JP6635063B2 - Image processing system and data communication method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing system including a plurality of portable terminal devices, a plurality of image forming devices, and a server that perform data communication with each other through a network, and a data communication method, and particularly uses a position detection function of the portable terminal device. Related technology.

  In some image processing systems, an image forming apparatus is connected to a server via a network, and image data is transmitted from the server to the image forming apparatus via the network. The image forming apparatus receives image data, prints an image indicated by the image data on a recording sheet, and discharges the recording sheet.

  Further, as such an image processing system, there is a system including a portable terminal device, and the position detection of the portable terminal device by a GPS receiving unit may be used (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2005173793 A JP 2007-148532 A

  Here, when a system for communicating data between the image forming apparatus, the mobile terminal apparatus, and the server is constructed, the position detection of the mobile terminal apparatus by the GPS receiving unit and the effective use of the image forming apparatus are used for events and games. It is possible to diversify the use purpose of the image forming apparatus. However, conventionally, the technology for that has not been provided.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to diversify the use purpose of an image forming apparatus by detecting the position of a portable terminal device by a GPS receiving unit and effectively using the image forming apparatus. .

An image processing system according to one aspect of the present invention is an image processing system including a plurality of mobile terminal devices, a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and a server that perform data communication with each other through a network,
A display unit, a first operation unit operated by a user, a position detection unit that detects a position of the mobile terminal device, a first network communication unit that performs data communication through the network, A first short-range communication unit that performs data communication with the image forming apparatus; and a first network communication unit that receives a position of any of the image forming apparatuses transmitted from the server. A first control unit that obtains guidance information from the position of the mobile terminal device to the received position based on the position and the position of the mobile terminal device detected by the position detection unit and displays the guidance information on the display unit. ,
Each of the image forming apparatuses includes a second operation unit operated by a user, an image forming unit that records an image on a recording sheet, a second network communication unit that performs data communication through the network, and a mobile terminal device. A second short-distance communication unit for performing data communication between the first and second short-distance communication units of the portable terminal device, or input by an operation of the second operation unit. A second control unit for determining whether to approve the mobile terminal device based on the received data, and when it is determined to be approved, transmitting a data transmission request from the second network communication unit to the server. , The second network communication unit receives image data transmitted from the server in response to the data transmission request,
A server configured to store a position of each of the image forming apparatuses and the image data; a third network communication unit configured to perform data communication through the network; When the third network communication unit receives the respective data transmission requests transmitted from the respective image forming apparatuses, the reception timing of these data transmission requests is shifted. It is determined whether or not it is within a prescribed operation time. If it is decided that it is within a prescribed operation time, the image data is read from the storage unit, and the image data is transmitted from the third network communication unit to the data transmission unit. A third control unit for transmitting the request to at least one of the image forming apparatuses that has transmitted the request.

A data communication method according to one aspect of the present invention is a data communication method for performing data communication between a plurality of mobile terminal devices, a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and a server via a network,
When each of the mobile terminal devices receives a position of each of the image forming devices transmitted from the server, the mobile terminal device determines the position of the mobile terminal device based on the received position and the position of the mobile terminal device. Finding guidance information up to the received position and displaying it on the display unit,
Each of the image forming apparatuses determines whether to approve the mobile terminal device based on data input through short-range communication with the mobile terminal device or operation of the second operation unit, and determines that the mobile terminal device is approved. Transmits a data transmission request to the server, receives image data transmitted from the server in response to the data transmission request,
The server transmits the position of each of the image forming apparatuses to each of the portable terminal apparatuses, and upon receiving the respective data transmission requests transmitted from the respective image forming apparatuses, receiving timing of these data transmission requests. It is determined whether or not the deviation is within a prescribed operation time. If it is determined that the deviation is within a prescribed operation time, at least one of the image forming apparatuses which has transmitted the data transmission request transmits the image data. To send to.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the use purpose of an image forming apparatus can be diversified by effectively detecting the position of a portable terminal device by a GPS receiving part, and using an image forming apparatus.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure performed by the mobile terminal device, the image forming apparatus, and the server in the image processing system according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a communication procedure performed between the mobile terminal device, the image forming apparatus, and the server. FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a position table in which identification data of a plurality of image forming apparatuses and positions of the respective image forming apparatuses are associated with each other. FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually showing an area table in which a plurality of image data and an area to which the position of the portable terminal device belongs are associated with each other.

  Hereinafter, an image processing system and a data communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image processing system Sy of the present embodiment is configured by connecting a plurality of mobile terminal devices 10, a plurality of image forming devices 30, and a server 50 via a network N. In the image processing system Sy, each mobile terminal device 10 is, for example, a smartphone or a mobile device, and includes a display unit 11, a touch panel 12, a GPS receiving unit 16, a network communication unit 13, a short-range communication unit 14, and the like. And a storage unit 18 and a control unit 19. These components can transmit and receive data or signals to and from each other via a bus.

  The display unit 11 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD: Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL (OLED: Organic Light-Emitting Diode), and the like. For example, a plurality of icons are displayed on the screen of the display unit 11.

