the first wireless communication, the process proceeds to S402. In step S401, all the connections of the first wireless communication satisfying the conditions are subjected to disconnection, and the processing of step S402 and thereafter is performed. When the control unit 201 determines that the connection of the first wireless communication is not disconnected, the process proceeds to END.

  In step S402, the control unit 201 transmits a disconnection determination notification to the external communication device that is a connection partner of the first wireless communication to be disconnected via the first wireless communication. This notification of disconnection determination notifies the external communication device that processing for disconnecting the connection of the first wireless communication is performed.

  In S403, the control unit 201 transmits a beacon reception mode setting command of the second wireless communication via the first wireless communication to an external communication device that is a connection partner of the first wireless communication to be disconnected. The external communication device that has received the command to set the beacon reception mode enters the beacon reception mode in which it waits for a beacon of the second wireless communication.

  In step S404, the control unit 201 transmits, via the first wireless communication, an instruction to set a connection start condition for the second wireless communication to an external communication device that is a connection partner of the first wireless communication to be disconnected. The connection start condition is a setting that establishes a connection of the second wireless communication when a beacon of the second wireless communication including information specifying the external communication device is received. The connection start condition includes, for example, initial parameters related to the connection, which are shared by the devices connected to each other. The external communication device that has received the connection start condition setting command sets the connection start condition. Note that the communication device 100 does not execute the processes of S403 to S404, and the external communication device executes the setting of the beacon reception mode and the connection start condition on receiving the notification of the disconnection determination in S402 as a trigger. May be adopted. Thus, the external communication device can complete a series of settings without waiting for a setting command transmitted from the communication device 100.

  In S405, the control unit 201 disconnects the connection of the first wireless communication determined as a target of disconnection in S401, and proceeds to END. It should be noted that the configuration may be such that, after the processes of S402 to S405 are continuously performed and completed for one external communication device, the same process is performed for the remaining external communication devices.

  Here, control for disconnecting the first wireless communication (first communication control) will be described with reference to FIG. For example, a state in which the communication device 100 as shown in FIG. Then, it is assumed that data transmission / reception between the communication device 100 and the external communication device 110 is performed, and that data transmission / reception between the communication device 100 and the external communication devices 120 and 130 is not performed. Then, in S401, the control unit 201 determines to disconnect the connections 121 and 131 of the first wireless communication. Next, when the processing of S402 to S405 is performed, the communication device 100 as shown in FIG. 1D maintains the connection 111 of the first wireless communication with the external communication device 110, and the external communication device 120, 130 enters a state of waiting in the beacon reception mode. When the data transmission / reception between the communication device 100 and the external communication device 110 is completed, the processing of S401 to S405 is executed in the same manner, and the external communication devices 110, 120, and 130 as shown in FIG. You will be in a state to do. In FIG. 1E, the external communication devices 110, 120, and 130 are in a state of waiting for the communication device 100 to transmit a beacon including information specifying the external communication devices 110, 120, and 130, respectively.

<Connection establishment control of first wireless communication by communication device 100>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating control (second communication control) for establishing a connection of the first wireless communication of the communication device according to the present embodiment. At the start of the flowchart of FIG. 5, the communication device 100 disconnects the first wireless communication from all or some external communication devices, and the external communication device disconnected from the communication device 100 receives a beacon. Waiting for a beacon in mode. Then, the processing of the flowchart in FIG. 5 starts at the timing of starting or stopping data transmission / reception in accordance with the execution order of data transmission / reception in the communication device 100 and all or some external communication devices. The flowchart of FIG. 5 includes a connection process of the second wireless communication. The communication device 100 cannot be simultaneously connected to a plurality of external communication devices by the second wireless communication. Therefore, at the start of the flowchart of FIG. 5, the communication device 100 is configured to disconnect the connection of the second wireless communication from all the external communication devices. Specifically, when the communication device 100 has established the connection of the second wireless communication with the external communication device, the control unit 201 transmits the second wireless communication to the external communication device via the second wireless communication. A command for setting the communication beacon reception mode and the connection start condition is transmitted. The external communication device that has received the command to set the beacon reception mode and the connection start condition enters the beacon reception mode of the second wireless communication, and sets the connection start condition. Thereafter, the communication device 100 disconnects the second wireless communication with the external communication device that has been shifted to the beacon reception mode in the above procedure. Thus, the communication device 100 is not connected to any external communication device by the second wireless communication. After the processing of the flowchart in FIG. 5 is completed, the communication apparatus 100 performs the processing of S502 to S504 to be described later with the external communication apparatus that has disconnected the connection of the second wireless communication in the above-described procedure. The device 100 can return to the state where the connection of the second wireless communication has been established with the external communication device.

