JP2020071822A - Image forming apparatus, method for controlling image forming apparatus, and control program, and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve efficiency in transferring print object information stored in a portable terminal to an image forming apparatus and printing the information.SOLUTION: In an image forming system 10, wireless communication with a wireless LAN is performed between a multifunctional machine 20 as an image forming apparatus and a portable terminal 30 within a wirelessly communicable range 20a of the multifunctional machine 20. A user can transfer, to the multifunctional machine 20, image data as print object information stored in the portable terminal 30 and print the image data. In that case, the user only needs to operate the multifunctional machine 20 alone including an operation to select image data the user desires to print, and does not need to operate the portable terminal 30. This improves operability in printing the image data, and in turn, improves efficiency.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus control method and control program, and an image forming system, and particularly to an image forming apparatus capable of wireless communication with a mobile terminal, an image forming apparatus control method, and a control program. , And an image forming system.

  An example of this type of technology is disclosed in Patent Document 1. According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, print data as print target information stored (saved) in a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone is wirelessly communicated, for example, by a wireless LAN (Local Area Network). It is transmitted to a printer device as an image forming device. The printer device prints the print data received from the mobile terminal, and specifically forms an image based on the print data on a sheet as an image forming medium. According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, short-distance wireless communication conforming to a short-distance wireless communication standard such as FeliCa (registered trademark) is also performed for charging processing, in addition to communication by wireless LAN.

JP, 2013-141803, A

  As described above, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the print target information stored in the mobile terminal can be transferred to the image forming apparatus and printed. At that time, the user desires printing. It is necessary to operate the mobile terminal including selection of print target information. Further, for example, when the mobile terminal is stored in a pocket, a bag, or the like, the user needs to take out the mobile terminal and operate it. Furthermore, the user needs to operate the image forming apparatus in addition to the operation of the mobile terminal, that is, the mobile terminal and the image forming apparatus must be operated separately. This is extremely troublesome and inefficient for the user.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a novel image forming apparatus, a control method for the image forming apparatus, which can improve the efficiency in transferring and printing the print target information stored in the mobile terminal to the image forming apparatus. An object is to provide a control program and an image forming system.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a novel image forming apparatus, a control method and a control program for the image forming apparatus, and an image forming system capable of more efficiently printing the print target information stored in the mobile terminal. That is the purpose.

  To achieve this object, the present invention relates to a first invention relating to an image forming apparatus, a second invention relating to a control method for an image forming apparatus, a third invention relating to a control program for an image forming apparatus, and an image. A fourth invention relating to the forming system is included.

  A first aspect of the present invention relating to an image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus capable of wireless communication with a mobile terminal, and includes first capturing means, first display means, first receiving means, and image forming. Means are provided. The first capturing unit captures the print target information stored in the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal by wireless communication. The first display means displays the first index information representing the print target information captured by the first capturing means. The first reception means receives a first user operation of arbitrarily selecting any of the first index information displayed by the first display means. Then, the image forming unit forms an image based on the print target information corresponding to the first index information selected by the first user operation on the image forming medium, that is, prints it.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the second display means and the second reception means may be further provided. Here, the second display means displays the second index information indicating the mobile terminal in a state where wireless communication is possible. Then, the second accepting means accepts a second user operation of arbitrarily selecting any of the second index information displayed by the second display means. In this case, the first capturing unit captures the print target information from the mobile terminal corresponding to the second index information selected by the second user operation.

  Further, in the first aspect of the present invention, identification information may be attached to the mobile terminal. On top of that, third accepting means and authenticating means may be further provided. Here, the third accepting means accepts a third user operation of inputting arbitrary identification information. Then, the authentication means attempts authentication for wireless communication with the mobile terminal using the identification information input by the third user operation. In this case, the first capturing unit captures the print target information from the mobile terminal that has been successfully authenticated by the authenticating unit.

  In addition, in the first aspect of the present invention, the fourth accepting means may be further provided. The fourth accepting unit accepts a fourth user operation for arbitrarily setting a condition for the print target information to be captured by the first capturing unit. In this case, the first capturing unit captures the print target information according to the condition set by the fourth user operation from the mobile terminal.

  Further, in the first aspect of the present invention, the second capturing means, the third displaying means, and the fifth receiving means may be provided. Here, the second fetching unit fetches the third index information, which represents the print target information stored in the mobile terminal and has a smaller capacity than the print target information, from the mobile terminal by wireless communication. The third display means displays the third index information fetched by the second fetching means. Then, the fifth reception means receives a fifth user operation of arbitrarily selecting any of the third index information displayed by the third display means. In this case, the first capturing unit captures the print target information corresponding to the third index information selected by the fifth user operation from the mobile terminal.

  Such print target information in the first aspect of the present invention includes, for example, image information.

  A second aspect of the present invention relating to a method for controlling an image forming apparatus includes a first capturing step, a first displaying step, a first receiving step, and an image forming step. Here, the image forming apparatus is capable of wireless communication with the mobile terminal. Then, in the first capturing step, the print target information stored in the mobile terminal is captured from the mobile terminal by wireless communication. In the first display step, the first index information representing the print target information captured in the first capture step is displayed. In the first receiving step, a first user operation of arbitrarily selecting any of the first index information displayed in the first displaying step is received. Then, in the image forming step, an image based on the print target information corresponding to the first index information selected by the first user operation is formed on the image forming medium.

  A third aspect of the present invention relating to a control program for an image forming apparatus causes a computer of the image forming apparatus to execute a first capturing procedure, a first displaying procedure, a first receiving procedure and an image forming procedure. Here, the image forming apparatus is capable of wireless communication with the mobile terminal. Then, the first import procedure is a procedure for importing the print target information stored in the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal by wireless communication. The first display procedure is a procedure for displaying the first index information representing the print target information captured in the first capture procedure. The first acceptance procedure is a procedure for accepting a first user operation of arbitrarily selecting any of the first index information displayed in the first display procedure. Then, the image forming procedure is a procedure for forming an image on the image forming medium based on the print target information corresponding to the first index information selected by the first user operation.

  A fourth invention relating to the image forming system of the present invention comprises the image forming apparatus according to the first invention and the same portable terminal as in the first invention.

  According to such an aspect of the invention, when the print target information stored in the mobile terminal is transferred to the image forming apparatus and printed, the user selects the print target information desired to be printed by the first user. It is sufficient to operate only the image forming apparatus including the operation, and it is not necessary to operate the mobile terminal. Thereby, the operability at the time of the printing can be improved, and the efficiency can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the multifunction machine in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a memory map conceptually showing the internal configuration of the RAM of the main storage unit of the multifunction machine in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the mobile terminal in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a memory map conceptually showing the configuration in the RAM of the main storage unit of the mobile terminal in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the overall processing flow of the image forming system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a terminal list screen displayed on the display of the multi-function peripheral according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the authentication operation screen displayed on the display of the multi-function peripheral according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print operation screen displayed on the display of the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which the display mode of the print operation screen in the first embodiment is changed. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a part of the flow of the terminal connection control processing executed by the CPU of the multifunction peripheral in the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing another part of the flow of the terminal connection control processing in the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the remaining part of the flow of the terminal connection control process in the first embodiment. FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the flow of the multi-function peripheral connection control processing executed by the CPU of the mobile terminal in the first embodiment. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a part of the overall processing flow of the image forming system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a photograph capture operation screen in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a part of the flow of the terminal connection control processing executed by the CPU of the multifunction peripheral in the second embodiment. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a part of the overall processing flow of the image forming system according to the third embodiment. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a pre-loading operation screen in the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a part of the flow of the terminal connection control processing executed by the CPU of the multifunction peripheral in the third embodiment. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a part of the flow of the multi-function peripheral connection control processing executed by the CPU of the mobile terminal in the third embodiment.

[First embodiment]
The first embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking the image forming system 10 shown in FIG. 1 as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming system 10 according to the first embodiment includes a multi function peripheral (MFP) 20 as an image forming apparatus and a mobile terminal 30.

  The multi-function device 20 is also called a multi-copy machine and has a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, an image scanner function, and a facsimile function. This multi-function device 20 is installed in, for example, a convenience store on the assumption that it will be used by an unspecified number of people. The multi-function device 20 also has a function as a master device (access point) of the wireless LAN, and forms a wireless communicable range 20a by the wireless LAN around it. In FIG. 1, it seems that the wireless communicable range 20a having a fixed shape and a fixed size is formed, but in reality, the shape and the size of the wireless communicable range 20a are complex. It changes depending on various circumstances such as the environment of the installation location of the machine 20 and the time zone.