  The touch panel 12 is a so-called resistive touch panel or a capacitive touch panel. The touch panel 12 is arranged on the screen of the display unit 11 and detects a touch of an icon on the screen of the display unit 11 with a finger or the like, together with the contact position. When the touch panel 12 detects contact with a finger or the like, the touch panel 12 outputs a detection signal indicating the coordinates of the contact position to the control unit 19. Therefore, the touch panel 12 plays a role as an operation unit through which a user operation on the screen of the display unit 11 is input.

  The network communication unit (NW communication unit in FIG. 1) 13 is a communication interface including a communication module such as a LAN chip (not shown). The network communication unit 13 is connected to the image forming apparatus 30 and the server 50 via a network, and transmits and receives data to and from the image forming apparatus 30 and the server 50.

  The short-range communication unit 14 is a communication interface based on a near-field communication method (Near Field Communication), and is a communication interface based on, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark). The mobile terminal device 10 is connected to the image forming apparatus 30 via the short-range communication unit 14 and transmits and receives data to and from the image forming apparatus 30. Note that, besides Bluetooth, a short-distance communication method such as “Wi-Fi Direct” can be applied.

  The GPS receiver 16 includes a known GPS device, and receives and outputs GPS signals transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites. These GPS signals include information on the position and transmission time of each GPS satellite that transmitted each GPS signal. The control unit 21 calculates the position of the mobile terminal device 10 based on the information on the position and the transmission time of the GPS signal.

  The storage unit 18 is a large-capacity storage device such as a memory and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

  The control unit 19 includes a processor, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and the like. The processor is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC, an MCU, or the like. The control unit 19 functions as the control unit 21 and the display control unit 23 when the portable event application program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 18 is executed by the processor. In addition, each of the above-described components of the control unit 19 may be configured by a hardware circuit without depending on the operation based on the above-described portable event application program.

  The control unit 19 controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal device 10. The control unit 19 is connected to the display unit 11, the touch panel 12, the GPS receiving unit 16, the network communication unit 13, the short-range communication unit 14, the storage unit 18, and the like. Sends and receives signals or data to and from components.

  The control unit 21 controls the mobile terminal device 10 as a whole. Further, the control unit 21 plays a role as a processing unit that executes a process according to an operation on the touch panel 12. For example, when the user performs an operation of selecting an icon displayed on the screen of the display unit 11 through the touch panel 12, the control unit 21 executes a process or a function associated with the icon.

  Further, the control unit 21 inputs the GPS signals of the respective GPS satellites from the GPS receiving unit 16 and determines the position of the portable terminal device 10 based on the information on the position and the transmission time of each GPS satellite indicated by these GPS signals. calculate.

  The control unit 21 has a function of controlling communication operations of the network communication unit 13 and the short-range communication unit 14. The storage unit 18 stores various application programs and various information. Further, the display control unit 23 has a function of controlling the display operation of the display unit 11.

  Next, in the image processing system Sy, the image forming apparatus 30 includes a display unit 31, an operation unit 32, a network communication unit 33, a short-range communication unit 34, an image reading unit 36, an image forming unit 37, A storage unit 38 and a control unit 39 are provided. These components can transmit and receive data or signals to and from each other via a bus.

  The control unit 39 includes a processor, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The processor is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC, an MCU, or the like. The control unit 39 functions as the control unit 41 and the display control unit 43 by executing the image forming apparatus event application program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 18 by the processor. The control unit 41 controls the image forming apparatus 30 as a whole. Each of the above-described components of the control unit 39 may be configured by a hardware circuit without depending on the operation based on the above-described event application program for an image forming apparatus.

  The display unit 31 is controlled by the display control unit 43, and is a screen associated with the execution of the event application program for the image forming apparatus, more specifically, an input screen for setting items required for image forming processing, an input screen for information, and the like. Is displayed.

  The network communication unit (NW communication unit in FIG. 1) 33 is controlled by the control unit 41, and transmits and receives various data to and from the mobile terminal device 10 and the server 50 via the network. The short-range communication unit 34 is controlled by the control unit 41, and transmits and receives various data to and from the mobile terminal device 10 using Bluetooth. The storage unit 38 stores various application programs and various information.

  The image reading unit 36 has a scanner that optically reads a document placed on the contact glass, and generates image data indicating an image of the document.

  The image forming unit 37 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum, an exposure device that exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum, and a photosensitive member. A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the drum into a toner image; a transfer device for transferring the toner image (image) on the surface of the photosensitive drum to recording paper as a recording medium; The image indicated by the image data and the image indicated by the image data generated by the image reading unit 36 are printed on a recording sheet.

  Next, in the image processing system Sy, the server 50 is, for example, a personal computer or a workstation, and includes a display unit 51, an operation unit 52, a network communication unit 53, a storage unit 58, and a control unit 59. Have. These components can transmit and receive data or signals to and from each other via a bus.

  The control unit 59 includes a processor, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The processor is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC, an MCU, or the like. The control unit 19 functions as the control unit 61, the display control unit 63, and the control unit 61 when the server event application program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 18 is executed by the processor. The control unit 61 controls the server 50 as a whole. Note that each of the above-described components of the control unit 59 may be configured by a hardware circuit without depending on the operation based on the above-described server event application program.

