JP4042322B2 - Image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and information processing terminal - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information output service for providing services such as information recording / duplication / printing output, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus via a communication from a mobile information terminal such as a mobile phone and a control method thereof The present invention relates to an information output service that can give an instruction to output information.
[0002]
More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that allows a user to transmit an information output request to the image forming apparatus from a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone using a communication unit such as an electronic mail, and a control method thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which an image forming apparatus can notify the user terminal side of address information such as its own e-mail address or the like, or can be acquired by the user terminal side, and a control method thereof.
[0003]
[Prior art]
Various OA (Office Automation) devices have been actively developed and manufactured, and have been widely used in offices of companies and research institutions. Particularly in the modern society where documentation is most important, image forming apparatuses capable of reproducing images with high resolution and high quality have penetrated deeply into various places including offices.
[0004]
The “image forming apparatus” referred to here includes a “copier” that reads an original image and reproduces it on a print sheet, and a public telephone line such as PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) or ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). "Facsimile" that outputs image data received in the network, "Printer" that prints computer-readable data and content received via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, or two or more of these Includes "MFPs" with image output functions.
[0005]
An image forming apparatus generally includes an image input unit that optically scans an original and reads an image, and an image that performs predetermined processing such as color coordinate conversion, digital filtering, and T / I separation on input image data. The processing unit and an image output unit that reproduces an input image on printing paper based on image processed image data. For example, an electrophotographic process method is employed for the image output unit. The electrophotographic process is realized by repeatedly charging, developing, and cleaning the electrophotographic photosensitive member. That is, after the surface of the photoconductor is uniformly charged by a charger, the surface of the photoconductor is exposed according to image data to form an electrostatic latent image, and after the electrostatic latent image is converted into a toner image by a developer, A toner image is transferred onto a predetermined printing paper. Thereafter, the toner image is fixed on the printing paper by the heat melting and pressing action, and is discharged out of the image forming apparatus. The surface of the photoreceptor after the transfer is used for the next development process after the residual toner is removed by the cleaner.
[0006]
Documentation needs are expanding. On the other hand, an image forming apparatus with high print quality is expensive and has a large floor area, so it is still difficult to purchase for each general consumer at his own expense. For this reason, there are some cases where copiers and facsimiles are installed in public spaces such as university co-ops and convenience stores to provide paid copying services and facsimile transmission services. For example, by providing a charging device such as a coin kit, the image forming apparatus can be used in an unattended environment. In the existing copy service, the charge is put in the coin kit in advance, and the customer is allowed to output the number of copies according to the charge (or the prepaid card is inserted into the card reader. The number of copies that can be output in accordance with the remaining balance is allowed). In the facsimile transmission service, after the facsimile transmission, it is common to settle the usage fee according to the transmission amount at a cash register in the same store.
[0007]
Such paid services for copiers and facsimiles can enjoy the benefits of an image forming apparatus with high functionality and high printing quality without purchasing the apparatus for general consumers who use the service. In addition, for store managers who provide services, simply installing such an image forming apparatus, the customer can operate the image forming apparatus and print it out, and add the amount according to the amount of printing. The service usage fees are automatically accumulated, and users seeking printing services gather at the store, so there are advantages such as customer attraction. For example, if a high-function, high-print quality image forming device such as the “MFP” as described above is installed in the store, a wide variety of information recording such as copying, facsimile, and computer data printing out Can be realized with only one image forming apparatus.
[0008]
On the other hand, computer systems that can be obtained at relatively low prices such as personal computers and workstations have become widespread, and now computers are used in homes for general consumers, small office home offices (SOHO), business, entertainment, and other industries. Deeply penetrated as a tool adapted to various applications.
[0009]
From the standpoint of a computer user, there is a need to print out various data files and contents such as a document as an editing result and contents acquired through the Internet or other routes. For example, if the number of sheets is relatively small and print quality is not required, printing may be performed using a locally connected inexpensive inkjet printer. On the other hand, when a large amount of printing is desired, an inkjet printer with a slow printing speed cannot keep up with the processing. In addition, even when high print quality such as documents to be submitted to customers is required, there is a limit to print quality with the ink jet method, so it may be necessary to rely on expensive electrophotographic print output. .
[0010]
One solution to this situation is to install multifunction devices or expensive, high-function printers in convenience stores and other public places as described above, and each user can use it at home or in the office. A service in which a high-function printer is accessed from a PC via a network and a print request is issued remotely, that is, a “network print service” can be considered.
[0011]
In such a case, the user can instruct printing in advance and receive the printed matter at a convenient place at a convenient time. Considering that the wide-area network will continue to develop in the future, the need to install a large number of printers in various locations is expected to increase further.
[0012]
Incidentally, one form in which the user transmits a print job or a print instruction to the printer side is to use an e-mail service.
[0013]
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-77994, already assigned to the present applicant, discloses a network-compatible print processing system that can send data to a print service using electronic mail.
[0014]
According to this network-compatible print processing system, an e-mail including at least parameters for printing and a document to be printed sent from the client is received, and the document in the e-mail is printed based on the parameters in the e-mail. I tried to do it. That is, data can be transmitted to the print server using electronic mail, and the client does not need to support the print protocol, so that the user's workability is improved.