  In step S501, the control unit 201 determines whether to establish a connection for the first wireless communication with each of all the external communication devices. The control unit 201 determines that the connection of the first wireless communication is to be established with respect to the external communication device that performs data transmission / reception but the connection of the first wireless communication is disconnected. When the connection of the first wireless communication is established, the process proceeds to S502. If the connection of the first wireless communication is not established, go to END.

  In S502, the control unit 201 sets the second wireless communication unit 212 to the beacon transmission mode. Then, the control unit 201 communicates with the external communication device, which is the connection partner of the first wireless communication to be established, via the second wireless communication. A beacon including information for specifying a beacon is transmitted. The control unit 201 releases the beacon transmission mode for the second wireless communication unit 212. This cancellation may be performed after receiving a connection request from the external communication device specified by the beacon.

  In S503, the control unit 201 determines whether or not a connection request for the second wireless communication has been received via the second wireless communication from the external communication device that is the connection partner of the established first wireless communication connection. This connection request for the second wireless communication is transmitted from the external communication device that has received the beacon in S502, and is transmitted from the external communication device in S606 of FIG. 6 described below. If the control unit 201 determines that the connection request for the second wireless communication has been received, the process proceeds to S504. If the control unit 201 determines that the connection request for the second wireless communication has not been received, S503 is repeated until the connection request for the second wireless communication is received. In S503, if the control unit 201 does not receive a connection request even after waiting for a predetermined time, the process may be ended.

  In S504, based on the connection request received in S503, the control unit 201 establishes a second wireless communication connection with the external communication device that is the transmission source of the connection request. Normally, the external communication device, which is a BLE central device, scans a beacon when receiving an instruction to establish a connection for the second wireless communication by a user operation or the like. When the external communication device receives the beacon transmitted by the communication device 100, which is a BLE peripheral device, the external communication device transmits a second wireless communication connection request to the communication device 100 to establish a connection. In other words, the BLE central device mainly establishes a connection of the BLE peripheral device with the second wireless communication. In the present embodiment, the communication device 100 that is a BLE peripheral device sets a beacon reception mode and a connection start condition for an external communication device that is a BLE central device. The communication device 100, which is a BLE peripheral device, transmits a beacon as a trigger to establish a connection for the second wireless communication. Thereby, the connection of the second wireless communication with the BLE central device can be established mainly by the BLE peripheral device.

  In step S <b> 505, the control unit 201 sets settings (SSID, password, and the like) necessary for the connection of the first wireless communication via the second wireless communication to the external communication device that is the connection partner of the established first wireless communication. Send and receive. The settings necessary for the connection of the first wireless communication are transmitted from the external communication device in S608 of FIG. 6 described later.

  In step S <b> 506, the control unit 201 performs control to switch the connection of the second wireless communication to the connection of the first wireless communication for the external communication device that is the connection partner of the established first wireless communication. That is, the control unit 201 disconnects the connection of the second wireless communication with the external communication device that is the connection partner by the connection of the first wireless communication to be established, and based on the setting necessary for the connection of the first wireless communication received in S505. To establish a connection for the first wireless communication. Conversely, the connection of the second wireless communication may be disconnected after the connection of the first wireless communication is established.

