Patent Publication Number: US-2023141473-A1

Title: Communication apparatus, communication method, and storage medium

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/576,097 filed on Sep. 19, 2019 which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/412,846 filed on Jan. 23, 2017 which has issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,440,571 issued on Oct. 8, 2019 which claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-012862, filed Jan. 26, 2016, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a communication technique. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     In recent years, there have been increased opportunities of using electronic apparatuses having a wireless communication function, such as a digital camera, a printer, a mobile phone, and a smartphone with these apparatuses being connected to a wireless network. 
     In order to connect an electronic apparatus to a wireless network, a user has to set various communication parameters such as an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key. A technique for facilitating settings of these communication parameters is discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-60623. According to the technique discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-60623, an electronic apparatus displays a quick response code QR code®, which indicates the communication parameters. Then, a mobile terminal captures an image of the QR code® and reads the QR code® therefrom to acquire communication parameters to set the read communication parameters to an access point. The access point sets the communication parameters having been used for wirelessly communicating with another apparatus to the electronic apparatus through the network based on the communication parameters set by the mobile terminal. 
     As discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-60623, by setting the communication parameters using captured code information such as a two-dimensional code capable of encoding a large volume of information, complicated inputs performed by the user can be reduced. 
     However, if all of apparatuses having the image-capturing function can set the communication parameters, an unintended apparatus can be allowed to set the communication parameters to the access point or to communicate with the access point. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a communication apparatus includes an authentication unit configured to set a communication parameter for connecting to a wireless network, and execute authentication processing, with a base station, for registering the communication apparatus to the base station that forms the wireless network as a management apparatus that is allowed to connect another apparatus to the wireless network, a setting unit configured to, based on information acquired from code information captured through imaging, set the communication parameter to another communication apparatus corresponding to the code information, and a registration unit configured to execute registration processing for registering the another communication apparatus to the base station as the management apparatus, based on at least a condition that the communication parameter is set to the another communication apparatus. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a communication apparatus includes a forming unit configured to form a wireless network, an authentication unit configured to set a communication parameter for connecting to a wireless network, and execute authentication processing for registering another apparatus, as a management apparatus to be connected to the wireless network, based on displayed code information, and a registration unit configured to register as the management apparatus a second communication apparatus indicated by a registration request from a first communication apparatus that has succeeded in the authentication processing without executing the authentication processing with the second communication apparatus. 
     Further features will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication apparatus. 
         FIG.  2    is a block diagram illustrating a software functional configuration of the communication apparatus. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a communication system. 
         FIG.  4    is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a smartphone. 
         FIG.  5    is a sequence diagram illustrating a sequence of processing executed by communication apparatuses. 
         FIG.  6    is a sequence diagram illustrating a sequence of processing executed by communication apparatuses. 
         FIG.  7    is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by a smartphone. 
         FIG.  8    is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by an access point. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     It is considered that authority to set communication parameters by using captured code information is provided and the authority is given to an apparatus that has succeeded in authentication with an access point. Providing such authority enables the access point not to accept the communication parameters set by an unauthorized apparatus and connection using the communication parameters set by an unauthorized apparatus. 
     However, providing of the authority to set the communication parameters can complicate operation or processing for making registration of the authority to set the communication parameters can be complicated. For example, in a case where the authority to set the communication parameters is given to a plurality of apparatuses, each of the plurality of apparatuses has to execute similar authentication processing with the access point in order to register the authority to set the communication parameters. The plurality of apparatuses each executing the similar processing can require complicated operations, resulting in degradation of usability. 
     An exemplary embodiment is directed to a technique for improving usability in additionally registering an apparatus authorized to set the communication parameters by using code information obtained through imaging. 
     A communication apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Hereinafter, a description is provided of an exemplary embodiment using a wireless local area network (LAN) system compliant with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) 802.11 series. However, the communication mode is not limited to the wireless LAN compliant with the IEEE 802.11 series. 
     A communication system according to the present exemplary embodiment is illustrated in  FIG.  3   . The communication system illustrated in  FIG.  3    includes a smartphone  301 , an access point  302 , a smartphone  304 , and a printer  305 . A wireless LAN network  303  (hereinafter, referred to as “network  303 ”) is a wireless network compliant with the wireless LAN formed by the access point  302 . The access point  302  operates as a base station in the network  303 . Further, the access point  302  operates as an access point in an infrastructure mode specified by the IEEE 802.11 series standards. Each of the other apparatuses  301 ,  304 , and  305  operates as a station (STA) in the infrastructure mode specified by the IEEE 802.11 series standards. The apparatuses in the communication system according to the present exemplary embodiment can be other apparatuses such as personal computers (PCs), video cameras, smartwatches, and personal digital assistances (PDAs). Although a description is provided of the communication system including four apparatuses, the number thereof can be two, three, five or more. 
