Patent Description:
Portable terminals such as a smartphone and a tablet personal computer (PC) each have a wireless communication capability. Uses of such a wireless communication capability include, for example, transmitting a picture or an electronic document stored in the portable terminal to a printer by using wireless communication, so that the printer performs printing therefor.

This type of portable terminal needs to establish wireless communication by connecting to an access point, to execute the wireless communication with an external apparatus such as a printer. As a method of establishing the wireless communication, handover using Near Field Communication (NFC) is known (for example, see <CIT>, and applications <CIT> and <CIT>). The handover is a method of establishing wireless communication based on connection information (e.g., a service set identifier (SSID)) necessary to execute the wireless communication, by acquiring the connection information through use of proximity wireless communication such as NFC. This handover allows a user to establish wireless communication between a portable terminal and an external apparatus such as a printer, only by bringing the portable terminal close to (or only by causing the portable terminal to touch) the external apparatus.

Meanwhile, an access point is not always necessary between the portable terminal and the external apparatus. Direct wireless communication can be established between the portable terminal and the external apparatus, by causing the external apparatus to act as an access point. The above-described handover can be implemented in such a mode as well.

The portable terminal stores the connection information that has been used to establish the wireless communication. This allows the portable terminal to automatically reconnect to the access point, thereby improving convenience of the user.

The above-described handover is performed to establish the wireless communication temporarily between the portable terminal and the external apparatus. In other words, it may be said that the connection information acquired by using the proximity wireless communication is information for a temporary use. If the portable terminal stores this connection information for the temporary use each time the portable terminal performs the handover, the stored information may reach a maximum quantity storable in the portable terminal. If the quantity of the connection information to be stored reaches the maximum quantity storable in the portable terminal, important connection information (for example, connection information indicating an access point used at home by the user) may be deleted.

The present invention is directed to effectively using a storage area for storing connection information.

The present invention is specified in the claims.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below, with reference to the attached drawings. The following embodiments are not intended to limit the invention according to the scope of claims, and all the combination of features described in the embodiments is not necessarily essential to a solution of the invention. Each of the embodiments of the present invention described below can be implemented solely or as a combination of a plurality of the embodiments or features thereof where necessary or where the combination of elements or features from individual embodiments in a single embodiment is beneficial.

First, a configuration of a communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described using <FIG>. The communication system according to the first embodiment includes a portable terminal <NUM>, a print apparatus <NUM>, and an access point <NUM>.

The print apparatus <NUM> executes wireless communication such as Wi-Fi communication, with the access point <NUM>. Communication between the access point <NUM> and the print apparatus <NUM> may be wire communication using a cable such as a local area network (LAN) cable.

The portable terminal <NUM> can execute the wireless communication such as Wi-Fi communication. A user inputs a service set identifier (SSID) and a security key of the access point <NUM> into the portable terminal <NUM>, so that the portable terminal <NUM> connects to the access point <NUM>. This allows the portable terminal <NUM> to communicate with the print apparatus <NUM> via the access point <NUM>. The portable terminal <NUM> can transmit a print job to an external apparatus such as the print apparatus <NUM>, via the access point <NUM>. Upon receiving the print job, the print apparatus <NUM> executes printing.

The wireless communication between the portable terminal <NUM> and the print apparatus <NUM> is not necessarily performed via the access point <NUM>. The portable terminal <NUM> and the print apparatus <NUM> may execute direct wireless communication, by allowing the print apparatus <NUM> to operate as an access point. As a scheme of such wireless communication, various types are established which include ad hoc mode, access point mode, and Wi-Fi Direct.

In addition, the portable terminal <NUM> and the print apparatus <NUM> can execute proximity wireless communication such as Near Field Communication (NFC). The print apparatus <NUM> includes an NFC tag (a proximity wireless communication tag). The NFC tag stores connection information (access point information) for executing the wireless communication such as Wi-Fi communication. The connection information is, for example, the SSID of the access point <NUM>. When the portable terminal <NUM> and the print apparatus <NUM> perform the direct wireless communication, the connection information may be a SSID temporarily generated by the print apparatus <NUM>. Further, the connection information may include an encrypting key for connection to an access point indicated by a SSID.

