Patent Application
20240381456
The present disclosure relates to a control device, a control method, and a recording medium.
Patent Literature (PTL) 1 discloses a system in which connection information is input using a terminal when an apparatus (device) is connected to an access point through wireless communication.
[PTL 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-176451
The present disclosure provides a control device enabling early finding of an apparatus that performs wireless communication.
The control device according to the present disclosure is a control device including: a wireless interface that (a) performs wireless communication through one channel selected from N channels where N is an integer of 2 or more, and (b) when not performing the wireless communication, waits for reception of an identification signal to be transmitted by an apparatus while scanning the N channels, and receives the identification signal; and a provider that refers to the identification signal received by the wireless interface, communicably connects to the apparatus, and provides setting information of the apparatus to the apparatus. Here, a transmission channel through which the apparatus transmits the identification signal is predetermined, and a proportion of a time or number of times to wait for reception in the transmission channel in a total duration of the scanning by the wireless interface is greater than 1/N.
The control device according to the present disclosure enables early finding of an apparatus that performs wireless communication.
Hereinafter, an embodiment obtained from the contents disclosed in this specification will be exemplified, and the effects and the like obtained therefrom will be described.
According to the aspect described above, the control device according to the present embodiment waits for reception in the channel through which the apparatus transmits the identification signal in a proportion of the time or the number of times to wait for reception of greater than 1/N, and therefore can receive the identification signal at a timing earlier than that when the waiting for reception is performed in a proportion of the time or the number of times to wait for reception of 1/N. Because the control device also waits for reception in the channels of the N channels excluding the channel through which the apparatus transmits the identification signal, finding of another apparatus that transmits a beacon through a channel excluding the channel through which the apparatus transmits the identification signal is also not obstructed. Thus, the control device can early find the apparatus that performs wireless communication.
According to the aspect described above, among the N channels, the control device waits for reception in the channel through which the apparatus transmits the identification signal for the longest time or in the largest number of times, and therefore the control device can receive the identification signal at an earlier timing. Thereby, the control device can find the apparatus earlier, the apparatus performing wireless communication.
According to the aspect described above, the control device alternately waits for reception in the channel through which the apparatus transmits the identification signal and waits for reception in another channel, and therefore the control device can receive the identification signal at an earlier timing. Thereby, the control device can find the apparatus earlier, the apparatus performing wireless communication.
According to the aspect described above, when the apparatus is the display-control apparatus, the control device provides the setting information needed for the operation of the apparatus. Thereby, the apparatus can be brought into an operational state where the apparatus operates according to the setting information. Thus, the control device can early find the apparatus that performs wireless communication, and can early bring the found apparatus into the operational state.
According to the aspect described above, when the apparatus is the non-display-control apparatus, by controlling display of the image, the control device causes the user of the terminal to recognize that the software managing the apparatus can be installed on the terminal. Thereby, the user can be motivated to install the software managing the apparatus to the terminal, and can execute the installation. Thus, the control device can early find the apparatus that performs wireless communication, and can promote installation of the software managing the found apparatus to the terminal.
According to the aspect described above, in the control device, the OSD including the information needed for the authentication of the apparatus and the input field displayed by the apparatus are displayed in different positions. In other words, covering of one of these with the other is avoided. Thereby, the user can perform an operation to input the information needed for authentication of the apparatus to the input field while viewing the information and the input field one time. Thus, the control device contributes to early finding of the apparatus that performs wireless communication and execution of authentication of the found apparatus in an appropriate manner.
According to the aspect described above, the control device can more easily contribute to the authentication of the apparatus by displaying the authentication code as the information needed for the authentication of the apparatus and displaying the input field for the authentication code as the information needed for the authentication of the apparatus. Thus, the control device contributes to early finding of the apparatus that performs wireless communication and execution of authentication of the found apparatus in an easier and more appropriate manner.
According to the aspect described above, the same effects as that of the control device are obtained.
According to the aspect described above, the same effects as that of the control device are obtained.
Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described in detail appropriately with reference to the drawings. To be noted, detailed descriptions beyond necessity will be omitted in some cases. For example, detailed descriptions of things already well known and overlapping descriptions of substantially identical configurations may be omitted in some cases. This is for avoiding unnecessarily redundant description below and facilitating understanding by persons skilled in the art.
The inventors provide the accompanying drawings and description below for sufficiently understanding the present disclosure by persons skilled in the art, and are not intended to limit the subject matter to the scope of CLAIMS by these.
