JP6822511B2 - Communication systems, image forming devices, servers, and programs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a communication system in which data communication is performed between an image forming apparatus and a service providing apparatus.

Conventionally, there has been known a communication system in which a user operates an image forming apparatus to access a service providing apparatus and uses a service provided by the service providing apparatus via the image forming apparatus. For example, in Patent Document 1, when a user registers an image forming apparatus in a service providing device through a PC, the service providing device notifies the PC of authentication information, and the user inputs the authentication information into the image forming apparatus. Discloses a system that allows an image forming apparatus to access a service providing apparatus.

Special Table 2013-522774

However, according to the system having the above configuration, the user is required not only to register the image forming device in the service providing device but also to input the authentication information displayed on the screen of the PC into the image forming device. .. That is, there arises a problem that the work to be done by the user in order to access the service providing device by using the image forming device becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication system that simplifies user operations for accessing a service providing device by using an image forming device.

(1) The communication system according to one form of the present specification includes an image forming device, a card, and a server on the Internet, and receives services from a service providing device on the Internet. The image forming apparatus operates an image forming unit that forms an image, a first communication unit that communicates with an external device via the Internet, and a first proximity communication unit that communicates with an external device by proximity radio using a proximity wireless communication protocol. A unit and a device control unit are provided. The card includes a card storage unit, a second proximity communication unit that performs proximity radio communication with an external device using the proximity radio communication protocol, and a card control unit. The server includes a second communication unit that communicates with an external device via the Internet, and a server control unit. The device control unit executes a reception process for receiving a user operation through the operation unit. The device control unit executes device-side preparation processing including issuance request processing, storage instruction reception processing, and first proximity transmission processing in response to receiving the instruction operation in the reception processing. The instruction operation is a user operation instructing execution of a preparatory process for connecting the image forming apparatus to the service providing apparatus. In the issuance request processing, the device control unit transmits issuance request information to the server through the first communication unit. The issuance request information is information that requests the issuance of authentication information indicating that the user has the authority to perform data communication with the service providing device by the preparatory process. In the storage instruction receiving process, the device control unit receives storage instruction information from the server through the first communication unit. The storage instruction information is information including the authentication information issued by the service providing device. In the first proximity transmission process, the device control unit transmits the authentication information included in the storage instruction information through the first proximity communication unit in response to the card approaching the first proximity communication unit. Send to the card. The device control unit executes a service utilization process including a first proximity reception process and a data communication process in response to the card storing the authentication information approaching the first proximity communication unit. In the first proximity reception process, the device control unit receives the authentication information stored in the card from the card through the first proximity communication unit, and uses the authentication information in the data communication process. Data communication is performed with the service providing device through the first communication unit. The card control unit executes a card-side preparation process including a second proximity reception process and a first storage process in response to the image forming device approaching the second proximity communication unit. The card control unit receives the authentication information from the image forming apparatus through the second proximity communication unit in the second proximity reception process, and receives the authentication information in the first storage process in the card storage unit. To memorize. The card control unit stores the authentication information in the card storage unit, and the authentication stored in the card storage unit in response to the image forming device approaching the second proximity communication unit. A second proximity transmission process of transmitting information to the image forming apparatus through the second proximity communication unit is executed. The server control unit executes an issuance request reception process for receiving the issuance request information from the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit. The server control unit executes server-side preparation processing including authentication information reception processing and storage instruction processing in response to receiving the issuance request information. In the authentication information receiving process, the server control unit receives the authentication information from the service providing device through the second communication unit, and in the storage instruction processing, the storage instruction is given to the image forming device through the second communication unit. Send information.

According to the above configuration, the authentication information issued by the service providing device by the preparatory process is stored in the card. Then, the user can receive the service provided by the service providing device through the image forming device simply by holding the card over the image forming device. As a result, the user operation for accessing the service providing device by using the image forming device is simplified. Further, by storing the authentication information in a highly portable card, it becomes easy to access the service providing device through each image forming device in an environment in which a plurality of image forming devices are installed.

(2) Preferably, the image forming apparatus includes an apparatus storage unit. The device-side preparation process includes a storage destination designation process. In the storage destination designation process, the device control unit performs the storage destination designated by the first designation operation in response to the reception of the first designation operation for designating the storage destination of the authentication information in the reception process. The storage destination designation information shown is transmitted to the server through the first communication unit. The device control unit executes the first proximity transmission process in response to receiving the first storage instruction information in the memory instruction reception process. The first storage instruction information includes the authentication information and is the storage instruction information instructing the card to store the authentication information. The device control unit performs a second storage process for storing the authentication information included in the second storage instruction information in the device storage unit in response to receiving the second storage instruction information in the storage instruction reception process. Execute. The second storage instruction information includes the authentication information and is the storage instruction information instructing the image forming apparatus to store the authentication information. The server-side preparation process includes a storage destination designation information reception process and a first determination process. In the storage destination designation information receiving process, the server control unit receives the storage destination designation information from the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit, and in the first determination process, the card is used with the storage destination designation information. In the storage instruction process when it is determined in the first determination process that which of the image forming apparatus is designated and the card is designated, the image forming apparatus is subjected to the second communication unit. In the storage instruction process when the first storage instruction information is transmitted and it is determined in the first determination process that the image forming apparatus is designated, the second communication unit is used to send the second storage instruction information to the image forming apparatus. Send storage instruction information.

According to the above configuration, the user can select the storage destination of the authentication information. As an example, the authentication information corresponding to the service used only through a specific image forming apparatus may be stored in the image forming apparatus. As another example, the authentication information corresponding to the service that may be used through the plurality of image forming devices may be stored in the card.

(3) Preferably, the server-side preparation process includes a card information acquisition instruction process, a card information reception process, a second determination process, and an error instruction process. In response to the determination in the first determination process that the card is designated in the card information acquisition instruction process, the server control unit instructs the image forming apparatus to acquire card information through the second communication unit. Send information. The card information acquisition instruction information is information instructing the acquisition of type information indicating whether or not the card can store the authentication information. In the card information receiving process, the server control unit receives the type information from the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit, and in the second determination process, whether or not the authentication information indicated by the type information can be stored. In response to the determination in the second determination process that the authentication information can be stored, the storage instruction process for transmitting the first storage instruction information to the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit is executed. Then, in response to the determination in the second determination process that the authentication information cannot be stored, error information indicating that the card cannot store the authentication information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit. The error instruction processing is executed. The device-side preparation process includes a card information acquisition instruction reception process, a third proximity reception process, and a card information transmission process. In the card information acquisition instruction reception process, the device control unit receives the card information acquisition instruction information from the server through the first communication unit, and in the third proximity reception process, the card performs the first proximity communication. The type information is received from the card through the first proximity communication unit according to the proximity to the unit, and in the card information transmission process, the type information is transmitted to the server through the first communication unit. The card-side preparation process includes a third proximity transmission process. In the third proximity transmission process, the card control unit transmits the type information to the image forming apparatus through the second proximity communication unit in response to the proximity of the image forming apparatus to the second proximity communication unit. To do.

In recent years, cards compatible with proximity wireless communication have been used for various purposes. Therefore, by confirming in advance whether or not the card can be used in the communication system as in the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the authentication information from being written in the card used for other purposes.

(4) Preferably, the authentication information received in the authentication information reception process is new authentication information. The authentication information already stored in the card is old authentication information. The server-side preparation process includes a card information acquisition instruction process, a card information reception process, and a third determination process. In response to the determination in the first determination process that the card is designated in the card information acquisition instruction process, the server control unit instructs the image forming apparatus to acquire card information through the second communication unit. Send information. The card information acquisition instruction information is information instructing the acquisition of stored number information indicating the number of the old authentication information. In the card information receiving process, the server control unit receives the stored number information from the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit, and in the third determination process, the stored number indicated by the stored number information is a threshold value. Is determined, and the first storage instruction information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit according to the determination in the third determination process that the number of stored items is less than the threshold value. The storage instruction processing is executed. The device-side preparation process includes a card information acquisition instruction reception process, a third proximity reception process, and a card information transmission process. In the card information acquisition instruction reception process, the device control unit receives the card information acquisition instruction information from the server through the first communication unit, and in the third proximity reception process, the card performs the first proximity communication. The stored number information is received from the card through the first proximity communication unit according to the proximity to the unit, and the stored number information is transmitted to the server through the first communication unit in the card information transmission process. .. The card-side preparation process includes a third proximity transmission process. In the third proximity transmission process, the card control unit transmits the storage number information to the image forming apparatus through the second proximity communication unit in response to the proximity of the image forming apparatus to the second proximity communication unit. The new authentication information is added to the card storage unit in the first storage process when the number of stored items is less than the threshold value.

According to the above configuration, it is prevented that the new authentication information is further written to the card whose storage number has reached the threshold value. For example, the threshold value may be 1. That is, the user may prepare a plurality of cards in which only one authentication information is stored, and hold the card corresponding to the service to be used over the image forming apparatus. As a result, when the card is held over the image forming apparatus to use the service, it is possible to save the trouble of having the user select which authentication information is stored in the card.

(5) Preferably, the server-side preparation process includes an overwrite confirmation instruction process, an overwrite confirmation information reception process, a fourth determination process, and an error instruction process. In the overwrite confirmation instruction process, the server control unit gives an overwrite confirmation instruction to the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit in response to the determination in the third determination process that the number of stored items has reached the threshold value. Send information. The overwrite confirmation instruction information is information for instructing confirmation as to whether or not to overwrite the old authentication information with the new authentication information. The server control unit receives overwrite confirmation information indicating whether or not overwriting is permitted in the overwrite confirmation information reception process from the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit, and in the fourth determination process, the overwrite is performed. The possibility of overwriting indicated by the confirmation information is determined, and the first storage instruction information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit in response to the determination in the fourth determination process that the overwriting is permitted. In response to the execution of the storage instruction process and the determination in the fourth determination process that the overwrite is rejected, the image indicating that the card cannot store the new authentication information is transmitted through the second communication unit. The error instruction process to be transmitted to the forming apparatus is executed. The device-side preparation process includes an overwrite confirmation instruction reception process and an overwrite confirmation information transmission process. The device control unit receives the overwrite confirmation instruction information from the server through the first communication unit in the overwrite confirmation instruction reception process, and specifies whether or not overwrite is possible in the overwrite confirmation information transmission process. Is received in the reception process, and the overwrite confirmation information indicating whether or not the overwrite specified in the second designated operation is possible is transmitted to the server through the first communication unit. The card control unit overwrites the old authentication information with the new authentication information in the first storage process when the number of stored items reaches the threshold value.

According to the above configuration, unnecessary old authentication information can be discarded and new authentication information can be stored, so that the card can be reused.

(6) Preferably, the image forming apparatus includes a display unit. The device control unit executes a display process for displaying an authentication information selection screen, which includes an authentication information object stored in the device storage unit and corresponds to the authentication information, and prompts the card to be brought close to the card. To do. The device control unit performs the first proximity reception process and the first proximity reception in response to the card approaching the first proximity communication unit of the image forming apparatus displaying the authentication information selection screen. The data communication process using the authentication information received in the process is executed, and the selection operation for selecting the authentication information object is received in the reception process, and is associated with the selected authentication information object. The data communication process is executed using the authentication information stored in the device storage unit.

According to the above configuration, the user can select whether to use the service using the authentication information stored in the card or the authentication information stored in the image forming apparatus.

