JP6472263B2 - Information processing apparatus, control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method, and a program.

Conventionally, there has been an image forming apparatus having a short-range wireless communication function. The image forming apparatus acquires a user's ID information using a short-range wireless communication function, and realizes a function of providing a service to the user based on the ID information.
One of the technologies related to the near field communication function is NFC (Near Field Communication). The NFC specification defines three functions. The first is a reader / writer function. According to this function, data can be read from and written to an NFC card or NFC tag. The second is a peer-to-peer function. According to this function, various data can be transmitted and received via NFC. The third function is a card emulation function. According to this function, an operation equivalent to that of the previous NFC tag can be performed.

  In recent years, implementation of NFC technology on mobile terminals such as smartphones and tablet PCs has progressed, and image forming apparatuses can communicate with mobile terminals via an NFC interface. There are three types of combinations that realize NFC communication between the image forming apparatus and the portable terminal. In the first combination, the image forming apparatus executes NFC communication with a reader / writer function and the portable terminal performs a card emulation function. In the second combination, the image forming apparatus executes NFC communication with a card emulation function and the portable terminal with a reader / writer function. In the third combination, the image forming apparatus and the mobile terminal execute NFC communication with each other by a peer-to-peer function.

  NFC communication is executed by the proximity of a device equipped with NFC technology. In addition, when devices that perform control to execute the three functions defined in the NFC specification in a time-sharing manner are close to each other, NFC communication is performed with the function controlled at that timing. NFC communication is executed in any of the above three combinations. Here, due to the convenience of NFC communication control timing, when NFC communication is executed with the first combination, the image forming apparatus determines whether the opposite NFC communication device is a portable terminal or an NFC card. I can't. In such a situation, there is a technique that does not perform data transmission / reception via wireless communication to an unintended device (Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-179680 A

  However, in the control flow in which ID information is acquired from the opposite NFC communication device in the process of establishing NFC communication, and the image forming apparatus that provides a service to the user based on the acquired ID information, Unintended ID information is acquired. Therefore, an image forming apparatus having a function of providing a service to a user based on ID information acquired via NFC communication is required to have a mechanism for appropriately controlling ID information acquired in the process of establishing NFC communication. ing.

Therefore, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus including a short-range wireless communication interface, and means for acquiring ID information from an external storage medium via the short-range wireless communication interface, and a short-range wireless communication function And a means for detecting an external terminal, and a means for determining whether or not to execute a process based on the ID information based on at least a detection result of the external terminal after obtaining the ID information. To do.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, ID information acquired in the process leading to establishment of near field communication can be controlled appropriately.

It is a figure which shows an example of the system configuration | structure of a radio | wireless communications system. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of a portable terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of an NFC card. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information processing of the image forming apparatus. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information processing of the image forming apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a wireless communication system.
The wireless communication system includes an image forming apparatus 100, a personal computer 200, a portable terminal 300, an NFC card 400, a wireless LAN access point 500, and a local area network 600. The portable terminal 300 is one of communication partners of the image forming apparatus 100 for short-range wireless communication. The NFC card 400 is an example of a non-contact IC card that is one of the communication partners of the short-range wireless communication of the image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 is an example of an information processing apparatus or an image processing apparatus. The image forming apparatus 100 has a copy function, a print function, a send function, a box function, and the like, and specific processing of each function is as follows. The copy function is a function for copying a paper document. The print function is a function for printing a print job received via the local area network 600. The send function is a function for transmitting digitized document data to a specified address. The box function is a function for storing digitized document data or digitized document data received via the local area network 600.