     Next, a hardware configuration of each of the apparatuses (i.e., the smartphones  301 ,  304 , the access point  302 , and the printer  305 ) in the communication system illustrated in  FIG.  3    according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG.  1   . In  FIG.  1   , an apparatus  101  represents the entire apparatus. A control unit  102  controls the apparatus  101  by executing a control program stored in a storage unit  103 . The control unit  102  includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU). The storage unit  103  stores a control program executed by the control unit  102  and various types of information such as image data and communication parameters. Various operations described below are executed by the control unit  102  executing the control program stored in the storage unit  103 . For example, the storage unit  103  includes a storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a flash memory, a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), or a secure digital (SD) card that is attachable to and detachable from the apparatus  101 . 
     A wireless unit  104  executes wireless LAN communication compliant with the IEEE 802.11 series standards. The wireless unit  104  includes a chip for executing wireless communication. A display unit  105  is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a light-emitting diode (LED) that displays various kinds of information by outputting visually recognizable information, and in some instances, can also output audio information via a unit such as a speaker. The display unit  105  includes a video RAM (VRAM) for storing image data corresponding to visual information to be displayed in a case where the display unit  105  displays visual information. The display unit  105  executes display control for continuously displaying the image data stored in the VRAM on a display such as an LCD. In addition, a QR code® described below is displayed on the display unit  105 . Instead of displaying the QR code®, described below, on the display unit  105 , the QR code® can be attached to a housing of a communication apparatus in the form of a sticker or label, or can be printed in a communication apparatus&#39; instruction manual or on a communication apparatus&#39; packing material such as cardboard used to ship/deliver the communication apparatus. 
     The control unit  102  controls a function unit  109  to execute predetermined processing such as image capturing or printing. The function unit  109  is hardware that enables the communication apparatus  101  to execute predetermined processing. For example, in a case where the communication apparatus  101  is the smartphone  301  or  304 , the function unit  109  is an imaging unit that executes image-capturing processing. The imaging unit includes an image sensor and a lens and captures still images or a moving image. In the present exemplary embodiment, the imaging unit, for example, reads the code information such as a one-dimensional code including a barcode and a two-dimensional code including a computer purpose (CP) code or a QR code®. For example, in a case where the communication apparatus  101  is the printer  305 , the function unit  109  is a printing unit that executes printing processing. In addition, the access point  302  does not have to include the function unit  109  in a case where the access point  302  is a dedicated apparatus operating as a base station. 
     An antenna control unit  106  executes output control of an antenna  107 , and the antenna  107  communicates through the wireless LAN, which is communicable with a bandwidth of 2.4 GHz and/or 5 GHz. A user executes various inputs through an input unit  108  to operate the communication apparatus  101 . The input unit  108  stores a flag corresponding to an input in a memory of, for example, the storage unit  103 . 
       FIG.  2    is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of software functional blocks for the communication apparatus in the communication system to realize the below-described communication control functions. A software function block  201  represents the entire software functional blocks. A communication parameter control unit  202  executes communication parameter sharing processing for sharing the communication parameters between communication apparatuses. In the communication parameter sharing processing, a providing apparatus provides the communication parameters for executing wireless communication to a receiving apparatus. Here, the communication parameters include wireless communication parameters necessary for executing the wireless LAN communication, e.g., a service set identifier (SSID) as a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, a network key, an authentication method, and an authentication key. Further, the communication parameters can include a media access control (MAC) address, a passphrase, an internet protocol (IP) address for communicating in an IP layer, and information necessary for a higher-level service. The communication parameter control unit  202  executes the communication parameter sharing processing by using the information acquired from a captured image of code information. 
     An authentication processing unit  203  executes authentication processing with another communication apparatus in the communication parameter sharing processing. If authentication with the other communication apparatus succeeds in the authentication processing executed by the authentication processing unit  203 , the communication parameter control unit  202  exchanges the communication parameters with the other communication apparatus. 
     A registration processing unit  204  executes registration processing for registering the management apparatus in a base station. The management apparatus is an apparatus authorized to set the communication parameters to another communication apparatus by using captured code information. 
     A packet receiving unit  205  and a packet transmission unit  206  control reception and transmission of various packets including communication protocols of upper layers. The packet receiving unit  205  and the packet transmission unit  206  control the wireless unit  104  so as to execute transmission and reception of packets compliant with the IEEE 802.11 series standards with another communication apparatus. A data storage unit  207  controls reading and writing of software, and various types of information into and from the storage unit  103 . 
     A description will now be provided of an operation of the communication system according to the present exemplary embodiment having the above-described configuration. Hereinafter, description is given of an example in which each of the communication apparatuses connects to the wireless LAN network  303  by setting the communication parameters for connecting to the wireless LAN network  303  using captured code information, such as a QR code®. The smartphone  301  executes authentication processing with the access point  302  in order to acquire authority to operate as a management apparatus that sets the communication parameters to another communication apparatus by using the captured code information. The smartphone  301  sets the communication parameters to the smartphone  304  using the captured code information, and registers the smartphone  304  in the access point  302  as the management apparatus. The smartphone  304  that is registered in the access point  302  as the management apparatus by the smartphone  301  sets the communication parameters to the printer  305  by using the captured code information. 
