JP6884840B2 - Communication equipment, control methods and programs for communication equipment - Google Patents

Description

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

Communication devices such as smartphones, portable game machines, and printing devices have a wireless LAN function. Among the wireless LAN functions, there is known a direct wireless communication mode in which a plurality of communication devices are directly connected without going through an access point. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a printing device and a mobile terminal are directly connected by using an access point mode, which is an example of a direct wireless communication mode.

When using the direct wireless communication mode, the user needs to instruct the communication device to start the operation of the direct wireless communication mode. For example, the communication device displays a "start button" for starting the operation of the direct wireless communication mode, and when the user presses this "start button", the communication device starts the operation of the direct wireless communication mode. .. Further, when the use of the direct wireless communication mode is terminated, the user instructs the communication device to stop the operation of the direct wireless communication mode. For example, the communication device displays a "stop button" for stopping the operation of the direct wireless communication mode, and when the user presses this "stop button", the communication device stops the operation of the direct wireless communication mode. ..

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-023440

The conventional communication device does not stop the operation of the direct wireless communication mode until the user presses the "stop button" even if it can be determined that the user has finished using the direct wireless communication mode. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to stop the operation of the direct wireless communication mode when it can be determined that the user has finished using the direct wireless communication mode.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the communication device as one aspect provided by the present invention is an access point for allowing the user to log in and directly performing wireless communication between the external device and the external access point without going through the external device. A communication device having a functioning direct wireless communication function, which is a communication control means for controlling the communication device to function as the access point of the direct wireless communication function, and connection information necessary for connecting to the access point. , When the communication device is functioning as a first mode access point that uses the connection information generated to have one-time property, the direct wireless communication function is stopped according to the user logging out from the communication device. When the communication device functions as the access point of the first mode, the external terminal capable of connecting to the access point of the first mode has a control means for controlling the wireless communication means. The maximum value is limited to 1, and the fixed SSID set by the user, which is stored in the communication device as the operation setting of the direct wireless communication function, is used as the connection information required for connecting to the access point. When the communication device is functioning as the access point of the mode 2, the direct wireless communication function is not stopped at the timing when the user logs out from the communication device .

Further, the communication device provided by the present invention is a communication device that a user can log in to, and operates in a direct wireless communication mode in which direct wireless communication is executed between an external device and the communication device without a relay device. When the user logs out from the communication device, the operation of the direct wireless communication mode is stopped based on the setting of the SSID used in the direct wireless communication mode set in the communication device. The wireless communication means is controlled so as to stop the operation of the direct wireless communication mode when the determination means determines whether or not to stop the operation of the direct wireless communication mode and the determination means determines whether or not to stop the operation of the direct wireless communication mode. It is characterized by being provided with a control means.

According to the present invention, when it can be determined that the use of the direct wireless communication function has been terminated, the communication device stops the operation of the direct wireless communication function in conjunction with the user logging out of the communication device. Will be able to .

It is a figure which shows the outline of the communication system. It is a figure which shows the hardware composition of the printing apparatus 100. It is a figure which shows the screen which the printing apparatus 100 displays. It is a figure which shows the user management table. It is a figure which shows the wireless connection screen. It is a flowchart which shows the process about the user authentication. It is a flowchart which shows the process about operation of access point mode. It is a flowchart which shows the process about operation of access point mode.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the means for solving the invention.

(Embodiment 1)
An outline of the communication system will be described with reference to FIG. The communication system of the present embodiment includes a printing device 100 and a mobile terminal 101.

The printing device 100 has a wireless LAN function. The wireless LAN function included in the printing device 100 includes two types of wireless communication modes, an infrastructure mode and an access point mode. The infrastructure mode is a wireless communication mode for the printing device 100 to wirelessly connect to a relay device such as an access point (not shown) and communicate with a device on a network such as a PC (Personal Computer).

