EP3039527A1 - Système et procédé permettant de fournir un service d'impression en nuage - Google Patents

Système et procédé permettant de fournir un service d'impression en nuage

Info

Publication number
EP3039527A1
EP3039527A1 EP14847212.9A EP14847212A EP3039527A1 EP 3039527 A1 EP3039527 A1 EP 3039527A1 EP 14847212 A EP14847212 A EP 14847212A EP 3039527 A1 EP3039527 A1 EP 3039527A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
phone number
image forming
content
print job
cloud
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP14847212.9A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3039527A4 (fr
Inventor
Jeong-Jin Park
Jong-Yoon Lim
Yong-Chan Kwon
Jae-yeong SO
Dong-Wook Lee
Mee-Kyung Ryu
Jung-Mo Yeon
Hwan-Joon Choi
Kwang-Soo Ha
Hyun-Il Lee
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
Original Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from KR1020130116920A external-priority patent/KR102042144B1/ko
Priority claimed from KR20130116917A external-priority patent/KR20150037384A/ko
Priority claimed from KR20130116921A external-priority patent/KR20150037388A/ko
Priority claimed from KR1020130116717A external-priority patent/KR102042158B1/ko
Priority claimed from KR1020130116716A external-priority patent/KR102094946B1/ko
Priority claimed from KR1020130116918A external-priority patent/KR102088923B1/ko
Priority claimed from KR1020130116919A external-priority patent/KR102088925B1/ko
Priority claimed from KR20130116718A external-priority patent/KR20150037257A/ko
Priority claimed from KR1020140011733A external-priority patent/KR20150090748A/ko
Priority claimed from KR1020140015172A external-priority patent/KR20150094191A/ko
Priority claimed from KR1020140027440A external-priority patent/KR20150094469A/ko
Priority claimed from KR1020140027465A external-priority patent/KR20150105158A/ko
Priority claimed from KR1020140027466A external-priority patent/KR20150105159A/ko
Priority claimed from KR1020140105434A external-priority patent/KR20160020290A/ko
Priority claimed from PCT/KR2014/009211 external-priority patent/WO2015047033A1/fr
Application filed by Samsung Electronics Co Ltd filed Critical Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Publication of EP3039527A1 publication Critical patent/EP3039527A1/fr
Publication of EP3039527A4 publication Critical patent/EP3039527A4/fr
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
    • H04N1/00204—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server
    • H04N1/00244—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server with a server, e.g. an internet server
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
    • G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
    • G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
    • G06F3/1206—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
    • G06F3/1222—Increasing security of the print job
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
    • G06F3/1237—Print job management
    • G06F3/126—Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
    • G06F3/1285—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
    • G06F3/1288—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server in client-server-printer device configuration
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
    • G06F3/1292—Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
    • H04N1/00281—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal
    • H04N1/00307—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal with a mobile telephone apparatus
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
    • H04N2201/0077—Types of the still picture apparatus
    • H04N2201/0094—Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Definitions

  • One or more embodiments of relate to system and method for providing cloud printing service.
  • Examples of an image forming apparatus include individual apparatuses, such as a printer, a scanner, a photocopier, and a facsimile, and a multi-function product (MFP) in which various functions of the individual apparatuses are combined.
  • an image forming apparatus includes a wired communication module, such as Ethernet, or a wireless communication module, such as Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi direct, near field communication (NFC), Bluetooth, zigbee, or infrared data association (IrDA), to be connected to a mobile device or a user device, such as a laptop, through a network.
  • the image forming apparatus may upload or download a document to or from a cloud server by connecting to the cloud server by using the wired or wireless communication module.
  • One or more embodiments may include a cloud printing system and a method for providing a phone-number based cloud printing service. Also, one or more embodiments include a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method.
  • an image forming system operable to provide a cloud printing service
  • the image forming system comprising: a transmitting device operable to transmit content by designating a target phone number; a cloud printing server operable to receive the target phone number and the content from the transmitting device; a receiving device assigned with the target phone number and operable to receive an upload notification of the content with respect to the target phone number from the cloud printing server; and an image forming device operable to print the content by receiving the content from the cloud printing server, wherein the cloud printing server transmits the content to the image forming device registered in the target phone number when the cloud printing service is requested for the content to the target phone number.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram for describing a phone number-based cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram of an image forming system for providing a phone number-based cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a user device of the image forming system, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a cloud server of the image forming system, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus of the image forming system, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 6a and 6b are diagrams for describing processes of mapping a phone number of a mobile device of a second individual to an image forming apparatus, and registering the phone number of the mobile device in a cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 6c is a diagram for describing processes of mapping the phone number of the mobile device of the second individual to the image forming apparatus, and registering the phone number of the mobile device in the cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 6d is a diagram for describing processes of mapping the phone number of the mobile device of the second individual to the image forming apparatus, and registering the phone number of the mobile device in the cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 6e illustrates user interface (UI) screens of a printing application executed in the mobile device to register the phone number of the mobile device in the cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 7a and 7b are diagrams for describing processes of mapping the phone number of the mobile device of the second individual to the image forming apparatus, and registering the phone number of the mobile device in the cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 8a and 8b are diagrams for describing processes of mapping the phone number of the mobile device of the second individual to the image forming apparatus, and registering the phone number of the mobile device in the cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 9a and 9b are diagrams for describing processes of mapping the phone number of the mobile device of the second individual to an email address, and registering the phone number of the mobile device in the cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 10a and 10b are diagrams for describing processes of mapping the phone number of the mobile device of the second individual to the email address, and registering the phone number of the mobile device in the cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 11a and 11b are diagrams for describing processes of transmitting a content to be printed based on a phone number from a mobile device of a first individual to the cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 11c and 11d illustrate UI screens of the mobile device of the second individual for transmitting the content to be printed based on the phone number from the mobile device of the first individual to the cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 12a and 12b are diagrams for describing processes of transmitting a content to be printed based on a phone number from an image forming apparatus to the cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 12c illustrates UI screens of the image forming apparatus for transmitting the content to be printed based on the phone number from the image forming apparatus to the cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 13a and 13b are diagrams for describing processes of transmitting a content to be printed based on a phone number from a computing device of the first individual to the cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 14 is a diagram for describing processes of transmitting a content to be printed based on a phone number to the cloud server by using an email address of the second individual, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 15a and 15b are diagrams for describing processes of the second individual printing a content received from the first individual through the image forming apparatus based on a phone number, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 16a and 16b are diagrams for describing processes of the second individual printing a content received from the first individual through the image forming apparatus based on a phone number, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 17a and 17b are diagrams for describing processes of the second individual printing a content received from the first individual through the image forming apparatus based on a phone number, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 18a and 18b are diagrams for describing processes of the second individual printing a content received from the first individual through the image forming apparatus based on a phone number, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 19 illustrates UI screens of the mobile device of the second individual for the second individual to print a content received from the first individual through the image forming apparatus, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 20 is a diagram for describing concepts of direct printing and pull printing of the image forming system, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 21 is a diagram for describing notifying an arrival of a content to be printed when the content arrives the mobile device of the second individual, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 22 is a diagram for describing a management service for monitoring a state of the image forming apparatus based on a phone number of an administrator, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 23 is a diagram for describing the cloud server managing phone numbers of individuals, companies, or groups by classifying the phone numbers into a white list and a blacklist, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 24 is a diagram for describing faxing a content from the mobile device of the first individual based on a facsimile number of the image forming apparatus, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 25 is a diagram for describing an environment of a phone number-based cloud printing service
  • FIG. 26 is a diagram for describing a cloud printing service providing system in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are linked, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 27a and 27b are diagrams of structures of a cloud server, according to embodiments.
  • FIG. 28 is a diagram for describing a structure and operations of a cloud printing service providing system in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are linked, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 29 is a diagram for describing a structure and operations of a cloud printing service providing system in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are linked, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 30 is a diagram for describing a cloud printing service provided when a print job is requested by a user device, when a cloud printing service providing system in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are linked includes a public cloud server, according to an embodiment;
  • FIG. 31 is a diagram for describing a cloud printing service provided when a print job is requested by the user device, when a cloud printing service providing system in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are linked includes a private cloud server, according to an embodiment;
  • FIG. 32 is a diagram for describing a cloud printing service provided when a print job is requested by a mobile device, when a cloud printing service providing system in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are linked includes a public cloud server, according to an embodiment;
  • FIG. 33 is a diagram for describing a cloud printing service provided when a print job is requested by the mobile device, when a cloud printing service providing system in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are linked includes a private cloud server, according to an embodiment;
  • FIG. 34 is a diagram for describing a cloud printing service for a mobile device of a recipient requesting to perform a print job according to a pull printing method, when a cloud printing service providing system in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are lined includes a public cloud server, according to an embodiment;
  • FIG. 35 is a diagram for describing a cloud printing service for a mobile device of a recipient requesting to perform a print job according to a pull printing method, when a cloud printing service providing system in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are lined includes a private cloud server, according to an embodiment;
  • FIG. 36 is a diagram for describing logging in of the user device based on a phone number, by using a cloud printing service providing system in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are linked, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 37 is a flowchart of a method of providing a cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 38 is a flowchart of a method of providing a cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 39 is a diagram of an environment of a cloud printing system
  • FIG. 40 is a block diagram of the cloud printing system, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 41 is a diagram for describing a method of performing a phone number-based print operation, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 42a and 42b are diagrams for describing processes of setting print operation conditions in a server, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 43 is a diagram for describing processes of a sender setting print operation conditions and requesting a print operation to perform the print operation, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 44 is a diagram for describing a method of performing a phone number-based print operation, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 45 is a diagram for describing a method of performing a phone number-based print operation, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 46 is a flowchart of a method of performing a phone number-based print operation, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 47 is a flowchart of a method of performing a phone number-based print operation, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 48 is a flowchart of a method of performing a phone number-based print operation, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 49 is a flowchart of a method of performing a phone number-based print operation, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 50 is a flowchart of a method of performing a phone number-based print operation, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 51a is a diagram of an environment of a cloud printing system
  • FIG. 51b is a diagram of an environment of a cloud printing system, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 52 is a block diagram of a cloud server according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 53 is a block diagram of a cloud printing system according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 54 is a diagram for describing processes of setting a group in a mobile terminal and transmitting a print operation destined for a plurality of phone numbers, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 55 is a diagram for describing processes of transmitting a print operation destined for a plurality of phone numbers, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 56 is a diagram of a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) packet for transmitting a print operation destined for a plurality of phone numbers, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 57 illustrates a document and count table, and a phone number and document reference table for managing a print operation, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 58a is a diagram for describing processes of a cloud server managing a stored print operation when the print operation is external, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 58b is a diagram for describing processes of a cloud server managing a stored print operation when the print operation is external, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 59 illustrates a document and printable duration table, and a phone number and document reference table for managing a print operation, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 60 is a diagram for describing processes of a cloud server managing a stored print operation when the print operation is external, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 61 is a flowchart of a method of performing a phone number-based print operation, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 62 is a flowchart of a method of performing a phone number-based print operation, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 63 is a flowchart of a method of performing a phone number-based print operation, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 64 is a flowchart of a method of performing a phone number-based print operation, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 65 is a block diagram of a cloud printing system according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 66 is a block diagram of a cloud server according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 67 is a diagram for describing a method of providing a phone-number based cloud printing service, which is performed by a cloud printing system, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 68 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a phone number-based cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 69 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a phone number-based cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 70 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a phone number-based cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 71 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a phone number-based cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 72 is a diagram for describing a process of transmitting a service subscription invitation message to a phone number to which a content is to be transmitted, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 73 is a diagram for describing a process of performing authentication for a service non-subscriber to subscribe a service
  • FIG. 74 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing authentication, which is performed by an application program interface (API) server that is a part of a cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 75 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing authentication, which is performed by an authentication server that is a part of the cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 76a and 76b are diagrams for describing processes of performing authentication on a phone number in response to a service subscription inducement message, which are performed by a service non-subscriber;
  • FIGS. 77a and 77b are diagrams for describing processes of performing an authentication request on a phone number such that a service subscriber is able to use a service by using another device;
  • FIGS. 78a through 78c are diagrams for describing processes of interlocking a user account to a registered phone number, which are performed by a service subscriber;
  • FIGS. 79a through 79c are diagrams for describing processes of performing authentication so as to use a service by using a mobile terminal using a different phone number
  • FIGS. 80a through 80c are diagrams for describing processes of performing authentication so as to use a service by using a mobile terminal, which are performed by another user;
  • FIG. 81 is a diagram illustrating an image forming system supporting a cloud printing service of an image forming apparatus by using a computing device in which an agent application is installed, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 82 is a block diagram illustrating in detail a computing device supporting a phone number-based cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 83 is a diagram for describing a process of supporting a phone number-based cloud service by using an agent application installed in a computing device, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 84 is a diagram for describing a process of registering a use of an agent application in a cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 85 is a diagram of UI screens for an agent application to set a phone number or an image forming apparatus to subscribe to a cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 86 is a diagram for describing an agent application that is executed as a system service on an operating system (OS), according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 87 is a diagram for describing a process of registering information about phone numbers or image forming apparatuses subscribed to a cloud printing service in a cloud server by using an agent application, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 88 is a diagram of UI screens for adding a phone number to subscribe to a cloud printing service by using an agent application, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 89 is a diagram of UI screens for deleting a phone number subscribed to a cloud printing service by using an agent application, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 90 is a diagram of UI screens for changing information about an image forming apparatus subscribed to a cloud printing service by using an agent application, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 91 is a diagram of UI screens for updating information registered in an agent application based on information registered in a cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 92 is a diagram for describing providing a list of image forming apparatuses to subscribe to a cloud printing service by using an agent application, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 93a through 93c are diagrams for describing methods of discovering image forming apparatuses to subscribe to a cloud printing service, according to embodiments;
  • FIG. 94 is a flowchart illustrating a method of supporting a cloud printing service, which is performed by a computing device, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 95 is a diagram of a cloud printing system according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 96 is a flowchart illustrating an overall process of a method of interlocking a cloud printing service with a web storage service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 97 is a diagram illustrating in detail a process of interlocking a cloud printing server with a web storage server, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 98 is a diagram of UI screens shown on a mobile application when a cloud printing service is set to be interlocked with a web storage service during a method of providing the cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 99 is a diagram of UI screens displayed during a process of creating a synchronization folder when a cloud printing service is set to be interlocked with a web storage service during a method of providing a cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 100 and 101 are flowcharts for describing processes of interlocking a cloud printing service with a web storage service during a method of providing a cloud printing service, according to embodiments;
  • FIG. 102 is a diagram illustrating in detail a process of transmitting print data during a method of providing a cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 103 is a diagram of UI screens shown on a mobile application when print data is transmitted during a method of providing a cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 104 is a flowchart for describing a process of transmitting print data during a method of providing a cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 105 and 106 are diagrams illustrating in detail processes of reading a list of print data during a method of providing a cloud printing service, according to embodiments;
  • FIGS. 107 and 108 are diagrams illustrating in detail processes of printing print data stored in a web storage server during a method of providing a cloud printing service, according to embodiments;
  • FIGS. 109a and 109b are block diagrams illustrating in detail a cloud printing server according to embodiments.
  • FIG. 110 is a diagram of an environment of a cloud printing system, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 111 is a block diagram of a cloud server according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 112 is a block diagram of a cloud printing system according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 113a is a block diagram of a cloud printing system according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 113b is a block diagram of a cloud printing system according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 114 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 115 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 116 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 117 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 118 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 119 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 120 is a diagram for describing a process of providing a cloud printing service, which is performed by a cloud system, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 121a is a diagram of an HTTP packet for receiving options set in a cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 121b is a diagram of an HTTP packet for transmitting an option to be set in a cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 122a through 122c are diagrams for describing a process of setting a time slot when direct printing is performable, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 123a and 123b are diagrams for describing a process of setting a sender who is allowed to perform direct printing, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 124 is a diagram of a table for managing options about whether direct printing is performable, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 125 is a diagram for describing a process of providing a cloud printing service, which is performed by a cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 126 is a diagram for describing an environment of a printing service of an image forming apparatus requesting for a phone number-based printing service
  • FIG. 127 is a diagram for describing a structure of an image forming apparatus requesting for a phone number-based printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 128 is a diagram for describing a process of requesting a print job upon receiving recipient information from a mobile device, which is performed by an image forming apparatus requesting for a phone number-based printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 129 is a diagram for describing a process of selecting a recipient to receive a print job from a mobile address book of a mobile device, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 130 is a diagram for describing a process of automatically inputting recipient information on a screen for inputting a phone number of a recipient upon receiving the recipient information from a mobile device, which is performed by an image forming apparatus requesting for a phone number-based printing service, according to an embodiment;
  • FIGS. 131 and 132 are diagrams for describing processes of storing recipient information in an address book, which are performed by an image forming apparatus requesting for a phone number-based printing service, according to embodiments;
  • FIGS. 133a through 133c are diagrams of recipient information stored in an address book of an image forming apparatus requesting for a phone number-based printing service, according to categories, according to embodiments;
  • FIG. 134 is a diagram for describing a process of requesting for a print job upon receiving a server address book from a cloud server, which is performed by an image forming apparatus requesting for a phone number-based printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 135 is a diagram of a screen for setting a connection with a cloud server, which is performed by an image forming apparatus requesting for a phone number-based printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 136 is a diagram for describing a process of displaying a server address book on a screen for inputting a phone number of a recipient upon receiving the server address book from a cloud server, which is performed by an image forming apparatus requesting for a phone number-based printing service, according to an embodiment;
  • FIG. 137 is a flowchart illustrating a method of requesting for a phone number-based printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 138 is a flowchart illustrating a method of requesting for a phone number-based printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 139 is a diagram of a cloud printing system supporting a cloud printing service of an image forming apparatus by using a computing device in which an agent application is installed, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 140 is a diagram for describing a near field communication (NFC) tag attached to a computing device, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 141a is a block diagram of a first mobile device according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 141b is a block diagram of a second mobile device according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 142 is a diagram for describing registering a use of an agent application installed in a computing device, in a cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 143 is a diagram for describing registering a list of phone numbers and a list of image forming apparatuses, which are managed by an agent application, in a cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 144 is a diagram for describing a process of writing information on an NFC tag by using a first mobile device, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 145 is a diagram for describing a process of writing information on an NFC tag through a UI screen of a first mobile device, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 146 is a diagram for describing a process of reading information from an NFC tag by using a second mobile device, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 147 is a diagram for describing a process of reading information from an NFC tag through a UI screen of a second mobile device, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 148 is a diagram for describing a whole process of registering a second mobile device in a cloud printing service by using an NFC tag, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 149 is a flowchart illustrating a method of registering a second mobile device in a cloud printing service by using an NFC tag, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 150 is a diagram of a cloud printing system capable of device registration through an augmented reality application, a Bluetooth, or quick response (QR) code reading, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 151 is a diagram of a cloud printing system capable of registering an image forming apparatus by using an augmented reality application, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 152 and 153 are diagrams illustrating examples of registering indoor positioning system (IPS) information and a media access control (MAC) address in a cloud printing server respectively when an image forming apparatus is able to generate the IPS information and unable to generate the IPS information;
  • IPS indoor positioning system
  • MAC media access control
  • FIG. 154 is a diagram illustrating a detailed process of a method of registering an image forming apparatus by using an augmented reality application, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 155 is a flowchart illustrating a method of registering an image forming apparatus by using an augmented reality application, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 156 is a diagram of a cloud printing system capable of registering an image forming apparatus through QR code reading, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 157 is a diagram for describing a detailed process of a method of registering an image forming apparatus through QR code reading, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 158 is a flowchart illustrating a method of registering an image forming apparatus through QR code reading, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 159 is a diagram of a cloud printing system capable of direct registration of an image forming apparatus, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 160 is a diagram for describing a detailed process of a method of directly registering an image forming apparatus, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 161 is a flowchart illustrating a method of directly registering an image forming apparatus, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 162 is a diagram of a cloud printing system capable of registering an image forming apparatus by using a Bluetooth, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 163 is a diagram for describing a process of storing device information of image forming apparatuses pre-registered in a cloud printing server during a method of registering an image forming apparatus by using a Bluetooth, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 164 is a diagram for describing a process of a mobile device obtaining device information from an image forming apparatus during a method of registering an image forming apparatus by using a Bluetooth, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 165 is a diagram for describing a detailed process of a method of registering an image forming apparatus by using a Bluetooth, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 166 is a diagram for describing a detailed process of a method of performing cloud printing by using a Bluetooth, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 167 is a flowchart illustrating a method of registering an image forming apparatus by using a Bluetooth, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 168 is a flowchart illustrating a method of registering an image forming apparatus through an augmented reality application, a Bluetooth, or QR code reading, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 169 is a diagram of an environment of a user uploading content to be printed and a print job to a cloud server by using a mobile terminal;
  • FIG. 170 is a block diagram of a cloud server according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 171 is a diagram for describing a process of uploading content to a cloud server, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 172 is a diagram for describing a process of transmitting, by the mobile terminal, a job upload request regarding content, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 173 is a diagram for describing a process of transmitting, by the mobile terminal, a job upload request regarding content, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 174 is a diagram for describing a process of transmitting, by the user of the mobile terminal, a job regarding content to another user, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 175 is a diagram for describing a process of performing, by the image forming apparatus, an image forming job regarding content included in a print job as a user transmits the print job registered in the cloud server to the image forming apparatus;
  • FIG. 176 is a diagram for describing receiving preview data regarding content included in a print job as the user transmits a preview request regarding the print job registered in the cloud server;
  • FIG. 177 is a diagram for describing a process of receiving, by the mobile terminal, an access code as the phone number of the mobile terminal is authenticated by the authentication server before a job upload request regarding content is transmitted;
  • FIG. 178 is a diagram for describing a cloud printing system according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 179 is a flowchart of a method of providing a cloud printing service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 180 is a flowchart illustrating operation 17920 of FIG. 179 in detail, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 181 is a flowchart illustrating operation 17930 of FIG. 179 in detail, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 182 is a flowchart illustrating operation 17960 of FIG. 179 in detail, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 183 is a flowchart illustrating operations 18240 through 18250 of FIG. 182 in detail, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 184 is a flowchart of a method of providing a cloud service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 185 is a flowchart of a method of providing a cloud service, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 186 is a flowchart illustrating operation 17910 of FIG. 179 in detail, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 187 is a diagram for describing a process of displaying, by the mobile terminal, a remaining time regarding an uploaded job, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 188 is a diagram for describing various remaining time graphics and remaining times displayed on the mobile terminal, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 189 illustrates an environment where a cloud print service is provided using a mobile application, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 190 and 191 illustrates user interface (UI) screens which are displayed in the process of registering an image forming device in a cloud server via a mobile application, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 192a and 192b illustrate UI screens which are displayed in the process of uploading print data in a cloud server via a mobile application, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 193a and 193b illustrate UI screens which are displayed in the process of uploading print data in a cloud server by designating a receiver in a mobile application, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 194 and 195 illustrate UI screens which are displayed in the process of printing print data which is stored in a cloud server via a mobile application, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 196 to 199 illustrate animation screens which are displayed when performing each operation of a cloud print service via a mobile application, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 200 to 205 are flowcharts illustrating operations of a method of providing a cloud print service by using a mobile application, according to embodiments
  • FIG. 206 is a diagram of a cloud print system provided through a mobile application, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 207 is a diagram for describing an example of opening a sharing room and inviting another user and another device to the sharing room;
  • FIG. 208 is a block diagram of a cloud print server for providing a cloud print service using a mobile application, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 209 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal for providing a cloud print service using a mobile application, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 210 illustrates user interface (UI) screens displayed during a process of subscribing to a cloud print service through a mobile application, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 211 illustrates UI screens displayed during a process of additionally registering, by a mobile application, a device, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 212 illustrates UI screens displayed during a process of opening, by a mobile application, a sharing room by inviting an output device and outputting, by the output device, content through the sharing room, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 213a and 213b illustrate UI screens displayed during a process of transmitting, by a mobile application, content to another user through a sharing room, and outputting, by the other user who received the content, the content by using a device participating in the sharing room, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 214 illustrates a UI screen displaying a state of a device participating in a sharing room of a mobile application, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 215 illustrates UI screens displayed during a process of controlling, by a mobile application, content displayed on an output device, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 216 illustrates UI screens displayed during a process of adding a memo to a document shared in a sharing room of a mobile application, according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 217 illustrates UI screens displayed during a process of checking and managing, by a mobile application, a history of contents shared in a sharing room, according to an embodiment
  • FIGS. 218 through 221 are flowcharts of a method of providing a cloud print service using a mobile application, according to embodiments.
