Control method for displaying a code image when transmission of information for establishing a connection fails, storage medium, and information processing apparatus

There is provided a control method executed by a first information processing apparatus to establish a connection between a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus, the method comprising: acquiring information for establishing a connection to a first communication apparatus; and displaying on a display unit a screen including a code image generated based on the acquired information and a message prompting a user to capture the code image by a second information processing apparatus that is more portable than the first information processing apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a storage medium, and a control method for an image forming apparatus to join a wireless LAN.

Description of the Related Art

In recent years, cases where a person owns a plurality of information processing apparatuses, such as smart phones, PCs, and tablets, provided with a wireless communication function and uses each separately in accordance with its intended use are increasing. Also, many communication devices, such as printers and digital cameras, are provided with a wireless communication function, and these devices are often used via a wireless network from an information processing apparatus by connecting them to the same wireless network.

PTL1 proposes a technique in which a PC searches for a printer that is in a wireless setting mode, performs a Peer to Peer connection (hereinafter, called P2P connection) with the detected printer, transmits to the printer a wireless profile stored within the PC, and performs a wireless setting of the printer (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2018-191252).

However, a wireless setting of a printer by a P2P connection may fail in cases where the distance between a PC and a printer is long or a communication environment is poor. In such cases, a user needs to operate an information processing apparatus or printer to input information to be used for establishing a connection to an access point, and settings for connecting a communication device to a wireless network may be difficult for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned problem with conventional technology.

A feature of the present invention is to provide a technique for improving convenience in connecting to a network a communication device.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method executed by a first information processing apparatus to establish a connection between a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus, the method comprising: acquiring information for establishing a connection to a first communication apparatus; and displaying on a display un screen including a code image generated based on the acquired information and a message prompting a user to capture the code image by a second information processing apparatus that is more portable than the first information processing apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

FIG.1is an overall configuration diagram of a system indicating the present embodiment. InFIG.1, there are information processing apparatuses101,102,107and108and printing apparatuses (communication apparatuses)104to106, and the information processing apparatuses101and102are connected to a wireless LAN router (called access point or AP in the present specification)103. The AP103is a communication apparatus that forms a wireless network and for example, forms a star topology wireless LAN network. A service set identifier (SSID) of the AP103here is “aabbccdd”. The AP103is further connected to the printing apparatus104. In order to indicate that the AP103and the printing apparatus104are connected, a line connecting them is shown as a solid line inFIG.1. The printing apparatuses105and106are disconnected from the AP103. InFIG.1, in order to indicate that the printing apparatuses105and106and the AP103are disconnected, lines connecting them are shown as a dotted line. Compared to the information processing apparatus101, the information processing apparatus102is more portable. Moreover, there are the information processing apparatuses107and108, which are not connected to the AP103. A difference between the information processing apparatus107and the information processing apparatus108is that the information processing apparatus107is a smart phone or tablet terminal and the information processing apparatus108is a digital camera.

In the present embodiment, description will be given for processing in a case where at least one of the information processing apparatuses101and102connects at least one of the printing apparatuses105and106to the AP103by an automatic wireless LAN setup. Note that a method of the automatic wireless LAN setup here will be described by using as an example a method in which the information processing apparatus101or102and the printing apparatus105both connect to the AP103. Note that in this method, the information processing apparatus101or102and the printing apparatus105, by communicating and sharing information (such as an SSID) of the AP103by direct wireless communication, both connect to the AP103.

Some information processing apparatuses set a restriction in relation to an application so as not to allow acquisition of search results of neighboring access points. In such a case, for the information processing apparatus to perform a P2P connection with a printer in a wireless setting mode, a user must operate an OS (Operating System) function of the information processing apparatus and select a printer SSID, which may cause setting to be difficult. Also, in order to allow use of the same printer via a wireless network from a plurality of information processing apparatuses, it is necessary to connect all the information processing apparatuses to a wireless network to which the information processing apparatus that performed the wireless setting of the printer is joined. In contrast to this, processing for improving convenience for when connecting a printer to the access point by the information processing apparatus that failed the automatic wireless LAN setup displaying a message prompting a user to read a barcode image such as a two-dimensional code by another information processing apparatus will be described.

