Patents by Inventor Hirotaka Asakura

Hirotaka Asakura has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9485608
    Abstract: A communication device may monitor an establishment of a first type of communication link between a communication device and an external device while the communication device is in a first state in which a P2P mode of an NFC standard is active and a first mode of the NFC standard is active. The communication device may send first data to the external device by using the first type of communication link. The first data may include a command for causing the external device to execute an activation of a particular application. The communication device may change the state of the communication device from the first state to a second state in which the P2P mode is active, and perform the two-way communication with the external device that operates the particular application by using a second type of communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirotaka Asakura
  • Publication number: 20160316511
    Abstract: A communication device may execute a specific wireless communication of object data via a first wireless network with a mobile device using a second type of interface after executing a specific process of sending a first wireless setting for causing the mobile device to belong to the first wireless network using a first type of interface in a first case where the communication device operates in a first state which is a parent station state or a child station state in the first wireless network and execute the specific wireless communication of the object data with the mobile device using the second type of interface after executing another process different from the specific process in a second case where the communication device operates in a second state which is different from the first state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Takanobu Suzuki, Hirotaka Asakura, Munehisa Matsuda, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20160277619
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a communication device is selectively operable in a communication device side normal mode and a sleep mode consuming less power than the communication device side normal mode. The controller is selectively operable in a controller side normal mode, a first sleep mode consuming less power than the controller side normal mode, and a second sleep mode consuming less power than the first sleep mode. The controller is configured to: transmit to the communication device a command instructing to transit to the sleep mode in response to transition to the second sleep mode; maintain the sleep mode regardless of return from the second sleep mode to the first sleep mode; and transmit to the communication device a command instructing to return from the sleep mode to the communication device side normal mode in response to return to the controller side normal mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Yasuhiro ASAI, Hirotaka ASAKURA
  • Publication number: 20160266856
    Abstract: A communication device may communicate a first establishing command with an external device via a NFC interface so as to establish a first communication link, receive first target data from the external device via the NFC interface by using the first communication link, process a specific command included in the first target data so as to create second target data, select one type of disconnection method according to information included in the first target data from among plural types of disconnection methods for disconnecting the first communication link, and disconnect the first communication link by using the selected one type of disconnection method. The communication device may communicate a second establishing command with the external device via the NFC interface so as to establish a second communication link, and send the second target data to the external device via the NFC interface by using the second communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventor: Hirotaka Asakura
  • Publication number: 20160233926
    Abstract: A communication device may establish at least one type of connection among a first type of connection and a second type of connection which are according to a particular protocol defined in an NFC standard based on a current state of the communication device and a current state of an external device. The first type of connection may be a connection in which the communication device operates as a server and the external device operates as a client. The second type of connection may be a connection in which the communication device operates as a client and the external device operates as a server. The communication device may communicate the target data with the external device by using the established connection. The contents of the communication may be different in response to which type of connection is established.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventor: Hirotaka Asakura
  • Patent number: 9414435
    Abstract: A communication device may execute a specific wireless communication of object data via a first wireless network with a mobile device using a second type of interface after executing a specific process of sending a first wireless setting for causing the mobile device to belong to the first wireless network using a first type of interface in a first case where the communication device operates in a first state which is a parent station state or a child station state in the first wireless network and execute the specific wireless communication of the object data with the mobile device using the second type of interface after executing another process different from the specific process in a second case where the communication device operates in a second state which is different from the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanobu Suzuki, Hirotaka Asakura, Munehisa Matsuda, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20160227071
    Abstract: A function performing may perform: judging, in which state the function performing apparatus is in, a placed state or a non-placed state; causing a scan performing unit to perform a scanning of the document, in a first case where a communication session is established while the function performing apparatus is in the placed state; not causing the scanner to perform the scanning of the document, in a second case where the communication session is established while the function performing apparatus is in the non-placed state; creating, in a case where the scanning of the document is performed, image data based on a scan result obtained from the scanner; and sending the created image data to the communication apparatus via the second interface by using the wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Hirotaka Asakura, Takanobu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9354835
    Abstract: A communication device may communicate a first establishing command with an external device via a NFC interface so as to establish a first communication link, receive first target data from the external device via the NFC interface by using the first communication link, process a specific command included in the first target data so as to create second target data, select one type of disconnection method according to information included in the first target data from among plural types of disconnection methods for disconnecting the first communication link, and disconnect the first communication link by using the selected one type of disconnection method. The communication device may communicate a second establishing command with the external device via the NFC interface so as to establish a second communication link, and send the second target data to the external device via the NFC interface by using the second communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirotaka Asakura
  • Publication number: 20160080591
    Abstract: A communication apparatus may perform: in a case where an operation state of a communication apparatus is a second state, determining a termination timing of a maintenance period for maintaining the operation state of the communication apparatus in the second state; when the termination timing arrives, changing the operation state from the second state into a first state; in a case where a first wireless network to which both the communication apparatus and a particular external apparatus belong is formed before the termination timing arrives, executing a wireless communication of target data with the particular external apparatus via a first interface by using the first wireless network; detecting a predetermined instruction; and when the predetermined instruction is detected before the termination timing arrives, extending the termination timing so as to determine a new termination timing of the maintenance period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventor: Hirotaka Asakura
  • Publication number: 20160011830
    Abstract: A terminal device may send a registration request, which requests the server to register virtual printer relation information related to a virtual printer, to a server, and communicate a wireless profile with an existent printer using a first terminal interface. The wireless profile may be used in a wireless network, which is established by using a second terminal interface, and is a wireless network to which both the terminal device and the existent printer are to belong. The terminal device may establish a belonging state, which is a state in which both the terminal device and the existent printer belong to the wireless network, using the second terminal interface, and send authentication information to the existent printer via the established wireless network. The authentication information may be associated with the virtual printer relation information in the server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventor: Hirotaka Asakura
  • Publication number: 20150319799
