JP6520180B2 - Job processing system, job processing program, and computer readable recording medium recording job processing program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a job processing system, a job processing program, and a computer-readable recording medium recording the job processing program, and more particularly to a job for relaying communication between a portable terminal and a job processing apparatus via a server. The present invention relates to a processing system, a job processing program, and a computer-readable recording medium recording the job processing program.

  Electronic devices such as image forming apparatuses are expanding their functions in cooperation with terminal devices such as smart devices, and are working to improve their convenience. A connection via a network is mainly used for connection between the two devices. The network connection enables communication not by wire but by wireless, so it is not necessary to be restricted by the cable length, and it is not necessary to be confined by the cable routing place, thus providing great convenience to the user. give.

  However, in order to perform network communication, it is necessary to recognize between the electronic devices an IP (Internet Protocol) address which is an address on the network of the electronic devices. Generally, a method is adopted in which the user directly inputs the IP address of the destination device to the electronic device. This work is often difficult and inconvenient, especially for users who are not familiar with the operation of electronic devices and who are not familiar with IP addresses. Therefore, technology has been developed that makes this work unnecessary.

  In the printing system disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, when the print request is received by the printer, the printer outputs its unique identifier UID by printing a graphical code, etc. and sends it to the server via the network. . When the UID and print data extracted from the graphical code captured by the camera activated on the smart device in response to the user's input of the print request are sent to the server, the server sends a UID matching this. Identify the printer, and transfer the print data to the printer for printing.

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2013-159694

  However, in the above prior art, when the printer is in the power saving mode when the user tries to input a print request to the smart device, the printer can not output the UID, and the smart device can not obtain the UID of the printer. For this reason, there is a problem that the printer to be printed can not be designated on the smart device.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems. That is, it is an object of the present invention to provide a relay connection system capable of designating printing by an image forming apparatus in a power saving mode from a position distant to some extent.

  The above problems of the present invention are solved by the following means.

  (1) A device group including at least one or more job processing devices, a server that causes a job processing device of any of the at least one or more job processing devices to process a job, and a portable device that transmits print data to the server A job processing system having a terminal, wherein at least one first device included in the device group has a first pattern identifying the first device, and a proxy group in the same proxy group as the first device And a transmitting unit transmitting a predetermined pattern including a second pattern specifying a second device other than the first device, and the portable terminal acquires the predetermined pattern transmitted by the transmitting unit. The server, and the transmission unit transmitting information on the predetermined pattern acquired by the pattern acquisition unit to the server; A storage unit that specifies devices included in the device group, stores a pattern that is different for each device and identification information of the device in association, and receives information on the predetermined pattern transmitted by the transmitting unit A receiving unit, and a specifying unit that refers to the storage unit and specifies the first device or the second device based on the information on the predetermined pattern received by the receiving unit; A job processing system, comprising: a relay unit that relays communication between the mobile device and the first device or the second device whose identification information has been identified according to the above.

  (2) The transmission unit transmits the predetermined pattern in a blinking pattern, and the pattern acquisition unit acquires the predetermined pattern as a moving image by photographing a blinking pattern transmitted by the transmission unit. The portable terminal further includes a recognition unit that recognizes the predetermined pattern from the moving image acquired by the pattern acquisition unit, and the transmission unit is configured to send information on the predetermined pattern recognized by the recognition unit to the server. The job processing system according to (1) above, which transmits to.

  (3) The transmitting unit transmits the predetermined pattern in a blinking pattern, and the pattern acquiring unit acquires the predetermined pattern as a moving image by photographing a blinking pattern transmitted by the transmitting unit. The information on the predetermined pattern transmitted by the transmission unit to the server is the moving image acquired by the pattern acquisition unit, and the server is included in the information on the predetermined pattern received by the reception unit The image processing apparatus further includes a recognition unit that recognizes the predetermined pattern from the moving image, and the identification unit identifies the first device or the second device based on the predetermined pattern recognized by the recognition unit. The job processing system according to (1) above.

  (4) In the first device and the second device, the portable terminal is specified by the first pattern and the second pattern included in the predetermined pattern recognized by the recognition unit. The information processing apparatus further includes a display unit that displays a first user interface that can be selected, and the transmission unit transmits information on the predetermined pattern including a pattern that identifies a device selected in the first user interface to the server. The job processing system according to (2) above, which transmits to.

(5) The transmission unit transmits information related to a predetermined pattern including the first pattern and the second pattern stored in the storage unit to the server, and the transmission unit of the first device The job processing system according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the predetermined pattern is transmitted based on the information on the predetermined pattern received from the server.

(6) The mobile terminal is the first device and the second device specified by the first pattern and the second pattern included in the predetermined pattern recognized by the recognition unit. The apparatus further comprises a display unit for displaying a first user interface which can be selected, and the storage unit further stores relative position information of the first device and the second device, and the transmission unit Information on the predetermined pattern including the pattern specifying the device selected in the first user interface, information on the predetermined pattern including the first pattern and the second pattern stored in the storage unit; , and stored in said storage unit, said first device and said predetermined path further comprising a relative position information of the second device Send information about over on to the first device, the transmitter portion of the first device transmits the predetermined pattern based on the information on the predetermined pattern received from the server, the recognition unit And further recognizing relative positional information of the first device and the second device from the moving image of the blinking pattern transmitted by the transmission unit of the first device, acquired by the pattern acquisition unit. The display unit displays the relative positional relationship between the first device and the second device together with the first user interface, based on the position information recognized by the recognition unit. The job processing system described in 2 ).

(7) Among the devices included in the device group, the display unit is the same proxy group as the first device including the device in which the blink pattern transmitted by the device is recognized by the recognition unit. Further displaying a second user interface selectable as a device to be added to, the transmitting unit further transmitting to the server an addition request including information on a pattern specifying the device selected in the second user interface; The receiving unit further receives the addition request from the transmitting unit, and the server refers to the storage unit, and the apparatus is determined based on information on the pattern included in the addition request received by the receiving unit. The first apparatus identifies the identified apparatus in the setting information of the proxy group stored in the storage unit. Job processing system according to configure as a device included in the same proxy group as proxy group, the (4) or (6) to be.

(8) The storage unit further stores setting information of a proxy group including the first device and a proximity group set as another proxy group in which the included devices overlap, and the transmitter is further configured to: The information related to the predetermined pattern further including setting information of the proximity group stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the first device, and the recognition unit acquires the first acquired by the pattern acquisition unit. The setting information of the proximity group included in the blinking pattern is further recognized from the blinking pattern transmitted by the transmitting unit of the device, and the display unit is included in the setting information of the proximity group recognized by the recognition unit. By selecting any one of the proximity groups to be selected, a pattern identifying the devices included in the selected proximity group Further displays a third user interface for selectably displaying the emissions as a device to be included in the information regarding the predetermined pattern transmitted from the transmitting unit, the (4), (6), any of (7) Job processing system described in.

  (9) The server specifies a pattern for specifying a device that has been enabled to transmit a pattern by a transmitting unit among the devices included in the proxy group, and the exclusion notification including information on the specified pattern is selected. The job processing system according to any one of the above (1) to (8), wherein the specified pattern is excluded from the predetermined pattern transmitted from the transmission unit of the first device by transmitting to the first device. .

(10) When the first apparatus is an apparatus not having a job processing function or an apparatus in a state in which the job processing function can not be exhibited, the transmission unit of the first apparatus selects the first apparatus. Transmitting the predetermined pattern further including a pattern indicating that it is impossible, and the recognition unit further recognizes from the predetermined pattern that the selection of the first device is impossible, The display unit excludes the first device from devices selectable in the first user interface when it is recognized by the recognition unit that selection of the first device is not possible. 4) The job processing system according to any one of (6) to (8) .

  (11) The second pattern and the relative position of the second device for specifying one or more different second devices from the different faces of the polyhedron, the transmission part of the first device being different The job processing system according to any one of the above (2) to (10), which transmits a blinking pattern of the predetermined pattern including information.

  (12) The job processing system according to (11), wherein an apparatus from which the predetermined pattern is transmitted by a blinking pattern from different faces of the polyhedron is an apparatus optimized for each face.

  (13) The apparatus included in the device group is specified as a server that receives print data from the portable terminal and causes the job processing device to process any job in the device group including at least one or more job processing devices. A procedure (a) of associating and storing different patterns and device identification information for each device, and the first device transmitted from a transmitter of at least one first device included in the device group Obtaining a predetermined pattern including a first pattern specifying the second device and a second pattern specifying the second device other than the first device in the same proxy group as the first device; A procedure (b) for receiving information on the predetermined pattern from the portable terminal that transmits information on the predetermined pattern; and for each device stored in the procedure (a) Identifying the identification information of the first device or the second device based on the information on the predetermined pattern received in the step (b) with reference to the identification pattern of the device and the identification information of the device; A job processing program that executes a procedure including: (c) relaying communication between the mobile device and the first device or the second device for which identification information has been identified.