On the other hand, the access point mode is a wireless communication mode in which the printing device 100 itself acts as an access point by activating the software access point in the printing device 100. The mobile terminal 101 such as a smartphone establishes a wireless connection with the printing device 100 operating in the access point mode, and transmits print data for printing an electronic file such as a photo to the printing device 100. The access point mode enables direct wireless communication between the printing device 100 and the mobile terminal 101 without going through a relay device such as an access point. The access point mode is an example of a direct wireless communication mode for establishing a direct wireless connection between the printing device 100 and the mobile terminal 101. Instead of the access point mode, other wireless communication methods such as Wi-Fi Direct® may be applied to this embodiment.

As will be described in detail later, the printing device 100 has a user authentication function, and the user logs in to the printing device 100 by the user authentication function. The user who has logged in to the printing device 100 can use the access point mode. Then, when the user logs out of the printing device 100, the printing device 100 stops the operation of the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user.

Next, the hardware configuration of the printing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The CPU 201 reads the control program stored in the ROM 202 and executes various processes for controlling the operation of the printing device 100. The ROM 202 stores the control program. The RAM 203 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 201. HDD 204 is a non-volatile storage medium that stores various data.

In the case of the printing device 100, one CPU 201 executes the process shown in the flowchart described later, but other modes may be used. For example, a plurality of CPUs may cooperate to execute the process shown in the flowchart described later. Further, a part of the processing of the flowchart described later may be executed by using a hardware circuit such as an ASIC.

The wireless LAN I / F 205 executes wireless LAN communication with an external device such as a mobile terminal 101 or an access point. The wireless LAN communication executed by the wireless LAN I / F205 is wireless communication such as IEEE802.11a / b / g / n / ac. The wireless LAN I / F 205 can operate in the infrastructure mode and the access point mode. The wireless LAN I / F 205 operates by selecting either the infrastructure mode or the access point mode according to the device settings preset in the user.

The network I / F210 is connected to a wired LAN via a LAN cable. The network I / F210 can communicate with an external device (for example, a PC) on the wired LAN.

The printer 206 executes a printing process on a sheet based on the print data received by the wireless LAN I / F 205 or the network I / F 210. The scanner 207 reads a document placed on the user and generates a document image. The original image generated by the scanner 207 is printed by the printer 206 (so-called copy processing) or stored in the HDD 204.

The operation unit 208 includes a liquid crystal display unit and a keyboard having a touch panel function, and displays various operation screens. The user can input instructions and information to the printing device 100 via the operation unit 208.

The IC card reader 209 reads user information from the IC card. In the case of this embodiment, the user ID and password are stored in the IC card as user information. Then, the printing device 100 executes user authentication based on the user information read from the IC card by the IC card reader 209.

The printing device 100 is given as an example of a communication device that can operate in the access point mode. The communication device to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to the printing device 100. The present invention can be applied to various communication devices such as digital cameras, video cameras, smartphones, and portable game machines as long as they can operate in the access point mode.

Next, the operation screen provided by the printing device 100 and the operation procedure when the user uses the access point mode will be described.

The login screen 300 of FIG. 3A is a screen displayed by the operation unit 208 of the printing device 100. When the start-up of the printing device 100 is completed, the operation unit 208 initially displays the login screen 300. The user holds his / her own IC card over the IC card reader 209.

The user management table 400 of FIG. 4 is information for managing user information (user name, user ID, password) of a user who is permitted to log in to the printing device 100, and is stored in the HDD 204 of the printing device 100. Has been done. A user registered in the user management table 400 can log in to the printing device 100. When the user holds his / her IC card over the IC card reader 209, the IC card reader 209 reads the user information (user ID and password) from the IC card. Then, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the user information read from the IC card by the IC card reader 209 is registered in the user management table 400. If the user information read from the IC card is registered in the user management table 400, the authentication is OK, and the operation unit 208 displays the menu screen 310 of FIG. 3 (B). The user who is determined to be authenticated is logged in to the printing device 100 and can use the printing device. On the other hand, if the user information read from the IC card is not registered in the user management table 400, the authentication is NG, the operation unit 208 notifies the user of the authentication NG, and the menu screen 310 is not displayed.