FIG.2illustrates a hardware configuration diagram of the information processing apparatuses101,102,107, and108. The information processing apparatuses101,102,107, and108have a CPU (Central Processing Unit)201, a ROM (Read Only Memory)202, and a RAM (Random Access Memory)205. Also, the information processing apparatuses101,102,107, and108have an image capturing apparatus206, a display apparatus207, an input interface (I/F)208, and a wireless LAN I/F209.

The CPU201, by reading out to the RAM205and then executing a setup program203stored in the ROM202, executes various processing that controls operations of the information processing apparatus, including wireless setting processing for instructing to a printer a wireless network setting. The ROM202is a storage unit that stores the program203corresponding to various processing including the above setup processing program, a wireless profile204to be described later, and the like. Also, when a wireless setting processing program (such as an application) is installed onto the information processing apparatus, unique identification information is also stored in the ROM202. The unique identification information is uniquely decided in relation to a manufacturer or a printer model of a printer, for example.

The image capturing apparatus206is one or more image acquisition apparatuses, such as a camera, that is arranged in the information processing apparatus. The display apparatus207is an apparatus, such as a display or a projector, for notifying the user with information. The input I/F208is an input apparatus such as a touch panel display, a keyboard, and a toggle switch. The wireless LAN I/F209is a communication unit that includes a wireless transmission/reception circuit and for example, can perform wireless communication that is compliant with IEEE 802.11.

Note that the image capturing apparatus206may be omitted in the information processing apparatuses101and102. Also, the wireless LAN I/F209may be omitted in the information processing apparatuses107and108,

FIG.3illustrates a hardware configuration diagram of the printing apparatuses104,105, and106. The printing apparatuses104,105, and106have a CPU301, a ROM302, a RAM305, a display apparatus306, an input IX307, a printing unit308, a scanning unit309, and a wireless LAN I/F310.

The ROM302is a storage unit that stores a program303and a wireless profile304. The CPU301, by reading out to the RAM305from the ROM302and executing the program303, executes various control by the printing apparatus.

The display apparatus306is a display unit, such as a display or an LED for notifying the user with information. The input LT307is an input apparatus such as a touch panel display, a keyboard, and a toggle switch. The printing unit308forms an image onto a recording medium (sheet). The scanning unit309reads an image on a recording medium and then generates image data. Also, the scanning unit309can operate as a display unit of at least one of the information processing apparatuses101,102,107, and108and as a read unit that reads a two-dimensional code recorded on a recording medium and then acquires information from the two-dimensional code, for example. The wireless LAN I/F310is a communication unit that includes a wireless transmission/reception circuit and for example, can perform wireless communication that is compliant with IEEE 802.11,

FIG.4is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing of a setup program executed by the information processing apparatus101or102. The setup program203is stored in the ROM202of the information processing apparatus101or102and is loaded to the RAM205and then executed by the CPU201of the information processing apparatus101or102. Also, the processing illustrated inFIG.4is started by the information processing apparatus101or102being instructed to execute the setup program by the user via the input I/F208. Hereinafter, the flow of the processing of the setup program203is described following the flowchart inFIG.4. Also, in the example inFIG.4, description is given using as an example a case where the information processing apparatus101executes processing for connecting the printing apparatus105to the AP103.

First, the information processing apparatus101, in step S401, displays a screen501on the display apparatus207of the information processing apparatus101prompting to select a wireless LAN setup method. An example of a display screen is illustrated inFIG.5. By selecting any of “SET MANUALLY”, “SET BY ROUTER BUTTON (WPS)”, and “TWO-DIMENSIONAL CODE” and then selecting a “NEXT” button502inFIG.5, the user can select a method of executing the wireless LAN setup of the printing apparatus105. Note that the information processing apparatus101may connect to a printer that is in a direct wireless connection (P2P connection) mode and then transmit information such as an SSID and a passphrase to be used for establishing a connection to the AP103via wireless communication, for example.

In the present embodiment, description is given assuming that a method of “TWO-DIMENSIONAL CODE” was selected by the user operation in step S401. Meanwhile, in step S401, processing, to be described later, for when the user selects a method of “SET MANUALLY” or “SET BY ROUTER BUTTON (WPS)” and then the user, after that method has failed, selects anew the method of “TWO-DIMENSIONAL CODE” may also be applied. Also, the information processing apparatus101may try to transmit the information to be used for establishing a connection to the AP103to the printing apparatus105by a P2P connection and in a case where the attempt has failed, may execute the processing in step S401.