  In step S507, the control unit 201 determines whether the first wireless communication connection has been established with respect to all the external communication devices to which the first wireless communication connection is to be established. If all first wireless communication connections have been established, go to END. If all the first wireless communication connections have not been established, S502 to S507 are repeated until the first wireless communication connections are established for the remaining external communication devices.

  Here, control for establishing a connection of the first wireless communication (second communication control) will be described with reference to FIG. For example, the external communication devices 110, 120, and 130 as shown in FIG. 1E are in the beacon reception mode, and the communication device 100 transmits a beacon including information specifying the external communication devices 110, 120, and 130, respectively. The state waiting for is the starting point. Then, it is assumed that data transmission / reception between the communication device 100 and the external communication devices 110, 120, and 130 is determined to be performed by a user operation or the like. Then, in S501, the control unit 201 determines that the connection of the first wireless communication is established with the external communication devices 110, 120, and 130. The process of establishing the connection of the first wireless communication with the external communication devices 110, 120, and 130 is sequentially performed one by one. When a connection of the first wireless communication is first established to the external communication device 110, the state is as shown in FIG. 1C, and in S502, the beacon including information for specifying the external communication device 110 by the communication device 100 is set. Send The external communication devices 120 and 130 receive the beacons 123 and 133, respectively, but do not start the connection of the second wireless communication because these beacons do not include information specifying any of the external communication devices 120 and 130. On the other hand, the external communication device 110 determines that the received beacon includes information designating the external communication device 110, and transmits a connection request for the second wireless communication to the communication device 100. Then, the processes of S503 to S504 are executed, and the communication device 100 as shown in FIG. 1B enters a state where the connection of the second wireless communication 112 to the external communication device 110 is established. Further, the processes of S505 to S506 are executed, and the communication device 100 as shown in FIG. 1D establishes the first wireless communication connection 111 with the external communication device 110. Next, when establishing a first wireless communication connection to the external communication devices 120 and 130, S502 to S506 are repeated in the same manner, so that the communication device 100 as shown in FIG. The first wireless communication connections 111, 121, and 131 are established with respect to 110, 120, and 130, respectively.

<Switching control between first wireless communication and second wireless communication by external communication device>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating switching control between the first wireless communication and the second wireless communication of the external communication device according to the present embodiment. At the start of the flowchart of FIG. 6, the communication device 100 has established a first wireless communication connection with the external communication device 110. Then, the processing of the flowchart in FIG. 6 is started at the timing when the data transmission and reception between the communication device 100 and the external communication device 110 is stopped in accordance with the execution order of data transmission and reception between the communication device 100 and all or some of the external communication devices. Note that the same processing is performed for the external communication devices 120 and 130, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  In step S601, the control unit 301 determines whether a disconnection determination notification has been received from the communication device 100 via the first wireless communication. The notification of the disconnection determination is transmitted from the communication device 100 in S402. If a disconnection determination notification has been received, the process advances to step S602. If no notification of disconnection determination has been received, S601 is repeated.

  In step S602, the control unit 301 receives a beacon reception mode setting command from the communication device 100 via the first wireless communication, and sets the second wireless communication unit 312 to the beacon reception mode. The beacon reception mode setting command is transmitted from the communication device 100 in S403.

  In step S603, the control unit 301 receives a connection start condition setting command from the communication device 100 via the first wireless communication, and stores the connection start condition in the memory 302. The connection start condition setting command is transmitted from the communication device 100 in S404. Note that the external communication device 110 may not execute the processes of S602 to S603, and may execute the setting of the beacon reception mode and the connection start condition by using the reception of the notification of the disconnection determination in S601 as a trigger. Accordingly, the external communication device 110 can complete a series of settings without waiting for a setting command transmitted from the communication device 100.

