JP4479494B2 - Document processing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a document processing technique in which a client terminal device such as a mobile device and a document processing device such as a printer device are connected by wireless LAN ad hoc, and the document processing device executes a document processing job from the client terminal device. One of the plurality of document processing apparatuses provides setting information necessary for wireless connection to the client terminal apparatus so that the client connection apparatus can quickly make an ad hoc connection to a desired document processing apparatus. Related technology.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, network environments based on wireless communication have been expanding due to improvements in interconnectivity by increasing the speed and standardization of wireless communication over network communication using a wired LAN. For example, transmission / reception of data using short-range wireless communication such as IEEE802.11 wireless LAN and Bluetooth has been put into practical use.
A document processing apparatus such as a printer apparatus, a scanner apparatus, a multi-function machine having a combination of these document processing functions is also equipped with a wireless communication function, so that mobile PCs, PDAs, It is possible to connect to a client terminal device such as a cellular phone wirelessly and execute a document processing job from the client device. In particular, the convenience of wireless is great for printing needs on the go, and it is predicted that the use of print output using wireless will be expanded in the future.

As a communication means that can be used for such wireless printing, for example, in IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN communication, a client terminal device is connected to a document processing device via a wireless base station called an access point (AP). And an ad hoc mode in which a client terminal device directly connects to a document processing device without going through an access point are supported.
Normally, since it is assumed that the connection is made to the LAN via the access point, the document processing apparatus such as a printer is also placed on the LAN so as to be connected in the infrastructure mode.

  For this reason, when printing a document using a document processing device from a client terminal device in an office or the like outside the office, the client terminal device is first connected to an access point, and print processing is performed on the document processing device on the network. It is necessary to output a job.

However, in order to connect a client terminal device to an access point, it is necessary to search for an access point, acquire a service set ID (ESSID) and MAC address information of the access point, and acquire an IP address for LAN connection. . Furthermore, for security measures, authentication and encryption processing may be performed during wireless connection. When authentication is performed, only specific users are permitted to connect, so it is necessary to register client terminal device information in advance. In addition, when encryption processing is performed, encryption key information is required.
Therefore, in the external environment, setting information for connecting to these access points needs to be set in advance, and extremely complicated processing and operations are required.

Even when the client terminal device is connected to the access point, it is necessary to search for a document processing device suitable for the job contents. For example, even if it is desired to print out to a printer device in front of the user, processing is performed by the printer. In order to do so, information such as the IP address and host name of the printer is required, which is not easy.
As a method for eliminating such a troublesome connection operation, a method using an ad hoc mode connection in which a client terminal device and a document processing device are directly connected wirelessly in a one-to-one manner is conceivable. In other words, by directly connecting the client terminal device and the target document processing device, the client terminal device does not need to be connected to the network and can follow a predetermined procedure with the document processing device that is the connection destination. Settings relating to wireless communication can be exchanged, and a document processing job can be transmitted to the document processing apparatus for execution.

In addition, by holding in the cache table whether the other terminal is a network connection or ad hoc connection terminal, the user can establish communication connection between wireless terminals without having to be aware of which communication is possible with the other terminal. The invention which makes it possible is proposed (refer patent document 1).
Further, an invention has been proposed in which names of information processing devices connected to a network are managed, and updates are managed by notifying update of management information among a plurality of devices (see Patent Document 2).
Also, the printing apparatus is provided with a function of switching connection to two wireless networks, connected to the user wireless LAN based on the first setting information, connected to the manufacturer wireless LAN based on the second setting information, and newly added to the user An invention has been proposed in which setting information related to a user LAN is sent to a printer to be connected to a wireless LAN, thereby reducing the user's trouble of setting operation for the printer (see Patent Document 3). .
Further, an invention has been proposed in which a function of a terminal device and a service set ID are set in conjunction with each other, and a desired communication partner is selected by looking at the service set ID when searching for a terminal device (Patent Document 4). reference.).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-303105. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-158673. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-163668. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-289306.

As described above, the ad hoc mode connection does not require complicated operations and processing for network connection, but the client terminal device needs to set information necessary for direct connection to the target document processing device. When there are a plurality of document processing apparatuses, it is necessary to set a service set ID, a communication frequency channel, and the like used for wireless connection with each document processing apparatus.
Therefore, every time the client terminal apparatus tries to connect to the target document processing apparatus in the ad hoc mode, the connection information must be set, and there is a problem that the operation and processing are complicated.

