Patent ID: 8310960
Filing Date: 2012-11-13
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A communication apparatus configured to switch states when the communication apparatus is powered, the states including (1) a first state in which the communication apparatus is registered and replies to a request from an external device with a valid response, (2) a second state in which the communication apparatus is not registered, but is waiting for registration and replies with a valid response only when the request is a registration request and sends a failure response to the external device when the request is not the registration request, and (3) a third state in which the communication apparatus, being registered or not registered, receives the request, does not reply to the request with a valid response, but always sends a failure response to the external device, the apparatus comprising: a transitioning part configured to transition the communication apparatus from said second state to said first state when the communication apparatus receives said registration request; a setting part configured to set a communication state setting indicating whether the communication apparatus is allowed to communicate with any external devices, wherein if the communication state setting indicates that communication by the communication apparatus is not allowed, the communication apparatus is in the third state and sends the failure response in reply to all received requests from all external devices; and a switching part configured (a) to switch states only between said second state and said third state, but not between said third state and said first state, while the communication apparatus is not registered, based on the communication state setting, and (b) to switch states only between said first state and said third state, but not between said third state and said second state, while the communication apparatus is registered, based on the communication state setting.