[0015]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-171732 discloses an image forming apparatus that determines the content of mail input via a network, generates an image signal from the content of the mail, and forms and outputs an image. . That is, it is possible to automatically print out the contents just by sending an e-mail to the image forming apparatus, to use a more economical line, and to realize a function similar to a facsimile as an inexpensive information means. .
[0016]
By sending print jobs and print instructions from the user's terminal to the printer using e-mail in this way, special output software (if the image forming apparatus is a printer, for example, a printer is used on the user's terminal side. -Image formation output can be performed without mounting a driver.
[0017]
As is already known, it is necessary to specify a destination mail address in order to send an electronic mail. An e-mail address is usually composed of a character string formed by a set of a plurality of characters. This character string includes not only alphanumeric characters but also symbols such as "@" and "_". A typical e-mail address is composed of a compound string format in which each character string constituting a user name and a domain name is connected by a symbol "@", for example, "person.name@foo.co.jp" It is described as follows.
[0018]
On the other hand, an information device that can use the e-mail function is not limited to a personal computer (PC) that has a full user interface such as a full screen or a keyboard / mouse and can start various applications. For example, electronic mail can be transmitted and received from a portable information terminal or a mobile phone. However, although the latter is more portable than a PC, there is an aspect that the character input operation is complicated because of a restriction on the user interface. This is because in this type of small portable terminal, the operation surface of input keys and buttons is narrow, the key pitch is small, and multiple characters and functions are defined depending on the number of presses for a single input key. Depends on being. For example, in the above-described mail address “person.name@foo.co.jp”, even if only the first character string “printer” is input, the user sets the key input mode to alphanumeric, 3, 3, 7, 7, 7, cursor keys, 7, 7, 7, 7, 6, 6, 6, cursor keys, 6, 6,. .
[0019]
For example, when a user issues a print job and instructs the nearest printer, such as a convenience store, to print out via e-mail on a mobile phone, the printer itself is in front of you. In this case, the input work of the e-mail address becomes troublesome, and the final print output instruction does not remain. In other words, in order to provide a network print service on a portable device, a means capable of easily inputting an e-mail address is required.
[0020]
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-191453 discloses data in which document data created in a portable information terminal such as a PDA can be transferred to a printing apparatus installed in a store designated by the user and printed out. A transfer output system is disclosed. That is, on the PDA side, the created document data and position information are transmitted to the service center via the PHS center, and the service center selects information on a store that is a candidate print location near the PDA and transmits it to the PDA. As a result, a desired print location can be designated from among a plurality of print candidate locations on the PDA.
[0021]
However, in the case of the data transfer output system described in this publication, the printer in front of the user cannot be directly specified, and the service center must be accessed once and searched from some location information. Therefore, a time loss occurs after going to the place where the printer is installed.
[0022]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-124985 uploads phone book data to a center on a communication network such as the Internet, and sends the phone book data from the center to a communication terminal device such as a mobile phone, PHS, FAX, or a stationary phone. A method for transmitting is disclosed.
[0023]
However, in this case, in order to reach desired address information such as a telephone number on the communication terminal device side, an extra user operation such as repeatedly accessing a plurality of web pages occurs.
[0024]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent image forming apparatus and a control method therefor, in which a user can easily instruct information output to the image forming apparatus from a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone.
[0025]
A further object of the present invention is to provide an excellent image forming apparatus in which a user can transmit an information output request to the image forming apparatus from a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone by using a communication means such as an electronic mail. It is to provide a control method.
[0026]
A further object of the present invention is to provide an excellent image forming apparatus in which the image forming apparatus can notify the user terminal side of address information such as its own e-mail address or the like, or can be acquired by the user terminal side. And providing a control method thereof.
[0027]
[Means and Actions for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and a first aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that outputs an image of information by an operation through communication from an external device.
First communication means accessible according to device-specific address information;
A second communication means for establishing communication with an external device without address information;
Image output means for outputting information as an image;
In response to an address request from the external device via the second communication means, address information notification means for returning unique address information used by the first communication means;
In response to an information output request via the first communication means, output control means for outputting the corresponding information by the image output means;
An image forming apparatus comprising:
[0028]
An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a first communication unit that can be accessed according to unique address information such as an e-mail, and infrared communication or short-range wireless data that can establish a connection without the address information. Second communication means such as communication.
[0029]
Therefore, a user who makes an image output request uses a mobile phone to acquire an e-mail address of the image forming apparatus via the second communication unit, and then transmits information to the image forming apparatus by the first communication unit. An output request can be made.
[0030]
In other words, the user can acquire the e-mail address of the image forming apparatus in front of the user with only a single action on the mobile phone, so that the user can carry out the mobile address without manually inputting the mail address. Printing instructions can be easily performed from a telephone via electronic mail.
[0031]
Here, the second communication means may use wireless data communication such as infrared communication in accordance with IrDA (Infrared Data Association) protocol, short-range wireless data communication in accordance with Bluetooth, or the like.
[0032]
Alternatively, the second communication means may be a serial interface cable, a parallel interface cable, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface cable, a local network cable, or the like.