In the present embodiment, a control device enabling early finding of an apparatus that performs wireless communication will be described.
Control system 1 is a system that promotes installation of software to terminal T, the software managing apparatus 30 disposed in residence H of user U.
As illustrated in
Apparatus 30 is an apparatus managed by the software installed on terminal T, and is, for example, a home appliance, and more specifically, is a laundry machine, an air conditioner, a refrigerator, a microwave oven, a television receiver (also referred to as television), a recording apparatus, or a front-door intercom. Apparatus 30 can be a non-display-control apparatus or a display-control apparatus. Here, the non-display-control apparatus is an apparatus that is neither an apparatus including a display device nor an apparatus that is connected to a display device and displays an image on a display screen included in the display device. The display-control apparatus is an apparatus including a display device or an apparatus that is connected to a display device and displays an image on a display screen included in the display device.
For example, apparatus 30 is an apparatus newly disposed in residence H by user U, and more specifically an apparatus that user U newly bought for use in residence H.
Base station 40 is a wireless LAN base station inside residence H of user U. The wireless LAN is a Wi-Fi (registered trademark) network, for example. This case will be described as one example, but any other configuration can be used.
Display device 20 is a display device including a display screen. Display device 20 displays an image on the display screen in response to control by control device 10.
Control server 42 is a server apparatus that provides information to promote installation of the software operating on terminal T to terminal T. Control server 42 is implemented by a computer.
Application server 44 is a server apparatus that has software operating on terminal T (generally, also referred to application software or a smartphone application. Application server 44 is implemented by a computer.
Control device 10 is a control device that promotes installation of software to terminal T, the software being software that manages apparatus 30 and operates on terminal T. Control device 10 is connected to base station 40 through wireless communication, and is connected to network N through base station 40 to be communicable with other apparatuses connected network N. Control device 10 controls display of an image on the display screen included in display device 20.
Control device 10 is a recording apparatus, for example, and this case will be described as one example. In this case, control device 10 controls display of an image on the display screen included in display device 20 (such as a television) connected to the recording apparatus with a video communication standard (HDMI (registered trademark)). The configuration of control device 10 will be described in detail later.
Control device 10 may include display device 20. In this case, it can be said that control device 10 includes a display screen. Control device 10 controls display of an image on the display screen included in control device 10. Control device 10 may be a television, for example.
As illustrated in
Wireless IF 11 is a communication interface which performs wireless communication, and includes an antenna and a wireless circuit. Wireless IF 11 receives an identification signal wirelessly transmitted by apparatus 30. Wireless IF 11 is also referred to as first wireless interface. For example, wireless IF 11 may receive the identification signal as a service set identifier (SSID) included in a beacon signal of the wireless LAN (specifically, Wi-Fi network). In other words, the identification signal may be included in the SSID. This case will be described as one example, but any other configuration can be used.
Wireless IF 11 performs wireless communication through one channel selected from N (where N is an integer of 2 or more) communication channels (also simply referred to as channels), and when not performing wireless communication, wireless IF 11 waits for reception of the identification signal to be transmitted by apparatus 30 while scanning N channels, and receives the identification signal. When the transmission channel as a channel through which apparatus 30 transmits the identification signal is predetermined, the proportion of the time or the number of times to wait for reception in the transmission channel in the total duration of the scanning by wireless IF 11 is greater than 1/N.
The time to wait for reception in the transmission channel in the scanning by wireless IF 11 may be the longest among the times to wait for reception in the N channels, or the number of times to wait for reception in the transmission channel in the scanning by wireless IF 11 may be the largest among the numbers of times to wait for reception in the N channels.
In the scanning, wireless IF 11 may alternately wait for reception in the transmission channel and in any channel of a plurality of channels excluding the transmission channel.
Wireless IF 11 may further include a wireless interface for near-field wireless communication. The communication standard for near-field wireless communication is, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (BLE), and this case will be described as one example. The BLE communication interface included in wireless IF 11 can be used when apparatus 30 is a display-control apparatus. In this case, wireless IF 11 may receive the identification signal as information included in the beacon signal in the BLE network.
Obtainer 12 is a functional portion that obtains information from control server 42. The functional portion included in control device 10 can be implemented by a processor included in control device 10 (such as a central processing unit (CPU)) (not illustrated), the processor executing a predetermined program using a memory (not illustrated). The same is applied to functional portions thereafter.