When the method of “TWO-DIMENSIONAL CODE” is selected by the user operation in step S401and then the “NEXT” button502is selected by the user operation using the input I/F208such as a mouse, the information processing apparatus101advances the processing to step S402. In step S402, the information processing apparatus101acquires from the ROM202the wireless profile204, in which information for connecting to the AP103to which the information processing apparatus101is currently in a connected state is stored.

Next, the information processing apparatus101advances the processing to step S403and then converts to the two-dimensional code the acquired wireless profile204. For example, in a case where the SSID is “aabbccdd” and the passphrase is “password”, a command that includes the SSID and the passphrase may be generated and then the generated command may be converted to a two-dimensional code. For example, as a command601for prompting the printing apparatus105to perform a wireless LAN setup, a two-dimensional code may be generated based on a text string, such as “DoWLANSetup; aabbccdd; password” illustrated inFIG.6. This text string may be two-dimensionally coded by the setup program203. Also, from a perspective of strengthening security, instead of directly two-dimensionally coding the SSID or passphrase, a method of using a technique of encryption or obfuscation to convert and then to two-dimensionally code can be considered. For example, encryption may be performed so that the command601inFIG.6can be extracted by decoding using a private key held by the setup program203of the information processing apparatus101and the program303of the printing apparatus105. Also, a predetermined function, such as converting the command601to a binary, may be used to perform obfuscation.

Next, the information processing apparatus101advances the processing to step S404and then displays on the display apparatus207of the information processing apparatus101the two-dimensional code generated in step S403and a screen701that includes a message prompting the user to perform a wireless LAN setup using a more portable information processing apparatus. In a case the information processing apparatus101here is a highly portable device, a display screen of the display apparatus207can be directly read by the scanning unit309of the printing apparatus105, and therefore, the processing directly advances to a flow inFIG.9.

Even in a case where the portability of the information processing apparatus101is low and it is difficult for the scanning unit309of the printing apparatus105to directly read the display screen of the display apparatus207, the user continues the wireless LAN setup in accordance with the message displayed on the screen701. For example, the message may be a message such as “IN CASE IT IS DIFFICULT FOR SCANNER TO READ THIS SCREEN, BARCODE CAN BE CAPTURED BY DEVICE CAPABLE OF CAPTURING AND THEN READ” illustrated inFIG.7. In another example, the message may be, “CAPTURE THIS BARCODE WITH SMARTPHONE AND LIKE AND THEN HAVE SCANNER OF PRINTER READ CAPTURED IMAGE”.

For example, as illustrated inFIG.8, the user, by capturing a two-dimensional code with the information processing apparatus107or108that is more portable than the information processing apparatus101, causes the information processing apparatus107or108to read the code. Note that reading by the information processing apparatus107or108is executed by the user operating the image capturing apparatus206and performing a reading instruction. By the information processing apparatus107or108reading the two-dimensional code displayed on the information processing apparatus101, the information processing apparatus107or108can acquire the information to be used for establishing a connection to the AP103. For example, the two-dimensional code may include information that relates to a source of a program (application) for causing the information processing apparatus107or108to execute wireless LAN setup processing. By this, the information processing apparatus107or108can use the information that relates to the source, download an application for executing the above-described automatic wireless LAN setup, and then install the program. Accordingly, the user, by an image capturing operation for connecting the printing apparatus105to the AP103, can install onto the information processing apparatus107or108the program. Thus, even without separately performing an operation for the installation, it is possible to install the program onto the information processing apparatus107or108.

Also, a configuration may be taken so that the information processing apparatus107, by using an application for the present embodiment, captures the above two-dimensional code. Also, an operation may be taken so that the information processing apparatus107is also connected to the AP103by the information of the AP103that is included in the two-dimensional code. In such a case, the application of the information processing apparatus107, by designating in relation to the OS of the information processing apparatus107the SSID and the password of the AP103acquired from the two-dimensional code, connects the information processing apparatus107to the AP103, for example. Then, by an operation to be described later, using the captured image of the two-dimensional code, the printing apparatus105can be connected to the AP103.