  On the other hand, the mobile terminal 30 is a portable device that has a function as a child device (client) of a wireless LAN and a function of storing various data such as image data. Such a mobile terminal 30 includes a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a mobile phone, and the like, but in FIG. 1, a smartphone is illustrated. By installing a dedicated application (application software), which will be described later, in the mobile terminal 30, when the portable terminal 30 enters the wireless communicable range 20a of the multifunction machine 20, a wireless LAN is used between the portable terminal 30 and the multifunction machine 20. Two-way communication is possible. The user (not shown) of the mobile terminal 30 is, for example, a customer (visitor) of a convenience store. The user of the mobile terminal 30 can use the multifunction device 20, and in particular, the image data stored in the mobile terminal 30 can be transferred to the multifunction device 20 and printed.

  Here, focusing on the multifunction machine 20, the multifunction machine 20 includes an image reading unit 202, an image forming unit 204, a communication unit 206, and a photo printer 208, as shown in FIG. In addition, the multi-function device 20 includes a control unit 210, an auxiliary storage unit 212, a display unit 214, and an operation unit 216. These are connected to the common bus 218.

  The image reading unit 202 is an example of an image reading unit that performs an image reading process of reading an image of a document (not shown) and outputting two-dimensional image data (read image data) corresponding to the image of the document. For this reason, the image reading unit 202 has a document mounting table (not shown), a light source, a plurality of mirrors, an imaging lens, a line sensor, and the like.

  The image forming unit 204 is an example of an image forming unit that performs an image forming process for forming an image on an unillustrated sheet as an image forming medium by an electrophotographic method. Therefore, the image forming unit 204 has a photoconductor drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, a fixing device, and the like, which are not shown. The image data used in the image forming process by the image forming unit 204, that is, the print target information to be printed is the image data output from the above-described image reading unit 202 or the mobile terminal 30 as described later. Image data, etc. It should be noted that the paper referred to here includes a plurality of types of plain paper of different sizes such as A3 size, B4 size, A4 size, and B5 size, and glossy paper suitable for printing photographs. Further, the image forming unit 204 is not limited to the electrophotographic system, and may be an image forming process using an inkjet system, for example.

  The communication unit 206 is an example of a communication unit that carries out bidirectional communication processing via a network (not shown). The network mentioned here is, for example, the Internet, but is not limited to this, and may be a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or a dedicated line. The communication unit 206 also handles bidirectional communication processing via a public telephone line (not shown). Further, the communication unit 206 has a wireless LAN unit 206a. The wireless LAN unit 206a realizes a function as a parent device of the above-described wireless LAN according to, for example, the well-known IEEE_802.11 standard (so-called Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard).

  The photographic printer 208 is, for example, a sublimation printer or an inkjet printer, and is an example of another image forming unit capable of performing higher quality photographic printing than the image forming unit 204 described above. Image data used for high-quality photographic printing by the photographic printer 208, that is, print target information, includes image data fetched from the mobile terminal 30 and an image output from the image reading unit 202 described later. There is data etc. It should be noted that two types of dedicated paper, for example, L size and 2L size, are prepared as the paper to be printed by the photographic printer 208.

  The control unit 210 is an example of a control unit that controls the overall control of the multifunction machine 20. Therefore, the control unit 210 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 210a as a control execution unit. In addition, the control unit 210 has a main storage unit 210b as a main storage unit that the CPU 210a can directly access. The main storage unit 210b includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory) not shown. A control program (firmware) for controlling the operation of the CPU 210a is stored in the ROM. The RAM constitutes a work area and a buffer area when the CPU 210a executes processing based on the control program. The conceptual structure in this RAM is shown in the memory map 200 of FIG.

  As shown in the memory map 200, the RAM in the main storage unit 210b has a program storage area 250 and a data storage area 270. The above-mentioned control program is stored in the program storage area 250 of these. This control program includes a display control program 252, an operation detection program 254, an image reading program 256, an image forming program 258, a communication control program 260, a photo printer control program 262, a terminal detection program 264, a terminal connection control program 266, and the like. Including.

  The display control program 252 is a program for generating display screen data required to display various screens on a display surface of a display 214a of the display unit 214, which will be described later. The operation detection program 254 is a program for detecting a user's operation state on a touch panel 216a of the operation unit 216, which will be described later. The image reading program 256 is a program for controlling the image reading unit 202. The image forming program 258 is a program for controlling the image forming unit 204. The communication control program 260 is a program for controlling the communication unit 206 including the wireless LAN unit 206a. The photo printer control program 262 is a program for controlling the photo printer 208. The terminal detection program 264 is a program for causing the CPU 210a to execute terminal detection processing described later. The terminal connection time control program 266 is a program for causing the CPU 210a to execute terminal connection time control processing described later.

  On the other hand, the data storage area 270 stores various data. The various types of data include display image generation data 272, operation data 274, internal transmission / reception data 276, external transmission / reception data 278, and the like.

  The display image generation data 272 is data such as polygon data and texture data used to generate display screen data based on the display control program 252 described above. The operation data 274 is data representing the operation state of the touch panel 218a by the user, and more specifically, is time-series data representing the touch position (coordinates) of the touch panel 218a by the user. The internal transmission / reception data 276 is data transmitted / received between the control unit 210 and each component other than the control unit 210 such as the image reading unit 202 via the bus 218. The external transmission / reception data 278 is data transmitted / received to / from the outside via the communication unit 208. The external transmission / reception data 278 also includes data transmitted / received to / from the mobile terminal 30 such as image data captured from the mobile terminal 30 as described later.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the auxiliary storage unit 212 is an example of an auxiliary storage unit that includes a nonvolatile memory such as a hard disk or a flash memory (not shown). The auxiliary storage unit 212 stores various data under the control of the CPU 210a.

  The display unit 214 has a display 214a as a display means. The display 214a cooperates with a touch panel 216a of the operation unit 216, which will be described later, to form a display with a touch panel (touch screen). The display 214a is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), but is not limited to this, and may be an organic electroluminescence (EL) display or the like. In addition to the display 214a, the display unit 214 includes an appropriate light emitting element such as a light emitting diode (LED) (not shown).

  The operation unit 216 has a touch panel 216a as an operation receiving unit. The touch panel 216a constitutes a display with a touch panel in cooperation with the display 214a of the display unit 214 as described above. Therefore, although not shown in detail, the touch panel 216a is provided so as to overlap with the display surface of the display 214a. The touch panel 216a is, for example, a capacitance type, but is not limited to this, and may be another type such as an electromagnetic induction type, a resistance film type, or an infrared type. In addition to the touch panel 216aa, the operation unit 216 also includes an appropriate hardware switch such as a push button switch (not shown).

  The mobile terminal 30 includes a control unit 302, an auxiliary storage unit 304, a communication unit 306, a display unit 308, and an operation unit 310, as shown in FIG. These are connected to the common bus 312.

  The control unit 302 is an example of a control unit in the mobile terminal 30, which controls the mobile terminal 30 as a whole. Therefore, the control unit 302 includes a CPU 302a as a control execution unit in the mobile terminal 30. In addition, the control unit 302 includes a main storage unit 302a as a main storage unit in the mobile terminal 30. The main storage unit 302a includes, for example, a ROM and a RAM (not shown). A control program for controlling the operation of the CPU 302a is stored in the ROM. The RAM constitutes a work area and a buffer area when the CPU 302a executes processing based on the control program. The conceptual structure in this RAM is shown in the memory map 300 of FIG.

  As shown in the memory map 300, the RAM in the main storage unit 302b has a program storage area 350 and a data storage area 350. The above-mentioned control program is stored in the program storage area 350 of these. This control program includes a display control program 352, an operation detection program 354, a communication control program 356, a multifunction device detection program 358, a multifunction device connection control program 360, and the like.

  The display control program 352 is a program for generating display screen data required to display various screens on a display surface of a display 308a of the display unit 308, which will be described later. The operation detection program 354 is a program for detecting a user's operation state on a touch panel 310a of the operation unit 310, which will be described later. The communication control program 356 is a program for controlling the communication unit 306. The multifunction device detection program 358 is a program for causing the CPU 302a to execute a multifunction device detection process described later. The multi-function peripheral connection control program 360 is a program for causing the CPU 302a to execute a multi-function peripheral connection control process described later. The multi-function peripheral detection program 358 and the multi-function peripheral connection control program 360 are incorporated in a dedicated application to be described later.

  On the other hand, the data storage area 370 stores various data. The various types of data include display image generation data 372, operation data 374, internal transmission / reception data 376, external transmission / reception data 378, and the like.