(7) Preferably, the server includes a server storage unit. The server control unit can execute a third storage process in which the authentication information received in the authentication information reception process is stored in the server storage unit in association with the identification information that identifies the authentication information. .. The device-side preparation process includes an identification information transmission process. In the identification information transmission process, the device control unit transmits the identification information to the server through the first communication unit in response to the reception of the input operation for inputting the identification information in the reception process. The server-side preparation process includes an identification information reception process and a fifth determination process. In the identification information receiving process, the server control unit receives the identification information from the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit, and in the fifth determination process, the authentication associated with the received identification information. It is determined whether or not the information is stored in the server storage unit, and the storage instruction process is executed in response to the determination in the fifth determination process that the authentication information is stored in the server storage unit. To do.

According to the above configuration, when a server is made to execute a preparatory process through a device (for example, a PC) that does not support proximity wireless communication, the authentication information issued by the preparatory process is stored in a card or an image forming device. be able to.

(8) Preferably, the service usage process includes a usage information transmission process and a communication instruction information reception process. In the usage information transmission process, the device control unit transmits service usage information to the server through the first communication unit. The service usage information is information that specifies the content of data communication with the service providing device. In the communication instruction information reception process, the device control unit receives communication instruction information from the server through the first communication unit. The communication instruction information is information indicating a method of data communication with the service providing device. In the data communication process, the device control unit uses the authentication information and the communication instruction information to perform data communication with the service providing device through the first communication unit. The server control unit includes a usage information reception process for receiving the service usage information from the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit, a first acquisition process for acquiring the communication instruction information based on the service usage information, and the above. The communication instruction process of transmitting the communication instruction information to the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit is executed. The device-side preparation process includes a second acquisition process. In the second acquisition process, the device control unit acquires the service use information corresponding to the service use operation in response to the reception of the service use operation in the reception process. In the first proximity transmission process when the service usage information is acquired in the acquisition process, the device control unit transmits both the authentication information and the service usage information to the card through the first proximity communication unit. In the first proximity transmission process when the service usage information is not acquired in the acquisition process, only the authentication information among the authentication information and the service usage information is sent to the card through the first proximity communication unit. Send. In the first proximity reception process, the device control unit can further receive the service usage information from the card through the first proximity communication unit. In the usage information transmission processing when both the authentication information and the service usage information are received in the first proximity reception processing, the device control unit receives the service usage information received from the card in the first communication unit. In the usage information transmission processing when only the authentication information among the authentication information and the service usage information is received in the first proximity reception processing, the service usage received in the reception processing is performed. The service usage information corresponding to the operation is transmitted to the server through the first communication unit.

According to the above configuration, the service usage information to be input in the process of service usage processing is stored in the card together with the authentication information. Then, the image forming apparatus over which the card is held executes the service usage process using the usage information. This makes it possible to simplify user operations in routine data communication processing.

(9) The communication system according to another form of the present specification includes an image forming device, a card, a server on the Internet, and a mobile terminal, and receives services from a service providing device on the Internet. .. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image, a first communication unit that communicates with an external device via the Internet, and a first proximity communication unit that performs proximity wireless communication with an external device using a proximity wireless communication protocol. It is equipped with a control unit. The card includes a card storage unit, a second proximity communication unit that performs proximity radio communication with an external device using the proximity radio communication protocol, and a card control unit. The server includes a second communication unit that communicates with an external device via the Internet, and a server control unit. The mobile terminal includes a third communication unit that communicates with an external device via the Internet, a third proximity communication unit that communicates with an external device by proximity wireless communication using a proximity wireless communication protocol, an operation unit, and a terminal control unit. The terminal control unit executes a reception process for receiving a user operation through the operation unit. The terminal control unit executes terminal-side preparation processing including issuance request processing, storage instruction reception processing, and first proximity transmission processing in response to receiving the instruction operation in the reception processing. The instruction operation is a user operation instructing execution of a preparatory process for connecting the image forming apparatus to the service providing apparatus. In the issuance request processing, the terminal control unit transmits the issuance request information to the server through the third communication unit. The issuance request information is information that requests the issuance of authentication information indicating that the user has the authority to perform data communication with the service providing device by the preparatory process. In the storage instruction reception process, the terminal control unit receives the storage instruction information from the server through the third communication unit. The storage instruction information is information including the authentication information issued by the service providing device. In the first proximity transmission process, the terminal control unit transmits the authentication information included in the storage instruction information through the third proximity communication unit in response to the card approaching the first proximity communication unit. Send to the card. The device control unit executes a service utilization process including a first proximity reception process and a data communication process in response to the card storing the authentication information approaching the first proximity communication unit. In the first proximity reception process, the device control unit receives the authentication information stored in the card from the card through the first proximity communication unit, and uses the authentication information in the data communication process. Data communication is performed with the service providing device through the first communication unit. The card control unit executes a card-side preparation process including a second proximity reception process and a first storage process in response to the image forming device approaching the second proximity communication unit. In the second proximity reception process, the card control unit receives the authentication information from the mobile terminal through the second proximity communication unit, and in the first storage process, the received authentication information is sent to the card storage unit. Remember. The card control unit stores the authentication information in the card storage unit, and the authentication stored in the card storage unit in response to the image forming device approaching the second proximity communication unit. A second proximity transmission process of transmitting information to the image forming apparatus through the second proximity communication unit is executed. The server control unit executes an issuance request reception process for receiving the issuance request information from the mobile terminal through the second communication unit. The server control unit executes server-side preparation processing including authentication information reception processing and storage instruction processing in response to receiving the issuance request information. In the authentication information receiving process, the server control unit receives the authentication information from the service providing device through the second communication unit, and in the storage instruction processing, the storage instruction is given to the mobile terminal through the second communication unit. Send information.

(10) The image forming apparatus described in the present specification can communicate with a card and a server on the Internet, and receives a service from a service providing device on the Internet. The image forming apparatus operates an image forming unit that forms an image, a first communication unit that communicates with an external device via the Internet, and a first proximity communication unit that performs proximity wireless communication with an external device using a proximity wireless communication protocol. A unit and a device control unit are provided. The device control unit executes a reception process for receiving a user operation through the operation unit. The device control unit executes device-side preparation processing including issuance request processing, storage instruction reception processing, and first proximity transmission processing in response to receiving the instruction operation in the reception processing. The instruction operation is a user operation instructing execution of a preparatory process for connecting the image forming apparatus to the service providing apparatus. In the issuance request processing, the device control unit transmits issuance request information to the server through the first communication unit. The issuance request information is information that requests the issuance of authentication information indicating that the user has the authority to perform data communication with the service providing device by the preparatory process. In the storage instruction receiving process, the device control unit receives storage instruction information from the server through the first communication unit. The storage instruction information is information including the authentication information issued by the service providing device. In the first proximity transmission process, the device control unit transmits the authentication information included in the storage instruction information through the first proximity communication unit in response to the card approaching the first proximity communication unit. Send to the card. The device control unit executes a service utilization process including a first proximity reception process and a data communication process in response to the card storing the authentication information approaching the first proximity communication unit. In the first proximity reception process, the device control unit receives the authentication information stored in the card from the card through the first proximity communication unit, and uses the authentication information in the data communication process. Data communication is performed with the service providing device through the first communication unit.

(11) The server described in the present specification executes a preparatory process for causing the image forming apparatus to receive a service provided by a service providing apparatus on the Internet. The server includes a communication unit that communicates with the external device via the Internet and a server control unit. The server control unit executes an issuance request reception process for receiving issuance request information from the external device through the communication unit. The issuance request information is information that requests the issuance of authentication information indicating that the user has the authority to perform data communication with the service providing device by the preparatory process. The server control unit executes server-side preparation processing including authentication information reception processing, first determination processing, and storage instruction processing in response to receiving the issuance request information. The server control unit receives the authentication information issued by the service providing device from the service providing device through the communication unit in the authentication information receiving process, and conforms to the proximity wireless communication protocol in the first determination process. In response to the determination in the first determination process that the proximity wireless communication can be executed in the storage instruction processing after determining whether or not the external device can execute the proximity wireless communication, the communication unit is used. The first storage instruction information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. The first storage instruction information includes the authentication information issued by the service providing device, and in order to store the authentication information in the card, the authentication information is transmitted to the card by the proximity wireless communication. It is the memory instruction information to instruct.

(12) Preferably, the server-side preparation process includes a second determination process. The server control unit determines whether or not the external device is the image forming device in response to the determination in the first determination process that the proximity wireless communication cannot be executed in the second determination process. In response to the determination in the second determination process that the image forming apparatus is used, the storage instruction processing for transmitting the second storage instruction information to the image forming apparatus through the communication unit is executed. The second storage instruction processing is the storage instruction information including the authentication information and instructing the image forming apparatus to store the authentication information.

(13) More preferably, the server includes a server storage unit. The server-side preparation process includes a generation process, a storage process, and an identification information transmission process. In the generation process, the server control unit generates identification information for identifying the authentication information received in the authentication information reception process in response to the determination in the second determination process that the device is not the image forming apparatus. In the storage process, the authentication information and the identification information are associated with each other and stored in the server storage unit, and in the identification information transmission process, the identification information is transmitted to the external device through the communication unit.

(14) The program described in the present specification can communicate with a card and a server on the Internet, and can be read by a mobile terminal that causes an image forming device to receive a service provided by a service providing device on the Internet. The mobile terminal includes a communication unit that communicates with an external device via the Internet, a proximity communication unit that performs proximity radio communication with an external device using a proximity radio communication protocol, and an operation unit. The program causes the mobile terminal to execute a reception process for accepting a user operation through the operation unit. The program causes the mobile terminal to execute device-side preparation processing including issuance request processing, storage instruction reception processing, and first proximity transmission processing in response to receiving the instruction operation in the reception processing. The instruction operation is a user operation instructing execution of a preparatory process for connecting the image forming apparatus to the service providing apparatus. In the issuance request processing, the program transmits issuance request information to the server through the first communication unit. The issuance request information is information that requests the issuance of authentication information indicating that the user has the authority to perform data communication with the service providing device by the preparatory process. In the storage instruction reception process, the program receives storage instruction information from the server through the first communication unit. The storage instruction information is information including the authentication information issued by the service providing device. In the first proximity transmission process, the program transfers the authentication information included in the storage instruction information to the card through the first proximity communication unit in response to the card approaching the first proximity communication unit. Send to. The program causes the mobile terminal to execute a service utilization process including a first proximity reception process and a data communication process in response to the card storing the authentication information approaching the first proximity communication unit. The program receives the authentication information stored in the card from the card through the first proximity communication unit in the first proximity reception process, and uses the authentication information in the data communication process to use the authentication information. 1 Data communication is performed with the service providing device through the communication unit.