  (14) The step (b) is acquired as a moving image by photographing the predetermined pattern transmitted in a blinking pattern from the transmission unit of the first device, and the predetermined pattern is recognized from the acquired moving image The job processing program according to (13), wherein the information regarding the predetermined pattern is received from the portable terminal that transmits the information regarding the recognized predetermined pattern to the server.

  (15) The information on the predetermined pattern transmitted from the portable terminal in the step (b) is the predetermined pattern transmitted from the transmitting unit of the first device photographed by the portable terminal in a blinking pattern The procedure (c) recognizes the predetermined pattern from the moving image included in the information on the predetermined pattern, and the first device or the second device is recognized based on the recognized predetermined pattern. The job processing program according to (13), which identifies the identification information of the device of

  (16) In the step (b), one of the first device and the second device specified by the first pattern and the second pattern included in the recognized predetermined pattern is used. The job processing according to (14), wherein information regarding the predetermined pattern including the pattern specifying the device selected in the first user interface is received from the mobile terminal displaying the selectable first user interface program.

(17) In the procedure, transmission of the first device is performed by transmitting information on a predetermined pattern including the first pattern and the second pattern stored in the procedure (a) to the server. The job processing program according to any one of (13) to (16), further including: a step (d) of causing the unit to transmit the predetermined pattern based on the information on the predetermined pattern.

(18) The transmitting unit of the first device transmits the information on the predetermined pattern including the first pattern and the second pattern stored in the step (a) to the server. The method further includes the step (d) of transmitting the predetermined pattern based on the information on the predetermined pattern, the step storing the relative position information of the first device and the second device e), and the information on the predetermined pattern transmitted to the first device in the step (d) includes the first device and the first device stored in the step (e) relative position information of the second device is further included, the procedure (b) is thereby the first pattern and the second pattern included in the recognized predetermined pattern The portable terminal displaying a first user interface capable of selecting one of the first device and the second device to be identified, the pattern including a pattern for identifying the device selected in the first user interface The first position information is received based on information on a predetermined pattern received, the relative position information of the first device and the second device is recognized from the acquired moving image of the blinking pattern, and the first position information is recognized based on the recognized position information. The predetermined pattern including the pattern for identifying the device selected in the first user interface from the portable terminal displaying the relative positional relationship between the second device and the second device with the first user interface The job processing program according to ( 14 ) above, which receives information.

(19) In the procedure, among the devices included in the device group, a device that recognizes the blinking pattern transmitted by the device is selected as a device to be added to the same proxy group as the first device. Receiving the add request from the portable terminal displaying a possible second user interface and sending an add request including information on a pattern identifying a device selected in the second user interface; The device is identified based on the information on the pattern contained in the additional request received in the step (f) by referring to the pattern different for each device and the identification information of the device stored in the step (a) Set the specified device as a device included in the same proxy group as the first device. Further comprising a floor (g), the job processing program according to the above (16) or (18).

(20) The procedure includes a procedure (h) of storing setting information of a proxy group including the first device and a proximity group set as another proxy group including the overlapping device; the information related to the predetermined pattern transmitted by receiving the information related to the predetermined pattern stored in h) and further including the setting information of the proximity group to the first device, and the received information The blink pattern is acquired from the first device that transmits the blink pattern based on information on a predetermined pattern, the setting information of the proximity group included in the blink pattern is recognized, and the recognized proximity group is set By selecting any one of the proximity groups included in the information, an equipment included in the selected proximity group is selected. Displaying on the portable terminal a third user interface for selectively displaying any one of the patterns for identifying the apparatus as the apparatus to be included in the information on the predetermined pattern transmitted from the portable terminal (i The job processing program according to any one of (16) , (18), and (19), further including

  (21) The procedure specifies a pattern for specifying a device capable of transmitting a pattern by a transmitting unit among devices included in the proxy group, and the exclusion notification including information on the specified pattern is selected. The above (13) to (20) further including a step (j) of excluding the specified pattern from the predetermined pattern transmitted from the transmission unit of the first device by transmitting to the first device. The job processing program described in any one.

(22) Before the transmission unit of the first device transmits the portable terminal when the first device is a device not having a job processing function or a device in a state in which the first device can not exhibit a job processing function The predetermined pattern further including a pattern indicating that the selection of the first device is not possible is obtained, and it is further recognized from the predetermined pattern that the selection of the first device is impossible. The job processing program according to any one of (16) and (18) to (20) , wherein the first device is excluded from devices selectable in the first user interface.

  (23) The relative positions of the second pattern and the second device for specifying one or more different second devices from the different faces of the polyhedron, in which the transmitting unit of the first device is different. The job processing program according to any one of (14) to (22), which transmits a blinking pattern of the predetermined pattern including information.

  (24) The job processing program according to (23), wherein each device from which the predetermined pattern is transmitted by a blinking pattern from different faces of the polyhedron is a device optimized for each face.

  (25) A computer readable recording medium storing the job processing program according to any one of (13) to (24).

  The proxy device transmits a predetermined pattern including a pattern for specifying the proxy device and the proxy device, causes the mobile terminal to transmit information on the predetermined pattern acquired by the mobile terminal to the server, and the information on the predetermined pattern is used as the information Based on the identified device or proxy device, the communication between the identified device or proxy device and the portable terminal is relayed to the server. As a result, it is possible to designate printing by the image forming apparatus in the power saving mode from a position distant to some extent.

It is a block diagram of the relay connection system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an MFP. It is a block diagram of a portable terminal. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which the blink pattern which a proxy apparatus generate | occur | produces with the portable terminal is image | photographed with the predetermined | prescribed pattern transmitted by the blink pattern. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a relative positional relationship between a first user interface displayed on a display unit of a portable terminal and MFPs in a proxy group. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relative positional relationship of the 1st user interface displayed on the display part of a portable terminal, and the apparatus in a substitute group in case a substitute apparatus is a beacon. It is an overhead view in the state where the beacon which is a proxy device generates the blink pattern of a different device pattern from four sides of a cube. It is a figure which shows a 2nd user interface. It is a figure which shows a 3rd user interface. It is a block diagram of a server. It is a figure which shows a collation table. It is a flow chart which shows basic operation of a personal digital assistant. It is a flowchart which shows the basic operation | movement of a server. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of a portable terminal when adding an MFP to a proxy group. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of the server when adding an MFP to a proxy group.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a job processing system, a job processing program, and a computer readable recording medium storing the job processing program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a relay connection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The job processing system 100 includes a plurality of MFPs (MultiFunction Peripherals) 130, a mobile terminal 120, and a server 110. The plurality of MFPs 130 constitute an apparatus group, and each MFP 130 constitutes a job processing apparatus.

  The server 110, the portable terminal 120, and the MFP 130 are communicably connected to one another via the network 140. Mobile terminal 120 can be connected to network 140 via access point 141. The network 140 can be configured by a LAN (Local Area Network) connecting computers and network devices according to a standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or a WAN (Wide Area Network) connecting LANs by a dedicated line. .

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP.

  MFP 130 includes control unit 131, storage unit 132, light emitting unit 133, image processing unit 134, image reading unit 135, operation unit 136, image forming unit 137, and communication unit 138, which exchange signals. They are connected to one another via a bus 139. The light emitting unit 133 constitutes a transmitting unit.

  The storage unit 132 is configured of a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), and the like. The program executed by the control unit 131 and the data processed by the control unit 131 are temporarily stored by the RAM. The ROM stores various programs and various data. The HDD stores various programs including programs for the control unit 131 to control each component of the MFP 130, print jobs received through the communication unit 138, image data, and other various data.

  The print job is a generic term for a print instruction to the MFP 130. The print job includes print data and print settings. The print data is data of a document to be printed, and the print data includes various data such as image data, vector data (graphics data), and text data, for example. Specifically, the print data is, for example, page description language (PDL) data, portable document format (PDF) data, or tagged image file format (TIFF) data. The print settings include color or monochrome settings, sheet settings, and the like.

  The image processing unit 134 includes a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the like, performs layout processing and rasterization processing of print data included in the print job, and generates bitmap data. Generate certain image data.