In addition, the user of the client terminal device has a request to execute job processing after recognizing what processing function the target document processing device has, but information for determining this is required. It becomes.
When there are a plurality of document processing devices, each time the client terminal device connects to each document processing device and performs an operation process for inquiring of the function to the document processing device, the document processing device and the client terminal There is a problem that it is necessary to repeat the wireless connection setting with the apparatus, and the operation and processing are complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and an object thereof is to realize an environment in which document processing by a document processing apparatus can be easily used by a client terminal apparatus.
That is, the present invention provides an environment in which it is easy to quickly connect to a document processing apparatus selected from a plurality of document processing apparatuses within a range in which the client terminal apparatus can communicate, and to easily use document processing by the document processing apparatus. It is intended to be realized.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a function that can be executed by each document processing apparatus and to realize an environment in which a client terminal apparatus can easily select a document processing apparatus.

  The present invention relates to a document processing system in which a client terminal device and a document processing device each having a wireless communication function are connected by wireless LAN ad-hoc, and the document processing device executes a document processing job from the client terminal device, such a device. A document processing apparatus constituting a selection system, a program constituting such a document processing apparatus by a computer, and a method implemented by such a document processing system.

Here, as the client terminal device, an information processing device having a function of performing wireless communication such as a personal computer, a mobile device, a mobile phone, or the like is used.
As the document processing device, a device that performs document processing, such as a printer device, a scanner device, a facsimile device, a copy device, or a multifunction device having these functions in combination, is used.

  In the present invention, in an environment where a plurality of document processing devices exist, the setting information necessary for the document processing device to wirelessly connect to itself by a beacon signal is transmitted, and the setting included in the beacon signal received by the client terminal device Information is connected to the document processing device, and the setting information necessary for the document processing device to make an ad hoc wireless connection to another document processing device is transmitted to the connected client terminal device, and the client terminal device receives the received setting. An ad hoc connection process is performed with the document processing apparatus selected based on the information, and a document processing job is transmitted to the document processing apparatus.

In the system according to the present invention, the document processing apparatus has information holding means for holding setting information necessary for the client terminal apparatus to wirelessly connect to the client terminal apparatus and setting information necessary to wirelessly connect to the other document processing apparatus. And information providing means for transmitting the setting information held by the information holding means to the client terminal device, wherein the client terminal device selects the document processing selected based on the setting information received from the document processing device. Communication control means for performing ad hoc connection processing with the apparatus is provided.
As a result, when the client terminal device intends to make an ad hoc connection to another document processing device, it is not necessary to perform an operation or a process for acquiring setting information again from the other device, and the document processing selected by the client terminal device. Document processing can be executed by ad hoc connection to the apparatus quickly.

  Here, the document processing device that provides the connection setting information held in the client terminal device may be a specific document processing device set as an ad hoc communication window, or may be all document processing devices. May be. In the latter case, if the client terminal device is connected to one of the document processing devices, setting information for ad-hoc connection to another document processing device can be obtained. Information can be provided to any other client terminal device by any one of the document processing devices even in a situation where the terminal device is in an ad hoc connection.

Further, the function information of the document processing apparatus may be held in the information holding unit, and the information providing unit may transmit the function information to the client terminal device. As a result, when the document processing apparatus is, for example, a printer, the client terminal apparatus can obtain functional information such as paper size, color or monochrome printing type, printing speed, and the like. It is possible to assist a user who tries to connect.
The client terminal device may include a user interface that displays information received from the document processing device on a screen, and the communication control unit may perform ad hoc connection processing with the document processing device selected by the user through the user interface. Alternatively, conditions set and registered in advance may be compared with information received from the document processing apparatus, and a document processing apparatus that meets the conditions may be automatically selected.

Further, the information providing means may omit the information related to the document processing apparatus already connected by ad hoc, and transmit the information held by the information holding means to the client terminal device. Information about possible document processing devices can be provided to the client terminal device.
In addition, the document processing apparatus may include an information collecting unit that acquires information held in the information holding unit from another document processing apparatus connected via a network, and information related to the other document processing apparatus can be updated at any time. You may do it.

  Further, the document processing device may generate a communication channel used for ad hoc connection and provide it to the client terminal device and document processing device to be connected by ad hoc connection, whereby a communication channel used in a wireless LAN network. Network communication can be ensured by separating the client terminal device and the document processing device that are connected by ad hoc connection from the network.