According to the present invention, the authentication information issued by the service providing device by the preparatory process is stored in the card, and the service provided by the service providing device can be received through the image forming device simply by holding the card over the image forming device. it can. As a result, the user operation for accessing the service providing device by using the image forming device is simplified.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a communication system 100 according to the present embodiment. 2A and 2B are a functional block diagram of the multifunction device 10 and FIG. 2B is a functional block diagram of the mobile terminal 50. 3A is a functional block diagram of the card 70, and FIG. 3B is a functional block diagram of the relay device 80. 4A and 4B are examples of an account list stored in the data storage area 32B in FIG. 4, FIG. 4B is an example of R tokens and shortcut information stored in the storage unit 72, and FIG. 4C is data storage. This is an example of a token list stored in the area 92B. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process of causing the service providing device 110 to issue an R token through the information processing terminal 40. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process of causing the multifunction device 10 to receive the service provided by the service providing device 110. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process of acquiring an R token stored in the relay device 80 in association with TempID. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process of causing the service providing device 110 to issue an R token through the multifunction device 10. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the first half of the R token storage process. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the latter half of the R token storage process. 11A and 11B are display examples of the display unit 23, in which FIG. 11A shows a top screen and FIG. 11B shows a service list screen. 12A and 12B are display examples of the display unit 23, in which FIG. 12A shows a token selection screen and FIG. 12B shows an ID reception screen. 13A and 13B are display examples of the display unit 23, in which FIG. 13A shows a save destination selection screen and FIG. 13B shows a proximity standby screen. 14A and 14B are display examples of the display unit 23, in which FIG. 14A shows an overwrite confirmation screen and FIG. 14B shows an account name input screen.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. It goes without saying that the embodiments described below are merely examples of the present invention, and the embodiments of the present invention can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a communication system 100 according to the present embodiment. The communication system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is composed of a part or all of a multifunction device 10, an information processing terminal 40, a mobile terminal 50, a card 70, and a relay device 80. The communication system 100 is a system for receiving a service from the service providing device 110. The multifunction device 10, the information processing terminal 40, the mobile terminal 50, the relay device 80, and the service providing device 110 can communicate with each other via a communication network. Specific examples of the communication network are not particularly limited, but may be, for example, the Internet 101, a wired LAN (abbreviation of Local Area Network), a wireless LAN 102, or a combination thereof. The card 70 is an example of a portable device.

The multifunction device 10 and the information processing terminal 40 belong to the wireless LAN 102. Further, the wireless LAN 102 is connected to the Internet 101 through a router or the like (not shown). Further, the mobile terminal 50 is connected to the Internet 101 through a base station (not shown). Further, the relay device 80 and the service providing device 110 are connected to the Internet 101. Note that "belonging to wireless LAN 102" means that the device is set to belong to wireless LAN 102 and can communicate with other devices belonging to wireless LAN 102. More specifically, the multifunction device 10 and the information processing terminal 40 are set with the same SSID as the access point 102A of the wireless LAN 102. The IP address assigned to the multifunction device 10 and the information processing terminal 40 includes a network address unit indicating the network address assigned to the wireless LAN 102 and a host unit unique to each of the multifunction device 10 and the information processing terminal 40. ..

Further, the multifunction device 10 and the information processing terminal 40 can communicate with the relay device 80 and the service providing device 110 from the access point 102A and the router (not shown) via the Internet 101. Further, the mobile terminal 50 can wirelessly communicate with the relay device 80 and the service providing device 110 from a base station (not shown) via the Internet 101. Note that wireless communication is not limited to wireless communication being performed in the entire communication section. That is, "the multifunction device 10 wirelessly transmits or wirelessly receives information or data via the access point 102A" means that wireless communication can be executed between the multifunction device 10 and the access point 102A. The same applies to the information processing terminal 40 and the mobile terminal 50.

[Multifunction device 10]
As shown in FIG. 2A, the multifunction device 10 includes a printer unit 11, a scanner unit 12, a display unit 23, an operation unit 24, and a Wi-Fi (registered trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance) communication unit. 25, an NFC (abbreviation of Near Field Communication) communication unit 26, a CPU 31, a storage unit 32, and a communication bus 33 are mainly provided. The components constituting the multifunction device 10 are connected to each other via the communication bus 33. The multifunction device 10 is an example of an image forming apparatus. The printer unit 11 and the scanner unit 12 are examples of image forming units that form an image. The Wi-Fi communication unit 25 is an example of a communication unit and a first communication unit. The NFC communication unit 26 is an example of a proximity communication unit and a first proximity communication unit.

[Printer unit 11, scanner unit 12]
The printer unit 11 executes a recording operation of recording an image represented by image data on a recording paper. The recording paper is an example of a sheet or a recording medium. As the recording method of the printer unit 11, a known method such as an inkjet method or an electrophotographic method can be adopted. The scanner unit 12 executes a scanning operation of reading an image recorded on a document and generating image data. The multifunction device 10 may further perform a fax operation for transmitting and receiving a fax, a copy operation for reading an image recorded on a recording paper and recording it on another recording paper, and the like.

[Display unit 23]
The display unit 23 includes a display screen for displaying various information. As the display unit 23, a liquid crystal display (abbreviation of Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL display (abbreviation of Organic Electro-Luminence Display), and the like can be adopted.

[Operation unit 24]
The operation unit 24 receives an operation of a user who selects an object displayed on the display screen of the display unit 23. Specifically, the operation unit 24 has a button, and outputs various operation signals associated with the pressed button to the CPU 31. Further, the operation unit 24 may have a film-like touch sensor superimposed on the display screen of the display unit 23. That is, the display unit 23 may be configured as a touch panel display.

The "object" refers to an image that can be selected by the user by operating the operation unit 24. As an example, the object is a character string displayed on the display unit 23, and one of the objects is highlighted by pressing the direction key of the operation unit 24, and high by pressing the enter button of the operation unit 24. Lighted objects may be selected. As another example, when the operation unit 24 is a touch panel, the object may be an icon, a button, a link, or the like displayed on the display unit 23, and the object displayed at the touch position may be selected.

The operation unit 24 realized as a touch panel accepts a user operation of touching the display screen of the display unit 23. In addition, the operation unit 24 outputs position information indicating a position on the display screen touched by the user. The position information can be expressed, for example, as coordinates (x, y) on the xy plane with the upper left edge of the display screen as the origin, the right direction as the positive direction of the x-axis, and the downward direction as the positive direction of the y-axis. As the touch sensor, a well-known method such as a capacitance method or a resistance film method can be adopted.

The term "touch" in the present specification includes all operations of bringing the input medium into contact with the display screen. That is, a tap operation for separating the touched input medium from the display screen within a predetermined time, a long touch operation for keeping the touched input medium stationary on the display screen, a slide operation for sliding the touched input medium on the display screen, and a display screen. A flick operation in which the acceleration of the input medium that slides up is above the threshold, a pinch-in operation that slides two input media that touched different positions on the display screen in a direction that brings them closer to each other, and two touches that touch different positions on the display screen A pinch-out operation in which the input media are slid away from each other is an example of touch.

Further, even if the input medium does not touch the display screen, bringing the input medium close to a position where the distance from the display screen is very small may be included in the above-mentioned concept of "touch". Further, the input medium may be a user's finger, a stylus, or the like. Hereinafter, tapping at the position of the icon displayed on the display unit 23 will be described as an example of a user operation for selecting the icon.

[Wi-Fi communication unit 25]
The Wi-Fi communication unit 25 is an interface for wirelessly communicating with an external device. Specifically, the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 can communicate with the information processing terminal 40, the mobile terminal 50, the relay device 80, and the service providing device 110. The Wi-Fi communication unit 25 communicates, for example, according to a procedure conforming to the IEEE802.11 standard.

[NFC Communication Unit 26]
The NFC communication unit 26 is an interface for performing wireless communication in a near field communication system compliant with the NFC standard. Wireless communication with an external device through the NFC communication unit 26 is an example of near field communication. The NFC communication unit 26 is equipped with an IC chip having a storage unit that stores information for being transferred to and from an external device. The NFC standard is an example of a near field communication protocol. Further, as another example of the proximity communication protocol, TransferJet (registered trademark of the TransferJet Consortium) or the like may be adopted.

In this specification, a device capable of communicating according to the NFC standard is referred to as an "NFC device", and a communication according to the NFC standard is referred to as "NFC communication". That is, the multifunction device 10, the mobile terminal 50, and the card 70 are examples of NFC devices. The multifunction device 10 and the mobile terminal 50 operate in any of P2P (abbreviation of Peer to Peer) mode, Reader mode, Writer mode, and CE (abbreviation of Card Emulation) mode. Further, in the present specification, the Reader mode and the Writer mode may be collectively referred to as "R / W mode".

The P2P mode is a mode for executing bidirectional communication between a pair of NFC devices. Type A NFC equipment as defined by ISO / IEC 1443 and Type F NFC equipment as defined by ISO / IEC 18092 by the NFC Forum can operate in P2P mode. On the other hand, the Type B NFC device defined in ISO / IEC 1443 cannot operate in the P2P mode.

The R / W mode and the CE mode are modes for executing unidirectional communication between a pair of NFC devices. The CE mode is a mode in which an NFC device operates by pretending to be a "card", which is a format defined by the NFC forum. The card 70 operates as a card conforming to the NFC standard. In this specification, whether the NFC device operates in the CE mode or operates as a card conforming to the NFC standard may be described as operating in the CE mode for convenience. Type A, Type F, and Type B NFC devices can operate in CE mode. The Reader mode is a mode for reading information or the like from an NFC device operating in the CE mode. The Writer mode is a mode for writing various information to the NFC device operating in the CE mode.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the multifunction device 10 operates in the R / W mode and the card 70 operates in the CE mode will be mainly described. That is, the multifunction device 10 operating in the R / W mode can read information or the like from the card 70 operating in the CE mode and write the information or the like to the card 70. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, the multifunction device 10 may operate in the CE mode, the card 70 may operate in the R / W mode, and both the multifunction device 10 and the card 70 may operate in the P2P mode. May work with. The same applies when the mobile terminal 50 and the card 70 perform NFC communication.

The NFC communication unit 26 of the multifunction device 10 in the present embodiment executes the Poll operation. The Poll operation is an operation of repeatedly outputting a polling signal at predetermined time intervals and monitoring a response signal which is a response of the polling signal. On the other hand, the NFC communication unit 73 of the card 70 in the present embodiment executes the Listen operation. The Listen operation is an operation of monitoring the polling signal and outputting a response signal on condition that the polling signal is received.

When the card 70 and the multifunction device 10 are close to each other, the NFC communication unit 73 of the card 70 receives the polling signal output by the NFC communication unit 26 of the multifunction device 10, and the response signal output by the NFC communication unit 73 of the card 70. Is received by the NFC communication unit 26 of the multifunction device 10, and an NFC communication link (hereinafter referred to as “NFC link”) is established between the multifunction device 10 and the card 70 according to a predetermined procedure according to the NFC standard. Established. After that, the multifunction device 10 and the card 70 transmit and receive information and the like through this NFC link.

However, the relationship between the multifunction device 10 and the card 70 is not limited to the above example. For example, the NFC communication unit 26 of the multifunction device 10 may execute the Listen operation, and the NFC communication unit 73 of the card 70 may execute the Poll operation. In this case, when the card 70 and the multifunction device 10 come close to each other, the NFC communication unit 26 of the multifunction device 10 receives the polling signal output by the NFC communication unit 73 of the card 70, and the NFC communication unit 26 of the multifunction device 10 receives the polling signal. When the NFC communication unit 73 of the card 70 receives the output response signal, an NFC link is established between the multifunction device 10 and the card 70.

[CPU31]
The CPU (abbreviation of Central Processing Unit) 31 controls the overall operation of the multifunction device 10. The CPU 31 acquires various programs to be described later from the storage unit 32 based on various information output from the operation unit 24 and various information acquired from an external device through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 and the NFC communication unit 26. Execute. That is, the CPU 31 and the storage unit 32 form an example of the device control unit.