     An operation of the smartphone  301  will be described with reference to flowcharts illustrated in  FIGS.  4  and  7   . The flowcharts illustrated in  FIGS.  4  and  7    are realized by the control unit  102  of the smartphone  301  executing the control program stored in the storage unit  103  to execute calculation and processing of information and control of respective pieces of hardware. In addition, all or a part of the steps illustrated in the flowcharts in  FIGS.  4  and  7    can be realized with hardware such as application specific integration circuits (ASIC). 
     First, processing for acquiring the authority to operate as the management apparatus from the access point  302  executed by the smartphone  301  will be described with reference to  FIG.  7   . The flowchart illustrated in  FIG.  7    is started in a case where a user sets the communication parameters to the access point  302  and inputs an instruction to execute the processing for acquiring the authority to operate as the management apparatus from the access point  302  through the input unit  108  of the smartphone  301 . In  FIG.  7   , in a case where the user inputs an instruction for starting the processing, the smartphone  301  activates the function unit  109  (imaging unit). At this time, a display prompting the user to capture the code information of the access point  302  can be displayed on the display unit  105 . 
     In step S 701 , the smartphone  301  captures the code information with the function unit  109  (imaging unit) and decodes the code information based on the captured image. In a case where the information necessary for the communication parameter sharing processing is not included in the code information acquired in step S 701 , the smartphone  301  can end the processing as an error. In addition, although the code information to be captured is described as a QR code® in the present exemplary embodiment, the code information can be other types of code information, such as a barcode and a CP code. 
     As the information necessary for the communication parameter sharing processing, the smartphone  301  acquires, from the code information, a public key and an apparatus identifier that are information used for the authentication processing. For example, the apparatus identifier can be a MAC address or a universally unique identifier (UUID). In step S 702 , the smartphone  301  generates authentication information used for the authentication processing by using the information used for authentication processing acquired from the captured QR code®. Here, the QR code® includes information about the public key, so that the smartphone  301  acquires the authentication information by calculating a hash value with respect to the public key. A hash function used for generating the hash value can be a secure hashing algorithm 1 (SHA-1), a SHA-2, or a message digest algorithm 5 (MD5). 
     After generating the authentication information in step S 702 , in step S 703 , the smartphone  301  starts authentication processing based on the authentication information. In the authentication processing, the smartphone  301  transmits an authentication request signal that requests the authentication processing to another communication apparatus. Here, an Action frame specified by the 802.11 series standard is used for the authentication request signal. However, an extensible authentication protocol (EAP) signal or other wireless LAN packets can be used instead of the Action frame. The authentication request signal includes the authentication information generated in step S 702 . In addition, the authentication request signal can be transmitted through the unicast transmission by using the apparatus identifier acquired from the code information. The authentication request signal can include other types of information used for the authentication processing, e.g., random numbers, an encryption key such as a public key of the smartphone  301 , and an apparatus name in addition to the authentication information. 
     The smartphone  301  waits for an authentication response signal including a result of the authentication processing executed by the other communication apparatus and authentication information generated by the other communication apparatus. The smartphone  301  that receives the authentication response signal executes authentication based on the information included in the authentication response signal. The authentication can be executed through a public key encryption method, and an identical encryption key can be shared by the smartphone  301  and the access point  302  as a common key. The smartphone  301  can execute authentication by determining whether the authentication information included in the received authentication response signal and the authentication information generated in step S 702  conform to each other. The authentication in the authentication processing succeeds if the authentication information included in the received authentication response signal and the authentication information generated in step S 702  conform to each other. The smartphone  301  transmits an authentication confirmation signal indicating the authentication result. 
     In step S 704 , the smartphone  301  determines whether the authentication processing has succeeded. If the authentication processing has failed (NO in step S 704 ), the processing proceeds to step S 706 . In step S 706 , the smartphone  301  displays an error and ends the processing. If the authentication processing has failed, the smartphone  301  can execute authentication processing with the other communication apparatus by transmitting the authentication request signal again. 
     Through the authentication processing, a common key used for the subsequent encryption communication is kept by the smartphone  301  and the other communication apparatus in a case where the authentication has succeeded. If the authentication processing has succeeded (YES in step S 704 ), the processing proceeds to step S 705 . In step S 705 , the smartphone  301  sets the communication parameters to the other communication apparatus. In step S 705 , the smartphone  301  waits for a setting request signal that requests the communication parameters. The smartphone  301  receives the setting request signal and transmits a response signal including the communication parameters. In addition, the smartphone  301  sets the communication parameters input by the user to the access point  302 . The communication parameters are encrypted with the common key shared in the authentication processing. With this configuration, security in providing of the communication parameters can be improved. 