The portable terminal <NUM> acquires the connection information from the NFC tag of the print apparatus <NUM> by using NFC, and establishes the wireless communication with the print apparatus <NUM>, based on the acquired connection information. In this way, the connection may be switched to the wireless communication such as Wi-Fi communication, by using the connection information acquired via the proximity wireless communication such as NFC. This is called "handover". The handover allows the user to be free from work for inputting information for establishing wireless communication, e.g., a SSID, into the portable terminal <NUM>.

Next, a hardware configuration of the portable terminal <NUM> will be described using <FIG>. The portable terminal <NUM> of the present embodiment is assumed to be an apparatus such as a smartphone or a tablet personal computer (PC). However, the portable terminal <NUM> may be another type of apparatus if this apparatus is an information processing apparatus capable of executing wireless communication.

A central processing unit (CPU) <NUM> reads a control program stored in a flash read only memory (ROM) <NUM>, to execute various kinds of processing for controlling operations of the portable terminal <NUM>. The flash ROM <NUM> stores the control program, image data such as pictures, and various kinds of setting data. A random access memory (RAM) <NUM> is used as a temporary storage area serving as a main memory or a work area for the CPU <NUM>.

In the portable terminal <NUM>, the CPU <NUM>, which is a single CPU, is assumed to execute each process in a flowchart to be described below. However, other modes may be adopted. For example, one or more CPUs may execute each process in the flowchart to be described below, by working together.

A proximity wireless communication unit <NUM> executes the proximity wireless communication such as NFC. In the present embodiment, the print apparatus <NUM> includes the NFC tag. The user brings the portable terminal <NUM> close to the NFC tag of the print apparatus <NUM>, so that the proximity wireless communication is established between the proximity wireless communication unit <NUM> and the NFC tag of the print apparatus <NUM>. The proximity wireless communication unit <NUM> then acquires the information stored in the NFC tag. The proximity wireless communication executed by the proximity wireless communication unit <NUM> is not limited to NFC, and may be, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication.

A wireless communication unit <NUM> executes the wireless communication such as Wi-Fi communication. For the user of the portable terminal <NUM>, the wireless communication by the wireless communication unit <NUM> can be implemented through simple operation, by using the handover. Specifically, the wireless communication unit <NUM> can connect to the access point <NUM> or the print apparatus <NUM>, by using the connection information (e.g., the SSID) acquired by the proximity wireless communication unit <NUM> from the NFC tag of the print apparatus <NUM>.

A control panel <NUM> has a touch panel function capable of detecting touch operation of the user, and displays various operation screens provided by an operating system (OS) <NUM> and a print application <NUM> to be described below. The user can input a desired operating instruction into the portable terminal <NUM>, by inputting touch operation into the control panel <NUM>. The portable terminal <NUM> includes hardware keys (not illustrated), and the user can input operating instructions into the portable terminal <NUM>, by using the hardware keys.

In making a call to another portable terminal or a fixed telephone, the user uses a speaker <NUM> and a microphone <NUM>. A camera <NUM> performs imaging, according to an imaging instruction provided by the user. A picture obtained by the imaging performed by the camera <NUM> is stored in a predetermined area of the flash ROM <NUM>.

Next, a software configuration of the portable terminal <NUM> will be described using <FIG> is a functional block diagram of software, which is implemented when the CPU <NUM> reads the control program stored in the flash ROM <NUM>.

The OS <NUM> is software for controlling operations of the entire portable terminal <NUM>. A controller <NUM> controls operations of the entire OS <NUM>. Various applications including the print application <NUM> to be described below can be installed on the portable terminal <NUM>. The controller <NUM> exchanges information with these applications, thereby changing a screen to be displayed on the control panel <NUM>, or causing the wireless communication unit <NUM> to execute the wireless communication, according to an instruction received from any of the applications.