  The display unit 51 is controlled by the display control unit 63 and displays a screen or the like accompanying execution of the server event application program.

  The network communication unit (NW communication unit in FIG. 1) 53 is controlled by the control unit 61, and transmits and receives various data to and from the portable terminal device 10 and the image forming apparatus 30 through the network. The storage unit 58 stores various application programs and various information.

  The server 50 transmits and receives various data to and from the mobile terminal device 10 and the image forming device 30 as described above. For example, the server 50 receives the respective image data transmitted from each image forming apparatus 30 via the network by the network communication unit 53, and stores and stores the image data in the storage unit 58. The data is read from the storage unit 58, and the image data is transmitted from the network communication unit 53 to the image forming apparatus 30.

  Here, in the image processing system Sy of the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a position detection by the GPS receiving unit 16 of the mobile terminal device 10 and an event that effectively uses the image forming apparatus 30.

  The outline of the event is as follows, for example. Assuming that a plurality of users participate in the event, for each mobile terminal device 10, the position of each image forming device 30 associated with the mobile terminal device 10 is transmitted from the server 50 via the network to the mobile terminal device of each user. 10 is transmitted and received. When the position of the associated image forming apparatus 30 is received in any of the portable terminal devices 10 of the respective users, the position of the portable terminal device 10 is calculated based on the GPS signal received by the GPS receiving unit 16. The guidance information from the position of the portable terminal device 10 to the position of the image forming device 30 associated with the portable terminal device 10 based on the received position of the image forming device 30 and the position of the portable terminal device 10 Is calculated, and this guidance information is displayed on the display unit 11. The user of each mobile terminal device 10 moves to each image forming device 30 with reference to the guidance information displayed on the display unit 11 of his or her own mobile terminal device 10, and moves to each image forming device 30. Attempt to approve the mobile terminal device 10.

  Then, each image forming apparatus 30 determines whether or not to approve the mobile terminal device 10 based on data input by short-range communication with the associated mobile terminal device 10 or by operating the operation unit 32. Is determined, and if it is determined to be approved, a request to start image formation is transmitted from the mobile terminal device 10 to the server 50 via the network in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 32 by the user of the mobile terminal device 10.

  In the server 50, when the respective image forming start requests are received from the respective image forming apparatuses 30, it is determined whether or not the difference in the timing of receiving these image forming start requests falls within a prescribed operation time. If it is determined that the operation time is within the specified operation time, the image data is transmitted to each image forming apparatus 30. Upon receiving the image data, each image forming apparatus 30 records an image indicated by the image data on a recording sheet.

  Therefore, in this event, the user of each mobile terminal device 10 moves to each image forming device 30, each mobile terminal device 10 is approved by each image forming device 30, and the operation unit 32 of each image forming device 30 is The respective image formation start requests are transmitted to the server 50 in response to the operation of the server 50. The server 50 receives the respective image formation start requests, and the difference in the timing of receiving these image formation start requests is defined. When the operation time starts, the image data is transmitted from the server 50 to each image forming apparatus 30.

  In short, the user of each portable terminal device 10 moves to each image forming device 30, each portable terminal device 10 is approved by each image forming device 30, and the operation of the operation unit 32 of each image forming device 30 The image data is transmitted to each image forming apparatus 30 only when the three conditions that the difference in the timing of the image formation start request due to the above-mentioned timing falls within the prescribed operation time are satisfied. As a result, it is possible to improve the confidentiality of the image data or to provide an image of a coupon ticket or the like in cooperation with a plurality of users.

  In each image forming apparatus 30, the control unit 41 causes the NFC communication unit 34 to transmit a data transmission request to the server 50 instead of the image formation start request, and the NFC communication unit 34 The image data transmitted from the server 50 in response to the transmission request may be received. That is, in each of the image forming apparatuses 30, it is possible not to perform the operation until the image represented by the image data is recorded on the recording paper. Further, the NFC communication unit 34 may output the image data to an external device connected to the image forming apparatus 30.

  Further, in each of the image forming apparatuses 30, the control unit 41 transmits the image indicated by the image data received from the server 50 to the NFC communication unit 34 in response to the data transmission request by the NFC communication unit 34 through the mobile terminal device. 10 may be transmitted.

  Next, a processing procedure by each portable terminal device 10, each image forming device 30, and the server 50 for performing such an event will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure performed by each mobile terminal device 10, each image forming device 30, and the server 50. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a communication procedure performed between the mobile terminal device 10, the image forming device 30, and the server 50.

  First, for each of the plurality of mobile terminal devices 10 participating in the event, the user of each of the mobile terminal devices 10 touches the touch panel of his or her own mobile terminal device 10 to instruct the activation of the event application program for the image forming apparatus. . Thereby, the control unit 19 of the mobile terminal device 10 starts the event application program for the image forming apparatus.

  Then, the control unit 21 of the mobile terminal device 10 starts processing necessary for event participation, the event participation request, the identification data GID of its own mobile terminal device 10, and the GPS received by the GPS receiving unit 16. The position KP of the mobile terminal device 10 obtained based on the signal is transmitted from the network communication unit 13 to the server 50 via the control unit 21 (step S101).

