JP2015106371A - Image forming apparatus, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to use a target function through an intuitive and easily understandable operation.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes acquisition means for acquiring application information on an application of an electronic apparatus during the pairing with the electronic apparatus, determination means for determining a target function intended by a user on the basis of the application information acquired by the acquisition means, and execution means for executing processing in accordance with the target function determined by the determination means.

Description

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

In recent years, many electronic devices equipped with NFC devices have become widespread, and by performing pairing between electronic devices by NFC communication, a user can easily associate electronic devices without making detailed settings. This has become possible (see Patent Document 1).
Also, a method of handover in which actual communication is performed with higher-level Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (registered trademark) after performing only pairing by NFC communication is also widely known.
Furthermore, as an application of pairing, an electronic device that may be paired with an electronic device in advance and a control that is performed when the electronic device is paired are set. There is also a proposal to start the registered control at the paired timing (see Patent Document 2).
Using these technologies, an electronic device equipped with NFC and an image forming device are paired, and an image file on the electronic device is printed by the image forming device or an image scanned by the image forming device is electronically transferred by handover. The function of saving on the device is being studied. In addition to cooperation between electronic devices and image forming apparatuses, various functions are expected to be realized by linking document conversion services on the cloud.

JP 2011-188281 A JP 2006-245957 A

Pairing between the electronic device and the image forming apparatus is realized by exchanging necessary information between the application operating on the electronic device and the control module of the image forming apparatus through NFC communication. After the pairing is established, the function is realized by the application operating on the electronic device and the control module of the image forming apparatus exchanging according to each function via the network.
In order to use some function, the user brings an electronic device close to the image forming apparatus and performs pairing by NFC communication. At this time, if a restriction is set such that an application necessary for an electronic device or an image forming apparatus is activated in advance to perform NFC communication, usability is reduced. On the other hand, even if NFC communication is completed without starting an application and pairing is completed, the function cannot be realized unless the application is started. Therefore, the user must start a necessary application after pairing. In the technique described in Patent Document 2, control is performed such that an application registered in advance is performed at the time of pairing. However, the function that the user wants to realize varies from time to time and cannot be solved by the same method. In order to solve such a problem, an operation flow that does not particularly set restrictions when performing pairing by NFC communication and that can easily realize a function desired by the user is required.

  In addition, when various functions such as mobile scanning and mobile printing are realized by pairing an electronic device with an image forming apparatus, it is assumed that a plurality of electronic devices are paired with one image forming apparatus. The When performing mobile printing, there is no problem even if a plurality of paired electronic devices give a print instruction to one image forming apparatus. However, when performing mobile scanning, it is necessary for the image forming apparatus to specify to which electronic device of a plurality of paired electronic devices an image should be transmitted. In Patent Document 1, control is performed to allow the user to select an electronic device that the user wants to pair from among the electronic devices that are being paired, but the identifier of the electronic device is not always easy for the user to recognize, There is a possibility of making a selection mistake.

  Therefore, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires application information related to an application of the electronic device at the time of pairing with the electronic device, and a user's purpose based on the application information acquired by the acquisition unit. Determining means for determining a target function to be performed, and executing means for executing processing according to the target function determined by the determining means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to use a function intended by a user with an intuitive and easy-to-understand operation.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of an image processing system. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of a mobile terminal. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information processing in the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of a pairing information table.

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

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of an image processing system.
The image forming apparatus 100 and the mobile terminal 101 are connected to a network by wireless or wired, and have an NFC device. The image forming apparatus 100 and the mobile terminal 101 are connected to a network via the router 102 when communicating wirelessly. Various cloud services 103 exist on the network, and the image forming apparatus 100 and the mobile terminal 101 can use various cloud services via the network.

Next, the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
A control unit 201 including a CPU 202 controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 100.
The CPU 202 reads a control program stored in the ROM 203 and executes various control processes such as reading control and transmission control.
The RAM 204 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory or work area for the CPU 202.
The HDD 205 stores image data, various programs, and various setting information.
The operation unit I / F 206 connects the operation unit 211 and the control unit 201.
The operation unit 211 includes a liquid crystal display unit having a touch panel function, a keyboard, and the like.
A printer I / F 207 connects the printer 212 and the control unit 201.
Image data to be printed by the printer 212 is transferred from the control unit 201 to the printer 212 via the printer I / F 207 and printed on a recording medium by the printer 212.
A scanner I / F 208 connects the scanner 213 and the control unit 201.
The scanner 213 reads an image on a document to generate image data, and inputs the image data to the control unit 201 via the scanner I / F 208.
The NFC I / F 209 establishes communication with the NFC device when the NFC-equipped device comes close.
A network I / F 210 connects the control unit 201 (image forming apparatus 100) to a network. The network I / F 210 transmits image data to an external device on the network and receives various types of information from the external device on the network.
When the CPU 202 executes a process based on a program stored in the ROM 203 or the HDD 205, a software configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 described later and a process related to a flowchart of the image forming apparatus 100 described later are realized.