In the case of the present embodiment, the user may input the user ID and the password in the input field 301 and the input field 302, respectively, without using the IC card reader 209. When the user ID and password are entered in the input fields 301 and the input fields 302, and the user presses the login button 303, the printing device 100 executes user authentication.

Further, the user management table 400 may not be provided in the printing device 100, but may be provided in an external authentication server. When the authentication server includes the user management table 400, the printing device 100 transmits the user information to the authentication server. Then, when the printing device 100 receives the result of the authentication process (authentication OK or authentication NG) from the authentication server, the printing device 100 executes user authentication.

On the menu screen 310 of FIG. 3B, a button for the user to use the function provided by the printing device 100 is displayed. The logout button 315 is a button for a user to log in from the printing device 100. When the user presses the logout button 315, the logged-in user logs out from the printing device 100. A log-out screen is also displayed on each of the screens described below, and the user can input a log-out instruction regardless of which screen the operation unit 208 is displaying.

Button 311 is a button for the user to use the copy function. When the user presses the button 311, the operation unit 208 displays a copy screen (not shown).

The button 312 is a button for the user to use the SEND function (a function of transmitting the original image generated by the scanner 207 to an external device). When the user presses the button 312, the operation unit 208 displays an SEND screen (not shown).

The button 314 is a button for the user to set the device of the printing device 100. When the user presses the button 314, the operation unit 208 displays various setting screens according to the user operation. The setting screen 320 of FIG. 3C is one of the operation screens provided by the printing device 100 to the user, and is displayed by the operation unit 208. The items that can be set on the setting screen 320 will be described in detail. The setting screen 320 is a screen that can be accessed by a user having special authority such as a system administrator.

Item 321 sets whether to use a fixed SSID or a one-time SSID as the SSID (Service Set Identifier) used in the access point mode. The fixed SSID is a setting indicating that the same SSID is used every time the access point mode is operated. The system administrator inputs the desired SSID in the input field 322. The printing device 100 uses the SSID input in the input field 322 as a fixed SSID when operating in the access point mode. A one-time SSID, on the other hand, is a setting that indicates that a random SSID is generated and that a random SSID is used.

The registration button 323 is a button for reflecting the setting on the setting screen 320 on the printing device 100. When the system administrator presses the registration button 323, the setting result by the setting screen 320 is stored in the HDD 204, and the setting by the setting screen 320 is reflected in the printing device 100.

Return to the explanation of the menu screen 310. Button 313 is a button for the user to use the access point mode. When the user uses the access point mode, the user first presses the button 313. When the user presses the button 313, the operation unit 208 displays the wireless connection screen 500 of FIG. 5A.

A start button 501 is displayed on the wireless connection screen 500. The start button 501 is a button for the user to instruct the printing device 100 to start the operation of the access point mode. When the operation unit 208 displays the wireless connection screen 500, the printing device 100 has not started the operation of the access point mode. Therefore, even if the mobile terminal 101 searches for a surrounding access point, the printing device 100 cannot be found, and a wireless connection cannot be established between the mobile terminal 101 and the printing device 100. In order to establish a wireless connection between the mobile terminal 101 and the printing device 100, the user needs to cause the printing device 100 to start the operation of the access point mode. When the user presses the start button 501, the printing device 100 starts the operation of the access point mode. Then, the operation unit 208 displays the wireless connection screen 510 of FIG. 5 (B).

When the printing device 100 starts operating in the access point mode, the printing device 100 generates an SSID and a connection key (for example, a WEP key). The SSID and connection key generated by the printing device 100 are displayed in the area 511 of the wireless connection screen 510. When it is set to use the fixed SSID on the setting screen 320, the fixed SSID is generated and displayed in the area 511. On the other hand, when it is set to use the one-time SSID on the setting screen 320, a random SSID is generated and displayed in the area 511.