  The image reading unit 135 applies light to a document set at a predetermined reading position on the document table with a light source such as a fluorescent lamp, and photoelectrically converts the reflected light with an imaging device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor. , Generating image data from the electrical signal.

  The operation unit 136 includes a touch panel for performing various settings, a ten key for setting the number of copies, a start key for instructing the start of operation, a stop key for instructing to stop the operation, and a reset key for initializing various setting conditions. Be done.

  The image forming unit 137 includes a sheet conveying device, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser unit, a developing device, a transfer separation device, and a fixing device, and charges, exposes, develops, transfers, and fixes by electrophotography. After each process, an image is formed on a sheet based on image data, and the sheet is output.

  The light emitting unit 133 includes a light emitting element such as an LED and a drive element for driving the light emitting element. The light emitting unit 133 may be provided as part of the operation unit 136. The light emitting unit 133 can emit light in a plurality of colors to visually provide information to the user, and can blink in various blinking patterns.

As will be described later, the blinking pattern by the blinking of the light emitting unit 133 is photographed, analyzed, and recognized by the portable terminal 120. Therefore, the blinking pattern due to the blinking of the light emitting unit 133 is performed in a cycle that can be accurately recognized by the moving image captured by the portable terminal 120. From the viewpoint of security, it is desirable that the blinking light be blinked at a cycle that can not be confirmed by the user with the naked eye.
For example, when the frame rate of a moving image shot by the portable terminal 120 is 30 frames / second, about 1/30 seconds to 1/15 seconds can be blinked as the minimum light emission period and extinction period.

  The communication unit 138 is an interface for communicating with an external device through the network 140.

  The control unit 131 can be configured by a CPU or the like, and performs control of each component described above and various arithmetic processing in accordance with a program. That is, the control unit 131 performs overall control regarding various processes including image formation while cooperating with each component constituting the MFP 130.

  The control unit 131 receives the notification of the identification start of the MFP 130 from the server 110 by the communication unit 138, which is made at the time of starting the specification of the MFP 130, and the information on the predetermined pattern included in the notification of the identification start Based on the light emitting unit 133, a predetermined pattern is emitted for a predetermined time by blinking light. The information on the predetermined pattern includes an apparatus pattern which is a blinking pattern different for each MFP 130. As described later, in the server 110, an IP address (hereinafter referred to as “device IP address”), which is an address on the network 140 of each MFP 130, is associated with a different device pattern for each MFP 130 and stored in the collation table. There is. The device IP address is also identification information that can identify the MFP 130, respectively. Note that the address on the network may be any information other than the device IP address as long as the device (such as the MFP 130) can be identified in communication using the network, for example, even if the device name or MAC address etc. Good.

  Each MFP 130 receives, by the communication unit 138, information on a pattern different for each MFP 130 from the server 110.

  Note that the control unit 131 causes the light emitting unit 133 to generate a blinking pattern based on the device pattern included in the information regarding the predetermined pattern received in advance when the MFP 130 is powered on or when communication with the server 110 becomes possible. You may

  The control unit 131 of the proxy device, which is at least one of the MFPs 130 included in the set proxy group, includes information on a predetermined pattern further including a device pattern associated with the device IP address of each MFP 130 included in the proxy group. It is received by the communication unit 138. That is, the proxy device (first device) is a device pattern (first pattern) specifying the proxy device, and a proxy device (second device) other than the proxy device in the same proxy group as the proxy device (second device) Information regarding the predetermined pattern including the device pattern (second pattern) specifying. The proxy group is set in the collation table of the server 110. The control unit 131 of the proxy device included in the proxy group causes the light emitting unit 133 to generate flashing light by the device pattern of the proxy device, and emits the flashing light of the device pattern of another MFP 130 included in the proxy group as a proxy. It is generated at 133. That is, the light emitting unit 133 of the proxy device blinks a predetermined pattern including a device pattern that identifies the proxy device and a device pattern that identifies the proxy device that is the MFP 130 other than the proxy device in the same proxy group as the proxy device. Send by The proxy device is not limited to a job processing device such as the MFP 130 as long as it can generate blinking light, and may be a beacon having no job processing function.

  The control unit 131 of the proxy device indicates that the proxy device can not be selected when the proxy device is an apparatus such as a beacon that does not have the job processing function or the MFP 130 in a state in which the job processing function can not be exhibited. The pattern may be included in a predetermined pattern and emitted by the light emitting unit 133. The MFP 130 in a state in which the job processing function can not be exhibited is, for example, the MFP 130 in a state in which no sheet is set.

  The information on the predetermined pattern that the proxy device receives from server 110 may further include relative position information of each MFP 130 included in the proxy group.

  The control unit 131 shifts the MFP 130 to the power saving mode when the operation request to the MFP 130 is not made for a predetermined time. The power saving mode is a mode in which the power consumption of the MFP 130 is reduced. In the power saving mode, the MFP 130 can not perform at least one of the generation of blinking light due to the light blinking of the light emitting unit 133 and the communication through the network 140.

  When the print job transmitted by the portable terminal 120 is received by the communication unit 138 via the server 110, the control unit 131 causes the image processing unit 134 to rasterize print data included in the received print job, thereby forming an image. The unit 127 causes the sheet to form an image and output it.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the portable terminal.

  The portable terminal 120 includes a control unit 121, a storage unit 122, an imaging unit 123, an image processing unit 124, a display unit 125, an operation unit 126, and a communication unit 127, which are connected via a bus 128 for exchanging signals. Connected to each other. The imaging unit 123 configures a pattern acquisition unit, the control unit 121 configures a recognition unit, and the communication unit 126 configures a transmission unit.

  The storage unit 122 is configured by a RAM, a ROM, an SSD (Solid State Drive), and the like. The program executed by the control unit 121 and the data processed by the control unit 121 are temporarily stored by the RAM. Various data including various programs including programs for the control unit 121 to control each component of the portable terminal 120 by ROM and SSD, and various data including moving images of blinking light generated by the light emitting unit 133 of the MFP 130 photographed by the photographing unit 123 Is stored.

  The imaging unit 123 includes an optical lens, an imaging device, and the like, converts information of an image light-projected on the imaging device by the optical lens into an electrical signal, and outputs the electrical signal.

  The image processing unit 124 includes a CPU, an ASIC, or the like, and generates moving image data (hereinafter also referred to as “moving image”) based on the electrical signal output from the imaging unit 123.

  The display unit 125 is configured of, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various types of information including a moving image generated by the image processing unit 124.

  The operation unit 126 can be configured by a touch panel that performs various settings and inputs and a fixed key. The touch panel may be provided as part of the display unit 125.

  The communication unit 127 is an interface for communicating with an external device by being connected to the network 140 via the access point 141 by wireless communication such as a wireless LAN.

  The control unit 121 can be configured by a CPU or the like, and performs control of each component described above and various arithmetic processing in accordance with a program. That is, the control unit 121 performs overall control regarding various processes while cooperating with each component constituting the portable terminal 120.

  Control unit 121 transmits to server 110 a notification of the start of identification of MFP 130. When the notification of the identification start transmitted to the server 110 is transmitted to the MFP 130 registered in the collation table in the server 110, the predetermined pattern included in the notification of the identification start by the MFP 130 having received the notification of the identification start blinks Sent by

  The control unit 121 analyzes a predetermined pattern by the blinking pattern transmitted by the MFP 130, which is photographed by the photographing unit 123 based on the moving image generated by the image processing unit 124, and recognizes an apparatus pattern included in the predetermined pattern. Do. When the moving image captured by the imaging unit 123 includes the blinking pattern of the plurality of MFPs 130, the control unit 121 recognizes the device pattern of the plurality of MFPs 130 included in the moving image.

  The control unit 121 analyzes a predetermined pattern based on the blinking pattern generated by the proxy device, and recognizes the device pattern of the MFP 130 in the proxy group included in the predetermined pattern.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a blinking pattern generated by a proxy device is photographed by a portable terminal, together with a predetermined pattern transmitted by the blinking pattern.

  By including the light emitting unit 133 of the MFP (1), which is the MFP 130 of the proxy device, in the imaging range 430 of the mobile terminal 120, the mobile terminal 120 captures a blinking pattern generated by the proxy device. The proxy device transmits a predetermined pattern by blinking light in the order of, for example, the start bit (S), the device pattern of itself (MFP (1)), the proxy device (MFP (2), MFP (3)) Can. By setting the device pattern of the proxy device in advance immediately after the start bit, the portable terminal 120 can recognize the device pattern associated with the IP address of the proxy device.