Specifically, obtainer 12 refers to the identification signal received by wireless IF 11, and obtains information indicating that the software that manages apparatus 30 and operates on terminal T can be installed on terminal T. For example, the information may include notification information indicating that the software can be installed on terminal T, or the address of the site which provides the software. The site is a web site written in hyper text markup language (HTML), for example, but not limited thereto. The information may include, for example, an image which indicates the address (or uniform resource locator (URL)) of the site providing the software and is readable by terminal T. The image is, for example, a two-dimensional code in which the address is encoded, and more specifically, is a QR code (registered trademark).
Display controller 13 is a functional portion that controls display of an image (also referred to as presentation image) on the display screen of display device 20. Display controller 13 obtains the presentation image from control server 42, and controls the display of the obtained presentation image.
When control device 10 includes display device 20 (in other words, control device 10 includes the display screen), display controller 13 controls the display of the presentation image on the display screen included in control device 10. When control device 10 is connected to display device 20, display controller 13 controls the display of the presentation image on the display screen included in display device 20 connected to control device 10.
Display controller 13 performs the control by providing a video signal to display device 20, the video signal indicating the image to be displayed on the display screen. Display device 20 to which the video signal is provided displays the presentation image on the display screen based on the provided video signal.
Provider 14 is a functional portion that provides information to apparatus 30. Provider 14 provides connection information for apparatus 30 to connect to base station 40 (in other words, connection information for apparatus 30 to connect to the wireless LAN). Provider 14 provides connection information to terminal T, the connection information being connection information for wireless IF 11 to connect to base station 40 and being set in wireless IF 11. Software for managing apparatus 30 is installed in terminal T. It is assumed that terminal T to which the connection information is provided provides the provided connection information to apparatus 30 in response to the operation of the software. Thus, provider 14 provides the connection information to apparatus 30 through terminal T.
When providing the connection information, provider 14 may convert the connection information according to predetermined conversion rules, and then provide the converted connection information to apparatus 30 through terminal T. Specifically, according to the predetermined conversion rules, provider 14 may convert the connection information set in wireless IF 11 to connection information in accordance with the communication standard of a wireless IF (second wireless interface) included in apparatus 30. In this case, provider 14 sets the converted connection information in wireless IF 11, and determines whether wireless IF 11 in which the connection information is set is successfully connected to base station 40. Then, when provider 14 determines that wireless IF 11 is successfully connected to base station 40, provider 14 provides the converted connection information to apparatus 30 through terminal T. Here, the predetermined conversion rules are conversion rules for IDs of the wireless LANs whose communication standards are different from each other, and more specifically, are conversion rules for converting the SSID of the Wi-Fi network as the wireless LAN to those in IEEE802.11a and IEEE802.11g. The conversion rules will be described in detail later.
Referring to the identification signal received by wireless IF 11, provider 14 communicably connects to apparatus 30, and provides setting information or position information needed for the operation of apparatus 30 to apparatus 30.
The identification signal transmitted by apparatus 30 may include type information indicating the type of apparatus 30. This case is described as one example. The type information includes at least information indicating that the type of apparatus 30 is a non-display-control apparatus or a display-control apparatus.
When the identification signal includes the type information and the type information indicates that apparatus 30 is a non-display-control apparatus, obtainer 12 obtains the above-mentioned information. When the type information indicates that apparatus 30 is a non-display-control apparatus, display controller 13 controls the display of the image.
When the type information included in the identification signal indicates that apparatus 30 is a display-control apparatus, provider 14 provides the setting information to apparatus 30.
When the identification signal is included in the SSID, for example, information (such as numerals, characters, or symbols) in a predetermined position within the SSID is used as the identification signal, and the information in the predetermined position in the identification signal is used as the type information. Obtainer 12 obtains the type information by extracting the information in the predetermined position in the identification signal.
The identification signal may further include the category (the type such as a laundry machine, an air conditioner, a refrigerator, a microwave oven, a television, or a recording apparatus) or version information of apparatus 30. In this case, the information (such as numerals, characters, or symbols) in the predetermined position in the identification signal is used as a product category, and is used as the version information. Obtainer 12 obtains the product category and the version information by extracting the information in the predetermined position in the identification signal.
The processing of control device 10 having such a configuration above will be described in detail.