     In a case where the communication parameters are set to the access point  302  through the above-described processing, the access point  302  establishes the network  303  by using the communication parameters acquired from the smartphone  301 . The access point  302  to which the communication parameters have been set registers the smartphone  301  as the management apparatus of the network  303 . The management apparatus is an apparatus authorized to set the communication parameters to another communication apparatus by using the captured code information. In other words, the communication apparatus that succeeds in the authentication processing with the access point  302  can acquire the authority to operate as the management apparatus. 
     In addition, if the network  303  has previously been established in executing of the authentication processing, the access point  302  does not necessarily have to transmit the setting request signal. In other words, if the network  303  has previously been established in executing of the authentication processing, the access point  302  simply registers a partner apparatus on which the authentication processing is performed as the management apparatus and does not necessarily have to receive the communication parameters set by the partner apparatus. In such a case, the access point  302  can transmit the communication parameters for connecting to the established network  303  to the partner apparatus on which the authentication processing is performed. 
     In a case where the smartphone  301  is registered in the access point  302  as the management apparatus through the above-described processing with the access point  302 , the smartphone  301  can set the communication parameters for connecting to the network  303  formed by the access point  302  to other communication apparatus operating as a station. 
     A description is will now be provided of processing for setting the communication parameters for connecting to the network  303  formed by the access point  302  to another communication apparatus operating as a station, which is executed by the smartphone  301 . In addition, the processing is similar to the processing illustrated in the flowchart in  FIG.  7   . 
     The smartphone  301  activates the function unit  109  (imaging unit) in a case where an instruction for setting the communication parameters for connecting to the network  303  formed by the access point  302  to another communication apparatus operating as a station is issued through the input unit  108  of the smartphone  301 . In addition, if the information indicating that the other communication apparatus is a station is included in the information acquired from the captured QR code®, the smartphone  301  can start executing the processing for setting the communication parameters to the other communication apparatus without receiving an instruction from the user. If the information indicating that the other communication apparatus is the access point  302  is included in the information acquired from the QR code®, the smartphone  301  can start executing the processing for acquiring the authority to operate as the management apparatus from the access point  302  without receiving an instruction from the user. 
     In steps S 701  to S 703 , the smartphone  301  captures the code information of another communication apparatus, e.g., smartphone  304 , generates the authentication information, and executes the authentication processing. If the authentication processing fails (NO in step S 704 ), in step S 706 , the smartphone  301  ends the processing as an error. If the authentication processing succeeds (YES in step S 704 ), in step S 705 , the smartphone  301  sets the communication parameters for connecting to the access point  302  previously set to the other communication apparatus on which the authentication processing is performed. 
     The other communication apparatus to which the smartphone  301  has set the communication parameters for connecting to the access point  302  through the above-described processing, connects to the access point  302  based on the communication parameters. At this time, the other communication apparatus to which the communication parameters have been set by the smartphone  301  transmits a connection request signal including management apparatus information that is the information about the smartphone  301  operating as the management apparatus, as well as a providing source of the communication parameters, to the access point  302 . 
     The access point  302  receives the connection request signal and checks whether a communication apparatus indicated by the management apparatus information included in the connection request signal is a registered management apparatus. The access point  302  permits connection of the transmission source of the connection request signal that includes the management apparatus information indicating a registered management apparatus, and does not permit connection of the transmission source of the connection request signal that includes the management apparatus information indicating a non-registered management apparatus. 
     In other words, the access point  302  permits connection from a communication apparatus having the communication parameters provided by the management apparatus, and does not permit connection from a communication apparatus having the communication parameters provided by a communication apparatus different from the management apparatus. 
     Next, processing for additionally registering another communication apparatus in the access point  302  as the management apparatus executed by the smartphone  301  will be described with reference to a flowchart in  FIG.  4   . The flowchart in  FIG.  4    is started when the user selects addition of the management apparatus through the input unit  108  of the smartphone  301 . 
     In step S 400 , the smartphone  301  selects a communication apparatus to be newly authorized as the management apparatus from among the communication apparatuses to which the communication parameters for connecting to the access point  302  that registers the smartphone  301  as the management apparatus have been set through the processing in  FIG.  7   . The selection in step S 400  can be executed based on an operation input by the user through the input unit  108 . If the communication parameters have been set to only one communication apparatus, the one communication apparatus can be automatically selected as a communication apparatus to be newly authorized as the management apparatus. If the communication parameters have been set to a plurality of communication apparatuses, the smartphone  301  can automatically select a communication apparatus to be newly authorized as the management apparatus according to a user operation or a priority level. The smartphone  301  gives authority as the management apparatus to another communication apparatus based on at least a condition that the communication parameters have been set based on the information acquired from captured code information. 
     In step S 401 , the smartphone  301  transmits a registration request signal for requesting additional registration of the management apparatus to the access point  302  that registers the smartphone  301  as the management apparatus through the above-described authentication processing. In addition, identification information of the communication apparatus selected in step S 400  is included in the registration request signal transmitted in step S 401 . 