  • FIG. 222 is a diagram for describing a process of registering an image forming apparatus in a cloud printing server by using a mobile device, according to an embodiment.
  • FIG. 223 is a diagram for describing a process of receiving a print job from a print job server and performing printing, which is performed by an image forming apparatus, according to an embodiment.
  • FIG. 224 is a diagram for describing a process of performing a scan job to upload a scan job file.
  • FIG. 225 is a diagram for describing a process of registering an image forming apparatus in a managing server and performing a print job, according to an embodiment.
  • FIG. 226 is a diagram for describing a process of applying a print option stored in a cloud server to content, which is performed by the cloud server, according to an embodiment.
  • FIG. 227 is a diagram for describing a process of applying a print option received from a mobile device to content, which is performed by a cloud server, according to an embodiment.
  • FIG. 228 is a diagram for describing a process of uploading content, including a webpage or an email, to a cloud server, according to an embodiment.
  • FIG. 229a is a diagram illustrating a user interface of a mobile device that sets a print option, according to an embodiment.
  • FIG. 229b is a diagram illustrating a user interface on a web that sets a print option, according to an embodiment.
  • an image forming system operable to provide a cloud printing service
  • the image forming system comprising: a transmitting device operable to transmit content by designating a target phone number; a cloud printing server operable to receive the target phone number and the content from the transmitting device; a receiving device assigned with the target phone number and operable to receive an upload notification of the content with respect to the target phone number from the cloud printing server; and an image forming device operable to print the content by receiving the content from the cloud printing server, wherein the cloud printing server transmits the content to the image forming device registered in the target phone number when the cloud printing service is requested for the content to the target phone number.
  • the transmitting device may include: a user interface unit operable to receive input information about the content and the target phone number; a controller operable to generate print job information including the content and the target phone number; and a network interface unit operable to transmit the generated print job information to the cloud printing server.
  • the transmitting device may include: a user interface unit operable to display a list of contacts and a list of contents, which are stored in the transmitting device; and a network interface unit operable to transmit the content and the target phone number to the cloud printing server when the content and the target phone number are set from among the lists displayed through the user interface unit.
  • the user interface unit may display the list of contents, which is stored in the transmitting device when the list of contacts is displayed and the target phone number is selected from the displayed list of contacts.
  • the user interface unit may display the list of contacts, which is stored in the transmitting device when the list of contents is displayed and the content is selected from the displayed list of contents.
  • the cloud printing server may include: a network interface unit operable to receive print job information including the content and the target phone number from the transmitting device; a controller operable to register the print job information by mapping the content and the target phone number; and a storage unit operable to store the registered print job information.
  • the cloud printing server may receive, from at least one of the receiving device and the image forming device, registration request information including the target phone number and identification information of the image forming device to be mapped to the target phone number, and manages registration information about the image forming device mapped to the target phone number based on the received registration request information.
  • the identification information may include a media access control (MAC) address of the image forming device
  • the cloud printing server may receive, from the image forming device, meta information comprising at least one of the MAC address, an internet protocol (IP) address, a serial number, and a product name of the image forming device, maps the target phone number and the image forming device by using the identification information and the meta information when the registration request information is received, and transmits the meta information of the image forming device to the receiving device, and the receiving device may identify the image forming device registered in the target phone number by using the meta information received from the cloud printing server.
  • IP internet protocol
  • the receiving device may include: a network interface unit operable to receive, from the cloud printing server, the upload notification indicating that the content corresponding to the target phone number is registered in the cloud printing server; a user interface unit operable to display information about the content based on the received upload notification; and a controller operable to generate a print request about the content, wherein the network interface unit may transmit the generated print request to the cloud printing server.
  • the cloud printing server may identify the image forming device for processing the received print request and transmits print data of the content to the identified image forming device.
  • a method of providing, by an image forming system, a cloud printing service comprising: transmitting, by a transmitting device, content by designating a target phone number; receiving, by a cloud printing server, the target phone number and the content from the transmitting device; receiving, by a receiving device assigned with the target phone number, an upload notification of the content with respect to the target phone number from the cloud printing server; and printing, by an image forming device, the content by receiving the content from the cloud printing server, wherein the cloud printing server transmits the content to the image forming device registered in the target phone number when the cloud printing service is requested for the content to the target phone number.
  • the method may further include displaying, by the transmitting device, a list of contacts and a list of contents, which are stored in the transmitting device, wherein the transmitting of the content may include, when the content and the target phone number are set from among the displayed lists, transmitting the set content and the set target phone number to the cloud printing server.
  • the method may further include receiving, by the cloud printing server, print job information including the content and the target phone number from the transmitting device; registering, by the cloud printing server, the print job information by mapping the content and the target phone number; and storing, by the cloud printing server, the registered print job information.
  • the method may further include receiving, by the cloud printing server, registration request information including the target phone number and identification information of the image forming device to be mapped to the target phone number from at least one of the receiving device and the image forming device; updating, by the cloud printing server, registration information about the image forming device mapped to the target phone number based on the received registration request information; and storing, by the cloud printing server, the updated registration information.
  • the identification information may include a media access control (MAC) address of the image forming device
  • the method may further include: receiving, by the cloud printing server, meta information comprising at least one of the MAC address, an internet protocol (IP) address, a serial number, and a product name of the image forming device, from the image forming device; mapping, by the cloud printing server, the target phone number and the image forming device by using the identification information and the meta information when the registration request information is received; transmitting, by the cloud printing server, the meta information of the image forming device to the receiving device; and identifying, by the receiving device, the image forming device registered in the target phone number by using the meta information received from the cloud printing server.
  • IP internet protocol
  • the method may further include: receiving, by the receiving device, the upload notification indicating that the content corresponding to the target phone number is registered in the cloud printing server, from the cloud printing server; displaying, by the receiving device, information about the content based on the received upload notification; generating, by the receiving device, a print request about the content; and transmitting, by the receiving device, the generated print request to the cloud printing server.
  • an image forming system operable to provide a cloud printing service
  • the image forming system may include: a cloud printing server operable to receive, from a transmitting device, content and a target phone number of a receiving device to which the cloud printing service for the content is to be provided; and an image forming device operable to print the content by receiving the content from the cloud printing server, wherein the cloud printing server maps and registers the target phone number and the image forming device so as to perform the cloud printing service on the target phone number requested by the transmitting device.
  • the cloud printing server may receive, from at least one of the receiving device and the image forming device, the target phone number and identification information of the image forming device to be mapped to the target phone number, and manages registration information about the image forming device mapped to the target phone number based on the received registration request information.
  • a method of providing, by an image forming system, a cloud printing service may include: receiving, by a cloud printing server, content and a target phone number of a receiving device to which the cloud printing service for the content is to be provided, from a transmitting device; receiving, by an image forming device, the content from the cloud printing server; and printing, by the image forming device, the received content, wherein the cloud printing server maps and registers the target phone number and the image forming device so as to process a request of the cloud printing service on the target phone number.
  • At least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions which when executed implement methods of one or more embodiments.
  • One or more embodiments relate to a method and system for providing a cloud printing service, and a cloud server for supporting the cloud printing service, and detailed explanations of related art well known to one of ordinary skill in the art may be omitted.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram for describing a phone number-based cloud printing service, according to an embodiment.
  • a content such as an image or a document
  • the content stored in the mobile device 11 of the first individual 21 is transmitted to the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 based on a phone number of the mobile device 13.
  • the mobile devices 11 and 13 herein may each be a portable mobile device or user device having a mobile communication function, such as a smart phone, a tablet device, portable media player (PMP), digital camera, personal computer, (PC), laptop computer notebook computer, portable game player, wearable device, or a personal digital assistant (PDA), but are not limited thereto. Further, it is understood that embodiments are also applicable to any device with which an apparatus, method, or medium of an embodiment can be used.
  • PDA personal digital assistant
  • Such a portable mobile device having a mobile communication function is capable of a telephone call by using a well-known mobile communication technology, such as a second generation (2G) mobile communication, a third generation (3G) mobile communication, or a fourth generation (4G) mobile communication.
  • a well-known mobile communication technology such as a second generation (2G) mobile communication, a third generation (3G) mobile communication, or a fourth generation (4G) mobile communication.
  • one intrinsic phone number is assigned to each portable mobile device by a telecommunication company, and the portable mobile devices are distinguished from each other via the intrinsic phone numbers.
  • one phone number is assigned to each of the mobile device 11 of the first individual 21 and the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23.
  • the phone number may be an intrinsic identification (ID) number of the mobile device 11 or 13.
  • the first individual 21 may transmit a content to the second individual 23 that is a subject to print the content by inputting the phone number of the second individual 23. Then, the second individual 23 may print the received content by using the image forming apparatus 31.
  • types of the mobile devices 11 and 13 of the first and second individuals 21 and 23 are not limited to the above, and the mobile devices 11 and 13 may be any devices as long as they are user devices to which a phone number is assigned.
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram of an image forming system 1 for providing a phone number-based cloud printing service, according to an embodiment.
  • the image forming system 1 includes the mobile device 11 used by the first individual 21, for example, John Lee, the mobile device 13 used by the second individual 23, for example, Jane Kim, a mobile device 15 used by a third individual 25, for example, Brad Jones, a mobile device 17 used by a fourth individual 27, for example, Tom Smith, a plurality of image forming apparatuses 31, 33, and 35, and a cloud server 40.
  • the number of the first through fourth individuals 21 through 27 and the number of image forming apparatuses 31 through 35 included in the image forming system 1 are arbitrarily set for convenience of description, and thus are not limited thereto.
  • the names of the first through fourth individuals 21 through 27 are arbitrarily determined for convenience of description, and thus are not limited thereto.
  • the first individual 21 may transmit print data of a content by inputting a phone number of at least one subject, for example, the second individual 23, from among subjects to print the content, to the mobile device 11. Also, the first individual 21 may transmit the print data of the content to another individual, for example, the third or fourth individual 25 or 27 by inputting a phone number of the other individual to the mobile device 11.
  • the first individual 21 may select a content stored in or being used by the mobile device 11, and input the phone number of the second individual 23 that is a subject to print the data to the mobile device 11.
  • the cloud server 40 is a server for managing the phone numbers of the mobile devices 11 through 17.
  • the cloud server 40 may be a server for managing information about a mapping relationship between the phone numbers of the mobile devices 11 through 17 and the image forming apparatuses 31 through 35, and information about a mapping relationship between the phone numbers of the mobile devices 11 through 17 and contents transmitted from the mobile devices 11 through 17.
  • the cloud server 40 may perform cloud rendering for rendering or converting a content that is not in a print data format to a print data format.
  • the cloud server 40 When the phone number of the second individual 23 and the information about the selected content are transmitted from the mobile device 11 of the first individual 21, the cloud server 40 renders or converts the received content to a print data format, and transmits print data of the content to the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 based on the phone number of the second individual 23 mapped to the content.
  • the print data of the content may be printed by at least one of the image forming apparatuses 31 through 25 assigned (mapped) by the mobile device 13.
  • the print data of the content may be automatically printed by at least one of the image forming apparatuses 31 through 35.
  • a direct printing mode will be described in detail later.
  • the print data of the content is not automatically printed by at least one of the image forming apparatuses 31 through 25, but may be held (may stand by) until a process request is input to the mobile device 13 by the second individual 23.
  • the mobile device 13 displays the information about the selected content to the second individual 23, and processes the content when the second individual 23 inputs the process request.
  • the second individual 23 may input a print request to the at least one of the image forming apparatuses 31 through 35 assigned (mapped) by the mobile device 13. Alternatively, the second individual 23 may input a forwarding request for forwarding the content to the other individual, for example, the third or fourth individual 25 or 27. Alternatively, when the second individual 23 does not want to print the content, the second individual 23 may input a delete request for deleting the information about the selected content stored in the cloud server 40. Such a pull printing mode will be described in detail later.
  • the cloud server 40 may pre-manage information about the image forming apparatus 31 mapped to the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23. Accordingly, the cloud server 40 transmits the print data of the content transmitted to the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 to the image forming apparatus 31 mapped to the mobile device 13. Then, the image forming apparatus 31 prints the content based on the print data of the content, and thus a request of the mobile device 11 of the first individual 21 to print the content is completed.
  • the cloud server 40 may manage that only the image forming apparatus 31 is mapped to the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23, but the other image forming apparatus 33 or 35 may be additionally mapped thereto.
  • registration information about a mapping relationship may be updated in the cloud server 40 by performing a registration process of the mobile devices 11 through 17 with respect to one of the image forming apparatuses 31 through 35 as described later.
  • the mobile devices 11 through 17, the image forming apparatuses 31 through 35, and the cloud server 40 in the image forming system 1 may be connected to each other through any one of currently well-known types of wired/wireless communication networks and mobile communication networks.
  • the image forming system 1 may transmit and receive a content to be printed by only using the phone numbers of the mobile devices 11 through 17, and may print a content by using the various image forming apparatuses 31 through 35.
  • a printing platform of the image forming system 1 may be provided to an open application programmer interface (API) for an application developer or a webpage manufacturer. Accordingly, the application developer or the webpage manufacturer may freely develop a print application executed in the mobile device 11, 13, 15, or 17, or the image forming apparatus 31, 33, or 35 by using the open API of the image forming system 1 based on the printing platform.
  • API application programmer interface
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a user device 10 of the image forming system 1, according to an embodiment.
  • the user device 10 may correspond to at least any one of the mobile devices 11 through 17 of the image forming system 1 of FIG. 2.
  • the user device 10 may be the mobile device 11 that is a transmitter terminal for transmitting a content to be printed, or the mobile device 13, 15, or 17 that is a receiver terminal for receiving a content to be printed.
  • the user device 10 may be a computing device 19 of FIG. 8a or 8b connectable to an embedded webpage provided by the image forming apparatus 31, 33, or 35.
  • the mobile devices 11 through 17 include the components of the user device 10 of FIG. 3.
  • the user device 10 includes a user interface (UI) unit (user interface)110, a controller 120, and a network interface unit (network interface130.
  • UI user interface
  • controller 120 controls the user interface
  • network interface 130 receives user interface signals from the user device 10.
  • UI user interface
  • network interface 130 receives network signals from the user device 10.
  • FIG. 3 In order to prevent features of an embodiment from being blurred, only hardware components related to an embodiment are described in FIG. 3. However, general-purpose hardware components other that those shown in FIG. 3 may be included in the user device 10.
  • the UI unit 110 is a hardware component including an input device or a display device, and displays information to a user of the user device 10 or receives information from the user.
  • the user interface 110 may include, for example, one or more of a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a joystick, a button, a switch, an electronic pen or stylus, a gesture recognition sensor (e.g., to recognize gestures of a user including movements of a body part), an input sound device or voice recognition sensor (e.g., a microphone to receive a voice command), an output sound device (e.g., a speaker), a track ball, a pedal or footswitch, a virtual-reality device, and the like.
  • a gesture recognition sensor e.g., to recognize gestures of a user including movements of a body part
  • an input sound device or voice recognition sensor e.g., a microphone to receive a voice command
  • an output sound device e.g., a speaker
  • track ball e
  • the user interface 110 may further include a haptic device to provide haptic feedback to a user.
  • the user interface 110 may also include a touchscreen display, for example.
  • the touchscreen display may include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, active matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED), flexible display, 3D display, and the like, for example.
  • LCD liquid crystal display
  • LED light emitting diode
  • OLED organic light emitting diode
  • AMOLED active matrix organic light emitting diode
  • flexible display 3D display, and the like, for example.
  • the disclosure is not so limited thereto and may include other types of touchscreen displays.
  • the disclosure may also include other types of user interfaces.
  • the user may select a content to be printed, which is received from, for example, outside the user device 10, or may set print options of the content. Also, the user may input a phone number that is an external destination, through the UI unit 110.
  • the controller 120 is a hardware component for controlling overall operations and functions of the user device 10.
  • the controller 120 may execute a printing application for providing a phone number-based cloud printing service.
  • the controller 120 may be realized in at least one processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU), an application processor (AP), an arithmetic logic unit, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array, a programmable logic unit, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a microprocessor or any other device capable of responding to and executing computer-readable instructions.
  • processor such as a central processing unit (CPU), an application processor (AP), an arithmetic logic unit, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array, a programmable logic unit, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a microprocessor or any other device capable of responding to and executing computer-readable instructions.
  • CPU central processing unit
  • AP application processor
  • AP arithmetic logic unit
  • GPU graphics processing unit
  • DSP digital signal processor
  • microcomputer a field programm
  • the network interface unit 130 is a hardware component for supporting a wired or wireless communication function, and may support a wireless communication, such as Wi-Fi®, Wi-Fi direct®, a near field communication (NFC), Zigbee®, infrared data association (IrDA) or Bluetooth®, a wired communication such as Ethernet, or a 2G mobile communication, a 3G mobile communication, or a 4G mobile communication.
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the cloud server 40 of the image forming system 1, according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud server 40 may correspond to the cloud server 40 of the image forming system 1 of FIG. 2. It is assumed that the cloud server 40 described hereinafter includes components of the cloud server 40 of FIG. 4.
  • the cloud server 40 includes a controller 410, a storage unit (storage) 420, and a network interface unit (network interface) 430.
  • a controller 410 controls access to a cloud server 40.
  • storage storage
  • network interface network interface
  • FIG. 4 In order to prevent features of an embodiment from being blurred, only hardware components related to an embodiment are described in FIG. 4. However, general-purpose hardware components other that those shown in FIG. 4 may be included in the cloud server 40.
  • the controller 120 is a hardware component for controlling overall operations and functions of the cloud server 40.
  • the controller 120 may manage and update mapping information of the phone numbers of the first through fourth individuals 11 through 17, or may operate as a renderer for rendering or converting a content.
  • the controller 120 may be realized in at least one processor, such as a CPU or an AP.
  • the storage unit 420 stores phone number registration information with respect to a list of the phone numbers of the first through fourth individuals 11 through 17, a list of contents mapped to the phone numbers, and a list of the image forming apparatuses 31 through 35 mapped to the phone numbers.
  • the storage unit 420 stores print data of a content rendered or converted to a print data format.
  • the network interface unit (network interface) 430 is a hardware component for supporting a wired or wireless communication function, and may support a wireless communication, such as Wi-Fi®, Wi-Fi direct®, an NFC, Zigbee®, infrared data association (IrDA),or Bluetooth®, a wired communication such as Ethernet, or a 2G mobile communication, a 3G mobile communication, or a 4G mobile communication.
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus 30 of the image forming system 1, according to an embodiment.
  • the image forming apparatus 30 may correspond to at least one of the image forming apparatuses 31 through 35 of the image forming system 1 of FIG. 2. It is assumed that the image forming apparatuses 31 through 35 include components of the image forming apparatus 30 of FIG. 5.
  • the image forming apparatus 30 includes a UI unit (user interface) 310, a controller 320, a network interface unit (network interface) 330, and an image forming unit (image forming apparatus) 340.
  • UI unit user interface
  • controller 320 controller 320
  • network interface unit network interface
  • image forming unit image forming apparatus
  • a printing application providing a phone number-based cloud printing service which has similar functions as the printing application of the mobile device 11 of the first individual 21 described above may be pre-installed on an operating system (OS) of the image forming apparatus 30.
  • OS operating system
  • a printing application may be newly installed on the OS of the image forming apparatus 30 by one of the first through fourth individuals 11 through 17 who wants to use the image forming apparatus 30.
  • the user interface (UI) unit 310 is a hardware component including an input device or a display device, and displays information to a user of the image forming apparatus 30 or receives information from the user.
  • the user interface 310 may include, for example, one or more of a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a joystick, a button, a switch, an electronic pen or stylus, a gesture recognition sensor (e.g., to recognize gestures of a user including movements of a body part), an input sound device or voice recognition sensor (e.g., a microphone to receive a voice command), an output sound device (e.g., a speaker), a track ball, a pedal or footswitch, a virtual-reality device, and the like.
  • a gesture recognition sensor e.g., to recognize gestures of a user including movements of a body part
  • an input sound device or voice recognition sensor e.g., a microphone to receive a voice command
  • an output sound device e.g., a
  • the user interface 310 may further include a haptic device to provide haptic feedback to a user.
  • the user interface 310 may also include a touchscreen display, for example.
  • the touchscreen display may include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, active matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED), flexible display, 3D display, and the like, for example.
  • LCD liquid crystal display
  • LED light emitting diode
  • OLED organic light emitting diode
  • AMOLED active matrix organic light emitting diode
  • flexible display 3D display, and the like, for example.
  • the disclosure is not so limited thereto and may include other types of touchscreen displays.
  • the disclosure may also include other types of user interfaces .
  • the user may select a content to be scanned by the image forming apparatus 30 or may set print options of the content through the UI unit 310. Also, the user may input a phone number that is an external destination, through the UI unit 310.
  • the controller 320 is a hardware component for controlling overall operations and functions of the image forming apparatus 30.
  • the controller 320 may execute a printing application for providing a phone number-based cloud printing service.
  • the controller 320 may control a print function, a copy function, or a scan function of the image forming unit (image forming apparatus) 340.
  • the controller 320 may be realized in at least one processor, such as a CPU or an AP.
  • the network interface unit 330 is a hardware component for supporting a wired or wireless communication function, and may support a wireless communication, such as Wi-Fi®, Wi-Fi direct®, an NFC, Zigbee®, infrared data association (IrDA) or Bluetooth®, a wired communication such as Ethernet, or a 2G mobile communication, a 3G mobile communication, or a 4G mobile communication.
  • the image forming unit 340 is a hardware component for performing print and copy functions of a content, or a scan function of a document.
  • FIGS. 6a through 10b are diagrams for describing various methods of registering the image forming apparatus 31, 33, or 35 to print a received content, which are performed by the mobile device 13, 15, or 17 of one of the second through fourth individuals 23 through 27, for example, Jane Kim, Brad Jones, or Tom Smith, which corresponds to a receiver terminal in the image forming system 1 for providing a phone number-based cloud printing service.
  • FIGS. 6a through 10b are described mainly based on the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 who is a recipient, but the details of FIGS. 6a through 10b may also be applied to the mobile device 15 or 17 of the third or fourth individual 25 or 27. Since the mobile device 11 of the first individual 21, for example, John Lee, may also correspond to a receiver terminal, the mobile device 11 may also perform a registration process in the similar manner as any one of the methods described with reference to FIGS. 6a through 10b.
  • FIGS. 6a and 6b are diagrams for describing processes of mapping the phone number of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 to the image forming apparatus 31, and registering the phone number of the mobile device 13 in the cloud server 40, according to an embodiment.
  • the controller 120 of the mobile device 13 executes a printing application.
  • the controller 120 of the mobile device 13 obtains the phone number of the mobile device 13 through the executed printing application.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the mobile device 13 is wirelessly connected to the network interface unit 330 of the image forming apparatus 31 to receive identification (ID) information of the image forming apparatus 31.
  • ID identification
  • the ID information of the image forming apparatus 31 may include information about a network address of the image forming apparatus 31, for example, a media access control (MAC) address or an internet protocol (IP) address, and information about a serial number and product specification of the image forming apparatus 31.
  • MAC media access control
  • IP internet protocol
  • the network interface unit 130 of the mobile device 13 and the network interface unit 330 of the image forming apparatus 31 may be connected to each other through a wireless network, such as Wi-Fi®, Wi-Fi direct®, an NFC, or Zigbee®, infrared data association (IrDA) Bluetooth®.