In step S101, wireless IF 11 in control device 10 waits for reception of the beacon while scanning the channels, and receives the beacon. It is assumed that this beacon is the beacon transmitted by apparatus 30. For example, apparatus 30 transmits the beacon at a predetermined interval (e.g., an interval of 100 milliseconds) for a predetermined time (e.g., for 15 minutes) after the power supply is turned on.
In step S102, obtainer 12 in control device 10 extracts the type information included in the beacon received in step S101, and obtains the type of apparatus 30 that transmits the beacon.
In step S103, obtainer 12 in control device 10 determines whether the type of apparatus 30 obtained in step S102 is a display-control apparatus. When it is determined that the type of apparatus 30 is a display-control apparatus (Yes in step S103), the processing goes to step S111. If it is not the case (No in step S103), the processing goes to step S104.
In step S104, control device 10 executes the processing related to the non-display-control apparatus. The detailed processing included in step S104 will be described later.
In step S111, control device 10 executes the processing related to the display-control apparatus. The detailed processing included in step S111 will be described later.
After step S104 or step S111 is completed, a series of processings illustrated in
By the series of processings illustrated in
Here, the case where wireless IF 11 has 1 to 13 communicable channels and the number N of channels is 13 will be described as one example. The transmission channel that is the channel through which apparatus 30 transmits the identification signal is defined as channel 1.
(a) illustrated in
The scanning method according to Comparative Example illustrated in (a) of
In the scanning method illustrated in (b) of
In the scanning method illustrated in (c) of
In the scanning method illustrated in (d) of
In the scanning method illustrated in (e) of
Thus, in the scanning by wireless IF 11, the proportion of the time or the number of times to wait for reception in the transmission channel in the total duration of the scanning is greater than 1/N. Thereby, by receiving the beacon in channel 1, the beacon being transmitted by apparatus 30, control device 10 can find apparatus 30 that transmits the beacon in channel 1 earlier than in the case of the control device in Comparative Example. Moreover, control device 10 can receive the beacon transmitted by apparatus 30 in any channel of the communicable channels. In other words, finding of apparatus 30 which transmits the beacon in the channel other than channel 1 is not prevented.
Hereinafter, (1) processing related to the non-display-control apparatus and (2) processing related to the display-control apparatus, which are executed by control device 10, will be described.
The processing related to the non-display-control apparatus to be executed by control device 10 includes processing to install software to terminal T, the software managing apparatus 30 which is a non-display-control apparatus.
In step S201, display controller 13 in control device 10 transmits the type of apparatus 30 to control server 42. Control server 42 receives the type of apparatus 30. The type of apparatus 30 includes at least information indicating that apparatus 30 is a non-display-control apparatus, and may further include the class or model of apparatus 30.
In step S202, display controller 13 in control device 10 obtains a presentation image from control server 42. The presentation image to be obtained is transmitted by control server 42 that has received the type of apparatus 30 transmitted in step S201, in response to the reception. When display controller 13 transmits the class or model of apparatus 30 in step S201, the presentation image obtained in step S202 may be a presentation image prepared according to the class or model of apparatus 30.
In step S203, display controller 13 in control device 10 displays the presentation image, which is obtained in step S202, on the display screen. It is assumed that the displayed presentation image is viewed by user U.
Through a series of processing illustrated in
Image 50 illustrated in
Image 50 includes image 51 that is a presentation image. Image 51 is one example of the information indicating that the software that manages apparatus 30 (e.g., laundry machine) and operates on terminal T can be used (or installed) in terminal T. It can also be said that image 51 is superimposed and displayed on image 50.
By viewing image 51, user U can recognize that the software that operates on terminal T can be used, which can motivate user U to install the software to terminal T.
Image 55 illustrated in
The two-dimensional code in image 56 is the address of the site encoded by a predetermined encoding method, the site providing the software that operates on terminal T. Terminal T can obtain the address of the site by capturing image 56 with a camera based on an operation by user U and decoding the two-dimensional code in image 56 by a predetermined decode method, and can access to the site.
In addition to image 56, image 55 may include information indicating that connection of apparatus 30 to a network is convenient, in other words, information that motivates user U to connect apparatus 30 to the network.
In step S301, apparatus 30 transmits a beacon. Apparatus 30 can repeatedly transmit the beacon at a predetermined time interval (e.g., an interval of 100 milliseconds). The beacon transmitted in step S301 can be one of the beacons repeatedly transmitted.
In step S302, control device 10 waits for reception of the beacon. The waiting for reception of the beacon is performed by scan of the channels (see (b) to (e) in
In step S303, in waiting for reception of the beacon, control device 10 receives the beacon transmitted by apparatus 30 in step S301. Step S303 corresponds to step S101 in
In step S304, control device 10 transmits the type of apparatus 30 to control server 42. The type of apparatus 30 is transmitted based on determination that the type of apparatus 30 determined by the beacon transmitted by apparatus 30 is not the display-control apparatus. Step S304 corresponds to steps S102, S103, and S104 in
In step S305, control server 42 determines the timing at which the presentation image is displayed on the display screen. The timing at which the presentation image is displayed may be any number of times as long as it is more than or equal to one time, and may be at any time. For example, it may be a timing immediately after step S304, or may be a predetermined time of day.
In step S306, control server 42 determines whether the timing determined in step S305 has come. When it is determined that the timing has come (Yes in step S306), the processing goes to step S307. When it is not the case (No in step S306), the processing goes to step S306. In other words, control server 42 waits in step S306 until the timing comes. When a plurality of timings are determined in step S305, step S306 is executed at each of the timings. When a notification (step S312 described later) that an application is installed on terminal T is received, execution of step S306 is unnecessary at the timings thereafter.
In step S307, control server 42 transmits a presentation image to control device 10. Control device 10 receives the transmitted presentation image.
In step S308, control device 10 displays the presentation image received in step S307 on the display screen. The presentation image includes a QR code (registered trademark) in which at least the address of the site in application server 44 is encoded. It is assumed that the displayed presentation image is viewed by user U.
In step S309, terminal T obtains the address of the site in application server 44 by capturing the QR code (registered trademark) included in the presentation image based on an operation by user U who has viewed the presentation image displayed in step S308, and decoding the QR code (registered trademark).
In step S310, terminal T transmits a request to obtain the application to the address obtained in step S309. Application server 44 receives the transmitted request to obtain the application.
In step S311, in response to the request received in step S310, application server 44 transmits the application as the target of the request to terminal T. Terminal T receives or downloads the transmitted application.
In step S312, the application received in step S311 is installed on terminal T. Terminal T may transmit a notification to control server 42, the notification indicating that the application is installed. Transmission of the presentation image by control server 42 (step S307) after the notification can be stopped by the notification.
In step S313, control device 10 transmits connection information to terminal T, the connection information being used for connection of apparatus 30 to the wireless LAN. Terminal T transmits the received connection information to apparatus 30. Thereby, the connection information transmitted by control device 10 is provided to apparatus 30 through terminal T. Control device 10 may provide the connection information as it is to apparatus 30, the connection information being used for connection of apparatus 30 to the wireless LAN, or may convert the connection information according to predetermined conversion rules and provide the converted connection information to apparatus 30 (described later). Step S313 need not be executed.
In step S314, terminal T can control device 30 by operating the application installed in step S312. The information may be provided from terminal T to apparatus 30 through near-field wireless communication, or may be provided through network N when apparatus 30 is connected to wireless LAN through step S313.
The transmission and display of the presentation image in steps S307 and S308 may be performed one time or two or more times. When the presentation image is transmitted and displayed one time, image 56 illustrated in
The predetermined time of day to be used in step S305 can be a predicted time at which user U is not relatively busy, or can be a predicted time (e.g., 20:00) at which user U can ensure the time to install the software to terminal T. This leads to an advantage of increasing a probability that user U installs the software to terminal T using the presentation image.
Hereinafter, conversion of the control information in the processing to provide the connection information in step S313 will be described.
Generally, a wireless interface connectable to base station 40 through a wireless LAN is provided in the apparatus used in residence H. Examples of communication standards for the wireless LAN include IEEE802.11a and IEEE802.11g. IEEE802.11a has features such as a high relatively high communication rate, communication loss likely to be caused by influences from obstacles present in a communication path, and relatively high cost of the communication interface. IEEE802.11g has features such as relatively small influences from obstacles present in a communication path, relatively low cost of the communication interface, and communication loss likely to be caused by influences from radiowaves radiated by a microwave oven or the like. For example, apparatuses (such as a television and a recording apparatus) used in applications to video transmission required for a relatively high communication rate, for example, may include a communication interface for IEEE802.11a in some cases. Apparatuses (such as a laundry machine, an air conditioner, a refrigerator, and a microwave oven) used in applications where a relatively high communication rate is not required, for example, may include a communication interface for IEEE802.11g in some cases.
For this reason, in control system 1, control device 10 may include a communication interface for IEEE802.11a in some cases. Apparatus 30 may include a communication interface for IEEE802.11a in some cases when it is a television, and may include a communication interface for IEEE802.11g in some cases when it is a laundry machine.
Thus, control device 10 can switch the processing to provide the connection information according to whether the communication standard to be used by control device 10 to connect to the wireless LAN is identical to that to be used by apparatus 30 to connect to the wireless LAN.
In step S401, control device 10 determines whether the communication standard used by apparatus 30 to connect to base station 40 is identical to that used by control device 10 to connect to base station 40. When it is determined that these communication standards are identical (Yes in step S401), the processing goes to step S421, and when it is not the case (No in step S401), the processing goes to step S402. For example, when the communication standard used by apparatus 30 is IEEE802.11g and that used by control device 10 is IEEE802.11a, control device 10 determines that these communication standards are not identical. In contrast, for example, when the communication standard used by apparatus 30 and that used by control device 10 both are IEEE802.11a, control device 10 determines that these communication standards are identical. It is assumed that control device 10 preliminarily obtains the communication standard used by apparatus 30 to connect to base station 40.
In step S402, control device 10 converts the connection information. Specifically, using predetermined conversion rules, control device 10 converts the connection information used by control device 10 to connect to the wireless LAN to the connection information in the communication standard used by apparatus 30. Although the predetermined conversion rules are not always present, the predetermined conversion rules can be derived using the naming convention of the connection information of each communication standard in the initial setting of base station 4. For example, the naming convention can be determined by the manufacturer of base station 40.
Examples of naming conventions of the connection information in the communication standards will be described.
For example, in case #1, SSID “***-A-****” in IEEE802.11a corresponds to SSID “***-G-****” in IEEE802.11g. It is considered that “A” in the former comes from the final “a” of “IEEE802.11a” as the name of the communication standard, and the “G” in the latter comes from the final “g” of “IEEE802.11g” as the name of the communication standard.
In case #2, SSID “*****-a” in IEEE802.11a corresponds to SSID “*****-g” in IEEE802.11g. It is considered that “a” in the former and “g” in the latter come from the same origins as those in case #1.
For example, in case #3, SSID “***5g-*****” in IEEE802.11a corresponds to SSID “***2g-******” in IEEE802.11g. It is considered that “5g” in the former comes from “5G” standing for 5 GHz which indicates the frequency band of IEEE802.11a, and “2g” in the latter comes from “2G” standing for 2 GHz (or 2.4 GHz) which indicates the frequency band of IEEE802.11g.
In case #4, SSID “******-5G” in IEEE802.11a corresponds to SSID “******-2G” in IEEE802.11g. It is considered that “5G” in the former and “2G” in the latter come from the same origins as those in case #3.
Based on the above-mentioned naming convention for the connection information, for example, obtained is a conversion rule to obtain the SSID of IEEE802.11g by converting “a” or “A” in the SSID of IEEE802.11a to “g” or “G”. A conversion rule to convert the SSID of IEEE802.11g to the SSID of IEEE802.11a is obtained by reverse conversion of the above conversion.
Moreover, a conversion rule to obtain the SSID of IEEE802.11g is obtained, for example, by converting “5g” and “5G” in the SSID of IEEE802.11a to “2g” and “2G”, respectively. A conversion rule to convert the SSID of IEEE802.11g to the SSID of IEEE802.11a is obtained by reverse conversion of the above conversion.
Returning to
In step S404, control device 10 determines whether control device 10 is actually successfully connected to base station 40 in the processing of step S403. When it is determined that control device 10 is actually successfully connected (Yes in step S404), the processing goes to step S411, and when it is not the case (No in step S404), the processing goes to step S405.
In step S405, control device 10 abandons the connection information after conversion in step S402.
In step S411, control device 10 provides the connection information after conversion in step S402 to apparatus 30 as the connection information used by apparatus 30 to connect to base station 40.
In step S421, control device 10 provides the connection information which control device 10 currently uses to connect to base station 40, to apparatus 30 as the connection information used by apparatus 30 to connect to base station 40.
After step S405, S411, or S421 is completed, a series of processings illustrated in
As described above, control device 10 can perform the processing to install the software for managing apparatus 30 that is a non-display-control apparatus, to terminal T.
The processing related to the display-control apparatus to be executed by control device 10 includes processing to provide the connection information to apparatus 30 that is a display-control apparatus.
The processing illustrated in
In step S501, control device 10 receives a BLE beacon. It is assumed that the received BLE beacon is transmitted by apparatus 30 (step S511).
In step S502, control device 10 establishes BLE connection to apparatus 30 using ID information of apparatus 30 included in the BLE beacon received in step S501 (step S512).
In step S503, control device 10 displays an authentication code on the display screen. It is assumed that the displayed authentication code is viewed by user U of apparatus 30.
At this time, in step S513, apparatus 30 displays an input field for the authentication code. It is assumed that user U who has viewed the authentication code displayed in step S503 inputs the authentication code to the input field displayed in step S513. Apparatus 30 accepts the input of the authentication code from user U, and transmits the accepted authentication code to control device 10 (step S514). Control device 10 receives the transmitted authentication code.
In step S504, control device 10 authenticates apparatus 30 using the authentication code displayed in step S503 and the authentication code received in step S514. For example, control device 10 determines whether the authentication code displayed in step S503 matches with the authentication code received in step S514. When it is determined that these authentication codes match with each other, the authentication of apparatus 30 is successfully done. When it is determined that these authentication codes do not match, the authentication of apparatus 30 is failed. When the authentication is successfully done (Yes in step S504), the processing goes to step S505. When it is not the case (No in step S504), the processing goes to step S506.
In step S505, control device 10 transmits the information for wireless IF 11 of apparatus 30 to connect to the wireless LAN and the position information to be set in apparatus 30 to apparatus 30 through BLE. Apparatus 30 receives the connection information and position information transmitted (step S515).
For example, the connection information can include the SSID of Wi-Fi as the wireless LAN and the password for connection. The position information can include a zip code or position information in a different format.
In step S506, control device 10 disconnects the BLE connection to apparatus 30 (step S516).
The information needed for the operation of apparatus 30 can be provided from control device 10 to apparatus 30 by a series of processings illustrated in
Next, two cases of the configuration of display of the authentication code and display of the input field for the authentication code will be described as examples.
In this configuration, control device 10 is a recording apparatus and apparatus 30A as apparatus 30 is a recording apparatus. The recording apparatus as apparatus 30A is connected to television 30B by a video communication standard (e.g., HDMI (registered trademark)). Television 30B receives a video signal, which is transmitted by apparatus 30A, in an external input mode, and displays an image.
In this configuration, as illustrated in
It is assumed that after viewing authentication code 60 displayed, user U inputs the authentication code to the input field displayed in television 30B by operating apparatus 30A.
In this configuration, control device 10 is a television, and apparatus 30C as apparatus 30 is a recording apparatus. The recording apparatus as apparatus 30C is connected to the television as control device 10 by a video communication standard (e.g., HDMI (registered trademark)). Television as control device 10 receives the video signal transmitted by apparatus 30C in an external input mode, and displays the image.
In this configuration, as illustrated in
At this time, authentication code 65 and input field 66 are displayed on the same display screen.
In this case, the television as control device 10 displays information needed for authentication as on-screen display (OSD). Apparatus 30C displays the information needed for authentication in a position of the display screen of the television as control device 10 excluding a predetermined position where OSD is displayed. In such a configuration, user U can view input field 66 for the authentication code displayed by apparatus 30C and authentication code 65 displayed by the television as control device 10 one time, thus avoiding covering of one of these with the other so that user U cannot view it.
In the above configuration, one example of the information needed for authentication of the apparatus, which is displayed by control device 10, is authentication code 65, and one example of the information needed for authentication of the apparatus, which is displayed by apparatus 30C, is input field 66 for the authentication code.
It is assumed that after viewing authentication code 60 displayed, user U inputs the authentication code to the input field displayed in the television by operating apparatus 30C.
By displaying the authentication code illustrated in (a) or (b) above and displaying the input field for the authentication code, control device 10 and apparatus 30 appropriately accept the input of the authentication code by user U.
Steps S601 to S603 are the same as steps S301 to S303 illustrated in
In step S604, control device 10 provides the connection information and the position information to apparatus 30. The detailed processing of step S604 corresponds to steps S501 to S506 illustrated in
In step S605, apparatus 30 connects to base station 40 using the connection information obtained in step S604 (step S606). Thereby, apparatus 30 is connected to network N through base station 40 to be communicable with another apparatus connected to network N.
In step S607, apparatus 30 sets the position information. The set position information can be used in search for a broadcast station which the television receives.
Thus, control device 10 can provide the information needed for the operation of apparatus 30 to apparatus 30 as the display-control apparatus.
Although control device 10 is a recording apparatus as one example in the above embodiment, terminal T may have the function of control device 10. In this case, because terminal T directly obtains the address of the site which provides the software from control server 42, terminal T need not display an image indicating the address of such a site or read out such an image. Accordingly, such a configuration can more simply promote installation of the software managing the apparatus to the terminal. In this case, terminal T also directly performs the processing (step S313) to provide the connection information for connection to the wireless LAN to apparatus 30.
As described above, the control device according to the present embodiment waits for reception in the channel through which the apparatus transmits the identification signal in a proportion of the time or the number of times to wait for reception of greater than 1/N, and therefore can receive the identification signal at a timing earlier than that when the waiting for reception is performed in a proportion of the time or the number of times to wait for reception of 1/N. Because the control device also waits for reception in the channels of the N channels excluding the channel through which the apparatus transmits the identification signal, finding of another apparatus that transmits a beacon through a channel excluding the channel through which the apparatus transmits the identification signal is also not obstructed. Thus, the control device can early find the apparatus that performs wireless communication.
Because among the N channels, the control device waits for reception in the channel through which the apparatus transmits the identification signal for the longest time or in the largest number of times, the control device can receive the identification signal at an earlier timing. Thereby, the control device can find the apparatus earlier, the apparatus performing wireless communication.
Because the control device alternately waits for reception in the channel through which the apparatus transmits the identification signal and waits for reception in another channel, the control device can receive the identification signal at an earlier timing. Thereby, the control device can find the apparatus earlier, the apparatus performing wireless communication.
When the apparatus is the display-control apparatus, the control device provides the setting information needed for the operation of the apparatus. Thereby, the apparatus can be brought into an operational state where the apparatus operates according to the setting information. Thus, the control device can early find the apparatus that performs wireless communication, and can early bring the found apparatus into the operational state.
When the apparatus is the non-display-control apparatus, by controlling display of the image, the control device causes the user of the terminal to recognize that the software managing the apparatus can be installed on the terminal. Thereby, the user can be motivated to install the software managing the apparatus to the terminal, and can execute the installation. Thus, the control device can early find the apparatus that performs wireless communication, and can promote installation of the software managing the found apparatus to the terminal.
In the control device, the OSD including the information needed for the authentication of the apparatus and the input field displayed by the apparatus are displayed in different positions. In other words, covering of one of these with the other is avoided. Thereby, the user can perform an operation to input the information needed for authentication of the apparatus to the input field while viewing the information and the input field one time. Thus, the control device contributes to early finding of the apparatus that performs wireless communication and execution of authentication of the found apparatus in an appropriate manner.
The control device can more easily contribute to the authentication of the apparatus by displaying the authentication code as the information needed for the authentication of the apparatus and displaying the input field for the authentication code as the information needed for the authentication of the apparatus. Thus, the control device contributes to early finding of the apparatus that performs wireless communication and execution of authentication of the found apparatus in an easier and more appropriate manner.
As above, the embodiment has been described as examples of the technique according to the present disclosure. For this purpose, the accompanying drawings and the detailed description have been provided.
Accordingly, in order to illustrate the above implementation, the components described in the accompanying drawings and the detailed description can include not only components essential for solving the problem, but also those not those not essential for solving the problem. For this reason, these non-essential components should not be immediately recognized as essential components because those non-essential components are described in the attached drawings and the detailed description.
Because the above-mentioned embodiment is for illustrating the technique according to the present disclosure, the embodiment can be subjected to various modification, replacement, addition, and omission without departing from the scope of CLAIMS or its equivalents.
The present disclosure can be used in control devices that can early find apparatuses that perform wireless communication.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-146488 | Sep 2021 | JP | national |
This application is the U.S. National Phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2022/030927, filed on Aug. 16, 2022, which in turn claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-146488, filed on Sep. 8, 2021, the entire disclosures of which Applications are incorporated by reference herein.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2022/030927 | 8/16/2022 | WO |