[0033]
By using a cableless communication means such as the former as the second communication means, a user of an external device such as a mobile phone can simply stand in front of the image forming apparatus without complicated manual work such as cable connection. It is possible to easily access the image forming apparatus and acquire the electronic mail address and other address information unique to the apparatus. In addition, it is not necessary to worry about wear and other physical damage caused by insertion / removal of the cable.
[0034]
On the other hand, the first communication means may use an e-mail service using an e-mail address. In such a case, the device-specific address information means an e-mail address.
[0035]
Alternatively, the first communication means is connected to an external device according to a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) protocol, and is portable by using an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) protocol, an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) protocol, or the like. Information communication may be performed with an external device such as a telephone.
[0036]
In addition, the first communication means can ensure the security of the image output data on the transmission path by encrypting the information communication with the external device.
[0037]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for an image forming apparatus for outputting information by an operation through communication from an external device.
Establishing communication with an external device without address information, returning address information specific to the image forming apparatus in response to an address request from the external device;
Receiving an information output request by access according to the unique address information;
Outputting an image based on the information output request;
An image forming apparatus control method comprising:
[0038]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing terminal that performs an operation on an image forming apparatus by an operation via communication.
First communication means accessible according to device-specific address information;
A second communication means for establishing communication with an external device without address information;
Address information acquisition request means for requesting acquisition of unique address information to the image forming apparatus via the second communication means;
Information output requesting means for sending a request to the image forming apparatus via the first communication means using the address information acquired by the address information acquisition requesting means;
It is an information processing terminal characterized by comprising.
[0039]
The information processing terminal according to the third aspect of the present invention includes a first communication means that can be accessed according to unique address information such as an e-mail, and infrared communication or short-range wireless data that can establish a connection without the address information. Second communication means such as communication.
[0040]
Therefore, after the information processing terminal acquires the e-mail address of the image forming apparatus via the second communication unit, the information processing terminal may make a request such as an information output request to the image forming apparatus by the first communication unit. it can.
[0041]
That is, the user can acquire the e-mail address of the image forming apparatus in front of the user only with a single action on the information processing terminal, so that the information processing terminal can be used without character input of the mail address. Thus, it is possible to easily issue a print instruction via e-mail.
[0042]
Here, the second communication means may use wireless data communication such as infrared communication in accordance with IrDA (Infrared Data Association) protocol, short-range wireless data communication in accordance with Bluetooth, or the like.
[0043]
Alternatively, the second communication means may be a serial interface cable, a parallel interface cable, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface cable, a local network cable, or the like.
[0044]
By using the cableless communication means such as the former as the second communication means, the user of the information processing terminal can stand up in front of the image forming apparatus and easily perform the image without complicated manual work such as cable connection. After accessing the forming apparatus and acquiring the e-mail address and other address information unique to the apparatus, an instruction to execute printing can be issued using the address information. In addition, it is not necessary to worry about wear and other physical damage caused by insertion / removal of the cable.
[0045]
On the other hand, the first communication means may use an e-mail service using an e-mail address. In such a case, the device-specific address information means an e-mail address.
[0046]
Alternatively, the first communication means is connected to an external device in accordance with a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) protocol, and is connected to the external device using an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) protocol, an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) protocol, or the like. Information communication may be performed.
[0047]
In addition, the first communication means can ensure the security of the image output data on the transmission path by encrypting the information communication with the external device.
[0048]
The information processing terminal may further include an address acquisition button for energizing an address information acquisition request operation by the address information acquisition request unit.
[0049]
The address acquisition button may be configured as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) link on the Web browser.
[0050]
Alternatively, the address acquisition button may also be used as a transmission destination selection button of an e-mail application.
[0051]
Alternatively, the address acquisition button may be provided in the address book application.
[0052]
Alternatively, the address acquisition button may be equipped by mechanical or electrical operation means.
[0053]
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a more detailed description based on embodiments of the present invention described later and the accompanying drawings.
[0054]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0055]
FIG. 1 schematically shows a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 used for carrying out the present invention.
[0056]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a system control unit 11, a user interface unit 12, a work storage unit 13, an auxiliary storage unit 14, an image output unit 15, and a network control unit 16. The communication control unit 17 and the communication transmitting / receiving unit 18 are configured. Hereinafter, each part will be described.
[0057]
The system control unit 11 is a main controller that comprehensively controls the operation of the entire server 50, and includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and executes various applications under the control of an operating system (OS). Can do.
[0058]
The user interface unit 12 includes, for example, a touch-sensitive control panel, and includes function selection buttons for image output, such as paper size, number of copies, duplex / single side, enlargement / reduction ratio, collation, and staples. The user can interactively select these functions via the user interface unit 12.
[0059]
The work storage unit 13 includes work areas necessary for the system control unit 11 to execute various processing programs such as print processing, data communication processing via a network, and user input / output via the user interface unit 12. It consists of a storage device to provide. The working storage unit 13 is used for loading a program code and temporarily holding an execution program.
[0060]
The auxiliary storage unit 14 is configured by a nonvolatile storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), for example, storing computer files such as programs and data, and spooling a print job (SPOOL: simultaneous peripheral). operation on-line).