  Further, the document processing device may generate a wireless LAN service set ID and provide it to a client terminal device and a document processing device to be connected by ad hoc, whereby a service set ID used in a wireless LAN network is obtained. By using different IDs, the client terminal device and document processing device that are connected by ad hoc can be separated from the network, and network security can be ensured.

According to the present invention, in an environment where a plurality of document processing apparatuses exist, the document processing apparatus connected to the client terminal apparatus also provides connection setting information related to other document processing apparatuses. It is possible to easily and quickly connect to a document processing apparatus selected from among the processing apparatuses and use the document processing by the document processing apparatus.
According to the present invention, since the document processing apparatus connected to the client terminal device also provides the functions of each document processing apparatus, the document processing apparatus can be easily selected by the client terminal apparatus.

The present invention will be specifically described based on an embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, in this example, a mobile device MT having a wireless communication function is used as a client terminal device, and three multifunction peripherals MFD (A) and MFD (B) are used as document processing devices having a wireless communication function. ), A document processing system using MFD (C).
These MFPs MFD (A), MFD (B), and MFD (C) are connected by a LAN, and can exchange connection setting information and function information.

  Here, an example will be described in which the client terminal device MT acquires connection setting information and function information from the multi-function peripheral MFD (A), makes an ad hoc connection to another multi-function peripheral MFD (B), and requests a document print processing job. However, the same processing can be performed when the MFP MFD (C) or the MFP MFD (A) that has received information is requested for a print processing job.

FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration provided in the client terminal device MT and the multi-function device MFD (A) of this example.
The client terminal device MT includes a wireless communication unit 1 that performs wireless communication with a multifunction peripheral MFD, a communication control unit 2 that performs control such as setting connection information for wireless communication, and a user that displays information on a screen and receives input from a user It has an interface (UI) 3 and a memory 4 for holding document data and the like for requesting print processing to the multi-function peripheral MFD.

  The multi-function peripheral MFD (A) performs communication control such as data processing means 10 for performing document processing such as print processing, wireless communication means 11 for wirelessly communicating with the client terminal device MT, etc., setting of connection information for wireless communication, and the like. Means 12, information table 13 holding setting information necessary for wireless connection of MFP MFD (A) and other MFPs MFD (B) and MFD (C) and function information of MFP, other MFPs MFD ( B) LAN input / output means 14 connected to the MFD (C).

In the information table 13, as shown in FIG. 3, each MFP MFD (A), MFD (B), MFD (C) is identified by its MAC address, service set ID (ESSID), communication channel to be used (CH), setting information necessary for wireless connection such as an IP address, and processing function information (e.g., color printing availability, duplex printing availability, printable paper size, etc.) included in each multi-function peripheral are held.
The information stored in the information table 13 is transmitted to the client terminal device MT, displayed in a list as shown in FIG. 3 on the screen of the user interface 3, and input by the user from the user interface 3, A desired multifunction device can be selected as an ad hoc communication partner.

  Furthermore, the communication control unit 12 holds the beacon transmission unit 15 for transmitting a beacon signal including its own connection setting information (MAC address, communication channel to be used, service set ID (ESSID), etc.) and the information table 13. Information providing means 16 for providing information to the client terminal device MT, generating means for providing a communication channel and service set ID used for ad hoc connection to the client terminal device MT and the selected multifunction peripheral (in this example, MFD (B)) 17. DHCP means 18 for assigning an IP address used for ad hoc connection, information collecting means for acquiring function information and wireless connection setting information from other multifunction peripherals MFD (B) and MFD (C) via LAN 19.

In FIG. 2, the multi-function peripheral MFD (A) has been described as a representative, but the other multi-function peripherals MFD (B) and MFD (C) have the same functional configuration.
Each of the functional units 11 to 19 included in the document processing apparatus may be configured by dedicated hardware. In this example, the program according to the present invention is executed by the computer hardware of the document processing apparatus (multifunction machine). It is configured by executing.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a processing procedure by the document processing system.
In this example, only the multi-function device MFD (A) is set to periodically transmit a beacon signal for search, and when the client terminal device MT searches, the communication channel and ESSID of the multi-function device MFD (A) are set. A search beacon signal is detected.
When the multi-function device MFD (A) is selected and ad-hoc connection is made with the client terminal device MT, any one of the other multi-function devices MFD (B), MFD ( C), and another multifunction peripheral transmits a search beacon signal in the same manner.

