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: 10455634
    Abstract: A communication device is described as including: a first wireless interface configured to communicate over a first distance; a second wireless interface configured to communicate over a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance; a display; a processor; and a memory storing computer-readable instructions therein, the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causing the communication device to: receive, via the second wireless interface, a connection request from a first external device; wait for user confirmation of second wireless interface connection between the first external device and communication device; while waiting, establish, via the first wireless interface, a connection with a second external device; where no user confirmation has been received and the connection with the second external device has been established, terminate the waiting; and establish, via the second wireless interface, a connection with the second external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirotaka Asakura, Hiroshi Shibata
  • Patent number: 10445036
    Abstract: A communication device may set a second value instead of a first value as an upper limit child station number in a case where a first signal including a predetermined character string is received from a first external device under a situation where the first value is set as the upper limit child station number in the communication device and a participating child station number is equal to the first value. In a case where the second value is set instead of the first value as the upper limit child station number, the communication device may establish a wireless connection with the first external device via the first wireless interface so as to cause the first external device to participate as a child station in the wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Inoue, Hirotaka Asakura
  • Publication number: 20190310812
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program readable by a computer of a communication apparatus, the computer program causing the communication apparatus to: when first trigger information for establishing first wireless connection is received, supply a first connection instruction to a first wireless interface and store device information into a memory; when second trigger information is received, supply a second connection instruction to the first wireless interface; and in a specific case where it is not possible to re-establish first wireless connection with the external apparatus, display, on a display, display information for re-establishing the first wireless connection with the external apparatus. The display information includes first display information in case the device information is first device information, and second display information in case the device information is second device information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Makoto NONOYAMA, Hirotaka ASAKURA
  • Publication number: 20190297482
    Abstract: A communication apparatus may include: a first interface being set in one of a first operating state and a second operating state; a second interface; and an apparatus controller. The first interface is configured to: receive specific access point information in a case where a wireless connection is established in a situation where the first interface is set in the first operating state; and not receive the specific access point information in a case where a wireless connection via the first interface is established in a situation where the first interface is set in the second operating state. The apparatus controller performs: setting the first interface in the first operating state in a case where the access point information is not registered; registering the specific access point information; and setting the first interface in the second operating state in a case where the specific access point information is registered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventor: Hirotaka Asakura
  • Patent number: 10420159
    Abstract: A communication device may shift an operation state of the communication device from a specific state to a G/O state in a case where a first wireless connection via a first wireless interface is established with a first external device under a situation where the operation state of the communication device is the specific state, supply a prohibition instruction for prohibiting a Listen process to a second wireless interface in the case where the first wireless connection is established with the first external device under the situation where the operation state of the communication device is the specific state, and after the completion of the shift, establish a second wireless connection via the second wireless interface with the first external device so as to cause the first external device to participate as a child station in a first wireless network in which the communication device operates as a G/O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Shibata, Hirotaka Asakura
  • Patent number: 10416941
    Abstract: A communication device may, in a specific situation where the communication device is in a parent station state in which the communication device operates as a parent station of a first wireless network and N pieces of first external devices participate in the first wireless network as child stations, receive a belonging request from a second external device. The communication device may shift from the parent station state to a first state, in a case where the belonging request is received in the specific situation, execute a wireless communication of target data with the second external device, shift from the first state to the parent station state, and cause M pieces of the first external devices among the N pieces of the first external devices to participate in the first wireless network again as child stations after the communication device has been shifted to the parent station state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryoya Tsuji, Hirotaka Asakura, Yusuke Shimada, Hiroshi Shibata
  • Publication number: 20190281432
    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: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Takanobu Suzuki, Hirotaka Asakura, Munehisa Matsuda, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10389408
    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: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirotaka Asakura
  • Publication number: 20190253401
    Abstract: A terminal device may execute a communication of authentication information with a communication device, the authentication information being prepared by the terminal device or the communication device without being inputted in the terminal device or the communication device by a user; send the authentication information to a first sever; and send specific information to the first server. The communication device may execute the communication of the authentication information with the terminal device; and send the authentication information to the first server. The first server may register the service information in the memory of the first server in a case where the authentication information is received from both of the terminal device and the communication device, and the specific information is received from the terminal device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Hirotaka Asakura, Takeshi Nagasaki
  • Patent number: 10375552