[0061]
The image output unit 15 is a functional module that executes printout of a spooled print job. As the print engine, for example, an electrophotographic process method is adopted. The electrophotographic process is realized by repeatedly charging, developing, and cleaning the electrophotographic photosensitive member. That is, after the surface of the photoconductor is uniformly charged by a charger, the surface of the photoconductor is exposed according to image data to form an electrostatic latent image, and after the electrostatic latent image is converted into a toner image by a developer, A toner image is transferred onto a predetermined printing paper. Thereafter, the toner image is fixed on the printing paper by the heat melting and pressing action, and is discharged out of the image forming apparatus. The surface of the photoreceptor after the transfer is used for the next development process after the residual toner is removed by the cleaner.
[0062]
The image output unit 15 includes, for example, a paper management unit for managing a printing paper tray and managing a paper feeding operation according to the paper size and paper quality, and storing or punching printed paper to be ejected in a tray or a stack. And a paper discharge section for performing finish processing such as stapling.
[0063]
The network control unit 16 is configured by a combination of, for example, a network interface card (NIC) and communication protocol layer software, and the image forming apparatus 10 is connected to a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) network (for example, the Internet). Can connect to a wide area network. The image forming apparatus 10 is interconnected with a mobile phone and other external devices via a network.
[0064]
On a TCP / IP network, hypertext (HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) document) transfer using HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) protocol, file transfer using FTP (File Transfer Protocol) protocol, SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) protocol E-mail transmission by IP, designation of print resources from a client by IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) protocol, information search service by WWW (World Wide Web) system, and the like. The image forming apparatus 10 can transmit and receive, for example, a print job, electronic mail, an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) message, an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) message, and the like via the network control unit 16.
[0065]
The network connection referred to here is a communication connection form on the premise that unique address information is allocated to a logical location on the network, such as an e-mail address or an IP address, that is, the image forming apparatus 10. It shall be.
[0066]
The image forming apparatus 10 is assigned address information indicating a location on an external network connected via the network control unit 16. The address information includes, for example, a mail address for accessing the mail server when sending / receiving e-mail, and an IP address representing a logical location on the IP network. The address information such as the mail address is assumed to be stored in a specific storage area on the auxiliary storage unit 14 described above, for example.
[0067]
The communication control unit 17 is a functional module that performs data communication with a mobile phone or other external device using communication means other than the network described above. The communication transmitting / receiving unit 18 corresponds to a logical input / output port with an external device on a communication path by the communication control unit 17.
[0068]
Communication means provided by the communication control unit 17 include, for example, infrared communication such as IrDA (Infrared Data Association), short-range wireless data communication such as Bluetooth, a serial interface such as RS (Recommended Standard) -232C, and IEEE. (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Parallel interface such as 1284, general-purpose bus interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), PDC (Personal Digital) A public telephone line network such as Cellular) or a local network such as Ethernet may be used. Communication by the communication control unit 17 can communicate with the other party without address information.
[0069]
When the communication control unit 17 provides short-distance wireless data communication such as IrDA or Bluetooth, that is, cable-less communication means, an external device such as a mobile phone in front of the image forming apparatus 10 is connected with a cable. The image forming apparatus 10 can be easily accessed without complicated manual operations such as the above. In addition, it is not necessary to worry about the wear and tear of the communication transmitting / receiving unit 18 due to the insertion and removal of the cable and other physical damages.
[0070]
In the network connection via the network control unit 16 described above, it is assumed that unique address information assigned to a device on the network such as an e-mail address or an IP address is acquired. On the other hand, in the connection via the communication control unit 17, it is possible to dynamically establish a connection with a partner that can communicate without such device-specific address information.
[0071]
The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment can provide an information output service for receiving print data from a client terminal connected to a network and printing it out. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a network configuration in which such an information output service is provided.
[0072]
The client terminal may use e-mail or a communication protocol such as HTTP or FTP for transmission of print data. The client terminal is a computer system that is installed and used in an office or home such as a personal computer (PC) or a workstation (WS).
[0073]
The print data transmitted from the client terminal is received by the image forming apparatus 10 and then spooled in the auxiliary storage unit 14 or the like.
[0074]
Then, the client user who is the transmission source of the print data appears in front of the image forming apparatus 10 and issues a printout instruction in order to collect printed matter, pay for the print service, or the like.
[0075]
In this embodiment, the client user issues a print-out instruction to the image forming apparatus 10 in front of the user from a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone carried by the client user. More specifically, print data is transmitted from the portable information terminal to the image forming apparatus 10 in the form of an e-mail (that is, via a network).
[0076]
FIG. 3 schematically shows a functional configuration of a portable information terminal 50 that can be applied to the present invention.
[0077]
As shown in the figure, the portable information terminal 50 includes a system control unit 51, a display unit 52, an input unit 53, a main storage unit 54, an external storage unit 55, a network connection unit 56, and a communication control unit. 57 and a communication transmission / reception unit 58, and has a function of transmitting an e-mail to the image forming apparatus 10. Hereinafter, each part will be described.
[0078]
The system control unit 51 is a main controller that controls the overall operation of the portable information terminal 50. The system control unit 51 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and executes various applications under the control of an operating system (OS). can do.
[0079]
The display unit 52 and the input unit 53 provide a user interface. The input unit 53 includes keys and buttons in which a plurality of characters and commands such as alphanumeric characters are defined in multiple. The display unit 52 is configured by a liquid crystal display or the like, and visually feeds back the user input content via the input unit 53 and the processing result in the system control unit 51 to the user.