  The display image generation data 372 is data such as polygon data and texture data used to generate display screen data based on the display control program 352 described above. The operation data 374 is data representing the operation state of the user on the touch panel 310a, and more specifically, is time-series data representing the touch position of the user on the touch panel 310a. The internal transmission / reception data 376 is data transmitted / received between the control unit 302 and each component other than the control unit 302 such as the auxiliary storage unit 204 via the bus 312. The external transmission / reception data 378 is data transmitted / received to / from the outside via the communication unit 306. The external transmission / reception data 378 includes data transmitted / received to / from the multifunction machine 20 such as image data transmitted from the mobile terminal 30 to the multifunction machine 20 as described later.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the auxiliary storage unit 304 is an example of an auxiliary storage unit in the mobile terminal 30 including a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory (not shown). The auxiliary storage unit 304 stores various data under the control of the CPU 302a.

  The communication unit 306 is an example of communication means in the mobile terminal 30, which is responsible for bidirectional communication processing via a mobile phone line (not shown). In addition, the communication unit 306 also performs wired bidirectional communication processing with a personal computer (not shown). Further, the communication unit 306 has a wireless LAN unit 306a. The wireless LAN unit 306a realizes a function as a slave unit of the wireless LAN according to the above-mentioned IEEE_802.11 standard.

  The display unit 308 has a display 308a as a display unit in the mobile terminal 30. The display 308a forms a display with a touch panel in cooperation with a touch panel 310a of the operation unit 310, which will be described later. The display 308a is, for example, a liquid crystal display, but is not limited to this, and may be an organic electroluminescence display or the like. In addition to the display 308a, the display unit 308 includes an appropriate light emitting element such as a light emitting diode (not shown).

  The operation unit 310 has a touch panel 310a as an operation receiving unit in the mobile terminal 30. The touch panel 310a cooperates with the display 308a of the display unit 308 as described above to form a touch panel display. Therefore, the touch panel 310a is provided so as to overlap the display surface of the display 308a. The touch panel 310a is, for example, a capacitance type, but is not limited to this, and may be another type such as an electromagnetic induction type, a resistive film type, an infrared type. In addition to the touch panel 310a, the operation unit 310 includes an appropriate hardware switch such as a push button switch (not shown).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the user of the mobile terminal 30 can transfer the image data stored in the mobile terminal 30 to the multifunction machine 20 and print it. At that time, the user can perform the printing by operating only the multifunction machine 20 without operating the mobile terminal 30.

  In order to realize this, a dedicated application is installed in the mobile terminal 30 as a preliminary preparation. This dedicated application can be downloaded from, for example, a dedicated server (not shown). By installing this dedicated application in the mobile terminal 30, various parameters necessary for communication with the multifunction device 20 via the wireless LAN are set in the mobile terminal 30. This parameter includes SSID (Service Set IDentifier) as an identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, and the like. Furthermore, in the mobile terminal 30 in which this dedicated application is installed, an ID (IDentifier) as identification information, a password associated with this ID, and a nickname as auxiliary information of the ID are arbitrarily operated by a user operation. It is set (registered). At the same time, the storage location (save location) of the image data transferred to the multi-function device 20, specifically, the folder as the storage location in the auxiliary storage unit 304 is arbitrarily set by the user operation. The image data transferred to the multi-function device 20 is mainly data of a photograph taken by a camera (not shown) included in the mobile terminal 30, and is, for example, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) data.

  After such advance preparation is performed, the process (event) is advanced as a whole in the image forming system 10 as shown in FIG. It should be noted that the above-mentioned dedicated application does not need to be started when this processing is advanced.

  First, as step S1, the portable terminal 30 enters the wireless communicable range 20a of the multifunction machine 20. As a result, it becomes possible for the mobile terminal 30 and the multifunction device 20 to communicate with each other via the wireless LAN. Note that the multifunction device 20 and the portable terminal 30 recognize that the portable terminal 30 has entered the wireless communicable range 20 a of the multifunction device 20 when detecting their existence. Therefore, the CPU 210a of the multi-function device 20 executes the terminal detection processing according to the terminal detection program 264 described above. In addition, the CPU 302a of the mobile terminal 30 executes the multi-function peripheral detection process according to the multi-function peripheral detection program 358 described above.

  Specifically, although not shown, the multi-function device 20 transmits a known beacon by broadcasting. This SSID is included in this beacon. On the other hand, when the mobile terminal 30 receives the beacon from the multi-function device 20, the mobile terminal 30 confirms (matches) whether the SSID included in the beacon and the SSID set in itself match each other. Then, when it is confirmed that the two match, the mobile terminal 30 transmits a probe request to the multifunction machine 20. Upon receiving the probe request from the mobile terminal 30, the multi-function device 20 sends a probe response to the mobile terminal 30 as a response to the probe request. As a result, the multifunction device 20 and the mobile terminal 30 detect the existence of each other and recognize that the mobile terminal 30 has entered the wireless communicable range 20a of the multifunction device 20.

  Next, as step S3, a terminal list screen 400 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display 214a of the multifunction machine 20. Prior to displaying the terminal list screen 400, the multi-function device 20 requests the mobile terminal 30 to transmit the terminal information of the mobile terminal 30. As a response, the mobile terminal 30 transmits, to the multi-function device 20, terminal information including the nickname given to the mobile terminal 30. The multi-function device 20 receives the terminal information from the mobile terminal 30 and then displays the terminal list screen 400.

  On the terminal list screen 400, for example, the terminal list 402 is displayed in the approximate center thereof. In this terminal list 402, a horizontally written character string 404 representing the nickname of the mobile terminal 30 existing in the wireless communicable range 20a is displayed. 7 shows an example in which a plurality of mobile terminals 30, 30, ... Are present within the wireless communicable range 20a. In this case, a plurality of character strings 404, 404, ... Corresponding to the mobile terminals 30, 30, ... Are displayed in a single vertical column. Although not shown, all the character strings 404, 404, ... Corresponding to them are not uniformly displayed in the terminal list 402 because there are many mobile terminals 30 in the wireless communicable range 20a. In this case, the character strings 404, 404, ... Displayed in the terminal list 402 can be scrolled vertically.

  Further, in the terminal list screen 400, for example, above the terminal list 402, an appropriate horizontally written character string 406 prompting the user to select his / her own mobile terminal 30 is displayed. At the same time, below the terminal list 402, a button 408 with a horizontally written character string “OK” and a button 410 with a horizontally written character string “Cancel” are displayed side by side.

  With such a terminal list screen 400 displayed, as a subsequent step S5, the user selects on the terminal list screen 400 the target mobile terminal 30, that is, the user's own mobile terminal 30. The operation is performed. Specifically, the character string 404 representing the user's own mobile terminal 30 is pressed (tapped) from the terminal list 402, and then the “OK” button 408 is pressed.

  Then, in the subsequent step S7, the authentication operation screen 500 as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display 214a of the multifunction machine 20. In this authentication operation screen 500, for example, an appropriate horizontal character string 502 that prompts the user to input the ID and password of his / her own mobile terminal 30 is displayed at the upper part thereof. Note that FIG. 8 shows an example in which the mobile terminal 30 with the nickname “AAAAAA” is selected on the terminal list screen 400 shown in FIG. 7, that is, by the selection operation in step S5 described above.

  Further, on the authentication operation screen 500, a horizontally long field 504 for inputting an ID and a horizontally long field 506 for inputting a password are displayed side by side below the character string 502. Further, below these fields 504 and 506, a key group 510 including a plurality of operation keys 508, 508, ... Is displayed. Then, below this key group 510, a button 512 with a horizontally written character string “OK” and a button 514 with a horizontally written character string “Cancel” are displayed side by side.

  With the authentication operation screen 500 displayed, the user performs an authentication operation including the input of the ID and the password on the authentication operation screen 500 in step S9. Specifically, when the field 504 for inputting an ID is pressed and then the appropriate operation key 508 of the key group 510 is pressed, the ID is input in the field 504. Similarly, by pressing the field 506 for inputting the personal and then pressing the appropriate operation key 508 of the key group 510, the password is input in the field 506. Then, the "OK" button 512 is pressed.

  Then, as a succeeding step S11, the authentication processing of the multifunction device 20 by the mobile terminal 30 is performed. Specifically, the ID and password input on the authentication operation screen 500 shown in FIG. 8, that is, the ID and password input by the authentication operation in step S9 described above are transferred from the multifunction machine 20 to the mobile terminal 30. Sent. The mobile terminal 30 receives the ID and password transmitted from the multifunction machine 20, and confirms whether the received ID and password and the ID and password set in the mobile terminal 30 match each other. To do. Then, when it is confirmed that the two match, the mobile terminal 30 determines that the authentication is successful, and notifies the multifunction device 20 of the result. Even when the authentication is unsuccessful, the mobile terminal 30 notifies the multifunction device 20 of the result.

  In this step S11, if the authentication is successful, for example, as a subsequent step S13, a one-to-one wireless connection by unicast is established between the multifunction device 20 and the mobile terminal 30. After this, the wireless communication using the above-described encryption method and encryption key is performed between the multifunction device 20 and the mobile terminal 30.