  In the server 50, for each portable terminal device 10 participating in the event, the event participation request, the identification data GID of the portable terminal device 10, and the position KP of the portable terminal device 10 are received by the network communication unit 53, and the control unit Input to the control unit 61 through 61 (step S201). Then, the control unit 61 selects the same number of the image forming apparatuses 30 as the respective mobile terminal apparatuses 10 in response to the event participation requests of the respective mobile terminal apparatuses 10, and selects the respective mobile terminal apparatuses 10 and the selected respective image forming apparatuses. The devices 30 are associated with each other (step S202). Further, the control unit 61 causes the network communication unit 53 to transmit the position GP of the image forming apparatus 30 corresponding to the portable terminal device 10 to the portable terminal device 10 through the control unit 61 for each portable terminal device 10 (step S203). ).

  Here, the storage unit 58 of the server 50 stores a position table GT of the image forming apparatus 30 as shown in FIG. 4 in advance. In the position table GT, identification data GID of a plurality of image forming apparatuses 30 and positions GP of the image forming apparatuses 30 are registered in association with each other. For example, the control unit 61 compares the position KP of the mobile terminal device 10 and the position GP of each image forming apparatus 30 for each mobile terminal device 10 with reference to the position table GT, and determines the position KP of the mobile terminal device 10 The closest image forming apparatus 30 is selected, and the portable terminal apparatus 10 is associated with the selected image forming apparatus 30. Then, for each of the mobile terminal devices 10, the position GP of the image forming apparatus 30 associated with the mobile terminal device 10 is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 10.

  Further, the control unit 61 of the server 50 transmits the identification data KID of the mobile terminal device 10 for each identification data KID of each mobile terminal device 10 received in step S201 from the network communication unit 53 through the control unit 61 to the mobile terminal device 10. (Step S204).

  In each of the mobile terminal devices 10, the position GP of the image forming device 30 associated with the mobile terminal device 10 is received by the network communication unit 13, and is input to the control unit 21 through the control unit 21 (step S102). . Then, the control unit 21 calculates the position KP of its own portable terminal device 10 based on the GPS signal received by the GPS receiving unit 16, and calculates the position GP of the image forming device 30 and the position of its own portable terminal device 10. Based on the KP, guidance information from the position KP of the portable terminal device 10 to the position GP of the image forming apparatus 30 is calculated. The display control unit 23 causes the display unit 11 to display the guidance information (Step S103).

  For example, the guide information is represented by an azimuth and a separation distance of the image forming apparatus 30 with respect to the portable terminal device 10 of the user. Further, when the position KP of the portable terminal device 10 changes, the azimuth and the separation distance of the image forming apparatus 30 with respect to the portable terminal device 10 also change, so that the guide information is updated as needed. The control unit 21 calculates the guide information by using, for example, a map application or the like to create an image indicating a route guide from the position KP of the portable terminal device 10 to the position GP of the image forming apparatus 30. It may be done by doing.

  For this reason, the user of the portable terminal device 10 can move to each image forming device 30 with reference to the guidance information displayed on the display unit 11 of the portable terminal device 10 of the user.

  For each mobile terminal device 10, when the user of the mobile terminal device 10 approaches the image forming apparatus 30 associated with the mobile terminal device 10, the user touches the touch panel 12 to activate the short-range communication unit 14. Then, data communication is started between the short-range communication unit 14 and the short-range communication unit 34 of the image forming apparatus 30. That is, pairing is performed between the portable terminal device 10 and the image forming device 30 (step S104). At this time, the control unit 21 causes the short-range communication unit 14 to transmit the identification data KID of the mobile terminal device 10 through the control unit 21 (Step S105).

  In each of the image forming apparatuses 30, the identification data KID of the mobile terminal device 10 transmitted from the server 50 in step S204 is received by the network communication unit 33, and is input to the control unit 41 through the control unit 41 (step S204). S301). In step S204, the identification data KID of the mobile terminal device 10 is transmitted by the image forming device 30 associated with the mobile terminal device 10 for each identification data KID of each mobile terminal device 10. Therefore, in the image forming device 30, The identification data KID of the portable terminal device 10 associated with the image forming device 30 is input. Further, the identification data KID of the mobile terminal device 10 to be paired is received by the short-range communication unit 34 and is input to the control unit 41 through the control unit 41 (step S302).

  Then, the control unit 41 approves the pairing partner mobile terminal device 10 based on whether or not the identification data KID received from the server 50 matches the identification data KID received from the pairing partner mobile terminal device 10. It is determined whether or not (step S303). If the identification data KID received from the server 50 matches the identification data KID received from the mobile terminal device 10 of the partner, the mobile terminal device 10 of the partner is connected to the image forming apparatus 30 by the server 50. Indicates that the mobile terminal device 10 is the same as the mobile terminal device 10 associated with. In addition, the user of the portable terminal device 10 of the pairing partner has correctly arrived at the image forming device 30 associated with the portable terminal device 10 of the pairing partner with reference to the guide information.