The user who has confirmed the content displayed in the area 511 searches for surrounding access points using his / her own mobile terminal 101, and selects the SSID access point displayed in the area 511 from the search result list. Then, when the user inputs the connection key displayed in the area 511 to the mobile terminal 101, a wireless connection based on the access point mode is established between the printing device 100 and the mobile terminal 101. After wirelessly connecting the mobile terminal 101 to the printing device 100 using the access point mode, the user selects a photo to be printed on the mobile terminal 101. Then, when the user inputs a print instruction to the mobile terminal 101, the mobile terminal 101 transmits print data for printing the photograph selected by the user to the printing device 100 by using wireless communication in the access point mode. The printing apparatus 100 that has received the print data executes a printing process on the sheet based on the received print data.

When the printing device 100 starts operating in the access point mode, the printing device 100 is in a standby state for receiving a request for establishing a wireless connection from an external device such as the mobile terminal 101. When the printing device 100 starts operating in the access point mode, the printing device 100 can be found when the mobile terminal 101 searches for surrounding access points. Upon receiving the request for establishing a wireless connection from the external device, the printing device 100 establishes a wireless connection with the external device in the access point mode. Then, after establishing the wireless connection, actual data communication (for example, transmission of print data from the mobile terminal 101 to the printing device 100) is executed between the printing device 100 and the external device.

Further, the stop button 512 is displayed on the wireless connection screen 510. The stop button 512 receives a stop instruction from the user to stop the operation of the access point mode. When it is desired to stop the operation of the access point mode of the printing device 100, the user presses the stop button 512. When the user presses the stop button 512, the printing device 100 stops the operation of the access point mode. Further, even when the user logs out from the printing device 100, the printing device 100 stops the operation of the access point mode.

Next, the process executed by the printing device 100 when the user logs in to the printing device 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Each step shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is processed by the CPU 201 expanding the control program stored in the memory such as the ROM 202 into the RAM 203 and executing the step. The printing device 100 may be configured so that the CPU 201 executes at least a part of the steps in the flowchart of FIG. 6 and another CPU (not shown) different from the CPU 201 executes the remaining steps.

First, in step S601, the CPU 201 determines whether or not to execute user authentication. When the IC card reader 209 reads the user information from the IC, or when the user inputs the user ID and password in the input field 301 and the input field 302 and presses the login button 303, the CPU 201 executes the user authentication. judge. Then, the process proceeds to step S602.

Next, in step S602, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the user indicated by the user information is a user who is permitted to log in. This determination is performed by confirming whether or not the user information is registered in the user management table 400. If the user information is registered in the user management table 400 (determination that authentication is OK), the process proceeds to step S603. Then, in step S603, the CPU 201 executes the login process. The CPU 201 logs the user who is determined to be authentication OK to the printing device 100, and controls the operation unit 208 so as to display the menu screen 310.

On the other hand, if the user information is not registered in the user management table 400 (determined as authentication NG), it is determined in step S602 that the user indicated by the user information is a user who is not permitted to log in. The CPU 201 does not execute the login process, but notifies the user of the authentication NG and ends the process.

Next, the flowchart of FIG. 7 shows the process executed by the printing device 100 when the user uses the access point mode and the printing device 100 automatically stops the operation of the access point mode in conjunction with the user's logout. Will be described using. Each step shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 is processed by the CPU 201 expanding the control program stored in the memory such as the ROM 202 into the RAM 203 and executing the step. The printing device 100 may be configured so that the CPU 201 executes at least a part of the steps in the flowchart of FIG. 7 and another CPU (not shown) different from the CPU 201 executes the remaining steps.

First, in step S701, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the start button 501 has been pressed by the user. When the CPU 201 detects that the start button 501 has been pressed by the user, the process proceeds to step S702. Then, in step S702, the CPU 201 controls the wireless LAN I / F 205 so as to start the operation in the access point mode. The wireless LAN I / F 205 generates a fixed SSID or a one-time SSID according to the result of the setting on the setting screen 320, and starts the operation of the access point mode.