  Then, as subsequent step S15, the image data stored in the above-mentioned folder of the mobile terminal 30 is transferred to the multifunction machine 20, that is, is fetched by the multifunction machine 20.

  Further, as a succeeding step S17, the print operation screen 600 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display 214a of the multifunction machine 20. In this authentication operation screen 600, a captured image list 602 is displayed in the left area, for example. On the captured image list 602, small images based on the image data captured from the mobile terminal 30, so-called thumbnails 604, 604, ... Are displayed. Note that FIG. 9 shows an example of a state in which a plurality of thumbnails 604, 604, ... Corresponding to the plurality of image data are displayed by capturing the plurality of image data from the mobile terminal 30. The thumbnails 604, 604, ... Are arranged in a predetermined order, for example, in the order in which image data corresponding to the thumbnails 604, 604, ... Although not shown, when the number of image data captured from the mobile terminal 30 is large, all the thumbnails 604, 604, ... Corresponding to them are not displayed in the captured image list 602 at once. , Thumbnails 604, 604, ... Displayed in the captured image list 602 can be appropriately slid.

  In addition, on the print operation screen 600, on the right side of the captured image list 602, a button 606 with a horizontal character string of "print" and a button with a horizontal character string of "send" 608 and a button 610 with a horizontally written character string “Save” are displayed vertically. At the same time, a button 612 with a horizontally written character string of "disconnect" is displayed in the vicinity of the lower right corner of the print operation screen 600, for example.

  In the state where the print operation screen 600 is displayed, in step S19, the user performs a print desired operation including selection of an image (image data) desired to be printed on the print operation screen 600. Specifically, when the thumbnail 604 corresponding to the image desired to be printed is pressed from the captured image list 602, the image desired to be printed is selected. At this time, although not shown, the thumbnail 604 corresponding to the selected image is appropriately modified so that it can be seen which image has been selected. For example, the thumbnail 604 is thick so as to surround the thumbnail 604. A frame line is attached. Note that a plurality of images can be selected in the same manner as this. Also in this case, each thumbnail 604, 604, ... Corresponding to each selected image is appropriately modified. Further, when the thumbnail 604 corresponding to the already selected image is pressed again, the selection of the image is canceled. In this case, the decoration attached to the thumbnail 604 corresponding to the image for which the selection is released is also released. In this way, one or more images are selected, and the “print” button 606 is pressed.

  Then, as a succeeding step S21, a detailed print setting screen (not shown) is displayed on the display 214a of the multifunction machine 20. On this detailed print setting screen, detailed settings for printing an image selected on the print operation screen 600, that is, selected by the desired print operation in step S19, can be performed. You can set the number of copies and contrast. Then, when a print start operation for instructing the start of printing is performed on this print detailed setting screen, specifically, when the "print start" button on the print detailed setting screen is pressed, the following step S23 Processing is proceeded to.

  In step S23, printing is performed by the multifunction machine 20, and more specifically, the printing is performed by either the image forming unit 204 or the photo printer 208. Which of the image forming unit 204 and the photo printer 208 performs printing depends on the details of the detailed setting on the printing detailed setting screen in step S21.

  It should be noted that when any one of the thumbnails 604 in the captured image list 602 is long-pressed on the print operation screen 600 shown in FIG. 9, the display mode of the print operation screen 600 is changed as shown in FIG. Change. Specifically, instead of the captured image list 602, a large image 620 based on the image data corresponding to the long-pressed thumbnail 604 is displayed. Along with this, the shapes, dimensions, layout (layout), etc. of the buttons 606, 608, 610, and 612 are appropriately changed. Incidentally, FIG. 10 shows an example in which the thumbnail 604 corresponding to “image A” is long-pressed on the print operation screen 600 shown in FIG. 9. Also in the print operation screen 600 shown in FIG. 10, when the “print” button 606 is pressed, the above-described detailed print setting screen is displayed on the display 214a of the multi-function peripheral 20, that is, the process proceeds to step S21. .. Then, after the detailed setting is performed on the detailed print setting screen as described above, the print start operation is performed, and the process proceeds to step S23.

  When the printing by the multifunction machine 20 in step S23 is completed, the print operation screen 600 is displayed again on the display 214a of the multifunction machine 20. Then, in step S25, the user performs a wireless connection release operation on the print operation screen 600 to release the wireless connection between the multifunction device 20 and the mobile terminal 30, and more specifically, on the print operation screen 600. The “disconnect” button 612 is pressed.

  As a result, in the subsequent step S27, the one-to-one wireless connection by unicast between the multifunction device 20 and the mobile terminal 30 is released.

  Then, as subsequent step S29, a predetermined ending process is performed in each of the multifunction device 20 and the mobile terminal 30. For example, in the multifunction machine 20, the image data taken in from the mobile terminal 30 is deleted. At the same time, although not shown, after a predetermined end message is displayed on the display 214a for a certain period of time, a predetermined home screen is displayed on the display 214a, so to speak, the multi-function device 20 is in the initial state (standby state). Return. On the other hand, in the mobile terminal 30, a predetermined end message is displayed on the display 308a, and the above-described light emitting element of the display unit 308 lights up in a predetermined manner, for example, blinks. The display of the end message on the display 308a of the mobile terminal 30 and the blinking of the light emitting element of the display unit 308 are ended by performing some operation on the mobile terminal 30.

  With this, a series of processes as the entire image forming system 10 following the flow shown in FIG. 6 is completed.

  Although not shown in FIG. 6, printing may be repeated by repeating steps S19 to S23.

  Further, in the terminal list screen 400 shown in FIG. 7, when the “Cancel” button 410 is pressed, a series of processes of the image forming system 10 as a whole is stopped. Specifically, each of the multifunction device 20 and the mobile terminal 30 performs a predetermined stop process. For example, in the multifunction machine 20, after a predetermined stop message is displayed on the display 214a for a certain period of time, a predetermined home screen is displayed on the display 214a, that is, the multifunction machine 20 returns to the initial state. On the other hand, in the mobile terminal 30, a predetermined stop message is displayed on the display 308a, and the above-described light emitting element of the display unit 308 lights up in a predetermined manner, for example, blinks. The display of the cancellation message on the display 308a of the mobile terminal 30 and the blinking of the light emitting element of the display unit 308 are ended by performing some operation on the mobile terminal 30.

  Similarly, when the "cancel" button 514 is pressed on the authentication operation screen 500 shown in FIG. 8, the series of processes of the image forming system 10 as a whole is stopped. That is, the cancellation process is performed in each of the multifunction device 20 and the mobile terminal 30 in the same manner as described above.

  Furthermore, when one or more images are selected on the print operation screen 600 shown in FIG. 9 and then the “Send” button 608 is pressed, for example, the display 214a of the multi-function device 20 is not shown. The detailed setting screen for transmission is displayed. On this detailed transmission setting screen, detailed settings for transmitting the image selected on the print operation screen 600 to an arbitrary destination can be performed. For example, an arbitrary email address can be set as the destination here. Then, when a transmission start operation is performed on the detailed transmission setting screen, more specifically, when the "start transmission" button on the detailed transmission setting screen is pressed, the image is transmitted to the set destination. This is the same when the "send" button 608 is pressed on the print operation screen 600 shown in FIG.

  When one or more images are selected on the print operation screen 600 shown in FIG. 9 and the “Save” button 610 is pressed, detailed settings for saving (not shown) are displayed on the display 214a of the multifunction machine 20. The screen is displayed. On this detailed save setting screen, detailed settings for saving the image selected on the print operation screen 600 in an arbitrary save destination can be performed. As the storage destination here, for example, an arbitrary cloud server can be set. Then, when a save start operation is performed on this detailed save setting screen, more specifically, when the "Start save" button on the detailed save setting screen is pressed, the image is transferred to the set save destination and saved. It This is the same when the "save" button 610 is pressed on the print operation screen 600 shown in FIG.

  In order to realize a series of processes of the image forming system 10 as a whole, the CPU 210a of the multifunction machine 20 executes the terminal connection control process in accordance with the terminal connection control program 266 described above. The flow of this terminal connection control process is shown in FIGS. The CPU 210a executes the terminal connection control process when the mobile terminal 30 enters the wireless communication range 20a of the multifunction machine 20.

  According to the terminal connection control process, the CPU 210a first requests the mobile terminal 30 to transmit the terminal information of the mobile terminal 30 in step S101 shown in FIG. Then, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S103.

  In step S103, the CPU 210a waits for the terminal information to be transmitted from the mobile terminal 30 as a response to the request in step S101 described above (S103: NO). Then, when the terminal information is received from the mobile terminal 30 (S103: YES), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S105. The terminal information referred to here includes the nickname of the mobile terminal 30 as described above.