<FIG> illustrates a selection screen <NUM> displayed on the control panel <NUM> by the OS <NUM>. The selection screen <NUM> receives designation of a connection destination from the user, for performing Wi-Fi connection. The portable terminal <NUM> searches for a neighboring access point, and a search result is displayed on the selection screen <NUM>. The user selects a desired access point from the search result, and connects the portable terminal <NUM> to the selected access point. The designation of the access point as the connection destination is not limited to selection from a list of the search result. The user may directly input a SSID or a connection key of an access point.

A storage unit <NUM> of the OS <NUM> stores the connection information, which is used in the connection when the wireless communication is executed by the wireless communication unit <NUM>, into a memory such as the flash ROM <NUM>. Specifically, the stored connection information includes information of the access point received as a result of the selection on the selection screen <NUM>, and information of the access point acquired from the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication unit <NUM> via the proximity wireless communication.

<FIG> illustrates a history screen <NUM> displayed on the control panel <NUM> by the OS <NUM>. The history screen <NUM> displays a history of access points used by the portable terminal <NUM> in the past connections. The history screen <NUM> is displayed based on the information stored by the storage unit <NUM>.

The print application <NUM> is installed on the portable terminal <NUM>, to be used for execution of printing. Various applications other than the print application <NUM> are installed on the portable terminal <NUM>, but will not be described.

Next, an outline and screen transitions of a print function implemented by the print application <NUM> will be described using <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. A screen illustrated in each of <FIG> is displayed on the control panel <NUM> by the print application <NUM>.

A print screen <NUM> in <FIG> displays a list of pictures stored in the flash ROM <NUM>. The print screen <NUM> displays, as an example, a case where four pictures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> appear. On the print screen <NUM>, the user selects a picture that the user desires to print.

Upon selection of a picture on the print screen <NUM> by the user, a print screen <NUM> in <FIG> appears. The print screen <NUM> displays, as an example, a case where the picture <NUM> is selected. In an area <NUM>, the picture selected by the user on the print screen <NUM> is displayed in an enlarged form, so that the user can confirm the selected picture. The user may select an icon <NUM>, when the user desires to change print settings. Further, the user may select an icon <NUM>, when the user desires to return to a picture list window (the print screen <NUM>).

When the user brings the portable terminal <NUM> close to (e.g., causes the portable terminal <NUM> to touch) the NFC tag of the print apparatus <NUM> in a state where the print screen <NUM> is displayed, the proximity wireless communication unit <NUM> reads the information stored in the NFC tag of the print apparatus <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the NFC tag of the print apparatus <NUM> stores the connection information for enabling the wireless communication unit <NUM> to execute the wireless communication with the print apparatus <NUM>. The wireless communication unit <NUM> can execute the wireless communication with the print apparatus <NUM>, based on the connection information, which is acquired by reading of the NFC tag of the print apparatus <NUM> performed by the proximity wireless communication unit <NUM>.

When the wireless communication unit <NUM> connects to the access point (the access point <NUM> or the print apparatus <NUM>) indicated by the connection information, the print application <NUM> generates a print job and transmits the generated print job to the print apparatus <NUM>. The connection information, which is acquired by the wireless communication unit <NUM> via the proximity wireless communication, includes an IP address of the print apparatus <NUM>. The print apparatus <NUM> transmits the print job to this IP address, which is a destination.

When the print application <NUM> starts transmitting the print job, a print screen <NUM> in <FIG> appears on the control panel <NUM>. When the transmission of the print job is completed, a print screen <NUM> in <FIG> appears on the control panel <NUM>.

The print function implemented by the print application <NUM> has been described in a flow, by using <FIG>. This print function is implemented by causing the portable terminal <NUM> to touch the print apparatus <NUM> and therefore will be hereinafter referred to as "touch print function".

Next, processing to be executed when the portable terminal <NUM> transmits the print job to the print apparatus <NUM> will be described using a flowchart of <FIG>. The CPU <NUM> loads the control program stored in the memory such as the flash ROM <NUM> into the RAM <NUM>, and executes the loaded control program, to implement each step in the flowchart of <FIG>.