  The control unit 121 can analyze a predetermined pattern according to the blinking pattern generated by the proxy device, and recognize relative position information of the MFPs 130 in the proxy group, which is included in the predetermined pattern. The relative position information of the MFPs 130 in the proxy group may be included in the pattern information as the order of the device patterns included in the predetermined pattern. That is, for example, when the device pattern is included in the pattern information in the order of the start bit (S), its own device pattern, MFP (2) which is a proxy device, and MFP (3) which is a proxy device, The control unit 121 has an MFP (2), which is a proxy device, located to the right of one MFP (1), which is a proxy device, and two proxy devices, which are right sides of an MFP (1), which is a proxy device. It can be recognized that a certain MFP (2) exists.

  The control unit 121 causes the display unit 125 to display a first user interface that can select one of the MFPs 130 that has recognized the device pattern as a device requesting connection with the portable terminal 120. The control unit 121 can also display the relative positional relationship of the MFPs 130 in the proxy group on the display unit 125 together with the first user interface based on the recognized position information.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a relative positional relationship between the first user interface displayed on the display unit of the portable terminal and the MFP in the proxy group.

  On the display unit 125 of the portable terminal 120, the first user interface 1251 is displayed together with the relative positional relationship between the proxy apparatus MFP (1) and each of the proxy apparatuses MFP (2) and MFP (3). That is, the touch panel button for selecting the MFP 130 in the proxy group is displayed as the first user interface 1251 and, depending on the positional relationship of the buttons, one proxy to the right of the MFP (1) is represented The relative positional relationship of the MFP 130 is displayed that there is an MFP (2) which is an apparatus, and two MFP (2) which is a proxy apparatus are present on the right side of the MFP (1) which is a proxy apparatus. .

  The first user interface 1251 displays a mark 1253 under the button of the MFP (1) which is a proxy device, indicating that the device is a device that is generating a blinking pattern.

  The control unit 121 can recognize the device of the device pattern immediately after the start bit as the proxy device in the predetermined pattern transmitted by the proxy device according to the blinking pattern. Therefore, a button may be displayed on the button of MFP (1) which is a proxy apparatus, indicating that MFP 130 selected by the button of MFP (1) is a proxy apparatus.

  In the display unit 125, the moving image captured by the imaging unit 123 may be displayed on the upper portion of the first user interface 1251.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the relative positional relationship between the first user interface displayed on the display unit of the portable terminal and the devices in the proxy group when the proxy device is a beacon.

  When the proxy device is an apparatus without a job processing function like the beacon 1301 or the MFP 130 in a state in which the job processing function can not be exhibited, the proxy device can not select the proxy device as the predetermined pattern transmitted by the blinking pattern. Contains a pattern to indicate that When the control unit 121 analyzes a predetermined pattern and recognizes a pattern which is included in the predetermined pattern and indicates that selection of a proxy device is not possible, the proxy can be selected from devices selectable in the first user interface. Exclude the device.

  In FIG. 6, the button of the touch panel for selecting the beacon 1301 is not displayed in the first user interface 1251, and the beacon 1301 is excluded from devices selectable in the first user interface.

  By using an apparatus that does not have a job processing function as the beacon 1301 as a proxy apparatus, even if all the MFPs 130 in the proxy group have transitioned to the power saving mode, the proxy group is set as the MFP 130 that requests connection with the portable terminal 120 The MFP 130 can be selected to reserve a print job process via the server 110.

  FIG. 7 is an overhead view of a state where a beacon which is a proxy device generates flickering patterns of different device patterns from four sides of a cube. FIG. 7 also shows patterns emitted from the side surfaces of the cube beacon 1301 according to the blinking pattern.

  In FIG. 7, ten MFPs (MFP (1) to MFP (10)) are included in a proxy group in which the beacon 1301 is a proxy device. From the different side surfaces a, b, c, d of the cube of the beacon 1301, predetermined patterns including different device patterns and relative position information of the MFP 130 are transmitted by the blinking pattern. That is, from the side surface a, which is one of the side surfaces of the cube of the beacon 1301, a predetermined pattern including the device patterns of MFP (1) to MFP (3) and relative position information of MFP (1) to MFP (3) The pattern is transmitted by a blinking pattern. From the side surface b, a predetermined pattern including the device patterns of MFP (4) and MFP (5) and relative position information of MFP (4) and MFP (5) is transmitted by a blinking pattern. From the side surface c, a predetermined pattern including the device patterns of MFP (6) and MFP (7) and relative position information of MFP (6) and MFP (7) is transmitted by a blinking pattern. From side d, a predetermined pattern including device patterns of MFP (8) to MFP (10) and relative position information of MFP (8) to MFP (10) is transmitted by a blinking pattern.

  When the user shoots the blinking pattern transmitted from the side surface a of the beacon 1301 with the portable terminal 120, it is considered that the user is relatively close to the MFP (1) to the MFP (3). A predetermined pattern including the device patterns of MFP (1) to MFP (3) and relative position information of MFP (1) to MFP (3) is transmitted from the side surface a of beacon 1301 by a blinking pattern, and the blinking pattern is By being photographed, the predetermined pattern is recognized by the portable terminal 120, and the MFP (1) to the MFP (3) are displayed on the first user interface 1251 so as to be selectable. As a result, the user can select one of MFP (1) to MFP (3), which are relatively close MFPs 130, in the first user interface 1251 and connect it to the portable terminal 120.

  As described above, it is desirable that each MFP 130 in which the device pattern and the relative position information of the MFP 130 are transmitted by the blinking pattern from different sides of the beacon 1301 is the MFP 130 optimized for each side. That is, it is desirable that the apparatus pattern of the MFP 130 present in the irradiation direction of the blinking light of the blinking pattern generated from the side (the direction of each arrow in FIG. 7) be included in the predetermined pattern transmitted by the blinking pattern. .

  The control unit 121 relates to a predetermined pattern including the apparatus pattern of the MFP 130 selected in the first user interface 1251 and an IP address (hereinafter, referred to as “terminal IP address”) which is an address on the network 140 of the portable terminal 120. The information is sent to server 110 as a connection request. The connection request communicably connects the portable terminal 120 of the terminal IP address included in the request to the MFP 130 of the device IP address associated with the device pattern included in the connection request in the server 110. It is a requirement to

  The control unit 121 causes the server 110 to transmit a print job to the MFP 130 connected to the portable terminal 120 via the network 140, and causes the MFP 130 to form an image on a sheet and output the sheet.

  The control unit 121 displays a second user interface selectable as an apparatus to be added to the proxy group among the MFPs 130 that have recognized the apparatus pattern. The control unit 121 transmits, to the server 110, an addition request including a device pattern associated with the device address of the MFP 130 selected in the second user interface. That is, the control unit 121 transmits, to the server 110, an addition request including information on a pattern for identifying the MFP 130 selected in the second user interface. Thus, the selected MFP 130 can be added to the proxy group. The server 110 registers to add the MFP 130 whose device IP address is associated with the device pattern included in the add request to the proxy group specified in the add request.

  Switching between the first user interface and the second user interface can be performed, for example, by providing a switch button on each user interface.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a second user interface.

  On the second user interface, a button for selecting the MFP (5), which is the MFP 130 whose device pattern has been recognized by the control unit 121, and a button for selecting each proxy group are displayed. By selecting the button for selecting the MFP (5) and the button for selecting the substitute group G (1), the MFP (5), which is the MFP 130 whose apparatus pattern is recognized, is added to the substitute group G (1) can do. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the proxy group G (1) is selected. When the control unit 121 recognizes a plurality of device patterns, a second user interface capable of selecting one of the MFPs 130 associated with the plurality of device patterns is displayed.

  The second user interface is a user interface selected as the MFP 130 that the blinking pattern is continuously taken for a predetermined time by the portable terminal 120 and the MFP 130 that has generated the blinking pattern whose apparatus pattern is recognized is added to the proxy group. May be

  The control unit 121 can selectably display the proxy group and any other proxy group (hereinafter referred to as “proximity group”) overlapping the included MFPs 130, and select one of the MFPs 130 in the selected proximity group. A third user interface is displayed which selectively displays one of them as the MFP 130 that requests connection with the portable terminal 120. That is, control unit 121 causes MFP 301 to include in the connection request the device pattern associated with the device address of MFP 130 as one of MFPs 130 in the selected proximity group by selecting one of the proximity groups. Display a third user interface for selective display. Switching between the first user interface, the second user interface, and the third user interface can be performed, for example, by providing a switch button on each user interface.

  The control unit 121 displays the third user interface based on the setting information of the proximity group recognized by analyzing the predetermined pattern including the setting information of the proximity group, which is transmitted from the MFP 130 which is the proxy apparatus by the blinking pattern. be able to.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a third user interface.