  In step S105, the CPU 210a displays the terminal list screen 400 (see FIG. 7) on the display 214a. At this time, the nickname included in the terminal information of the mobile terminal 30 received in step S103 described above is reflected on the terminal list screen 400, that is, represented by the character string 404 on the terminal list screen 400. The nickname represented by the character string 404 is an example of the second index information according to the present invention. The CPU 210a and the display 214a that contribute to the display of the terminal list screen 400 including the character string 404 are an example of the second display unit according to the present invention.

  After executing step S105, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S107. In step S107, the CPU 210a waits until some user operation is accepted on the terminal list screen 400 (S107: NO). Then, when any user operation is accepted (S107: YES), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S109.

  In step S109, the CPU 210a determines whether or not the user operation accepted in step S107 described above is a selection operation for selecting one of the mobile terminals 30. Here, for example, if the user operation is not a selection operation, specifically, if the “Cancel” button 410 on the terminal list screen 400 is pressed (S109: NO), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S111. On the other hand, when the user operation is a selection operation, that is, when one of the character strings 404 on the terminal list screen 400 is pressed and then the “OK” button 408 on the terminal list screen 400 is pressed (S109). : YES), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S115 described later. The selection operation here is an example of the second user operation according to the present invention. The terminal list screen 400 that accepts this selection operation, strictly speaking, the CPU 210a, the display 214a, and the touch panel 216a that contribute to the configuration of the terminal list screen 400 are an example of a second accepting unit according to the present invention.

  In step S111, the CPU 210a notifies the mobile terminal 30 that the processing of the image forming system 10 as a whole will be stopped, so to speak, a stop notification. Then, the CPU 210a advances its processing to step S113.

  In step S113, the CPU 210a executes the above-mentioned stop processing. That is, the CPU 210a displays a predetermined cancel message on the display 214a for a certain period of time and then displays the home screen on the display 214a. The fixed period referred to here is, for example, about several seconds to several tens of seconds. The CPU 210a terminates the terminal connection control process by executing the cancel process in step S113.

  On the other hand, the CPU 210a that has proceeded the process from step S109 to step S115 displays the authentication operation screen 500 (see FIG. 8) on the display 214a in step S115. Then, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S117.

  In step S117, the CPU 210a waits until some user operation is accepted on the authentication operation screen 500 (S117: NO). Then, when any user operation is accepted (S117: YES), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S119.

  In step S119, the CPU 210a determines whether the user operation accepted in step S117 is an authentication operation including the above-described input of the ID and password. Here, for example, when the user operation is not the authentication operation, more specifically, when the “cancel” button 514 on the authentication operation screen 500 is pressed (S119: NO), the process proceeds to step S111 described above. In this case, the processing of the image forming system 10 as a whole is stopped. On the other hand, when the user operation is an authentication operation, that is, when the ID and password are input on the authentication operation screen 500 and the “OK” button 512 on the authentication operation screen 500 is pressed (S119: YES). , CPU 210a advances the process to step S121. The authentication operation here is an example of the third user operation according to the present invention. The authentication operation screen 500 that accepts this authentication operation, more specifically, the CPU 210a, the display 214a, and the touch panel 216a that contribute to the configuration of the authentication operation screen 500 are an example of a third accepting unit according to the present invention.

  In step S121, the CPU 210a makes an authentication request to the mobile terminal 30, and in detail, transmits the ID and password input by the authentication operation accepted in step S117 to the mobile terminal 30. Then, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S123 shown in FIG. The CPU 210a that executes this step S121, that is, the CPU 210a that makes an authentication request to the mobile terminal 30 is an example of the authentication means according to the present invention.

  In step S123, the CPU 210a displays a not-illustrated in-authentication message indicating that the authentication is in progress on the display 214a, and strictly speaking, starts displaying the in-authentication message. Then, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S125.

  In step S125, the CPU 210a waits for an authentication result sent from the mobile terminal 30 as a response to the authentication request in step S121 described above (S125: NO). Then, when the authentication result is received from the mobile terminal 30 (S125: YES), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S127.

  In step S127, the CPU 210a determines whether the authentication result received in step S125 indicates successful authentication. Here, for example, when the authentication result indicates that the authentication has failed (S127: NO), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S129. On the other hand, when the authentication result indicates successful authentication (S127: YES), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S131 described below.

  In step S129, the CPU 210a displays a message (not shown) indicating that the authentication has failed on the display 214a for a certain period of time, instead of the in-authentication message whose display is started in step S123. The fixed period referred to here is, for example, about several seconds. Then, the CPU 210a returns the process to step S117 to accept the authentication operation or another operation again.

  On the other hand, the CPU 210a, which has proceeded the process from step S127 to step S131, displays the message (not shown) indicating that the authentication is successful in step S131 on the display 214a for a certain period of time, instead of the message during authentication described above. indicate. The fixed period referred to here is also, for example, about several seconds. Then, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S133.

  In step S133, the CPU 210a establishes a one-to-one wireless connection by unicast with the mobile terminal 30. After that (and until the wireless connection is released), the CPU 210a uses the above-described encryption method and encryption key when performing wireless communication with the mobile terminal 30. After executing step S133, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S135.

  In step S135, the CPU 210a requests the mobile terminal 30 to transmit the image data. Then, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S137.

  In step S137, the CPU 210a displays, on the display 214a, an image capturing message (not shown) indicating that the image is being captured from the mobile terminal 30, and strictly speaking, the image capturing message is displayed. Start. Then, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S139.

  In step S139, the CPU 210a waits for image data to be transmitted from the mobile terminal 30 as a response to the request in step S135 (S139: NO). When the image data is received from the mobile terminal 30 (S139: YES), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S141 shown in FIG. The CPU 210a that executes this step S139, that is, the CPU 210a that captures image data from the mobile terminal 30 is an example of a first capture unit according to the present invention. Although detailed illustration is omitted, in order to capture the image data from the portable terminal 30 in step S139, that is, to transfer the image data, it takes a time corresponding to the total capacity of the image data to be transferred. Hang up.

  In step S141, the CPU 210a displays the print operation screen 600 (see FIG. 9) on the display 214a. By displaying the print operation screen 600, the display of the image loading message started to be displayed in step S137 is ended. Each thumbnail 604 on the print operation screen 600 is an example of the first index information according to the present invention. The CPU 210a and the display 214a that contribute to the display of the print operation screen 600 are an example of the first display unit according to the present invention.

  After execution of step S141, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S143. In step S143, the CPU 210a waits until some user operation is accepted on the print operation screen 600 (S143: NO). Further, in step S143, the above-described print detailed setting screen may be displayed on the display 214a. In this case, the CPU 210a confirms that some user operation is accepted on the print detailed setting screen. Wait (S143: NO). Then, when any user operation is accepted (S143: YES), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S145.

  In step S145, the CPU 210a determines whether the user operation received in step S143 is the print start operation on the print detailed setting screen described above. Here, for example, when the user operation is a print start operation (S145: YES), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S147. On the other hand, when the user operation is not the print start operation, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S149 described later. Before the print start operation is performed on the print detailed setting screen, the print operation screen 600 is displayed on the display 214a as described above, and the selection of the image desired to be printed is included on the print operation screen 600. The desired print operation is performed. This print request operation is an example of the first user operation according to the present invention. The print operation screen 600 that receives the desired print operation, to be exact, the CPU 210a, the display 214a, and the touch panel 216a that contribute to the configuration of the print operation screen 600 are an example of a first receiving unit according to the present invention.

  In step S147, the CPU 210a executes printing, and strictly controls either the image forming unit 204 or the photo printer 208 so that the printing is executed. After executing this step S147, the CPU 210a returns the process to step S141.

  On the other hand, the CPU 210a that has proceeded the process from step S145 to step S149 described above determines in step S149 whether the user operation accepted in step S143 is a wireless connection release operation. Here, for example, when the user operation is not the wireless connection release operation, or so to speak, is another operation (S149: NO), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S151. On the other hand, if the user operation is a wireless connection release operation, that is, if the “connection release” button 612 on the print operation screen 600 (see FIG. 9) is pressed (S149: YES), the CPU 210a will describe the process later. It proceeds to step S153.

  In step S151, the CPU 210a performs a process according to the user operation accepted in step S143 described above. This process includes, for example, a process of displaying the above-described detailed print setting screen on the display 214a. Further, the processing also includes processing for displaying the above-mentioned detailed transmission setting screen or detailed saving setting screen on the display 214a.

  On the other hand, the CPU 210a that has proceeded the process from step S149 to step S153 notifies the mobile terminal 30 in step S153 that the one-to-one wireless connection by unicast to the mobile terminal 30 will be released. Then, so to speak, a disconnection notification is given. Then, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S155.

  In step S155, the CPU 210a releases the one-to-one wireless connection with the mobile terminal 30 by unicast. Then, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S157.