The user brings the portable terminal <NUM> close to the NFC tag of the print apparatus <NUM>, in a state where a picture to be printed is selected by the user (i.e., the state where the print screen <NUM> is displayed). Then, in step S701, the proximity wireless communication unit <NUM> acquires the connection information from the NFC tag, by using the proximity wireless communication. There may be a case where the NFC tag of the print apparatus <NUM> stores the SSID of the access point <NUM>, as the connection information. There may also be a case where the NFC tag stores the SSID that is temporarily generated by the print apparatus <NUM> to perform the direct wireless communication between the portable terminal <NUM> and the print apparatus <NUM>.

Upon acquisition of the connection information from the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication unit <NUM>, the processing proceeds to step S702. In step S702, the storage unit <NUM> stores the acquired connection information in a predetermined area of the flash ROM <NUM>.

Next, in step S703, the wireless communication unit <NUM> connects to the access point indicated by the connection information stored in step S702. The wireless communication between the portable terminal <NUM> and the print apparatus <NUM> is established by this process in step S703.

Next, in step S704, the wireless communication unit <NUM> transmits the print job to the print apparatus <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the print application <NUM> generates the print job for printing the picture selected on the print screen <NUM> by the user, and transmits the generated print job to the print apparatus <NUM>, in step S704. Upon receiving the print job transmitted in step S704, the print apparatus <NUM> executes print processing based on the received print job.

Upon completion of the transmission of the print job, an application termination process is executed. As a part of this termination process, in step S705, the CPU <NUM> deletes the connection information stored in step S702. Specifically, the print application <NUM> instructs the OS <NUM> to delete the connection information stored in step S702. Upon being instructed, the OS <NUM> deletes the connection information stored in step S702, i.e., the connection information acquired from the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication.

The connection information acquired from the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication is information to be used temporarily for execution of printing. Each time the print application <NUM> executes the touch print function, the storage unit <NUM> stores the connection information to be used temporarily. In this case, the storage unit <NUM> stores a large amount of connection information. For example, if the storage unit <NUM> stores the large amount of connection information to be used temporarily, the history screen <NUM> displays many pieces of information, which leads to a poor appearance.

In addition, the quantity of the connection information stored by the storage unit <NUM> may reach a maximum quantity storable by the storage unit <NUM>. In this case, other important connection information, e.g., connection information indicating an access point used by the user at home, may be deleted, to store the connection information newly acquired from the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication. This decreases convenience of the user.

In the present embodiment, the connection information acquired from the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication, i.e., the connection information to be used temporarily, is deleted in step S705. This process prevents deterioration in the appearance of the history screen <NUM>, and deletion of the important connection information due to an increase in the stored connection information.

In the present embodiment, what is deleted in step S705 is the connection information acquired from the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication. The connection information, which is selected by the user on the selection screen <NUM> in <FIG> or directly input by the user, is displayed on the history screen <NUM> without being deleted in step S705. This is because the connection information selected by the user on the selection screen <NUM> in <FIG> and the connection information directly input by the user are considered to be, for example, connection information intended for use at home or office and the connection information that is not intended for temporal use. In other words, it may be said that the processing described with reference to the flowchart of <FIG> is processing of performing control not to display the connection information acquired from the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication, on the history screen <NUM>.

A modification of the first embodiment will be described as a second embodiment. In the first embodiment, the connection information acquired from the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication is invariably deleted in step S705. In contrast, a configuration of distinguishing between connection information to be deleted and connection information that is not to be deleted, without invariably deleting the connection information acquired from the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication is described in the second embodiment.

When the print apparatus <NUM> operates as an access point, the print apparatus <NUM> generates a SSID at random. This SSID generated at random is temporarily generated connection information, and thus cannot be used later even if this connection information is stored by the storage unit <NUM>. Therefore, deleting this connection information in step S705 poses no problem. Accordingly, the present embodiment is intended to delete the SSID generated at random, i.e., the temporarily generated SSID, among pieces of connection information equivalent to the connection information acquired from the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication.