[Storage 32]
The storage unit 32 has a program storage area 32A and a data storage area 32B. The OS (abbreviation of Operating System) 34 and the control program 35 are stored in the program storage area 32A. The OS 34 and the control program 35 are programs built in a binary format. The control program 35 may be a single program or an aggregate of a plurality of programs. Data or information necessary for executing the control program 35 is stored in the data storage area 32B. The storage unit 32 is an example of a device storage unit.

The "data" and "information" in the present specification are common in that they are bits or bit strings that can be handled by a computer. "Data" refers to data that can be handled without the computer considering the meaning and content of each bit. On the other hand, "information" refers to information that branches the operation of a computer depending on the meaning of each bit. Further, the "instruction" is a control signal for prompting the destination device to perform the next operation, may include information, and has the property of information itself. There is also.

In addition, "data" and "information" are the same data and information as long as they are recognized as having the same meaning even if the format (for example, text format, binary format, flag format, etc.) is changed for each computer. Treated as. For example, information indicating that there are "two" is held as text format information "0x32" in ASCII code on one computer, and as binary format information "10" in binary notation on another computer. May be done.

However, the above distinction between "data" and "information" is not strict, and exceptional handling is permitted. For example, the data may be temporarily treated as information, or the information may be temporarily treated as data. Further, what is treated as data in one device may be treated as information in another device. Furthermore, information may be extracted from the data, or data may be extracted from the information.

The storage unit 32 includes, for example, a RAM (abbreviation of Random Access Memory), a ROM (abbreviation of Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (abbreviation of Electrically Erasable Read-Only Memory), a CPU (abbreviation of Disk 31), and an HDD (abbreviation of HDD). It is composed of a buffer or the like or a combination thereof.

The storage unit 32 may be a storage medium that can be read by a computer. A computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitory medium. In addition to the above examples, the non-transitory medium also includes a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM. The non-transitory medium is also a tangible medium. On the other hand, an electric signal that carries a program downloaded from a server on the Internet is a computer-readable signal medium, which is a kind of computer-readable medium, but is a storage that can be read by a non-transitory computer. Not included in the medium.

The program stored in the program storage area 32A is executed by the CPU 31. However, in the present specification, the operation of each program may be described by omitting the CPU 31. That is, in the following description, the description to the effect that "the program A executes the process A" may refer to "the CPU 31 executes the process A described in the program A".

Further, the program stored in the program storage area 32A determines an event and operates according to the determination result. However, in the present specification, the operation of each program may be described without making a judgment. That is, in the following description, the description to the effect that "the control program executes the process A according to the condition A" is "determines whether or not the control program is the condition A. The control program makes an affirmative judgment. The process A may be executed depending on the fact that the process A is executed.

Further, the program stored in the program storage area 32A identifies, extracts, or selects data or the like. When a program specifies data or the like, for example, data that meets the conditions is specified from a plurality of data or the like, and the data or the like or information that identifies the data or the like is stored in a predetermined storage area. Refers to processing. The information for identifying the data or the like is, for example, identification information for identifying the data or the like, an index of an array in which the data or the like is stored, a pointer of a storage area in which the data or the like is stored, or the like. The same applies to the process in which the program extracts or selects data or the like.

Further, the program stored in the program storage area 32A acquires data and the like. When a program acquires data or the like, it may refer to, for example, a process of reading data from a storage area in which the data is stored. Acquiring data or the like by a program may refer to, for example, a process of receiving data transmitted from an external device. The acquisition of data or the like by a program may refer to, for example, a process of requesting a return of data from external data and receiving the returned data from an external device. When a program acquires data or the like, it may refer to, for example, a process of receiving data output by another program such as an OS. When a program acquires data or the like, it may refer to, for example, a process of requesting another program to output data and receiving the data output from the other program.

The OS 34 is an API (Application) for controlling the printer unit 11, the scanner unit 12, the display unit 23, the operation unit 24, the Wi-Fi communication unit 25, the NFC communication unit 26, etc., which are the hardware constituting the multifunction device 10. It is a basic program that provides (abbreviation of Programming Interface). That is, each of the above programs controls each hardware by calling the API provided by the OS 34. However, in this specification, the operation of each program may be described by omitting OS34. That is, in the following description, the description to the effect that "program B controls hardware C" may refer to "program B controls hardware C through the API of OS34".

As shown in FIG. 4A, for example, the data storage area 32B can store an account name, a refresh token (hereinafter, referred to as “R token”), and shortcut information. Hereinafter, the information shown in FIG. 4A may be collectively referred to as an “account list”, and each record shown in FIG. 4A may be referred to as an “account record”. That is, the account list can include multiple account records.

The account name is a name for identifying the corresponding R token, and is arbitrarily set by the user of the multifunction device 10. The R token is an example of authentication information indicating that the user has the authority to perform data communication with the service providing device 110, and is, for example, binary data. For convenience, the R token is illustrated by a three-digit number, but the data may be represented by a three-digit number or more. For example, it may be about 20 digits or about 200 digits. The shortcut information includes the next operation URL (abbreviation of Uniform Resource Locator) and service usage information. The shortcut information does not necessarily have to be included in the account list and can be omitted.

The next operation URL is information for specifying a request destination of instruction information indicating the next operation to be executed by the multifunction device 10 in the cooperation operation described later. Details of the instruction information will be described later. The service usage information is information that identifies the content of data communication with the service providing device 110. In the shortcut information shown in FIG. 4 (A), the next operation URL is “www.brother.jp/action3.xml”, and the service usage information is “service = A”.

[Mobile terminal 50]
As shown in FIG. 2B, the mobile terminal 50 includes a display unit 53, an operation unit 54, a mobile communication unit 55, an NFC communication unit 56, a CPU 61, a storage unit 62, and a communication bus 63. Mainly equipped with. The mobile communication unit 55 is an example of the communication unit and the third communication unit. The NFC communication unit 56 is an example of a proximity communication unit and a third proximity communication unit. The CPU 61 and the storage unit 62 form an example of the terminal control unit. The display unit 53, the operation unit 54, the NFC communication unit 56, the CPU 61, the storage unit 62, and the communication bus 63 included in the mobile terminal 50 include the display unit 23, the operation unit 24, and the NFC communication unit 26 included in the multifunction device 10. Since it is common to the CPU 31, the storage unit 32, and the communication bus 33, the description thereof will be omitted again.

The mobile communication unit 55 is an interface for connecting to a mobile communication network (not shown) provided by a communication operator. A mobile communication network (not shown) is connected to the Internet 101. The mobile communication unit 55 wirelessly communicates according to a communication standard such as W-CDMA (abbreviation of Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), CDMA2000, or LTE (abbreviation of Long Term Evolution). The mobile terminal 50 may include a Wi-Fi communication unit in addition to the mobile communication unit 55 or in place of the mobile communication unit 55. The function of the Wi-Fi communication unit included in the mobile terminal 50 is common to the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 included in the multifunction device 10.

[Information processing terminal 40]
Although the functional block is not shown, the information processing terminal 40 is different from the mobile terminal 50 in that it has a Wi-Fi communication unit instead of the mobile communication unit 55 and does not have an NFC communication unit 56. In that respect, it is common with the mobile terminal 50. The specific example of the information processing terminal 40 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a PC (abbreviation of Personal Computer) or the like.

[Card 70]
As shown in FIG. 3A, the card 70 mainly includes a CPU 71, a storage unit 72, an NFC communication unit 73, and a communication bus 74. The CPU 71 and the storage unit 72 form an example of the card control unit. The storage unit 72 is an example of a portable device storage unit. The NFC communication unit 73 is an example of the second proximity communication unit. Since the CPU 71, the storage unit 72, and the NFC communication unit 73 included in the card 70 are common to the CPU 31, the storage unit 32, and the NFC communication unit 26 included in the multifunction device 10, the description thereof will be omitted again. The CPU 71 executes a process described later by reading and executing a program (not shown) stored in the storage unit 72. The CPU 71, the storage unit 72, and the NFC communication unit 73 are mounted on an integrated circuit, for example.

The storage unit 72 can store the R token and the shortcut information associated with the R token, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (B). However, the shortcut information can be omitted. The number of R tokens that can be stored in the storage unit 72 may be one or a plurality. The R token and the shortcut information are not stored in the storage unit 72 of the card 70 at the time of shipment, but are stored in the storage unit 72 by a process described later.

Although not shown, the storage unit 72 stores card information including type information and storage number information. The type information is information indicating whether or not the card 70 can store the R token. What if the type information can be distinguished from cards used for other purposes (for example, transportation cards, employee cards, etc.) and can be used for the communication system 100 according to the present embodiment? Format may be used. The storage number information is information indicating the number of R tokens stored in the storage unit 72.

[Relay device 80]
As shown in FIG. 3B, the relay device 80 mainly includes a communication unit 85, a CPU 91, a storage unit 92, and a communication bus 93. The CPU 91 and the storage unit 92 form an example of the server control unit. The storage unit 92 is an example of a server storage unit. The communication unit 85 is an example of the second communication unit. The communication unit 85, CPU 91, storage unit 92, and communication bus 93 included in the relay device 80 are common to the Wi-Fi communication unit 25, CPU 31, storage unit 32, and communication bus 33 included in the multifunction device 10. The description will be omitted again. The relay device 80 is an example of a server.

The data storage area 92B can store the R token and the TempID associated with the R token, for example, as shown in FIG. 4C. Hereinafter, the information shown in FIG. 4C may be collectively referred to as a “token list”, and each record shown in FIG. 4C may be referred to as a “token record”. That is, the token list can include a plurality of token records. TempID is an example of identification information issued by the server device 80 in association with the R token, and is, for example, a number string.

[Collaboration operation of multifunction device 10 and relay device 80]
The multifunction device 10 and the relay device 80 can execute the cooperative operation. The cooperation operation starts from the point where the user inputs a start instruction of the cooperation operation in the multifunction device 10. In the linked operation, the multifunction device 10 requests the relay device 80 to transmit instruction information indicating the operation of the multifunction device 10, the relay device 80 returns the instruction information to the multifunction device 10, and the operation indicated by the instruction information is combined. The machine 10 executes the operation, the multifunction device 10 reports the result of the operation to the relay device 80, and the relay device 80 transmits instruction information indicating the next operation to the multifunction device 10 based on the report. In the cooperative operation 10, the information from the multifunction device 10 to the relay device 80 is transmitted as an HTTP (abbreviation of HyperText Transfer Protocol) request, and the information from the relay device 80 to the multifunction device 10 is transmitted as an HTTP response. The details of the cooperative operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 to 10.

Further, the instruction information transmitted from the relay device 80 to the multifunction device 10 is described by, for example, XML (abbreviation of eXtensible Markup Language). Then, the instruction information includes, for example, screen definition information for defining a screen to be displayed on the display unit 23 and an interface for acquiring the information (for example, operation unit 24, Wi-Fi communication unit 25, NFC communication unit 26, etc.). It includes the interface information to be specified and the next operation URL that specifies the request destination of the next instruction information. In addition, the instruction information can further include service usage information added to the HTTP request requesting the instruction information.

Upon receiving the instruction information, the multifunction device 10 displays the screen defined by the screen definition information on the display unit 23, acquires the information through the interface specified by the interface information, and next instruction information indicated by the next operation URL. Sends an HTTP request requesting the transmission of. Further, when the multifunction device 10 transmits the HTTP request, the service usage information acquired in a series of cooperative operations is transmitted to the relay device 80 by the GET method. That is, the URL analyzed by the multifunction device 10 at this time is such that the service usage information is added to the end of the next operation URL as in the shortcut information shown in FIG. 4 (A).