  • a wireless network such as Wi-Fi®, Wi-Fi direct®, an NFC, or Zigbee®, infrared data association (IrDA) Bluetooth®.
  • operation 613 may be performed by NFC-tagging the mobile device 13 to the image forming apparatus 31 by activating an NFC function.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the mobile device 11 is wirelessly connected to the network interface unit 430 of the cloud server 40, and transmits information about the phone number of the mobile device 13 and the ID information of the image forming apparatus 31 to the cloud server 40, as registration information of the mobile device 13.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 maps the phone number of the mobile device 13 and the ID information of the image forming apparatus 31 to each other, and stores such mapping information in the storage unit 420 as the registration information of the mobile device 13.
  • the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13 notifies that the registering of the phone number of the mobile device 13 with respect to the image forming apparatus 31 is completed.
  • FIG. 6c is a diagram for describing processes of mapping the phone number of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 to the image forming apparatus 31, and registering the phone number of the mobile device 13 in the cloud server 40, according to an embodiment.
  • the controller 120 of the mobile device 13 executes the printing application in operation 621.
  • the controller 120 of the mobile device 13 obtains the phone number of the mobile device 13 through the executed printing application.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the mobile device 13 is wirelessly connected to the network interface unit 330 of the image forming apparatus 31 to transmit information about the obtained phone number to the image forming apparatus 31.
  • operation 623 may be performed by NFC-tagging the mobile device 13 to the image forming apparatus 31 by activating an NFC function.
  • the network interface unit 330 of the image forming apparatus 31 is wirelessly connected to the network interface unit 430 of the cloud server 40 to transmit the information about the obtained phone number and the ID information of the image forming apparatus 31 to the cloud server 40, as the registration information of the mobile device 13.
  • the image forming apparatus 31 may be connected to the cloud server 40 by using an extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP), or alternatively, any other protocol.
  • XMPP extensible messaging and presence protocol
  • the controller410 of the cloud server 40 maps the phone number of the mobile device 13 and the ID information of the image forming apparatus 31 to each other, and stores such mapping information in the storage unit 420 as the registration information of the mobile device 13.
  • the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13 notifies that registering of the phone number of the mobile device 13 with respect to the image forming apparatus 31 is completed.
  • FIG. 6d is a diagram for describing processes of mapping the phone number of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 to the image forming apparatus 31, and registering the phone number of the mobile device 13 in the cloud server 40, according to an embodiment.
  • the controller 120 of the mobile device 13 executes a printing application.
  • the controller 120 of the mobile device 13 obtains the phone number of the mobile device 13 through the executed printing application.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the mobile device 13 is wirelessly connected to the network interface unit 330 of the image forming apparatus 31 to receive ID information of the image forming apparatus 31.
  • operation 633 may be performed by NFC-tagging the mobile device 13 to the image forming apparatus 31 by activating an NFC function.
  • the network interface unit 330 of the image forming apparatus 31 connects to the cloud server 40. Operation 634 may be performed by a connection command of the mobile device 13.
  • the image forming apparatus 31 may be connected to the cloud server 40 by using an XMPP, or alternatively, any other protocol.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 obtains the ID information of the image forming apparatus 31.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the mobile device 13 is wirelessly connected to the network interface unit 430 of the cloud server 40 to transmit the information about the phone number of the mobile device 13 and the ID information of the image forming apparatus 31 to the cloud server 40, as the registration information of the mobile device 13.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 maps the phone number of the mobile device 13 and the ID information of the image forming apparatus 31, and stores such mapping information in the storage unit 420 as the registration information of the mobile device 13.
  • the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13 notifies that the registering of the phone number of the mobile device 13 with respect to the image forming apparatus 31 is completed.
  • FIG. 6e illustrates UI screens of the printing application executed in the mobile device 13 to register the phone number of the mobile device 13 in the cloud server 40, according to an embodiment.
  • the printing application is pre-installed in the mobile device 13.
  • the second individual 23 When the second individual 23 wants to register the phone number of the mobile device 13 and the image forming apparatus 31 in the cloud server 40, the second individual 23 executes the printing application in the mobile device 13.
  • a registration icon 603 When the second individual 23 clicks a registration icon 603 to register a new printer while the printing application is being executed, a first screen 601 is displayed.
  • the first screen 601 may display an entry for requesting registration of the image forming apparatus 31, an entry for setting a direct printing mode, and a list of image forming apparatuses registered to the phone number of the mobile device 13.
  • a second screen 602 is displayed.
  • the second screen 602 is a screen for guiding the registration of the image forming apparatus 31.
  • the second individual 23 may complete the registration of the image forming apparatus 31 by establishing a communication between the mobile device 13 and the image forming apparatus 31.
  • the communication between the mobile device 13 and the image forming apparatus 31 may be established by NFC-tagging the mobile device 13 to the image forming apparatus 31.
  • the communication between the mobile device 13 and the image forming apparatus 31 may be established by connecting them via any wireless communication method, such as Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi direct.
  • the mobile device 13 may register the information about the phone number of the mobile device 13 in the cloud server 40 through the first and second screens 601 and 602 of the pre-installed printing application.
  • the first and second screens 601 and 602 may be differently configured, and an embodiment is not limited by the screen configurations of the printing application.
  • the mobile device 13 may activate or deactivate a direct printing function through an icon 606 in the entry for setting the direct printing mode of the printing application.
  • the second individual 23 may select the image forming apparatus 31, for example, CLP-680, from the list of image forming apparatuses and click a set button 607 to assign the image forming apparatus 31 to perform the direct printing mode.
  • the image forming apparatus 31 for example, CLP-680
  • Information about the registration and direct printing mode performed by the printing application of the mobile device 13 may be transmitted to and stored in the cloud server 40.
  • FIGS. 7a and 7b are diagrams for describing processes of mapping the phone number of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 to the image forming apparatus 31, and registering the phone number of the mobile device 13 in the cloud server 40, according to an embodiment.
  • the second individual 23 i.e., Jane Kim, inputs the phone number of the mobile device 13 through the UI unit 310 of the image forming apparatus 31, in operation 711.
  • the network interface unit 330 of the image forming apparatus 31 is wirelessly connected to the network interface unit 430 of the cloud server 40 to transmit information about the input phone number to the cloud server 40.
  • the network interface unit 430 of the cloud server 40 transmits an arbitrary personal ID number (PIN) code to the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 having the input phone number by using a short message service (SMS) or a multimedia message service (MMS).
  • PIN personal ID number
  • SMS short message service
  • MMS multimedia message service
  • the cloud server 40 may transmit another type of an arbitrary code instead of the PIN code.
  • the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13 displays the PIN code received by using the SMS or MMS.
  • the second individual 23 inputs the PIN code received from the mobile device 13 through the UI unit 310 of the image forming apparatus 31.
  • the network interface unit 330 of the image forming apparatus 31 transmits information about the input PIN code and the ID information of the image forming apparatus 31 to the cloud server 40.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 compares the PIN code transmitted from the image forming apparatus 31 and the PIN code transmitted from the mobile device 13 to determine whether the two PIN codes are the same.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 maps and registers the phone number of the mobile device 13 and the image forming apparatus 31, in operation 718.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 denies the registration of the phone number of the mobile device 13.
  • the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13 or the UI unit 310 of the image forming apparatus 31 notifies that the registering of the phone number of the mobile device 13 with respect to the image forming apparatus 31 is completed.
  • the registering may be completed with only intermediation of the cloud server 40 while the mobile device 13 and the image forming apparatus 31 do not communicate with each other, unlike FIGS. 6a and 6b. Accordingly, the processes of FIGS. 7a and 7b may be used when any one of the mobile device 13 and the image forming apparatus 31 does not support an NFC, Wi-Fi®, Wi-Fi direct®, Zigbee®, infrared data association (IrDA), or Bluetooth® for a wireless communication between the mobile device 13 and the image forming apparatus 31. However, the processes of FIGS. 7a and 7b may be used even when the mobile device 13 and the image forming apparatus 31 both support a wireless communication function described above with reference to FIGS. 6a and 6b.
  • FIGS. 8a and 8b are diagrams for describing processes of mapping the phone number of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 to the image forming apparatus 31, and registering the phone number of the mobile device 13 in the cloud server 40, according to an embodiment.
  • the computing device 19 corresponds to a PC or a laptop, and may be the user device 10 of FIG. 3. Accordingly, the computing device 19 includes the UI unit 110, the controller 120, and the network interface unit 130.
  • the second individual 23 inputs the phone number of the mobile device 13 through the embedded webpage 800.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the computing device 19 is wirelessly connected to the network interface unit 430 of the cloud server 40 to transmit information about the input phone number to the cloud server 40.
  • the network interface unit 430 of the cloud server 40 transmits an arbitrary PIN code to the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 having the input phone number by using an SMS or MMS.
  • the cloud server 40 may transmit another type of an arbitrary code instead of the PIN code.
  • the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13 displays the PIN code received by using the SMS or MMS.
  • the second individual 23 inputs the PIN code received from the mobile device 13 through the embedded webpage 800.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the computing device 19 transmits information about the input PIN code and the ID information of the image forming apparatus 31 to the cloud server 40.
  • the computing device 19 may obtain the ID information of the image forming apparatus 31 by connecting to the embedded webpage 800 of the image forming apparatus 31.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 compares the PIN code transmitted from the computing device 19 and the PIN code transmitted to the mobile device 13 to determine whether the two PIN codes are the same.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 maps and registers the phone number of the mobile device 13 and the image forming apparatus 31, in operation 819.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 denies the registration of the phone number of the mobile device 13.
  • the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13 or the UI unit 110 of the computing device 19 notifies that the registering of the phone number of the mobile device 13 with respect to the image forming apparatus 31 is completed.
  • FIGS. 9a and 9b are diagrams for describing processes of mapping the phone number of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 to an email address, and registering the phone number of the mobile device 13 in the cloud server 40, according to an embodiment.
  • the controller 120 of the mobile device 13 executes a printing application in operation 911.
  • the controller 120 of the mobile device 13 obtains the phone number of the mobile device 13 through the executed printing application.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the mobile device 13 is wirelessly connected to the network interface unit 430 of the cloud server 40 to transmit information about the obtained phone number and input email address to the cloud server 40.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 maps the phone number and the email address, and stores such mapping information in the storage unit 420 as registration information of the mobile device 13.
  • the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13 notifies that registering of the phone number of the mobile device 13 with respect to the email address is completed.
  • the phone number and the mobile device 13 and the image forming apparatus 31 are not mapped, but the phone number of the mobile device 13 and the email address of the second individual 23 are mapped, unlike FIGS. 6a through 8b.
  • a content may be transmitted and printed according to processes described below with reference to FIG. 14.
  • the computing device 19 corresponds to a PC or a laptop, and may be the user device 10 of FIG. 3.
  • the computing device 19 includes the UI unit 110, the controller 120, and the network interface unit 130.
  • the second individual 23 inputs the email address and the phone number of the mobile device 13 through the embedded webpage 1000.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the computing device 19 is wirelessly connected to the network interface unit 430 of the cloud server 40 to transmit information about the input phone number and email address to the cloud server 40.
  • the network interface unit 430 of the cloud server 40 transmits an arbitrary personal identification number (PIN) code to the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 having the input phone number by using an SMS or MMS.
  • PIN personal identification number
  • the cloud server 40 may transmit another type of an arbitrary code instead of the PIN code.
  • the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13 displays the PIN code received by using the SMS or MMS.
  • the second individual 23 inputs the PIN code received from the mobile device 13 through the embedded webpage 1000.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the computing device 19 transmits information about the input PIN code to the cloud server 40.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 compares the PIN code transmitted from the computing device 19 and the PIN code transmitted to the mobile device 13 to determine whether the two PIN codes are the same.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 maps and registers the phone number of the mobile device 13 and the email address, in operation 1019.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 denies the registration of the phone number of the mobile device 13.
  • the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13 or the UI unit 110 of the computing device 19 notifies that the registering of the phone number of the mobile device 13 with respect to the email address is completed.
  • FIGS. 6a through 10b may be used to assign the image forming apparatus 31 to print a content when the content is transmitted from the mobile device 11 of the first individual 21, i.e., John Lee. Accordingly, the processes of FIGS. 6a through 10b may be performed before the content is transmitted from the mobile device 11 of the first individual 21, or alternatively, may be performed after the content is transmitted.
  • FIGS. 11a through 14 may correspond to partial processes before a content transmitted from a sender (first individual 21, John Lee) reaches a recipient (the second individual 23, i.e., Jane Kim).
  • FIGS. 11a through 14 are described mainly based on the first individual 21, i.e., John Lee, who is a sender, but the details of FIGS. 11a through 14 may also be applied even when any one of the second through fourth individuals 23 through 27 is a sender.
  • FIGS. 11a and 11b are diagrams for describing processes of transmitting a content to be printed based on a phone number from the mobile device 11 of the first individual 21 to the cloud server 40, according to an embodiment.
  • the first individual 21, i.e., John Lee inputs information about a content to be printed and information about the phone number of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23, i.e., Jane Kim, which is a destination for receiving the content to be printed, through the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 11, in operation 1111.
  • the information about the content to be printed includes selection information about on a content to be transmitted to the second individual 23 and to be printed from among contents being used by the mobile device 11. Also, the information about the content to be printed may include information about print options of the content, which are pre-set by the first individual 21 in the mobile device 11, for example, general settings, such as a paper size and a color/white-and-black option.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the mobile device 11 transmits the information about the content and the information about the phone number to the cloud server 40.
  • the mobile device 11 transmits print job information including the information about the content and the information about the phone number to the cloud server 40.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 maps and stores the information about the content and the information about the phone number in the storage unit 420.
  • FIGS. 11c and 11d illustrate UI screens of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 for transmitting the content to be printed based on the phone number from the mobile device 11 of the first individual 21 to the cloud server 40, according to an embodiment.
  • a contact list of names and phone numbers may be displayed on a contacts screen 1101 of the mobile device 11.
  • the first individual 21 When the first individual 21, i.e., John Lee, wants to transmit a content to be printed to the second individual 23, i.e., Jane Kim, the first individual 21 selects the second individual 23 from the contact list. At this time, if contact information of the second individual 23 is not in the contact list, the first individual 21 may directly input and select the phone number of the second individual 23.
  • a content type screen 1102 for selecting a type of the content to be printed is displayed as a pop-up screen.
  • the first individual 21 selects an image entry when the content in an image type is to be transmitted.
  • the mobile device 11 transmits the information about the phone number and about the content to the cloud server 40 as described above.
  • a list of images stored in the mobile device 11 may be displayed on a camera image screen 1105 of the mobile device 11.
  • the first individual 21 selects the flower image 1106.
  • a contacts screen 1107 is displayed as a pop-up screen.
  • the first individual 21 selects the second individual 23 from the contacts screen 1107.
  • the mobile device 11 transmits the information about the phone number and the content to the cloud server 40 as described above.
  • icons 1103, 1104, 1108, and 1109 indicating whether the image forming apparatus 31 is registered to each of the phone numbers of the second and third individuals 23 and 25, i.e., Jane Kim and Brad Jones, may be displayed on the contacts screens 1101 and 1107.
  • Information indicated by the icons 1103, 1104, 1108, and 1109 is based on mapping information transmitted from the cloud server 40.
  • the mobile device 11 pre-receives the mapping information of each of the phone numbers of the second and third individuals 23 and 25 from the cloud server 40. Accordingly, when the contacts screens 1101 and 1107 are displayed in the mobile device 11, the existence of the image forming apparatus 31 pre-registered to the second and third individuals 23 and 25 may also be displayed by using the icons 1103, 1104, 1108, and 1109.
  • the contacts screen 1101 is displayed first, and then the content type screen 1102 is displayed.
  • the phone number is selected first and then the content is selected.
  • the camera image screen 1105 is displayed first and then the contacts screen 1107 is displayed.
  • the content is selected first and then the phone number is selected.
  • FIGS. 11c and 11d A difference between FIGS. 11c and 11d is an order of selecting the phone number and the content. Thus, according to an embodiment, it does not matter which one of the phone number and the content is selected first as shown in FIGS. 11c and 11d.
  • Configurations of the UI screens of FIGS. 11c and 11d are arbitrarily illustrated for convenience of description, and thus an embodiment is not limited to the configurations of the UI screens.
  • FIGS. 12a and 12b are diagrams for describing processes of transmitting a content to be printed based on the phone number from an image forming apparatus 35 to the cloud server 40, according to an embodiment.
  • the image forming unit (image forming apparatus) 340 of the image forming apparatus 35 generates scan data by scanning a document, in operation 1211.
  • the image forming apparatus 35 may be the image forming apparatus 30 of FIG. 5.
  • the image forming apparatus 35 includes the UI unit 310, the controller 320, the network interface unit 330, and the image forming unit 340.
  • the first individual 21, i.e., John Lee inputs information about the phone number of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23, i.e., Jane Kim, which is a destination for receiving the scan data to be printed, through the UI unit 310 of the image forming apparatus 35.
  • a printing application having the similar functions as that of the mobile device 11 of the first individual 21 described above may be pre-installed in the image forming apparatus 35.
  • the first individual 21 may newly install a printing application on the OS of the image forming apparatus 35.
  • the first individual 21 may input the information about the phone number of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23, which is the destination for receiving the scan data to be printed, on the printing application displayed through the UI unit 310 of the image forming apparatus 35.
  • operation 1212 may be performed as the information about the phone number of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 is input through the UI unit 310 of the image forming apparatus 35 by the first individual 21 while the printing application is being executed by the controller 320 of the image forming apparatus 35.
  • the network interface unit 330 of the image forming apparatus 35 transmits the information about the phone number and the scan data to the cloud server 40.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 maps the information about the phone number and the scan data and stores such mapping information in the storage unit 420.
  • the first individual 21 may transmit (deliver) the content (scan data) to be printed to the second individual 23 without having to use the mobile device 11, unlike FIGS. 11a and 11b.
  • FIG. 12c illustrates first and second UI screens 1201 and 1203 of the image forming apparatus 35 for transmitting the content to be printed based on the phone number from the image forming apparatus 35 to the cloud server 40, according to an embodiment.
  • the first and second UI screens 1201 and 1203 may be screens provided by the printing application executed in the image forming apparatus 35.
  • the first individual 21, i.e., John Lee, may identify a list of image forming functions executable in the printing application through the first UI screen 1201 of the printing application displayed on the UI unit 310 of the image forming apparatus 35.
  • the first individual 21 when the first individual 21 wants to transmit the scan data of the document to a phone number 1205 of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23, the first individual 21 performs a “Scan to Phone” function by clicking a “Scan to Phone” icon 1202.
  • the second UI screen 1203 is a UI screen when the “Scan to Phone” function is performed.
  • a preview 1204 of the scan data may be displayed on the second UI screen 1203, and an address book stored in the image forming apparatus 35 may be displayed on the second UI screen 1203.
  • the first individual 21 may click the phone number 1205 of the mobile device 13 that is a destination for receiving the scan data from a list displayed in the address book to determine the destination (the phone number 1205) through the “Scan to Phone” function.
  • the first individual 21 may newly input the phone number 1205 of the mobile device 13 through the UI unit 310 of the image forming apparatus 35.
  • Configurations of the first and second UI screens 1201 and 1203 of FIG. 12c are illustrated for convenience of description, and an embodiment is not limited by the configurations of the first and second UI screens 1201 and 1203 of FIG. 12c.
  • a name of the “Scan to Phone” function may be changed as long as the “Scan to Phone” function is a function for providing a phone number-based cloud printing service.
  • FIGS. 13a and 13b are diagrams for describing processes of transmitting a content to be printed based on a phone number from the computing device 19 of the first individual 21 to the cloud server 40, according to an embodiment.
  • the first individual 21, i.e., John Lee selects a content to be printed through the UI unit 110 of the computing device 19.
  • the computing device 19 corresponds to a PC or a laptop, and may be the user device 10 of FIG. 3.
  • the computing device 19 includes the UI unit 110, the controller 120, and the network interface unit 130.
  • the controller 120 of the computing device 19 executes a printer driver 1301 for providing a phone number-based cloud printing service.
  • the printer driver 1301 executed by the computing device 19 may be a virtual driver, but is not limited thereto.
  • the printer driver 1301 does not select a printer as a destination for printing a content like a general printer driver.
  • the printer driver 1301 displays s list of phone numbers as destinations, so as to provide a phone number-based cloud printing service.
  • the printer driver 1301 displays “ME: +82-10-XXXX-9900” (the first individual 21), “JANE KIM: +82-10-XXXX-8800” (the second individual 23), and “BRAD JONES: +82-10-XXXX-7700” (the third individual 25) in the list of phone numbers.
  • printer driver 1301 may also include functions for setting general print options on the content to be printed.
  • the first individual 21 selects the phone number (“+82-10-XXXX-8800”) of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 to which the content is to be transmitted, through the UI unit 110 of the computing device 19. If the phone number of the mobile device 13 is not in the list of phone numbers in the printer driver 1301, the first individual 21 may directly input the phone number of the mobile device 13.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the computing device 19 transmits information about the input phone number and about the selected content to the cloud server 40.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 maps the information about the input phone number and the information about the selected content, and stores such mapping information in the storage unit 420.
  • the first individual 21 may transmit (deliver) the content (scan data) to be printed to the second individual 23 without having to use the first device 11, unlike FIGS. 11a and 11b.
  • FIG. 14 is a diagram for describing processes of transmitting a content to be printed based on a phone number to the cloud server 40 by using an email address of the second individual 23, according to an embodiment.
  • the processes of FIG. 14 may be performed by the user device 10 or the image forming apparatus 30.
  • the user device 10 may correspond to the mobile device 11, 13, 15, or 17 of FIG. 2 or the computing device 19 described above, and the image forming apparatus 30 may correspond to the image forming apparatus 31, 33, or 35 of FIG. 2.
  • the first individual 21, i.e., John Lee selects a content to be printed through the UI unit 110 of the user device 10 or the UI unit 310 of the image forming apparatus 30, and inputs an email address of the second individual 23, i.e., Jane Kim.
  • An order of selecting the content and inputting the email address may be switched.
  • the controller 120 of the user device 10 or the controller 320 of the image forming apparatus 30 generates an email enclosed with the content.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the user device 10 or the network interface unit 330 of the image forming apparatus 30 transmits the generated email to the cloud server 40 under the email address of the second individual 23.
  • the cloud server 40 may pre-store mapping information of the email address of the second individual 23 and the phone number of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 via the processes described above with reference to FIGS. 9a through 10b.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 maps information about a phone number pre-mapped to an email address and information about the content enclosed in the email again, and stores such mapping information in the storage unit 420.
  • FIGS. 15a through 19 may correspond to partial processes before a content transmitted from a sender (first individual 21, i.e., John Lee) reaches a recipient (the second individual 23, i.e., Jane Kim).
  • processes of FIGS. 15a through 19 may be performed after the processes of FIGS. 11a through 14.
  • FIGS. 15a through 19 will be described mainly based on the second individual 23, i.e., Jane Kim, who is a recipient, but descriptions of FIGS. 15a through 19 may also be applied even when the first, third, or fourth individual 21, 25, or 27 is a recipient.
  • FIGS. 15a and 15b are diagrams for describing processes of the second individual 23 printing a content received from the first individual 21 through the image forming apparatus 31 based on a phone number, according to an embodiment.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the mobile device 13 receives upload information of a content to be printed from the cloud server 40, in operation 1511.
  • the content to be printed corresponds to a content uploaded by the first individual 21, i.e., John Lee, based on the phone number of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23, i.e., Jane Kim.
  • the cloud server 40 may transmit the upload information by using an SMS or MMS, or via a wireless network, such as Internet.
  • the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13 notifies an arrival of the content to the phone number of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23.
  • the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13 may display an arrival message 1501, but is not limited thereto. In other words, the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13 may notify the arrival to the second individual 23 via any one of various methods.