  In step S157, the CPU 210a executes the aforementioned ending process. That is, the CPU 210a erases the image data captured from the mobile terminal 30. In addition, the CPU 210a displays a predetermined end message on the display 214a for a certain period, and then displays a predetermined home screen on the display 214a. The fixed period referred to here is, for example, about several seconds to several tens of seconds. With this, the CPU 210a ends the terminal connection control process. Then, the multifunction device 20 returns to the initial state.

  On the other hand, the CPU 302a of the mobile terminal 30 executes the multi-function peripheral connection control processing according to the multi-function peripheral connection control program 360 described above. FIG. 14 shows the flow of the control process when this multifunction peripheral is connected. It should be noted that the CPU 302a executes this multi-function peripheral connection control process when the mobile terminal 30 enters the wireless communication range 20a of the multi-function device 20. Further, when executing the control processing at the time of connecting the multi-function peripheral, it is not necessary to start the above-mentioned dedicated application.

  According to this multi-function peripheral connection control process, the CPU 302a first waits in step S201 until it receives the above-mentioned request for transmitting terminal information from the multi-function device 20 (S201: NO). Then, when the terminal information transmission request is received from the multifunction machine 20 (S201: YES), the CPU 302a advances the process to step S203.

  In step S203, the CPU 302a transmits the terminal information including the nickname described above to the multi-function device 20. Then, the CPU 302a advances the process to step S205.

  In step S205, the CPU 302a determines whether or not the above-described authentication request has been received from the multifunction machine 20. Here, for example, when the authentication request is not received from the multi-function device 20 (S205: NO), the CPU 302a advances the process to step S207. On the other hand, when the authentication information is received from the multifunction device 20 (S205: YES), the CPU 302a advances the process to step S211 described later.

  In step S207, the CPU 302a determines whether or not the above-described cancellation notification has been received from the multifunction machine 20. Here, for example, when the cancellation notice has not been received from the multifunction machine 20 (S207: NO), the CPU 302a returns the process to step S205. On the other hand, when the cancellation notice is received from the multifunction machine 20 (S207: YES), the CPU 302a advances the process to step S209.

  In step S209, the CPU 302a executes the above-described stop processing. That is, the CPU 302a displays a predetermined stop message on the display 308a and blinks the above-described light emitting element of the display unit 308. Upon execution of the cancel processing in step S209, the CPU 302a terminates the multifunction peripheral connection control processing. The CPU 302a displays a cancel message on the display 308a and the display unit 308 when some operation is performed on the mobile terminal 30, that is, when the operation unit 310 including the touch panel 310a receives some operation. The blinking of the light emitting element of is ended.

  On the other hand, the CPU 302a that has proceeded the process from step S205 to step S211 performs the authentication process described above in step S211. That is, the CPU 302a collates the ID and password attached to the authentication request received in step S205 with the ID and password set in the mobile terminal 30, and confirms whether they match each other. Then, the CPU 302a advances the process to step S213.

  In step S213, the CPU 302a determines whether the authentication has succeeded as a result of the collation in step S211 described above. Here, for example, if the authentication is successful, that is, if the ID and password received from the multi-function device 20 and the ID and password set in the mobile terminal 30 match each other (S211: YES), the CPU 302a will perform processing later. Proceed to step S217. On the other hand, if the authentication fails, that is, if the ID and password received from the multi-function peripheral 20 do not match the ID and password set in the mobile terminal 30 (S211: NO), the CPU 302a advances the process to step S215. .

  In step S215, the CPU 302a transmits an authentication result indicating that the above-described authentication has failed to the multifunction machine 20. Then, the CPU 302a returns the process to step S205.

  On the other hand, the CPU 302a, which has proceeded the process from step S213 to step S217, transmits the authentication result indicating that the above-mentioned authentication has been successful to the multi-function device 20 in step S217. Then, the CPU 302a advances the process to step S219.

  In step S219, the CPU 302a establishes a one-to-one wireless connection by unicast with the multifunction machine 20. After this (and until the wireless connection is released), the CPU 302a uses the above-described encryption method and encryption key when performing wireless communication with the multifunction machine 20. After executing step S219, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S221.

  In step S211, the CPU 302a waits to receive a request for transmitting image data from the multifunction machine 20 (S211: NO). When the image data transmission request is received from the multi-function device 20 (S211: YES), the CPU 302a advances the process to step S223.

  In step S223, the CPU 302a accesses the aforementioned folder in the auxiliary storage unit 304 and reads the image data stored in the folder. Then, the CPU 302a transmits the read image data to the multifunction machine 20. Then, the CPU 302a advances the process to step S225. It should be noted that the transmission of the image data to the multifunction machine 20 in step S223, that is, the transfer of the image data requires a time corresponding to the total capacity of the image data to be transferred.

  In step S225, the CPU 302a waits to receive the above-mentioned connection release notification from the multifunction machine 20 (S225: NO). Then, upon receiving the connection release notification from the multi-function peripheral 20, the CPU 302a advances the process to step S227.

  In step S227, the CPU 302a cancels the one-to-one wireless connection by unicast with the multifunction machine 20. Then, the CPU 302a advances the process to step S229.

  In step S229, the CPU 302a executes the ending process described above. That is, the CPU 302a displays a predetermined end message on the display 308a and blinks the above-described light emitting element of the display unit 308. The CPU 302a displays the end message on the display 308a and the display unit 308 when some operation is performed on the mobile terminal 30, that is, when the operation unit 310 including the touch panel 310a receives some operation. The blinking of the light emitting element of is ended. Upon execution of the termination processing in step S229, the CPU 302a terminates the series of multi-function peripheral connection control processing.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the user of the mobile terminal 30 can transfer the image data stored in the mobile terminal 30 to the multifunction machine 20 and print it. At that time, the user can perform the printing by operating only the multifunction machine 20 without operating the mobile terminal 30. That is, the operability at the time of the printing can be improved, and the efficiency can be improved.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, when the image data is transferred from the mobile terminal 30 to the multi-function device 20, it takes time according to the total capacity of the image data. Therefore, for example, the larger the total capacity of the image data transferred from the mobile terminal 30 to the multifunction machine 20, that is, the larger the number of the image data, the longer the transfer of the image data takes.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, in order to shorten the time required to transfer the image data from the mobile terminal 30 to the multifunction device 20, the image data to be transferred is narrowed down according to a predetermined condition. Specifically, the image data is narrowed down according to the date when the image data was stored. Specifically, in the process flow of the entire image forming system 10 shown in FIG. 6, step S301 and step S303 shown in FIG. 15 are provided between step S13 and step S15. In addition, here, the image data is assumed to be the data of a photograph taken by the above-described camera, and the date when the image data is stored is the date when the photograph was taken.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 15, as a step S301 subsequent to the step S13, the photograph capturing operation screen 700 as shown in FIG. 16 is displayed on the display 214a of the multifunction machine 20. In the photograph capture operation screen 700, for example, an appropriate horizontal character string 702 is displayed at the upper part of the screen 700 to prompt the user to specify the shooting date of the photograph (image data) captured from his / her mobile terminal 30. It Note that FIG. 16 illustrates an example in which the communication partner with which the wireless connection is established with the multi-function device 20 is the mobile terminal 30 with the nickname “AAAAAA” described above.

  Then, in the photograph capture operation screen 700, below the character string 702, there is a horizontal oblong character for inputting the photographing date of the photograph, more specifically, for designating the photographing date in terms of a period, so to speak. The input unit 704 is displayed. Further, another horizontally long input unit 706 is displayed below the input unit 704 for designating the period. The input unit 704 is an input unit for designating the date of taking a picture with only one day, that is, for designating the date. Further, another input unit 708 is displayed below the input unit 704 for designating the date. The input unit 708 is an input unit for designating the date of taking a picture in a form after an arbitrary date, that is, for designating the last day. In addition, another input unit 710 is displayed below the input unit 708 for designating the last day. The input unit 710 is an input unit for designating the date of taking a photograph in the form of before an arbitrary date, that is, for designating the first day. That is, a total of four input units 704, 706, 708 and 710 are provided.

  The left ends of the four input sections 704, 706, 708 and 710 are aligned with each other. Each of the input units 706, 708, and 710 other than the input unit 704 for designating the period is shorter than the input unit 704 for designating the engine. Therefore, there is an appropriate space below the input unit 704 for designating the period and to the right of each of the input units 706, 708, and 710 other than the input unit 704 for designating the period. Then, a ten key 714 including a plurality of operation keys 712, 712, ... Is displayed in this space. Further, below the ten-key pad 714, a button 716 with a horizontally written character string “OK” and a button 718 with a horizontally written character string “Cancel” are displayed side by side.