     In step S 402 , the smartphone  301  waits for a response signal indicating a result of registration processing from the access point  302  as a transmission destination of the registration request signal. If the smartphone  301  receives the response signal (YES in step S 402 ), the processing proceeds to step S 403 . In step S 403 , the smartphone  301  transmits a notification signal for notifying the communication apparatus selected in step S 400  of the result of the registration processing indicated by the response signal. 
     Next, processing executed in a case where the access point  302  receives a registration request signal will be described with reference to the flowchart in  FIG.  8   . The flowchart illustrated in  FIG.  8    is realized by the control unit  102  of the access point  302  executing the control program stored in the storage unit  103  and executing calculation and processing of information and control of respective pieces of hardware. In addition, all or a part of the steps illustrated in the flowchart in FIG.  8  may be realized with the hardware such as ASIC. 
     In step S 801 , if the access point  302  receives the registration request signal (YES in step S 801 ), the processing proceeds to step S 802 . In step S 802 , the access point  302  checks whether a transmission source of the registration request signal has previously been registered as the management apparatus. If the transmission source of the registration request signal has not been registered as the management apparatus (NO in step S 802 ), the processing proceeds to step S 806 . In step S 806 , the access point  302  transmits a response signal indicating that the communication apparatus indicated by the identification information included in the registration request signal is not registered as the management apparatus and ends the processing. 
     If the transmission source of the registration request signal has been registered as the management apparatus (YES in step S 802 ), the processing proceeds to step S 803 . In step S 803 , the access point  302  checks whether the communication apparatus indicated by the identification information included in the registration request signal has connected to the network  303 . In the processing of checking in step S 803 , as long as the communication apparatus indicated by the identification information included in the registration request signal has connected to the network  303  before the access point  302  receives the registration request signal, the communication apparatus does not necessarily have to connect to the network  303  when the access point  302  receives the registration request signal. In other words, the communication apparatus indicated by the identification information included in the registration request signal is only required to be connectable to the network  303  when the access point  302  receives the registration request signal. In addition, the processing in step S 803  can be omitted. 
     If the communication apparatus indicated by the identification information included in the registration request signal has not been connected to the network  303  (NO in step S 803 ), the processing proceeds to step S 806 . In step S 806 , the access point  302  transmits a response signal indicating that the communication apparatus indicated by the identification information included in the registration request signal is not to be registered as the management apparatus and ends the processing. 
     If the communication apparatus indicated by the identification information included in the registration request signal has connected to the network  303  (YES in step S 803 ), the processing proceeds to step S 804 . In step S 804 , the access point  302  transmits a response signal indicating that the communication apparatus indicated by the identification information included in the registration request signal is to be registered as the management apparatus to the transmission source of the registration request signal. In addition, the access point  302  can transmit the result of the registration processing to the communication apparatus indicated by the identification information included in the registration request signal. In a case where the access point  302  transmits the response signal indicating that the communication apparatus indicated by the identification information included in the registration request signal is to be registered as the management apparatus, in step S 805 , the access point  302  newly registers the communication apparatus indicated by the identification information included in the registration request signal as the management apparatus. 
     In other words, in a case where the access point  302  is requested, from the communication apparatus that the access point  302  has directory authorized and registered as the management apparatus, to register another communication apparatus as the management apparatus, the access point  302  registers the other communication apparatus as the management apparatus without executing the authentication processing with the other communication apparatus. 
     Next, processing of the communication system in the present exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to sequence charts in  FIGS.  5  and  6   .  FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating a sequence of processing in which the smartphone  301  registers the smartphone  304  in the access point  302  as the management apparatus after executing the authentication processing with the access point  302 . 
     After the smartphone  301  receives a processing start instruction from the user, in step F 501 , the smartphone  301  captures a QR code® of the access point  302  and acquires information used for the authentication processing from the QR code®. The smartphone  301  uses the information acquired from the QR code® to generate authentication information used for the authentication processing. Herein, the QR code® includes information about the public key as the authentication information, and the smartphone  301  acquires the authentication information by calculating a hash value with respect to the public key. 
     In addition, the smartphone  301  can retrieve other types of information included in the QR code®. For example, the smartphone  301  can acquire the MAC address as an identifier of the access point  302  from the QR code®. The smartphone  301  transmits a signal to be subsequently transmitted through the unicast transmission by using the identifier of the access point  302 , which facilitates processing of searching for the access point  302 . 
     In step F 502 , the smartphone  301  transmits an authentication request signal including the generated authentication information to the access point  302 . Here, an Action frame specified by the 802.11 series standard is used for the authentication request signal. Alternatively, an EAP signal or other wireless LAN packets can be used instead of the Action frame. 
     The access point  302  that has received the authentication request signal executes authentication processing based on the authentication information calculated from the public key of the access point  302  stored in the storage unit  103  in advance thereof and the authentication information included in the authentication request signal. The authentication succeeds in a case where the authentication information generated by the access point  302  and the authentication information included in the authentication request signal conform to each other. 