  • the cloud server 40 returns information about the content (“Image001.JPG”) to the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23.
  • the controller 120 of the mobile device 13 executes a printing application, and the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13 displays a list of contents transmitted to the second individual 23, on the printing application.
  • the list of contents includes the content (“Image001.JPG”) transmitted from the first individual 21.
  • the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13 displays a preview of the content (“Image001.JPG”) on the printing application.
  • the second individual 23 may additionally set print options of the content (“Image001.JPG”) through the printing application.
  • the second individual 23 inputs a print command for printing the content (“Image001.JPG”) in the image forming apparatus 31 that is pre-mapped, through the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the mobile device 13 transmits the input print command to the cloud server 40.
  • the network interface unit 430 of the cloud server 40 transmits print data of the content (“Image001.JPG”) to the image forming apparatus 31.
  • the image forming unit 340 of the image forming apparatus 31 prints the content (“Image001.JPG”).
  • Operations 1515 through 1518 may be performed when the second individual 23 requests to print the content (“Image001.JPG”) in operation 1530. However, the second individual 23 may deny to print the content (“Image001.JPG”) in operation 1540.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the mobile device 130 may transmit a delete request of the content (“Image001.JPG”) to the cloud server 40 in operation 1519.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 deletes information about the content (“Image001.JPG”) stored in the storage unit 420.
  • the second individual 23 may input a forwarding request 1550 for transmitting the content (“Image001.JPG”) to the third or fourth individual 25 or 27.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the mobile device 13 transmits the forwarding request 1550 to the cloud server 40 in operation 1521.
  • the second individual 23 may command the forwarding request 1550 by inputting the phone number of the mobile device 15 or 17 of the third or fourth individual 25 or 27 through the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13.
  • the cloud server 40 forwards the content (“Image001.JPG”) to the third or fourth individual 25 or 27 requested by the second individual 23.
  • FIGS. 16a and 16b are diagrams for describing processes of the second individual 23 printing a content received from the first individual 21 through the image forming apparatus 31 based on a phone number, according to an embodiment.
  • the second individual 23 i.e., Jane Kim, inputs the phone number of the mobile device 13 through the UI unit 310 of the image forming apparatus 31, in operation 1611.
  • the network interface unit 330 of the image forming apparatus 31 is wirelessly connected to the network interface unit 430 of the cloud server 40 to transmit information about the input phone number to the cloud server 40.
  • the network interface unit 430 of the cloud server 40 transmits an arbitrary PIN code to the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 having the input phone number, by using an SMS or MMS.
  • the cloud server 40 may transmit another type of an arbitrary code instead of the PIN code.
  • the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13 displays the PIN code received by using the SMS or MMS.
  • the second individual 23 inputs the PIN code received from the mobile device 13 through the UI unit 310 of the image forming apparatus 31.
  • the network interface unit 330 of the image forming apparatus 31 transmits information about the input PIN code to the cloud server 40.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 compares the PIN code transmitted from the image forming apparatus 31 and the PIN code transmitted to the mobile device 13 to determine whether the two PIN codes are the same.
  • the cloud server 40 returns information about a content mapped to the phone number of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 to the image forming apparatus 31.
  • the controller 410 of the cloud server 40 denies return of the information about the content.
  • the UI unit 310 of the image forming apparatus 31 displays a list of contents currently transmitted to the second individual 23.
  • the network interface unit 430 of the cloud server 40 transmits print data of the selected content to the image forming apparatus 31.
  • the image forming unit 340 of the image forming apparatus 31 prints the content.
  • the second individual 23 printing the content through the image forming apparatus 31 has been described with reference to FIGS. 16a and 16b, but operations similar to at least one of operations 1514 through 1522 of FIG. 15b may be additionally performed between operations 1619 and 1621 performed by the image forming apparatus 31 and the cloud server 40.
  • the UI unit 310 of the image forming apparatus 31 may display the preview of the content to be printed, or the second individual 23 may receive the print options.
  • the second individual 23 may deny printing the content or perform pull printing. In other words, the processes of FIGS. 15a through 16b may be combined with each other.
  • FIGS. 17a and 17b are diagrams for describing processes of the second individual 23 printing a content received from the first individual 21 through the image forming apparatus 31 based on a phone number, according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud server 40 transmits upload information of a content to be printed to the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23, i.e., Jane Kim, in operation 1711.
  • the UI unit 110 of the mobile device 13 notifies an arrival of the content to be printed to the phone number of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the mobile device 13 is wirelessly connected to the network interface unit 330 of the image forming apparatus 31 to transmit information about the phone number of the mobile device 13 to the image forming apparatus 31.
  • the network interface unit 130 of the mobile device 13 may be connected to the network interface unit 330 of the image forming apparatus 31 through a wireless network, such as Wi-Fi®, Wi-Fi direct®, an NFC, Zigbee®, infrared data association (IrDA), or Bluetooth®.
  • a wireless network such as Wi-Fi®, Wi-Fi direct®, an NFC, Zigbee®, infrared data association (IrDA), or Bluetooth®.
  • operation 1713 may be performed by NFC-tagging the mobile device 13 to the image forming apparatus 31 by activating an NFC function.
  • the network interface unit 330 of the image forming apparatus 31 is wirelessly connected to the network interface unit 430 of the cloud server 40 to transmit the information about the phone number obtained from the mobile device 13 to the cloud server 40.
  • the network interface unit 430 of the cloud server 40 returns information about a content mapped to the phone number to the image forming apparatus 31.
  • the UI unit 310 of the image forming apparatus 31 displays a list of contents currently transmitted to the second individual 23.
  • the network interface unit 430 of the cloud server 40 transmits print data of the selected content to the image forming apparatus 31.
  • the image forming unit 340 of the image forming apparatus 31 prints the content.
  • Operations similar to at least one of operations 1514 through 1522 of FIG. 15b may be additionally performed between operations 1716 through 1718 of FIG. 17b.
  • the UI unit 310 of the image forming apparatus 31 may display the preview of the content to be printed or the second individual 23 may receive the print options. Also, the second individual 23 may deny printing the content or perform pull printing. In other words, the processes of FIGS. 15a through 17b may be combined with each other.
  • FIGS. 18a and 18b are diagrams for describing processes of the second individual 23 printing a content received from the first individual 21 through the image forming apparatus 31 based on a phone number, according to an embodiment.
  • the computing device 19 corresponds to a PC or a laptop, and may be the user device 10 of FIG. 3.
  • the computing device 19 includes the UI unit 110, the controller 120, and the network interface unit 130.
  • the second individual 23 logs in the embedded webpage 1801.
  • the UI unit 110 of the computing device 19 displays a list of contents currently transmitted to the second individual 23 through the embedded webpage 1801.
  • the network interface unit 430 of the cloud server 40 transmits print data of the selected content to the image forming apparatus 31.
  • the image forming unit 340 of the image forming apparatus 31 prints the content.
  • Operations similar to at least one of operations 1514 through 1522 of FIG. 15b may be additionally performed between operations 1813 through 1815 of FIG. 18b.
  • the UI unit 110 of the computing device 19 may display the preview of the content to be printed or the second individual 23 may receive the print options. Also, the second individual 23 may deny printing the content or perform pull printing. In other words, the processes of FIGS. 15a through 18b may be combined with each other.
  • FIG. 19 illustrates UI screens of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23 for the second individual 23 to print a content received from the first individual 21 through the image forming apparatus 31, according to an embodiment.
  • the second individual 23 clicks a received content list icon 1902 on a first screen 1901 of the printing application to display a second screen 1903.
  • a list 1904 of contents transmitted from the first individual 21, i.e., John Lee, and other individuals is displayed on the second screen 1903.
  • the second individual 23 may selects a content (“Image001.JPG”) transmitted from the first individual 21 from the list 1904 and click a print icon 1905 to print the content (“Image001.JPG”).
  • a content (“Image001.JPG”) transmitted from the first individual 21 from the list 1904 and click a print icon 1905 to print the content (“Image001.JPG”).
  • Configurations of the UI screens of FIG. 19 are arbitrarily illustrated for convenience of description, and an embodiment is not limited by the configurations of the UI screens.
  • the cloud server 40 of FIGS. 11a through 19 When a content to be printed is transmitted from the first individual 21, i.e., John Lee, who is a sender, the cloud server 40 of FIGS. 11a through 19 generates print data of the content by rendering or converting the content to a print data format by using the controller 410. Then, the cloud server 40 transmits the print data of the content to the second individual 23 who is a recipient, in detail, the image forming apparatus 31 assigned by the second individual 23.
  • FIG. 20 is a diagram for describing concepts of direct printing and pull printing of the image forming system 1, according to an embodiment.
  • the second individual 23 i.e., Jane Kim, who is a recipient, receives information about a content to be printed from the first individual 21, i.e., John Lee, who is a sender, by using the processes described above.
  • a content to be printed is directly printed by the image forming apparatus 31 that is a representative printer set as a default, when the content reaches the second individual 23.
  • print data of the content is directly transmitted from the cloud server 40 to the image forming apparatus 31 to be automatically printed, even when the second individual 23 does not manipulate the mobile device 13.
  • the second individual 23 may turn on or off a direct printing function through the icon 606 for setting a direct printing mode of the print application.
  • the second individual 23 may assign the image forming apparatus 31 as a representative printer or a default printer by selecting the image forming apparatus 31 (for example, CLP-680) from a list of image forming apparatuses, and then clicking the set button 607.
  • the image forming apparatus 31 for example, CLP-680
  • the content that reached the second individual 23 may be directly printed by the image forming apparatus 31 without being checked by the second individual 23.
  • the pull printing when a content to be printed reaches the second individual 23, the content is not directly printed but exists in a held or standby state. In other words, the pull printing is performed when the direct printing function is turned off.
  • the second individual 23 may input a print request, delete the content, newly assign one of the image forming apparatuses 31 through 35 to print the content, or forward the content to the third or fourth individual 25 or 27.
  • the content is printed, deleted, or forwarded only when the second individual 23 inputs at least one process request to the mobile device 13.
  • the image forming apparatus 1 supports both of the direct printing and the pull printing.
  • FIG. 21 is a diagram for describing notifying an arrival of a content to be printed when the content arrives the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23, according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud server 40 may transmit information about the content in a message, such as an SMS or MMS, based on the phone number of the mobile device 13 of the second individual 23.
  • a message application installed in the mobile device 13 displays a notification 2101 about the arrival of the content.
  • the content information message 2102 includes information about the content (“Image001.JPG”) transmitted from the first individual 21.
  • FIG. 22 is a diagram for describing a management service for monitoring a state of the image forming apparatus 31 based on a phone number of an administrator 29, according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud server 40 pre-maps and manages a phone number of a mobile device 18 of the administrator 29 and the ID information of the image forming apparatus 31, according to the processes described above with reference to FIGS. 6a through 10b.
  • the administrator 29 and the mobile device 18 exist in the image forming system 1 of FIG. 2.
  • the cloud server 40 collects error information about errors occurred in the image forming apparatus 31.
  • the cloud server 40 transmits the error information of the image forming apparatus 31 to the mobile device 18 of the administrator 29 mapped to the image forming apparatus 31.
  • the cloud server 40 transmits the error information by transmitting a message 2201 in an SMS or MMS by using the phone number of the mobile device 18 of the administrator 29.
  • FIG. 23 is a diagram for describing the cloud server 40 managing phone numbers of individuals, companies, or groups by classifying the phone numbers into a white list 2301 and a black list 2302, according to an embodiment.
  • the storage unit 420 of the cloud server 40 may manage the phone numbers in the white list 2301 and the black list 2302.
  • the white list 2301 and the black list 2302 may be stored in the cloud server 40 according to a request of the mobile device 13, 15, or 17 that is a receiver.
  • the white list 2301 is a management list for receiving contents only from allowed phone numbers. Thus, according to the white list 2301, a content transmitted from an unallowed (impermissible) phone number is not transmitted to the mobile device 13, 15, or 17.
  • the black list 2302 is a management list for rejecting contents only from unallowed phone numbers.
  • a content transmitted from a phone number not in the black list 2302 may be transmitted to the mobile device 13, 15, or 17.
  • the second individual 23, i.e., Jane Kim, who is a recipient, may pre-store the white list 2301 or the black list 2302 in the cloud server 40 by using the mobile device 13, the computing device 19, or the image forming apparatus 31, 33, or 35.
  • FIG. 24 is a diagram for describing faxing a content from the mobile device 11 of the first individual 21 based on a facsimile number of the image forming apparatus 31, according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud server 40 receives information about the content and about the facsimile number from the mobile device 11 of the first individual 21.
  • the cloud server 40 may have a function of a facsimile server.
  • the cloud server 40 faxes the information about the content to the image forming apparatus 31 having the received facsimile number. Then, the image forming apparatus 31 prints the faxed content.
  • FIG. 24 is different from above-described drawings only in that a receiver terminal is changed to the image forming apparatus 31 and a content is faxed, and thus operations and functions described above when a receiver terminal is the mobile device 13, 15, or 17 may be similarly applied to FIG. 24.
  • FIG. 25 is a diagram for describing an environment of a phone number-based cloud printing service.
  • the environment of the phone number-based cloud printing service is generally illustrated based on the cloud server 40.
  • the cloud server 40 may match and store phone numbers and various information.
  • the cloud server 40 may store information in which a phone number and information are matched, such as a phone number and information about a corresponding image forming apparatus, or a phone number, and a print job and ID information of the print job.
  • sender devices 50 and recipient devices 60 are placed respectively on left and right of the cloud server 40.
  • a sender who wants to transmit a print job registers the print job in the cloud server 40 by using various types of the sender devices 50.
  • the sender may generate the print job by selecting a content displayed on a screen after executing an application of a mobile device to assign a file, scanning a document to generate scan data, or assigning a content to be printed by using a print program in a user computer, such as a laptop or a desktop.
  • the generated print job may be transmitted to the cloud server 40 supporting the phone number-based cloud printing service as the sender inputs a phone number of a recipient by using an UI of each of the sender devices 50.
  • the recipient who wants to perform the print job receives the print job from the cloud server 40 by using various types of the recipient devices 60.
  • the recipient devices 60 may receive the print job from the cloud server 40 in a direct print method or a pull print method.
  • One of the direct print method and the pull print method may be determined by a user.
  • a print job is performed as the print job is directly transmitted from the cloud server 40 to an image forming apparatus corresponding to a phone number of a recipient even when the recipient does not separately request the print job to be performed, since the cloud server 40 is pre-set to transmit the print job to the image forming apparatus corresponding to the phone number of the recipient.
  • a print job is performed as the print job is transmitted from the cloud server 40 to the recipient device 60 only when the print job transmitted from the sender device 50 to the cloud server 40 is registered in the cloud server 40, information about the registered print job is transmitted to a mobile device corresponding to a phone number of a recipient so as to notify the recipient that the print job is registered in the cloud server 40, and then the recipient requests the print job to be performed.
  • the recipient may request the print job to be performed by selecting the print job to be performed from a list of print jobs displayed on a screen after executing an application of the mobile device. Information about an image forming apparatus that is to perform the print job may be additionally selected.
  • the cloud server 40 may transmit the requested print job to an image forming apparatus that is pre-set correspondingly to the phone number or selected by the recipient so that the print job is performed.
  • the general cloud printing service is different from the phone number-based cloud printing service described above with reference to FIG. 25 in terms of a base.
  • the apparatus since an apparatus supporting the general cloud printing service based on a user account performs a print job via a user login using the user account, the apparatus does not use a phone number of a user while transmitting or managing the print job. Also, when information about the user is to be registered, the apparatus does not necessarily store the phone number of the user, and generally does not provide a field for storing the phone number.
  • the general cloud printing service based on a user account and the phone number-based cloud printing service need to be linked to each other.
  • FIG. 26 is a diagram for describing a cloud printing service providing system 500 in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are linked, according to an embodiment.
  • FIG. 26 illustrates a relationship between a user device 100, a management server 200, a cloud server 300, and a mobile device 400 when the management server 200 supporting a user account-based cloud printing service and the cloud server 300 supporting a phone number-based cloud printing service are linked.
  • the user device 100 and the management server 200 are apparatuses supporting the user account-based cloud printing service, and since the user account-based cloud printing service is supported, the user device 100 and the management server 200 do not include information about a phone number of a user, and thus do not provide the phone number-based cloud printing service.
  • the user device 100 may be any one of various types, such as an image forming apparatus, a user computer such as a desktop or a laptop, and a mobile device, and is not limited as long as the user is able to use the user device 100 via user authentication using the user account.
  • an image forming apparatus such as a smartphone, a tablet, and a mobile device
  • the user device 100 is an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.
  • the management server 200 may perform user authentication by using a user account database, and manage a usage, set authorization of the user, and manage a history of the user.
  • the cloud server 300 may intermediate an apparatus for supporting the user account-based cloud printing service and an apparatus for supporting the phone number-based cloud printing service.
  • the cloud server 300 may communicate with the user device 100 and the management server 200, which are the apparatuses for supporting the user account-based cloud printing service, and communicate with the mobile device 400 that is the apparatus for supporting the phone number-based cloud printing service.
  • the mobile device 400 is the apparatus for supporting the phone number-based cloud printing service, which is capable of communicating with the cloud server 300, and may support the phone number-based cloud printing service, unlike the user device 100.
  • the user device 100 may be a mobile type, but whereas the user device 100 is capable of transmitting a user account-based print job to the management server 200 or the cloud server 300, the mobile device 400 is capable of transmitting a phone number-based print job to the cloud server 300.
  • the cloud printing service providing system 500 in which the user account-based cloud printing service and the phone number-based printing cloud service are linked may be formed.
  • the cloud server 300 may perform a server-client communication for maintaining security with the management server 200.
  • the cloud server 300 may be a public cloud server or a private cloud server. Accordingly, a location where a print job is registered may differ in the cloud printing service providing system 500 including the management server 200 and the cloud server 300. This is because a security level differs according to a type of the cloud server 300, as will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 27a and 27b.
  • FIGS. 27a and 27b are diagrams of structures of the cloud server 300, according to one or more embodiments.
  • the cloud server 300 of FIGS. 27a and 27b commonly includes a server unit (server) 3100 and a user information database (DB) 3200, and the cloud server 300 of FIG. 27b further includes a print job DB 3300.
  • the cloud server 300 of FIGS. 27a and 27b may further include other general-purpose components.
  • the cloud server 300 There may be two types of the cloud server 300, i.e., a public cloud server and a private cloud server.
  • the cloud server 300 is public, the cloud server 300 is satisfactory in terms of costs but has weak security, and when the cloud server 300 is private, the cloud server 300 is unsatisfactory in terms of costs but has strong security and may provide a data storage space.
  • the print job may be registered in the management server 200 of the cloud printing service providing system 500 including the management server 200 and the cloud server 300, in order to maintain security.
  • the cloud server 300 is private
  • the print job may be registered in the cloud server 300 of the cloud printing service providing system 500.
  • a private cloud server is used mostly when there is no space in the management server 200 to store the print job, and thus the print job may be registered in the cloud server 300 when the cloud server 300 is private.
  • the cloud server 300 is public, and does not include the print job DB 3300 for registering a print job.
  • the cloud server 300 of FIG. 27b is private, and may include the print job DB 3300 for registering a print job.
  • the cloud server 300 may manage registration of a print job without registering the print job in the management server 200.
  • the cloud server 300 of FIG. 27b including the print job DB 3300 may be used when the management server 200 does not include the print job DB 3300 for registering a print job or when it is difficult to newly build the print job DB 3300 in the management server 200.
  • the cloud server 300 of FIG. 27a is used when public, and the cloud server 300 of FIG. 27b is used when private. Structures and operations of the cloud printing service providing system 500 will now be described when the cloud server 300 is public and private respectively by using FIGS. 28 and 29.
  • FIG. 28 is a diagram for describing a structure and operations of the cloud printing service providing system 500 in which the user account-based cloud printing service and the phone number-based cloud printing service are linked, according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud server 300 included in the cloud printing service providing system 500 is a public cloud server.
  • the cloud printing service providing system 500 may include the management server 200 and the cloud server 300.
  • the management server 200 supporting the user account-based cloud printing service may communicate with the user device 100
  • the cloud server 300 supporting the phone number-based cloud printing service may communicate with not only the user device 100 but also the mobile device 400.
  • FIG. 28 shows components required to link the management server 200 and the cloud server 300.
  • the management server 200 may include a client unit (client) 2100, a user account data base (DB) 2200, a print job allowing unit (printer job allower) 2300, and a print job DB 2400. As described above with reference to FIG. 27a, the print job DB 2400 is included in the management server 200.
  • the cloud server 300 may include the server unit (server) 3100 and the user information DB 3200.
  • the management server 200 may receive the print job from the user device 100.
  • the management server 200 may receive scan data generated by scanning a document in the image forming apparatus.
  • the user device 100 is usable via a user authentication using a user account, and may transmit a user account-based print job while transmitting a user account of a recipient.
  • the user account DB 2200 may store the user account as well as various types of information related to the user account.
  • the user account DB 2200 may store each user account and usage information or authorization information of a user corresponding to each user account.
  • the print job allowing unit 2300 may determine allowing of the user account-based print job included in the user account-based print job received by the management server 200. For example, the print job allowing unit 2300 may determine the allowing of the print job by checking whether the user account received with the print job in the management server 200 exists in the user account DB 2200. Also, the print job allowing unit (print job allower) 2300 may determine the allowing of the print job by further considering usage or authorization of the user corresponding to the user account.
  • the print job DB 2400 may register the print job allowed by the print job allowing unit 2300. For example, the print job received in the management server 200 may be matched to the user account of the recipient and stored.
  • the client unit (client) 2100 of the management server 200 is a communication module of the management server 200 capable of performing a server-client communication with the cloud server 300.
  • the client unit 2100 is a communication module of the management server 200 for performing a communication maintaining security between the management server 200 supporting the user account-based cloud printing service and the cloud server 300 supporting the phone number-based cloud printing service.
  • the client unit (client) 2100 of the management server 200 may transmit information to be transmitted to the mobile device 400 through the cloud server 300 or information required to control the cloud server 300 to the cloud server 300, or receive information to be transmitted to the user device 100 or information required to control the management server 200 from the cloud server 300.
  • the client unit 2100 may transmit a result of determining the allowing of the print job by the print job allowing unit 2300 or a result of registering the allowed print job in the print job DB 2400 to the cloud server 300, or receive the print job from the cloud server 300 or information for requesting to perform the print job transmitted to the cloud server 300 from the mobile device 400.
  • the cloud server 300 may receive the print job from the mobile device 400.
  • the mobile device 400 may transmit the phone number-based print job, wherein the phone number of the recipient is also transmitted while transmitting the print job to the cloud server 300.
  • the cloud server 300 may receive the information for requesting to perform the print job from the mobile device 400, wherein the information is based on a phone number, which is transmitted with the phone number.
  • the user information DB 3200 may store user information in which the phone number of the user and the user account are matched to each other. In other words, the phone number and the user account may be matched and stored in the user information DB 3200 so that the user account and the phone number are mutually switched. For example, the phone number may be used to be switched to the user account corresponding to the phone number, or the user account may be used to be switched to the phone number corresponding to the user account.
  • the user information DB 3200 may store user information in which device information, such as an image forming apparatus, is further matched to the phone number and the user account.
  • the server unit (server) 3100 of the cloud server 300 is a communication module of the cloud server 300, which is capable of performing a server-client communication with the management server 200.
  • the server unit 3100 is a communication module of the cloud server 300 for performing a communication maintaining security between the management server 200 supporting the user account-based cloud printing service and the cloud server 300 supporting the phone number-based cloud printing service.
  • the server unit 3100 of the cloud server 300 may receive information to be transmitted to the mobile device 400 through the cloud server 300 or information required to control the cloud server 300 from the management server 200, or transmit information to be transmitted to the user device 100 or information required to control the management server 200 to the management server 200.
