Communication apparatus, and communication method therefor

Abstract

In order to prevent a communication-parameter automatic setting process from being performed by unintended communication apparatuses, a communication terminal having detected a plurality of communication-parameter providing apparatuses sends a notification indicating that the plurality of providing apparatuses exist to another terminal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A communication apparatus comprising:
 a central processing unit; 
 a processing unit configured to execute communication-parameter sharing processing for transmission of a communication parameter directly to a receiving apparatus from a providing apparatus, wherein the communication-parameter sharing processing is started in response to a user instruction; 
 a determining unit configured to determine, in a case where the communication apparatus is executing the communication-parameter sharing processing as the providing apparatus, whether there exists another apparatus that has executed the communication-parameter sharing processing; and 
 a cancel unit configured to cancel, in a case where there are plural apparatuses that are executing the communication-parameter sharing processing and the communication apparatus is operating as the providing apparatus, the execution of the communication-parameter sharing processing by the processing unit as an error, 
 wherein at least one of the processing unit, the determining unit, and the cancel unit is implemented by the central processing unit. 
 
     
     
       2. The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sending unit configured to send, in a case where the communication apparatus is executing the communication-parameter sharing processing as the providing apparatus and there are plural apparatuses that are executing the communication-parameter sharing processing, a notification indicating that plural apparatuses are executing the communication-parameter sharing processing directly to a first apparatus that is executing the communication-parameter sharing processing as a receiving apparatus. 
     
     
       3. The communication apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the sending unit sends the notification by wireless communication conforming to IEEE 802.11 series. 
     
     
       4. The communication apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the communication-parameter sharing processing is performed based on wireless communication conforming to IEEE 802.11. 
     
     
       5. The communication apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the notification sent by the sending unit causes the first apparatus to cancel executing the communication-parameter sharing processing. 
     
     
       6. The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication parameter includes at least one of a SSID (Service Set Identifier), an encryption method, an authentication method, and an authentication key. 
     
     
       7. The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the determining unit executes the determination based on communication of a search signal. 
     
     
       8. The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is a transmitter of a request for start to provide the communication parameter received by the communication apparatus, and executes the communication-parameter sharing processing with another apparatus operating as a receiving apparatus. 
     
     
       9. The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication apparatus transmits a probe response to which information on the communication-parameter sharing processing is added in a case where the communication apparatus receives a probe request to which the information on the communication-parameter sharing processing is added. 
     
     
       10. The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication apparatus is an access point of wireless LAN. 
     
     
       11. A method of controlling a communication apparatus having a processing unit configured to execute communication-parameter sharing processing for transmission of a communication parameter directly to a receiving apparatus from a providing apparatus, wherein the communication-parameter sharing processing is started in response to a user instruction, the method comprising:
 determining, in a case where the communication apparatus is executing the communication-parameter sharing processing as the providing apparatus, whether there exists another apparatus that has executed the communication-parameter sharing processing; and 
 canceling, in a case where there are plural apparatuses that are executing the communication-parameter sharing processing and the communication apparatus is operating as the providing apparatus, the execution of the communication-parameter sharing processing by the processing unit as an error. 
 
     
     
       12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to cause controlling of a communication apparatus having a processing unit configured to execute communication-parameter sharing processing for transmission of a communication parameter directly to a receiving apparatus from a providing apparatus, wherein the communication-parameter sharing processing is started in response to a user instruction, the method comprising:
 determining, in a case where the communication apparatus is executing the communication-parameter sharing processing as the providing apparatus, whether there exists another apparatus that has executed the communication-parameter sharing processing; and 
 canceling, in a case where there are plural apparatuses that are executing the communication-parameter sharing processing and the communication apparatus is operating as the providing apparatus, the execution of the communication-parameter sharing processing by the processing unit as an error.