  If the control unit 41 determines that they match, the user of the mobile terminal device 10 of the pairing partner has arrived at the image forming device 30 associated with the mobile terminal device 10 of the pairing partner. It is determined that the mobile terminal device 10 is approved (Step S303 “Yes”). When determining that they do not match, the control unit 41 determines that the mobile terminal device 10 is not approved (Step S303 “No”). It should be noted that, even if the identification data KID is received from the server 50 and the pairing with the mobile terminal device 10 is not performed within a predetermined time, it is determined that the mobile terminal device 10 is not approved. (Step S303 “No”).

  When the control unit 41 determines that the mobile terminal device 10 is approved (step S303 “Yes”), the control unit 41 waits for the start key of the operation unit 32 to be operated (step S304 “No”). When the start key is operated (“Yes” in step S304), an image forming start request is transmitted from the network communication unit 33 to the server 50 via the control unit 41 (step S305). When the control unit 41 determines that the mobile terminal device 10 is not approved (“No” in step S303), the control unit 41 causes the display control unit 43 to display an error message on the display unit 31 without transmitting an image formation start request. (Step S308), the process ends.

  At this time, the user of each portable terminal device 10 communicates with each other using each portable terminal device 10, and sets the time to operate the start key of the operation unit 32 of the image forming apparatus 30 by setting, or The time is set in advance, and the start key of the operation unit 32 is operated at the time. That is, the user of each portable terminal device 10 simultaneously operates the start key of the operation unit 32 of each image forming apparatus 30. Therefore, in each image forming apparatus 30, when the mobile terminal device 10 of each pairing partner is approved, the start key of each operation unit 32 is operated almost simultaneously, and the start request of each image formation is sent to the server 50. Sent almost simultaneously.

  In the server 50, the image forming start request is received by the network communication unit 53 for each image forming apparatus 30 and is input to the control unit 61 through the control unit 61 (step S205). Then, the control unit 61 determines whether or not the difference in timing at which the image forming start request is received from each mobile terminal device 10 falls within a predetermined operation time (step S206).

  If the control unit 61 determines that the operation time is within the specified operation time (“Yes” in step S206), the control unit 61 causes the network communication unit 53 to transmit the image data to each image forming apparatus 30 through the control unit 61 (step S207). .

  If the control unit 61 determines that the difference between the timings of receiving the image formation start requests from the mobile terminal devices 10 does not fall within the specified operation time (“No” in step S206), the control unit 61 does not transmit the image data. An error message is transmitted from the network communication unit 53 to each image forming apparatus 30 through the control unit 61 (step S208).

  In each image forming apparatus 30, the image data or the error message is received by the network communication unit 33, and is input to the control unit 41 through the control unit 41 (step S306). Then, when inputting the image data, the control unit 41 causes the storage unit 38 to store the image data. The image forming unit 37 prints the image indicated by the image data on the recording paper (Step S307). When the control unit 41 inputs the error message, the control unit 41 displays the error message on the screen of the display unit 31 through the display control unit 43 (Step S308).

That is, according to the present embodiment, the user of each mobile terminal device 10 moves to each image forming device 30, each mobile terminal device 10 is approved by each image forming device 30, and each image forming device When the three conditions that the timing shift of the image forming start request by the operation of the operation unit 32 within the operation unit 30 falls within the prescribed operation time are satisfied, the image indicated by the image data in each image forming apparatus 30 is The image is recorded on a recording sheet, and the user of each mobile terminal device 10 can acquire the image. This suggests that the image forming apparatus 30 can be used as if it were a game, and according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the user's interest in using the image forming apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment. Is possible. Thus, the purpose of use of the image forming apparatus 30 is diversified.
[Modification 1]

  In the first modification, the user does not perform the approval based on the identification data by communicating with the image forming device 30 by the mobile terminal device 10, but the user operates the operation unit 32 of the image forming device 30 to perform the identification data. May be input to the image forming apparatus 30 so that the image forming apparatus 30 approves the portable terminal device 10.

  For example, the control unit 61 of the server 50 generates identification data of each mobile terminal device 10, and generates the identification data of the mobile terminal device 10 and the image forming device 30 associated with the mobile terminal device 10. Is transmitted from the network communication unit 53 through the control unit 61.

In the portable terminal device 10, the identification data of the portable terminal device 10 is received and displayed on the display unit 11, and the user operates the operation unit 32 of the image forming apparatus 30 associated with the portable terminal device 10. Then, the identification data of the mobile terminal device 10 is input. Further, in the image forming apparatus 30, when the identification data transmitted from the server 50 is received by the network communication unit 33 and the identification data is input by operating the operation unit 32, the control unit 41 determines that the two identification data match. It is determined whether or not the mobile terminal device 10 is approved. If it is determined that the mobile terminal device 10 is not matched, it is determined that the mobile terminal device 10 is not approved.
[Modification 2]

  In the second modification, instead of transmitting the image data from the server 50 to all the image forming apparatuses 30 corresponding to the mobile terminal devices 10 of the respective users as in the above-described embodiment, the server 50 It is transmitted to only one of the image forming apparatuses 30. For example, each image forming apparatus 30 stores the priority order of its own image forming apparatus 30 in the storage unit 38, and the control unit 41 determines the priority order when transmitting the image formation start request. The communication is transmitted from the network communication unit 33 to the server 50 through 41.