[Service providing device 110]
The service providing device 110 is a device that provides a service to the multifunction device 10. The service providing device 110 according to the present embodiment is, for example, a service for managing the state of the compound machine 10, a service for storing uploaded data, a service for returning stored data in response to a download request, or a service for returning data. A service for converting the format may be provided. Although only one service providing device 110 is shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of service providing devices 110 may exist.

[Operation of communication system 100]
The operation of the communication system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 14. The communication system 100 according to the present embodiment stores the R token issued by the service providing device 110 in the multifunction device 10 or the card 70, and receives the service provided by the service providing device 110 in the multifunction device 10 using the R token. Execute the process to make it.

The processing of the multifunction device 10 shown in FIG. 6 is an example of the service utilization processing. Among the processes shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the process of the multifunction device 10 is an example of the device-side preparation process, the process of the card 70 is an example of the card-side preparation process, and the process of the relay device 80 is the server-side preparation process. This is an example of processing. It should be noted that the processes shown in FIGS. 5, 7, and 8 need only be partially executed, and not all of them need to be executed.

FIG. 5 is a process of causing the service providing device 110 to issue an R token and acquiring the TempID corresponding to the R token from the relay device 80. First, the information processing terminal 40 receives a token issuance instruction from the user through the operation unit (S11). Next, the information processing terminal 40 transmits the issuance request information to the relay device 80 through the communication unit (S12). The token issuance instruction is an example of an instruction operation for instructing execution of a preparatory process for connecting the multifunction device 10 to the service providing device 110. The token issuance process is an example of a preparatory process.

The issuance request information is information that requests the issuance of R tokens by the token issuance process. Further, the issuance request information may include NFC correspondence information and device information. The NFC correspondence information is information indicating whether or not the device that is the source of the issuance request information can execute NFC communication. The device information is information indicating whether or not the device that is the source of the issuance request information is an image forming device. In other words, the device information is information indicating whether or not the printer unit 11 and the scanner unit 12 are included, or whether or not the service provided by the service providing device 110 can be received. That is, the issuance request information transmitted by the information processing terminal 40 includes NFC-compatible information indicating that NFC communication cannot be executed and device information indicating that the device is not an image forming device.

Next, the control program 95 of the relay device 80 receives the issuance request information from the information processing terminal 40 through the communication unit 85 (S12). The process of step S12 is an example of the issue request reception process. Then, the control program 95 executes the token issuance process (S13). The token issuing process is a process in which the information processing terminal 40, the relay device 80, and the service providing device 110 operate in cooperation with each other to cause the information processing terminal 40 to acquire the R token issued by the service providing device 110. The token issuance process is performed, for example, according to a well-known procedure based on the Oauth protocol.

Since the details of the token issuance process are well known, the illustration is omitted, but for example, the control program 95 of the relay device 80 transmits the request token issuance request information to the service providing device 110 through the communication unit 85, and the service providing device through the communication unit 85. The request token is received from 110, and the access page URL, the relay device URL, and the request token are transmitted to the information processing terminal 40 through the communication unit 85. The access page URL is a URL indicating the location of the access page for entering the account ID and password. The access page in this embodiment is provided by the service providing device 110. The relay device URL is a URL indicating the destination of the R token received from the service providing device 110. The transmission destination of the R token in this embodiment is the relay device 80.

Next, the information processing terminal 40 receives the access page URL, the relay device URL, and the request token from the relay device 80, and requests the service providing device 110 to transmit the page data of the access page indicated by the access page URL. At this time, the information processing terminal 40 is authenticated by the service providing device 110 by the request token. Further, the information processing terminal 40 transmits the relay device URL to the service providing device 110 together with the request for page data. Next, the information processing terminal 40 receives the page data, displays the access page, accepts the user operation for inputting the account ID and password, and transmits the account ID and password to the service providing device 110 using the request token. .. The "token" may be, for example, key information for encrypting information. In this case, "communication using a token" may mean sending information encrypted by the token to a communication network. However, the method of using the token is not limited to this, and may be used by other well-known methods.

Next, the service providing device 110 receives the account ID and password from the information processing terminal 40, and transmits the R token corresponding to the account ID and password and the relay device URL received from the information processing terminal 40 to the information processing terminal 40. To do. Further, the information processing terminal 40 receives the R token and the relay device URL from the service providing device 110, and transmits the R token to the relay device 80 using the relay device URL. Then, the control program 95 of the relay device 80 receives the R token from the information processing terminal 40 through the communication unit 85.

Next, the control program 95 determines whether or not the device that is the source of the issuance request information can execute NFC communication based on the NFC correspondence information included in the issuance request information (S14). Further, the control program 95 determines that the NFC communication is infeasible (S14: No), and based on the device information included in the issuance request information, the device that is the source of the issuance request information is imaged. It is determined whether or not it is a forming device (S15). The process of step S14 is an example of the first determination process, and the process of step S15 is an example of the second determination process.

Then, the control program 95 issues TempID in response to the determination that the NFC communication is infeasible and is not an image forming apparatus (S14: No & S15: No) (S16). That is, step S16 is executed when the information processing terminal 40 is the transmission source of the issuance request information. Further, the control program 95 adds a token record including the R token received in step S13 and the TempID issued in step S16 to the token list shown in FIG. 4C (S17). Further, the control program 95 transmits the TempID issued in step S16 to the device that transmits the issuance request information through the communication unit 85 (S18). When the information processing terminal 40 is the transmission source of the issuance request information, the information processing terminal 40 receives TempID from the relay device 80 (S18). Then, the information processing terminal 40 displays the received TempID on the display unit (S19).

TempID is an example of identification information that identifies the R token received from the service providing device 110 in the token issuing process (S13). The process of step S16 is an example of a generation process, the process of step S17 is an example of a storage process and a third storage process, and the process of step S18 is an example of an identification information transmission process. On the other hand, the control program 95 of the relay device 80 executes the process of step S80 shown in FIG. 10 in response to the determination that NFC communication is feasible (S14: Yes). That is, step S80 is executed when the mobile terminal 50 is the source of the issuance request information. Further, the control program 95 executes the process of step S85 shown in FIG. 10 in response to the determination that the image forming apparatus is (S15: Yes). That is, when the multifunction device 10 is the transmission source of the issuance request information, step S85 is executed. Details of these processes will be described later.

FIG. 6 is a process in which the multifunction device 10 uses the service provided by the service providing device 110. When the power of the multifunction device 10 is turned on, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 displays the top screen on the display unit 23 (S21). FIG. 11A is an example of the top screen. The top screen shown in FIG. 11A includes a [copy] icon, a [scan] icon, and a [Web] icon. The [copy] icon corresponds to an instruction to cause the multifunction device 10 to execute the copy operation. The [scan] icon corresponds to an instruction to cause the multifunction device 10 to execute the scanning operation. The [Web] icon corresponds to an instruction to cause the multifunction device 10 to receive the service provided by the service providing device 110. The top screen is also displayed when the multifunction device 10 is in the standby state.

Then, the control program 35 accepts the selection of the icon included in the top screen through the operation unit 24. This process is an example of a reception process. The control program 35 causes the printer unit 11 and the scanner unit 12 to execute the copy operation in response to the selection of the [copy] icon being received through the operation unit 24. Further, the control program 35 causes the scanner unit 12 to execute the scanning operation in response to the selection of the [scan] icon being received through the operation unit 24. Further, the control program 35 transmits the service list request information to the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 in response to receiving the selection of the [Web] icon through the operation unit 24 (S22). The service list request information is information for requesting a list of services that can be used by the multifunction device 10.

Next, the control program 95 of the relay device 80 receives the service list request information from the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 85 (S23). Then, the control program 95 transmits the service list instruction information to the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 85 (S24). The service list instruction information includes screen definition information that defines the service list screen, interface information that indicates that the selection of the icon included in the service list screen is accepted through the operation unit 24, the next operation URL corresponding to each icon, and each. Includes service usage information corresponding to the icon. The service usage information corresponding to the icon refers to the service usage information to be transmitted to the relay device 80 when the corresponding icon is selected.

Next, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 receives the service list instruction information from the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 (S24). Then, the control program 35 causes the display unit 23 to display the service list screen according to the screen definition information and the interface information (S25). The screen definition information indicates that the screen title "service list screen" is displayed, the options are displayed in a list, and the texts "A", "B", and "C" indicating each option are displayed. The interface information indicates that the selection of options is accepted through the operation unit 24. FIG. 11B is an example of the service list screen. The service list screen shown in FIG. 11B includes a plurality of service icons 121, 122, 123. Each of the service icons 121 to 123 corresponds to the service provided by the service providing device 110.

Next, the control program 35 accepts one selection of the service icons 121 to 123 through the operation unit 24 (S26). The process of step S26 is an example of the reception process. The selection of service icons 121 to 123 is an example of a service use operation. Next, the control program 35 acquires the service usage information corresponding to the service icon from the service list instruction information in response to receiving the selection of one of the service icons 121 to 123 through the operation unit 24 (S26). Then, the control program 35 temporarily stores the acquired service usage information in the data storage area 32B. In the present embodiment, assuming that the service icon 121 is selected, the following description will be continued.

Next, the control program 35 transmits the next operation request information to the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 (S27). The next operation request information is information for requesting instruction information indicating an operation to be executed next by the multifunction device 10. More specifically, the next operation request information in step S27 is an HTTP request destined for the next operation URL corresponding to the service icon 121. The next operation URL is a URL indicating instruction information indicating an operation to be executed next by the multifunction device 10 when the service icon 121 is selected. Further, the next operation request information includes the service usage information temporarily stored in the data storage area 32B in step S26. That is, the service usage information when the service icon 121 is selected includes "service = A". The process of step S27 executed by the multifunction device 10 is an example of the usage information transmission process.

Next, the control program 95 of the relay device 80 receives the next operation request information from the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 85 (S27). Next, the control program 95 determines whether or not all the information necessary for generating the communication instruction information described later is included in the next operation request information. Here, when all the service usage information is included among all the information necessary for generating the communication instruction information but the R token is not included, the control program 95 is the multifunction device through the communication unit 85. The token acquisition instruction information is transmitted to No. 10 (S28). The token acquisition instruction information includes screen definition information that defines the token selection screen, interface information indicating that the selection of the icon included in the token selection screen is accepted through the operation unit 24, and that the R token is received through the NFC communication unit 26. , The next operation URL corresponding to each operation, and the service usage information "service = A". As will be described in detail later, the R token is stored in the multifunction device 10 or the card 70 by the processing shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In addition, the processing when some service usage information is not included among all the information necessary for generating the communication instruction information will be described later.

Next, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 receives the token acquisition instruction information from the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 (S28). Then, the control program 35 causes the display unit 23 to display the token selection screen according to the screen definition information and the interface information (S29).

FIG. 12A is an example of a token selection screen. On the token selection screen shown in FIG. 12A, the message "Please hold the card that stores the token or select the token registered in the multifunction device.", Account icons 124 and 125, and [ Includes new registration icon. The screen title, message, text indicating options, and the like are defined in the screen definition information. Each of the account icons 124 and 125 corresponds to the account record shown in FIG. 4 (A). The [New registration] icon corresponds to an instruction for the multifunction device 10 to acquire a new R token. The process of step S29 is an example of the display process. The account icons 124 and 125 are examples of authentication information objects, and the token selection screen is an example of an authentication information selection screen.