  • the server unit 3100 may receive a result of determining the allowing of the print job by the print job allowing unit 2300 or a result of registering the allowed print job in the print job DB 2400 from the management server 200, or transmit the print job from the cloud server 300 or information for requesting to perform the print job transmitted to the cloud server 300 from the mobile device 400.
  • Information received from or transmitted to the management server 200 are information based on a user account and usable by the management server 200 because the management server 200 is an apparatus supporting the user account-based cloud printing service. While the server unit 3100 of the cloud server 300 performs the server-client communication with the client unit 2100 of the management server 200, the user account and the phone number may be mutually switched by using the user information DB 3200 so that the management server 200 and the cloud server 300 are linked, thereby intermediating the apparatus supporting the phone number-based cloud printing service and the apparatus supporting the user account-based cloud printing service.
  • FIG. 29 is a diagram for describing a structure and operations of the cloud printing service providing system 500 in which the user account-based cloud printing service and the phone number-based cloud printing service are linked, according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud server 300 included in the cloud printing service providing system 500 is a private cloud server.
  • the cloud printing service providing system 500 may include the management server 200 and the cloud server 300.
  • the management server 200 supporting the user account-based printing service may communicate with the user device 100 and the cloud server 300 supporting the phone number-based cloud printing service may communicate not only with the user device 100 but also with the mobile device 400.
  • FIG. 29 shows components required to link the management server 200 and the cloud server 300.
  • the management server 200 may include the client unit 2100, the user account DB 2200, and the print job allowing unit 2300. Unlike FIG. 28, the management server 200 does not include the print job DB 2400.
  • the cloud server 300 may include the server unit 3100, the user information DB 3200, and the print job DB 3300. As described above with reference to FIG. 27b, the print job DB 3300 is included in the cloud server 300. Details overlapping those of FIG. 28 are not repeated herein, and only differences generated as the print job DB 3300 is included in the cloud server 300 will now be described.
  • the print job DB 3300 of the cloud server 300 may register the print job allowed by the print job allowing unit 2300 of the management server 200. For example, the print job received in the cloud server 300 may be matched to the user account or the phone number of the recipient and then stored.
  • the cloud server 300 may receive the user account-based print job from the user device 100, or receive the phone number-based print job from the mobile device 400.
  • the user account and the phone number may be mutually switched, and thus the print job received in the cloud server 300 may also be matched to the user account or the phone number and then stored.
  • the print job DB 3300 since the print job DB 3300 is included in the cloud server 300, the result of registering the allowed print job may not be received from the management server 200, and since the print job received in the cloud server 300 is registered, the print job may not be transmitted to the management server 200.
  • Embodiments of the printing service provided by the cloud printing service providing system 500 in which the user account-based cloud printing service and the phone number-based cloud printing service are linked will now be described with reference to FIGS. 30 through 36.
  • FIG. 30 is a diagram for describing a cloud printing service provided when a print job is requested by the user device 100, when the cloud printing service providing system 500 in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are linked includes a public cloud server, according to an embodiment.
  • the user device 100 is an image forming apparatus that is an example of the user device 100.
  • operations of the user device 100, the management server 200, the cloud server 300, and the mobile device 400 are described when a user, as a sender, transmits a print job from an image forming apparatus that is an example of the user device 100 to the cloud printing service providing system 500 including the management server 200 and the cloud server 300.
  • the user may log in the user device 100 by using a user account, in operation S3005.
  • the user device 100 is an apparatus usable via a user authentication using the user account.
  • the image forming apparatus is an example of the user device 100.
  • the user device 100 transmits a login request to the management server 200 by using the user account received from the user, and the management server 200 may allow the login via user authentication for checking the user account, in operation S3010.
  • the user may start processes for receiving a cloud printing service by using the user device 100.
  • the user device 100 may execute an application supporting the cloud printing service according to an input of the user, in operation S3015.
  • the user may execute the application supporting the cloud printing service in the user device 100.
  • the application supporting the cloud printing service may operate as an interface connecting the cloud printing service providing system 500 and the user device 100. If the application executed by the user device 100 guarantees a connection only to the management server 200 supporting the user account-based cloud printing service, instead of the entire cloud printing service providing system 500, the management server 200 may set a trigger so that a print job is retransmitted to the cloud server 300.
  • the user may select a recipient from an address book of the user device 100, in operation S3020.
  • the address book may store a plurality user accounts of users to display the user accounts so that the user who is a sender may select the user account of the recipient.
  • the user may generate a print job by using the user device 100 and may request the print job to be performed, in operation S3025.
  • the user may scan a document by using the image forming apparatus that is an example of the user device 100 to generate a scan data, and request the print job to be performed by transmitting the generated scan data to the other user.
  • the user device 100 may transmit the print job requested from the user to the management server 200, in operation S3030.
  • the management server 200 may receive the print job.
  • the print job received by the management server 200 from the user device 100 may be a user account-based print job that includes a user account and a print job.
  • the management server 200 may determine allowing of the print job based on the user account, in operation S3035.
  • the management server 200 may determine the allowing of the print job based on the user account included in the user account-based print job transmitted from the user device 100. For example, the management server 200 may check whether the user account of the recipient included in the user account-based print job is capable of receiving a cloud printing service, thereby determining the allowing of the print job.
  • the management server 200 may register the allowed print job in operation S3040 according to the result of allowing. Since the cloud server 300 included in the cloud printing service providing system 500 is a public cloud server, the print job is registered in the management server 200 as described above with reference to FIG. 28. The management server 200 may match the print job to ID information of the print job and then store the print job. Thus, when a plurality of print jobs exist in the same user account, the management server 200 may manage the print jobs by using ID information of the print jobs. If the print job is not allowed, the print job transmitted to the management server 200 may be deleted.
  • the management server 200 may transmit the result of registering the print job to the cloud server 300 in operation S3045.
  • the cloud server 300 may receive the result of registering from the management server 200.
  • the management server 200 and the cloud server 300 may perform a server-client communication, and data transferred therebetween may be in a format encoded by using a key.
  • the result of registering may include the user account of the recipient and the ID information of the print job for identifying the print job.
  • the cloud server 300 may convert the user account of the recipient included in the result of registering to a phone number corresponding to the user account, in operation S3050.
  • the user account included in the result of registering is converted to the corresponding phone number, thereby performing a process of linking the user account-based cloud printing service and the phone number-based cloud printing service.
  • the cloud server 300 may include the user information DB 3200 for storing the user information in which phone numbers of users and user accounts are matched to each other, as described above.
  • the cloud server 300 may notify the mobile device 400 about the registering of the print job, in operation S3055.
  • the cloud server 300 may transmit the ID information of the print job to the phone number converted from the user account so as to notify the registering of the print job.
  • the user account-based print job requested to be performed through the user device 100 by using the user account is transmitted to the phone number corresponding to the user account of the recipient through the cloud printing service providing system 500 including the management server 200 and the cloud server 300. Accordingly, the user account-based cloud printing service is linked to the phone number-based cloud printing service, and at this time, the cloud server 300 may convert the user account to the corresponding phone number.
  • the recipient may check the registered print job through the mobile device 400 of the recipient, and may select the print job to be performed according to a pull print method.
  • FIG. 31 is a diagram for describing a cloud printing service provided when a print job is requested by the user device 100, when the cloud printing service providing system 500 in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are linked includes a private cloud server, according to an embodiment.
  • the user device 100 is an image forming apparatus that is an example of the user device 100.
  • operations of the user device 100, the management server 200, the cloud server 300, and the mobile device 400 are described when a user, as a sender, transmits a print job from an image forming apparatus that is an example of the user device 100 to the cloud printing service providing system 500 including the management server 200 and the cloud server 300.
  • FIG. 31 is different from FIG. 30 only in the type of the cloud server 300, overlapping descriptions are briefly described, and descriptions of FIG. 30 may be applied to FIG. 31 even if omitted.
  • the user may log in the user device 100 by using a user account, in operation S3105.
  • the user device 100 transmits a login request to the management server 200 by using the user account received from the user, and the management server 200 may allow the login via user authentication for checking the user account, in operation S3010.
  • the user device 100 may execute an application supporting the cloud printing service according to an input of the user, in operation S3115.
  • the user may select a recipient from an address book of the user device 100, in operation S3120.
  • the user may generate a print job by using the user device 100 and may request the print job to be performed, in operation S3125.
  • Operations S3105 through 3125 are respectively the same as operations S3005 through S3025 of FIG. 30.
  • the user device 100 may transmit a request to allow the print job requested by the user to the management server 200, in operation S3130.
  • the request transmitted from the user device 100 to the management server 200 may include a user account.
  • the management server 200 may determine whether the print job is allowable.
  • the user device 100 may transmit the print job requested by the user to the cloud server 300, in operation S3135.
  • the print job transmitted from the user device 100 to the cloud server 300 is a user account-based print job that includes a user account and a print job.
  • Operation S3135 may be simultaneously performed with operation S3130, or may be performed after operation S3140.
  • the management server 200 may determine allowing of the print job based on the user account in operation S3140.
  • the management server 200 may determine the allowing of the print job based on the user account received from the user device 100, according to the request received in operation S3130. For example, the management server 200 may check whether the user account of the recipient is capable of receiving the cloud printing service to determine the allowing of the print job.
  • the management server 200 may transmit the result of allowing to the cloud server 300 in operation S3145.
  • the cloud server 300 may receive the result of allowing from the management server 200.
  • the management server 200 and the cloud server 300 may perform a server-client communication, and data transferred therebetween may be in a format encoded by using a key.
  • the result of allowing may include the user account of the recipient and a value indicating the result of allowing.
  • the cloud server 300 may register the allowed print job in operation S3150 according to the result of allowing. In other words, the cloud server 300 may register the allowed print job by checking the result of allowing transmitted from the management server 200. Since the cloud server 300 included in the cloud printing service providing system 500 is a private cloud server, the print job may be registered in the cloud server 300 as described above with reference to FIG. 29. The cloud server 300 may match the print job to ID information of the print job and then store the print job. If a plurality of print jobs exist in the same user account, the management server 200 may manage the print job by using the ID information of the print job. If the print job is not allowed, the print job transmitted to the cloud server 300 may be deleted.
  • the cloud server 300 may convert the user account of the recipient regarding the registered print job to a phone number corresponding to the user account, in operation S3155.
  • the user account of the recipient regarding the registered print job is converted to the corresponding phone number, thereby performing a process of linking the user account-based cloud printing service and the phone number-based cloud printing service.
  • the cloud server 300 may include the user information DB 3200 for storing the user information in which phone numbers of users and user accounts are matched to each other, as described above.
  • the cloud server 300 may notify the mobile device 400 about the registering of the print job, in operation S3160.
  • the cloud server 300 may transmit the ID information of the print job to the phone number converted from the user account so as to notify the registering of the print job.
  • the user account-based print job requested to be performed through the user device 100 by using the user account is transmitted to the phone number corresponding to the user account of the recipient through the cloud printing service providing system 500 including the management server 200 and the cloud server 300. Accordingly, the user account-based cloud printing service is linked to the phone number-based cloud printing service, and at this time, the cloud server 300 may convert the user account to the corresponding phone number.
  • the recipient may check the registered print job through the mobile device 400 of the recipient, and may select the print job to be performed according to a pull print method.
  • FIG. 32 is a diagram for describing a cloud printing service provided when a print job is requested by the mobile device 400, when the cloud printing service providing system 500 in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are linked includes a public cloud server, according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud printing service providing system 500 in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are linked includes a public cloud server, according to an embodiment.
  • operations of the user device 100, the management server 200, the cloud server 300, and the mobile device 400 are described when a user, as a sender, transmits a print job from the mobile device 400 to the cloud printing service providing system 500 including the management server 200 and the cloud server 300.
  • the mobile device 400 may execute an application supporting a cloud printing service according to an input of the user, in operation S3205.
  • the user may execute the application supporting the cloud printing service in the mobile device 400.
  • the application may operate as an interface connecting the mobile device 400 and the cloud printing service providing system 500 in which the user account-based cloud printing service and the phone number-based cloud printing service are linked.
  • the user may select a content to be transmitted for a print job from the mobile device 400 in operation S3210.
  • the mobile device 400 may obtain a file corresponding to the selected content so that the user may externally transmit the selected content.
  • the user may select a recipient from contacts of the mobile device 400 in operation S3215, in order to transmit the print job to another user.
  • the contacts may be phone numbers of users, and may display a plurality of phone numbers for the user to select a phone number of the recipient.
  • the user may request the print job to be performed by using the mobile device 400, in operation S3220.
  • the mobile device 400 may request the print job to be performed such that the selected recipient prints the file of the selected content.
  • the mobile device 400 may transmit the print job requested by the user to the cloud server 300, in operation S3225.
  • the cloud server 300 may receive the print job.
  • the print job received from the mobile device 400 to the cloud server 300 may be a phone number-based print job including a phone number and a print job.
  • the cloud server 300 may convert the phone number of the recipient included in the phone number-based print job transmitted from the mobile device 400 to a user account corresponding to the phone number, in operation S3230.
  • the cloud server 300 converts the phone number included in the received print job to the user account corresponding to the phone number, thereby linking the phone number-based cloud printing service to the user account-based cloud printing service.
  • the cloud server 300 may include the user information DB 3200 storing user information in which phone numbers of users and user accounts are matched to each other, as described above.
  • the cloud server 300 may transmit a user account-based print job including the user account converted from the phone number to the management server 200, in operation S3235.
  • the management server 200 may receive the user account-based print job from the cloud server 300.
  • the cloud server 300 and the management server 200 may perform a server-client communication, and data transferred therebetween may be in a format encoded by using a key.
  • the print job transmitted from the cloud server 300 to the management server 200 may be the user account-based print job including the user account and the print job.
  • the management server 200 may determine allowing of the print job based on the user account, in operation S3240.
  • the management server may determine the allowing of the print job based on the user account included in the user account-based print job. For example, the management server 200 may determine the allowing of the print job by checking the user account of the recipient obtained by converting the phone number of the recipient is a user account capable of receiving the cloud printing service.
  • the management server 200 may register the allowed print job according to a result of the allowing in operation S3245. Since the cloud server 300 included in the cloud printing service providing system 500 is a public cloud server, the print job is registered in the management server 200 as described above with reference to FIG. 28. The management server 200 may match a print job to ID information of the print job, and register the print job. When a plurality of print jobs exist in the same user account, the management server 200 may manage the print job by using the ID information. If the print job is not allowed, the user account-based print job transmitted to the management server 200 may be deleted.
  • the management server 200 may transmit a result of registering the print job to the cloud server 300, in operation S3250.
  • the cloud server 300 may receive the result of registering from the management server 200.
  • the management server 200 and the cloud server 300 may perform a server-client communication, and data transferred therebetween may be in a format encoded by using a key.
  • the result of registering may include the user account of the recipient and the ID information for identifying the print job.
  • the cloud server 300 may again convert the user account of the recipient included in the result of registering to the phone number corresponding to the user account, in operation S3255.
  • the cloud server 300 may include the user information DB 3200 storing user information in which phone numbers of users and user accounts are matched, as described above.
  • the cloud server 300 may notify the mobile device 400 about the registering of the print job in operation S3260.
  • the cloud server 300 may notify the registering of the print job by transmitting the ID information of the print job to the phone number converted back from the user account obtained in operation S3230.
  • the phone number-based print job requested to be performed through the mobile device 400 using the phone number by the sender is transmitted to the phone number of the recipient through the cloud printing service providing system 500 including the management server 200 and the cloud server 300, via processes of converting the phone number to the user account and converting the user account back to the phone number.
  • the phone number-based cloud printing service is linked to the user account-based cloud printing service, and accordingly, the cloud server 300 may perform the processes of converting the phone number to the user account and converting the user account back to the phone number.
  • the recipient may check the registered print job through the mobile device 400, and select the print job according to a pull print method to be performed.
  • FIG. 33 is a diagram for describing a cloud printing service provided when a print job is requested by the mobile device 400, when the cloud printing service providing system 500 in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are linked includes a private cloud server, according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud printing service providing system 500 in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are linked includes a private cloud server, according to an embodiment.
  • operations of the user device 100, the management server 200, the cloud server 300, and the mobile device 400 are described when a user, as a sender, transmits a print job from the mobile device 400 to the cloud printing service providing system 500 including the management server 200 and the cloud server 300.
  • FIG. 33 is different from FIG. 32 only in the type of the cloud server 300, overlapping descriptions are briefly described, and descriptions of FIG. 32 may be applied to FIG. 33 even if omitted.
  • the mobile device 400 may execute an application supporting a cloud printing service according to an input of the user, in operation S3305.
  • the user may select a content to be transmitted for a print job from the mobile device 400 in operation S3310.
  • the user may select a recipient from contacts of the mobile device 400 in operation S3315, in order to transmit the print job to another user.
  • the user may request the print job to be performed by using the mobile device 400, in operation S3320.
  • the mobile device 400 may transmit the print job requested by the user to the cloud server 300, in operation S3325.
  • the print job received from the mobile device 400 to the cloud server 300 may be a phone number-based print job including a phone number and a print job.
  • the cloud server 300 may convert the phone number of the recipient included in the phone number-based print job transmitted from the mobile device 400 to a user account corresponding to the phone number, in operation S3330.
  • Operations S3305 through 3330 are respectively the same as operations S3205 through S3230 of FIG. 32.
  • the cloud server 300 may transmit a request to allow the print job requested by the user to the management server 200, in operation S3335.
  • the management server 200 may receive the request to allow the print job from the cloud server 300.
  • the cloud server 300 and the management server 200 may perform a server-client communication, and data transferred therebetween may be in a format encoded by using a key.
  • the request transmitted from the cloud server 300 to the management server 200 may include the converted user account.
  • the user account of the recipient is transmitted to the management server 200 so that the management server 200 determines whether the print job is allowed.
  • the management server 200 may determine allowing of the print job based on the user account, in operation S3340.
  • the management server 200 may determine the allowing of the print job based on the converted user account. For example, the management server 200 may determine the allowing of the print job by checking whether the user account of the recipient converted from the phone number of the recipient is capable of receiving the cloud printing service.
  • the management server 200 may transmit a result of allowing to the cloud server 300, in operation S3345.
  • the cloud server 300 may receive the result of allowing from the management server 200.
  • the management server 200 and the cloud server 300 may perform a server-client communication, and data transferred therebetween may be in a format encoded by using a key.
  • the result of allowing may include the user account of the recipient and a value indicating the result of allowing.
  • the cloud server 300 may register the allowed print job in operation S3350, according to the result of allowing. Since the cloud server 300 included in the cloud printing service providing system 500 is a private cloud server, the print job may be registered in the cloud server 300 as described above with reference to FIG. 29. The cloud server 300 may match a print job to ID information of the print job and store the print job. When a plurality of print jobs exist in the same user account, the cloud server 300 may manage the print job by using ID information of the print jobs. If the print job is not allowed, the print job transmitted to the cloud server 300 may be deleted.
  • the cloud server 300 may convert the user account of the recipient regarding the registered print job back to the phone number corresponding to the user account, in operation S3355.
  • the cloud server 300 may include the user information DB 3200 storing user information in which phone numbers of users and user accounts are matched, as described above.
  • the cloud server 300 may notify the mobile device 400 about the registering of the print job in operation S3360.
  • the cloud server 300 may notify the registering of the print job by transmitting the ID information of the print job to the phone number converted back from the user account obtained in operation S3330.
  • the phone number-based print job requested to be performed through the mobile device 400 using the phone number by the sender is transmitted to the phone number of the recipient through the cloud printing service providing system 500 including the management server 200 and the cloud server 300, via processes of converting the phone number to the user account and converting the user account back to the phone number.
  • the phone number-based cloud printing service is linked to the user account-based cloud printing service, and accordingly, the cloud server 300 may perform the processes of converting the phone number to the user account and converting the user account back to the phone number.
  • the recipient may check the registered print job through the mobile device 400, and select the print job according to a pull print method to be performed.
  • FIG. 34 is a diagram for describing a cloud printing service for the mobile device 400 of the recipient requesting to perform a print job according to a pull printing method, when the cloud printing service providing system 500 in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are lined includes a public cloud server, according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud printing service providing system 500 in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are lined includes a public cloud server, according to an embodiment.
  • operations of the user device 100, the management server 200, the cloud server 300, and the mobile device 400 are described when the user checks that the print job is registered in the mobile device 400 and transmits the request to perform the print job to the cloud printing service providing system 500 including the management server 200 and the cloud server 300.
  • the mobile device 400 may execute an application supporting the cloud printing service according to an input of the user, in operation S3405.
  • the user may execute the application supporting the cloud printing service in the mobile device 400.
  • the application supporting the cloud printing service may operate as an interface connecting the mobile device 400 and the cloud printing service providing system 500 in which the user account-based cloud printing service and the phone number-based cloud printing service are linked.
  • the user may select a print job in the mobile device 400.
  • the mobile device 400 may display a list of print jobs related to the registered print job for the user, and the user may select a print job.
  • the user may further select an image forming apparatus to be used for the print job in the mobile device 400.
  • the user may request the print job to be performed by using the mobile device 400, in operation S3420.
  • the print job may be requested to be performed so that the image forming apparatus selected in the mobile device 400 performs the selected print job.
  • the mobile device 400 may transmit request information about the request to perform the print job from the user to the cloud server 300, in operation S3425.
  • the cloud server 300 may receive the request information.
  • the request information received from the mobile device 400 to the cloud server 300 may include a phone number and ID information of the print job for identifying the print job selected by the user. If the image forming apparatus is selected by the user, the request information may further include ID information of the image forming apparatus for identifying the selected image forming apparatus.
  • the cloud server 300 may convert the phone number of the recipient included in the request information received from the mobile device 400 to a user account corresponding to the phone number, in operation S3430.
  • the cloud server 300 converts the phone number to the user account corresponding to the phone number in order to be connected to the management server 200 supporting the user account-based cloud printing service, thereby linking the phone number-based cloud printing service and the user account-based cloud printing service.
  • the cloud server 300 may include the user information DB 3200 storing user information in which phone numbers of users and user accounts are matched, as described above.
  • the cloud server 300 may transmit the request information including the user account converted from the phone number to the management server 200, in operation S3435.
  • the management server 200 may receive the request information including the converted user account from the cloud server 300.
  • the cloud server 300 and the management server 200 may perform a server-client communication, and data transferred therebetween may be in a format encoded by using a key.
  • the management server 200 may determine allowing of the print job based on the user account included in the request information, in operation S3440. For example, the management server 200 may determine the allowing of the print job by checking whether the user account of the recipient converted from the phone number of the recipient is capable of receiving the cloud printing service.
  • the management server 200 may instruct the print job to be performed in operation S3445, according to a result of allowing. Since the cloud server 300 included in the cloud printing service providing system 500 is a public cloud server, the print job may be registered in the management server 200. If the print job is allowed, the print job corresponding to the ID information of the print job may be transmitted to the image forming apparatus connected to the management server 200, and then instructed to be performed.
  • the image forming apparatus is usable via user authentication using the user account, and may be an example of the user device 100 connected to the management server 200.
  • the image forming apparatus that is an example of the user device 100 may perform the print job in operation S3450, upon receiving the instruction from the management server 200.
  • the management server 200 may transmit a result of performing the print job to the cloud server 300, in operation S3455.
  • the cloud server 300 may receive the result of performing from the management server 200.
  • the management server 200 and the cloud server 300 may perform a server-client communication, and data transferred therebetween may be in a format encoded by using a key.
  • the result of performing may include the user account of the recipient and a value indicating the result of performing.
  • the cloud server 300 may convert the user account of the recipient included in the result of performing back to the phone number corresponding to the user account, in operation S3460.
  • the user account included in the result of performing is converted back to the phone number so that the user account-based cloud printing service and the phone number-based cloud printing service are linked to each other.
  • the cloud server 300 includes the user information DB 3200 storing user information in which phone numbers of users and user accounts are matched, as described above.
  • the cloud server 300 may notify the result of performing the print job to the mobile device 400, in operation S3465.