    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: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanobu Suzuki, Hirotaka Asakura, Munehisa Matsuda, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10375750
    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: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanobu Suzuki, Hirotaka Asakura, Munehisa Matsuda, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10368377
    Abstract: In a case where a first wireless communication with an external device is executed via a first wireless interface, a communication device may determine whether a specific signal including parent station information is received from the external device via a second wireless interface. The parent station information may indicate that an operation state of the external device is a state in which the external device operates as a parent station of a wireless network. The communication device may supply a communication instruction to the second wireless interface in a case where it is determined that the specific signal including the parent station information is received. The communication instruction may be for executing a second wireless communication with the external device via the second wireless interface. The second wireless communication may include a communication for participating as a child station in the wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryoya Tsuji, Hirotaka Asakura
  • Patent number: 10362465
    Abstract: A communication apparatus may include: a first interface being set in one of a first operating state and a second operating state; a second interface; and an apparatus controller. The first interface is configured to: receive specific access point information in a case where a wireless connection is established in a situation where the first interface is set in the first operating state; and not receive the specific access point information in a case where a wireless connection via the first interface is established in a situation where the first interface is set in the second operating state. The apparatus controller performs: setting the first interface in the first operating state in a case where the access point information is not registered; registering the specific access point information; and setting the first interface in the second operating state in a case where the specific access point information is registered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirotaka Asakura
  • Publication number: 20190215908
    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: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Takanobu Suzuki, Hirotaka Asakura, Munehisa Matsuda, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20190212963
    Abstract: A function executing device is configured to send a wireless identifier to a communication device via a first type of wireless communication interface for setting up a wirelss connection. The function executing device is configured to determine whether the function executing device is in an error state and, if not, to establish the wirelss connection via a second type of wireless communication interface. The function executing device operates in a parent state in the wireless connection. Additionally, print data may be received from the communication device. However, if the function executing device is in an error state the wireless connection is not established vai the second type of wireless communication interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Takanobu Suzuki, Hirotaka Asakura, Munehisa Matsuda, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10346108
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program readable by a computer of a communication apparatus, the computer program causing the communication apparatus to: when first trigger information for establishing first wireless connection is received, supply a first connection instruction to a first wireless interface and store device information into a memory; when second trigger information is received, supply a second connection instruction to the first wireless interface; and in a specific case where it is not possible to re-establish first wireless connection with the external apparatus, display, on a display, display information for re-establishing the first wireless connection with the external apparatus. The display information includes first display information in case the device information is first device information, and second display information in case the device information is second device information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Nonoyama, Hirotaka Asakura
  • Patent number: 10342071
    Abstract: A communication device may shift an operation state of the communication device from a child station state to a specific state, in a case where a first wireless connection with a second external device is established via a second wireless interface under a predetermined state where the communication device is participating, as a child station, in a first wireless network in which a first external device is a parent station. The communication device may receive a request signal from the second external device via a first wireless interface after the operation state has been shifted to the specific state, and in a case where the request signal is received from the second external device, establish a second wireless connection with the second external device via the first wireless interface so as to belong to a second wireless network for executing a wireless communication via the first wireless interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shun Takeuchi, Hirotaka Asakura
  • Patent number: 10333589
    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: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirotaka Asakura
  • Patent number: 10333587
    Abstract: An MFP establishes a first communication link L1 by receiving an activation command and sending an OK command. The MFP receives first target data from a portable device by using the first communication link. The MFP generates second target data by processing the first target data. After receiving the first target data, the MFP disconnects the first communication link. The MFP establishes a second communication link by receiving the activation command and sending the OK command. The MFP sends the second target data to the portable device by using the second communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanobu Suzuki, Hirotaka Asakura, Munehisa Matsuda, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10327124
    Abstract: A communication device may supply both identification information for identifying a specific application program and first authentication information to a wireless interface so as to store both the identification information and the first authentication information in an interface memory. The wireless interface may be configured to send both the identification information and the first authentication information in the interface memory to a first terminal device by using a first communication session. The communication device may receive the first authentication information from the first terminal device by using a second communication session in a case where the second communication session with the first terminal device in which a specific application program has been installed is established via the wireless interface, and execute an authentication using the first authentication information in a case where the first authentication information is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryoya Tsuji, Hirotaka Asakura