  As shown in A of FIG. 9, a touch panel button for selecting the MFP 130 in the proxy group G (1) is displayed as the third user interface 1254, and the proximity group G (2) or the like for the proxy group is displayed. The button for selecting is displayed. In addition, it is indicated by the dotted line that MFP (1), MFP (2) and MFP (3) are included in the same proxy group G (1).

  In the display unit 125, the moving image shot by the shooting unit 123 may be displayed at the top of the third user interface 1251.

  In A of FIG. 9, when the button for selecting proximity group G (2) is selected, as shown in B of FIG. 9, MFP (3) which is MFP 130 in proximity group G (2) and A button for selecting any one of MFP (4) as MFP 130 requesting connection with portable terminal 120 is displayed. In the example of FIG. 9, MFP (3) is commonly included in proxy group G (1) and proximity group G (2) which is another proxy group to proxy group G (1).

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the server.

  The server 110 includes a control unit 111, a storage unit 112, and a communication unit 113, which are mutually connected via a bus 114 for exchanging signals. The communication unit 113 configures a receiving unit, and the control unit 111 configures an identifying unit and a relay unit.

  The storage unit 112 is configured by a RAM, a ROM, an HDD, and the like. The program executed by the control unit 111 and the data processed by the control unit 111 are temporarily stored by the RAM. The ROM stores various programs and various data. The HDD stores various programs including an operating system, a print job, a collation table 1121, relative position information of the MFP 130 included in the proxy group, and various other data.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a collation table.

  The collation table 1121 is registered and stored in association with the device ID, the device IP address, the device pattern, the blinking state, the device state, the connection frequency, and the terminal IP address for each of the MFPs 130. That is, the server 110 can manage a plurality of MFPs 130 as a group of MFPs 130 in advance as a group, and for each of the MFPs 130 included in the group, the device ID, device IP address, device pattern, blinking state, device state , Connection frequency, and information such as terminal IP address. Further, setting information of a proxy group is registered in the collation table 1121. In FIG. 11, each row is information associated with one MFP 130.

  The device ID is an identification number or a name assigned to each MFP 130.

  The device pattern is represented by a code in which a predetermined number of “1” and “0” are arranged, and, for example, in the case of transmitting the device pattern by a blinking pattern, “1” is light emission and “0” is extinction It corresponds. The device pattern can be generated by storing a program for generating the device pattern in the storage unit 112 and operating the program, and can be registered in the collation table 1121. The device pattern may be created by the administrator and registered in the collation table 1121. Further, when the MFP 130 capable of communicating with the server 110 in the same network 140 is newly recognized by the control unit 111, a blinking pattern is generated by the above-described program and associated with the newly recognized apparatus IP address of the MFP 130. It may be registered in the collation table 1121.

  The blinking state is information indicating whether the light emitting unit 133 of the MFP 130 performs the light blinking operation normally or there is an abnormality. The server 110 receives notification from the MFP 130 that has detected an abnormality of the light emitting unit 133 by self-diagnosis or the like, registers the blinking state in the collation table 1121, and updates it.

  In the device status, it is registered and updated whether or not the MFP 130 is in a state where it can not execute a job normally due to a shortage of consumables (for example, a shortage of toner) or an open door to release a paper jam. Ru. For example, the server 110 receives the notification from the MFP 130 which can not print due to toner exhaustion, and registers and updates the device state of the collation table 1121.

  The connection frequency is the number of times connection setting has been performed in response to a connection request from the portable terminal 120. With the connection setting, the device IP address of the MFP 130 and the terminal IP address of the portable terminal 120 are associated with each other, registered in the collation table 1121, and stored in the storage unit 112, whereby the MFP 130 and the portable terminal 120 are network 140 Is a setting connected via.

  The terminal IP address is associated with the device IP address of the MFP 130 by the connection setting and registered in the collation table 1121.

  In FIG. 11, MFP (1) shows an example in which valid connection settings are registered. In the MFP (9), an example is shown in which the apparatus state is toner shortage and connection setting is not made. The MFP (8) shows an example in which the light emitting unit 133 is in an abnormal blinking state. An example in which the MFP (2) and the MFP (3) are in the power saving mode is shown. In addition, MFP (1), MFP (2), and MFP (3) are included in proxy group G (1), MFP (3) and MFP (4) are included in proxy group G (2), and MFP (1) And setting information of a proxy group in which MFP (6) is included in proxy group G (3) is registered.

  Setting information of proximity groups is registered in the collation table 1121. The setting information of the proxy group may double as the setting information of the proximity group. That is, for example, in the example of FIG. 11, since proxy group G (1) and another proxy group G (2) include MFP (3) which is the same MFP 130, proxy group G (1) 2) is registered as the proximity group of the proxy group G (1).

  The communication unit 113 is an interface for communicating with an external device through the network 140.

  The control unit 111 can be configured by a CPU or the like, and performs control of the respective constituent elements, various arithmetic processing, and the like according to a program. That is, the control unit 111 performs overall control regarding various processes while cooperating with each component constituting the server 110.

  The control unit 111 associates the device ID, the device IP address, the device pattern, the blinking state, the device state, the connection frequency, and the terminal IP address with each other in the collation table 1121 and stores the same in the storage unit 112. Further, the control unit 111 registers setting information of the proxy group and setting information of the proximity group in the collation table 1121 and stores the setting information in the storage unit 112.

  When communication unit 113 receives the notification of the identification start of MFP 130 from portable terminal 120, control unit 111 communicates the notification of the identification start including information on a predetermined pattern to MFP 130 registered in collation table 1121. It is transmitted from the unit 113. As a result, the control unit 111 causes the light emitting unit 133 of the MFP 130 to transmit a predetermined pattern according to the blinking pattern. That is, the control unit 111 causes the light emitting unit 133 of the MFP 130 to transmit a device pattern, which is included in the predetermined pattern and is associated with the device IP address in the collation table 1121, in a blinking pattern.

  The control unit 111 further includes a device pattern associated with the device IP address of each MFP 130 included in the proxy group, which is set in the proxy group setting information in the collation table 1121 for the MFP 130 of the proxy device. The communication unit 113 transmits information on the pattern of Thus, the control unit causes the light emitting unit 133 to transmit the device pattern associated with the device IP address of the proxy device from the light emitting unit 133 according to the blinking pattern, and the device associated with the device IP address of the proxy device The pattern is sent to the proxy device on behalf of the device.

  The control unit 111 can cause the communication unit 113 to transmit, to the MFP 130 of the proxy device, information on a predetermined pattern further including relative position information of the respective MFPs 130 included in the proxy group.

  When a connection request is received from the portable terminal 120 by the communication unit 113, the control unit 111 identifies the MFP 130 of the device IP address associated with the device pattern included in the connection request in the collation table 1121. The control unit 111 associates the specified apparatus IP address of the MFP 130 with the terminal IP address of the portable terminal 120 included in the connection request, and registers it in the collation table 1121 and stores it in the storage unit 112. When the terminal IP address and the device IP address are associated and registered in the collation table 1121, the control unit 111 relays communication between the portable terminal 120 of the terminal IP address and the MFP 130 of the device IP address. . As a result, the portable terminal 120 that has transmitted the connection request and the MFP 130 of the device IP address associated with the blinking pattern included in the connection request are connected via the network 140. Note that the control unit 111 stores the device IP address of the MFP 130 and the terminal IP address of the portable terminal 120 in the collation table 1121 by associating them in the collation table 1121 and then holds the registration for a certain period of time. Can be related to continuous printing.

  When an addition request is received from the portable terminal 120 by the communication unit 113, the control unit 111 adds the MFP 130 whose device IP address is associated with the device pattern included in the addition request to the proxy group specified in the addition request. Register

  The control unit 111 includes the setting information of the proximity group in the information on the predetermined pattern and transmits the information to the MFP 130 of the proxy device, and causes the MFP 130 of the proxy device to transmit the predetermined pattern including the setting information of the proximity group be able to. The portable terminal 120 analyzes the predetermined pattern, recognizes setting information of the proximity group included in the predetermined pattern, displays any one of the proximity groups in a selectable manner, and selects one of the MFPs 130 in the selected proximity group. A third user interface is displayed to selectively display one of the MFPs 130 requesting connection with the portable terminal 120.