Next, the software configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
The operation unit management module 214 manages information to be displayed on the operation unit 211 such as setting items of various functions provided to the user by the image forming apparatus 100 and the state of the image forming apparatus 100, and displays the operation unit I / F 206. Display on the operation unit 211.
The copy module 215 receives a copy job setting input from the operation unit 211 and makes a job execution request to the job management module 218. Further, the copy module 215 receives a status notification from the job management module 218 or the component management module 219 and notifies the operation unit management module 214. Although not shown in FIG. 2B, modules similar to the copy module 215 exist for functions such as printing, scanning, and faxing provided by the image forming apparatus 100.
The mobile scan module 216 performs control for transmitting an image scanned by the scanner 213 of the image forming apparatus 100 to the mobile terminal 101. The mobile scan module 216 receives setting information necessary for job execution from the operation unit 211 or the NFC I / F 209 and requests the job management module 218 to execute the job. Further, the mobile scan module 216 transmits the scanned image based on preset information via the network.

The NFC function management module 217 performs control when establishing pairing with the mobile terminal 101 by the NFC I / F 209. The NFC function management module 217 exchanges necessary pairing information between the image forming apparatus 100 and the mobile terminal 101 and activates applications and modules for realizing the functions.
The job management module 218 receives a job execution request from the copy module 215 or the like, and actually operates the printer 212 or the scanner 213 to execute the job.
The component management module 219 manages the status of the printer 212 and the scanner 213.
The data management module 220 reads and writes data managed on the HDD 205 and RAM 204. The image forming apparatus 100 holds information such as an identifier and an IP address of a paired electronic device as shown in FIG. 5 described later on the HDD 205 or RAM 204 as a pairing information table.

Next, the hardware configuration of the mobile terminal 101 will be described with reference to FIG.
A control unit 301 including a CPU 302 controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal 101.
The CPU 302 reads out the control program and application program stored in the ROM 303 and executes various control processes.
The RAM 304 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory or work area for the CPU 302.
The operation unit I / F 305 connects the operation unit 309 and the control unit 301.
The operation unit 309 includes a liquid crystal display unit having a touch panel function, a keyboard, and the like.
The external storage I / F 306 is connected to a USB memory, an SD card, or the like, and reads / writes data stored in the storage.
The NFC I / F 307 establishes communication with the NFC device when the NFC-equipped device comes close.
The network I / F 308 connects the control unit 301 (mobile terminal 101) to the network.
The function of the mobile terminal 101 is realized by the CPU 302 executing a process based on a program stored in the ROM 303 or the like.

From here, the flow of processing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information processing in the image forming apparatus.
In step S <b> 4001, the NFC function management module 217 detects that the NFC I / F 307 of the mobile terminal 101 has approached the NFC I / F 209 of the image forming apparatus 100. If the NFC function management module 217 detects that the NFC I / F 307 of the mobile terminal 101 is approached, the process advances to step S4002.
In step S4002, the NFC function management module 217 establishes communication with the mobile terminal 101 via the NFC I / F 209.
In step S4003, the NFC function management module 217 notifies the mobile terminal 101 of the identifier and IP address of the image forming apparatus 100 through NFC communication.
In step S4004, the NFC function management module 217 requests the identifier of the mobile terminal 101, the IP address, and the identifier of the application running on the mobile terminal 101. The identifier of the application running on the mobile terminal 101 is an example of application information related to the application of the electronic device acquired at the time of pairing. That is, the identifier of the application activated on the mobile terminal 101 is an example of whether there is an application activated on the electronic device and, when the application is activated, identification information of the activated application. .

In S4005, the NFC function management module 217 searches the pairing information table shown in FIG. 5 as to whether the acquired mobile terminal identifier and IP address are already paired mobile terminals. Then, the NFC function management module 217 determines whether the mobile terminal 101 has already been paired based on the search result. If the mobile terminal 101 is not paired, the NFC function management module 217 advances the processing to S4006.
In step S4006, the NFC function management module 217 checks whether there is an application running on the mobile terminal 101. If there is a running application, the NFC function management module 217 advances the process to S4007.
In step S <b> 4007, the NFC function management module 217 confirms whether the acquired application identifier matches the application identifier for using the function of the image forming apparatus 100. Furthermore, the NFC function management module 217 confirms which function of the image forming apparatus 100 is an application identifier. In the data management module 220 of the image forming apparatus 100, the application identifier of the mobile terminal 101 that can use the function of the image forming apparatus 100 is recorded in advance. Based on the information, the NFC function management module 217 , S4007 is determined. If the acquired identifier of the active application matches the application identifier for using the image forming apparatus 100, the NFC function management module 217 advances the process to S4008.