Here, the multi-function device MFD (A) has already acquired the wireless connection setting information and the function information related to these devices from the other multi-function devices MFD (B) and MFD (C) by the information collecting means 19, and is shown in FIG. As shown, it is held in the information table 3.
In this example, the multi-function device MFD (A) also holds its own wireless connection setting information in the information table 3.

Based on the communication channel and ESSID included in the received beacon signal, the client terminal MT wirelessly transmits a connection request (RTS) to the multi-function device MFD (A) and can receive the multi-function device MFD (A). Response (CTS) is returned.
Next, the client terminal device MT wirelessly transmits the IP address request (ARP) of the multi-function device MFD (A), and the multi-function device MFD (A) provides its own IP address.
Then, the client terminal device MT wirelessly transmits its own IP address request (DHCP), and provides the IP address of the client terminal assigned by the multi-function device MFD (A) DHCP means 18.

Next, the client terminal device MT wirelessly transmits an information request to the multi-function device MFD (A), and provides the information (FIG. 3) held in the information table 13 by the multi-function device MFD (A).
Then, the client terminal device MT displays the received information on the screen 3, and when the user inputs to select the MFP MFD (B) as the job request destination, the information is included in the information received by the communication control unit 2. The wireless communication means 1 is set based on the connection setting information relating to the multifunction machine MFD (B), and a print output job is transmitted together with document data held in the memory 4 by ad hoc connection with the multifunction machine MFD (B).

On the other hand, the multi-function device MFD (B) establishes an ad hoc connection with the client terminal device MT according to the connection processing from the client terminal device MT, and prints out the document by the data processing means 10 according to the print output job. When the processing is completed, an end notification is transmitted to the client terminal device MT.
Therefore, the user of the client terminal device MT can recognize the function of each multifunction device from the received information, and can select the optimum multifunction device according to the job to be executed. Also, the client terminal device MT can send an ad-hoc connection with the selected multi-function peripheral quickly based on the received information.

Here, in the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the MFP MFD (A) is added to the client terminal MT and the MFP MFD (B) selected as the job processing request destination by the generation unit 17. The generated communication channel and ESSID for ad hoc connection may be provided so that the client terminal device MT and the multi-function peripheral MFD (B) are connected to each other based on the communication channel and ESSID.
As a result, the client terminal device MT and the multi-function peripheral MFD (B) can be connected by ad hoc communication using a communication channel and ESSID different from network communication, and the client terminal device MT can be separated from the network to ensure network security. it can.

  Further, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, the information providing means 16 of the multi-function peripheral MFD (A) already has an ad hoc communication with other client terminal devices based on information (setting information, function information) provided to the client terminal device MT. The connected multifunction peripheral (multifunction peripheral MFD (B) in the illustrated example) may be omitted. In response to this, the user interface screen 3 of the client terminal device MT displays from the selection target by the user by displaying, for example, “in use” for the MFP MFD (B) omitted as shown in FIG. Can be removed.

1 is a configuration diagram of a document processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a functional block diagram of the document processing system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the information table which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the process sequence which concerns on an example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the process sequence which concerns on another example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the information table which concerns on another example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1: wireless communication means, 2: communication control means,
3: user interface, 10: data processing means,
11: Wireless communication means, 12: Communication control means,
13: Information table (information holding means), 15: Beacon sending means,
16: Information providing means, 17: Communication channel / SSID generating means,
18: DHCP means, 19: Information collecting means,
MT: Client terminal device
MFD (A), MFD (B), MFD (C): MFP (document processing apparatus).

Claims (1)

A document processing system in which a client terminal device and a document processing device each having a wireless communication function are connected by wireless LAN ad hoc, and the document processing device executes a document processing job from the client terminal device,
The document processing apparatus has already established an ad hoc connection with information holding means for holding setting information necessary for the client terminal apparatus to wirelessly connect to itself and setting information necessary for wireless connection to another document processing apparatus. Information providing means for omitting information relating to the document processing apparatus, and transmitting a beacon signal including setting information held by the information holding means to the client terminal device,
The client terminal device includes communication control means for performing ad hoc connection processing with the document processing device selected based on the setting information included in the beacon signal received from the document processing device ,
When the document processing device that has transmitted the beacon signal is selected and is connected to the client terminal device by ad hoc connection, the document processing device notifies any other document processing device that is not connected by ad hoc, and Have other document processing devices transmit beacon signals,
A document processing system characterized by that.

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