IP Library Granted Patent US 10,568,157
Granted Patent B2
US 10,568,157 · App. 16/055,804 · Granted Feb 18, 2020

Communication apparatus that carries out communications with external apparatuses, control method therefor, and storage medium

Inventor: Kouji Ikeda (Inagi, JP)
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
H04W76/14G06F8/65H04L5/005H04L41/0803H04N5/23206H04W8/005H04W52/0251H04W52/0274H04W76/15H04W76/34H04L69/40H04W4/80
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,568,157
App. No.
16/055,804
Granted
Feb 18, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A communication apparatus which is capable of, for a peripheral device of which connection destination is limited to an image pickup apparatus, appropriately changing data without requiring complicated user operations. Wireless communications with a determined one of a first external apparatus and a second external apparatus are carried out using a predetermined protocol. The second external apparatus connects to the first external apparatus by transmitting an advertisement based on the predetermined protocol to the first external apparatus. In a case where an instruction to establish a connection with the first external apparatus is received, a connection with the second external apparatus is established, and then an instruction to stop the transmission of the advertisement is transmitted to the second external apparatus. After that, the connection with the second external apparatus is terminated, and transmission of another advertisement based on the predetermined protocol is started.

Claims (32)

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive an instruction;

a communication unit configured to carry out wireless communications with a determined one of a first external apparatus and a second external apparatus by using a predetermined protocol; and

a control unit configured to control the communication unit,

wherein the second external apparatus connects to the first external apparatus by transmitting an advertisement based on the predetermined protocol to the first external apparatus, and

in a case where the receiving unit receives an instruction to establish a connection with the first external apparatus, the control unit connects to the second external apparatus and then sends an instruction to stop the transmission of the advertisement to the second external apparatus, and after that, causes the communication unit to carry out a first connection process in which the connection with the second external apparatus is terminated, and a second connection process in which transmission of another advertisement based on the predetermined protocol is started.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in a case where the receiving unit receives the instruction to establish a connection with the first external apparatus, the control unit causes the communication unit to carry out the first connection process before connecting to the first external apparatus, and after that, causes the communication unit to carry out the second connection process.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in a case where the receiving unit receives the instruction to establish a connection with the first external apparatus and send predetermine data to the first external apparatus, the control unit causes the communication unit to carry out the first connection process before connecting to the first external apparatus, and after that, causes the communication unit to carry out the second connection process.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in a case where a predetermined time period has elapsed without a connection with the second external apparatus being established even after the control unit causes the communication unit to carry out the first connection process, the control unit causes the communication unit to carry out the second connection process.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in a case where connection with the second external apparatus is to be attempted, the communication apparatus shifts into a mode in which an advertisement transmitted by the second external apparatus is received.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein in a case where the connection with the second external apparatus is to be attempted, the communication apparatus connects to the second external apparatus by sending a connection request to the second external apparatus in response to receipt of the advertisement transmitted by the second external apparatus.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising another communication unit,

wherein the control unit controls the other communication unit to download firmware for the first external apparatus via the Internet.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the connection request sent to the second external apparatus includes information on a process for updating firmware of the first external apparatus.

9. A control method for a communication apparatus, comprising:

a receiving step of receiving an instruction; and

a communication step of carrying out wireless communications with a determined one of a first external apparatus and a second external apparatus by using a predetermined protocol,

wherein the second external apparatus connects to the first external apparatus by transmitting an advertisement based on the predetermined protocol to the first external apparatus, and

in a case where an instruction to establish a connection with the first external apparatus is received in the receiving step, the communication step is executed in which a connection with the second external apparatus is established and then an instruction to stop the transmission of the advertisement is transmitted to the second external apparatus, and after that, a first connection process in which the connection with the second external apparatus is terminated, and a second connection process in which transmission of another advertisement based on the predetermined protocol is started are carried out.

10. The control method for the communication apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein in a case where an instruction to establish a connection with the first external apparatus is received in the receiving step, the communication step is executed in which the first connection process is carried out before connection to the first external apparatus is established, and after that, the second connection process is carried out.

11. The control method for the communication apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein in a case where the instruction to establish a connection with the first external apparatus and predetermine data is transmitted to the first external apparatus is received in the receiving step, the communication step is executed in which the first connection process is carried out before connection to the first external apparatus is established, and after that, the second connection process is carried out.

12. The control method for the communication apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein in a case where a predetermined time period has elapsed without a connection with the second external apparatus being established even after the first connection process is carried out, the second connection process is carried out.

13. The control method for the communication apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein in a case where connection with the second external apparatus is to be attempted, the communication apparatus shifts into a mode in which an advertisement transmitted by the second external apparatus is received.

14. The control method for the communication apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein in a case where the connection with the second external apparatus is to be attempted, the communication apparatus connects to the second external apparatus by sending a connection request to the second external apparatus in response to receipt of the advertisement transmitted by the second external apparatus.

15. The control method for the communication apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising another communication step,

Wherein in the other communication step, firmware for the first external apparatus is downloaded via the Internet.

16. The control method for the communication apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the connection request sent to the second external apparatus includes information on a process for updating firmware of the first external apparatus.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a control method for a communication apparatus, the control method for the communication apparatus comprising:

a receiving step of receiving an instruction; and

a communication step of carrying out wireless communications with a determined one of a first external apparatus and a second external apparatus by using a predetermined protocol,

wherein the second external apparatus connects to the first external apparatus by transmitting an advertisement based on the predetermined protocol to the first external apparatus, and

in a case where an instruction to establish a connection with the first external apparatus is received in the receiving step, the communication step is executed in which a connection with the second external apparatus is established and then an instruction to stop the transmission of the advertisement is transmitted to the second external apparatus, and after that, a first connection process in which the connection with the second external apparatus is terminated, and a second connection process in which transmission of another advertisement based on the predetermined protocol is started are carried out.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2018
From: IKEDA, KOUJI
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 047442/0442 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2017-154099 · Aug 9, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190053304A1 · Feb 14, 2019