  • the cloud server 300 may transmit the value indicating the result of performing to the phone number converted back from the user account in operation S3430 to notify the user about the result of performing through the mobile device 400.
  • FIG. 35 is a diagram for describing a cloud printing service for the mobile device 400 of the recipient requesting to perform a print job according to a pull printing method, when the cloud printing service providing system 500 in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are lined includes a private cloud server, according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud printing service providing system 500 in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are lined includes a private cloud server, according to an embodiment.
  • operations of the user device 100, the management server 200, the cloud server 300, and the mobile device 400 are described when the user checks that the print job is registered in the mobile device 400 and transmits the request to perform the print job to the cloud printing service providing system 500 including the management server 200 and the cloud server 300.
  • FIG. 35 is different from FIG. 34 only in the type of the cloud server 300, overlapping descriptions are briefly described, and descriptions of FIG. 34 may be applied to FIG. 35 even if omitted.
  • the mobile device 400 may execute an application supporting the cloud printing service according to an input of the user, in operation S3505.
  • the user may select a print job in the mobile device 400.
  • the user may further select an image forming apparatus to be used for the print job in the mobile device 400.
  • the user may request the print job to be performed by using the mobile device 400, in operation S3520.
  • the mobile device 400 may transmit request information about the request to perform the print job from the user to the cloud server 300, in operation S3525.
  • the cloud server 300 may convert the phone number of the recipient included in the request information received from the mobile device 400 to a user account corresponding to the phone number, in operation S3530.
  • Operations S3505 through 3530 are respectively the same as operations S3405 through S3430 of FIG. 34.
  • the cloud server 300 may transmit a request to allow the print job from the user to the management server 200, in operation S3535.
  • the request to allow the print job received from the cloud server 300 to the management server 200 may include a user account.
  • the management server 200 may determine whether the print job is allowed.
  • the cloud server 300 and the management server 200 may perform a server-client communication, and data transferred therebetween may be encoded by using a key.
  • the cloud server 300 may transmit the print job requested by the user to the image forming apparatus that is an example of the user device 100, in operation S3540. Since the cloud server 300 included in the cloud printing service providing system 500 is a private cloud server, the print job may be registered in the cloud server 300. Operation 3540 may be performed simultaneously with operation S3535 or after operation S3545.
  • the management server 200 may determine allowing of the print job based on the user account included in the request information, in operation S3545. For example, the management server 200 may check whether the user account of the recipient converted from the phone number of the recipient is capable of receiving the cloud printing service to determine the allowing of the print job.
  • the management server 200 may instruct the print job to be performed in operation S3550, according to a result of allowing.
  • the image forming apparatus that is an example of the user device 100 may perform the print job in operation S3555, upon receiving the instruction from the management server 200.
  • the management server 200 may transmit a result of performing the print job to the cloud server 300, in operation S3560.
  • the cloud server 300 may receive the result of performing from the management server 200.
  • the management server 200 and the cloud server 300 may perform a server-client communication, and data transferred therebetween may be in a format encoded by using a key.
  • the result of performing may include the user account of the recipient and a value indicating the result of performing.
  • the cloud server 300 may convert the user account of the recipient included in the result of performing back to the phone number corresponding to the user account, in operation S3565.
  • the user account included in the result of performing is converted back to the phone number so that the user account-based cloud printing service and the phone number-based cloud printing service are linked to each other.
  • the cloud server 300 includes the user information DB 3200 storing user information in which phone numbers of users and user accounts are matched, as described above.
  • the cloud server 300 may notify the result of performing the print job to the mobile device 400, in operation S3570.
  • the cloud server 300 may transmit the value indicating the result of performing to the phone number converted back from the user account in operation S3530 to notify the user about the result of performing through the mobile device 400.
  • FIG. 36 is a diagram for describing logging in of the user device 100 based on a phone number, by using the cloud printing service providing system 500 in which a user account-based cloud printing service and a phone number-based cloud printing service are linked, according to an embodiment.
  • operations of the user device 100, the management server 200, the cloud server 300, and the mobile device 400 are described when the user transmits the phone number to the cloud printing service providing system 500 including the management server 200 and the cloud server 300 through the user device 100 by using the mobile device 400, in order to log in the user device 100.
  • the mobile device 400 may execute an application supporting the cloud printing service according to an input of the user, in operation S3605.
  • the user may execute the application supporting the cloud printing service in the mobile device 400.
  • the user device 100 In order to be provided with the cloud printing service of the cloud printing service providing system 500, the user device 100 first needs to be logged in, and thus the user may try to log in the user device 100 by using the mobile device 400 where the application is being executed.
  • the mobile device 400 may transmit the phone number to the user device 100 via an NFC-tagging with the user device 100, in operation S3610.
  • a data communication between the mobile device 400 and the user device 100 may not only be performed via the NFC-tagging, but also via any one of various wireless communications, such as a near-infrared ray communication, Zigbee®, Bluetooth®, infrared data association (IrDA) and Wi-Fi direct®.
  • user information such as a phone number
  • the user device 100 may obtain information for user authentication. Since the management server 200, allows a login and user authentication based on a user account, the user authentication is not obtained from the management server 200 by using a phone number. Accordingly, the phone number is converted to the user account so that the user device 100 is logged in.
  • the user device 100 may transmit the phone number received from the mobile device 400 again to the cloud server 300 to request the login of the user device 100, in operation S3615.
  • ID information of the user device 100 to be logged in may also be transmitted.
  • the cloud server 300 may transmit the phone number transmitted from the user device 100 to the user account corresponding to the phone number, in operation S3620. Accordingly, the cloud server 300 may include the user information DB 3200 storing user information in which phone numbers of users and user accounts are matched.
  • the cloud server 300 may transmit the user account converted from the phone number to the management server 200, instead of the user device 100, so as to request the login of the user device 100, in operation S3625.
  • the ID information of the user device 100 to be logged in may also be transmitted.
  • the management server 200 may perform user account authentication on the user account received from the cloud server 300, in operation S3630. Accordingly, the management server 200 may include the user account DB 220 for storing and managing user accounts capable of receiving a cloud printing service. The management server 200 checks whether the user account received from the cloud server 300 exists in the user account DB 220 to perform the user account authentication.
  • the management server 200 may allow the login of the user device 100 corresponding to the user account, in operation S3635. Then there are a plurality of the user devices 100 corresponding to the user account, the user device 100 that requested the login may be determined based on the ID information of the user device 100 transmitted with the user account.
  • the cloud printing service may be provided by using the user device 100.
  • FIG. 37 is a flowchart of a method of providing a cloud printing service, according to an embodiment.
  • the descriptions about the cloud printing service providing system 500 may be applied to the method of FIG. 37 even if omitted.
  • FIG. 37 shows processes performed when the user requests another use to transmit a print job through the cloud printing service providing system 500.
  • the cloud printing service providing system 500 may receive the print job.
  • the management server 200 included in the cloud printing service providing system 500 may receive a user account-based print job from the user device 100.
  • the cloud server 300 included in the cloud printing service providing system 500 may receive a user account-based print job from the user device 100 or a phone number-based print job from the mobile device 400.
  • an operation of converting a phone number to a user account corresponding to the phone number may be further performed for following operations.
  • the cloud printing service providing system 500 may determine allowing of the print job based on the user account. Since the allowing of the print job is determined by the management server 200 supporting the user account-based cloud printing service, the allowing of the print job may be determined by using the user account included in the received print job or the user account converted from the phone number.
  • the cloud printing service providing system 500 may register the allowed print job according to a result of the determining.
  • a location of registering the allowed print job may differ based on a type of the cloud server 300 included in the cloud printing service providing system 500.
  • the cloud server 300 is a public cloud server
  • the allowed print job may be stored in the management server 200.
  • the cloud server 300 is a private cloud server
  • the allowed print job may be stored in the cloud server 300.
  • the management server 200 may transmit the result of determining to the cloud server 300 so that the allowed print job is registered in the cloud server 300.
  • the cloud printing service providing system 500 may convert the user account to the phone number corresponding to the user account so as to notify the registering of the print job in the mobile device 400 supporting the phone number-based cloud printing service.
  • the cloud server 300 may include the user information DB 3200 storing user information in which phone numbers of users and user accounts are matched.
  • the cloud server 300 is a public cloud server, the result of registering is transmitted from the management server 200 to the cloud server 300 so that the cloud server 300 converts the user account to the corresponding phone number.
  • the cloud printing service providing system 500 may notify the registering of the allowed print job to the phone number converted from the user account.
  • the user account-based cloud printing service is linked to the phone number-based cloud printing service through operations S3710 through S3750, and at this time, the cloud server 300 may convert the user account to the phone number corresponding to the user account.
  • FIG. 38 is a flowchart of a method of providing a cloud printing service, according to an embodiment.
  • the descriptions about the cloud printing service providing system 500 may be applied to the method of FIG. 38 even if omitted.
  • FIG. 38 shows processes performed when a user requests the cloud printing service providing system 500 to perform a print job in a pull print method by using the mobile device 400.
  • the cloud printing service providing system 500 may receive request information for performing a phone number-based print job.
  • the cloud server 300 supporting a phone number-based cloud printing service and included in the cloud printing service providing system 500 may receive the request information including a phone number and ID information of a print job for identifying a print job selected by the user from the mobile device 400. If the user selected an image forming apparatus through the mobile device 400, the request information may further include ID information of the image forming apparatus.
  • the cloud printing service providing system 500 may convert the phone number to a user account corresponding to the phone number.
  • the cloud server 300 supporting the phone number-based cloud printing service and included in the cloud printing service providing system 500 may convert the phone number included in the request information received from the mobile device 400 to the user account corresponding to the phone number.
  • the cloud server 300 may include the user information DB 3200 storing user information in which phone numbers of users and user accounts are matched. As such, the phone number-based cloud printing service and the user account-based cloud printing service may be linked.
  • the cloud printing service providing system 500 may determine allowing of the print job corresponding to the request information based on the converted user account.
  • the management server 200 supporting the user account-based cloud printing service and included in the cloud printing service providing system 500 may determine the allowing of the print job by receiving the request information from the cloud server 300 or receiving a request to allow the print job using the converted user account.
  • the cloud server 300 included in the cloud printing service providing system 500 is a public cloud server
  • the request information including the converted user account and the ID information of the print job is transmitted to the management server 200, and thus the management server 200 may determine the allowing of the print job.
  • the cloud server 300 included in the cloud printing service providing system 500 is a private cloud server
  • the print job is allowed by using the converted user account, and thus the management server 200 may determine the allowing of the print job.
  • the cloud printing service providing system 500 may instruct the allowed print job to be performed according to a result of allowing the print job.
  • the management server 200 supporting the user account-based cloud printing service and included in the cloud printing service providing system 500 may instruct the image forming apparatus to perform the allowed print job.
  • the cloud server 300 included in the cloud printing service providing system 500 is a public cloud server, since the print job is registered in the management server 200, the management server 200 may transmit the allowed print job to the image forming apparatus to instruct the image forming apparatus to perform the allowed print job.
  • the cloud server 300 included in the cloud printing service providing system 500 is a private cloud server
  • the cloud server 300 since the print job is registered in the cloud server 300, the cloud server 300 may transmit the allowed print job to the image forming apparatus and the management server 200 may instruct the image forming apparatus to perform the allowed print job.
  • the management server 200 may transmit the result of performing to the mobile device 400 through the cloud server 300.
  • the cloud server 300 converts the user account back to the phone number to transmit the result of performing to the mobile device 400 corresponding to the phone number.
  • the phone number-based cloud printing service is linked to the user account-based cloud printing service through operations S3810 through S3840, and at this time, the cloud server 300 may convert the phone number to the user account corresponding to the phone number.
  • a recipient may set print job conditions in a cloud server, and the cloud server may transmit a print job to at least one of electronic devices connected according to the set print job conditions such that the print job is performed.
  • the recipient when it is not suitable for a recipient to receive a print job or for an image forming apparatus to perform a print job in a cloud printing service provided by a cloud server, and a sender transmits a content to be printed, the recipient is unable to check the print job or the image forming apparatus is unable to perform the print job.
  • one or more embodiments provide a method enabling a recipient to set print job conditions and a cloud server to transmit a print job to at least one of electronic devices connected according to the set print job conditions such that the print job is performed.
  • FIG. 39 is a diagram of an environment of a cloud printing system.
  • the cloud printing system may include a mobile terminal 3900, a cloud server 4000, an image forming apparatus 4100, and a mobile terminal 3905.
  • Any one of various electronic devices such as a laptop, a tablet, a personal computer (PC), portable media player (PMP), digital camera, laptop computer, notebook computer, portable game player, wearable device, and a personal digital assistant (PDA) may replace a mobile terminal to perform the same functions as the mobile terminal.
  • PC personal computer
  • PMP portable media player
  • PDA personal digital assistant
  • a user uploads data in the mobile terminal 3900 to the cloud server 4000. Then, the user may request the cloud server 4000 to print the data any time at any place. For example, the user may request the cloud server 4000 for the data by using the mobile terminal 3905 or the image forming apparatus 4100, and the data may be printed by the image forming apparatus 4100.
  • a storage space may be provided in the cloud server 4000 according to users, and each storage space may be mapped to correspond to a phone number of a mobile device of each user.
  • the user transmits a print job destined for a phone number of the mobile terminal 3905 to the cloud server 4000 by using the mobile terminal 3900.
  • the cloud server 4000 stores a print job in the storage space mapped to correspond to the phone number of the mobile terminal 3905.
  • the user checks the print job in the storage space by using the mobile terminal 3905.
  • the cloud server 4000 transmits the print job to the mobile terminal 3905 according to a request of the user.
  • the mobile terminal 3905 receives the print job, and the user checks details of the print job through a preview by using the mobile terminal 3905.
  • the user may enable the image forming apparatus 4100 to perform the print job by transmitting the print job to the image forming apparatus 4100 connected to the mobile terminal 3905.
  • the cloud server 4000 may map a phone number to each image forming apparatus included in the cloud printing system, and use the mapped phone number as a destination address for data transmission.
  • the cloud server 4000 may include a storage space according to image forming apparatuses, and each storage space may be mapped to correspond to each of phone numbers of the image forming apparatuses. For example, a phone number (031-xxx-yyyy) may be mapped to correspond to the image forming apparatus 4100, and the mapped phone number (031-xxx-yyyy) may be used as a destination address. Accordingly, when the user requests the cloud server 4000 for the print job destined for the mapped phone number by using the mobile terminal 3900, the cloud server 4000 stores the print job in the storage space for the image forming apparatus 4100. Then, the cloud server 4000 may transmit the stored print job to the image forming apparatus 4100. The image forming apparatus 4100 receives the print job and performs the received print job.
  • the user may check the storage space for the image forming apparatus 4100 in the cloud server 4000 by using the image forming apparatus 4100.
  • the cloud server 4000 transmits the print job stored in the storage space according to a request of the user.
  • the image forming apparatus 4100 may receive and perform the print job.
  • the cloud server 4000 may map the image forming apparatus 4100 to correspond to a phone number of the mobile terminal 3905 of the user, and may use the mapped phone number as a destination address for data transmission. As described above, since the cloud server 4000 may include the storage space according to users, the storage space may be mapped to correspond to the phone number of the mobile terminal 3905.
  • the cloud server 4000 When the user transmits the print job destined for the phone number of the mobile terminal 3905 to the cloud server 4000 by using the mobile terminal 3900, the cloud server 4000 stores the print job in the storage space of the user.
  • the cloud server 4000 transmits the print job stored in the storage space to the image forming apparatus 4100.
  • the image forming apparatus 4100 receives and performs the print job.
  • the print job when the print job is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 4100 mapped to a certain phone number but the image forming apparatus 4100 is not suitable for performing the print job, the print job may be difficult to be performed. In other words, when the image forming apparatus 4100 is malfunctioning or only supports black and white whereas the print job is in color, the print job may be difficult to be performed.
  • FIG. 40 is a block diagram of the cloud printing system, according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud printing system includes the mobile terminal 3900, the cloud server 4000, and the image forming apparatus 4100.
  • the mobile terminal 3900 included in the cloud printing system transmits the print job to the cloud server 4000.
  • the cloud server 4000 receives the print job, and selects the image forming apparatus 4100 from among image forming apparatuses connected according to print job conditions.
  • the cloud server 4000 transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus 4100.
  • the image forming apparatus 4100 receives and performs the print job.
  • the mobile terminal 3900 includes a transmitter 3910, a receiver 3920, and a controller 3930.
  • the transmitter 3910 transmits data.
  • the transmitter 3910 transmits data including the print job, and the receiver 3920 receives the data.
  • the controller 3930 may control the transmitter 3910 to transmit the print job destined for at least one phone number.
  • the mobile terminal 3900 may further include an interface unit (not shown) for receiving an input from the user.
  • the controller 3930 controls the transmitter 3920 to receive information indicating print job conditions from the interface unit and to transmit the information indicating the print job conditions to the cloud server 4000.
  • the cloud server 4000 includes a receiver 4010, a transmitter 4020, a controller 4030, a condition setter 4040, and a selector 4050.
  • the receiver 4010 receives the data.
  • the receiver 4010 may receive the print job.
  • the receiver 4010 may receive the information indicating the print job conditions.
  • the receiver 4010 may include an ARS connector and receive the information indicating the print job conditions from an ARS server.
  • the transmitter 4020 transmits the data.
  • the transmitter 4020 may transmit the print job.
  • the controller 4030 may control the receiver 4010 to receive the print job destined for at least one phone number.
  • the controller 4030 may control the receiver 4010 to receive the print job destined for a group of a plurality of phone numbers.
  • the controller 4030 may control the transmitter 4020 to transmit the print job to a selected image forming apparatus.
  • the controller 4030 may control the receiver 4010 to receive the information indicating the print job conditions from the mobile terminal 3900.
  • the controller 4030 may control the receiver 4010 to receive the information indicating the print job conditions from the ARS server.
  • the controller 4030 may control the condition setter 4040 to set the print job conditions based on the received information indicating the print job conditions.
  • the condition setter 4040 sets the print job conditions and the selector 4050 selects at least one of image forming apparatuses corresponding to the plurality of phone numbers included in the group. Also, the selector 4050 checks the print job conditions set by the condition setter 4040 to determine whether the print job conditions are suitable for receiving the print job by the image forming apparatus corresponding to the phone number. If it is determined that the print job conditions are not suitable, the selector 4050 may select another image forming apparatus different from the image forming apparatus corresponding to the phone number. The other image forming apparatus may be pre-assigned by the condition setter 4040.
  • the selector 4050 may determine whether the print job conditions are suitable by controlling the transmitter 4020 to transmit a request for checking print job conditions set in the image forming apparatus corresponding to the phone number, and controlling the receiver 4010 to receive a response to the request.
  • the selector 4050 determines whether the print operation conditions are suitable for the image forming apparatuses corresponding to the plurality of phone numbers to perform the print job by checking capability information of the image forming apparatuses, and selects at least one of the image forming apparatuses based on a result of the determining.
  • Capability information may include at least one of a current state of an image forming apparatus and information about whether the image forming apparatus supports color or black-and-white printing.
  • the selector 4050 controls the receiver 4010 to receive the capability information of the image forming apparatuses corresponding to the plurality of phone numbers. Also, the selector 4050 determines whether the print job conditions of the image forming apparatuses corresponding to the plurality of phone numbers are suitable for performing the print job by checking the set print job conditions based on the capability information received by the receiver 4010. If it is determined that the print job conditions of the image forming apparatuses corresponding to the plurality of phone numbers are not suitable, the selector 4050 may select another image forming apparatus different from the image forming apparatuses corresponding to the plurality of phone numbers. The other image forming apparatus may be pre-assigned by the condition setter 4040.
  • the image forming apparatus 4100 includes a receiver 4110, a transmitter 4120, a controller 4130, and a print operation performer 4140.
  • the receiver 4110 receives the data.
  • the receiver 4110 receives the print job.
  • the receiver 4110 may receive a request on the capability information of the image forming apparatus 4100.
  • the receiver 4110 may receive a request for checking the set print job conditions.
  • the transmitter 4120 transmits the data.
  • the transmitter 4120 may transmit the capability information of the image forming apparatus 4100. Also, the transmitter 4120 may transmit a response to the request for checking the set print job conditions.
  • the controller 4130 controls the receiver 4110 and the transmitter 4120.
  • the controller 4130 may control the print job performer 4140.
  • the controller 4130 controls the receiver 4110 to receive the print job from a server.
  • the controller 4130 may control the receiver 4110 to receive the request on the capability information of the image forming apparatus 4100 or the request for checking the set print job conditions.
  • the controller 4130 may control the transmitter 4120 to transmit the capability information of the image forming apparatus 4100 to the cloud server 4000.
  • the controller 4130 may control the transmitter 4120 to transmit a response to the request for checking the print job conditions.
  • the print operation performer 4140 performs the print job based on the data received by the receiver 4110.
  • the cloud printing system is not limited to directly receiving and performing the print job in the image forming apparatus 4100, but the print job may be first transmitted to an electronic device, such as the mobile terminal 3905, and the image forming apparatus 4100 may receive and perform the print job from the electronic device.
  • FIG. 41 is a diagram for describing a method of performing a phone number-based print job, according to an embodiment.
  • a user pre-sets print job conditions in a server, and a suitable printer performs a print job according to the set print job conditions.
  • the user sets the print job conditions in the server, in operations S4101, S4102, and S4103.
  • a user B sets automatic forwarding conditions.
  • the automatic forwarding conditions are basic conditions for selecting an electronic device to transmit a print job from among electronic devices connected to a cloud server.
  • the automatic forwarding conditions may include conditions that are not suitable for a mobile terminal to receive a print job or for a printer to perform a print job.
  • a user B may assign an electronic device to receive a print job when automatic forwarding conditions are satisfied while setting the automatic forwarding conditions.
  • a user B may set automatic forwarding conditions through a mobile application executed in a mobile terminal, through a UI of an image forming apparatus, or through an ARS.
  • the user B set the automatic forwarding conditions such that a print job received by the cloud server 4000 during 9:00 of 10th to 18:00 of 11th is transmitted to a kiosk C.
  • the user B set the automatic forwarding conditions such that a print job received by the cloud server 4000 while the user B is out of office is transmitted to the kiosk C.
  • the user B sets a print job received by the cloud server 4000 to be limited to that destined for a phone number (010-AAAA-BBBB) of the user B.
  • the cloud server 4000 may transmit an approval request to the kiosk C such that a print job is transmitted to the kiosk C according to the set automatic forwarding conditions.
  • the kiosk C transmits an approval response to the approval request to the cloud server 4000.
  • the automatic forwarding conditions on the print job destined for the phone number of the user B is set in the cloud server 4000.
  • the cloud server 4000 may complete the setting of the automatic forwarding conditions without having to perform operations S4102 and S4103.
  • a user A transmits a print job to the cloud server 4000, the cloud server 4000 transmits the print job to a suitable printer, and the suitable printer performs the print job, in operations S4104 through S4108.
  • the user A transmits the print job destined for the phone number (010-AAAA-BBBB) of the user B.
  • the cloud server 4000 checks the automatic forwarding conditions set in operations S4101 through S4103.
  • the print job is transmitted by the user A at 10:00 of 10th.
  • the cloud server 4000 determines that the automatic forwarding conditions are satisfied.
  • the cloud server 4000 may transmit a message to the user A for checking whether to transmit the print job to the kiosk C.
  • the user A transmits a message to the cloud server 4000 approving the print job to be transmitted to the kiosk C by using a mobile terminal.
  • the cloud server 4000 transmits the print job to the kiosk C.
  • the kiosk C may receive and perform the print job.
  • the cloud server 4000 transmits a notification that the print job is completed in the kiosk C.
  • the cloud server 4000 may directly transmit the print job to the kiosk C without separately transmitting an approval request to the user A.
  • FIG. 42 is a diagram for describing processes of setting print job conditions in a server, according to an embodiment.