  The personal computer 200 can transmit a print job to the image forming apparatus 100 based on the document data via the local area network 600, and can refer to the document data digitized by the image forming apparatus 100. The portable terminal 300 is a portable information processing terminal having an NFC communication 700 function, a wireless LAN communication 800 function, and the like, and corresponds to a smartphone, a tablet PC, or the like. The mobile terminal 300 can communicate with the image forming apparatus 100 via the NFC communication 700. Information transmitted and received in the communication includes an IP address, user ID information, and the like. In addition, the mobile terminal 300 can execute printing of image data by transmitting the image data in the mobile terminal 300 to the image forming apparatus 100 via the wireless LAN communication 800. Further, the portable terminal 300 can refer to the document data digitized by the image forming apparatus 100 via the wireless LAN communication 800. The NFC card 400 is a card that transmits user ID information via the NFC communication 700. The image forming apparatus 100 receives user ID information included in the NFC card 400 via the NFC communication 700 and performs user authentication based on an authentication database held in the image forming apparatus 100. Note that a server that holds the user ID information is prepared in the wireless communication system. The image forming apparatus 100 may be configured to perform authentication processing in cooperation with the server via the local area network 600.

  The wireless LAN access point 500 has a function that enables communication between the mobile terminal 300 and the like having a wireless LAN interface and devices connected to the local area network 600. Although the system configuration using the wireless LAN communication 800 is used in the wireless communication interface in the first embodiment, other wireless communication technology such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) may be used. The local area network 600 is a network connection realized by Ethernet (registered trademark) or the like, and the image forming apparatus 100, the personal computer 200, and the wireless LAN access point 500 are connected via the local area network 600.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. The CPU 101 is a central processing unit that controls the entire image forming apparatus. The RAM 102 is a memory in which a program executed by the CPU 101 is stored, and the RAM 102 is also a work memory for temporarily storing data used by the CPU 101 for calculation. The ROM 103 stores a program used for starting the image forming apparatus 100. The HDD 104 is a hard disk drive (HDD) that stores software related to control of the image forming apparatus 100, various settings, saved document data, and the like. The operation unit 120 is for the user to control the image forming apparatus 100, and inputs / outputs information between the image forming apparatus 100 and the user. The operation unit 120 includes an LCD, a touch panel, and hardware keys. When the user selects a button displayed on the LCD, the user may touch the displayed button.

  The operation unit I / F 105 is an interface to the operation unit 120 and relays input / output data to the operation unit 120. The CPU 101 controls the image forming apparatus 100 based on key information selected by the user and coordinate information on the touch panel received via the operation unit I / F 105. The network I / F 106 is an interface for transmitting / receiving data to / from an external device via the local area network 600. The NFC control unit 107 performs control for transmitting and receiving data via NFC. The antenna 108 is an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio waves for performing the NFC communication 700. The flash ROM 127 is connected to the NFC control unit 107 and is used to temporarily hold data handled by the NFC control unit 107. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment uses the flash ROM 127 for temporarily storing data handled by the NFC control unit 107, but is not limited thereto. As an alternative to the flash ROM 127, other nonvolatile memory, a combination of a battery and an SRAM, or a volatile memory such as a RAM can be applied.

  The timer 121 is realized by a 32-bit counter that can be controlled by clearing, starting counting, stopping counting, checking the current count value, and the like according to instructions from a program executed by the CPU 101. A clock used for count control of the timer 121 is generated based on a transmitter used in the image forming apparatus 100. The power control unit 125 is a control unit that controls the power source of the image forming apparatus 100, and controls the power source according to an instruction from the CPU 101 and a power switch operation by the user. When the CPU 101 detects a state in which no operation from the user is received for a certain period or a state in which a print job is not received through the local area network 600 for a certain period, the CPU 101 sends an unnecessary part to the unnecessary part via the power control unit 125. Stop the power supply. When the power control unit 125 detects a power-off operation by the power switch, the power control unit 125 can notify the CPU 101 of the detection result as a power-off request. Upon receiving the power-off request, the CPU 101 shifts the image forming apparatus 100 to a state where the power can be turned off, and instructs the power control unit 125 to stop the power.