[0080]
The main storage unit 54 is a storage device used by the system control unit 51 for loading an execution program and temporarily holding work data.
[0081]
The external storage device 55 is a storage device to which a memory space other than the main storage unit 54 is allocated. For example, the external storage device 55 stores program codes and data to be loaded into the main storage unit 54 and stores execution results. used.
[0082]
The external storage device 55 may be a removable medium that is removable from the portable information terminal 50 main body. Various applications that can be executed on the portable information terminal 50 can be installed in the external storage device 55. An example of such an application is an email application.
[0083]
The network control unit 56 is, for example, a modem, and is a functional module that realizes connection with a wide area network such as the Internet via a telephone network.
[0084]
The portable information terminal 50 can perform a TCP / IP connection after establishing a PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) connection, and a host on the TCP / IP network, for example, the above-described image forming apparatus 10 and e-mail Transmission / reception and exchange of HTTP messages and FTP messages can be performed.
[0085]
When exchanging information for image output with the network control unit 16 on the image forming apparatus 10 side, the network control unit 56 on the portable information terminal 50 side applies encryption to the transfer data, The security of output information on the transmission line can be maintained.
[0086]
The network connection mentioned here is assumed to be a communication connection form on the premise that address information unique to a logical location on the network, such as a telephone number or an e-mail address, is assigned to the device.
[0087]
The communication control unit 57 is a functional module that performs data communication with a mobile phone or other external device using communication means other than the network described above. The communication transmitting / receiving unit 58 corresponds to a logical input / output port with an external device on the communication path by the communication control unit 57.
[0088]
The communication means provided by the communication control unit 57 includes, for example, infrared communication such as IrDA (Infrared Data Association), short-range wireless data communication such as Bluetooth, a serial interface such as RS (Recommended Standard) -232C, and IEEE. (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) A parallel interface such as 1284 or a general-purpose bus interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) may be used.
[0089]
When the communication control unit 57 provides short-range wireless data communication such as IrDA or Bluetooth, that is, cable-less communication means, an external device such as an image forming apparatus in front of the portable information terminal 50 is connected with a cable. The portable information terminal 50 can be easily accessed without complicated manual operations such as connection. Further, there is no need to worry about mechanical wear and other physical damage of the communication transmitting / receiving unit 58 due to the insertion and removal of the cable.
[0090]
The network connection via the network control unit 56 described above is based on the premise that unique address information assigned to a device on the network such as an e-mail address or an IP address is acquired. On the other hand, in the connection via the communication control unit 57, it is possible to dynamically establish a connection with a partner that can communicate without such device-specific address information.
[0091]
As a premise that the portable information terminal 50 transmits an email to the image forming apparatus 10, the portable information terminal 50 (or client user) needs to acquire an email address of the image forming apparatus 10 in advance. .
[0092]
However, it is difficult for the portable information terminal 50 and the client user to manage the e-mail addresses of the image forming apparatuses scattered in various places such as convenience stores. When a mobile phone is used as the portable information terminal 50, the character input operation is generally complicated (as described above) (described above), and it is a reality that the user manually inputs the e-mail address of the image forming apparatus. Not right.
[0093]
In this embodiment, the portable information terminal 50 knows an e-mail address (or a network address uniquely given to a device on the network or unique address information allocated to another device). The image forming apparatus 10 is connected using a communication unit that can be connected without using the communication unit, and an e-mail address (or other address information unique to the image forming apparatus 10) is acquired through such a communication unit. The printout transmission by e-mail is issued again using this e-mail address.
[0094]
More specifically, the communication means other than the network mentioned here is realized by a cooperative action between the communication control unit 57 on the portable information terminal 50 side and the communication control unit 17 on the image forming apparatus 10 side. .
[0095]
Communication means provided by these communication control units 17 and 57 include, for example, infrared communication such as IrDA (Infrared Data Association), short-range wireless data communication such as Bluetooth, serial communication such as RS (Recommended Standard) -232C. The interface may be a parallel interface such as IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1284, a general-purpose bus interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), or the like.
[0096]
In the following description, it is assumed that the communication control units 17 and 57 perform connection establishment and data exchange with IrDA cable-less and with each other's address information unknown. When the communication control units 17 and 57 perform data communication by IrDA, the communication transmitting / receiving units 18 and 58 are configured by an infrared light emitting unit and a light receiving unit (both not shown).
[0097]
FIG. 4 shows a procedure in which the portable information terminal 50 acquires the address information of the image forming apparatus 10 using the communication connection by the communication control units 17 and 57.
[0098]
The communication transmitter / receiver 18 monitors the presence / absence of infrared light received from a communication terminal adapted at regular time intervals. When infrared light reception is detected by this monitoring, a fixed data pattern for detecting the characteristics of the light emitting source is transmitted, and a response from the communication partner is waited (T1, T2).
[0099]
Next, when receiving a specific pattern recognition response from the other party, that is, the portable information terminal 50 (T3), the communication transmitting / receiving unit 18 transmits a communication establishment signal in response thereto (T4). Thereafter, until the communication with the counterpart terminal is established, the operation can be performed in accordance with, for example, a known IrDA protocol, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0100]
After the communication is established in this way, the image forming apparatus 10 waits until a command is transmitted from the portable information terminal 50.