     In a case where the authentication succeeds, i.e., in a case where the generated authentication information and the authentication information included in the authentication request signal conform to each other, in step F 503 , the access point  302  transmits an authentication response signal indicating a success in the authentication to the smartphone  301 . The authentication response signal includes information necessary for the authentication in the smartphone  301 , e.g., the authentication information, an encryption key, and random numbers generated by the access point  302 . Security can be improved by encrypting and transmitting the information such as the authentication information and the encryption key. The encryption can be realized with a Diffie-Hellman (DH) key exchange method or a public key encryption method. 
     The smartphone  301  receives the authentication response signal and executes the authentication processing based on the information included in the authentication response signal. In a case where the authentication succeeds, in step F 504 , the smartphone  301  transmits an authentication confirmation signal to the access point  302 . The smartphone  301  notifies the access point  302  of a success in the authentication by transmitting the authentication confirmation signal. Through the authentication processing, the smartphone  301  and the access point  302  are brought into a state of having a common key used for the subsequent encryption communication. 
     After receiving the authentication confirmation signal, in step F 505 , the access point  302  transmits a setting request signal for requesting the communication parameters to the smartphone  301 . After receiving the setting request signal, in step F 506 , the smartphone  301  transmits a setting response signal including the communication parameters to the access point  302 . The communication parameters are encrypted by using the common key shared in the authentication processing. With this configuration, security of providing the communication parameters can be enhanced. 
     In step F 507 , the access point  302  that has acquired the communication parameters establishes the network  303  by using the acquired communication parameters and registers the smartphone  301  as the management apparatus. In step F 507 , the access point  302  registers the MAC address of the smartphone  301 , the authentication information and/or the common key in a list of management apparatuses in association with each other. 
     Next, in a case where the user provides an instruction for setting the communication parameters to another communication apparatus, the smartphone  301  activates a camera. In a case where the user provides the instruction for setting the communication parameters, the smartphone  304  displays a QR code® including the information necessary for setting the communication parameters. In step F 508 , the smartphone  301  captures the QR code® displayed by the smartphone  304  and acquires the information necessary for setting the communication parameters from the QR code®. The smartphone  301  uses the information acquired from the QR code® and generates the authentication information used for the authentication processing. In step F 509 , the smartphone  301  transmits an authentication request signal including the generated authentication information to the smartphone  304 . 
     The smartphone  304  receives the authentication request signal and executes authentication processing based on the authentication information calculated from the stored public key of the smartphone  304  and the authentication information included in the authentication request signal. In a case where the authentication has succeeds, i.e., in a case where the generated authentication information and the authentication information included in the authentication request signal conform to each other, in step F 510 , the smartphone  304  transmits an authentication response signal indicating a success in the authentication to the smartphone  301 . The authentication response signal includes the authentication information generated by the smartphone  304 . 
     The smartphone  301  receives the authentication response signal from the smartphone  304  and executes the authentication processing based on the information included in the authentication response signal. In a case where the authentication has succeeds, i.e., in a case where the generated authentication information and the authentication information included in the authentication response signal conform to each other, in step F 511 , the smartphone  301  transmits an authentication confirmation signal indicating a success in the authentication to the smartphone  304 . Through the authentication processing, the smartphones  301  and  304  are brought into a state of having a common key used for the subsequent encryption communication. 
     After receiving the authentication confirmation signal, in step F 512 , the smartphone  304  transmits a setting request signal for requesting the communication parameters to the smartphone  301 . After receiving the setting request signal, in step F 513 , the smartphone  301  transmits to the smartphone  304  a setting response signal including the communication parameters for communicating through the network  303  established by the access point  302 . Here, the communication parameters are encrypted by using the common key shared in the authentication processing. 
     After acquiring the communication parameters, in step F 514 , the smartphone  304  transmits a connection request signal for connecting to the network  303  to the access point  302  based on the acquired communication parameters. The connection request signal includes at least the management apparatus information indicating that the communication apparatus that provides the communication parameters is the smartphone  301 . After receiving the connection request signal, in step F 515 , the access point  302  checks whether the communication apparatus indicated by the management apparatus information included in the connection request signal is included in the stored list of management apparatuses. If the communication apparatus indicated by the management apparatus information included in the connection request signal is not included in the stored list of management apparatuses, the access point  302  rejects the connection request. 
     The access point  302  has registered as the management apparatus the smartphone  301  indicated by the management apparatus information included in the connection request signal in the list of management apparatuses. Accordingly, in step F 516 , the access point  302  transmits a connection permission signal for permitting the connection of the smartphone  304  to the smartphone  304 . 
     The smartphone  304  can include the communication parameters acquired from the smartphone  301  such as the encryption key in the connection request signal. The access point  302  can check whether the encryption key included in the connection request signal conforms to the encryption key necessary for communicating through the network  303 , and transmit the connection permission signal if they conform to each other. 
     After receiving the connection permission signal, in step F 517 , the smartphone  304  participates in the network  303  by executing necessary connection processing such as a four-way handshake with the access point  302 . 
