# US 10,873,680 B2 · Communication apparatus, communication method and storage medium storing program

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- Number: US 10,873,680 B2
- Document ID: US10873680B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/182,446
- Filed: 2018-11-06
- Published: 2019-05-16
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2017-11-15
- Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Hideaki Ohshima
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873680B2

## CPC

- H04N 1/32765: {Initiating a communication}
- H04N 1/00307: {with a mobile telephone apparatus (constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00)}
- H04N 2201/0084: Digital still camera
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A communication apparatus that communicates with an external apparatus includes a transmission unit that transmits, to the external apparatus via a first relay apparatus, connection information that the external apparatus uses to directly communicate with the communication apparatus and a control unit that controls direct communication with the external apparatus when disconnection of communication with the external apparatus via the first relay apparatus is detected.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A communication apparatus that communicates with an external apparatus, the communication apparatus comprising:
a transmitter configured to transmit, to the external apparatus via a first relay apparatus, connection information that the external apparatus uses to directly communicate with the communication apparatus before disconnection of communication with the external apparatus via the first relay apparatus; and
a controller configured to control direct communication with the external apparatus based on the connection information transmitted beforehand, when the disconnection of communication with the external apparatus via the first relay apparatus is detected.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communication interface configured to be used for communication with the external apparatus via the first relay apparatus, wherein
the controller controls direct communication with the external apparatus by using the communication interface when the disconnection of communication with the external apparatus via the first relay apparatus is detected.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller has a communication network forming function to form a communication network using the communication apparatus as a second relay apparatus, wherein
the controller controls direct communication with the external apparatus by using the communication network formed when the disconnection of communication with the external apparatus via the first relay apparatus is detected.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the controller forms the communication network when the disconnection of communication with the external apparatus via the first relay apparatus is detected.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the controller forms the communication network when a state of communication with the first relay apparatus satisfies a predetermined condition.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the connection information includes information for identifying the formed communication network.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the controller controls direct communication with the external apparatus when the disconnection of communication with the external apparatus via the first relay apparatus is detected, and controls assigning to the external apparatus an address of the external apparatus used before disconnection of communication with the communication apparatus via the first relay apparatus is detected.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect the disconnection of communication with the external apparatus via the first relay apparatus, wherein
the controller controls direct communication with the external apparatus according to the disconnection of communication with the external apparatus via the first relay apparatus.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the controller detects the disconnection of communication with the external apparatus based on a result of communication periodically performed with the external apparatus.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus is an image capturing apparatus.

### Claim 11

A method for communication executed by a communication apparatus that communicates with an external apparatus, the method comprising:
transmitting, to the external apparatus via a relay apparatus, connection information that the external apparatus uses to directly communicate with the communication apparatus before disconnection of communication with the external apparatus via the relay apparatus; and
controlling direct communication with the external apparatus based on the connection information transmitted beforehand, when disconnection of communication with the external apparatus via the relay apparatus is detected.

### Claim 12

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program that causes a computer to execute a method to control a communication apparatus that communicates with an external apparatus, the method comprising:
transmitting, to the external apparatus via a first relay apparatus, connection information that the external apparatus uses to directly communicate with the communication apparatus before disconnection of communication with the external apparatus via the relay apparatus; and
controlling direct communication with the external apparatus based on the connection information transmitted beforehand, when disconnection of communication with the external apparatus via the first relay apparatus is detected.