  The power source unit 126 is a power source that converts an AC power source into a DC power source for the image forming apparatus 100, and turns off / on the conversion operation according to an instruction from the power source control unit 125. The CPU 101, RAM 102, ROM 103, HDD 104, operation unit I / F 105, network I / F 106, NFC control unit 107, timer 121, and power supply control unit 125 are connected via a system bus 114. The image bus I / F 109 is responsible for relaying between the system bus 114 and the image bus 115 connecting each block in charge of image processing, and for converting the data structure. Connected to the image bus 115 are a RIP 110, a device I / F 111, a printer image processing unit 112, and a scanner image processing unit 113. The RIP 110 is a raster image processor (RIP) and converts a page description language (PDL) code and a display list into a bitmap image.

  The device I / F 111 is an interface that connects the scanner unit 130 and the printer unit 140 to the image bus 115, and is connected to the scanner unit 130 via the scanner bus 116, and is connected to the printer unit 140 via the printer bus 117. Connected. The device I / F 111 performs timing adjustment for transmitting image data received from the scanner unit 130 via the scanner bus 116 to the image bus 115. Further, the device I / F 111 performs timing adjustment for image data transmission from the image bus 115 to the printer unit 140 via the printer bus 117. The scanner unit 130 performs processing such as correction and resolution conversion according to the image forming apparatus 100 on the image data generated by the scanner sensor. The printer unit 140 performs processing such as correction and resolution conversion according to the print engine of the image forming apparatus 100 for the image data to be printed out. When the CPU 101 executes processing based on a program stored in the ROM 103 or the HDD 104, the function of the image forming apparatus 100 and the processing of the flowchart described later are realized.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the mobile terminal 300. The CPU 301 is a central processing unit that controls the entire mobile terminal 300. A RAM 302 is a memory in which a program executed by the CPU 301 is stored, and a work memory for temporarily storing data used by the CPU 301 for calculation. A flash ROM 303 is a flash ROM that stores programs used by the CPU 301 and various data. The operation unit 304 performs input / output of information between the user and the portable terminal 300, and includes an LCD and a touch panel. The camera 305 captures still images and moving images. The wireless LAN I / F 306 is an interface for transmitting / receiving data to / from an external device via the wireless LAN communication 800. The NFC control unit 307 performs control for performing the NFC communication 700. The antenna 308 is an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio waves for performing the NFC communication 700.

  The CPU 301, RAM 302, flash ROM 303, operation unit 304, camera 305, wireless LAN I / F 306, and NFC control unit 307 are connected via the system bus 309 and exchange data with each other. In the portable terminal 300 according to the first embodiment, the NFC communication 700 is performed by the CPU 301 executing the program stored in the flash ROM 303. The portable terminal 300 in the first embodiment controls the reader / writer function, the peer-to-peer function, and the card emulation function in a time division manner, but is not limited to this.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the NFC card 400. The ROM 402 holds user ID information included in the NFC card 400. In the NFC card 400 according to the first embodiment, the user ID information is stored in the ROM 402, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a nonvolatile memory such as a flash ROM. The NFC control unit 401 performs control for performing the NFC communication 700. The function of the NFC communication 700 that can be controlled by the NFC control unit 401 is only the card emulation function. The antenna 403 is an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio waves for performing the NFC communication 700.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information processing related to the NFC communication 700 of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. In S1000, the CPU 101 initializes a flag indicating the detection result of the NFC card 400 on the RAM 102. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment sets the initial value of a flag indicating the detection result of the NFC card 400 to 0. In step S <b> 1001, the CPU 101 holds a predetermined timer threshold value for detecting the NFC card 400 on the RAM 102. In the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, the timer threshold value for detecting the NFC card 400 is a fixed value, but may be a value that can be changed in a programmable manner. In step S <b> 1002, the CPU 101 initializes the timer 121 via the system bus 114. In step S <b> 1003, the CPU 101 causes the timer 121 to start counting. In step S <b> 1004, the CPU 101 executes control for detecting the NFC card 400 to the NFC control unit 107 via the system bus 114. An example of control for detecting the NFC card 400 will be described. The CPU 101 makes settings for the reader / writer function to the NFC control unit 107, and then transmits a command for detecting the NFC card 400. The NFC control unit 107 temporarily holds the command received from the CPU 101 in the flash ROM 127. Thereafter, the NFC control unit 107 transmits the command held in the flash ROM 127 via the antenna 108.