    Abstract: A communication device may execute a wireless communication of object data with a mobile device via a first target network using a second type of interface after executing a sending process of sending a wireless setting, for causing the mobile device to belong to the first target network, to the mobile device using a first type of interface in a case where the communication device is determined as currently belonging to the first target network. The communication device may execute the wireless communication of the object data with the mobile device via a second target network using the second type of interface after executing a specific process of causing both the communication device and the mobile device to belong to the second target network in a case where the communication device is determined as currently not belonging to the target network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Takanobu Suzuki, Hirotaka Asakura, Munehisa Matsuda, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150317116
    Abstract: In a case where a first information including an execution request of a specific function via a first type of interface is received, a function executing device may execute a change process for changing an interface for communicating with a terminal device from the first type of interface to a second type of interface in a case where a state of the function executing device is determined as a non-error state. The function executing device may not execute the change process in a case where the state of the function executing device is determined as an error state. The specific function may include a communication process for communicating object data with the terminal device. The function executing device may execute the specific function including the communication process via the second type of interface in a case where the change process is being executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Takanobu Suzuki, Hirotaka Asakura, Munehisa Matsuda, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150304805
    Abstract: A communication device may include a first type of interface and a second type of interface. The communication device may execute the communication of object data with a mobile device using the second type of interface after executing a specific process for causing the communication device to shift to a communication-enabled state, in a case where it is determined that the communication device is not currently in the communication-enabled state. Also, the communication device may execute the communication of the object data with the mobile device using the second type of interface without executing the specific process, in a case where it is determined that the communication device is currently in the communication-enabled state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Takanobu Suzuki, Hirotaka Asakura, Munehisa Matsuda, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9106781
    Abstract: In a case where a first information including an execution request of a specific function via a first type of interface is received, a function executing device may execute a change process for changing an interface for communicating with a terminal device from the first type of interface to a second type of interface in a case where a state of the function executing device is determined as a non-error state. The function executing device may not execute the change process in a case where the state of the function executing device is determined as an error state. The specific function may include a communication process for communicating object data with the terminal device. The function executing device may execute the specific function including the communication process via the second type of interface in a case where the change process is being executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanobu Suzuki, Hirotaka Asakura, Munehisa Matsuda, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9100774
    Abstract: A communication device may include a first type of interface and a second type of interface. The communication device may execute the communication of object data with a mobile device using the second type of interface after executing a specific process for causing the communication device to shift to a communication-enabled state, in a case where it is determined that the communication device is not currently in the communication-enabled state. Also, the communication device may execute the communication of the object data with the mobile device using the second type of interface without executing the specific process, in a case where it is determined that the communication device is currently in the communication-enabled state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanobu Suzuki, Hirotaka Asakura, Munehisa Matsuda, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9088863
    Abstract: A communication device may execute a wireless communication of object data with a mobile device via a first target network using a second type of interface after executing a sending process of sending a wireless setting, for causing the mobile device to belong to the first target network, to the mobile device using a first type of interface in a case where the communication device is determined as currently belonging to the first target network. The communication device may execute the wireless communication of the object data with the mobile device via a second target network using the second type of interface after executing a specific process of causing both the communication device and the mobile device to belong to the second target network in a case where the communication device is determined as currently not belonging to the target network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanobu Suzuki, Hirotaka Asakura, Munehisa Matsuda, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150193184
    Abstract: A communication device may communicate a first establishing command with an external device via a NFC interface so as to establish a first communication link, receive first target data from the external device via the NFC interface by using the first communication link, process a specific command included in the first target data so as to create second target data, select one type of disconnection method according to information included in the first target data from among plural types of disconnection methods for disconnecting the first communication link, and disconnect the first communication link by using the selected one type of disconnection method. The communication device may communicate a second establishing command with the external device via the NFC interface so as to establish a second communication link, and send the second target data to the external device via the NFC interface by using the second communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventor: Hirotaka Asakura
  • Patent number: 9042940
    Abstract: In a case where a communication device belongs to a first wireless network for the communication device to execute a wireless communication, the communication device may execute using a wireless communication with a mobile device via the first wireless network after sending to the mobile device a first wireless setting. The first wireless setting may be for the mobile device to belong to the first wireless network and include a password. In a case where the communication device belongs to a second wireless network for the communication device to execute a wireless communication, the communication device may execute a wireless communication with the mobile device via the second wireless network after sending to the mobile device a second wireless setting. The second wireless setting may be for the mobile device to belong to the second wireless network and not including the password.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanobu Suzuki, Hirotaka Asakura, Munehisa Matsuda, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8994996
    Abstract: A communication device may communicate a first establishing command with an external device via a NFC interface so as to establish a first communication link, receive first target data from the external device via the NFC interface by using the first communication link, process a specific command included in the first target data so as to create second target data, select one type of disconnection method according to information included in the first target data from among plural types of disconnection methods for disconnecting the first communication link, and disconnect the first communication link by using the selected one type of disconnection method. The communication device may communicate a second establishing command with the external device via the NFC interface so as to establish a second communication link, and send the second target data to the external device via the NFC interface by using the second communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirotaka Asakura
  • Publication number: 20140038517
    Abstract: A communication device may establish at least one type of connection among a first type of connection and a second type of connection which are according to a particular protocol defined in an NFC standard based on a current state of the communication device and a current state of an external device. The first type of connection may be a connection in which the communication device operates as a server and the external device operates as a client. The second type of connection may be a connection in which the communication device operates as a client and the external device operates as a server. The communication device may communicate the target data with the external device by using the established connection. The contents of the communication may be different in response to which type of connection is established.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotaka Asakura