Moreover, the application of the information processing apparatus107, when the two-dimensional code is captured, may display a screen for querying the user whether or not to install onto the information processing apparatus107a program for an automatic wireless LAN setup and whether or not to connect the information processing apparatus107to the AP103. Then, in accordance with a user instruction that is related to the screen, program installation or connection to the AP103is performed.

Next, a method of connecting the printing apparatus105to the AP103using the captured image of the two-dimensional code will be described. Because the information processing apparatus107or108is more portable than the information processing apparatus101, the two-dimensional code that is displayed on the display apparatus207of the information processing apparatus107or108can be directly read by the scanning unit309of the printing apparatus105. Accordingly, the user moves the information processing apparatus107or108close to the printing apparatus105and advances to a flow to be described later inFIG.9.

Based on a display of the two-dimensional code in step S404, the user can perform a wireless LAN setup of one or more printing apparatuses. For example, the user, by selecting a “NEXT” button702that is displayed on the display apparatus207of the information processing apparatus101, performs the wireless LAN setup of a plurality of printing apparatuses.

When the “NEXT” button702is selected, the information processing apparatus101, in step S405, determines whether a setup of a plurality of printers in addition to a specified printer (e.g., the printing apparatus105) was designated by the user. Specifically, it is determined whether or not ON was selected as the setting of “PERFORM WIRELESS LAN SETUP FOR PLURALITY OF PRINTERS” by the user in the screen701. In a case where “PERFORM WIRELESS LAN SETUP FOR PLURALITY OF PRINTERS” was selected, the information processing apparatus101omits processing to be described later in step S406for searching for the printing apparatus105whose wireless LAN setup is completed, and then ends the program.

Meanwhile, in a case where OFF was selected as the setting of “PERFORM WIRELESS LAN SETUP FOR PLURALITY OF PRINTERS” by the user, the setup program203advances the processing to step S406. Next, the information processing apparatus101, in step S406, assuming that the wireless LAN setup was performed for only one printer, performs a search for the printing apparatus105whose wireless LAN setup is completed. Specifically, before the processing illustrated inFIG.4is started, a printer model to be set up is specified. For example, model information may be set in advance in a program that executes the processing illustrated inFIG.4, or the user may designate a model when the processing illustrated inFIG.4is executed. Then, in step S406, a printer of the model information is searched for within the same network as the information processing apparatus101. Also, in a case where a plurality of printers of the same model is found, a list of the plurality of printers is displayed, and the user selects a desired printer to be set up. Next, the information processing apparatus101advances the processing to step S407, and in a case where the search for the printing apparatus105whose wireless LAN setup is completed is successful, ends the program. In a case where the search fails, the information processing apparatus101returns the processing to step S401, in other words, to the start of the setup program203, and re-starts the setup processing anew. For example, in a case where at least one printer of a specific model is found, it is assumed that the search for the printing apparatus105whose wireless LAN setup is completed is successful.

Note that even in a case where ON was selected as a setting of “PERFORM WIRELESS LAN SETUP FOR PLURALITY OF PRINTERS”, a specific model may be searched for, and the user may select the desired printer.

FIG.9is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing of the wireless LAN setup executed by the printing apparatus105or106. In the present embodiment, description is given using as an example a case where the printing apparatus105executes the processing inFIG.9. First, in step S901, the printing apparatus105accepts from the user a selection of a method of the wireless LAN setup. The selection is performed by the user using the display apparatus306and the input OF307of the printing apparatus105.FIG.10is an example of a representation of a state in which the user performs the selection. In this example, the display apparatus306, which is a liquid crystal panel, and the input I/F307, which is a touch panel, are provided on the printing apparatus105. For the display apparatus306, there are those with only LED lamps instead of a screen or a combination thereof, and for the input IN307, there are those with only buttons or combination of buttons and a screen.FIG.10illustrates a situation in which the user selects “READ TWO-DIMENSIONAL CODE” as the wireless LAN setup method of the printing apparatus105.