  In step S <b> 1005, the CPU 101 determines the detection of the NFC card 400 based on whether or not a response to the command is received via the NFC control unit 107. When the NFC card 400 is present in a space where radio waves from the NFC communication 700 reach, the CPU 101 receives a response via the NFC control unit 107 and the antenna 108 and determines that an NFC card has been detected (Yes in S1005). . In this case, the CPU 101 advances the process to S1006. In step S <b> 1006, the NFC control unit 107 temporarily stores the received response in the flash ROM 127 and transmits an interrupt signal to the CPU 101. After receiving the interrupt signal from the NFC control unit 107, the CPU 101 receives a response from the NFC control unit 107 via the system bus 114, and controls the NFC control unit 107 based on the response to transfer to the NFC card 400. Execute access processing. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment acquires ID information held in the NFC card 400 by executing an access process to the NFC card 400. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 100 may acquire setting information for the image forming apparatus 100 held in the NFC card 400. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 100 can use only the ID information included in the response of the NFC card 400 and skip the subsequent access processing (S1006) to the NFC card 400.

  In step S <b> 1007, the CPU 101 updates the flag indicating the detection result of the NFC card 400 held on the RAM 102. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment uses 1 as a value indicating that the NFC card 400 is detected. However, it is not limited to this. For example, if the CPU 101 detects any error during execution of the access process to the NFC card 400 (S1006), a value other than 0 and 1 is set in a flag indicating the detection result of the NFC card 400 for the purpose of maintaining the state. It may be held. In step S <b> 1009, the CPU 101 stops the count of the timer 121 via the system bus 114.

  On the other hand, when the NFC card 400 does not exist in a space where radio waves from the NFC communication 700 reach, the NFC control unit 107 cannot receive a response via the antenna 108. Therefore, the CPU 101 determines that the NFC card cannot be detected (No in S1005). In this case, the CPU 101 advances the process to S1008. In step S <b> 1008, the CPU 101 confirms the current count value of the timer 121 via the system bus 114 and compares it with the timer threshold value stored in the RAM 102. If the CPU 101 determines that the current count value is equal to or smaller than the timer threshold value (No in S1008), the CPU 101 returns the process to S1005 and waits for reception of an interrupt signal from the NFC control unit 107. On the other hand, if the CPU 101 determines that the current count value is greater than the timer threshold value (Yes in S1008), the process proceeds to S1009. In step S <b> 1009, the CPU 101 stops the timer 121 counting through the system bus 114. In the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, the CPU 101 executes the timer value confirmation process, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a timer having an interrupt signal generation function may be prepared, and the CPU 101 may be replaced with a control process that receives an interrupt signal from the NFC control unit 107 and the timer.

  In step S <b> 1010, the CPU 101 holds a predetermined timer threshold value for detecting the mobile terminal 300 on the RAM 102. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment uses a control process in which the timer threshold value for detecting the NFC card 400 and the timer threshold value for detecting the mobile terminal 300 are independently set. The threshold may be the same. In the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, the timer threshold value for detecting the portable terminal 300 is a fixed value, but may be a value that can be changed in a programmable manner. In step S <b> 1011, the CPU 101 initializes the timer 121 via the system bus 114. In step S <b> 1012, the CPU 101 causes the timer 121 to start counting. In step S <b> 1013, the CPU 101 executes control for detecting the mobile terminal 300 with respect to the NFC control unit 107 via the system bus 114. An example of control for detecting the mobile terminal 300 will be described. The CPU 101 sets the card emulation function for the NFC control unit 107 and then waits for an interrupt signal to be transmitted from the NFC control unit 107.