Next, in step S703, the CPU 201 sets 0 as the value of the variable N. The variable N is a variable for managing the number of devices that have established a wireless connection with the printing device 100 in the access point mode. In the case of this embodiment, it is assumed that the printing apparatus 100 can establish a wireless connection in the access point mode with a maximum of five devices at the same time. The value of 5 units is an example of the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections, and may be another value. Further, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections does not change regardless of whether the fixed SSID or the one-time SSID is used. However, when the fixed SSID is used and when the one-time SSID is used. The maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections may be different.

Next, in step 704, the CPU 201 determines whether or not a request for establishing a wireless connection has been received from an external device. When the wireless LAN I / F 205 receives the request for establishing the wireless connection from the external device, the process proceeds to step S705. On the other hand, if the wireless LAN I / F 205 has not received the wireless connection establishment request from the external device, the process proceeds to step S709.

Next, step S705 will be described. In step S705, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the value of the variable N is less than the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections. If the value of the variable N, that is, the number of devices currently establishing wireless connections in the access point mode is less than the maximum number of simultaneous connections, the process proceeds to step S706. In step S706, the CPU 201 controls the wireless LAN I / F 205 to establish a wireless connection with the device that requested the establishment of the wireless connection. The wireless LAN I / F 205 establishes a wireless connection in access point mode with a device that has requested the establishment of a wireless connection. Then, in step S707, the CPU 201 increments the value of the variable N by 1. On the other hand, if the value of the variable N, that is, the number of devices currently establishing wireless connections in the access point mode is equal to the maximum number of simultaneous connections, the process proceeds to step S708. Then, in step S708, the CPU 201 rejects the request for establishing the wireless connection. For the device that requested the establishment of the wireless connection, the establishment of the wireless connection in the access point mode with the printing device 100 fails.

Next, step S709 will be described. In step S709, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the user who is logged in to the printing device 100 has logged out of the printing device 100. In the case of the present embodiment, the user logs out when the user presses the logout button or when a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) elapses without any user operation. When the logged-in user logs out of the printing device 100, the process proceeds to step S710. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S709 that the logged-in user has not logged out of the printing device 100, the process proceeds to step S711.

Next, step S710 will be described. In step S710, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the value of the variable N is 1 or less. If the value of the variable N, that is, the number of devices currently establishing a wireless connection in the access point mode is 1 or less, the process proceeds to step S712. Then, in step S712, the CPU 201 controls the wireless LAN I / F 205 so as to stop the operation of the access point mode. The wireless LAN I / F 205 stops the operation of the access point mode according to the control of the CPU 201. On the other hand, when the value of the variable N, that is, the number of devices currently establishing a wireless connection in the access point mode is 2 or more, the wireless LAN I / F 205 does not stop the operation in the access point mode and is shown in the flowchart. The processing shown is finished. The printing device 100 is characterized in that it determines whether or not to stop the operation of the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user based on the number of wireless connections established by the access point mode.

If the value of the variable N, that is, the number of devices currently establishing a wireless connection in the access point mode is 0, it is determined Yes in step S710, and the wireless LAN I / F 205 stops the operation in the access point mode. .. If the value of the variable N is 0, it can be determined that there is no user using the access point mode. Therefore, when the value of the variable N is 0, the wireless LAN I / F 205 stops the operation of the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user.

Further, when the value of the variable N, that is, the number of devices currently establishing a wireless connection in the access point mode is 1, it is determined as Yes in step S710, and the wireless LAN I / F 205 operates in the access point mode. Stop. If the value of the variable N is 1, it can be determined that there is a high possibility that only the login user is using the access point mode and the other users are not using the access point mode. Therefore, when the value of the variable N is 1, the wireless LAN I / F 205 stops the operation of the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user.

Further, when the value of the variable N, that is, the number of devices currently establishing wireless connection in the access point mode is two or more (plurality), it is determined as No in step S710, and the wireless LAN I / F 205 is determined to be No. Does not stop the operation of access point mode. When there are a plurality of values of the variable N, it can be determined that there is a high possibility that other users are using the access point mode in addition to the login user. If the operation of the access point mode is stopped in conjunction with the user's logout in this state, other users will not be able to use the access point mode. Therefore, when the value of the variable N is a plurality of values, the wireless LAN I / F 205 does not stop the operation of the access point mode even if the user logs out.

