Communication apparatus, communication method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium

A communication apparatus comprising:

• a search unit configured to execute the Discovery Process specified by the Wi-Fi Direct standard to search a communication partner apparatus:
• a decision unit configured to execute the Group Owner Negotiation specified by the Wi-Fi Direct standard with the communication partner apparatus discovered by the search unit to decide whether the communication apparatus operates as a Group Owner or a Client:
• a connection unit configured to connect, based on the decision by the decision unit, to the communication partner apparatus according to the Wi-Fi Direct standard:
• a determination unit configured to determine whether the connection by the connection unit has been disconnected:
• and
• a control unit configured to control the communication apparatus such that, in a case where it is determined, by the determination unit, that the connection has been disconnected while the communication apparatus operates as the Group Owner, the communication apparatus continues to operate as the Group Owner, and, in a case where it is determined, by the determination unit, that the connection has been disconnected while the communication apparatus operates as the Client, the communication apparatus stops an use of an IP address which was used in a communication with the communication partner apparatus connected by the connection unit and starts a search by the search unit.

A control method for a communication apparatus, comprising:

• executing the Discovery Process specified by the Wi-Fi Direct standard to search a communication partner apparatus:
• executing the Group Owner Negotiation specified by the Wi-Fi Direct standard with the communication partner apparatus discovered by the Discovery Process to decide whether the communication apparatus operates as a Group Owner or a Client:
• connecting, based on the decision regarding whether the communication apparatus operates as the Group Owner or the Client, to the communication partner apparatus according to the Wi-Fi Direct standard:
• determining whether the connection to the communication partner apparatus has been disconnected:
• and
• controlling the communication apparatus such that, in a case where it is determined, that the connection has been disconnected while the communication apparatus operates as the Group Owner, the communication apparatus continues to operate as the Group Owner, and, in a case where it is determined that the connection has been disconnected while the communication apparatus operates as the Client, the communication apparatus stops an use of an IP address which was used in a communication with the communication partner apparatus and starts a search of the communication partner apparatus.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to function as:

• a search unit configured to execute the Discovery Process specified by the Wi-Fi Direct standard with the communication partner apparatus discovered by the search unit to search a communication partner apparatus:
• a decision unit configured to execute the Group Owner Negotiation specified by the Wi-Fi Direct standard to decide whether the communication apparatus operates as a Group Owner or a Client:
• a connection unit configured to connect, based on the decision by the decision unit, to the communication partner apparatus according to the Wi-Fi Direct standard:
• a determination unit configured to determine whether the connection by the connection unit has been disconnected:
• and
• a control unit configured to control the communication apparatus such that, in a case where it is determined, by the determination unit, that the connection has been disconnected while the communication apparatus operates as the Group Owner, the communication apparatus continues to operate as the Group Owner, and, in a case where it is determined, by the determination unit, that the connection has been disconnected while the communication apparatus operates as the Client, the communication apparatus stops an use of an IP address which was used in a communication with the communication partner apparatus connected by the connection unit and starts a search by the search unit.