The control program 35 causes the NFC communication unit 26 to execute the Poll operation in response to the interface information indicating the reception of the R token through the NFC communication unit 26 (S30). Then, the control program 35 reads the R token stored in the card 70 through the NFC communication unit 26 (S32) in response to the fact that the card 70 is brought closer to the distance where the polling signal can be received (S31). That is, the card 70 transmits the R token stored in the storage unit 72 to the multifunction device 10 through the NFC communication unit 73. Then, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 receives the R token from the card 70 through the NFC communication unit 26. Further, when the shortcut information associated with the R token is stored in the storage unit 72, the shortcut information is further read in step S32. The process of step S32 executed by the card 70 is an example of the second proximity transmission process, and the process of step S32 executed by the multifunction device 10 is an example of the first proximity reception process.

On the other hand, although not shown, the control program 35 receives the user operation for selecting one of the account icons 124 and 125 through the operation unit 24, and obtains the account record corresponding to the account icon in FIG. 4 (A). ) Is read from the account list shown. The selection of the account icons 124 and 125 is an example of the selection operation, and the process of accepting the selection is an example of the reception process. Further, the operation of holding the card 70 or the operation of selecting the account icons 124 and 125 is an example of the service use operation. In the present embodiment, assuming that the R token "0x2F6" is received from the card 70 in step S32, the following description will be continued.

Next, the control program 35 transmits the next operation request information to the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 (S33). The next operation request information in step S33 is an HTTP request destined for the next operation URL corresponding to the acquisition of the R token by NFC communication. Further, the next operation request information includes the service usage information "service = A" and the R token "0x2F6". The process of step S33 executed by the multifunction device 10 is an example of the usage information transmission process.

Next, the control program 95 of the relay device 80 receives the next operation request information from the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 85 (S33). Next, the control program 95 determines whether or not all the information necessary for generating the communication instruction information is included in the next operation request information. Then, the control program 95 uses the R token "0x2F6" included in the next operation request information and the necessary service usage according to the fact that all the information necessary for generating the communication instruction information is included in the next operation request information. Information is transmitted to the service providing device 110 through the communication unit 85 (S34).

The service providing device 110 receives the R token "0x2F6" and necessary service usage information from the relay device 80. Then, the service providing device 110 generates communication instruction information based on the received information, and transmits the generated communication instruction information to the relay device 80 (S35). The communication instruction information includes, for example, an access URL indicating a destination of an HTTP request for receiving the provision of service A, and an access token used for data communication for receiving the provision of service A (hereinafter, referred to as "A token"). ) And include. That is, the communication instruction information is information indicating a method of data communication with the service requesting device 110.

Next, the control program 95 of the relay device 80 receives communication instruction information from the service providing device 110 through the communication unit 85 (S35). Then, the control program 95 transmits the received communication instruction information to the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 85 (S36). Further, the control program 95 may include the redirect URL and the like in the communication instruction information received in step S35 and transmit it in step S36. The redirect URL is information indicating a report destination of the result of the data communication process (S37). The process of step S35 executed by the relay device 80 is an example of the first acquisition process, and the process of step S35 is an example of the communication instruction process.

Next, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 receives communication instruction information from the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 (S36). Then, the control program 35 performs data communication with the service providing device 110 using the communication instruction information in order to receive the provision of the service A (S37). Specifically, the control program 35 transmits an HTTP request addressed to the access URL included in the communication instruction information through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25. Further, a part or all of the data transmitted / received in step S37 is implicitly decoded with the A token.

Scan upload, which is an example of service A, will be described below. The service usage information "Service = A" indicates that the service providing device 110 provides a service and that the provided service is a scan upload. Other service usage information is also required for scan upload. Information indicating a folder for storing uploaded data is an example of service usage information. In step S27, when some of the service usage information is not included among all the information necessary for generating the communication instruction information, the control program 95 provides the instruction information instructing to acquire the service usage information. It is transmitted to the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 85. In this way, after the transmission and reception of information for acquiring all service usage information is repeated between the multifunction device 10 and the relay device 80, the token acquisition instruction information from the relay device 80 to the multifunction device 10 in step S28 Is sent.

Further, in step S36, the control program 95 transmits the communication instruction information instructing the scan upload operation to the multifunction device 10. When the control program 35 receives the communication instruction information instructing the scan upload operation, the control program 35 causes the scanner unit 12 to execute the scan operation. Then, the control program 35 encrypts the image data generated by the scanning operation with the A token included in the communication instruction information, and transmits an HTTP request including the encrypted image data to the access URL as a destination. Further, in the control program 35 in this case, in steps S25 to S33, for example, service usage information for specifying a file name given to the image data at the storage destination, operating conditions for scanning operation (for example, resolution, data format) Etc.) may be further acquired for service usage information.

As another example, when the service A is a download print, the control program 95 transmits the communication instruction information instructing the operation of the download print to the multifunction device 10 in step S36. When the control program 35 receives the communication instruction information instructing the operation of the download print, the control program 35 receives the encrypted image data indicated by the access URL from the service providing device 110 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25, and receives the image data. Decrypt with A token. Then, the control program 35 causes the printer unit 11 to execute a recording operation for the image data. Further, in this case, the control program 35 uses, for example, service usage information for specifying the image data to be downloaded and service use for specifying the execution condition of the recording operation (for example, paper size, number of copies, etc.) between steps S25 to S33. Further information may be obtained.

Then, in step S34, the control program 85 of the relay device 80 further transfers the service usage information for specifying the storage destination of the image data or the service usage information for specifying the image data to be downloaded to the service providing device 110 through the communication unit 85. You may send it. Further, the service providing device 110 may generate an access URL based on this information, for example. Further, the service providing device 110 may generate an A token based on, for example, an R token.

Here, transmitting an HTTP request destined for an access URL and dark-decoding the data transmitted / received in the data communication process with an A token are examples of performing data communication using communication instruction information. Further, transmitting the R token to the relay device 80 in order to acquire the communication instruction information necessary for the data communication is an example of performing the data communication using the R token. However, the transmitted / received data may be dark-decrypted with an R token instead of the A token. The process of step S36 is a communication instruction information receiving process, and the process of step S37 is an example of a data communication process.

Next, FIG. 7 is a process of causing the multifunction device 10 to acquire a new R token. First, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 requests transmission to the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 in response to the selection of the [new registration] icon on the token selection screen being accepted through the operation unit 24 (S41). Information is transmitted (S42). The transmission request information is information that requests the transmission of the R token. The transmission request information is an HTTP request destined for the next operation URL corresponding to the [new registration] icon. Further, the control program 35 temporarily stores the shortcut information including the service usage information acquired so far in the data storage area 32B. This process is an example of the second acquisition process.

Next, the control program 95 of the relay device 80 receives transmission request information from the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 85 (S42). Then, the control program 95 transmits the ID acquisition instruction information to the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 85 (S43). The ID acquisition instruction information includes screen definition information for defining the ID reception screen, interface information indicating that the selection of the icon included in the ID reception screen is accepted through the operation unit 24, and the next operation URL corresponding to each icon. ..

Next, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 receives the ID acquisition instruction information from the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 (S43). Then, the control program 35 causes the display unit 23 to display the ID reception screen according to the screen definition information and the interface information (S44). FIG. 12B is an example of the ID reception screen. The ID reception screen shown in FIG. 12B has a message "Please enter TempID", a text box displaying TempID entered through the operation unit 24, a [Send] icon, and [New]. Includes with the Publish icon. The screen title, message, text box, icon, etc. are defined in the screen definition information.

Further, the control program 35 accepts the input of TempID and the selection of the icon through the operation unit 24 according to the interface information (S45, S51). The processing of steps S45 and S51 is an example of the reception processing. The input of TempID is an example of an input operation. Then, the control program 35 transmits the TempID and NFC correspondence information to the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 in response to the reception of the TempID input and the selection of the [Send] icon through the operation unit 24 (S45). (S46).

The TempID transmitted in step S46 is displayed on the display unit of the information processing terminal 40 in step S19 of FIG. 5, and is input through the operation unit 24 in step S45. Further, the NFC correspondence information transmitted in step S46 is information indicating whether or not the multifunction device 10 can execute NFC communication. In this embodiment, TempID "1234" and NFC correspondence information indicating that NFC communication can be executed are transmitted. The process of step S46 executed by the multifunction device 10 is an example of the identification information transmission process.

Next, the control program 95 of the relay device 80 receives TempID and NFC correspondence information from the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 85 (S46). Then, the control program 95 determines whether or not the R token associated with the received TempID is stored in the data storage area 92B (S47). In other words, the control program 95 determines whether or not the token list shown in FIG. 4C includes a token record containing TempID “1234”. The process of step S46 executed by the relay device 80 is an example of the identification information reception process, and the process of step S47 is an example of the fifth determination process.

Then, in response to the determination that the R token associated with the received TempID is not stored in the data storage area 92B (S47: No), the control program 95 sends error information to the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 85. Is transmitted (S49). The error information is information indicating that the R token corresponding to TempID does not exist. Although not shown, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 receives error information from the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 (S49). Then, the control program 35 may display a message such as "TempID is incorrect" on the display unit 23.

On the other hand, the control program 95 executes the R token storage process in response to the determination that the R token "0x3DB" associated with the TempID "1234" is stored in the data storage area 92B (S47: Yes). (S48). The R token storage process is a process of storing the R token held by the relay device 80 in the multifunction device 10 or the card 70. The details of the R token storage process will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

First, the control program 95 determines whether or not the multifunction device 10 can execute NFC communication based on the NFC correspondence information received in step S46 (S61). Then, the control program 95 transmits the storage destination selection instruction information to the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 85 in response to the determination that the multifunction device 10 is capable of executing NFC communication (S61: Yes) (S62). .. The save destination selection instruction information includes screen definition information that defines the save destination selection screen, interface information indicating that the selection of the icon included in the save destination selection screen is accepted through the operation unit 24, and the next operation URL corresponding to each icon. And include.

Next, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 receives the storage destination selection instruction information from the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 (S62). Then, the control program 35 causes the display unit 23 to display the save destination selection screen according to the screen definition information and the interface information (S63). FIG. 13A is an example of a save destination selection screen. The save destination selection screen shown in FIG. 13 (A) includes a message "Please select a save destination for the R token" and a plurality of save destination icons 126 and 127. The screen title, message, text indicating options, and the like are defined in the screen definition information. The save destination icon 126 corresponds to the storage unit 32 of the multifunction device 10, and the save destination icon 127 corresponds to the storage unit 72 of the card 70.

Further, the control program 35 accepts one selection of the save destination icons 126 and 127 through the operation unit 24 (S64). The process of step S64 is an example of the reception process. The selection of the save destination icons 126 and 127 is an example of the first designation operation for designating the save destination of the R token. Then, the control program 35 transmits the storage destination designation information to the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 in response to receiving one selection of the storage destination icons 126 and 127 through the operation unit 24 (S64). (S65).

The save destination designation information is information indicating the storage units 32 and 72 corresponding to the save destination icons 126 and 127 selected in step S64. In the present embodiment, assuming that the save destination icon 127 is selected, the following description will be continued. That is, the storage destination designation information of the present embodiment indicates that the storage unit 72 of the card 70 has been designated as the storage destination. The save destination designation information is an HTTP request destined for the next operation URL corresponding to the save destination icon 127. The process of step S65 is an example of the save destination designation process.