  In the state in which such a photograph capture operation screen 700 is displayed, as a subsequent step S303, the capture operation including the designation of the shooting date of the photograph captured from the mobile terminal 30 by the user on the photograph capture operation screen 700. Is done. Specifically, by pressing any one of the four input sections 704, 706, 708, and 710 on the photo capture operation screen 700 and then pressing an appropriate operation key 712 of the ten-key pad 714, The shooting date of is input. Note that FIG. 16 illustrates a case where a period “January 01, 2018 to May 01, 2018” is input to the input unit 704 for designating a period as a date of taking a photograph. In this case, the input unit 704 for designating the period, that is, the input unit 704 that has been activated is appropriately modified, and for example, a thick frame line 704a is attached so as to surround the input unit 704. Further, the input units 706, 708 and 710 other than the input unit 704 for designating the period, which are so to speak invalidated, are grayed out, for example. This is the same when any of the input units 706, 708, and 710 other than the input unit 704 for designating the period is activated.

  In this way, the photographed date of the photograph is input to any of the four input sections 704, 706, 708, and 710, and the “OK” button 716 is pressed to specify the photographed date of the photograph. The including capture operation is completed. Then, as subsequent step S15, the image data is transferred from the mobile terminal 30 to the multi-function device 20. At this time, only the image data corresponding to the shooting date designated by the capture operation in step S303 is transferred from the mobile terminal 30 to the multifunction device 20.

  When the “cancel” button 718 is pressed on the photograph capture operation screen 700 shown in FIG. 16, a series of processes of the image forming system 10 as a whole is stopped. That is, the above-mentioned stop processing is performed in each of the multifunction device 20 and the mobile terminal 30.

  Also in the second embodiment in which such a photograph capture operation screen 700 is displayed, the CPU 210a of the multi-function device 20 executes the terminal connection control processing according to the terminal connection control program 266 described above. However, in the second embodiment, steps S401 to S407 shown in FIG. 17 are provided in place of step S135 (see FIG. 12) in the flow of the terminal connection control processing shown in FIGS. 11 to 13. Be done.

  That is, after executing step S133 (see FIG. 12), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S401. Then, in this step S401, the CPU 210a displays the photograph capturing operation screen 700 on the display 308a. After that, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S403.

  In step S403, the CPU 210a waits until some user operation is accepted on the photograph capture operation screen 700 (S403: NO). Then, when any user operation is accepted (S403: YES), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S405.

  In step S405, the CPU 210a determines whether or not the user operation accepted in step S403 is the above-described capture operation. Here, for example, when the user operation is not a capture operation, more specifically, when the “cancel” button 718 on the photo reading operation screen 700 is pressed (S405: NO), the CPU 210a performs the process in step S111 (see FIG. 11). Proceed to. On the other hand, when the user operation is a capture operation, that is, after the photographed date of the photograph is input to any of the four input sections 704, 706, 708, and 710 on the photograph reading operation screen 700, the “OK” button is pressed. When 716 is pressed (S405: YES), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S407. The capture operation referred to here is an example of a fourth user operation according to the present invention. The photograph capturing operation screen 700 that receives this capturing operation, more specifically, the CPU 210a, the display 214a, and the touch panel 216a that contribute to the configuration of the photograph capturing operation screen 700 are an example of a fourth receiving unit according to the present invention. Is.

  In step S407, the CPU 210a requests the mobile terminal 30 to transmit the image data. At this time, the CPU 210a specifies the shooting date of the image data (photograph) to be transmitted. After that, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S137 (see FIG. 12).

  On the other hand, the CPU 302a of the portable terminal 30 executes the multi-function peripheral connection control process according to the above-described multi-function peripheral connection control program 360 in the flow shown in FIG. In particular, in step S221, the CPU 302a receives the image data transmission request from the multifunction machine 20 as described above, and the transmission request includes designation of the shooting date of the image data (photograph) to be transmitted. ..

  Then, in the subsequent step S223, the CPU 302a reads the image data corresponding to the date when the photograph was taken included in the transmission request received in step S221 from the aforementioned folder in the auxiliary storage unit 304. Then, the CPU 302a transmits the read image data, that is, the image data corresponding to the date of taking the photograph included in the transmission request from the multifunction machine 20, to the multifunction machine 20. Then, the CPU 302a advances the process to step S225.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the image data transferred from the mobile terminal 30 to the multifunction machine 20 is narrowed down. As a result, the time required to transfer the image data from the mobile terminal 30 to the multifunction machine 20 is shortened. This greatly contributes to the improvement of the processing efficiency of the image forming system 10 as a whole.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the third embodiment, before the image data is transferred from the mobile terminal 30 to the multifunction device 20, the metadata of all the image data stored in the above-mentioned folder is transferred from the mobile terminal 30 to the multifunction device 20. Sent to 20. For example, if the image data referred to here is the data of a photograph taken by the above-mentioned camera, the metadata of this image data includes a file name of the image data, a shooting date and time, a shooting location, and an arbitrary name. Includes text data such as commented. Such metadata has a much smaller capacity than image data. Then, in the multifunction machine 20 that has received this metadata, a loading operation including designation of image data desired to be transferred is performed with reference to the metadata. Then, the image data designated by this capture operation is actually transferred from the mobile terminal 30 to the multifunction machine 20. As a result, the time taken to transfer the image data from the mobile terminal 30 to the multifunction machine 20 can be shortened.

  In order to realize this, in the third embodiment, between steps S13 and S15 in the overall processing flow of the image forming system 10 shown in FIG. 6, steps S501 to S501 shown in FIG. Step S505 is provided.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 18, in step S501 following step S13, the metadata about all the image data stored in the above-mentioned folder of the mobile terminal 30 is transmitted from the mobile terminal 30 to the multifunction machine 20. To be done.

  Then, in a succeeding step S503, a pre-loading operation screen 800 as shown in FIG. 19 is displayed on the display 214a of the multifunction machine 20. On the pre-capture operation screen 800, an image data list 802 is displayed, for example, in the approximate center. Then, in this image data list 802, information about all the image data stored in the aforementioned folder of the mobile terminal 30 is displayed. As this information, the file name of each image data, the shooting date and time, the shooting location and the comment are displayed. These pieces of information are based on the metadata received from the mobile terminal 30 in step S501 described above. An appropriate number (No.) is automatically assigned to each image data. Although illustration is omitted, when there are a plurality of image data, the information based on the metadata about the plurality of image data is displayed in a vertical column in the image data list 802. Further, when the information based on all the metadata corresponding to them is not uniformly displayed in the image data list 802 because of the large number of image data, each information displayed in the image data list 802 is moved up and down. You can scroll in any direction.

  Further, in the pre-capture operation screen 800, for example, above the image data list 802, an appropriate horizontally written character string 804 prompting the user to designate the image data (photograph) to be captured from his / her mobile terminal 30 is displayed. Is displayed. Note that FIG. 19 shows an example where the image data import destination is the mobile terminal 30 to which the nickname “AAAAA” is added. In addition, below the image data list 802, a button 806 with a horizontally written character string “OK” and a button 808 with a horizontally written character string “Cancel” are displayed side by side.

  In a state where such a pre-capture operation screen 800 is displayed, as a subsequent step S505, a capture including designation of image data desired to be captured from the mobile terminal 30 by the user on the pre-capture operation screen 800. The operation is performed. Specifically, the information corresponding to the image data desired to be captured is pressed from the image data list 802, that is, the image data is designated. It should be noted that the information corresponding to the designated image data may be appropriately modified, for example, the information may be highlighted so that which image data is designated. Also, a plurality of image data can be designated in the same manner. Also in this case, the information corresponding to the designated image data is appropriately modified. Further, when the information corresponding to the already designated image data is pressed again, the designation of the image data is canceled. In this way, one or more image data are designated, and then the "OK" button 408 is pressed. As a result, the capturing operation including the designation of the image data desired to be captured from the mobile terminal 30 is completed.

  Then, as subsequent step S15, the image data is transferred from the mobile terminal 30 to the multi-function device 20. At this time, only the image data designated by the capture operation in step S505 is transferred from the mobile terminal 30 to the multifunction device 20.

  When the “cancel” button 808 is pressed on the pre-load operation screen 800 shown in FIG. 19, a series of processes of the image forming system 10 as a whole is stopped. That is, the above-mentioned stop processing is performed in each of the multifunction device 20 and the mobile terminal 30.

  Also in the third embodiment in which such a pre-loading operation screen 800 is displayed, the CPU 210a of the multi-function device 20 executes the terminal connection control process in accordance with the terminal connection control program 266 described above. However, in the third embodiment, steps S601 to S611 shown in FIG. 20 are provided in place of step S135 (see FIG. 12) in the flow of the terminal connection control processing shown in FIGS. 11 to 13. Be done.

  That is, after executing step S133 (see FIG. 12), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S601. Then, in step S601, the CPU 210a requests the mobile terminal 30 to transmit the above-mentioned metadata. Then, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S603.