[0101]
Various data and commands can be transmitted from the portable information terminal 50 side. The communication control unit 17 processes received data and commands according to the IrDA protocol. For example, when an address acquisition command, that is, an address request is received from the communication terminal (T5), the communication control unit 17 transfers the received command data to the system control unit 11.
[0102]
The system control unit 11 interprets the command sent from the communication control unit 17 and confirms that the request is an e-mail address. Then, the electronic mail address (character string) is read from the auxiliary storage unit 14 and transmitted to the communication control unit 17.
[0103]
The communication control unit 17 converts the e-mail address character information supplied from the system control unit 11 into a data format that can be externally transmitted by the communication transmission / reception unit 18 and outputs the data format to the communication transmission / reception unit 18.
[0104]
The communication transmitting / receiving unit 18 transmits data to the requesting portable information terminal 50 in accordance with a command from the communication control unit 17 (T6). In response to this, an address receipt signal is transmitted from the portable information terminal 50 side (T7). Further, since the portable information terminal 50 no longer needs to maintain the infrared connection after acquiring the address information, the mobile information terminal 50 sends a communication disconnection signal (T8) to disconnect the connection.
[0105]
As described above, in this embodiment, the client user can instruct the image forming apparatus 10 to execute printing in the form of an e-mail from the portable information terminal 50. Hereinafter, a processing procedure for instructing the execution of printing from the portable information terminal 50 will be described in detail.
[0106]
FIG. 5 illustrates an e-mail creation screen provided on the display unit 52 of the portable information terminal 50.
[0107]
The e-mail creation screen shown in the figure includes an e-mail subject input field 102, a subject label 101 indicating that the input field on the right side is a subject input field, an e-mail destination input field 104, and an input field on the right side. A destination button 103 that also serves as an address book application activation instruction indicating that it is a destination input field, a text input field 106 for e-mail, a text label 104 that indicates that the right input field is a text input field, and e-mail The attached file information input field 108, the attachment field 107 indicating that the input field on the right side is the attached file information input field, and the send button 109 for instructing the start of transmission. A cancel button 110 for canceling is provided.
[0108]
The client user inputs a subject indicating the content of the e-mail in the subject input column 102 and inputs an e-mail transmission destination in the destination input column 104. The e-mail text is entered in the text input field 106. If there is data to be attached to the e-mail, the attached data information is entered in the attached file information input field 108.
[0109]
In FIG. 5, a portion 103 indicating the destination of the e-mail is displayed in a form different from other subject, text, and attachment. In the example shown in the figure, the destination portion is buttoned. This indicates that a new operation is performed by selecting a part corresponding to the destination button and applying an input operation. This selection operation and input operation are performed by a combination operation of a cursor key and a selection input key provided in the input unit 53, or by directly touching the display unit with a pen or the like.
[0110]
An electronic mail application screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display unit 52 of the portable information terminal 50. On the transmission screen of the e-mail application displayed on the screen, the selected part moves on the display unit 52 in response to input data from the input unit 53.
[0111]
As described above, when the destination button 103 is selected and an input operation is applied, the function assigned to the destination button 103 is selected. When this function selection operation is performed, the electronic mail application transits to a destination selection operation. The e-mail application calls an external address acquisition processing routine in the destination selection operation.
[0112]
In this embodiment, the destination button 103 is also used as an address acquisition button for requesting acquisition of an e-mail address on the image forming apparatus 50 side.
[0113]
The destination button 103 can be configured as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) link of a Web browser, for example. In such a case, when the destination button 103 is pressed, the Web browser screen is activated and the information resource indicated by the URL, that is, the home page is displayed, and a desired address can be acquired.
[0114]
Alternatively, the address acquisition button may be provided in the address book application. In such a case, the address book is opened on the display by pressing the destination button 103, so that a desired address can be checked.
[0115]
Alternatively, the address acquisition button may not be used as the destination button 103 but may be provided by other mechanical or electrical means. In such a case, since the user can activate the address acquisition routine by one-touching the dedicated button, the operation becomes simple and clear.
[0116]
FIG. 6 shows an e-mail destination selection processing procedure executed on the portable information terminal 50 in the form of a flowchart. The e-mail destination selection operation will be described below with reference to this flowchart.
[0117]
In this processing routine, first, it is determined whether communication with an external device is possible (step S1). Assume that the external device in this case is the image forming apparatus 10 in front of the user of the portable information terminal 50.
[0118]
If infrared communication has already been established with the image forming apparatus, the next operation is started. On the other hand, when the infrared communication is not established, a procedure for establishing the infrared communication is displayed on the display unit 52 of the terminal (step S2). This procedure may include a graphic explanation such as appropriately facing the light emitting and receiving ports for infrared communication. Further, this procedure may include a button (not shown) for the user to start communication after setting.
[0119]
Next, the process waits until there is an instruction to start external communication (step S3). Next, communication establishment processing is performed (step S4). However, since the standard IrDA protocol is followed from the communication start instruction to the establishment of communication as described above, detailed description is omitted in this specification.
[0120]
In the above step S3, it is assumed that the user cancels address acquisition by himself / herself. If cancellation of communication is instructed, “cancel” is written in the return value and the process returns (step S5).