  In S604, the control unit 301 disconnects the connection of the first wireless communication with the communication device 100.

  In step S605, the control unit 301 determines whether a beacon including information designating the external communication device 110 has been received from the communication device 100 via the second wireless communication. This beacon is transmitted from the communication device 100 in S502. If the control unit 301 determines that a beacon including information designating the external communication device 110 has been received, the control unit 301 determines that the connection start condition stored in the memory 302 has been satisfied, and proceeds to S606. When the control unit 301 determines that the beacon including the information specifying the external communication device 110 has not been received, S605 is repeated until a beacon including the information specifying the external communication device 110 is received.

  In step S606, the control unit 301 transmits a connection request for the second wireless communication to the communication device 100 via the second wireless communication.

  In S607, the control unit 301 establishes a connection for the second wireless communication with the communication device 100 based on the information included in the beacon received in S605.

  In step S608, the control unit 301 transmits and receives the settings required for the connection of the first wireless communication with the communication device 100 via the second wireless communication. The settings required for the connection of the first wireless communication are transmitted from the communication device 100 in S505.

  In step S609, the control unit 301 performs control to switch the connection to the communication device 100 from the second wireless communication to the first wireless communication. That is, the control unit 301 disconnects the connection of the second wireless communication with the communication device 100, and establishes the connection of the first wireless communication based on the setting required for the connection of the first wireless communication received in S608.

  As described above, the communication connection between the communication device that is the BLE peripheral device and the plurality of external communication devices that are the BLE central devices is simultaneously switched from the first wireless communication connection to the second wireless communication connection and maintained. It is not possible. Therefore, in order to disconnect the first wireless communication and re-establish the connection, the user operates the external communication device, which is the central device of BLE, to establish the second wireless communication connection and to establish the second wireless communication connection. It was necessary to switch from the connection of the first to the connection of the first wireless communication. That is, there is a problem that the control of switching the communication connection is limited. According to the present embodiment, a communication device that is a BLE peripheral device sets a beacon reception mode and a connection start condition for an external communication device that is a BLE central device. Then, the communication device, which is a BLE peripheral device, transmits a beacon as a trigger to establish a connection for the second wireless communication. Thereby, the communication device, which is the peripheral device of BLE, mainly establishes the connection of the second wireless communication with the plurality of external communication devices, which is the central device of BLE. Further, it is possible to perform switching control of a state where the connection of the first wireless communication is established, a state where the connection of the second wireless communication is established, and a state where the connection of the first wireless communication and the second wireless communication are disconnected. Therefore, in a configuration in which the communication device and a plurality of external communication devices cannot be simultaneously connected by the second wireless communication, it is possible to provide a communication device in which the control of switching the communication connection is reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the switching control of the state where the connection of the first wireless communication is established, the state where the connection of the second wireless communication is established, and the state where the connection of the first wireless communication and the second wireless communication are disconnected is performed. The configuration can be executed without any user operation. Thus, the connection of the first wireless communication is disconnected during a period in which there is no data transmission / reception, thereby reducing power consumption. At this time, the user does not need to be conscious of switching control of communication connection for reducing power consumption.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the configuration is such that the connection of the second wireless communication is temporarily established before switching to the state of establishing the connection of the first wireless communication. Accordingly, since the state in which the connection of the second wireless communication is established is not always maintained, it is possible to prevent the communication device and the specific external communication device from occupying the connection of the second wireless communication.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a digital camera and a mobile phone terminal has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this example. That is, the present invention can be applied to various devices that can be connected and transmitted and received by the first wireless communication and the second wireless communication, such as various imaging devices such as a digital video camera, various personal computers such as a tablet type and a notebook type. .