  In step S603, the CPU 210a waits for metadata to be transmitted from the mobile terminal 30 as a response to the request in step S601 (S603: NO). Then, when the metadata is received from the mobile terminal 30 (S603: YES), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S605. Note that, in this step S603, the metadata fetched from the mobile terminal 30 is an example of the third index information according to the present invention. The CPU 210a that captures this metadata is an example of a second capture unit according to the present invention.

  In step S605, the CPU 210a displays the pre-load operation screen 800 (see FIG. 19) on the display 214a. At this time, the information included in the metadata received in step S603 described above is reflected on the pre-capture operation screen 800, that is, displayed in the image data list 802 on the pre-capture operation screen 800. The CPU 210a and the display 214a that contribute to the display of the pre-capture operation screen 800 including the image data list 802 are an example of a third display unit according to the present invention.

  After executing step S605, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S607. In step S607, the CPU 210a waits until some user operation is accepted on the pre-load operation screen 800 (S607: NO). Then, when any user operation is accepted (S607: YES), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S609.

  In step S609, the CPU 210a determines whether or not the user operation accepted in step S607 is the above-described capture operation. Here, for example, when the user operation is not a capture operation, more specifically, when the “cancel” button 808 on the pre-capture operation screen 800 is pressed (S609: NO), the CPU 210a performs the process in step S111 (see FIG. 1). ) To. On the other hand, when the user operation is a capture operation, that is, when one or more image data are specified in the image data list 802 of the pre-capture operation screen 800 and the “OK” button 806 is pressed (S609). : YES), the CPU 210a advances the process to step S611. The capture operation referred to here is an example of a fifth user operation according to the present invention. The pre-capture operation screen 800 that accepts this capture operation, more specifically, the CPU 210a, the display 214a, and the touch panel 216a that contribute to the configuration of the pre-capture operation screen 800 are an example of a fifth reception unit according to the present invention. Is.

  In step S611, the CPU 210a requests the mobile terminal 30 to transmit the image data. At this time, the CPU 210a specifies the image data (photograph) to be transmitted. After that, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S137 (see FIG. 12).

  On the other hand, the CPU 302a of the mobile terminal 30 executes the multi-function peripheral connection control process according to the multi-function peripheral connection control program 360 described above. However, in the third embodiment, step S701 and step S703 shown in FIG. 21 are provided between step S219 and step S221 in the flow of the control process at the time of connecting the MFP shown in FIG.

  That is, after executing step S219, the CPU 210a advances the process to step S701. In step S701, the CPU 210a waits to receive the aforementioned metadata transmission request from the multi-function device 20 (S701: NO). When the metadata transmission request is received from the multi-function peripheral 20 (S701: YES), the CPU 302a advances the process to step S703.

  In step S703, the CPU 302a transmits the metadata of all the image data stored in the above-mentioned folder to the multifunction machine 20. Then, the CPU 302a advances the process to step S221.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, before the image data is transferred from the mobile terminal 30 to the multi-function device 20, the metadata about all the image data stored in the above-mentioned folder is stored in the mobile phone 30. The data is transmitted from the terminal 30 to the multifunction machine 20. Then, with reference to this metadata, the image data desired to be transferred is specified, and only the specified image data is actually transferred. This shortens the time required to transfer the image data. This also greatly contributes to the improvement of the processing efficiency of the image forming system 10 as a whole.

[Other application examples]
The above embodiments are specific examples of the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. The present invention can be applied to aspects other than these examples.

  For example, in step S25 (see FIG. 6) described above, when the wireless disconnection operation is performed on the print operation screen 600 (see FIG. 9), more specifically, when the “disconnect” button 612 is pressed, Although it has been decided that the one-to-one wireless connection between the multi-function device 20 and the mobile terminal 30 is released, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of this or in addition to this, when the mobile terminal 30 is out of the wireless communicable range 20a of the multi-function device 20, the wireless connection may be released. Further, when the multifunction device 20 is provided with a user detecting unit such as a human sensor or a mat type sensor for detecting the user, when the user is not detected by the user detecting unit, the wireless connection is made. May be canceled.

  Further, instead of the captured image list 602 on the print operation screen 600 (see FIG. 9), in other words, instead of the thumbnail 604 corresponding to each image data, information such as the file name of the image data is particularly text. (Character) information may be displayed.

  Then, in the first embodiment, when the image data is transferred from the mobile terminal 30 to the multi-function device 20 in step S15 (see FIG. 6), all the image data stored in the above-mentioned folder are collectively referred to as a batch. However, it is not limited to this. For example, the image data may be transferred by a predetermined number, so to speak, in small quantities in response to a user operation on the side of the multifunction device 20.

  Further, in the second embodiment, the date of taking a picture is specified as the condition for narrowing down the image data transferred from the mobile terminal 30 to the multifunction machine 20, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of or in addition to the shooting date of this picture, the shooting location of the picture may be designated.

  Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the text data is included as the above-mentioned metadata, but thumbnail data may be included, for example. Then, a thumbnail based on the thumbnail data may be displayed in the image data list 802 on the pre-capture operation screen 800.

  In addition, for example, the multi-function device 20 includes a short-range wireless communication unit (reader / writer) that complies with a short-range wireless communication standard such as ISO / IEC — 18092 (so-called NFC (Near field Communication)), and the mobile terminal 30 also includes the short-range wireless communication unit. When the short-distance wireless communication unit (chip) conforming to the standard is provided, by using these, the input operation of the ID and password in step S9 described above may be omitted.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the multifunction machine 20 installed in the convenience store is illustrated as the image forming apparatus, but the invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied to a multifunction peripheral installed in a place other than the convenience store such as a supermarket or a public facility. Further, the present invention can be applied to not only the multifunction machine but also a printer device having only a printer function.

10 ... Image forming system 20 ... Multifunction device 30 ... Mobile terminal 204 ... Image forming unit 208 ... Photo printer 210 ... Control unit 210a ... CPU
214a ... Display 216a ... Touch panel

Claims (9)

An image forming apparatus capable of wireless communication with a mobile terminal,
First capturing means for capturing the print target information stored in the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal by the wireless communication,
First display means for displaying first index information representing the print target information captured by the first capturing means,
Corresponding to first accepting means for accepting a first user operation for arbitrarily selecting one of the first index information displayed by the first display means, and the first index information selected by the first user operation An image forming apparatus comprising an image forming unit that forms an image based on the print target information on an image forming medium. A second display means for displaying second index information indicating the portable terminal in a state where the wireless communication is possible; and a second option for arbitrarily selecting one of the second index information displayed by the second display means. A second accepting means for accepting two user operations,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first capture unit captures the print target information from the mobile terminal corresponding to the second index information selected by the second user operation. Identification information is attached to the mobile terminal,
Third accepting means for accepting a third user operation of inputting any of the identification information, and authentication for performing the wireless communication with the mobile terminal using the identification information input by the third user operation Further comprises an authentication means for attempting
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first capturing unit captures the print target information from the portable terminal that has been successfully authenticated. A fourth accepting unit for accepting a fourth user operation for arbitrarily setting a condition for the print target information to be captured by the first capturing unit,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first capturing unit captures the print target information according to the condition set by the fourth user operation from the mobile terminal. Second fetching means for fetching the third index information, which represents the print target information stored in the mobile terminal and has a smaller capacity than the print target information, from the mobile terminal by the wireless communication;
Third display means for displaying the third index information captured by the second capture means, and a fifth user operation for arbitrarily selecting one of the third index information displayed by the third display means. Further comprising a fifth receiving means for receiving
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first capture unit captures the print target information corresponding to the third index information selected by the fifth user operation from the mobile terminal. ..   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print target information includes image information. A method of controlling an image forming apparatus capable of wireless communication with a mobile terminal,
A first capturing step for capturing the print target information stored in the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal by the wireless communication;
A first display step of displaying first index information representing the print target information captured in the first capture step;
Corresponding to a first reception step of receiving a first user operation of arbitrarily selecting any of the first index information displayed in the first display step, and the first index information selected by the first user operation A control method including an image forming step of forming an image based on the print target information on an image forming medium. A control program for an image forming apparatus capable of wireless communication with a mobile terminal,
In the computer of the image forming apparatus,
A first acquisition procedure for acquiring the print target information stored in the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal by the wireless communication;
A first display procedure for displaying first index information representing the print target information captured in the first capture procedure,
A first acceptance procedure for accepting a first user operation of arbitrarily selecting any of the first index information displayed in the first display procedure, and the first index information selected by the first user operation A control program for executing an image forming procedure for forming an image on an image forming medium based on the print target information corresponding to. An image forming system, comprising: the image forming apparatus according to claim 1; and the mobile terminal.

Images