JP6701003B2 - Information processing device, control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing device, a control method and a program.

  An information processing device having a close proximity wireless transfer function has been proposed. For example, an information processing apparatus that performs authentication by performing pairing with a mobile terminal using an NFC tag that is a first close proximity wireless transfer unit and reading an NFC card by an NFC reader/writer that is a second close proximity wireless transfer unit. Is proposed. Patent Document 1 discloses a communication device that communicates wireless setting values with a printer using an NFC connection.

JP, 2015-130637, A

  In the information processing device in which the NFC reader/writer used for authentication is arranged close to the NFC tag, the NFC reader/writer reads the NFC tag, and the NFC reader/writer cannot perform the authentication operation normally. is there. In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable that the operation of the NFC reader/writer and the operation of the NFC tag are exclusively controlled by switching by the operation of the user, but this is inconvenient for the user. The present invention provides an information processing apparatus capable of appropriately executing close proximity wireless communication using respective close proximity wireless communication units even when a plurality of close proximity wireless communication units are arranged in close proximity to each other. To aim.

The information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an NFC circuit that can output a radio wave and can receive the response data thereof, a display unit that displays information, and the data acquired via the NFC circuit includes predetermined information. based on whether there has a means for determining whether or not to display on the display unit information for prompting that you do not position the NFC unit in the vicinity of the NFC circuit.

  According to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, even when a plurality of close proximity wireless communication units are arranged close to each other, it is possible to appropriately execute communication using each close proximity wireless communication unit.

It is a figure which shows the system configuration of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the external appearance of an NFC device box. It is a figure which shows an example of arrangement|positioning of an NFC device box. It is a figure explaining the electric wave strength of an NFC reader/writer. It is a figure which shows the information displayed on LCD of an operation part. It is a figure which shows an example of pairing information. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation process of the information processing device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation process of the information processing device according to the first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation process of the information processing device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an operation process when a pairing instruction is issued. It is a display example of a top menu screen. It is an example of a screen display on the operation unit.

(Example 1)
The present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the constituent elements described in the present embodiment are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to the present embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of this embodiment.
An MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 1000 in FIG. 1 is the information processing apparatus of this embodiment. The MFP 1000 has a function of performing wireless communication according to NFC (Near Field Communication), for example, as a proximity wireless communication function. The MFP 1000 includes an NFC tag unit 210, an NFC reader/writer unit 220, a wireless LAN unit 230, an operation unit 300, a controller 400, a reader 500, and a printer 600. In the following, the NFC tag unit is also simply referred to as “NFC tag”. Further, the NFC reader/writer unit is also simply referred to as “NFC reader/writer”.

First, the pairing operation will be described.
It is assumed that the portable terminal 101 performing the reader/writer operation is held over the antenna 211 of the NFC tag 210 which is the first close proximity wireless transfer unit included in the MFP 1000. The mobile terminal 101 reads pairing information for a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) stored in the NFC tag circuit 212.

  The pairing information is composed of a character string of SSID and KEY. The pairing information is notified to the CPU 302 from the controller 400 in advance via the UART and stored in the memory 700. The pairing information is further written in the nonvolatile storage area of the NFC tag circuit 212 connected by UART. In the non-volatile storage area, a specific character string indicating that it is an NFC tag built in the MFP 1000 is also written according to a prescribed format called NDEF.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of pairing information.
SSID Attribute Value indicates SSID. Network Key Attribute Value indicates KEY. “Identity Attribute Value” indicates an IP address. Device Info TLV Value indicates a device name.

  Returning to the explanation of FIG. The mobile terminal 101 uses the read pairing information to connect to the MFP 1000 in the wireless LAN via the antenna 231 of the wireless LAN unit 230 and the wireless LAN circuit. The mobile terminal 101 inputs print data to the MFP 1000 by connecting to the MFP 1000 according to the above procedure. The controller 400 that controls the entire MFP 1000 causes the printer 600 to print out the input print data. The mobile terminal 101 also receives the data read by the reader 500 via the controller 400. The operation unit 300 displays various kinds of information under the control of the controller 400 and receives an operation input by the user. For this purpose, the operation unit includes a key/LED 301, a CPU 302, and an LCD 303.

