Information apparatus that wirelessly discovers an output device, which is available within close physical vicinity for outputting digital content, is herein disclosed and enabled. The information apparatus includes wireless communication circuitry for establishing short range wireless communication between the information apparatus and the output device. The information apparatus wirelessly receives information from the output device that has been wirelessly discovered, and determines, from the information received, whether the output device matches a requirement for outputting digital content. When the requirement is matched, the information apparatus selects the discovered output device, conforms at least part of the content into output data, and transmits at least part of the output data over the short range wireless communication from the information apparatus to the selected output device. The information apparatus may include one or more of a smart phone, information pad, a digital camera, or an Internet appliance.

Output devices supporting wireless device discovery are herein disclosed and enabled. To setup an output device for wireless connection, wireless device discovery is performed by a client of the output device to discover the output device. Upon being discovered, the output device may provide identification or information related to the output device to the client for establishing a wireless connection. Subsequently, the output device may receive, via the established wireless connection, digital content from the client for output. Wireless device discovery operations may be based on one or more of a close proximity wireless communication, a Bluetooth wireless communication, or a wireless communication compatible with a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards. Security information or authentication may be required for establishing the wireless connection. Subsequent to having established the wireless connection, the output device receives the digital content from the client for playing at the output device.

Wireless printing devices that are configured to register with a service over a network (e.g., the Internet) for providing printing services without a device specific printer driver are herein disclosed and enabled. The printing device may include an interface (e.g., a touch sensitive screen) to receive security information for connecting to a wireless local area network (WLAN). While connected to the wireless WLAN, the printing device registers the printing device with the service and transmits, to the service, device information related to the printing device. Subsequent to registration, one or more client devices, using the service over the network, may select the registered printing device for printing. The printing device is configured to receive output data either from the service over the network or from the one or more client devices over the network. The output data is related to the device information transmitted from the printing device to the service.

An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus may determine whether encrypted data may be transmitted or received between the image forming apparatus and one or more external devices, and determine a defect in security set to the image forming apparatus based on the determination.

Output devices or systems, such as televisions, speakers, projectors, or output controllers, are herein disclosed and enabled for wirelessly receiving digital content from a digital content service or from an information apparatus. The disclosed output device includes wireless communication circuitry and an interface. To set up the output device for receiving and playing the digital content, the output device first receives, via the interface, security information, and then establishes a wireless local area network connection. Subsequent to having established the wireless local area network connection, the output device connects to a server over a network, using the wireless communication circuitry, for downloading and installing software applications or software components for upgrading or modifying the capabilities of the output device. Thereafter, the output device is setup for receiving the digital content from the information apparatus and from the service using the downloaded and installed software components.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a communication apparatus capable of preventing a decrease in the speed of communication with an external device due to execution of a handover when the communication apparatus is connected to the external device, and also directed to a control method and a recording medium. A communication apparatus provides, by using a first communication portion that uses a first communication method, communication information for performing communication based on a second communication method to an external device, and causes a second communication portion that uses the second communication method to connect with the external device using the second communication method, and performs control in such a manner that, in a case where the second communication portion connects with the external device, the first communication portion is used to provide communication information to no other external devices.

Information apparatus and application software supporting printing over air or network are herein disclosed and enabled. The information apparatus may include one or more software components that include (1) a discovery component to discover a supported printer in a local area network (LAN) and to receive device information related to the printer (e.g., capability, language or format supported, identification) from the printer, and (2) a printing component to generate or obtain print data based on the device information received and to transmit the print data to the discovered printer. After establishing the connection to the LAN, application software (e.g., Internet browser, email, photos, documents) in the information apparatus may print digital content by using the discovery component to discover the printer in the LAN, and may use the printing component to obtain and transmit print data in a form that is acceptable to the printer for printing the digital content.

Software applications and information apparatus supporting output of digital content over a network (e.g., Internet) to an output device (e.g., printer) are herein disclosed and enabled. To output digital content, an application for accessing a service provided over the network is installed at the information apparatus, the information apparatus discovers the output device that is in the same local area network (e.g., via IEEE 802.11) as the information apparatus, output device information is received from the discovered output device, and the output device information is transmitted to the service for registering the output device. Subsequent to registration, an application (e.g., Internet browser, email, document) at the information apparatus, having appropriate security or authentication information, may transmit digital content to the service to output the digital content at the registered output device. The output of digital content does not require a device specific driver to be installed in the information apparatus.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a communication apparatus capable of preventing a decrease in the speed of communication with an external device due to execution of a handover when the communication apparatus is connected to the external device, and also directed to a control method and a recording medium. A communication apparatus provides, by using a first communication portion that uses a first communication method, communication information for performing communication based on a second communication method to an external device, and causes a second communication portion that uses the second communication method to connect with the external device using the second communication method, and performs control in such a manner that, in a case where the second communication portion connects with the external device, the first communication portion is used to provide communication information to no other external devices.

A method for establishing a wireless connection between a mobile information apparatus (e.g., smart phone) and an output system (e.g., audio output device) are herein disclosed and enabled. The method comprises using an interface of the output system to receive an indication from a user, and initiating wireless discovery based, at least in part, on physical proximity between the mobile information apparatus and the output system, subsequent to receiving the user indication. The method additionally comprises using the mobile information apparatus to wirelessly (1) discover the output system, (2) establish a wireless communication link between the mobile information apparatus and the output system, and (3) transmit audio output data from the mobile information apparatus to the output system over the established wireless communication link. Subsequently, the output system outputs or plays at least part of the wireles sly received audio output data from the mobile information apparatus.