  In step S <b> 1014, the NFC control unit 107 determines the detection of the mobile terminal 300 based on whether or not a command transmitted from the mobile terminal 300 is received via the NFC communication 700. The NFC control unit 107 receives a command via the antenna 108 when the antenna 108 exists in a space where radio waves from the NFC communication 700 reach. If the NFC control unit 107 determines that the mobile terminal 300 has been detected (Yes in S1014), the process proceeds to S1015. In step S <b> 1015, the NFC control unit 107 temporarily stores the received command in the flash ROM 127 and transmits an interrupt signal to the CPU 101. After receiving the interrupt signal from the NFC control unit 107, the CPU 101 receives a command from the NFC control unit 107 via the system bus 114, and controls the NFC control unit 107 based on the command to send data to the mobile terminal 300. Execute access processing. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment transmits setting information in the image forming apparatus 100 to the mobile terminal 300 in the access process to the mobile terminal 300, but transmits data from the mobile terminal 300 to the image forming apparatus 100. Processing may be performed. In the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, the CPU 101 and the NFC control unit 107 cooperate to control the NFC communication 700 based on a command from the mobile terminal 300. However, it is also possible to use an NFC control unit having a card emulation function. In this case, a part of the control is processed by the NFC control unit having a card emulation function. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment uses the card emulation function as the NFC communication 700 function with the portable terminal 300, but the peer-to-peer function can be substituted.

  Subsequently, in S1016, the CPU 101 refers to a flag indicating the detection result of the NFC card 400 held on the RAM 102, and determines whether or not the flag is 1. If the CPU 101 determines that the flag indicating the detection result of the NFC card 400 is 1 (the NFC card 400 is detected) (Yes in S1016), the CPU 101 advances the processing to S1017. In step S1017, the CPU 101 discards the ID information acquired from the NFC card 400. The process of S1017 is an example of a process of deleting ID information acquired from the NFC card 400. On the other hand, when the CPU 101 determines that the flag indicating the detection result of the NFC card 400 is 0 (No NFC card 400 is detected) (No in S1016), the CPU 101 ends the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG.

  If the antenna 108 does not exist in a space where radio waves from the NFC communication 700 reach, the NFC control unit 107 cannot receive a command via the antenna 108. Therefore, when CPU 101 determines that mobile terminal 300 could not be detected (No in S1014), CPU 101 proceeds to S1018. In step S <b> 1018, the CPU 101 confirms the current count value of the timer 121 via the system bus 114 and compares it with the timer threshold value stored on the RAM 102. If the CPU 101 determines that the current count value is the same as or smaller than the timer threshold value (No in S1018), the CPU 101 returns to the process of S1014 and waits for reception of an interrupt signal from the NFC control unit 107. On the other hand, if the CPU 101 determines that the current count value is greater than the timer threshold value (Yes in S1008), the process proceeds to S1019. In step S <b> 1019, the CPU 101 stops the timer 121 counting through the system bus 114.

  In step S <b> 1020, the CPU 101 refers to a flag indicating the detection result of the NFC card 400 held on the RAM 102 and determines whether the flag is “1”. If the CPU 101 determines that the flag indicating the detection result of the NFC card 400 is 1 (the NFC card 400 is detected) (Yes in S1020), the CPU 101 advances the process to S1021. In step S1021, the CPU 101 executes an authentication process (ID authentication process) based on the ID information acquired from the NFC card 400. In step S1022, the CPU 101 inquires of the authentication database about ID information. If the CPU 101 determines that the ID information is stored in the authentication database (Yes in S1022), the CPU 101 advances the process to S1023. In S1023, the CPU 101 executes a login process.

  On the other hand, if the CPU 101 determines that the ID information is not held in the authentication database (No in S1022), the process proceeds to S1024. In step S1024, the CPU 101 executes error processing. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment displays a message notifying the user that the ID authentication processing has failed on the operation unit 120 as error processing, but may be controlled such as sounding a warning sound. Subsequently, returning to the processing of S1001, the CPU 101 holds a predetermined timer threshold value for detecting the NFC card 400 on the RAM 102. When the CPU 101 determines that the flag indicating the detection result of the NFC card 400 is 0 (No NFC card 400 is detected) (No in S1020), the CPU 101 returns to the process of S1001. Then, the CPU 101 holds a timer threshold value for detecting the NFC card 400 on the RAM 102.