Next, step S711 will be described. In step S711, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the stop button 512 has been pressed by the user. When the CPU 201 detects that the stop button 512 has been pressed by the user, the process proceeds to step S712. Then, in step S712, the CPU 201 controls the wireless LAN I / F 205 so as to stop the operation of the access point mode, and the wireless LAN I / F 205 stops the operation of the access point mode. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S711 that the stop button 512 is not pressed by the user, the process returns to step 704.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the printing device 100 can stop the operation of the access point mode in conjunction with the user logging out from the printing device 100. In the case of the printing device 100, the wireless LAN I / F 205 operates in either the infrastructure mode or the access point mode, and the infrastructure mode and the access point mode cannot be operated at the same time. Therefore, while the wireless LAN I / F205 is operating in the access point mode, the wireless LAN I / F205 cannot operate in the infrastructure mode and cannot receive print data from the PC via the external access point. Become. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the wireless LANI / F205 automatically stops the operation of the access point mode in conjunction with the user logging out. By automatically stopping the operation of the access point mode in conjunction with the user logging out, the operation mode of the wireless LAN I / F 205 can be switched from the access point mode to the infrastructure mode.

(Embodiment 2)
The second embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, a process of switching whether or not to stop the operation of the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user will be described based on the type of SSID used in the access point mode. The configuration of the printing device 100 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

The printing device 100 sets either a fixed SSID or a one-time SSID as the SSID used in the access point mode on the setting screen 320. In the present embodiment, the maximum number of simultaneous connections when using the fixed SSID is a plurality (for example, 5 units), and the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections when using the one-time SSID is 1. Then, in the case of the setting to use the one-time SSID, the wireless LAN I / F 205 stops the operation of the access point mode in conjunction with the user logging out. On the other hand, in the case of the setting using the fixed SSID, the wireless LAN I / F 205 does not stop the operation of the access point mode even if the user logs out.

This process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Each step shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is processed by the CPU 201 expanding the control program stored in the memory such as the ROM 202 into the RAM 203 and executing it. The printing device 100 may be configured so that the CPU 201 executes at least a part of the steps in the flowchart of FIG. 8 and another CPU (not shown) different from the CPU 201 executes the remaining steps.

In step S801, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the user logged in to the printing device 100 has logged out of the printing device 100. In the case of the present embodiment, the user logs out when the user presses the logout button or when a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) elapses without any user operation. When the logged-in user logs out of the printing device 100, the process proceeds to step S802. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S801 that the logged-in user has not logged out of the printing device 100, the process proceeds to step S803.

Step S802 will be described. In step S802, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the setting related to the access point mode set in the printing device 100 is a setting that uses the one-time SSID. This determination is executed by confirming the result of the setting on the setting screen 320. If the setting related to the access point mode is a setting using the one-time SSID, the process proceeds to step S804. Then, in step S804, the CPU 201 controls the wireless LAN I / F 205 so as to stop the operation of the access point mode. The wireless LAN I / F 205 stops the operation of the access point mode according to the control of the CPU 201. On the other hand, when the setting related to the access point mode is the setting using the fixed SSID, the wireless LAN I / F 205 ends the process shown in the flowchart without stopping the operation of the access point mode.

When the setting related to the access point mode is the setting to use the one-time SSID, it is determined as Yes in step S802, and the wireless LAN I / F 205 stops the operation of the access point mode. When the setting related to the access point mode is a setting using the one-time SSID, the maximum value of the number of simultaneous wireless connections in the access point mode is 1. When the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections is 1, it is assumed that the access point mode is used only by the logged-in user, and it can be determined that the use of the access point mode is completed when the user logs out. Therefore, when the wireless LAN I / F 205 is set to use the one-time SSID, the operation of the access point mode is stopped in conjunction with the logout of the user.