     After providing the communication parameters to the smartphone  304 , the smartphone  301  additionally registers in the access point  302  as the management apparatus the communication apparatus, i.e., smartphone  304 , to which the communication parameters are provided. In step F 518 , the smartphone  301  starts the registration processing based on the user having selected the smartphone  304  as the additional management apparatus. 
     In step F 519 , the smartphone  301  transmits a management apparatus registration request signal for requesting the registration of the smartphone  304  as the management apparatus to the access point  302 . In order to prevent a registration request from an apparatus that spoofs the smartphone  301 , the management apparatus registration request signal can be encrypted by using the common key shared by the smartphone  301  and the access point  302 . 
     The access point  302  that has received the management apparatus registration request signal checks whether the smartphone  301 , as the transmission source, has been registered as the management apparatus and checks whether the smartphone  304  that is the communication apparatus indicated by the identification information included in the management apparatus registration request signal has connected to the network  303 . At this point, the access point  302  has registered the smartphone  301  as the management apparatus and the smartphone  304  has connected to the network  303 . Accordingly, in step F 520 , the access point  302  adds the smartphone  304  to the list of management apparatuses in order to newly register the smartphone  304  as the management apparatus. 
     After the access point  302  has registered the smartphone  304  as the management apparatus, in step F 521 , the access point  302  transmits a registration request response signal indicating a success in the registration to the smartphone  301 . After receiving the registration request response signal, in step F 522 , the smartphone  301  transmits a registration success notification indicating that the smartphone  304  has been registered as the management apparatus to the smartphone  304 . 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the access point  302  transmits the setting request signal for requesting the communication parameters to the smartphone  301  in step F 505 . However, if the access point  302  has already established the network  303 , the access point  302  can include the communication parameters of the established network  303  in the setting request signal and transmit the setting request signal to the smartphone  301 . In this case, the smartphone  301  can include the communication parameters received from the access point  302  in the setting response signal transmitted in step F 506 . With such configurations, the access point  302  that has already established the network  303  can just execute registration of the management apparatus without changing the communication parameters of the network  303 . 
     If the smartphone  301  receives the communication parameters included in the setting request signal from the access point  302 , the smartphone  301  can provide the communication parameters received from the access point  302  to the smartphone  304  together with the setting response signal transmitted in step F 513 . 
     If the additional management apparatus is not selected through the user operation in step F 518 , the smartphone  301  can always register in the access point  302  the communication apparatus that has provided the communication parameters as the management apparatus. 
     The smartphone  301  can determine whether to execute the registration processing based on the performance information about the smartphone  304  included in the setting request signal received in step F 512 . For example, the performance information can indicate whether the user wishes to make the smartphone  304  operate as the management apparatus. The performance information can indicate whether the smartphone  304  has an image-capturing function and can be operated as the management apparatus. If the smartphone  304  does not have the image-capturing function and cannot be operated as the management apparatus, the smartphone  301  does not execute the registration processing for registering the smartphone  304  in the access point  302  as the management apparatus. In other words, based on the performance information, the smartphone  301  can eliminate the communication apparatus that cannot be operated as the management apparatus from a selection target of the additional management apparatus. 
     The smartphone  301  can transmit the management apparatus registration request signal to the access point  302  in response to the setting request signal received from the smartphone  304  in step F 512 . Then, the smartphone  301  can include in step F 513  the content of the notification signal indicating the registration result received from the access point  302  in the setting response signal. 
       FIG.  6    is a diagram illustrating a sequence of processing in which the smartphone  304  connects the printer  305  to the access point  302  as the management apparatus after the processing in  FIG.  5    is executed. 
     The smartphone  304  activates a camera in a case where the user instructs the smartphone  304  to set the communication parameters to other communication apparatus. The printer  305  displays a QR code® including the information necessary for setting the communication parameter in a case where the user instructs the printer  305  to set the communication parameters. In addition, the printer  305  can print the QR code® including the information necessary for setting the communication parameters. 
     In step F 601 , the smartphone  304  captures the QR code® to be displayed by the printer  305  and acquires information necessary for setting the communication parameters from the QR code®. In steps F 602  to F 606 , as in the processing described in steps F 509  to F 513 , the smartphone  304  and the printer  305  execute authentication processing and communication parameter setting. 
     After acquiring the communication parameters from the smartphone  304 , in step F 607 , the printer  305  transmits a connection request signal for connecting to the network  303  to the access point  302  based on the acquired communication parameters. The connection request signal includes at least the management apparatus information indicating that the communication apparatus that provides the communication parameters is the smartphone  304 . 
     After receiving the connection request signal, in step F 608 , the access point  302  checks whether the communication apparatus indicated by the management apparatus information included in the connection request signal is included in the stored list of management apparatuses. In step F 609 , the access point  302  confirms that the smartphone  304  is the management apparatus registered in response to the request from the smartphone  301  and transmits a connection permission signal for permitting the connection of the printer  305  to the printer  305 . 