  The image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment uses 0 or 1 for the flag indicating the detection result of the NFC card 400, but other values can also be used. For example, when the CPU 101 detects some error during the execution of the access process to the NFC card 400 (S1006) and holds a value other than 0 and 1 in the flag indicating the detection result of the NFC card 400, the CPU 101 performs a process suitable for it. You may go. For example, the CPU 101 performs processing such as displaying a message notifying the user that the NFC communication 700 access processing has failed on the operation unit 120 as error processing. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment periodically executes the process of the flowchart illustrated in FIG.

  According to the process of the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 controls to execute the ID authentication process of the NFC card 400 when the NFC card 400 is detected and the mobile terminal 300 is not detected. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 can prevent the process of acquiring the ID information of the portable terminal 300, executing the authentication process based on the ID information, and performing the error process when the authentication process fails. That is, it is possible to appropriately control the ID information acquired in the process leading to the establishment of near field communication. Therefore, for example, the user can perform ID authentication by holding the NFC card 400 over the image forming apparatus 100 and performing pairing by holding the mobile terminal 300 over the image forming apparatus 100.

<Second Embodiment>
Hereinafter, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information processing related to the NFC communication 700 of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment. 6, parts equivalent to the information processing related to the NFC communication 700 of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. In S2000, the CPU 101 initializes a flag indicating the detection result of the portable terminal 300 on the RAM 102. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment sets the initial value of the flag indicating the detection result of the mobile terminal 300 to 0. In the present embodiment, the CPU 101 advances the process to S2001 after executing the access process to the mobile terminal 300 in S1015. In step S2001, the CPU 101 updates the flag indicating the detection result of the mobile terminal 300 held on the RAM 102. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment uses 1 as a value indicating that the mobile terminal 300 has been detected. Subsequently, the CPU 101 advances the process to S1020. If the CPU 101 determines in S1020 that the flag indicating the detection result of the NFC card 400 is 0 (the NFC card 400 is not detected), the process proceeds to S2000. In S2000, the CPU 101 initializes a flag indicating the detection result of the mobile terminal 300 on the RAM 102.

  The CPU 101 executes an ID authentication process based on the ID information acquired from the NFC card 400 in S1021, and advances the process to S2002. In S2002, the CPU 101 inquires of the authentication database about ID information. If the CPU 101 determines that the ID information is held in the authentication database (Yes in S2002), the process proceeds to S1023. On the other hand, if the CPU 101 determines that the ID information is not held in the authentication database (No in S2002), the process proceeds to S2003. In S2003, the CPU 101 refers to the flag indicating the detection result of the mobile terminal 300 held on the RAM 102, and determines whether or not the flag indicating the detection result of the mobile terminal 300 is 1 (the mobile terminal 300 is detected). To do. When the CPU 101 determines that the flag indicating the detection result of the mobile terminal 300 is 1 (the mobile terminal 300 is detected), the CPU 101 ends the process of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. On the other hand, when the CPU 101 determines that the flag indicating the detection result of the mobile terminal 300 is 0 (the mobile terminal 300 is not detected), the CPU 101 advances the process to S1024. In step S1024, the CPU 101 executes error processing, and advances the processing to step S2000. In S2000, the CPU 101 initializes a flag indicating the detection result of the mobile terminal 300 on the RAM 102. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment periodically performs the processing of the flowchart illustrated in FIG.

  According to the process of the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 detects the NFC card 400 and executes the authentication process of the ID information of the NFC card 400. Even when the authentication process fails, the image forming apparatus 100 detects the mobile terminal 300. In such a case, control is performed so that error processing is not performed. On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 100 detects the NFC card 400, executes the authentication process of the ID information of the NFC card 400, fails in the authentication process, and does not detect the mobile terminal 300 Is controlled to perform error handling. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 can prevent the process of acquiring the ID information of the portable terminal 300, executing the authentication process based on the ID information, and performing the error process when the authentication process fails. That is, it is possible to appropriately control the ID information acquired in the process leading to the establishment of near field communication. Therefore, for example, the user can perform ID authentication by holding the NFC card 400 over the image forming apparatus 100 and performing pairing by holding the mobile terminal 300 over the image forming apparatus 100.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  As mentioned above, according to each embodiment mentioned above, ID information acquired in the process leading to establishment of near field communication can be controlled appropriately.