  • a user executes a mobile application in a mobile terminal, and selects the user’s phone number and a phone number to which a print job is automatically distributed according to conditions. Also, the user sets print job conditions.
  • the print job conditions may be variously set according to times (from one day to another day) or according to states (absence) of the user using the mobile terminal. Also, the print job conditions may be variously set based on whether an image forming apparatus is capable of performing a print job, for example, based on whether the image forming apparatus malfunctions or whether the image forming apparatus supports color printing.
  • the print job conditions are transmitted to and stored in a cloud server.
  • the user may set a phone number assigned to an image forming apparatus, a phone number to which a print job is to be distributed, and print job conditions through a UI of the image forming apparatus, and may similarly transmit the print job conditions to the cloud server to be stored.
  • print job conditions are to be set via an ARS
  • the user dials a main ARS number by using a general phone.
  • the user is guided by a voice in an ARS server, and sets the print job conditions by pressing buttons on the general phone.
  • the setting is performed similarly to a mobile application.
  • the print job conditions are transmitted to and stored in the cloud server from the ARS server through an ARS connector of the cloud server.
  • FIG. 43 is a diagram for describing processes of a sender A setting print job conditions and requesting a print job to perform the print job, according to an embodiment.
  • the sender A may set print job conditions similarly to the recipient B of FIG. 41.
  • the sender A pre-sets the print job conditions before transmitting the print job.
  • the sender A sets a group of phone numbers to transmit the print job.
  • a group of phone numbers of image forming apparatuses in offices B, C, and D is set through a mobile application or an ARS.
  • the sender A sets the print job conditions, in detail, direct performance of a print job and a print job in a color document, in the cloud server 4000.
  • the sender A transmits a print job destined for the group of phone numbers of the image forming apparatuses of the offices B, C, and D to the cloud server 4000.
  • the cloud server 4000 examines states of the image forming apparatuses in the group to check an image forming apparatus matching the print job conditions set by the sender A. In an embodiment, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus of the office B is unprintable, the image forming apparatus of the office C does not support a color print option, and the image forming apparatus of the office D matches the print job conditions.
  • the cloud server 4000 may check whether the print job conditions are suitable by receiving capability information from each image forming apparatus.
  • the cloud server 4000 may transmit a message to each image forming apparatus for checking a state of each image forming apparatus in operations S4302, S4304, and S4306, and may receive capability information in operations S4303, S4305, and S4307 in response, so as to check the state of each image forming apparatus.
  • the cloud server 4000 selects the image forming apparatus of the office D to transmit the print job.
  • the image forming apparatus of the office D receives and performs the print job.
  • FIG. 44 is a diagram for describing a method of performing a phone number-based print job, according to an embodiment.
  • a user B pre-sets print job conditions by executing a mobile application in the user B’s mobile terminal.
  • the user B set a phone number to which a print job destined for the user B’s phone number is to be forwarded to a phone number (010-CCCC-DDDD) of a user C.
  • the user B sets the print job to be forwarded when the user B is not home.
  • the user A transmits a print job destined for a phone number (010-AAAA-BBBB) of the user B to a cloud server, by using an electronic device.
  • the cloud server transmits a message notifying the print job to the mobile terminal of the user B.
  • the mobile terminal of the user B transmits a message to the cloud server about absence at home in response to the message notifying the print operation.
  • the cloud server receives the message from the mobile terminal of the user B to check that the user B is not at home, and transmits an approval request on the print job to the mobile terminal of the user C.
  • the user C transmits a message approving the print job to the cloud server, by using the user C’s mobile terminal.
  • the cloud server transmits the print job to an image forming apparatus mapped to the phone number of the user C’s mobile terminal.
  • the image forming apparatus receives and performs the print job.
  • the cloud server may transmit a message to the user A that the print job destined for the phone number of the user C’s mobile terminal has been performed.
  • FIG. 45 is a diagram for describing a method of performing a phone number-based print job, according to an embodiment.
  • a user A sets print job conditions through a UI of an image forming apparatus, and stores the print job conditions in a cloud server by transmitting the print job conditions to the cloud server. It is assumed that the user A set the print job conditions such that a print job is destined for a phone number of an office C if an image forming apparatus of an office B is broken.
  • the user A transmits the print job destined for a phone number (031-AAA-BBBB) of the image forming apparatus of the office B to the cloud server, by using the user A’s mobile terminal.
  • the cloud server transmits a request to check the print job conditions to the image forming apparatus of the office B.
  • the image forming apparatus of the office B transmits a message about a malfunction to the cloud server, in response to the request to check the print job conditions.
  • the cloud server receives the message from the image forming apparatus of the office B.
  • the cloud server checks that the image forming apparatus of the office B is malfunctioning through the received message. Accordingly, the cloud server transmits the print job to a phone number (031-CCC-DDDD) of the image forming apparatus in the office C. In other words, the cloud server transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus of the office C.
  • the image forming apparatus of the office C may receive and perform the print operation.
  • the cloud server transmits a notification that the print job is performed in the image forming apparatus of the office C because of the malfunction of the image forming apparatus in office B.
  • FIG. 46 is a flowchart of a method of performing a phone number-based print job, according to an embodiment.
  • a cloud server receives a print job request destined for at least one phone number.
  • the cloud server selects at least one electronic device from among connected electronic devices, according conditions set by a user.
  • the cloud server checks capability information of an electronic device corresponding to a phone number to determine whether the electronic device is suitable for performing a print job, and if it is determined that the electronic device is not suitable, may select another electronic device different from the electronic device corresponding to the phone number.
  • the other electronic device may be pre-set by the user.
  • the cloud server transmits the print job request to the selected at least one electronic device.
  • FIG. 47 is a flowchart of a method of performing a phone number-based print job, according to an embodiment.
  • a cloud server receives a print job request destined for a plurality of phone numbers assigned to a group.
  • the cloud server selects at least one of electronic devices corresponding to the plurality of phone numbers included in the group.
  • the cloud server transmits the print job request to the selected at least one electronic device.
  • FIG. 48 is a flowchart of a method of performing a phone number-based print job, according to an embodiment.
  • a cloud server receives a print job request destined for a plurality of phone numbers assigned to a group.
  • the cloud server determines whether an electronic device corresponding to a phone number is in a suitable condition for receiving the print job request.
  • the cloud server selects another electronic device.
  • the other electronic device different from the electronic device corresponding to the phone number may be an electronic device pre-set by a user.
  • the cloud server transmits the print job request to the selected electronic device.
  • FIG. 49 is a flowchart of a method of performing a phone number-based print job, according to an embodiment.
  • a cloud server sets print job conditions in the cloud server.
  • the print job conditions may be set as a mobile terminal or a host executes an application or calls an ARS server connected to the cloud server via an ARS.
  • the cloud server receives a print job destined for at least one phone number.
  • the cloud server selects at least one of electronic devices connected according to the set print job conditions.
  • the cloud server transmits the print job to the selected at least one electronic device.
  • FIG. 50 is a flowchart of a method of performing a phone number-based print job, according to an embodiment.
  • a cloud server receives a print job request destined for a plurality of phone numbers assigned to a group.
  • the cloud server checks capability information of electronic devices corresponding to the plurality of phone numbers to determine whether the electronic devices are suitable for performing the print job.
  • the cloud server may receive the capability information and check conditions set based on the received capability information to determine whether the electronic devices corresponding to the plurality of phone numbers are suitable for performing the print job.
  • the cloud server selects at least one of the electronic devices corresponding to the plurality of phone numbers included in the group, based on a result of the determining.
  • the cloud server transmits the print job request to the selected at least one electronic device.
  • a sender may transmit the same print jobs having different destinations only once to a cloud server, together with life information of the print jobs, to store the print jobs in the cloud server, and transmit the print jobs to electronic devices according to the life information of the print jobs to perform the print jobs.
  • a sender transmits the same print jobs having different destinations several times. Accordingly, unnecessary transmission traffics are generated, and since the same print jobs are individually stored in several storage spaces, the storage spaces are unnecessarily wasted.
  • one or more embodiments provide a method enabling, when a sender transmits the same print jobs having different destinations only once, together with life information of the print jobs, a cloud server to determine whether a content is transmittable based on the life information of the print jobs and transmit the print jobs to electronic devices such that the print job is performed.
  • FIG. 51a is a diagram of an environment of a cloud printing system.
  • the cloud printing system includes a mobile terminal 5100, a cloud server 5200, and image forming apparatuses 5300 through 5302.
  • the mobile terminal 5100 may be replaced by any one of various electronic devices, such as a laptop, a tablet, a personal computer (PC), portable media player (PMP), digital camera, laptop computer, notebook computer, portable game player, wearable device, or a personal digital assistant (PDA) to perform the same functions as the mobile terminal 5100.
  • PC personal computer
  • PMP portable media player
  • PDA personal digital assistant
  • a user uploads data stored in the mobile terminal 5100 to the cloud server 5200. Then, the user may request the cloud server 5200 to print the data any time at any place.
  • the cloud server 5200 may map a phone number to each image forming apparatus, and use the mapped phone number as a destination address for data transmission.
  • the cloud server 5200 may include a storage space according to image forming apparatuses, and each storage space may be mapped to correspond to each of phone numbers of the image forming apparatuses. For example, a phone number (031-xxx-yyyy) may be mapped to correspond to the image forming apparatus 5300, and the mapped phone number may be used as a destination address. Accordingly, when the user requests the cloud server 5200 for a print job destined for the mapped phone number by using the mobile terminal 5100, the cloud server 5200 stores the print job in the storage spaces for the image forming apparatuses 5300 through 5302. Then, the cloud server 5100 may transmit the stored print job to the image forming apparatuses 5300 through 5302. The image forming apparatuses 5300 through 5302 receive the print job and perform the received print job.
  • the cloud server 5200 may include storage spaces according to phone numbers, and may map printers to respectively correspond to the storage spaces according to phone numbers.
  • a printer may be mapped to correspond to a storage space of a phone number of a mobile terminal of a user A.
  • Such a storage space may be accessed by a person corresponding to the phone number.
  • the storage space of the phone number of the mobile terminal of the user A may be accessed by the user A using the mobile terminal of the user A.
  • the user transmits a print job destined for phone numbers of users A through C. It is assumed that printers are respectively mapped to storage spaces of phone numbers of mobile terminals of the users A through C.
  • the user transmits the print job destined for the phone number of the user A by using the mobile terminal 5100 to the cloud server 5200.
  • the user transmits the print job destined for the phone number of the user B.
  • the user transmits the print job destined for the phone number of the user C.
  • the cloud server 5200 Upon receiving the print job, the cloud server 5200 stores the print job in the storage spaces provided according to phone numbers. Print files included in the print jobs may be stored. The print jobs have the same print file despite of different destinations. However, since the print jobs are separately requested, the same print file is stored separately in the storage spaces according to phone numbers.
  • the print file “a.doc” is stored in the storage spaces according to phone numbers.
  • the user has to transmit the print jobs having different destinations several times, thereby causing unnecessary transmission traffics. Also, since the same print file is separately stored in the storage spaces according to phone numbers, the storage spaces are unnecessarily wasted.
  • FIG. 51b is a diagram of an environment of a cloud printing system, according to an embodiment.
  • a user transmits print operations destined for phone numbers of users A through C to the cloud server 5200 by using the mobile terminal 5100.
  • the cloud server 5200 may store only one of print files included in the print jobs, set a printing number of times by mapping the printing number of times to the print file, and store the set printing number of times.
  • the print file and the printing number of times may be stored in a table form in which the print file and the printing number of times are mapped. For example, a table in which a printing number of times “3” is mapped to a print file “a.doc” may be stored.
  • the cloud server 5200 may map print file reference which references one print file to a phone number .
  • a table in which a print file reference is mapped to a phone number may be stored.
  • a table in which a print file reference indicating the print file “a.doc”, and a phone number are mapped may be stored.
  • Phone numbers of users are mapped to correspond to storage spaces according to phone numbers.
  • a mobile terminal when a mobile terminal transmits print jobs on the same print file destined for a plurality of phone numbers, only one print job may be transmitted so as to prevent unnecessary transmission traffic.
  • a cloud server since the same print file is stored once, a cloud server may not waste storage spaces according to phone numbers and efficiently use resources.
  • FIG. 52 is a block diagram of the cloud server 5200 according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud server 5200 includes a receiver 5210, a storage unit 5220, a determiner 5230, a transmitter 5240, and a controller 5250.
  • the cloud server 5200 receives a print job from outside the cloud server 5200, and transmits the print job based on determining whether the print job is transmittable according to a life of the print job.
  • the receiver 5210 receives data and the transmitter 5240 transmits the data.
  • the receiver 5210 receives the print job and the transmitter 5240 transmits the print job.
  • the storage unit 5220 stores data.
  • the storage unit 5220 stores a content and the life of the print job.
  • the determiner 5230 determines whether the content is transmittable according to the life of the print job.
  • the controller 5250 controls the receiver 5210 to receive the print job destined for a plurality of phone numbers.
  • the controller 5250 controls the storage unit 5220 to store the content included in the print job as one file. Also, the controller 5250 controls the storage unit 5220 to map the life of the print job according to the stored content, and to store the life of the print job.
  • the controller 5250 controls the transmitter 5240 to transmit the content to at least one of a plurality of electronic devices corresponding to the plurality of phone numbers, based on a result of determining by the determiner 5230.
  • the controller 5250 may control the storage unit 5220 to map a printable number of times to correspond to the stored content and to store the printable number of times of the print job.
  • the determiner 5230 may determine that the content is transmittable when the printable number of times is not 0. Also, when the content is transmitted, the controller 5250 may control the storage unit 5220 to adjust the printable number of times. The controller 5250 may delete the stored content when the printable number of times is 0.
  • the controller 5250 may control the storage unit 5220 to map a printable duration to correspond to the stored content and to store the printable duration of the print operation.
  • the determiner 5230 may determine whether the printable duration is passed, and determine that the content is transmittable when the printable duration is not passed.
  • the controller 5250 may delete the stored content.
  • the controller 5250 controls the receiver 5210 to receive a request on the content from at least one of the plurality of electronic devices. Upon receiving the request, the determiner 5230 determines whether the content is transmittable based on the life of the print job. The controller 5250 may control the transmitter 5240 to transmit the content to the at least one of the plurality of electronic devices based on a result of the determining.
  • the controller 5250 may control the storage unit 5220 to map the plurality of phone numbers to the content and store the plurality of phone numbers according to the content. Also, when the print job is transmitted destined for at least one phone number, the controller 5250 controls the storage unit 5220 to delete a phone number to which the print job is transmitted from stored phone numbers. Then, the controller 5250 may control the transmitter 5240 to transmit the content to electronic devices corresponding to the stored phone numbers. In other words, the content is not repeatedly transmitted to one electronic device.
  • an embodiment is not limited to mapping a phone number to a content, and the controller 5250 may store contents of print jobs having a plurality of destinations only once in any one of various methods, and print the contents once at each destination.
  • the controller 5250 may control the storage unit 5220 to set and store the printable number of times according to the number of phone numbers that are destinations of the print job. For example, when a print job destined for three phone numbers is received, the controller 5250 may control the storage unit 5220 to set and store a printable number of times to three.
  • FIG. 53 is a block diagram of a cloud printing system according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud printing system includes the mobile terminal 5100, the cloud server 5200, and the image forming apparatus 5300.
  • the mobile terminal 5100 included in the cloud printing system of an embodiment transmits a print job to the cloud server 5200.
  • the cloud server 5200 sets a life of the print job, and transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus 5300 according to the life of the print job.
  • the image forming apparatus 5300 receives and performs the print job.
  • the mobile terminal 5100 includes a receiver 5110, a transmitter 5120, a controller 5130, a storage unit 5140, and a user input receiver 5150.
  • the receiver 5110 receives data and the transmitter 5120 transmits the data.
  • a print job may be transmitted.
  • the storage unit 5140 stores the data.
  • the storage unit 5140 stores a content.
  • the user input receiver 5150 receives an input for controlling various operations of the mobile terminal 5100 from a user.
  • the user input receiver 5150 receives an input for selecting a plurality of phone numbers from the user.
  • the user input receiver 5150 may receive an input for selecting a content to be included in a print job from contents stored in the storage unit 5140 from the user.
  • the controller 5130 controls the user input receiver 5150 to receive the input for selecting the plurality of phone numbers and the input for selecting the content to be included in the print job from the user, and controls the transmitter 5120 to transmit the print job including the selected contents to the plurality of phone numbers.
  • the image forming apparatus 5300 includes a receiver 5310, a transmitter 5320, a print operation performer 5330, and a controller 5340.
  • the receiver 5310 receives data and the transmitter 5320 transmits the data.
  • the receiver 5310 receives a print job and the transmitter 5320 may transmit a request for a content.
  • the controller 5340 controls the receiver 5310 to receive the content from the cloud server 5200.
  • the controller 5340 may control the transmitter 5320 to transmit the request for the content to the cloud server 5200, and control the receiver 5310 to receive the content from the cloud server 5200 in response to the request.
  • the print job performer 5330 performs the print job based on the content received from the receiver 5310.
  • the cloud printing system is not limited to performing the print job as the image forming apparatus 5300 directly receives the content, but alternatively, the content may be first transmitted to an electronic device, such as the mobile terminal 5100, and the image forming apparatus 5300 may receive and perform the print job including the content from the electronic device.
  • FIG. 54 is a diagram for describing processes of setting a group in a mobile terminal and transmitting a print job destined for a plurality of phone numbers, according to an embodiment.
  • a user may set a group including a plurality of phone numbers by using a mobile terminal, and generate a print job destined for the plurality of phone numbers.
  • the mobile terminal may receive an input from the user to set the group and generate the print job.
  • the user selects “Group Setting” 5403 from a print request screen 5400 displayed on the mobile terminal.
  • the user selects “Add” 5411 from a group management screen 5410 displayed on the mobile terminal.
  • the user inputs a name of the group to be generated and phone numbers to be included in the group respectively to a group name input box 5421 and a phone number input box 5422 in a group addition screen 5420 displayed on the mobile terminal.
  • the user generates a “home-study material A group” including phone numbers “010-1111-1111” and “010-2222-2222”. Then, the user selects “Add” 5423 to generate the group.
  • the “home-study material A group” is added to the group management screen 5410.
  • the user inputs a destination phone number or group to a destination input box 5401 in the print request screen 5400.
  • the user inputs the phone number “010-1111-1111”, a group “company”, and a group “Samsung Apartment”.
  • “Print” 5402 a print job destined for the destination phone number or group input in the destination input box 5401 is generated and transmitted to a cloud server.
  • FIG. 55 is a diagram for describing processes of transmitting a print job destined for a plurality of phone numbers, according to an embodiment.
  • a user may select a destination by checking a box in a destination select screen 5500 displayed on a mobile terminal.
  • the user selects a “My Company” group as a destination of a print job.
  • the user may select a content type through a content type select screen 5510.
  • the user selects “Documents” to print a document.
  • the print file select screen 5520 may display various files stored in the mobile terminal, and the user may select one file by checking a box. In order to transmit such a print job, the user may pre-check data to be printed through a preview screen 5530.
  • FIG. 56 is a diagram of a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) packet 5600 for transmitting a print job destined for a plurality of phone numbers, according to an embodiment.
  • HTTP hypertext transfer protocol
  • the HTTP packet 5600 for transmitting a print job in a mobile terminal may include contents related to a request uniform resource locator (URL) 5610, a phone number 5620, and a print file 5630.
  • URL uniform resource locator
  • a user transmits a print job regarding a print file “document.doc” and destined for phone numbers “010-0000-0000”, “010-1111-1111”, and “010-2222-2222” to “http://xx.xx.xx.xx/transmit/” that is an address of a cloud server.
  • the mobile terminal generates the HTTP packet 5600 by setting the request URL 5610 to be “http://xx.xx.xx.xx/transmit/” that is the address of the cloud server. Also, the mobile terminal generates the HTTP packet 5600 by setting the phone number 5620 to be the phone numbers “010-0000-0000”, “010-1111-1111”, and “010-2222-2222”. Also, the mobile terminal generates the HTTP packet 5600 by setting the print file 5630 to be the print file “document.doc”. As such, the mobile terminal may generate the HTTP packet 5600 including the contents relates to the request URL 5610, the phone number 5620, and the print file 5630, and transmit the print job destined for the plurality of phone numbers to the cloud server.
  • a format of transmitting the print job is not limited to the HTTP packet 5600, and may vary.
  • FIG. 57 illustrates a document and count table 5700, and a phone number and document reference table 5710 for managing a print job, according to an embodiment.
  • a cloud server stores the document and count table 5700 and the phone number and document reference table 5710, and may manage an job request received by using the document and count table 5700 and the phone number and document reference table 5710.
  • the document and count table 5700 maps and stores a “file name” and a “printable number of times”. For example, when a request to print a “image.jpg” file destined for three phone numbers is received from outside the cloud server, the document and count table 5700 stores the “image.jpg” file as the “file name” and “3” as the “printable number of times” in one row.
  • the phone number and document reference table 5710 maps and stores a “phone number” and a “document reference”. Phone numbers may be mapped to correspond to storage spaces according to phone numbers.
  • the phone number and document reference table 5710 stores the “image.jpg” file as the “document reference”.
  • the three phone numbers are stored as the “phone number” in three rows.
  • Only one “image.jpg” file to be printed is stored in the cloud server.
  • the cloud server does not store the “image.jpg” file according to phone numbers.
  • the “image.jpg” stored as the “document reference” and the “file name” indicates one “image.jpg” file.
  • the “document reference” and the “file name” may be mapped to correspond to a stored document file.
  • FIG. 58a is a diagram for describing processes of the cloud server 5200 managing a stored print job, according to an embodiment
  • a printer requests for a print job regarding an “image.jpg” file.
  • the cloud server 5200 transmits the “image.jpg” file to the printer.
  • a phone number set according to the printer that requested for the print is “010-4444-4444”.
  • the cloud server 5200 deletes a row where a phone number is “010-4444-4444” and a document reference is “image.jpg” from a phone number and document reference table 5810.
  • the cloud server 5200 reduces a “printable number of times” in a row where a file name is “image.jpg” by 1 from a document and count table 5800. In an embodiment, the “printable number of times” is reduced from 3 to 2.
  • FIG. 58b is a diagram for describing processes of the cloud server 5200 managing a stored print job according to an embodiment.
  • a printer requests for a print job regarding a “document.doc” file in operation S5830.
  • the cloud server 5200 transmits the “document.doc” file to the printer.
  • a phone number set according to the printer that requested for the print is “010-4444-4444”.
  • the cloud server 5200 deletes a row where a phone number is “010-4444-4444” and a document reference is “document.doc” from a phone number and document reference table 5830. In FIG. 58b, such a row is already deleted from the phone number and document reference table 5830.
  • the cloud server 5200 reduces a “printable number of times” in a row where a file name is “document.doc” by 1 from a file name and count table 5840. In an embodiment, since the reduced “printable number of times” is 0, a row where a file name is “document.doc” is deleted from the file name and count table 5840.
  • FIG. 59 illustrates a document and printable duration table 5900, and a phone number and document reference table 5910 for managing a print job, according to an embodiment.
  • a cloud server stores the document and printable duration table 5900 and the phone number and document reference table 5910, and may manage job requests by using the document and printable duration table 5900 and the phone number and document reference table 5910.
  • the document and printable duration table 5900 maps and stores a “file name”, a “printable duration” and a “registered date”.
  • the “printable duration” may be pre-set in the cloud server. In an embodiment, it is assumed that printable durations are 2 days throughout files. For example, when a request to print an “image.jpg” file destined for three phone numbers is received from outside the cloud server, the “image.jpg” file is stored as the “file name” and “2 days” are stored as the “printable duration” in one row of the document and printable duration table 5900.
  • the print job is registered (stored) in the cloud server, information about the date and time may be obtained, and a registered date may be registered together with the print job. In an embodiment, the registered date is “02 December 2013”.