     The printer  305  can include the communication parameters acquired from the smartphone  304 , such as the encryption key in the connection request signal. The access point  302  can transmit the connection permission signal in a case where the encryption key included in the connection request signal conforms to the encryption key necessary for communicating through the network  303  after checking whether the encryption keys conform to each other. 
     After receiving the connection permission signal, in step F 610 , the printer  305  participates in the network  303  by executing necessary connection processing such as a four-way handshake with the access point  302 . 
     As described above, since the access point  302  registers the communication apparatus authorized to set the communication parameters by using the captured code information, the communication parameters can be prevented from being set even if the code information is captured by an unauthorized communication apparatus. Further, the configuration enables addition, as a management apparatus, of only an apparatus that the management apparatus intends to register as a management apparatus having directly executed the authentication processing with the access point  302 , which enhances the security of the entire network  303 . 
     According to the present exemplary embodiment, the smartphone  301  that has directly executed the authentication processing with the access point  302  can register the smartphone  304  in the access point  302  as the additional management apparatus. For example, if, after the smartphone  301  executes the authentication processing with the access point  302  and sets the communication parameters to the access point  302 , the access point  302  is positioned in a location where image capturing is difficult to execute, e.g., installed on the ceiling of an office environment. In such a case, if the smartphone  304  is to be newly registered as the management apparatus, the user does not have to capture the access point  302  when the access point  302  is located in an area difficult to access. Thus, a degree of freedom in arranging the access point  302  after execution of initial setting is increased, improving usability. 
     The smartphone  301  can register the smartphone  304  in the access point  302  as the management apparatus through the process of setting in the smartphone  304  the communication parameters for connecting to the access point  302 . Accordingly, in a case where the access point  302  additionally registers the management apparatus, the smartphone  304  does not have to separately execute communication for being registered as the management apparatus with the access point  302  after the smartphone  304  has become communicable with the access point  302 . Accordingly, such a configuration facilitates the processing for additionally registering the communication apparatus authorized to set the communication parameters by using the captured code information, which improves the usability. 
     If a registration request is transmitted from the smartphone  301  that has directly executed the authentication processing with the access point  302 , the smartphone  304  can be registered as the management apparatus without directly executing the authentication processing with the access point  302 . In other words, the user can register the smartphone  304  as the management apparatus by simply executing the processing for making the smartphone  304  participate in the network  303 , and thus the user does not have to execute the authentication processing for registration as the management apparatus by separately capturing the QR code® through the smartphone  304 . Accordingly, usability in additionally registering the management apparatus in the access point  302  can be improved. 
     After the smartphone  304  is registered as the management apparatus, the printer  305  can be connected to the network  303  without the smartphone  301 . This configuration improves usability in newly connecting an apparatus to the network  303 . 
     &lt;Other Exemplary Embodiments&gt; 
     In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the smartphone  304  operates as the apparatus that displays the QR code® and the smartphone  301  operates as the apparatus that captures the QR code®. However, the smartphone  304  can operate as the apparatus that captures the QR code® and the smartphone  301  can operate as the apparatus that displays the QR code®. The smartphones  301  and  304  can also select whether to operate as the apparatus that displays or captures the QR code®. In such a case, the smartphones  301  and  304  can select whether to operate as the apparatus that displays or captures the QR code® according to a user instruction. 
     In the above-described exemplary embodiment, description has been provided to a configuration in which the information used for setting the communication parameters is exchanged between the communication apparatuses using the captured image of the code information, such as the QR code®. However, wireless communication such as near field communication (NFC) or Bluetooth® can be used instead of capturing the QR code®. Wireless communication compliant with the IEEE 802.11 series standard or Transfer Jet® can also be used. 
     The code information is not limited to code information displayed on a display unit, and the code information can be attached to a housing of the communication apparatus in a form of a sticker or label. 
     Further, the code information to be read can be included in the communication apparatus&#39; instruction manual or on the communication apparatus&#39; packing material, such as a cardboard, used to ship/deliver the communication apparatus. The code information can be a one-dimensional code such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code of any other type. The code information can be the information in a format readable by the user instead of machine-readable information, such as the QR code®. 
     In the above-described exemplary embodiment, although communication between the communication apparatuses is executed by a wireless LAN communication compliant with IEEE 802.11 series standard, the communication method is not limited thereto. For example, the communication can be executed by using a wireless communication medium such as a wireless universal serial bus (USB), a multi band OFDM alliance (MBOA), Bluetooth®, an ultrawideband (UWB), ZigBee, or NFC. The UWB includes the wireless USB, the wireless 1394, and the WINET. 
     As described above, improving usability in additionally registering a communication apparatus authorized to set communication parameters by using captured code information can be achieved. 
     Exemplary embodiments can also be realized by the process of supplying a program for implementing one or more functions of the above exemplary embodiments to a system or an apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and causing one or more processors of a computer of the system or the apparatus to read and execute the program. Exemplary embodiments can be also realized with a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions. 
     Embodiment(s) can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like. 
     While exemplary embodiments have been described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.