100 image forming apparatus, 200 personal computer, 300 portable terminal, 400 NFC card, 500 wireless LAN access point, 600 local area network

Claims (25)

An information processing apparatus including a short-range wireless communication interface,
Means for acquiring ID information from an external storage medium via the short-range wireless communication interface;
Means for detecting an external terminal having a short-range wireless communication function;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a unit for determining whether to execute a process based on the ID information based on at least a detection result of the external terminal after acquiring the ID information . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external terminal is detected based on a radio wave transmitted from the external terminal . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ID information is discarded according to a decision not to execute the process based on the ID information . The short-range wireless communication interface includes a first mode capable of acquiring ID information from an external storage medium via short-range wireless communication, and a second mode capable of transmitting information to an external terminal via short-range wireless communication. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is operable by sequentially switching a plurality of modes including . The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the short-range wireless communication interface sequentially switches the plurality of modes based on the passage of time. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first mode is an execution mode of a reader / writer function. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second mode is an execution mode of a card emulation function. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second mode is a peer-to-peer function execution mode. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the external storage medium is an IC card or an external terminal having a card emulation function. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the short-range wireless communication interface includes a memory capable of holding the ID information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit configured to display information, wherein the display unit is capable of displaying a screen related to the ID information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the screen is a screen showing a result of an authentication process based on the ID information. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus including a short-range wireless communication interface,
Obtaining ID information from an external storage medium via the short-range wireless communication interface;
Detecting an external terminal having a short-range wireless communication function;
And a step of determining whether or not to execute the process based on the ID information based on at least the detection result of the external terminal after obtaining the ID information. A program for causing a computer to execute a control method of an information processing apparatus including a short-range wireless communication interface,
The control method includes a step of acquiring ID information from an external storage medium via the short-range wireless communication interface, a step of detecting an external terminal having a short-range wireless communication function, and after acquiring the ID information, And a step of determining whether or not to execute the process based on the ID information based at least on the detection result of the terminal. An information processing apparatus including a short-range wireless communication interface,
Means for acquiring ID information from an external storage medium via the short-range wireless communication interface;
Means for detecting an external terminal having a short-range wireless communication function;
And a means for determining whether to perform communication processing with the external terminal via the short-range wireless communication interface based on at least the acquisition status of the ID information after detecting the external terminal. Information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the external terminal is detected based on a radio wave transmitted from the external terminal. The short-range wireless communication interface includes a first mode capable of acquiring ID information from an external storage medium via short-range wireless communication, and a second mode capable of transmitting information to an external terminal via short-range wireless communication. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the information processing apparatus is operable by sequentially switching a plurality of modes including The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the short-range wireless communication interface sequentially switches the plurality of modes based on passage of time. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the first mode is an execution mode of a reader / writer function. 20. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the second mode is a card emulation function execution mode. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the second mode is a peer-to-peer function execution mode. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 15 to 21, wherein the external storage medium is an IC card or an external terminal having a card emulation function. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the short-range wireless communication interface includes a memory capable of holding the ID information. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus including a short-range wireless communication interface,
Obtaining ID information from an external storage medium via the short-range wireless communication interface;
Detecting an external terminal having a short-range wireless communication function;
Determining whether to perform communication processing with the external terminal via the short-range wireless communication interface based on at least the acquisition status of the ID information after detecting the external terminal. Control method to do. A program for causing a computer to execute a control method of an information processing apparatus including a short-range wireless communication interface,
The control method includes a step of acquiring ID information from an external storage medium via the short-range wireless communication interface, a step of detecting an external terminal having a short-range wireless communication function, and after detecting the external terminal, the ID Determining whether or not to execute communication processing with the external terminal via the short-range wireless communication interface based on at least an information acquisition status.

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