  Next, the card authentication operation will be described. The NFC reader/writer 220, which is the second close proximity wireless transfer unit, is used for the card authentication operation. For this purpose, the NFC reader/writer 220 includes an NFC reader/writer circuit 222 and an antenna 221. The NFC reader/writer 220 is controlled by the controller 400 via the USB interface and performs a polling operation.

  The NFC card 102 is a third proximity wireless communication unit not provided in the MFP 1000. The NFC card 102 is used for authentication processing, for example. The NFC reader/writer 220 reads the information in the NFC card 102 and notifies the controller 400 of the read information. The NFC reader/writer 220 can also receive a command from the controller 400 and change the radio field intensity. Further, the NFC reader/writer 220 can store the setting value of the radio field intensity and the like in the memory 700 in the controller 400. The controller 400 refers to the acquired card information and determines whether the authentication is possible. If the user can be authenticated, the user is authorized to log in to the MFP 1000 and access the MFP 1000.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of the NFC device box.
In this embodiment, the NFC tag 210 and the NFC reader/writer 220 are housed in the NFC device box 240 as shown in FIG. The NFC device box 240 is for the purpose of centrally arranging the NFC devices so that the user of the MFP 1000 does not hesitate about where to hold the NFC devices when using them.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of NFC device boxes in the MFP.
The NFC device box 240 is installed near the operation unit 300 included in the MFP 1000. Further, the NFC tag circuit 212 is configured so that the CPU 302 can control the setting for permitting or stopping an RF (Radio Frequency) operation which is a wireless communication operation.

  When the RF operation is permitted, the NFC tag circuit 212 operates in response to the read request from the NFC reader/writer 220. When the RF operation is prohibited, the NFC tag circuit 212 does not respond to the read request from the NFC reader/writer. The function of permitting or stopping the RF operation can be switched by the CPU 302 rewriting the register of the NFC communication LSI in the NFC tag circuit 212.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a cross section of the NFC device box and the radio field intensity of the NFC reader/writer.
The controller 400 causes the NFC reader/writer 220 to poll when the NFC reader/writer 220 and the NFC tag 210 are installed, and determines whether the NFC reader/writer 220 reads the NFC tag 210.

  FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a state where the radio field intensity of the NFC reader/writer 220 is 4. When the radio field intensity is 4, the range in which the NFC reader/writer 220 can read the NFC tag 210 is the range 401. Therefore, the NFC reader/writer 220 reads the NFC tag 210. In the present embodiment, when the NFC reader/writer 220 reads the NFC tag 210, the controller 400 controls the radio field intensity of the NFC reader/writer 220 to a radio field intensity at which the NFC reader/writer 220 does not read the NFC tag 210. To execute.

  FIG. 4B is a diagram when the radio field intensity of the NFC reader/writer 220 is reduced step by step and the radio field intensity becomes 2. When the radio field intensity is 2, the range in which the NFC reader/writer 220 can read the NFC tag 210 is the range 402. In this state, the NFC reader/writer 220 cannot read the NFC tag 210. The radio field strength at this time is maintained.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing information displayed on the LCD of the operation unit.
When the NFC reader/writer 220 does not read the NFC tag 210 and maintains the radio field intensity of the NFC reader/writer 220, the controller 400 displays the screen 501 shown in FIG. On the screen 501, a message prompting to complete (adjust) the NFC card 102 after the adjustment of the radio field intensity of the NFC reader/writer 220 is completed is displayed.

  When the user holds the NFC card 102 and the NFC reader/writer 220 can read the NFC card 102, the controller 400 controls the NFC reader/writer 220 whose radio field intensity is suppressed to 2 and the NFC tag for which the RF operation is always permitted. 210 and 210 are operated simultaneously. When the NFC reader/writer 220 cannot read the NFC card 102, the controller 400 returns the radio field intensity to the original radio field intensity of 4. Then, the controller 400 causes the NFC reader/writer 220 and the NFC tag 210 to operate in a time division manner. For example, the controller 400 operates the NFC reader/writer 220 every predetermined time (for example, 500 ms), and does not permit the RF operation of the NFC tag 210 while the NFC reader/writer 220 is operating. Then, the controller 400 permits the RF operation of the NFC tag 210 while the NFC reader/writer 220 is not operating.

