# US 10,321,312 B2 · Communication apparatus and control method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,321,312 B2 - Document ID: US10321312B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/218,331 - Filed: 2016-07-25 - Published: 2017-02-16 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-10 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Shunji Fujita - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10321312B2 ## CPC - H04W 48/16: Discovering, processing access restriction or access information - H04W 12/069: using certificates or pre-shared keys - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A communication apparatus includes a search unit that searches for wireless networks which use a first frequency band and wireless networks which use a second frequency band, an association unit which associates a first wireless network which uses the first frequency band with a second wireless network which uses the second frequency band, the first wireless network and the second wireless network being formed by the same device, a selection unit which selects, a wireless network to connect to, and an authentication unit which performs authentication processing for connecting to the selected wireless network. In a case where the first wireless network is selected, the authentication unit performs control so as to perform authentication processing for connecting to the selected first wireless network before connecting to the selected first wireless network and perform authentication processing for connecting to the second wireless network associated with the first wireless network. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A communication apparatus comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to function as: a search unit configured to search for wireless networks which use a first frequency band and wireless networks which use a second frequency band; an association unit configured to associate a first wireless network which uses the first frequency band with a second wireless network which uses the second frequency band, from among the wireless networks found by the search unit, the first wireless network and the second wireless network being formed by the same device; a selection unit configured to select, from the wireless networks found by the search unit, a wireless network to connect to; an authentication unit configured to perform authentication processing for connecting to the wireless network selected by the selection unit; and a storage unit configured to store authentication information, wherein, in a case where the first wireless network is selected by the selection unit, the authentication unit performs control so as to perform authentication test processing for connecting to the first wireless network and perform authentication test processing for connecting to the second wireless network associated with the first wireless network by the association unit before connecting to the first wireless network selected by the selection unit, and the storage unit stores authentication information regarding the first and second wireless networks for which the authentication test processing is successful. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the authentication processing includes processing for displaying a screen for inputting key information as the authentication information. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the screen for inputting key information includes, on one screen, an area for inputting key information corresponding to the first wireless network and an area for inputting key information corresponding to the second wireless network. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in a case where key information corresponding to the selected first wireless network and key information corresponding to the second wireless network have been input on the screen for inputting key information, the authentication unit tries to connect to the first wireless network and the second wireless network. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in a case where the key information corresponding to the selected first wireless network and key information corresponding to the second wireless network have been input on the screen for inputting key information, the authentication unit sequentially tries to connect to the first wireless network and the second wireless network. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in a case where one of the key information corresponding to the selected first wireless network and key information corresponding to the second wireless network has not been input on the screen for inputting key information, the authentication unit tries to connect to the wireless network for which the key information was input, and does not try to connect to the wireless network for which the key information was not input. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor functions as: a notification unit configured to, in a case where both the key information corresponding to the selected first wireless network and key information corresponding to the second wireless network have been input on the screen for inputting key information, and either the key information corresponding to the selected first wireless network or key information corresponding to the second wireless network is incorrect, notify an error before trying to connect to the wireless networks by using the authentication unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor functions as: a transition unit configured to perform processing for transitioning from the first wireless network to the second wireless network when connecting to a third wireless network which uses the first frequency band during connection to the first network, wherein in the processing for transition by the transition unit, a result of authentication processing for connecting to the second wireless network by the authentication unit is used. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the association unit associates the first wireless network and the second wireless network formed by the same device, based on information on a creator of the wireless network obtained by the search unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search unit searches for an access point based on a wireless LAN. ### Claim 11 A control method of a communication apparatus comprising: searching for wireless networks which use a first frequency band and wireless networks which use a second frequency band; associating a first wireless network which uses the first frequency band with a second wireless network which uses the second frequency band, from among the wireless networks found by the search, the first wireless network and the second wireless network being formed by the same device; selecting, from the wireless networks found by the search, a wireless network to connect to; performing authentication processing for connecting to the selected wireless network, wherein, in a case where the first wireless network is selected, control is performed so as to perform authentication test processing for connecting to the selected first wireless network and perform authentication test processing for connecting to the second wireless network associated with the first wireless network before connecting to the first wireless network selected in the selecting; and storing authentication information regarding the first and second wireless networks for which the authentication test processing is successful. ### Claim 12 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a control method of a communication apparatus comprising: searching for wireless networks which use a first frequency band and wireless networks which use a second frequency band; associating a first wireless network which uses the first frequency band with a second wireless network which uses the second frequency band, from among the wireless networks found by the search, the first wireless network and the second wireless network being formed by the same device; selecting, from the wireless networks found by the search, a wireless network to connect to; performing authentication processing for connecting to the selected wireless network, wherein, in a case where the first wireless network is selected, control is performed so as to perform authentication test processing for connecting to the selected first wireless network and perform authentication test processing for connecting to the second wireless network associated with the first wireless network before connecting to the first wireless network selected in the selecting; and storing authentication information regarding the first and second wireless networks for which the authentication test processing is successful.