[0121]
After the communication is established, an e-mail address request command is issued to the image forming apparatus 10 (step S6). This command is transmitted to the connection destination image forming apparatus 10 via the communication control unit 57 and the communication transmitting / receiving unit 58. On the other hand, when receiving this command, the image forming apparatus 10 performs a response operation. However, the response operation of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described later.
[0122]
After issuing the e-mail address request command, the process waits until a response is returned from the image forming apparatus (step S7).
[0123]
If there is no response from the image forming apparatus 10, the internal timer is incremented sequentially (step S8). If the internal timer value is within a preset monitoring time, a response from the image forming apparatus 10 is kept waiting (step S9). When the monitoring time is exceeded, i.e., timed out, "timeout" is written in the return value and the process returns (step S10).
[0124]
When there is a response from the image forming apparatus 10 to the e-mail address request, the validity of the response data is confirmed (step S11). This confirmation step can be a valid pattern for e-mail addresses, for example. Or It is realized by verifying.
[0125]
If an invalid response is returned, it is determined that the address cannot be acquired, and the return is written into an “invalid” return value indicating invalidity (step S12). On the other hand, if a valid response is returned, the acquired data is written into the return value and the process returns (step S13).
[0126]
However, before returning, communication disconnection processing is performed (step S14).
[0127]
FIG. 7 shows a processing procedure such as address notification performed on the image forming apparatus 10 side in correspondence with the e-mail destination selection process on the portable information terminal 50 side in the form of a flowchart. Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to this flowchart.
[0128]
On the image forming apparatus 10 side, the communication transmitter / receiver 18 monitors whether there is a valid carrier (step S21).
[0129]
When a carrier exists and a communication establishment instruction corresponding to step S4 described above is issued from the portable information terminal 50 side, a communication establishment operation is performed in step S22. After the communication is established, a specific pattern is sent to the portable information terminal 50 (step S23).
[0130]
Thereafter, a loop for monitoring the presence / absence of a specific pattern recognition response is formed (steps S24, S25, S26). In step S26, the loop time-out is monitored, and if there is no response after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is recognized that the processing operation shown in FIG. finish.
[0131]
If the specific pattern recognition response can be received within the valid time, a command is awaited (step S27). After receiving the command input data, command interpretation is executed to determine whether the command is valid or illegal (steps S28 and S29). If it is an illegal command, a specific value indicating the illegal command is set in the response value (step S30).
[0132]
If the command is valid, the address information held in the auxiliary storage unit 14 is read. If the reading is performed normally, the read address information is set in the response value (steps S31, S32, S33). If the reading is not normally performed for some reason, a specific value indicating a reading error is set in the response value (step S34). In step S <b> 35, a response value indicating the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 is sent to the portable information terminal 50.
[0133]
On the portable information terminal 50 side, when a valid address, that is, an e-mail address is returned from the image forming apparatus 10, the e-mail application displays the acquired address in the destination input field 104. If invalid data is returned, the address book application is started, address information stored in a local storage location such as the external storage device 55 is searched, and a valid address is entered in the destination input field. Displayed in 104.
[0134]
In the above embodiment, the e-mail application directly performs the address acquisition process, but the gist of the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. For example, placing an address book application or the like between an e-mail application and an address acquisition processing routine can be an example of a reasonable variation of the present invention.
[0135]
Further, when the portable information terminal 50 has successfully acquired the e-mail address of the image forming apparatus 10, the address information is not deleted after one communication, but is carried by, for example, an address book application. Non-volatile / continuous storage and storage in the information terminal 50 can be an example of a reasonable modification of the present invention.
[0136]
The embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 is based on the premise that communication can be established. However, in reality, communication cannot be established even if the communication establishment procedure is appropriately performed. There is. For example, in the case of an image forming apparatus that has an infrared port but only performs communication according to a unique procedure, communication cannot be established with the standard IrDA procedure. In such a case, since the portable information terminal 50 can determine that the external communication partner is not the image forming apparatus 10 that embodies the present invention, the portable information terminal 50 acquires the reason why communication cannot be established in step S1 in FIG. User feedback may be performed by displaying on the display unit 52 that the model is not compatible in step S2.
[0137]
Next, a processing procedure when the image forming apparatus 10 receives a print / execution instruction via an e-mail will be described.
[0138]
FIG. 8 shows a procedure for processing electronic mail on the image forming apparatus 10 in the form of a flowchart.
[0139]
The e-mail receiving module held in the auxiliary storage unit 14 performs e-mail receiving operations at regular intervals while using the work storage unit 13 as a work area by the operation of the system control unit 11 (steps S41 and S42).
[0140]
This e-mail receiving operation is programmed in the e-mail receiving module, and is performed by the system control unit 11 and the network control unit 16 to confirm whether or not there is a received mail on a mail server (not shown) installed on the network. Yes (well known).
[0141]
If the received mail exists, the corresponding mail is downloaded (step S43) and temporarily stored in the work storage unit 13 (step S44).
[0142]
Next, the downloaded data, that is, the inside of the mail body is analyzed (step S46), and the analysis result is delivered to the program module that executes image formation (step S47).