  • FIG. 60 is a diagram for describing processes of the cloud server 5200 managing a stored print job according to an embodiment.
  • a printer requests for a print job regarding an “image.jpg” file.
  • a phone number corresponding to the printer that requested for the print job is “010-4444-4444”.
  • the cloud server 5200 checks a “printable duration” in a row where a file name is “image.jpg” from a document and printable duration table 6000. When a point of time the print job is requested is 03 December 2013, two days are not passed from the registered date of “02 December 2013”. Thus, in operation S6020, the cloud server 5200 transmits the print job to the printer.
  • the cloud server 5200 determines that the printable duration is already passed. Accordingly, operation S6020 is not performed, and the row where the “file name” is “image.jpg” is deleted from the document and printable duration table 6000. At this time, a row where a “file reference” is “image.jpg” may also be deleted from a phone number and file reference table 6010.
  • FIG. 61 is a flowchart of a method of performing a phone number-based print job, according to an embodiment.
  • a server receives a print job destined for a plurality of phone numbers.
  • the server stores a content as one file included in the print job.
  • the server maps and sets a life of the print job to correspond to the stored content, and stores the life of the print job.
  • the server determines whether the content is transmittable according to the life of the print job.
  • the server receives a request on the content from at least one of a plurality of electronic devices, and upon receiving the request, may determine whether the content is transmittable to the at least one electronic device based on the life of the print job.
  • the server transmits the content to the at least one electronic device corresponding to the plurality of phone numbers based on a result of the determining.
  • the server may transmit the content to an electronic device that requested for the content, based on the result of determining.
  • FIG. 62 is a flowchart of a method of performing a phone number-based print job, according to an embodiment.
  • a server receives a print job destined for a plurality of phone numbers.
  • the server stores a content as one file included in the print job.
  • the server maps and sets a printable number of times to correspond to the stored content, and stores the printable number of times.
  • the printable number of times may be set to correspond to the number of plurality of phone numbers that are destinations of the print job.
  • the server determines whether the content is transmittable based on whether the printable number of times is 0. In other words, the server may determine that the content is transmittable when the printable number of times is not 0.
  • the server transmits the content to at least one of a plurality of electronic devices corresponding to the plurality of phone numbers, based on a result of the determining.
  • the printable number of times may be additionally adjusted. Also, when the printable number of times is 0, the content may be deleted.
  • FIG. 63 is a flowchart of a method of performing a phone number-based print job, according to an embodiment.
  • a server receives a print job destined for a plurality of phone numbers.
  • the server stores a content as one file included in the print job.
  • the server maps and sets a printable duration to correspond to the stored content, and stores the printable duration.
  • the server determines whether the content is transmittable based on whether the printable duration is passed. In other words, the server may determine that the content is transmittable when the printable duration is not passed.
  • the server transmits the content to at least one of a plurality of electronic devices corresponding to the plurality of phone numbers based on a result of the determining.
  • the server may delete the content if the printable duration is passed.
  • FIG. 64 is a flowchart of a method of performing a phone number-based print job, according to an embodiment.
  • a server receives a print job destined for a plurality of phone numbers.
  • the server stores a content as one file included in the print job.
  • the server maps and sets a printable number of times to correspond to the stored content, and stores the printable number of times.
  • the server maps and stores the plurality of phone numbers to correspond to the content.
  • the server determines whether the content is transmittable based on whether the printable number of times is 0.
  • the server transmits the content to an electronic device corresponding to the stored phone number.
  • the server deletes the phone number to which the content is transmitted.
  • a sender may transmit a content to a person who does not subscribe to a cloud printing service, and at this time, an invitation message may be transmitted to a non-subscriber to induce the non-subscriber to subscribe the cloud printing service and receive the content.
  • a cloud printing service provided by a cloud server is generally provided only to users subscribed to the cloud printing service. Accordingly, a sender is unable to transmit a content to be printed if a recipient is not a user subscribed to the cloud printing service, and the user has to subscribe to the cloud printing service to be provided with the cloud printing service. Accordingly, one or more embodiments provide a method enabling a sender to transmit a content to be printed even to a person who does not subscribe to a cloud printing service, and at this time, an invitation message is transmitted to a non-subscriber to induce the non-subscriber to subscribe to the cloud printing service and receive the content. An embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 65 through 80.
  • FIG. 65 is a block diagram of a cloud printing system according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud printing system includes a user device 6500, a cloud server 6600, and a device 6700.
  • the user device 6500 transmits a content and a phone number to which the content is to be transmitted, to the cloud server 6600.
  • the cloud server 6600 determines whether the received phone number is registered in the cloud server 6600, and if the received phone number is not registered, transmits a server registration induction message to the received phone number and stores the content correspondingly to the received phone number.
  • the device 6700 transmits a server registration request corresponding to the server registration induction message to the cloud server 6600, and the cloud server 6600 transmits the stored content to the device 6700.
  • a user of the user device 6500 may transmit the content and the phone number regardless of whether the phone number is registered in the cloud server 6600.
  • a user of the device 6700 mapped to a phone number that is not registered in the cloud server 6600 receives a server registration induction message from the cloud server 6600, and transmits a server registration request to the cloud server 6600 in response. Based on the transmitted server registration request, the phone number is registered in the cloud server 6600. As such, a non-subscriber is induced to easily subscribe a phone number-based printing service.
  • the user of the device 6700 may receive contents stored before the registration from the cloud server 6600.
  • the user may receive the contents stored before the phone number of the device 6700 is registered, and thus the user may experience a seamless service.
  • the user of the user device 6500 may transmit the content regardless of whether the phone number is registered in the cloud server 6600. Accordingly, the user of the user device 6500 may have confidence that content shall be transmitted to a desired phone number.
  • the user device 6500 includes a network interface unit (network interface) 6510 and a controller 6520.
  • network interface network interface
  • controller 6520
  • the network interface unit (network interface) 6510 transmits the content and the phone number to which the content is to be transmitted. Also, the network interface unit 6510 may receive a message indicating whether to transmit the server registration induction message, and transmit a response to the message.
  • the controller 6520 controls the network interface unit 6510 to transmit the content and the phone number.
  • the controller 6520 may control the network interface unit 6510 to receive the message indicating whether to transmit the server registration induction message from the cloud server 6600 and to transmit the response to the message to the cloud server 6600.
  • the user device 6500 may include a UI unit (not shown).
  • the UI unit may receive inputs indicating the content and the phone number from a user.
  • the UI unit may receive the response to the message indicating whether to transmit the server registration induction message from the user.
  • the cloud server 6600 includes a network interface unit (network interface) 6610, a controller 6620, a determiner 6630, and a storage unit (storage) 6640.
  • network interface network interface
  • controller controller
  • storage storage
  • the network interface unit 6610 receives the content and the phone number to which the content is to be transmitted.
  • the network interface unit 6610 transmits the server registration induction message to the received phone number, and transmits the content stored in the storage unit 6640 to the device 6700 mapped correspondingly to the received phone number.
  • the storage unit (storage) 6640 stores the content and the phone number. Also, the storage unit 6640 may store a user identifier.
  • the determiner 6630 determines whether the phone number received by the network interface unit 6610 is registered in the cloud server 6600. Also, the determiner 6630 may determine whether a predetermined period is passed from a point of time when the content is stored.
  • the controller 6620 transmits the server registration induction message to the phone number, receives the server registration request corresponding to the server registration induction message, and controls the network interface unit 6610 to transmit the stored content to the device 6700 mapped correspondingly to the phone number.
  • the controller 6620 controls the storage unit 6640 to store the content correspondingly to the received phone number.
  • the controller 6620 may control the storage unit 6640 to delete the stored content.
  • the cloud server 6600 may further include an authenticator (not shown).
  • the authenticator may perform authentication on the phone number upon receiving the server registration request.
  • the controller 6620 may control the storage unit 6640 to map and register a plurality of phone numbers correspondingly to the user identifier.
  • the controller 6620 may control the network interface unit 6610 to transmit the message indicating whether to transmit the server registration induction message to the device 6600, receive a response to the message from the cloud server 6600, and transmit the server registration induction message based on the response.
  • the device 6700 includes a network interface unit (network interface) 6710 and a controller 6720.
  • the network interface unit 6710 receives the server registration induction message. Also, the network interface unit 6710 transmits the server registration request in response to the server registration induction message.
  • the controller 6720 controls the network interface unit 6710 to receive the server registration induction message, transmit the server registration request correspondingly to the server registration induction message, and receive the content.
  • the device 6700 may further include a UI unit (not shown).
  • the UI unit may receive the server registration request correspondingly to the server registration induction message from the user, and display the received content to the user.
  • the device 6700 may further include a print operation performer (not shown).
  • the print operation performer performs a printing operation of the received content.
  • the device 6700 may be a mobile terminal.
  • the mobile terminal stores an intrinsic phone number in a universal subscriber identity module (USIM) chip, and thus is communicable by using a mobile network based on the intrinsic phone number. Accordingly, even when a phone number is not registered in the cloud server 6600, the cloud server 6600 may transmit a server registration induction message to the phone number via an MMS.
  • the user may receive the content from the cloud server 6600 by using the mobile terminal, pre-check the content via a display or the like, and print the content by directly transmitting the content to an image forming apparatus connected to the mobile terminal.
  • the user may map and register an image forming apparatus correspondingly to a phone number registered in the cloud server 6600, and the mobile terminal may request the cloud server 6600 to transmit the content to the mapped image forming apparatus.
  • the device 6700 may be an apparatus including a print operation performer, such as an image forming apparatus.
  • the device 6700 is communicable through a phone network based on an intrinsic phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 is able to transmit a message to the image forming apparatus, and the user is able to transmit a server registration request through a UI unit of the image forming apparatus to register the image forming apparatus and receive a content.
  • FIG. 66 is a block diagram of the cloud server 6600 according to an embodiment.
  • FIG. 67 is a diagram for describing a method of providing a phone-number based cloud printing service, which is performed by the cloud printing system, according to an embodiment.
  • the user device 6500 transmits the content and the phone number to which the content is to be transmitted to the cloud server 6600.
  • the cloud server 6600 receives the content and the phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 determines whether the received phone number is registered in the cloud server 6600.
  • the cloud server 6600 transmits the server registration induction message to the received phone number.
  • the device 6700 receives the server registration induction message from the cloud server 6600.
  • the cloud server 6600 stores the content correspondingly to the received phone number.
  • the device 6700 may transmit the server registration request to the cloud server 6600 in response to the server registration induction message.
  • the cloud server 6600 may transmit the stored content to the device 6700 mapped correspondingly to the phone number.
  • FIG. 68 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a phone number-based cloud printing service, according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud server 6600 receives the content and the phone number to which the content is to be transmitted.
  • the cloud server 6600 determines whether the received phone number is registered in the cloud server 6600.
  • the cloud server 6600 stores the content after mapping the content to the received phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 transmits the server registration induction message to the device 6700 based on the received phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 receives the server registration request corresponding to the server registration induction message from the device 6700. Upon receiving the server registration request, the cloud server 6600 transmits the stored content to the device 6700 mapped correspondingly to the received phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 stores the content after mapping the content to the received phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 transmits the stored content to the device 6700 mapped correspondingly to the received phone number.
  • FIG. 69 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a phone number-based cloud printing service, according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud server 6600 receives the content and the phone number to which the content is to be transmitted.
  • the cloud server 6600 determines whether the received phone number is registered in the cloud server 6600.
  • the cloud server 6600 stores the content after mapping the content to the received phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 transmits the server registration induction message to the received phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 receives the server registration request corresponding to the server registration induction message.
  • the cloud server 6600 determines whether authentication performed on the received phone number succeeded.
  • the cloud server 6600 registers the device 6700 after mapping the device 6700 correspondingly to the received phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 transmits the stored content to the device 6700 mapped correspondingly to the received phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 stores the content after mapping the content to the received phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 transmits the stored content to the device 6700 mapped correspondingly to the received phone number.
  • FIG. 70 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a phone number-based cloud printing service, according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud server 6600 receives the content and the phone number to which the content is to be transmitted.
  • the cloud server 6600 determines whether the received phone number is registered in the cloud server 6600.
  • the cloud server 6600 stores the content after mapping the content to the received phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 transmits the server registration induction message to the received phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 transmits the server registration induction message to the device 6700 mapped correspondingly to the received phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 receives the server registration request corresponding to the server registration induction message.
  • the cloud server 6600 determines whether authentication performed on the received phone number succeeded. Also, the cloud server 6600 may determine whether authentication performed on the user identifier succeeded.
  • the cloud server 6600 maps and registers the device 6700 correspondingly to the received phone number. Also, the cloud server 6600 maps and registers the phone number correspondingly to the user identifier. The cloud server 6600 may map and register a plurality of phone numbers correspondingly to the user identifier.
  • the cloud server 6600 transmits the stored content to the device 6700 mapped correspondingly to the received phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 stores the content after mapping the content to the received phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 transmits the stored content to the device 6700 mapped correspondingly to the received phone number.
  • a user is able to check all contents destined for the plurality of phone numbers mapped correspondingly to the user identifier when the user logs in via authentication on the user identifier.
  • the cloud server 6600 provides a webpage providing a printing service to a user, and the user logs in the webpage by performing authentication on a user identifier, the user is able to check all contents destined for a plurality of phone numbers mapped correspondingly to the user identifier.
  • a user checks a content transmitted to his/her phone number by using a mobile terminal
  • the user is able to check only a content mapped correspondingly to his/her phone number.
  • the user may pre-set the mobile terminal to receive a content destined for a plurality of phone numbers mapped correspondingly to the user identifier.
  • FIG. 71 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a phone number-based cloud printing service, according to an embodiment.
  • the cloud server 6600 receives the content and the phone number to which the content is to be transmitted.
  • the cloud server 6600 determines whether the received phone number is registered in the cloud server 6600.
  • the cloud server 6600 stores the content after mapping the content to the received phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 transmits the server registration induction message to the received phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 transmits the server registration induction message to the device 6700 mapped correspondingly to the received phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 determines whether a predetermined period is passed from a point of time when the content is stored.
  • the cloud server 6600 stores the content after mapping the content to the received phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 transmits the stored content to the device 6700 mapped correspondingly to the received phone number.
  • FIG. 72 is a diagram for describing a process of transmitting a service subscription invitation message 7220 to a phone number to which a content is to be transmitted, according to an embodiment.
  • a user transmits the content by inputting the phone number to which the content is to be transmitted by using the user device 6500.
  • the cloud server 6600 determines that the phone number is not registered, the cloud server 6600 transmits a message 7210 to the user device 6500.
  • the message 7210 is about whether to transmit the service subscription invitation message 7220 to a person using the phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 transmits the service subscription invitation message 7220 to the phone number.
  • the cloud server 6600 transmits the service subscription invitation message 7220 to the device 6700.
  • the device 6700 may be a device using an intrinsic phone number, such as a mobile terminal.
  • the user device 6500 may directly transmit the service subscription invitation message 7220 in an SMS form to the device 6700 if the user device 6500 is a mobile terminal.
  • the device 6700 may download and install an application from an address shown in the service subscription invitation message 7220, and transmit a service subscription request to the cloud server 6600 through the application. However, alternatively, a user of the device 6700 may transmit the service subscription request to the cloud server 6600 without having to install the application.
  • FIG. 73a and 73b are diagrams for describing a process of performing authentication for a service non-subscriber to subscribe a service.
  • the device 6700 is a mobile terminal. Since a mobile terminal uses an intrinsic phone number, the mobile terminal may receive an SMS and perform authentication on the intrinsic phone number.
  • the device 6700 selects “Request” 7310 on an application providing a service for authenticating a phone number to request the cloud server 6600 to transmit an authentication number. Accordingly, the cloud server 6600 generates a PIN code.
  • the cloud server 6600 transmits the generated PIN code to the device 6700
  • the user of the device 6700 checks and inputs the PIN code, and selects “Authenticate” 7320. Then, the device 6700 transmits the inputted PIN code the cloud server 6600, and the cloud server 6600 compares the inputted PIN code and the generated PIN code. When the inputted PIN code and the generated PIN code match, the authentication is completed.
  • authentication is performed on a user account used in a service, according to an embodiment.
  • the user inputs “Samsung” as the user account into the input box 7330, inputs four digit password “****” into the input box 7340, and selects “Login” 7350 to authenticate the user account.
  • the cloud server 6600 completes authentication when a stored user account and a stored password match the user account and the password input by the user.
  • FIG. 74 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing authentication, which is performed by an API server that is a part of the cloud server 6600, according to an embodiment.
  • the device 6700 requests the API server to authenticate a PIN code.
  • the API server determines whether a user account is also transmitted while authenticating a phone number.
  • the user of the device 6700 may request the API server to authenticate the phone number while authenticating the user account, and the API server may determine whether the user account is also transmitted while authenticating the phone number to determine whether the user account is to be authenticated.
  • the API server determines whether the phone number is registered in a database. In other words, when it is determined that the user account is not requested to be authenticated while authenticating the phone number, the API server determines whether the phone number is registered in the database.
  • the API server determines whether the phone number is interlocked with the user account.
  • the API server requests the device 6700 to determine whether to authenticate the user account determined to be interlocked with the phone number of the device 6700.
  • the API server requests an authentication server to transmit an access token for the user account by transmitting the user account with the request.
  • the API server does not transmit the user account so as to authenticate the phone number without the user account and requests the authentication server to transmit a new access token.
  • the API server when it is determined that the phone number is not interlocked with the user account, the API server requests the authentication server to transmit a new access token. In other words, the API server requests the authentication server to transmit an access token so as to obtain authority to use a service by registering the phone number.
  • the API server receives a result of the request from the authentication server. For example, when the request is successfully authenticated, the API server receives the access token, and when the request is failed, the API server receives a value indicating an authentication failure instead of the access token.
  • FIG. 75 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing authentication, which is performed by an authentication server that is a part of the cloud server 6600, according to an embodiment.
  • the authentication server receives a request to authenticate a PIN code from the API server.

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Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de formation d'image conçu pour fournir un service d'impression en nuage, le système de formation d'image comprenant : un dispositif de transmission qui est conçu pour transmettre un contenu en désignant un numéro de téléphone cible ; un serveur d'impression en nuage qui est conçu pour recevoir le numéro de téléphone cible et le contenu du dispositif de transmission ; un dispositif de réception auquel est attribué le numéro de téléphone cible et qui est conçu pour recevoir une notification de téléchargement du contenu par rapport au numéro de téléphone cible du serveur d'impression en nuage ; et un dispositif de formation d'image qui est conçu pour imprimer le contenu en recevant le contenu du serveur d'impression en nuage, le serveur d'impression en nuage transmettant le contenu au dispositif de formation d'image enregistré dans le numéro de téléphone cible lorsque le service d'impression en nuage est demandé pour le contenu du numéro de téléphone cible.
EP14847212.9A 2013-09-30 2014-09-30 Système et procédé permettant de fournir un service d'impression en nuage Ceased EP3039527A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (24)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR20130116921A KR20150037388A (ko) 2013-09-30 2013-09-30 전화번호에 기반한 인쇄 서비스를 제공하는 화상형성 시스템 및 방법
KR1020130116717A KR102042158B1 (ko) 2013-09-30 2013-09-30 전화번호에 기반한 인쇄 서비스를 제공하는 화상형성 시스템 및 방법
KR1020130116716A KR102094946B1 (ko) 2013-09-30 2013-09-30 전화번호에 기반한 인쇄 서비스를 제공하는 화상형성 시스템 및 방법
KR1020130116918A KR102088923B1 (ko) 2013-09-30 2013-09-30 전화번호에 기반한 인쇄 서비스를 제공하는 화상형성 시스템 및 방법
KR1020130116919A KR102088925B1 (ko) 2013-09-30 2013-09-30 전화번호에 기반한 인쇄 서비스를 제공하는 화상형성 시스템 및 방법
KR1020130116920A KR102042144B1 (ko) 2013-09-30 2013-09-30 전화번호에 기반한 인쇄 서비스를 제공하는 화상형성 시스템 및 방법
KR20130116917A KR20150037384A (ko) 2013-09-30 2013-09-30 전화번호에 기반한 인쇄 서비스를 제공하는 화상형성 시스템 및 방법
KR20130116718A KR20150037257A (ko) 2013-09-30 2013-09-30 전화번호에 기반한 인쇄 서비스를 제공하는 화상형성 시스템 및 방법
KR1020140011733A KR20150090748A (ko) 2014-01-29 2014-01-29 인쇄 서비스를 제공하는 방법 및 시스템, 그리고 인쇄 서비스를 지원하는 클라우드 서버
US201461937835P 2014-02-10 2014-02-10
KR1020140015172A KR20150094191A (ko) 2014-02-10 2014-02-10 모바일 어플리케이션을 이용한 클라우드 프린트 서비스의 제공 방법
KR1020140027440A KR20150094469A (ko) 2014-02-10 2014-03-07 전화번호를 기반으로 한 클라우드 프린팅 서비스를 제공하는 방법 및 시스템, 그리고 클라우드 프린팅 서비스를 지원하는 클라우드 서버
KR1020140027434A KR20150094463A (ko) 2014-02-10 2014-03-07 클라우드 프린팅 시스템 및 클라우드 프린트 서비스에 모바일 디바이스를 등록하는 방법
KR1020140027439A KR20150094468A (ko) 2014-02-10 2014-03-07 전화번호를 기반으로 한 클라우드 프린팅 서비스를 제공하는 방법 및 시스템, 그리고 클라우드 프린팅 서비스를 지원하는 클라우드 서버
KR1020140027433A KR20150094462A (ko) 2014-02-10 2014-03-07 컴퓨팅 디바이스에서 클라우드 프린트 서비스를 지원하는 방법 및 이를 수행하는 컴퓨팅 디바이스
KR1020140027435A KR20150094464A (ko) 2014-02-10 2014-03-07 전화번호 기반의 인쇄 서비스를 요청하는 방법 및 화상형성장치
KR1020140027438A KR20150094467A (ko) 2014-02-10 2014-03-07 전화번호를 기반으로 한 클라우드 프린팅 서비스를 제공하는 방법 및 시스템, 그리고 클라우드 프린팅 서비스를 지원하는 클라우드 서버
KR1020140027441A KR20150094470A (ko) 2014-02-10 2014-03-07 전화번호를 기반으로 한 클라우드 프린트 서비스의 제공 방법 및 이를 수행하기 위한 클라우드 서버 및 클라우드 프린트 시스템
KR1020140027437A KR20150094466A (ko) 2014-02-10 2014-03-07 클라우드 프린트 시스템 및 클라우드 프린트 서비스에 화상형성장치를 등록하는 방법
KR1020140027465A KR20150105158A (ko) 2014-03-07 2014-03-07 모바일 어플리케이션을 이용한 클라우드 프린트 서비스의 제공 방법, 이를 수행하기 위한 클라우드 프린트 서버 및 시스템
KR1020140027436A KR20150094465A (ko) 2014-02-10 2014-03-07 클라우드 프린트 서비스에 웹 스토리지 서비스를 연동하는 방법, 이를 수행하기 위한 클라우드 프린트 서버 및 시스템
KR1020140027466A KR20150105159A (ko) 2014-03-07 2014-03-07 모바일 어플리케이션을 이용한 클라우드 프린트 서비스의 제공 방법, 이를 수행하기 위한 클라우드 프린트 서버 및 시스템
KR1020140105434A KR20160020290A (ko) 2014-08-13 2014-08-13 클라우드 프린트 서버 및 클라우드 프린트 서버에 인쇄 컨텐츠 및 인쇄 작업을 등록하는 방법
PCT/KR2014/009211 WO2015047033A1 (fr) 2013-09-30 2014-09-30 Système et procédé permettant de fournir un service d'impression en nuage

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EP3039527A1 true EP3039527A1 (fr) 2016-07-06
EP3039527A4 EP3039527A4 (fr) 2017-04-26

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