In step S4008, the NFC function management module 217 requests the operation unit management module 214 to display whether or not to execute the function corresponding to the application identifier confirmed in step S4007. The operation unit management module 214 that has received the request displays on the operation unit 211 via the operation unit I / F 206.
In step S4009, the NFC function management module 217 that has acquired the user's selection operation information from the operation unit management module 214 determines whether or not the user has selected “execute function” based on the selection operation information. It is determined whether or not the application in the middle is sufficient. When it is determined that “a function associated with the activated application” is selected by the user holding the mobile terminal 101, the NFC function management module 217 advances the process to S4010.
S4007 to S4009 are an example of processing for determining a target function intended by the user.
In step S4010, the NFC function management module 217 registers the identifier of the mobile terminal 101, the IP address, and the intended function in the pairing information table shown in FIG. The target function in FIG. 5 is an example of target function information. The mobile ID is an example of identification information for identifying an electronic device that has been paired. The mobile ID, IP address, and target function stored in association with the pairing information table are examples of related information.

If there is no active application in S4006, the NFC function management module 217 advances the process to S4011.
In step S4011, the NFC function management module 217 requests the operation unit management module 214 to display a screen for confirming which function is used for NFC communication. The operation unit management module 214 that has received the request displays on the operation unit 211 via the operation unit I / F 206.
In step S4012, the NFC function management module 217 that has acquired the user's selection operation information from the operation unit management module 214 is a target function (target function) input via the operation unit 211 by the user holding the mobile terminal 101. Confirm. Further, the NFC function management module 217 requests the mobile terminal 101 to start an application corresponding to the target function via the NFC I / F 209. When the NFC function management module 217 receives a notification from the mobile terminal 101 that the activation of the application on the mobile terminal 101 is completed, the process proceeds to S4010.
In step S4010, the NFC function management module 217 registers the mobile terminal identifier, IP address, and intended function in the pairing information table shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if the NFC function management module 217 determines in step S4005 that the mobile terminal 101 has been paired, the process advances to step S4013.
In step S4013, the NFC function management module 217 confirms whether or not the activated application identifier acquired from the mobile terminal 101 matches the intended function registered in the pairing information table illustrated in FIG. If they match, the NFC function management module 217 advances the process to S4014.
In step S4014, the NFC function management module 217 requests the operation unit management module 214 to display a screen for confirming whether to execute the function confirmed in step S4013. The operation unit management module 214 that has received the request displays on the operation unit 211 via the operation unit I / F 206.
In step S4015, the NFC function management module 217 that has acquired the user's selection operation information from the operation unit management module 214 confirms the target function input by the user holding the mobile terminal 101. If the target function is the same as the function registered in the pairing information table shown in FIG. 5, the NFC function management module 217 advances the process to S4016. If they are different, the NFC function management module 217 advances the process to S4011.

In step S4011, the NFC function management module 217 prompts input of a target function again. Even when the activated application identifier acquired from the mobile terminal 101 does not match the intended function registered in the pairing information table shown in FIG. 5, the NFC function management module 217 advances the process to S4011. In step S4011, the NFC function management module 217 prompts input of a target function again. The processing after S4011 is the same as the processing described above.
Through the processing so far, registration of the identifier, IP address, and intended function of the mobile terminal 101 is completed in the pairing information table shown in FIG.

In step S4016, the NFC function management module 217 confirms whether further information is necessary for realizing the function. Mobile printing in which a print instruction is issued from the mobile terminal 101 to the image forming apparatus 100 via the cloud service 103 is realized by the mobile terminal 101 specifying the IP address of the image forming apparatus 100 and transmitting image data to be printed. The
Therefore, the function can be realized by the pairing information exchanged in S4002 to S4004 described above. Accordingly, the process proceeds to S4017, and the NFC function management module 217 requests the operation unit management module 214 to display that the pairing has been completed and the subsequent operation from the application of the mobile terminal 101 is performed. The operation unit management module 214 that has received the request displays on the operation unit 211 via the operation unit I / F 206. Thereafter, the mobile terminal 101 issues a print instruction via the network I / F 308, and the image forming apparatus 100 receives the print instruction from the network I / F 210.

