# US 9,521,271 B2 · Electronic apparatus having automatically activated WiFi direct function, print controlling method, and computer-readable recording medium to activate the WiFi direct function > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,521,271 B2 - Document ID: US9521271B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/908,144 - Filed: 2013-06-03 - Published: 2014-05-01 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-29 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd - Inventors: Sang-min Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521271B2 ## CPC - H04N 1/001: {specially adapted for transmission via digital wireline networks (H04N1/00098 takes precedence)} - G06F 3/1204: {resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data} - G06F 3/1226: {Discovery of devices having required properties} - G06F 3/126: {Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device} - G06F 3/1288: {in client-server-printer device configuration} - G06F 3/1292: {Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An electronic apparatus includes a network manager to deactivate a WiFi Direct function of the electronic apparatus when an application to perform a print job is operated and which is connected to an image forming apparatus around the electronic apparatus using a WiFi Direct method, a job generator to generate print data regarding a file based on an input print command to print the file, and a controller to transmit the generated print data to the image forming apparatus that is connected using the WiFi Direct method. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic apparatus, comprising: a network manager to automatically activate a WiFi Direct function of the electronic apparatus when an application to perform a print job is operated and which is connected to an image forming apparatus around the electronic apparatus using a WiFi Direct method; a job generator to generate print data regarding a file based on an input print command to print the file; and a controller to transmit the generated print data to the image forming apparatus that is connected using the WiFi Direct method, wherein the network manager searches wireless communication apparatuses around the electronic apparatus that support communication according to the WiFi Direct method, identifies image forming apparatuses from the searched wireless communication apparatuses and connects to the wireless communication apparatuses that are identified as image forming apparatuses according to the WiFi Direct method, and wherein the network manager transmits connection request information including preset authentication information to the image forming apparatus, and if approval information is received from the image forming apparatus, connects to the image forming apparatus using the WiFi Direct method. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the network manager identifies image forming apparatuses using information regarding apparatus type of the searched wireless communication apparatuses. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a user interface unit that displays the wireless communication apparatuses that are identified as image forming apparatuses, and receives a selection of one wireless communication apparatus from among the displayed wireless communication apparatuses, wherein the network manager connects to the selected wireless communication apparatus according to the WiFi Direct method. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the user interface unit displays searched wireless communication apparatuses when there are a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses that are identified as the image forming apparatuses. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the preset authentication is at least one of information on the application and a pin code pre-stored in the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the network manager connects to a network image forming apparatus around the electronic apparatus using a wireless network method when there is no image forming apparatus that supports communication according to the WiFi Direct method around the electronic apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the network manager turns off the WiFi Direct function of the electronic apparatus if the electronic apparatus does not support both the WiFi Direct method and a wireless network method simultaneously. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller controls the network manager to connect to an image forming apparatus using a wireless network method if the electronic apparatus does not support both the WiFi Direct method and the wireless network method simultaneously and the file includes Internet contents. ### Claim 9 A print controlling method of an electronic apparatus, comprising: if an application to perform a print job is operated, automatically activating a WiFi Direct function of the electronic apparatus; connecting to an image forming apparatus around the electronic apparatus using a WiFi Direct method; generating print data regarding a file based on an input print command to print the file; and transmitting the generated print data to the image forming apparatus that is connected using the WiFi Direct method, wherein the connecting comprises searching wireless communication apparatuses around the electronic apparatus that support communication according to the WiFi Direct method, identifying image forming apparatuses from the searched wireless communication apparatuses and connecting to the wireless communication apparatuses that are identified as image forming apparatuses according to the WiFi Direct method, and wherein the connecting comprises transmitting connection request information including preset authentication information to the image forming apparatus, and if approval information is received from the image forming apparatus, connecting to the image forming apparatus using the WiFi Direct method. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the connecting comprises identifying image forming apparatuses using information regarding apparatus type of the searched wireless communication apparatuses. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: displaying the wireless communication apparatuses that are identified as image forming apparatuses; and receiving a selection of one wireless communication apparatus from among the displayed wireless communication apparatuses, wherein the connecting comprises connecting to the selected wireless communication apparatus according to the WiFi Direct method. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the displaying comprises displaying searched wireless communication apparatuses when there are a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses that are identified as the image forming apparatuses. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the preset authentication is at least one of information on the application and a pin code pre-stored in the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the connecting comprises connecting to a network image forming apparatus around the electronic apparatus using a wireless network method when there is no image forming apparatus that supports communication according to the WiFi Direct method around the electronic apparatus. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: turning off the WiFi Direct function of the electronic apparatus if the electronic apparatus does not support both the WiFi Direct method and a wireless network method simultaneously. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the connecting comprises connecting to an image forming apparatus using a wireless network method if the electronic apparatus does not support both the WiFi Direct method and the wireless network method simultaneously and the file includes Internet contents. ### Claim 17 A non-transitory computer readable recording medium including a program to execute a print controlling method of an electronic apparatus, wherein the print controlling method comprises: if an application to perform a print job is operated, automatically activating a WiFi Direct function of the electronic apparatus; connecting to an image forming apparatus around the electronic apparatus using a WiFi Direct method; generating print data regarding a file based on an input print command to print the file; and transmitting the generated print data to the image forming apparatus that is connected using the WiFi Direct method, wherein the connecting comprises searching wireless communication apparatuses around the electronic apparatus that support communication according to the WiFi Direct method, identifying image forming apparatuses from the searched wireless communication apparatuses and connecting to the wireless communication apparatuses that are identified as image forming apparatuses according to the WiFi Direct method, and wherein the connecting comprises transmitting connection request information including preset authentication information to the image forming apparatus, and if approval information is received from the image forming apparatus, connecting to the image forming apparatus using the WiFi Direct method.