  The control unit 111 identifies a device pattern associated with the device address of the MFP 130 that has been able to cause the light emission unit 133 to transmit a predetermined pattern from the light emission unit 133 among the MFPs 130 included in the proxy group, and identifies the device pattern An exclusion notification including a pattern is transmitted from the communication unit 113 to the MFP 130 of the proxy device. Thereby, the control unit 111 excludes the specified apparatus pattern from the predetermined pattern transmitted by the blinking pattern from the light emitting unit 133 of the MFP 130 of the proxy apparatus.

  The basic operation of the portable terminal and the server will be described below with reference to the flowchart.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the portable terminal. This flowchart can be executed by the control unit 121 in accordance with a program stored in the storage unit 122 of the portable terminal 120.

  When an application program for transmitting print data to the MFP 130 is started by the user (S101), the control unit 121 transmits a notification of identification start of the MFP 130 to the server 110 (S102). When the server 110 receives the notification of the identification start from the portable terminal 120, it transmits the notification of the identification start to all the MFPs 130 registered in the collation table 1121, and notifies the MFP 130 capable of generating the blinking pattern of the identification start. A predetermined pattern included is transmitted by a blinking pattern.

  When the photographing unit 123 photographs a moving image of a blinking pattern generated by the MFP 130, the control unit 121 analyzes the blinking pattern included in the moving image and recognizes a predetermined pattern included in the blinking pattern (S103).

  When the moving image of the blinking pattern generated by the MFP 130 other than the proxy device is photographed by the photographing unit 123, the control unit 121 recognizes the predetermined pattern to recognize the device pattern associated with the IP address of the MFP. recognize.

  When the moving image of the blinking pattern generated by the MFP 130 of the proxy device is photographed by the imaging unit 123, the control unit 121 recognizes the predetermined pattern and is associated with the device IP address of each MFP 130 in the proxy group. Recognize the device pattern.

  Control unit 121 recognizes relative position information of MFP 130 when relative position information of MFP 130 within the proxy group is included in the predetermined pattern.

  The control unit 121 transmits the recognized device pattern to the server 110 (S104).

  The control unit 121 receives, from the server 110, information of the MFP 130 associated in the collation table 1121 with the recognized device pattern (S105), and displays the information on the display unit 125 (S106). The information of the MFP 130 to be received includes, for example, information such as blinking state, device state, and setting information of a proxy group registered in the collation table 1121. The control unit 121 may acquire the information of the MFP 130 from the predetermined pattern transmitted by the MFP 130 by including the information of the MFP 130 in the predetermined pattern transmitted by the MFP 130 in the blinking pattern.

  The control unit 121 receives various instructions from the user input in the operation unit 126 (S107), and determines the content of the instruction (S108).

  When the control unit 121 receives an instruction to cancel the operation from the user, the control unit 121 notifies the server 110 of the cancellation of the operation (S112), and ends the process.

  When the user instructs the selection of the proximity group in the third user interface, the control unit 121 transmits the selection instruction of the selected proximity group to the server (S109). When the proximity group selection instruction is sent to the server, the server 110 sends information on a predetermined pattern including a device pattern associated with the device IP address of the MFP 130 in the proximity group selected to the MFP 130 of the proxy device, The MFP 130 of the proxy device transmits the predetermined pattern according to the blinking pattern. When the shooting unit 123 captures a moving image of a blinking pattern generated by the MFP 130 as a proxy device, the control unit 121 analyzes the moving image and associates the moving image with the device IP address of the MFP 130 in the proximity group included in the predetermined pattern. The device pattern is recognized (S103) and transmitted to the server 110 (S104) to receive information on the MFPs 130 in the proximity group from the server 110 (S105), and any MFP 130 in the proximity group is displayed in a selectable manner. (S106).

  When the MFP 130 is selected in the first user interface or the like, the control unit 121 transmits a connection request for connecting the selected MFP 130 and the portable terminal 120 to the server (S110), and the selected MFP 130 is selected. The print job to be subjected to the print processing is sent to the server (S111).

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server. This flowchart can be executed by the control unit 111 in accordance with a program stored in the storage unit 112 of the server 110.

  When the control unit 111 receives the notification of the identification start of the MFP 130 from the portable terminal 120 (S201), the control unit 111 transmits the notification of the identification start to all the MFPs 130 registered and managed in the collation table 1121. The pattern of is transmitted (S202).

  The control unit 111 causes the communication unit 113 to receive, from the portable terminal 120, the device pattern included in the predetermined pattern recognized by analyzing the moving image of the blinking pattern captured by the portable terminal 120 by the MFP 130 (S203). The control unit 111 identifies the MFP 130 associated with the received device pattern (S204), and acquires information of a proxy group including the identified MFP 130 and information of the selected proximity group from the collation table 1121 (S205).

  When the instruction to select the proximity group is received from the portable terminal 120 by the communication unit 113 (S206: YES), the control unit 111 determines the status of the MFP 130 in the proximity group (S208). When the instruction to select the proximity group is not received from the portable terminal 120 by the communication unit 113 (S206: NO), the control unit 111 determines the status of the MFP 130 in the proxy group (S207). The status of the MFP 130 is, for example, the presence or absence of the transition to the power saving mode, the presence or absence of an abnormality in the blinking state, or the like.

  The control unit 111 determines the MFP 130 which is the proxy apparatus to which the specified MFP 130 blinks on the basis of the result of determining the state of the MFP 130 in the proxy group or in the proximity group (S209). For example, the control unit 111 may exclude the MFP 130 (for example, the MFP 130 not transitioning to the power saving mode) capable of generating the blinking pattern from the MFP 130 in the proxy group or in the proximity group from the proxy device it can.

  The control unit 111 determines whether the identified MFP 130 can perform proxy flashing (S210). That is, the control unit 111 determines whether the identified MFP 130 has a function of performing proxy flashing. Such a determination is made because there is an MFP 130 that can generate flashing light for its own device pattern but can not generate flashing light on behalf of other MFP 130 device patterns. is there.

  When control unit 111 determines that the identified MFP 130 is capable of proxy blinking (S210: YES), the apparatus pattern of MFP 130 in the proxy group and MFP 130 in the proximity group is used as the proxy apparatus that is the identified MFP 130. Information related to a predetermined pattern including S.I. (S212).

  When control unit 111 determines that the identified MFP 130 is not capable of proxy flashing (S210: NO), portable terminal 120 includes the device patterns of MFP 130 in the proxy group and MFP 130 in the proximity group. The pattern information is transmitted (S211).

  If there are a plurality of MFPs 130 identified in step S204, steps S205 to S212 can be executed for each MFP 130.

  The control unit 111 determines the content of the user's instruction received from the portable terminal 120 by the communication unit 113 (S213).

  When the content of the user's instruction is cancellation of the operation, the control unit 111 instructs all MFPs 130 registered and managed in the collation table 1121 to end transmission of a predetermined pattern according to the blinking pattern (S217). .

  When the content of the instruction from the user is an instruction for selecting a proximity group, the control unit 111 temporarily stores the selected proximity group (S214). As a result, the state in which the selected proximity group is selected by the indication of the selection of the proximity group is maintained, and therefore, even if another proximity group is selected later, it is within the previously selected proximity group. The information on the predetermined pattern including the device pattern of the MFP 130 is transmitted to the MFP 130 of the proxy device (S203 to S212).

  When the content of the instruction by the user is selection of MFP 130, control unit 111 registers the terminal IP address included in the connection request received from portable terminal 120 in association with selected MFP 130 in collation table 1121, and selects it. The transmission of the print job to the MFP 130 is reserved (S215). After that, the control unit 111 instructs all MFPs 130 registered and managed in the collation table 1121 to end transmission of a predetermined pattern according to the blinking pattern (S217).

  Next, the operation of the portable terminal and the server when adding the MFP to the proxy group will be described with reference to the flowchart.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the portable terminal when adding the MFP to the proxy group. This flowchart can be executed by the control unit 121 in accordance with a program stored in the storage unit 122 of the portable terminal 120.

  When the photographing unit 123 photographs a moving image of a blinking pattern generated by the MFP 130, the control unit 121 analyzes the blinking pattern included in the moving image and recognizes a predetermined pattern included in the blinking pattern (S301).

  The control unit 121 causes the display unit 125 to display a second user interface for selecting the MFP 130 to be added to the proxy group through the operation unit 126 (S302).

  The control unit 121 causes the communication unit 127 to transmit, to the server 110, an addition request for adding the MFP 130 selected in the second user interface to the designated proxy group (S303).

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server when adding an MFP to a proxy group. This flowchart can be executed by the control unit 111 in accordance with a program stored in the storage unit 112 of the server 110.