On the other hand, in the mobile scan in which the image scanned by the image forming apparatus 100 is transmitted to the mobile terminal 101 via the cloud service 103, it is necessary to further set the storage destination of the scanned image, parameter setting at the time of the scanning process, and the like. In addition, a dedicated module for controlling them is required for the image forming apparatus 100.
Therefore, the processing proceeds to S4018, and the NFC function management module 217 activates the mobile scan module 216. Further, in step S4019, the mobile scan module 216 requests the operation unit management module 214 to perform display for confirming to the user whether or not the setting for performing the scan has been completed. The operation unit management module 214 that has received the request displays on the operation unit 211 via the operation unit I / F 206. Mobile scanning is an example of a scanning function. In step S4020, the mobile scan module 216 determines whether the setting is completed.
For example, when it is detected that the setting has been completed, such as receiving an operation indicating that the setting has been completed via the operation unit 211 or the like, the process proceeds to S4021, and the mobile scan module 216 performs the mobile terminal via the NFC I / F 209. Further detailed information is acquired from 101. When all the information for scanning is prepared, the mobile scan module 216 controls the operation unit management module 214 to select a scan start key in the operation unit 211 of the image forming apparatus 100. However, in order to ensure the association between the image forming apparatus 100 and the mobile terminal 101, the image forming apparatus 100 performs NFC communication in consideration of the user and scans the mobile terminal that is exactly in NFC communication. Control to send.

For this purpose, in step S4022, the mobile scan module 216 requests the operation unit management module 214 to display the mobile terminal close to the image forming apparatus and select the start key. The operation unit management module 214 that has received the request displays on the operation unit 211 via the operation unit I / F 206.
In S4023, the mobile scan module 216 matches the mobile terminal registered in the pairing information table (FIG. 5) of the data management module 220 in S4010 with NFC communication (touching) and the registered mobile terminal. Check whether or not.
If NFC communication with the registered mobile terminal 101 is in progress and they match, the mobile scan module 216 controls the operation unit management module 214 and selects the scan start key in the operation unit 211 of the image forming apparatus 100 in step S4024. Make it possible. When the NFC communication is interrupted, the mobile scan module 216 controls the operation unit management module 214 so that the scan start key in the operation unit 211 of the image forming apparatus 100 cannot be selected.
For example, the mobile scan module 216 can be selected by displaying a scan start key that has not been displayed on the operation unit 211 or by making the scan start key grayed out and selectable brightly selectable. And

If the setting has not been completed in step S4020, the mobile scan module 216 performs operation unit management so as to display a message prompting the user to bring the mobile terminal closer to the image forming apparatus once again in step S4025 when the necessary setting is completed on the mobile terminal side. Request to module 214. The operation unit management module 214 that has received the request displays on the operation unit 211 via the operation unit I / F 206. When the user performs necessary settings on the mobile terminal side and NFC communication is performed again, the processing of S4001 to S4005, S4013 to S4015, S4016, S4018 to S4020, and S4021 to S4023 is executed, and mobile scanning is started. The When the scan start key is selected, cancellation of NFC communication is permitted, and the mobile scan module 216 transmits the scan image to the cloud service 103 or the set storage location of the mobile terminal 101 via the network I / F 210.
The data management module 220 deletes the recorded pairing information at the timing when all of the processing according to the instruction of the corresponding module is completed, or at the timing when a predetermined time has elapsed by providing a timer or the like in advance.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

As described above, according to each of the above-described embodiments, there is no particular restriction on pairing by NFC communication, and the user can obtain the state of the electronic device even if NFC communication is performed in any state. It is possible to provide an operation flow necessary for realizing the intended function. Therefore, operability that is easy to use can be realized.
Further, even when a plurality of electronic devices are paired with one image forming apparatus, NFC communication is essential when performing a function that needs to specify the target electronic device. By doing so, it is possible to avoid processing being executed at an incorrect pairing destination.
Therefore, it is possible to use a function intended by the user with an intuitive and easy-to-understand operation.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Change is possible.

Claims (5)

Acquisition means for acquiring application information related to the application of the electronic device at the time of pairing with the electronic device;
A determining unit that determines a target function intended by the user based on the application information acquired by the acquiring unit;
Execution means for executing processing according to the target function determined by the determination means;
An image forming apparatus. The acquisition unit acquires, as the application information, whether or not there is an application activated in the electronic device and, if the application is activated, identification information of the activated application,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines a target function intended by the user based on the application information acquired by the acquisition unit. And further comprising storage means for associating target function information for identifying the target function determined by the determination means and identification information for identifying the electronic device for which pairing has been completed in association with each other in a memory.
When the target function determined by the determination unit is a scan function, the execution unit displays the electronic device close to the image forming apparatus and selects a scan start key, and is stored in the memory. The start key can be selected when the electronic device identified by the identification information of the related information is in communication and the target function identified by the target function information of the related information is a scan function. Or the image forming apparatus of 2. An information processing method executed by an image forming apparatus,
An acquisition step of acquiring application information related to the application of the electronic device when paired with the electronic device;
A determination step of determining a target function intended by the user based on the application information acquired by the acquisition step;
An execution step of executing processing according to the target function determined in the determination step;
An information processing method including: On the computer,
An acquisition step of acquiring application information related to the application of the electronic device when paired with the electronic device;
A determination step of determining a target function intended by the user based on the application information acquired by the acquisition step;
An execution step of executing processing according to the target function determined in the determination step;
A program for running

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