7 and 8 are flowcharts illustrating the operation process of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.
The processes of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are executed when the power of the MFP 1000 is turned on. First, in S701, the controller 400 determines whether the NFC reader/writer 220 and the NFC tag 210 are installed. If the NFC reader/writer 220 and the NFC tag 210 are not installed, the process returns to S701. If the NFC reader/writer 220 and the NFC tag 210 are installed, the process proceeds to S715.

  In step S715, the controller 400 determines whether the device settings of the NFC reader/writer 220 and the NFC tag (built-in tag) 210 are stored in the memory 700. In the present embodiment, the device setting indicates whether the NFC reader/writer 220 and the NFC tag 210 are operated in a time division manner or simultaneously. When the device setting is stored in the memory 700, the controller 400 operates the NFC reader/writer 220 and the NFC tag 210 according to the device setting, and ends the process. If the device settings are not stored in the memory 700, the process proceeds to S702. In step S702, the controller 400 starts the polling operation of the NFC reader/writer 220. Further, in S703, the controller 400 permits the RF operation of the NFC tag 210.

  Next, in S704, the controller 400 determines whether the NFC reader/writer 220 has read the NFC tag 210. When the NFC reader/writer 220 has not read the NFC tag 210, the process proceeds to S714. In step S714, the controller 400 causes the NFC reader/writer 220 and the NFC tag 210 to operate simultaneously.

  When the NFC reader/writer 220 reads the NFC tag 210, the process proceeds to S705. Here, when the user mistakenly places a mobile device equipped with the NFC tag function in the vicinity during the polling operation of the NFC reader/writer 220, accurate adjustment cannot be performed. Therefore, the controller 400 determines whether or not the read value of the NFC tag 210 is the built-in tag, that is, the data in the format indicating the device built in the MFP 1000. In this example, the controller 400 determines whether the Device Info TLV Value=“maker MF8500C Series” is established based on the read value. When the Device Info TLV Value=“maker MF8500C Series” is established, the read value is written in the format of the built-in tag. In this case, the process proceeds to S706. When the Device Info TLV Value=“maker MF8500C Series” is not satisfied, the reading value is not the data in the format indicating the built-in tag. In this case, the process proceeds to S713.

  In S713, the controller 400 notifies predetermined information. That is, the controller 400 causes the operation unit 300 to display information that prompts the NFC device, which is a close proximity wireless transfer unit, not to approach the NFC reader/writer 220. In this example, a message “Please do not place NFC device near the reader/writer” is displayed on the operation unit 300.

  In S706, the controller 400 reduces the radio field intensity of the NFC reader/writer 220 by one level. Then, the process proceeds to S707 in FIG. Note that the NFC reader/writer 220 weakens the radio wave intensity by one step, and the controller 400 may reduce the radio wave intensity by a plurality of steps.

  In step S706, the controller 400 controls the operation unit 300 to display, as shown in the screen 901 of FIG. 12, a message prompting the user to adjust the radio field intensity of the NFC reader/writer 220, and in response to the user operation. The radio field intensity may be adjusted. When the user depresses the button 902, the controller 400 adjusts the radio field intensity to “4”. When the user depresses the button 903, the controller 400 adjusts the radio field intensity to “2”.

  In step S707, the controller 400 determines whether the NFC reader/writer 220 has read the NFC tag 210. When the NFC reader/writer 220 reads the NFC tag 210, the process returns to S706 in FIG. If the NFC reader/writer 220 has not read the NFC tag 210, the process proceeds to S708. In S708, the controller 400 maintains the radio field strength when the NFC tag (built-in tag) is not read.

  Here, since the radio field intensity is weakened, the NFC reader/writer 220 may not be able to read the NFC card of the user used for login or the like. Therefore, in S709, the controller 400 displays a message prompting the NFC card to approach the NFC reader/writer 220. Specifically, a message "Please hold your card over" is displayed on the operation unit 300.

  Next, the controller 400 determines whether the NFC reader/writer 220 has read the NFC card. When the NFC reader/writer 220 can read the NFC card, the process proceeds to S712. In step S712, the controller 400 simultaneously operates the NFC reader/writer 220 and the NFC tag 210 whose radio field intensity has been weakened. Then, the process proceeds to S716.