In the server 50, the image forming start request and the priority order for each image forming apparatus 30 are received by the network communication unit 53 and input to the control unit 61 through the control unit 61. When the control unit 61 determines that the timing difference at which the image forming start request is received from each image forming apparatus 30 falls within the prescribed operation time, the image with the highest priority among the image forming apparatuses 30 The image forming apparatus 30 is selected, and the image data is transmitted from the network communication unit 53 to the image forming apparatus 30 having the highest priority.
[Modification 3]

In the third modification, not only the image data but also other print data different from the image data is transmitted from the server 50 to at least one of the image forming apparatuses 30 in addition to the image data. For example, in the server 50, the image data is stored in the storage unit 58 in association with the print data. In the server 50, when the network communication unit 53 receives the image forming start request for each image forming apparatus 30, the control unit 61 shifts the timing of receiving the image forming start request from each image forming apparatus 30. Is determined to enter the prescribed operation time, the image data and the print data are read from the storage unit 58, and the image data and the print data are transmitted from the network communication unit 53 to each of the image forming apparatuses 30. In each image forming apparatus 30, when the network communication unit 33 receives the image data and the print data, the control unit 41 controls the image forming unit 37 to print the image indicated by the image data on the recording paper based on the print data. Record.
[Modification 4]

  In the fourth modification, one of the image forming apparatuses 30 is set as a parent, and the other image forming apparatuses 30 are set as children. In the parent image forming apparatus 30, the control unit 41 generates print data in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 32 by the user, and transmits the print data from the network communication unit 33 to the server 50 via the control unit 41. That is, the image forming apparatus having the function of generating print data and transmitting the print data to the server 50 is the master machine. In the server 50, the print data is received by the network communication unit 53 and is input to the control unit 61 through the control unit 61, and the control unit 61 causes the storage unit 58 to store the print data.

  In the server 50, when the network communication unit 53 receives the image forming start request for each image forming apparatus 30, the control unit 61 shifts the timing of receiving the image forming start request from each image forming apparatus 30. Is determined to enter the prescribed operation time, the image data and the print data are read from the storage unit 58, and the image data and the print data are transmitted from the network communication unit 53 to each of the image forming apparatuses 30. In each image forming apparatus 30, when the image data and the print data are received by the network communication unit 33, the control unit 41 controls the image forming unit 37 to record the print data and the image indicated by the image data on the recording paper. . An image forming apparatus having only a function of receiving print data distribution is a slave unit.

  In the server 50, print data may be set for each image forming apparatus 30. The parent image forming apparatus 30 generates print data of each image forming apparatus 30 and associates the print data of each image forming apparatus 30 with the identification data GID of each image forming apparatus 30 from the network communication unit 33 to the server 50. To be sent. In the server 50, the print data and the identification data GID of each image forming apparatus 30 are received by the network communication unit 33 and input to the control unit 41 through the control unit 41, and the control unit 41 transmits the print data of each image forming apparatus 30. And the identification data GID are stored in the storage unit 38.

  When transmitting the image data to the image forming apparatus 30, the control unit 61 of the server 50 reads out the print data corresponding to the identification data GID of the image forming apparatus 30 from the storage unit 38, and reads the image data and the print data. Is transmitted from the network communication unit 53 to the image forming apparatus 30 through the control unit 61.

  Further, the print data set on the parent image forming apparatus 30 side may be changed on each image forming apparatus 30 side. For example, in each image forming apparatus 30, when receiving the image data and the print data transmitted from the server 50, the control unit 41 stores the image data and the print data in the storage unit 38, and displays the print data in the display unit 31. To be displayed. When an instruction to change the print data is issued by operating the operation unit 32, the control unit 41 changes the print data displayed on the display unit 31 in response to the instruction, and stores the contents of the change in the storage unit 38. In the print data stored in the. Thereafter, when printing is instructed by operating the operation unit 32, the control unit 41 controls the image forming unit 37 to record an image indicated by the image data on a recording sheet based on the changed print data. Let it.

Further, when the control unit 41 of each image forming apparatus 30 changes the print data, the control unit 41 causes the network communication unit 33 to transmit the changed print data to the server 50 via the control unit 41. In the server 50, when the changed print data is received by the network communication unit 53, the control unit 61 transmits the changed print data from the network communication unit 53 to the parent image forming apparatus 30 through the control unit 61. Send. In the parent image forming apparatus 30, when the network communication unit 33 receives the changed print data, the control unit 41 displays the changed print data on the display unit 31.
[Modification 5]

  In the parent image forming apparatus 30, the above-mentioned prescribed operation time may be changed. For example, the control unit 41 of the parent image forming apparatus 30 causes the display unit 31 to display the specified operation time, and the specified operation time on the screen of the display unit 31 is changed by the operation of the operation unit 32. When the change of the operation time is instructed, the control unit 41 causes the network communication unit 33 to transmit the changed specified operation time to the server 50. In the server 50, when the changed specified operation time is received by the network communication unit 53, the control unit 61 stores the changed specified operation time in the storage unit 58, and thereafter, from the respective image forming apparatuses 30, When the image communication start request is received by the network communication unit 53, it is determined whether the difference in the timing of receiving the image formation start request from each image forming apparatus 30 falls within the changed specified operation time. judge.