In step S901, when the printing apparatus105accepts the selection of the wireless LAN setup method, the printing apparatus105advances the processing to step S902. In step S902, the printing apparatus105displays a message prompting the user to scan the two-dimensional code.FIG.11is a message prompting to read the two-dimensional code displayed by the display apparatus306of the printing apparatus105. In step S902, the printing apparatus105waits for the two-dimensional code to be set on the scanning unit309. For example, the user sets the two-dimensional code displayed on the display apparatus207of the information processing apparatus101in step S404inFIG.4, or captures the two-dimensional code with the highly portable information processing apparatus107or108and then sets the two-dimensional code displayed on the display apparatus207. When the user, after setting, selects “NEXT” on a screen inFIG.11, reading is started. Next, the printing apparatus105advances the processing to step S903, and then reads the two-dimensional code displayed on the display apparatus207of the information processing apparatus101,107, or108. Next, the printing apparatus105advances the processing to step S904and acquires from the captured data of the read two-dimensional code the command601to be used in the wireless LAN setup. When acquiring, the printing apparatus105may perform encryption and obfuscation decoding described in step S403of the flow inFIG.4. The printing apparatus105that acquired the command601to be used in the wireless LAN setup uses the command601and tries to connect to the AP103. Next, the printing apparatus105advances the processing to step S905and in a case where connection to the AP103fails (No in step S905), returns the processing to step S901and then repeats the wireless LAN setup processing again. In a case where the connection to the AP103is successful (Yes in step S905), the processing is advanced to step S906. Next, in step S906, the printing apparatus105displays on the display apparatus306that the wireless LAN setup was successful.FIG.12is a message that wireless LAN setup succeeded displayed by the display apparatus306of the printing apparatus105. Here, when the user selects “OK” on the input IX307, the wireless LAN setup processing of the printing apparatus105is completed.

Here, by executing the flow illustrated inFIG.9similarly to the print apparatus106, connection processing to the same AP103can be performed for two printers. Of course, it is also possible to perform the wireless LAN setup processing in relation to three or more printing apparatuses.

Other Embodiments

In the first embodiment, the information processing apparatus107or108that read the two-dimensional code of the information processing apparatus101caused the printing apparatus105to execute the wireless LAN setup processing by displaying the two-dimensional code. For example, the information processing apparatus107or108may perform a P2P connection to the printing apparatus105and transmit information to be used for establishing a connection to the AP103via wireless communication. In such a case, the two-dimensional code of the information processing apparatus101may be generated based on the information to be used for establishing a connection to the AP103as well as information to be used for establishing a connection with the printing apparatus105. Also, in such a case, the printing apparatus105, in a case where the two-dimensional code could not be read within a predetermined time in step S902, may await the P2P connection. Alternatively, the printing apparatus105, in a case where execution of the wireless LAN setup processing by the two-dimensional code was instructed in step S901, may await the P2P connection. Also, in such a case, a message prompting a user to move the information processing apparatus107or108to a distance so as to be able to communicate with the printing apparatus105, such as “PLEASE COME CLOSE TO WITHIN 10 m OF THE PRINTER”, may be displayed on the screen701illustrated inFIG.7. Alternatively, a message such as “PLEASE HOLD THE SMART PHONE THAT READ TWO-DIMENSIONAL CODE UP TO THE NFC COMMUNICATION UNIT OF THE PRINTER” may be displayed on the screen701illustrated inFIG.7. Also, an image illustrating the NFC communication unit of the printer may be displayed on the screen701, for example. By this, the user, simply by moving close to the printer or holding the smart phone that read the two-dimensional code up to the printer, can easily execute the wireless LAN setup processing to connect to the AP103the printing apparatus105.

In the first embodiment, the information processing apparatus107or108was described to read the two-dimensional code displayed on the information processing apparatus101and to acquire information to be used for establishing a connection to the AP103. For example, the information processing apparatus107or108, by a camera application, may capture the two-dimensional code displayed on the information processing apparatus101and display on the display unit the captured data to be held up to the read unit of the printing apparatus105. By this, even in a case where the information to be used for establishing a connection to the AP103is encrypted or is obfuscated, the information processing apparatus107or108can cause the printing apparatus105to execute the wireless LAN setup processing without decoding encryption or obfuscation.

Note that various codes such as a barcode may be used instead of the above-described two-dimensional code.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No, 2020-064200, filed on Mar. 31, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety,