PRINTING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONNECTING SAME

Abstract

A communication apparatus capable of being connected to another communication apparatus generates temporary connection information used in making a wireless connection. The apparatus presents this temporary connection information and makes a wireless connection to another communication apparatus based upon this temporary connection information.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between mobile terminals and a printing apparatus having a wireless function;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating mobile terminals connected to a printing apparatus temporarily;

FIG. 3 is a diagram useful in describing a procedure followed when a mobile terminal is wirelessly connected to a printing apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the content of information contained in pairing information between a printing apparatus and a mobile terminal;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the composition of a table that manages and stores pairing information;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the composition of a pairing information management table according to this embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram useful in describing a procedure for issuing a “temporary PIN code” necessary to connect to a printing apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a case where the “temporary PIN code” shown in FIG. 8 is converted to a QR code or the like;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing for presenting connection information in a printing apparatus according to this embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a diagram useful in describing an example of application when a temporary PIN code is issued in this embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a database of temporary PIN codes issued by a printing apparatus in accordance with circumstances;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are flowcharts illustrating processing for setting issuance of PIN codes in this embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating PIN-code analyzing processing at the time of printing in this embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating processing for setting time-related valid time and valid number of days; and

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating processing for automatically changing over valid time of a temporary PIN code by a profile capable of being analyzed by Bluetooth™.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus capable of being wirelessly connected to another communication apparatus, comprising: generating device adapted to generate temporary connection information used in a wireless connection; andconnecting device adapted to present the temporary connection information and making the wireless connection to the other communication apparatus based upon the temporary connection information.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said generating device generates different items of temporary connection information with regard to respective ones of a plurality of other communication apparatuses, and manages this temporary connection information.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising deleting device adapted to delete the temporary connection information managed.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein in a case where another communication apparatus has issued a connection request by the temporary connection information, said deleting device deletes the temporary connection information following termination of the connection.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temporary connection information is managed based upon at least a valid time period or a condition of use.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temporary connection information is invalided at the moment at least a valid time period or condition of use is attained.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the type of the other communication apparatus that has been wirelessly connected is identified and timing of deletion of the temporary connection information is decided.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein pairing information for pairing with the other communication apparatus is managed together with the temporary connection information.

9. A method of connecting to a communication apparatus capable of being wirelessly connected to another communication apparatus, comprising the steps of: generating temporary connection information used in a wireless connection;presenting the temporary connection information; andmaking the wireless connection to the other communication apparatus based upon the temporary connection information.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein different items of temporary connection information are generated with regard to respective ones of a plurality of other communication apparatuses, and this temporary connection information is managed.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising a step of deleting the temporary connection information managed.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein in a case where another communication apparatus has issued a connection request by the temporary connection information, the temporary connection information is deleted following termination of the connection.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the temporary connection information is managed based upon at least a valid time period or a condition of use.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the temporary connection information is invalided at the moment at least a valid time period or condition of use is attained.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the type of the other communication apparatus that has been wirelessly connected is identified and timing of deletion of the temporary connection information is decided.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein pairing information for pairing with the other communication apparatus is managed together with the temporary connection information.

17. A program, which is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, for causing a computer to execute the method of connecting to a communication apparatus set forth in claim 9.

18. A computer-readable recording medium storing the program set forth in claim 17.