Next, the control program 95 of the relay device 80 receives the storage destination designation information from the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 85 (S65). Next, the control program 95 determines which of the multifunction device 10 and the card 70 is designated in the save destination designation information (S66). The process of step S65 executed by the relay device 80 is an example of the storage destination designation information reception process, and the process of step 66 is an example of the first determination process.

Then, the control program 95 transmits the card information acquisition instruction information to the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 85 in response to the determination that the card 70 is specified in the storage destination designation information (S66: Yes) (S67). ). The card information acquisition instruction information is information instructing to acquire the card information of the card 70 for which the R token is to be stored. The card information acquisition instruction information includes screen definition information that defines a proximity standby screen, interface information indicating that card information is received through the NFC communication unit 26, and a next operation URL. The process of step S67 executed by the relay device 80 is an example of the portable device information acquisition instruction process.

Next, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 receives the card information acquisition instruction information from the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 (S67). Then, the control program 35 causes the display unit 23 to display the proximity standby screen according to the screen definition information and the interface information (S68). FIG. 13B is an example of a proximity standby screen. The proximity standby screen shown in FIG. 13B includes the message "Please hold the card.-Sending polling signal-". The screen title, message, etc. are defined in the screen definition information. The process of step S67 executed by the multifunction device 10 is an example of the portable device information acquisition instruction reception process.

Next, the control program 35 causes the NFC communication unit 26 to execute the Poll operation in response to the interface information indicating the reception of the R token through the NFC communication unit 26 (S69). Then, the control program 35 reads the card information stored in the card 70 through the NFC communication unit 26 (S71) in response to the fact that the card 70 is brought closer to the distance where the polling signal can be received (S70). That is, the card 70 transmits the card information stored in the storage unit 72 to the multifunction device 10 through the NFC communication unit 73. Then, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 receives the card information from the card 70 through the NFC communication unit 26. The process of step S71 executed by the card 70 is an example of the third proximity transmission process, and the process of step S71 executed by the multifunction device 10 is an example of the third proximity reception process.

Next, the control program 35 transmits the card information acquired in step S71 to the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 (S72). The card information is an HTTP request addressed to the next operation URL included in the card information acquisition instruction information. The process of step S72 executed by the multifunction device 10 is an example of the portable device information transmission process.

Next, the control program 95 of the relay device 80 receives the card information from the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 85 (S72). Next, the control program 95 determines whether or not the card 70 can store the R token based on the type information included in the card information (S73). Further, the control program 95 determines whether or not the stored number of the R token has reached the threshold value based on the stored number information included in the card information (S74). The process of step S72 executed by the relay device 80 is an example of the card information reception process, step S73 is an example of the second determination process, and the process of step S74 is an example of the third determination process. The threshold value in step S74 is, for example, 1.

Then, the control program 95 determines that the card 70 can store the R token and the number of stored R tokens is less than the threshold value (S73: Yes & S74: No), and the multifunction device through the communication unit 85. The R token transmission instruction information is transmitted to 10 (S80). The process of step S80 executed by the relay device 80 is an example of the first storage instruction process.

The R token transmission instruction information is information instructing the card 70 to store the R token. In other words, the R token transmission instruction information is information instructing the card 70 to transmit the R token by NFC communication. Further, the R token transmission instruction information includes screen definition information for defining the proximity standby screen, interface information indicating that the R token is transmitted through the NFC communication unit 26, and the R token. The R token transmission instruction information is an example of the first storage instruction information.

Next, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 receives the R token transmission instruction information from the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 (S80). Further, the control program 35 causes the display unit 23 to display the proximity standby screen shown in FIG. 13B according to the screen definition information and the interface information (S81). Further, the control program 35 causes the NFC communication unit 26 to execute the Poll operation in response to the interface information indicating the reception of the R token through the NFC communication unit 26 (S82). The process of step S80 executed by the multifunction device 10 is an example of the storage instruction reception process.

Then, the control program 35 writes the R token included in the R token transmission instruction information to the card 70 in response to the fact that the card 70 is brought closer to the distance where the polling signal can be received (S83). When the shortcut information is temporarily stored in step S42, the shortcut information is further written to the card 70. That is, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 transmits the R token to the card 70 through the NFC communication unit 25. Then, the card 70 receives the R token from the multifunction device 10 through the NFC communication unit 73. The process of step S84 executed by the multifunction device 10 is an example of the first proximity transmission process, and the process of step S84 executed by the card 70 is an example of the second proximity reception process.

Then, the card 70 stores the received R token in the storage unit 72. Here, the card 70 adds the R token to the storage unit 72 according to the number of stored R tokens being less than the threshold value. On the other hand, the card 70 overwrites the already stored R token with the received R token according to the number of stored R tokens reaching the threshold value. The process of storing the R token in the storage unit 72 is an example of the first storage process.

On the other hand, the control program 95 is compounded through the communication unit 85 in response to the determination that the card 70 can store the R token and the number of stored R tokens has reached the threshold value (S73: Yes & S74: Yes). The overwrite confirmation instruction information is transmitted to the machine 10 (S75). The process of step S75 executed by the relay device 80 is an example of the overwrite confirmation instruction process.

For the overwrite confirmation instruction information, the R token already stored in the card 70 (hereinafter referred to as "old R token") is converted into the R token acquired in step S13 (hereinafter referred to as "new R token"). This is information that instructs confirmation of whether or not to overwrite with. The overwrite confirmation instruction information includes screen definition information for defining the overwrite confirmation screen, interface information indicating that the selection of the icon included in the overwrite confirmation screen is accepted through the operation unit 24, and the next operation URL corresponding to each icon. ..

Next, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 receives the overwrite confirmation instruction information from the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 (S75). The process of step S75 executed by the multifunction device 10 is an example of the overwrite confirmation instruction receiving process. Then, the control program 35 causes the display unit 23 to display the overwrite confirmation screen according to the screen definition information and the interface information (S76). FIG. 14A is an example of an overwrite confirmation screen. The overwrite confirmation screen shown in FIG. 14 (A) includes a message "Do you want to overwrite the R token stored in the card?", A [Yes] icon, and a [No] icon. The screen title, message, icon, etc. are defined in the screen definition information. The [Yes] icon corresponds to the permission of overwriting, and the [No] icon corresponds to the refusal of overwriting. Hereinafter, the [Yes] icon and the [No] icon may be collectively referred to as a “confirmation icon”.

Further, the control program 35 accepts the selection of one of the confirmation icons through the operation unit 24 (S77). The process of step S77 is an example of the reception process. The selection of the confirmation icon is an example of the second designation operation for designating whether or not overwriting is possible. Then, the control program 35 transmits the overwrite confirmation information to the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 in response to receiving the selection of one of the confirmation icons through the operation unit 24 (S77) (S78). The process of step S78 executed by the multifunction device 10 is an example of a save destination designation process.

The overwrite confirmation information is information indicating whether or not it is permitted to overwrite the old R token with the new R token. That is, the overwrite confirmation information when the [Yes] icon is selected indicates that the overwrite is permitted. On the other hand, the overwrite confirmation information when the [No] icon is selected indicates that the overwrite is rejected. The overwrite confirmation information is an HTTP request destined for the next operation URL corresponding to the selected confirmation icon.

Next, the control program 95 of the relay device 80 receives the overwrite confirmation information from the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 85 (S78). Next, the control program 95 determines whether or not it is permitted to overwrite the old R token with the new R token based on the overwrite confirmation information (S79). The process of step S78 executed by the relay device 80 is an example of the overwrite confirmation information reception process, and the process of step 79 is an example of the fourth determination process.

Then, the control program 95 executes the processes after step S80 shown in FIG. 10 in response to the determination that the overwrite is permitted (S79: Yes). On the other hand, the control program 95 transmits error information to the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 85 in response to the determination that the overwrite is rejected (S79: No) (S89). The error information is information indicating that the card 70 cannot store the new R token. The error information includes screen definition information that defines an error screen and interface information that indicates that selection of an icon included in the error screen is accepted through the operation unit 24. The process of step S89 executed by the relay device 80 is an example of the error instruction process.

Although not shown, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 receives error information from the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 (S89). Then, the control program 35 may notify the user that the new R token cannot be stored in the card 70 by displaying the error screen on the display unit 23 according to the screen definition information and the interface information. The process of step S89 shown in FIG. 10 is also executed when the control program 95 determines in step S73 that the card 70 cannot store the R token.

On the other hand, the control program 95 of the relay device 80 determines that the multifunction device 10 cannot execute NFC communication (S61: No), or that the multifunction device 10 is designated by the storage destination designation information. Depending on the determination (S66: No), the R token storage instruction information is transmitted to the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 85 (S85). The R token storage instruction information is information instructing the multifunction device 10 to store the R token. The R token storage instruction information includes screen definition information that defines an account name input screen, interface information indicating that input of an account name is accepted through the operation unit 24, and an R token. The R token storage instruction information is an example of the second storage instruction information. The process of step S85 executed by the relay device 80 is an example of the second storage instruction process.

Next, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 receives the R token storage instruction information from the relay device 80 through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 (S85). The process of step S85 executed by the multifunction device 10 is an example of the authentication information acquisition process. Then, the control program 35 causes the display unit 23 to display the account name input screen according to the screen definition information and the interface information (S86). FIG. 14B is an example of the account name input screen. The account name input screen shown in FIG. 14 (B) includes a message "Please enter the account name", a text box displaying the account name entered through the operation unit 24, and a [Save] icon. including. The screen title, message, text box, icon, etc. are defined in the screen definition information.

Further, the control program 35 accepts the input of the account name and the selection of the [Save] icon through the operation unit 24 (S87). The process of step S87 is an example of the reception process. Then, the control program 35 adds the account record to the account list shown in FIG. 4A in response to receiving the input of the account name and the selection of the [Save] icon through the operation unit 24 (S87) (S87). S88). The account record added in step S88 includes the account name input in step S87, the R token included in the R token storage instruction information received in step S85, and the shortcut information temporarily stored in step S42. The process of step S88 is an example of the second storage process.

Next, FIG. 8 is a process of requesting the service providing device 110 to issue a new R token. First, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 requests the relay device 80 to issue through the Wi-Fi communication unit 25 in response to receiving the selection of the [new issue] icon on the ID reception screen through the operation unit 24 (S51). Information is transmitted (S52). The issuance request information transmitted by the multifunction device 10 includes NFC-compatible information indicating that NFC communication can be executed and device information indicating that the device is an image forming device. The issuance request information in step S52 is an HTTP request destined for the next operation URL corresponding to the [new issue] icon. The selection of the [new issue] icon is an example of an instruction operation for instructing the execution of the preparatory process for connecting the multifunction device 10 to the service providing device 110. The process of step S52 executed by the multifunction device 10 is an example of issuance request information.

Next, the control program 95 of the relay device 80 receives the issuance request information from the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 85 (S52). The process of step S52 executed by the relay device 80 is an example of the issue request reception process. Then, the control program 95 executes the token issuance process (S53) and the R token storage process (S54). The process of step S53 is common to the process of step S13, and the process of step S54 is common to the process of step S48. As a result, the R token issued in step S53 is stored in the multifunction device 10 or the card 70.

[Action and effect of this embodiment]
According to the above embodiment, the R token issued by the service providing device 110 by the token issuing process is stored in the card 70. Then, the user can use the service provided by the service providing device 110 through the multifunction device 10 simply by holding the card 70 over the multifunction device 10. As a result, the user operation for accessing the service providing device 110 by using the multifunction device 10 is simplified. Further, by storing the R token in the highly portable card 70, access to the service providing device 110 through each multifunction device 10 becomes easy in an environment in which a plurality of multifunction devices 10 are installed.