The control unit 41 of each image forming apparatus 30 receives the image data from the server 50 and controls the image forming unit 37 to record the image indicated by the image data on the recording paper. The speed may be lower than the normal recording speed. This makes it easy for the user to operate the operation unit 32 of the image forming apparatus 30 to stop recording an image.
[Modification 6]

In the sixth modification, the server 50 stores the image data of each image forming apparatus 30 in the storage unit 58. The control unit 61 selects image data corresponding to each image forming apparatus 30 that has transmitted the image formation start request. The control unit 61 causes the network communication unit 53 to transmit image data corresponding to each image forming apparatus 30 to each image forming apparatus 30.
[Modification 7]

  In the modification 7, the server 50 selects image data corresponding to the position KP of each portable terminal device 10. For example, in the server 50, the control unit 61 converts the image data received from each mobile terminal device 10, which differs according to the area (place) to which each position KP belongs, into each image associated with the mobile terminal device 10. The image data is selected as image data to be transmitted to the forming apparatus 30.

In this case, as shown in an example in FIG. 5, the server 50 sets an area table RT in which a plurality of image data PD and respective specified areas R corresponding to the respective image data are set in advance and stored in the storage unit 58. To memorize it. The control unit 61 determines to which of the regions R shown in FIG. 5 each position KP received from each mobile terminal device 10 belongs, and converts the image data PD associated with the determined region R into The image data is selected as image data to be transmitted to the corresponding image forming apparatus 30.
[Modification 8]

Further, in the server 50, a plurality of image data are stored in the storage unit 58, and a difference in timing when the control unit 61 receives a request to start image formation from each image forming apparatus 30 enters a prescribed operation time. When it is determined that any one of the plurality of image data is selected, the selected image data PD is transmitted to each image forming apparatus 30 or at least one of the image forming apparatuses 30 is transmitted. It may be.
[Modification 7]

  Further, the control unit 61 of the server 50 not only determines that the difference in the timing of receiving the image formation start request from each image forming apparatus 30 falls within the prescribed operation time, but also allows the user to May be selected at random, and the selected image data may be transmitted from the network communication unit 53 to the image forming apparatus 30. . For example, each image data indicating a plurality of types of coupon images is stored in the storage unit 58, and the control unit 61 determines that the timing difference falls within a prescribed operation time and charges the user. When it is determined that the image data can be transmitted, any one of the image data is selected at random, and the image data is transmitted from the network communication unit 53 to each image forming apparatus 30.

  Further, instead of the random selection, the control unit 61 selects image data so as to change the type and the number of issued coupons according to the passage of time, and transmits the image data to the network communication unit 53. May be transmitted to each image forming apparatus 30. As a result, it is possible to provide the user with an unpredictable one of a plurality of types of coupons.

  Note that the configurations and processes of the above-described embodiments and modified examples described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 are merely embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to the configurations and processes.

Reference Signs List 10 mobile terminal device 11, 31, 51 display unit 12 touch panel 13 network communication unit (first network communication unit)
33 Network Communication Unit (Second Network Communication Unit)
53 network communication unit (third network communication unit)
14, 34 Short-range communication unit 16 GPS receiving unit 18, 38, 58 Storage unit 19, 39, 59 Control unit 21 Control unit (first control unit)
41 control unit (second control unit)
61 control unit (third control unit)
23 Display control unit (first control unit)
43 display control unit (second control unit)
63 display control unit (third control unit)
36 image reading unit 37 image forming unit Sy image processing system

Claims (13)