Processing to be executed in the present embodiment will be described using a flowchart of <FIG>. The CPU <NUM> loads a control program stored in the memory such as the flash ROM <NUM> into the RAM <NUM>, and executes the loaded control program, to implement each step in the flowchart of <FIG>. The flowchart of <FIG> is a modification of the flowchart of <FIG>. Therefore, in steps having the same numbers as the steps in the flowchart of <FIG>, the same processes as the steps in <FIG> are executed. Accordingly, these steps in the flowchart of <FIG> will not be described.

Upon transmission of the print job in step S704, an application termination process is executed. As a part of this termination process, in step S801, the CPU <NUM> determines whether the connection information acquired from the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication is the temporarily generated connection information. The print application <NUM> executes this determination in step S801.

When the print apparatus <NUM> operates as an access point, the print apparatus <NUM> generates a SSID of "DIRECT-XXXXX-OOOO". In this SSID, a part except for "DIRECT" is generated at random. In step S801, it is determined whether the SSID acquired from the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication is a SSID beginning with "DIRECT". If this acquired connection information is a SSID beginning with "DIRECT", it is determined that the connection information acquired from the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication is the temporarily generated connection information (Yes in step S801).

If it is determined that the connection information acquired from the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication is the temporarily generated connection information (Yes in step S801), the processing proceeds to step S705. In step S705, the CPU <NUM> deletes the connection information stored in step S702.

In the present embodiment, among pieces of connection information equivalent to the connection information acquired from the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication, the temporarily generated connection information is deleted. However, if the acquired SSID is not the temporarily generated connection information (No in step S801), e.g., if the acquired SSID is the SSID of the access point <NUM>, this connection information is not deleted in step S705, even if this connection information is acquired from the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication.

If the acquired connection information is not the temporarily generated SSID (the SSID generated at random), i.e., if the acquired connection information is, for example, the SSID of the access point <NUM>, the user can use this connection information later, even if this connection information is acquired from the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication. Since the connection information that can be used later is saved without being deleted, convenience of the user improves.

In each of the embodiments as described above, the example in which the portable terminal <NUM> transmits the print job to the print apparatus <NUM> has been described. However, data communication executed between the portable terminal <NUM> and the print apparatus <NUM> is not limited to the transmission of the print job. For example, the data communication may be executed for enabling an HDD of an external apparatus such as the print apparatus <NUM> to store a picture or an electronic document stored in the portable terminal <NUM>. Further, the data communication may be executed for enabling the portable terminal <NUM> to acquire a scanned image, which is generated by scanning of a document by the print apparatus <NUM>, from the print apparatus <NUM>.

The present invention is also achievable by such processing that a program implementing one or more functions of each of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or the apparatus read the program and then execute the read program. Moreover, the present invention is also achievable by a circuit (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) that implements one or more functions.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, the storage area for storing the connection information can be effectively used.

Embodiment(s) of the present invention 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).

While the present invention has been described with reference to embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. It will of course be understood that this invention has been described above by way of example only, and that modifications of detail can be made within the scope of this invention.

Claim 1:
A control method for controlling an information processing apparatus having storage means and display means, the control method comprising:
displaying an image selected by a user on the display means;
acquiring connection information from a printing apparatus by using proximity wireless communication;
storing the acquired connection information in the storage means;
establishing wireless connection with the printing apparatus by using the acquired connection information stored in the storage means, wherein a communication method of the wireless connection is a first communication method different from a second communication method that is a communication method of the proximity wireless communication;
after the wireless connection is established, executing a first process for transmitting print data corresponding to the selected image to the printing apparatus using the first communication method; and
after the first process has been executed, executing a second process that is a process of transmitting a request from a printing application running on the information processing apparatus to an operating system operating on the information processing apparatus, wherein the execution of the second process results in deletion of the acquired connection information.