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a wireless LAN (particularly Wi-Fi) and Bluetooth Low Energy has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this example. That is, any wireless communication standard that can realize the communication control in the above-described flowchart can be applied to other various wireless communication standards. In particular, when the communication device 100 on the side serving as the Wi-Fi access point, which is the first wireless communication, employs the second wireless communication that can only communicate with one partner device at the same time, such as BLE, The invention can be applied effectively.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail based on the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms that do not depart from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. Furthermore, the above-described embodiment is merely an embodiment of the present invention, and the embodiments can be appropriately combined.

  In addition, the present invention supplies a program for realizing one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or the apparatus read the program. It can also be realized by executing processing. Further, it can also be realized by a circuit (for example, an ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

100, 110, 120, 130 communication device, 201 control unit, 211 first wireless communication unit, 212 second wireless communication unit

Claims (11)

A first wireless communication means that can be simultaneously connected to a plurality of external communication devices by wireless communication,
A second wireless communication unit that can be connected to one of the plurality of external communication devices by wireless communication,
Control means,
The control means includes:
When determining whether to establish a connection with the external communication device by the first wireless communication means, disconnect the connection by the second wireless communication means,
If it is determined to disconnect the connection with the external communication device by the first wireless communication means, through the connection by the first wireless communication means, the external communication device, the connection of the second wireless communication means Transition to a state of waiting for establishment, disconnect the connection by the first wireless communication means,
When it is determined that the first wireless communication unit establishes a connection with the external communication device, a connection by the second wireless communication unit is established with the external communication device, and the connection by the second wireless communication unit is established. A communication device that establishes a connection with the external communication device by the first wireless communication unit using a connection, and thereafter disconnects the connection by the second wireless communication unit.   The control unit determines that the connection is disconnected when the connection of the first wireless communication unit is established but there is no data transmission / reception by the connection, and the data transmitted / received by the connection of the first wireless communication unit is 2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the connection of the first wireless communication unit is not established, it is determined that the connection is established. When the control unit determines that the first wireless communication unit establishes a connection with the external communication device, the control unit establishes a connection with the external communication device by the second wireless communication unit, and Using a connection by the two wireless communication means, established a connection by the first wireless communication means with the external communication device, then cut off the connection by the second wireless communication means, performed a series of processing The connection by the second wireless communication unit, which is disconnected when determining whether to establish a connection with the external communication device by the first wireless communication unit , is restored later. 3. The communication device according to 2.   The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein communication by the first wireless communication unit consumes more power than communication by the second wireless communication unit.   The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a communication standard of communication by the first wireless communication unit is a wireless LAN.   The communication device according to claim 5, wherein in the communication by the first wireless communication unit, the first wireless communication unit operates as an access point.   The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a communication standard of communication by the second wireless communication unit is Bluetooth Low Energy. The second wireless communication means of the communication device operates as a peripheral,
The communication device according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of external communication devices have second wireless communication means operating as a central unit. When the control unit shifts the external communication device to a state of waiting for the establishment of a connection by the second wireless communication unit, the control unit sends a command to set a connection start condition of wireless communication by the second wireless communication unit to the external communication device. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the communication device is transmitted to the communication device. A communication device control method, comprising: a first wireless communication unit that can be simultaneously connected to a plurality of external communication devices by wireless communication; and a second wireless communication unit that can be connected to one of the plurality of external communication devices by wireless communication. And
When determining whether to establish a connection with the external communication device by the first wireless communication means, disconnecting the connection by the second wireless communication means,
If it is determined to disconnect the connection with the external communication device by the first wireless communication means, through the connection by the first wireless communication means, the external communication device, the connection of the second wireless communication means Shifting to a state of waiting for establishment, disconnecting the connection by the first wireless communication means,
When it is determined that the first wireless communication unit establishes a connection with the external communication device, a connection by the second wireless communication unit is established with the external communication device, and the connection by the second wireless communication unit is established. Using a connection to establish a connection with the external communication device by the first wireless communication means, and then disconnecting the connection by the second wireless communication means. Method.   A computer-readable program for causing a computer to function as the communication device according to claim 1.

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