Further, when the setting related to the access point mode is a setting using the fixed SSID, it is determined as No in step S802, and the wireless LAN I / F 205 does not stop the operation of the access point mode. When the setting related to the access point mode is a setting using a fixed SSID, the maximum number of simultaneous wireless connections in the access point mode is a plurality (for example, 5 units). Since it is assumed that a plurality of users use the access point mode at a desired timing of each user because the maximum number of simultaneous connections is a plurality, it is preferable not to stop the operation of the access point mode. .. Therefore, when the wireless LAN I / F 205 is set to use the fixed SSID, the operation of the access point mode is continued without stopping the operation of the access point mode even if the user logs in from the printing device 100.

As described above, the printing apparatus 100 is characterized in that it determines whether or not to stop the operation of the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user based on the setting of the SSID used in the access point mode. .. If the SSID used in the access point mode is a one-time SSID, the printing device 100 stops the operation of the access point mode in conjunction with the logout of the user. On the other hand, if the SSID used in the access point mode is a fixed SSID, the printing device 100 does not stop the operation of the access point mode even if the user logs out.

Further, in the present embodiment, one-time SSID is given as an example of the SSID in which the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections is 1, but if it is another type of SSID in which the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections is 1, it is one-time. The present invention may be applied instead of the SSID. As another type of SSID, for example, a setting in which an SSID corresponding to the user is generated and used in the access point mode can be considered. When using the SSID corresponding to the user, the printing device 100 switches the SSID to be used according to the logged-in user. For example, if the user A is logged in, the printing device 100 uses the user SSID dedicated to the user A, and if the user B is logged in, the printing device 100 uses the user SSID dedicated to the user B. Even when the SSID corresponding to such a user is used in the access point mode, it is desirable that the maximum value of the number of simultaneous connections is 1, and the operation of the access point mode is automatically performed in conjunction with the user's logout. It is desirable to stop.

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

100 Printing device 201 CPU
205 Wireless LAN I / F
208 Operation unit 209 IC card reader

Claims (7)

A communication device that allows a user to log in and has a direct wireless communication function that functions as an access point for direct wireless communication between an external device and an external access point.
A communication control means for controlling the communication device to function as the access point of the direct wireless communication function, and
When the communication device is functioning as a first mode access point that uses the connection information generated to have one-time property as the connection information necessary for connecting to the access point, the user can use the communication device. It has a control means for controlling the communication control means so as to stop the direct wireless communication function according to the logout.
When the communication device functions as the access point of the first mode, the maximum value of the external terminal that can connect to the access point of the first mode is limited to 1.
As the connection information required for connecting to the access point, as the access point in the second mode using the fixed SSID set by the user, which is stored in the communication device as the operation setting of the direct wireless communication function. When the communication device is functioning, the direct wireless communication function is not stopped at the timing when the user logs out from the communication device. The connection information is SSID,
Storage means for storing a pre-Symbol fixed SSID,
The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a receiving means for receiving a user operation for changing the fixed SSID stored in the storage means. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the communication device is a printing device. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein when a user operation for stopping the direct wireless communication function is received, the control means stops the direct wireless communication function. .. Any of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the communication control means starts control to function the communication device as the access point in accordance with receiving a predetermined user operation from the user who has logged in to the communication device. The communication device according to item 1. A control method for a communication device that allows a user to log in and has a direct wireless communication function that functions as an access point for direct wireless communication between an external device and an external access point.
A communication control step for controlling the communication device to function as the access point of the direct wireless communication function, and
When the communication device is functioning as a first mode access point that uses the connection information generated to have one-time property as the connection information necessary for connecting to the access point, the user can use the communication device. according to what logged out, and a control step of controlling the communication device to stop the direct radio communication function,
When the communication device functions as the access point of the first mode, the maximum value of the external terminal that can connect to the access point of the first mode is limited to 1.
As the connection information required for connecting to the access point, as the access point in the second mode using the fixed SSID set by the user, which is stored in the communication device as the operation setting of the direct wireless communication function. When the communication device is functioning, the control method is characterized in that the direct wireless communication function is not stopped at the timing when the user logs out from the communication device. A program for operating a computer as a communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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