[0143]
If the received mail does not contain valid data, error processing is performed (step S51).
[0144]
Here, the image forming module is a program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 14, loaded into the work storage unit 13 and executed by the system control unit 11, and is implemented as a resident program that is resident in the printer initialization process. Can do.
[0145]
The image forming module forms an image of valid data according to a predetermined procedure for the data delivered from the e-mail receiving module (step S48), and prints it out by the image output unit 15 (step S49).
[0146]
After the printing is completed, the data downloaded from the mail server in this processing routine is deleted from the work storage unit 13 and the used memory area is released (step S50).
[0147]
[Supplement]
The present invention has been described in detail above with reference to specific embodiments. However, it is obvious that those skilled in the art can make modifications and substitutions of the embodiments without departing from the gist of the present invention. In other words, the present invention has been disclosed in the form of exemplification, and should not be interpreted in a limited manner. In order to determine the gist of the present invention, the claims section described at the beginning should be considered.
[0148]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, an excellent image forming apparatus and a control thereof that allow a user to easily instruct information output from the portable information terminal such as a mobile phone to the image forming apparatus. A method can be provided.
[0149]
In addition, according to the present invention, an excellent image forming apparatus that allows a user to transmit an information output request to the image forming apparatus from a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone by using a communication unit such as an electronic mail, and the like A control method can be provided.
[0150]
Further, according to the present invention, the image forming apparatus can notify the user terminal of address information such as its own e-mail address or the like in a simple procedure, or can be acquired by the user terminal. And a control method thereof.
[0151]
According to the present invention, the user can acquire the e-mail address of the image forming apparatus in front of the user only with a single action on the mobile phone carried by the user. Through this, it is possible to easily and simply issue a print instruction to the image forming apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 provided for carrying out the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a network configuration in which an information output service is provided.
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a functional configuration of a portable information terminal 50 that can be applied to the present invention.
4 is a chart showing a procedure by which portable information terminal 50 acquires address information of image forming apparatus 10 using a communication connection by communication control units 17 and 57. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail creation screen provided on the display unit 52 of the portable information terminal 50;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an e-mail destination selection processing procedure executed on the portable information terminal 50;
7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by the image forming apparatus 10 in response to an e-mail destination selection process by the portable information terminal 50. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for processing an e-mail on the image forming apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
10. Image forming apparatus
11 ... System control unit
12 ... User interface part
13 ... Working storage
14 ... Auxiliary storage
15. Image output unit
16 ... Network control unit
17 ... Communication control unit
18 ... Communication transceiver
50 ... mobile phone
51. System control unit
52 ... Display section
53 ... Input section
54 ... Main memory
55 ... External storage
56 ... Network connection
57. Communication control unit
58 ... Communication transceiver

Claims (12)

An image forming apparatus that has address information unique to the apparatus and outputs information by an operation through communication from an external device.
A first communication means accessible in accordance with the device-specific address information,
A second communication means to establish communication with the external device without the device-specific address information,
Image output means for outputting information as an image;
In response to the device-specific address request from the external device via the second communication means, the device- specific address information used by the first communication means is returned via the second communication means. Address information notification means;
In response to an information output request to the device-specific address for the image forming apparatus via the first communication means, an output control means for outputting the corresponding information by the image output means;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first communication unit uses an e-mail address, and the address information unique to the apparatus is an e-mail address.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first communication unit encrypts information communication with an external device. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus that outputs information by an operation through communication from an external device, the image forming apparatus having address information unique to the apparatus, and accessible according to the address information unique to the apparatus First communication means and second communication means for establishing communication with the external device without the device-specific address information,
An address information notifying step for returning address information unique to the device in response to an address request from the external device via the second communication means;
Receiving an information output request from the external device to the device-specific address for the image forming apparatus via the first communication unit ;
Outputting an image based on the information output request;
A control method for an image forming apparatus, comprising: An information processing terminal having an address information unique to the apparatus and performing an operation on the image forming apparatus by an operation via communication,
First communication means for accessing the image forming apparatus according to address information unique to the apparatus ;
Second communication means for establishing communication with the image forming apparatus without address information unique to the apparatus ;
The image forming apparatus is requested to acquire address information unique to the apparatus via the second communication means, and the apparatus specific address information is requested from the image forming apparatus via the second communication means. Receiving address information acquisition request means;
An information output request means for transmitting information output request to the image forming apparatus through the first communication means using the device-specific address information acquired by the address information acquisition requesting means,
An information processing terminal comprising:   6. The information processing terminal according to claim 5, wherein the first communication means uses an e-mail address, and the address information unique to the device is an e-mail address.   The information processing terminal according to claim 5, wherein the first communication unit encrypts information communication with the image forming apparatus.   The information processing terminal according to claim 5, further comprising an address acquisition button for energizing an address information acquisition request operation by the address information acquisition request unit.   9. The information processing terminal according to claim 8, wherein the address acquisition button is configured as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) link on a Web browser.   9. The information processing terminal according to claim 8, wherein the address acquisition button is also used as a transmission destination selection button of an e-mail application.   The information processing terminal according to claim 8, wherein the address acquisition button is provided in an address book application.   The information processing terminal according to claim 8, wherein the address acquisition button is provided by mechanical or electrical operation means.

Images