IP Library Granted Patent US 9,489,164
Granted Patent B2
US 9,489,164 · App. 14/706,368 · Granted Nov 8, 2016

Function executing device with two types of wireless communication interfaces

Inventors: Takanobu Suzuki (Nagoya, JP); Hirotaka Asakura (Nagoya, JP); Munehisa Matsuda (Nagoya, JP); Satoshi Tanaka (Nagoya, JP)
Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
G06F3/1292G06F3/1236G06F13/385H04N1/00912G06F2213/3814
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,489,164
App. No.
14/706,368
Granted
Nov 8, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a case where a first information including an execution request of a specific function via a first type of interface is received, a function executing device may execute a change process for changing an interface for communicating with a terminal device from the first type of interface to a second type of interface in a case where a state of the function executing device is determined as a non-error state. The function executing device may not execute the change process in a case where the state of the function executing device is determined as an error state. The specific function may include a communication process for communicating object data with the terminal device. The function executing device may execute the specific function including the communication process via the second type of interface in a case where the change process is being executed.

Claims (58)

1. A function executing device comprising:

a first type of wireless communication interface;

a second type of wireless communication interface;

a print executing unit;

one or more processors; and

a memory that stores computer-readable instructions therein, the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, causing the function executing device to execute:

sending a wireless setting to a communication device via the first type of wireless communication interface;

determining whether the function executing device is in an error state;

determining whether a number of apparatuses, connected to a wireless network in which the function executing device operates in a parent state, is less than a maximum value, the maximum value being a limit on the number of apparatuses being allowed to establish wireless connections with the function executing device, the apparatuses being different from the function executing device and the communication device;

when it is determined that a number of apparatuses is less than the maximum value and it is determined that the function executing device is not in an error state, establishing, using the wireless setting, a wireless connection with the communication device via the second type of wireless communication interface for the communication device to join the wireless network to which the function executing device operating in the parent state belongs, whereas, when it is determined that at least the number of apparatuses is equal to the maximum value or it is determined that the function executing device is in the error state irrespective of the number of apparatuses connected to the wireless network, not establishing the wireless connection with the communication device via the second type of wireless communication interface, the error state being one or more of: a remaining amount of an expendable item being equal to or less than a first value, a remaining amount of print medium being equal to or less than a second value, a print medium jam in a transport mechanism of the function executing device, an amount of space within the memory being less than a third value, and a cover member of the function executing device being open;

in a case of establishing the wireless connection with the communication device, receiving print data from the communication device via the second type of wireless communication interface; and

controlling the print executing unit to print in accordance with the print data.

2. The function executing device as in claim 1 , wherein:

the sending of the wireless setting is executed when a distance between the function executing device and the communication device becomes less than a distance in which a radio wave can be transmitted between the function executing device and the communication device.

3. The function executing device as in claim 1 , wherein:

the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the function executing device to further execute receiving information from the communication device via the first type of wireless communication interface, and

the sending of the wireless setting is executed when the information is received.

4. The function executing device as in claim 3 , wherein:

the receiving of the information and the sending of the wireless setting are executed by the one or more processors.

5. A function executing device comprising:

a first type of wireless communication interface;

a second type of wireless communication interface;

a print executing unit; and

a control unit causing the function executing device to execute:

sending a wireless setting to a communication device via the first type of wireless communication interface;

determining whether the function executing device is in an error state;

determining whether a number of apparatuses, connected to a wireless network in which the function executing device operates in a parent state, is less than a maximum value, the maximum value being a limit on the number of apparatuses being allowed to establish wireless connections with the function executing device, the apparatuses being different from the function executing device and the communication device;

when it is determined that a number of apparatuses is less than the maximum value and it is determined that the function executing device is not in an error state, establishing, using the wireless setting, a wireless connection with the communication device via the second type of wireless communication interface for the communication device to join the wireless network to which the function executing device operating in the parent state belongs, whereas, when it is determined that at least the number of apparatuses is equal to the maximum value or it is determined that the function executing device is in the error state irrespective of the number of apparatuses connected to the wireless network, not establishing the wireless connection with the communication device via the second type of wireless communication interface, the error state being one or more of: a remaining amount of an expendable item being equal to or less than a first value, a remaining amount of print medium being equal to or less than a second value, a print medium jam in a transport mechanism of the function executing device, an amount of space within memory being less than a third value, and a cover member of the function executing device being open;

in a case of establishing the wireless connection with the communication device, receiving print data from the communication device via the second type of wireless communication interface; and

controlling the print executing unit to print in accordance with the print data.

6. The function executing device as in claim 5 , wherein:

the sending of the wireless setting is executed when a distance between the function executing device and the communication device becomes less than a distance in which a radio wave can be transmitted between the function executing device and the communication device.

7. The function executing device as in claim 5 , wherein:

the control unit cause the function executing device to further execute receiving information from the communication device via the first type of wireless communication interface, and

the sending of the wireless setting is executed when the information is received.

8. The function executing device as in claim 7 , wherein:

the receiving of the information and the sending of the wireless setting are executed by the control unit.

9. A function executing device comprising:

a first type of wireless communication interface;

a second type of wireless communication interface;

a print executing unit;

one or more processors; and

a memory that stores computer-readable instructions therein, the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, causing the function executing device to execute:

sending a wireless setting to a communication device via the first type of wireless communication interface;

determining whether the function executing device is in an error state;

when it is determined that the function executing device is not in the error state, establishing, using the wireless setting, a wireless connection with the communication device via the second type of wireless communication interface for the communication device to join a wireless network to which the function executing device operating in a parent state belongs, whereas, when it is determined that the function executing device is in the error state, not establishing the wireless connection with the communication device via the second type of wireless communication interface, the error state being one or more of: a remaining amount of an expendable item being equal to or less than a first value, a remaining amount of print medium being equal to or less than a second value, the print medium being jammed in a transport mechanism of the function executing device, an amount of space within the memory being less than a third value, and a cover member of the function executing device being open;

in a case of establishing the wireless connection with the communication device, receiving print data from the communication device via the second type of wireless communication interface; and

controlling the print executing unit to print in accordance with the print data.

10. The function executing device as in claim 9 , wherein

the sending of the wireless setting is executed when a distance between the function executing device and the communication device becomes less than a distance in which a radio wave can be transmitted between the function executing device and the communication device.

11. The function executing device as in claim 9 , wherein:

the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the function executing device to further execute receiving information from the communication device via the first type of wireless communication interface, and

the sending of the wireless setting is executed when the information is received.

12. The function executing device as in claim 11 , wherein

the receiving of the information and the sending of the wireless setting are executed by the one or more processors.

13. The function executing device as in claim 9 , wherein:

the function includes a scan function, and

the scan function includes a scan process of generating scan data executing a scan of a document and a communication process of sending the scan data to the communication device via the second type of wireless communication interface.

Priority Claims (1)
JP 2012-082818 · Mar 30, 2012 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13834423 · Mar 15, 2013
Related Publication 20150317116A1 · Nov 5, 2015