  When the control unit 111 receives the addition request from the portable terminal 120 by the communication unit 113 (S401), the control unit 111 specifies the MFP 130 in which the device IP address is associated with the device pattern included in the addition request (S402).

  The control unit 111 registers the specified MFP 130 in the collation table 1121 to be added to the proxy group specified in the addition request (S403).

  The present embodiment has the following effects.

  The proxy device transmits a predetermined pattern including a pattern for specifying the proxy device and the proxy device, causes the mobile terminal to transmit information on the predetermined pattern acquired by the mobile terminal to the server, and the information on the predetermined pattern is used as the information Based on the identified device or proxy device, the communication between the identified device or proxy device and the address of the portable terminal is relayed to the server. As a result, it is possible to designate printing by the image forming apparatus in the power saving mode from a position distant to some extent.

  Further, the predetermined pattern to be transmitted from the proxy device is set as the blinking pattern, the blinking pattern is photographed by the portable terminal, the predetermined pattern is recognized from the photographed moving image, and the information regarding the recognized predetermined pattern is transmitted from the portable terminal to the server Let In this way, it is possible to designate printing by the MFP, which can not acquire the blinking pattern by the portable terminal, for example, because the to-be-deprorated device is installed behind the user as seen from the user.

  Furthermore, a predetermined user interface is displayed on the portable terminal, the first user interface capable of selecting any one of the proxy device and the proxyed device included in the predetermined pattern recognized by the portable terminal, and the pattern includes the selected device. Send information about the pattern from the mobile device to the server. This makes it possible to more easily select the image forming apparatus to be printed.

  Further, a predetermined pattern including a device pattern associated with the address of each MFP included in the proxy group and relative position information of the MFP is transmitted from the proxy device by a blinking pattern, and from the predetermined pattern acquired by the portable terminal The relative positional relationship of each MFP based on the recognized positional information is displayed together with the first user interface which can be selected as the connection target of the MFP. As a result, the user can grasp the relative positional relationship between the MFPs from the irradiation direction of the blinking light, and therefore can easily and accurately designate the MFP for which connection with the portable terminal is required.

  Furthermore, a second user interface capable of selecting an MFP to be added to a proxy group among MFPs whose device patterns have been recognized by the portable terminal is displayed, and addition including information on a pattern for specifying the MFP selected in the second user interface Send a request to the server, and additionally register the MFP specified based on the add request to the proxy group. This makes it possible to more easily add the MFP to the proxy group without inputting the IP address.

  The setting information of the proximity group is acquired by the portable terminal, further including setting information of each proximity group which is another proxy group in which the proxy group and the contained MFP overlap, in a predetermined pattern to be transmitted from the proxy device by the blinking pattern. It further recognizes from the predetermined pattern. Then, by selecting any one of the proximity groups, the mobile terminal is caused to display a third user interface for selectively displaying any of the MFPs in the selected proximity group as connection targets. Thus, it is possible to expand the selection range of the MFP which requires connection with the portable terminal within a range relatively close to the user who is photographing the blinking pattern by the portable terminal.

  A proxy device is specified by specifying a device pattern that specifies a device that can transmit pattern information among devices included in the proxy group, and sending an exclusion notification including information on the specified device pattern from the server to the proxy device Exclude the specified device pattern from the predetermined pattern transmitted by Thereby, concentration of processing load on the proxy device can be reduced.

  If the proxy device is a device not having the job processing function or an MFP in a state in which the job processing function can not be exhibited, a pattern indicating that the proxy device can not be selected is added to the predetermined pattern transmitted by the proxy device. include. Then, when the portable terminal recognizes a pattern indicating that selection of a proxy device is not possible from the acquired predetermined pattern, the proxy device is excluded from devices selectable in the first user interface. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from erroneously selecting a device having no job processing function as a device for requesting connection with the portable terminal.

  Pattern information including different device patterns and relative position information of the MFP is transmitted by the blinking light from different sides of the proxy device of polyhedron. Thus, pattern information can be transmitted from one proxy device in a direction corresponding to the installation direction of each of the proxy devices.

  Each MFP for which pattern information including device patterns and relative position information of MFPs are transmitted by flashing light from different sides of a proxy device of a polyhedron is assumed to be an MFP optimized for each side. As a result, the MFP relatively near the user who takes a picture of the blinking light on the portable terminal can be selected and connected to the portable terminal.

  The relay connection system, the relay connection program, and the computer-readable recording medium storing the relay connection program according to the present invention are not limited to the embodiments described above.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the proxy device transmits the pattern information by the blinking light, and the portable terminal that has captured the blinking light analyzes the captured blinking light to recognize the pattern information. However, the proxy device may transmit pattern information by radio waves using, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) or the like, and the portable terminal may acquire pattern information by radio waves.

  Further, in the embodiment described above, the portable terminal that has captured the blink pattern transmitted from the light emitting unit of the job processing apparatus analyzes the captured blink pattern and recognizes the blink pattern. However, the moving image of the blinking pattern may be transmitted from the mobile terminal to the server as information on the blinking pattern, and the moving image may be analyzed by the server to recognize the blinking pattern included in the moving image. Thereby, the processing load due to the portable terminal can be reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the job processing apparatus has been described as an MFP, but the present invention is not limited to the MFP as long as the apparatus processes a job requested from a portable terminal. Also, although the address on the network has been described as an IP address, it is not limited to the address used in IP, and may be an address on the network according to the network to be used.

100 relay connection system,
110 servers,
120 mobile terminals,
130 MFP,
430 Shooting range 1301 Beacon.

Claims (25)