If the NFC reader/writer 220 cannot read the NFC card, the process proceeds to S711. In step S711, the controller 400 causes the NFC reader/writer 220 and the NFC tag 210, whose radio field intensity has been returned to the radio field intensity before the change, to operate in a time division manner.
Next, in S716, the controller 400 stores the adjusted radio field intensity setting and the setting of the NFC reader/writer 220 and the NFC tag 210 in time-division operation or simultaneous operation in the memory 700 as a device setting. Then, the process ends.

(Example 2)
In the second embodiment, when the NFC reader/writer 220 cannot read the NFC card 102 when the power is turned on, the MFP 1000 returns the radio field intensity to stop the operation of the NFC tag 210. At this time, the controller 400 controls the operation unit 300 to display a button for the user to select whether to perform pairing on the top menu screen. When this button is pressed down and a pairing instruction is issued, the controller 400 starts processing according to the pairing instruction.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of the information processing device according to the second embodiment.
In the second embodiment, the processing shown in FIG. 7 and the processing shown in FIG. 9 described above are executed. The processing shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 is executed when the power is turned on.

  S707 to S712 of FIG. 9 are the same as S707 to S712 of FIG. In the second embodiment, if the NFC reader/writer 220 cannot read the NFC card in the determination process of S710, the process proceeds to S801. In step S801, the controller 400 restores the radio field intensity of the NFC reader/writer 220 to the original value and stops the operation of the NFC tag 210. Then, in step S<b>802, the controller 400 stores the adjusted setting of the radio field intensity and the setting of whether or not to simultaneously operate the NFC reader/writer 220 and the NFC tag 210 in the memory 700 as the device setting, and the process ends.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of the information processing device when a pairing instruction is issued.
First, as a premise, in S710 of FIG. 9, when the NFC reader/writer 220 cannot read the NFC card, the controller 400 displays a screen for performing a predetermined selection. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, a pairing instruction button 910 is displayed on the top menu screen of the operation unit 300. The pairing instruction button 910 is a button for instructing pairing. While waiting for the selection of the pairing instruction button 910, the controller 400 operates the NFC reader/writer 220 and does not permit the wireless communication operation of the NFC tag 210. When the pairing instruction button 910 is selected, the controller 400 receives a pairing instruction via the operation unit 300. The controller 400 does not display the pairing instruction button 910 when the NFC reader/writer 220 reads the NFC card. This is because, in this case, it is not necessary to give a pairing instruction.

  In S901 of FIG. 10, the controller 400 determines whether a pairing instruction has been received. If the controller 400 has not received the pairing instruction, the process proceeds to S905. When the controller 400 receives the pairing instruction, the process proceeds to S902.

  In S902, the controller 400 starts the operation of the NFC tag 210. Subsequently, the controller 400 determines whether a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) has elapsed. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to S903. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S904.

  In step S904, the controller 400 stops the operation of the NFC tag 210. Then, the process proceeds to S905. In step S905, the controller 400 determines whether to turn off the power of the MFP 1000. If the power of the MFP 1000 is not turned off, the process returns to S901. On the other hand, when turning off the power of the MFP 1000, the processing ends.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention supplies a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. It can also be realized by the processing. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

300 operation unit 400 controller 1000 MFP

Claims (30)