An image processing system including a plurality of mobile terminal devices that perform data communication with each other through a network, a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and a server,
A display unit, a first operation unit operated by a user, a position detection unit that detects a position of the mobile terminal device, a first network communication unit that performs data communication through the network, A first short-range communication unit that performs data communication with the image forming apparatus; and a first network communication unit that receives a position of any of the image forming apparatuses transmitted from the server. A first control unit that obtains guidance information from the position of the mobile terminal device to the received position based on the position and the position of the mobile terminal device detected by the position detection unit and displays the guidance information on the display unit. ,
Each of the image forming apparatuses includes a second operation unit operated by a user, an image forming unit that records an image on a recording sheet, a second network communication unit that performs data communication through the network, and a mobile terminal device. A second short-distance communication unit for performing data communication between the first and second short-distance communication units of the portable terminal device, or input by an operation of the second operation unit. A second control unit for determining whether to approve the mobile terminal device based on the received data, and when it is determined to be approved, transmitting a data transmission request from the second network communication unit to the server. , The second network communication unit receives image data transmitted from the server in response to the data transmission request,
A server configured to store a position of each of the image forming apparatuses and the image data; a third network communication unit configured to perform data communication through the network; When the third network communication unit receives the respective data transmission requests transmitted from the respective image forming apparatuses, the reception timing of these data transmission requests is shifted. It is determined whether or not it is within a prescribed operation time. If it is decided that it is within a prescribed operation time, the image data is read from the storage unit, and the image data is transmitted from the third network communication unit to the data transmission unit. A third control unit for transmitting the request to at least one of the image forming apparatuses transmitting the request.   The second control unit of each of the image forming apparatuses includes an image indicated by image data received from the server to the second network communication unit in response to the data transmission request, by the second network communication unit. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image processing system transmits the image to a portable terminal device.   The second control unit of each of the image forming apparatuses causes the second network communication unit to transmit an image formation start request to the server as the data transmission request, and responds to the image formation start request. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein an image indicated by image data received from the server to the second network communication unit is recorded on recording paper by the image forming unit. In the storage unit of each of the image forming apparatuses , a priority set in advance for its own image forming apparatus is stored,
The second control unit of each of the image forming apparatuses transmits the priority stored in the storage unit from the second network communication unit to the server when transmitting the image formation start request,
The third control unit of the server selects the highest priority image forming apparatus among the image forming apparatuses that have transmitted the image forming start request, and transmits the image data to the third network communication unit. The image processing system according to claim 3 , wherein the image data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus having the highest priority. The third control unit of the server causes another print data different from the image data to be transmitted from the third network communication unit to at least one of the image forming apparatuses together with the image data,
In each of the image forming apparatuses, when the print data is received together with the image data by the second network communication unit, the second control unit controls the image forming unit and is indicated by the print data and the image data. The image processing system according to claim 3, wherein the image is recorded on a recording sheet. Any of the image forming apparatuses as a parent image forming apparatus,
The second control unit of the parent image forming apparatus causes the print data generated by the parent image forming apparatus to be transmitted from the second network communication unit to the server,
In the server, when the print data is received by the third network communication unit, the third control unit transmits the print data together with the image data from the third network communication unit to at least one of the image forming apparatuses. The image processing system according to claim 5, wherein the print data is transmitted to an image forming apparatus different from the image forming apparatus that has transmitted the print data. Any of the image forming apparatuses as a parent image forming apparatus,
The second control unit of the parent image forming apparatus sets the print data for each of the image forming apparatuses, and transmits respective print data for each of the image forming apparatuses to the server from the second network communication unit. Let
In the server, when each of the print data set for each of the image forming apparatuses is received by the third network communication unit, the third control unit transmits the print data of the communication partner image forming apparatus that receives the image data. 6. The image processing system according to claim 5, wherein the third network communication unit transmits the selected print data to the communication partner image forming apparatus together with the image data. In each of the image forming apparatuses, when the print data is received together with the image data by the second network communication unit, the second control unit changes the print data in accordance with an operation of the second operation unit, and Controlling the forming unit to record an image indicated by the image data on a recording sheet based on the changed print data, and transmitting the changed print data from the second network communication unit to the server. Item 6. The image processing system according to Item 5 . The second control unit of the parent image forming apparatus sets the specified operation time according to the operation of the second operation unit, and transmits the set specified operation time from the second network communication unit to the server. the image processing system according to any one of claim 6 or 7 to specify transmitted. The second control unit of each of the image forming apparatuses controls the image forming unit, and when the image indicated by the image data is recorded on recording paper, the recording speed of the image is higher than a normal recording speed. the image processing system according to any one of claims 3 to 9 decrease by a predetermined rate. In the server, each image data is stored in the storage unit for each of a plurality of predetermined regions,
The third network communication unit receives a position from each of the mobile terminal devices,
The third control unit selects, from the storage unit, image data associated with the position received from each of the mobile terminal devices, and selects the selected image data from the third network communication unit, The image processing system according to any one of claims 3 to 10 , wherein the image processing system transmits the image to each portable terminal device. In the server, a plurality of image data is stored in the storage unit, and the third control unit determines that the timing shift of the reception of the image formation start request falls within the prescribed operation time, the randomly selects one of the image data, any one of claims 3 to 11 is transmitted to at least one of each of the image forming apparatus of this selected image data from said third network communication unit 1 The image processing system according to any one of the above. A data communication method for performing data communication between a plurality of mobile terminal devices, a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and a server via a network,
When each of the mobile terminal devices receives a position of each of the image forming devices transmitted from the server, the mobile terminal device determines the position of the mobile terminal device based on the received position and the position of the mobile terminal device. Finding guidance information up to the received position and displaying it on the display unit,
Each of the image forming apparatuses determines whether to approve the mobile terminal device based on data input through short-range communication with the mobile terminal device or operation of the second operation unit, and determines that the mobile terminal device is approved. Transmits a data transmission request to the server, receives image data transmitted from the server in response to the data transmission request,
The server transmits the position of each of the image forming apparatuses to each of the portable terminal apparatuses, and upon receiving the respective data transmission requests transmitted from the respective image forming apparatuses, receiving timing of these data transmission requests. It is determined whether or not the deviation is within a prescribed operation time. If it is determined that the deviation is within a prescribed operation time, at least one of the image forming apparatuses which has transmitted the data transmission request transmits the image data. Data communication method to send to.