An apparatus group including at least one or more job processing apparatuses; a server that causes a job processing apparatus of any of the at least one or more job processing apparatuses to process a job; and a portable terminal that transmits print data to the server A job processing system having
At least one first device included in the device group is
Transmit a predetermined pattern including a first pattern identifying the first device and a second pattern identifying a second device other than the first device in the same proxy group as the first device Have a transmitter to
The portable terminal is
A pattern acquisition unit that acquires the predetermined pattern transmitted by the transmission unit;
A transmitter configured to transmit information on the predetermined pattern acquired by the pattern acquisition unit to the server;
The server is
A storage unit that identifies a device included in the device group, stores a pattern that is different for each device, and identification information of the device in association with each other;
A receiving unit that receives the information on the predetermined pattern transmitted by the transmitting unit;
An identifying unit that identifies the first device or the second device based on the information on the predetermined pattern received by the receiving unit with reference to the storage unit;
A job processing system, comprising: a relay unit that relays communication between the mobile device and the first device or the second device whose identification information is specified by the specifying unit. The transmitting unit transmits the predetermined pattern in a blinking pattern,
The pattern acquisition unit acquires the predetermined pattern as a moving image by capturing a blinking pattern transmitted by the transmission unit.
The portable terminal further includes a recognition unit that recognizes the predetermined pattern from the moving image acquired by the pattern acquisition unit,
The job processing system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits information on the predetermined pattern recognized by the recognition unit to the server. The transmitting unit transmits the predetermined pattern in a blinking pattern,
The pattern acquisition unit acquires the predetermined pattern as a moving image by capturing a blinking pattern transmitted by the transmission unit.
The information on the predetermined pattern transmitted by the transmitting unit to the server is the moving image acquired by the pattern acquiring unit,
The server further includes a recognition unit that recognizes the predetermined pattern from the moving image included in the information on the predetermined pattern received by the receiving unit,
The job processing system according to claim 1, wherein the specification unit specifies the first device or the second device based on the predetermined pattern recognized by the recognition unit. The portable terminal is any one of the first device and the second device specified by the first pattern and the second pattern included in the predetermined pattern recognized by the recognition unit. And a display unit for displaying a selectable first user interface,
The job processing system according to claim 2, wherein the transmission unit transmits, to the server, information on the predetermined pattern including a pattern for identifying a device selected in the first user interface. The transmitting unit transmits, to the server , information on a predetermined pattern including the first pattern and the second pattern stored in the storage unit.
The job processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a transmitting unit of the first device transmits the predetermined pattern based on information on the predetermined pattern received from the server. The portable terminal is any one of the first device and the second device specified by the first pattern and the second pattern included in the predetermined pattern recognized by the recognition unit. And a display unit for displaying a selectable first user interface,
The storage unit further stores relative position information of the first device and the second device,
The transmission unit is information on the predetermined pattern including a pattern specifying a device selected in the first user interface, the predetermined pattern including the first pattern and the second pattern stored in the storage unit. information about the pattern and stored in the storage unit, transmits information on the predetermined pattern further comprises a relative position information of the first device and the second device to the first device,
The transmitting unit of the first device transmits the predetermined pattern based on the information on the predetermined pattern received from the server,
The recognition unit is a relative position information of the first device and the second device from the moving image of the blinking pattern transmitted by the transmission unit of the first device acquired by the pattern acquisition unit. To further recognize
The display unit is based on the recognized position information by the recognition unit, the relative positional relationship between the first device and the second device is displayed together with the first user interface, according to claim 2 The job processing system described in. The display unit adds a device, of the devices included in the device group, in which a blinking pattern transmitted by the device is recognized by the recognition unit, to the same proxy group as the proxy group including the first device. Further display a second user interface selectable as a device;
The transmitting unit further transmits, to the server, an addition request including information on a pattern for identifying a device selected in the second user interface;
The receiving unit further receives the addition request from the transmitting unit,
The server refers to the storage unit, identifies a device based on the information on the pattern included in the addition request received by the reception unit, and stores the identified device in the storage unit. It sets as a device included in the same proxy group surrogate group containing the first device in the setting information of the group, the job processing system according to claim 4 or 6. The storage unit further stores setting information of a proxy group including the first device and a proximity group set as another proxy group in which the included devices overlap.
The transmission unit transmits, to the first device, information on the predetermined pattern further including setting information of the proximity group stored in the storage unit.
The recognition unit further recognizes setting information of the proximity group included in the blink pattern from the blink pattern transmitted by the transmission unit of the first device acquired by the pattern acquisition unit.
The display unit is configured to select any one of the devices included in the selected proximity group by selecting any one of the proximity groups included in setting information of the proximity group recognized by the recognition unit. The third user interface according to any one of claims 4 to 7 , wherein a third user interface for selectively displaying a pattern specifying the device as a device to be included in the information on the predetermined pattern transmitted from the transmission unit is further displayed. The job processing system according to any one of the items.   The server specifies a pattern that specifies a device that has been enabled to transmit a pattern by a transmitting unit among the devices included in the proxy group, and the first notification includes an exclusion notification including information on the specified pattern. The job processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the specified pattern is excluded from the predetermined pattern transmitted from the transmission unit of the first device by transmitting the information to the image processing apparatus. When the first device is a device not having a job processing function or a device in a state in which the job processing function can not be exhibited, the transmission unit of the first device can not select the first device. Transmitting the predetermined pattern further including a pattern indicating that there is
The recognition unit further recognizes from the predetermined pattern that selection of the first device is not possible.
The display device excludes the first device from devices selectable in the first user interface when it is recognized by the recognition unit that selection of the first device is not possible. A job processing system according to any one of Items 4 and 6-8 .   The transmitting unit of the first device includes the second pattern specifying the one or more different second devices from different faces of a polyhedron and relative position information of the second devices. The job processing system according to any one of claims 2 to 10, which transmits a blinking pattern of the predetermined pattern.   The job processing system according to claim 11, wherein a device from which each of the predetermined patterns is transmitted by a blinking pattern from different faces of the polyhedron is a device optimized for each face. A server which receives print data from the portable terminal and causes the job processing apparatus of any one of a group of apparatuses including at least one job processing apparatus to process the job;
A procedure (a) of identifying a device included in the device group, storing a pattern different for each device and identification information of the device in association with each other;
A first pattern for identifying the first device, transmitted from a transmitter of at least one first device included in the device group, and the first one of the same proxy group as the first device Acquiring a predetermined pattern including a second pattern specifying a second device other than the device, and receiving information about the predetermined pattern from the portable terminal that transmits the acquired information about the predetermined pattern (b )When,
The first device is referred to based on the information on the predetermined pattern received in the step (b) with reference to the pattern different for each device and the identification information of the device stored in the step (a). Or (c) identifying the identification information of the second device, and relaying the communication between the first device or the second device whose identification information is identified, and the portable terminal;
A job processing program that causes a procedure to be executed.   The step (b) is acquired as a moving image by photographing the predetermined pattern transmitted in a blinking pattern from the transmission unit of the first device, and the predetermined pattern is recognized and recognized from the acquired moving image The job processing program according to claim 13, wherein the information regarding the predetermined pattern is received from the portable terminal that transmits the information regarding the predetermined pattern to the server. The information on the predetermined pattern transmitted from the portable terminal in the step (b) is a moving image of the predetermined pattern transmitted in a blinking pattern from the transmitting unit of the first device captured by the portable terminal. Yes,
The step (c) recognizes the predetermined pattern from the moving image included in the information related to the predetermined pattern, and identifies the identification information of the first device or the second device based on the recognized predetermined pattern. The job processing program according to claim 13, which specifies   The step (b) can select one of the first device and the second device specified by the first pattern and the second pattern included in the recognized predetermined pattern. The job processing program according to claim 14, wherein the information regarding the predetermined pattern including the pattern specifying the device selected in the first user interface is received from the portable terminal displaying the first user interface. In the procedure, the transmitting unit of the first device transmits information related to a predetermined pattern including the first pattern and the second pattern stored in the procedure (a) to the server . The job processing program according to any one of claims 13 to 16, further comprising a step (d) of transmitting the predetermined pattern based on the information on the predetermined pattern. The information regarding the predetermined pattern including the first pattern and the second pattern stored in the step (a) is transmitted to the server, whereby the predetermined pattern is transmitted from the transmission unit of the first device. And (d) transmitting the predetermined pattern based on the information on
The procedure further comprises a procedure (e) of storing relative position information of the first device and the second device,
The information on the predetermined pattern transmitted to the first device in the step (d) includes the relative position of the first device and the second device stored in the step (e). Further information is included,
The step (b) can select one of the first device and the second device specified by the first pattern and the second pattern included in the recognized predetermined pattern. Information on the predetermined pattern including the pattern specifying the device selected in the first user interface is received from the portable terminal displaying the first user interface, and the first moving image is acquired from the acquired moving image of the blinking pattern Recognizing relative position information of a device and the second device, and based on the recognized position information, a relative positional relationship between the first device and the second device, the first user interface For identifying a device selected in the first user interface from the mobile terminal displayed together with the It receives information on the predetermined pattern including over emissions, the job processing program according to claim 14. The procedure is
Among the devices included in the device group, a second user interface that can be selected as a device that adds a device that recognizes the blinking pattern transmitted by the device to the same proxy group as the first device is included Receiving (f) the add request from the portable terminal sending an add request including information on a pattern to display and identify a device selected in the second user interface;
Referring to the pattern different for each device and the identification information of the device stored in the step (a), the device is determined based on the information on the pattern included in the addition request received in the step (f) Setting the identified device as a device included in the same proxy group as the first device, and (g) configuring the identified device;
The job processing program according to claim 16 or 18 , further comprising: The procedure is
A procedure (h) for storing setting information of a proxy group including the first device and a proximity group set as another proxy group including the overlapping device;
Receiving the information on the transmitted predetermined pattern by transmitting the information on the predetermined pattern further stored in the step (h) and further including the setting information of the proximity group to the first device; The blink pattern is acquired from the first device that transmits the blink pattern based on the received information on the predetermined pattern, the setting information of the proximity group included in the blink pattern is recognized, and the recognized proximity is recognized. The portable terminal transmits, from the portable terminal, a pattern specifying any one of the devices included in the selected proximity group by selecting any one of the proximity groups included in setting information of the group. A third user in to selectably display as a device to be included in the information regarding the predetermined pattern And steps (i) to display an over face to the portable terminal,
The job processing program according to any one of claims 16 , 18, 19 further comprising:   The procedure identifies a pattern that identifies a device that has been enabled to transmit a pattern by a transmitting unit among devices included in the proxy group, and the first notification includes an exclusion notification that includes information about the identified pattern. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 20, further comprising a step (j) of excluding the specified pattern from the predetermined pattern transmitted from the transmission unit of the first device by transmitting to the Job processing program. Said portable terminal, when the first device is a device in a state which can not exert a device or job processing functions no job processing function, the originating unit before Symbol first originating of the first device Obtaining the predetermined pattern further including a pattern indicating that the selection of the device is impossible, and further recognizing from the predetermined pattern that the selection of the first device is impossible; The job processing program according to claim 16 , wherein the first device is excluded from devices selectable in the first user interface.   The transmitting unit of the first device includes relative position information of the second device and the second pattern for identifying one or more different second devices from different sides of a polyhedron. The job processing program according to any one of claims 14 to 22, wherein the blinking pattern of the predetermined pattern is transmitted.   24. The job processing program according to claim 23, wherein each device from which the predetermined pattern is transmitted by a blinking pattern from different faces of the polyhedron is a device optimized for each face.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the job processing program as described in any one of Claims 13-24.