An NFC circuit that outputs radio waves and can receive the response data,
A display for displaying information,
Whether to display on the display unit information prompting not to position the NFC unit in the vicinity of the NFC circuit based on whether or not the data acquired through the NFC circuit includes predetermined information. A means to decide ,
An information processing device comprising:   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output adjustment of the radio wave is not performed in a state where the determination to display the information on the display unit is made. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the output adjustment is intensity adjustment of the radio wave. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the strength adjustment is an adjustment for weakening the strength of the radio wave. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the output adjustment is adjustment of an output timing of the radio wave. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a unit that causes a display unit to display a screen prompting confirmation of the operation of the NFC circuit after the output adjustment. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the prompting screen is a screen prompting a proximity operation of the NFC card. Any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that further performed adjustment of the output of the radio wave on the basis of the reading process of an NFC card by the NFC circuit during a predetermined period after the output adjustment is not performed The information processing device according to item 1. A built-in tag circuit capable of transmitting data using NFC ,
Claims reading process of an NFC card by the NFC circuit during a predetermined period after the output adjustment based on the fact that was not executed, and having a means for inhibiting the data transmission by the built tag circuit Item 9. The information processing device according to any one of items 2 to 8 . A built-in tag circuit capable of transmitting data using NFC ,
A first state in which the built-in tag circuit cannot transmit data and the short-range wireless communication circuit can output radio waves, and the built-in tag circuit can transmit data and the NFC circuit outputs radio waves The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 8 , further comprising: a unit that periodically switches between the second state in which the state is disabled and the second state. 11. The information according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined information is information indicating that a tag circuit of a data transmission source is a built-in tag circuit provided in the information processing device. Processing equipment. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined information is device information of a tag circuit that is a data transmission source. The tag circuit is an NFC tag,
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 12 , wherein the NFC circuit is an NFC reader/writer. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus including an NFC circuit capable of outputting a radio wave and receiving a response data thereof, the method being based on whether or not predetermined information is included in data acquired through the NFC circuit. A control method comprising the step of determining whether or not information for urging the NFC unit not to be located near the NFC circuit is displayed on the display unit . A program for causing a computer to execute a control method of an information processing apparatus including an NFC circuit capable of outputting a radio wave and receiving response data thereof , wherein the control method includes predetermined information in data acquired through the NFC circuit. A program having a step of deciding whether or not to display information for prompting not to position an NFC unit near the NFC circuit on the display unit based on whether or not is included. An NFC circuit that outputs radio waves and can receive the response data,
A display for displaying information,
Means for displaying on the display unit a screen prompting the output adjustment of the radio wave based on the fact that the data acquired via the NFC circuit contains predetermined information;
An information processing device comprising: The information processing apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the output adjustment is intensity adjustment of the radio wave. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the strength adjustment is an adjustment for weakening the strength of the radio wave. The information processing apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the output adjustment is adjustment of an output timing of the radio wave. 20. The information processing apparatus according to claim 16 , further comprising: a unit that causes the display unit to display a screen prompting confirmation of the operation of the NFC circuit after the output adjustment. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein the prompting screen is a screen prompting a proximity operation of the NFC card. 22. The output of the radio wave is further adjusted based on the fact that the reading process of the NFC card by the NFC circuit is not executed during the predetermined period after the output adjustment. The information processing device according to item 1. A built-in tag circuit capable of transmitting data using NFC ,
Claims reading process of an NFC card by the NFC circuit during a predetermined period after the output adjustment based on the fact that was not executed, and having a means for inhibiting the data transmission by the built tag circuit Item 23. The information processing device according to any one of items 16 to 22 . A built-in tag circuit capable of transmitting data using NFC ,
A first state in which the built-in tag circuit cannot transmit data and the NFC can output radio waves, and a second state in which the built-in tag circuit can transmit data and the NFC cannot output radio waves 23. The information processing apparatus according to claim 16 , further comprising: a unit that periodically switches between the state 1 and the state 2. 25. The information according to any one of claims 16 to 24 , wherein the predetermined information is information indicating that a tag circuit of a data transmission source is a built-in tag circuit provided in the information processing device. Processing equipment. The information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined information is device information of a tag circuit that is a data transmission source. The tag circuit is an NFC tag,
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 26 , wherein the NFC circuit is an NFC reader/writer. A control method of an information processing apparatus and a display unit for displaying the outputs and NFC circuitry and information capable of receiving the response data radio, contain predetermined information to the data acquired via the NFC circuit Based on the above, a control method comprising the step of displaying a screen for prompting the adjustment of the output of the radio wave on the display unit. A program for executing a control method of an information processing apparatus and a display unit that displays and outputs a radio wave and capable NFC circuit information receiving the response data to the computer, the control method, via the NFC circuit A program having a step of displaying a screen prompting the output adjustment of the radio wave on the display unit based on the fact that the acquired data includes predetermined information.   The means for determining causes the display unit to display information urging not to position an NFC unit in the vicinity of the NFC circuit based on that the data acquired via the NFC circuit does not include predetermined information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus determines.

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