Further, according to the above embodiment, it is prevented that the new R token is further written on the card 70 whose storage number has reached the threshold value. For example, the threshold value may be 1. That is, the user may prepare a plurality of cards 70 in which only one R token is stored, and hold the card 70 corresponding to the service to be used over the multifunction device 10. As a result, when the card 70 is held over the multifunction device 10 to use the service, it is possible to save the trouble of having the user select which R token stored in the card 70 to be used.

Further, according to the above embodiment, the user is asked whether or not the old R token is discarded and the new R token is newly stored in the card 70. As a result, it is possible to prevent the necessary old R token from being overwritten, and to discard the unnecessary old R token and reuse the card 70. Further, in recent years, the card 70 compatible with NFC communication has been used for various purposes. Therefore, as in the above embodiment, it is possible to prevent the R token from being written to the card 70 used for other purposes by confirming in advance whether or not the card 70 can be used in the communication system 100. it can.

Further, according to the above embodiment, the user can select either the multifunction device 10 or the card 70 as the storage destination of the R token. Then, the user can be made to select whether to use the service using the R token stored in the card 70 or the R token stored in the multifunction device 10 through the token selection screen. As an example, the R token corresponding to the service used only through the specific multifunction device 10 may be stored in the multifunction device 10. As another example, the R token corresponding to the service that may be used through the plurality of multifunction devices 10 may be stored in the card 70.

Further, according to the above embodiment, when the relay device 80 executes the token issuing process through the information processing terminal 40 that does not support NFC communication, it is associated with the R token issued by the service providing device 110. The TempID is notified to the information processing terminal 40. Then, by transmitting the TempID to the relay device 80 through the multifunction device 10, the R token associated with the TempID can be stored in the multifunction device 10 or the card 70.

The order of processing and screen transitions are not limited to the examples of the above embodiments. As an example, the process of acquiring the service usage information may be further executed after step S33. As another example, a process for generating shortcut information to be stored in association with the R token may be executed in the R token storage process.

Further, in the above embodiment, in step S32, an example of reading the R token to which the shortcut information is not associated is read from the card 70 has been described. On the other hand, when the shortcut information is associated with the R token acquired from the card 70 or the data storage area 32B, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 sets the next operation URL included in the shortcut information as the destination in step S33. As the HTTP request, the next operation request information including the service usage information included in the shortcut information may be transmitted. As a result, a part of the process of accepting the input of the service usage information can be omitted. As a result, the user's operation in routine data communication processing can be simplified.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the token issuance process is executed triggered by the issuance request information being transmitted from the multifunction device 10 or the information processing terminal 40 has been described. However, the source of the issuance request information is not limited to the multifunction device 10 or the information processing terminal 40, and may be the mobile terminal 50. That is, the control program 65 of the mobile terminal 50 may execute the process of the multifunction device 10 shown in FIG. The issuance request information transmitted by the mobile terminal 50 includes NFC-compatible information indicating that NFC communication can be executed and device information indicating that the device is not an image forming device.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the NFC communication unit 26 starts the Poll operation according to the interface information indicating the execution of the NFC communication has been described. However, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 may continuously cause the NFC communication unit 26 to execute the Poll operation while the power is being supplied to the multifunction device 10. In this case, the user can use the service provided by the service providing device 110 through the multifunction device 10 simply by holding the card 70 over the multifunction device 10 without operating the operation unit 24 of the multifunction device 10.

Further, in the above embodiment, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 further reads the type information from the card 70 in step S32, and determines whether or not the card 70 can be used in the communication system 100 based on the type information. You may. Then, the control program 35 may execute the processes after step S33 according to the determination that the card 70 can be used in the communication system 100. As a result, the information read from the card used for other purposes is prevented from being transmitted to the relay device 80.

Further, in the multifunction device 10, the mobile terminal 50, and the relay device 80 of each embodiment, various programs stored in the program storage areas 32A, 62A, 92A of the storage units 32, 62, 92 are executed by the CPUs 31, 61, 91. By doing so, an example in which each process executed by the control unit of the present invention is realized has been described. However, the configuration of the control unit is not limited to this, and a part or all of the control unit may be realized by hardware such as an integrated circuit (also referred to as an IC (abbreviation of Integrated Circuit)).

Further, the present invention can be realized not only as a multifunction device 10, a mobile terminal 50, and a relay device 80, but also as a program for causing the multifunction device 10, the mobile terminal 50, and the relay device 80 to execute processing. Then, the program may be recorded and provided on a non-transitory recording medium. The non-transitory recording medium includes not only a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, etc., but also a storage unit mounted on a server that can be connected to the multifunction device 10, the mobile terminal 50, and the relay device 80 via a communication network. Good. Then, the program stored in the storage unit of the server may be distributed via a communication network such as the Internet as information or a signal indicating the program.

10 ... Multifunction device 11 ... Printer unit 12 ... Scanner unit 31,61,91 ... CPU
23 ... Display unit 24 ... Operation unit 25, 55 ... Wi-Fi communication unit 26, 56 ... NFC communication unit 32, 62, 92 ... Storage unit 35, 65, 95 ... Control program 40 ... Information processing terminal 50 ... Mobile terminal 70 ... Card 80 ... Relay device 85 ... Communication unit 110 ... Service providing device

Claims (14)

It is a communication system that includes an image forming device, a portable device, and a server on the Internet, and receives services from a service providing device on the Internet.
The image forming apparatus operates an image forming unit that forms an image, a first communication unit that communicates with an external device via the Internet, and a first proximity communication unit that communicates with an external device by proximity wireless communication using a proximity wireless communication protocol. It is equipped with a unit and a device control unit.
The portable device operates as a card conforming to the proximity wireless communication protocol, and includes a portable device storage unit and a second proximity communication unit that performs proximity radio communication with an external device using the proximity radio communication protocol. ,
The server includes a second communication unit that communicates with an external device via the Internet, and a server control unit.
The device control unit of the image forming device
In response to receiving the instruction operation through the operation unit, the device side preparation process including the issuance request process, the authentication information acquisition process, and the first proximity transmission process is executed, and the instruction operation causes the image forming apparatus. It is an operation for instructing the execution of the preparatory process for connecting to the service providing device.
In the issuance request processing, the issuance request information is transmitted to the server through the first communication unit, and the issuance request information requests the issuance of authentication information indicating that the user has the authority to perform data communication with the service providing device. Information to do
In the authentication information acquisition process, the authentication information is acquired by interlocking with the server.
In the first proximity transmission process, the authentication information acquired by the authentication information acquisition process is transmitted to the portable device through the first proximity communication unit in response to the mobile device approaching the first proximity communication unit. Send to
The server control unit authenticates the image forming apparatus by interlocking with the image forming apparatus and the service providing apparatus in response to receiving the issuance request information from the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit. Get information,
The portable device is
The authentication information is received from the image forming apparatus through the second proximity communication unit, and the received authentication information is stored in the portable device storage unit.
The authentication information is stored in the portable device storage unit, and the authentication information stored in the portable device storage unit is stored in response to the fact that the image forming device is close to the second proximity communication unit. It is transmitted to the image forming apparatus through the second proximity communication unit, and is transmitted to the image forming apparatus.
The device control unit of the image forming device
In response to the mobile device storing the authentication information approaching the first proximity communication unit, a service utilization process including a first proximity reception process and a data communication process is executed.
In the first proximity reception process, the authentication information stored in the portable device is received from the portable device through the first proximity communication unit.
A communication system that uses the authentication information in the data communication process to perform data communication with the service providing device through the first communication unit. The image forming apparatus includes a device storage unit.
The device-side preparation process includes a storage destination designation process.
The device control unit of the image forming device
In the save destination designation process, the save destination designation information indicating the save destination designated by the first designated operation is received in response to the reception of the first designated operation for designating the save destination of the authentication information through the operation unit. Is transmitted to the server through the first communication unit,
In response to receiving the first storage instruction information in the authentication information acquisition process, the first proximity transmission process is executed, the first storage instruction information includes the authentication information, and the authentication information is carried. Information that instructs the device to store
In response to receiving the second storage instruction information in the authentication information acquisition process, the second storage process for storing the authentication information included in the second storage instruction information in the device storage unit is executed, and the second storage instruction information is executed. The storage instruction information is information that includes the authentication information and instructs the image forming apparatus to store the authentication information.
The server control unit
First determination to determine whether the portable device or the image forming device is designated by the saving destination designation information in response to receiving the saving destination designation information from the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit. Execute the process and
In response to the determination that the portable device is designated in the first determination process, the first storage instruction information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit.
The communication according to claim 1, wherein the second storage instruction information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit in response to the determination that the image forming apparatus is designated in the first determination process. system. The server control unit
In response to the determination that the mobile device has been designated in the first determination process, the mobile device information acquisition instruction information is transmitted to the image forming device through the second communication unit, and the mobile device information acquisition instruction information. Is information instructing the acquisition of type information indicating whether or not the portable device can store the authentication information.
In response to receiving the type information from the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit, a second determination process for determining whether or not the authentication information indicated by the type information can be stored is executed.
In response to the determination in the second determination process that the authentication information can be stored, the first storage instruction information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit.
In response to the determination in the second determination process that the authentication information cannot be stored, error information indicating that the mobile device cannot store the authentication information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit.
The device-side preparation process includes a mobile device information acquisition instruction reception process, a third proximity reception process, and a mobile device information transmission process.
The device control unit of the image forming device
In the mobile device information acquisition instruction reception process, the mobile device information acquisition instruction information is received from the server through the first communication unit.
In the third proximity reception process, in response to the mobile device approaching the first proximity communication unit, the type information is received from the mobile device through the first proximity communication unit.
In the portable device information transmission process, the type information is transmitted to the server through the first communication unit.
The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the portable device transmits the type information to the image forming device through the second proximity communication unit in response to the image forming device approaching the second proximity communication unit. .. The authentication information received by the server control unit from the service providing device is new authentication information.
The authentication information already stored in the portable device is old authentication information, and is
The server control unit
In response to the determination in the first determination process that the mobile device is designated, the mobile device information acquisition instruction information is transmitted to the image forming device through the second communication unit, and the mobile device information acquisition instruction information is transmitted. Is information instructing the acquisition of stored number information indicating the number of the old authentication information.
In response to receiving the stored number information from the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit, a third determination process for determining whether or not the stored number indicated by the stored number information has reached the threshold value is executed. ,
In response to the determination in the third determination process that the number of stored items is less than the threshold value, the first storage instruction information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit.
The device-side preparation process includes a mobile device information acquisition instruction reception process, a third proximity reception process, and a mobile device information transmission process.
The device control unit
In the mobile device information acquisition instruction reception process, the mobile device information acquisition instruction information is received from the server through the first communication unit.
In the third proximity reception process, in response to the mobile device approaching the first proximity communication unit, the storage number information is received from the mobile device through the first proximity communication unit.
In the portable device information transmission process, the stored number information is transmitted to the server through the first communication unit.
The portable device is
In response to the fact that the image forming apparatus is close to the second proximity communication unit, the storage number information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus through the second proximity communication unit.
The communication system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein when the number of stored devices is less than the threshold value, the new authentication information is received from the image forming apparatus through the second proximity communication unit and added to the portable device storage unit. The server control unit
In response to the determination in the third determination process that the number of stored items has reached the threshold value, the overwrite confirmation instruction process for transmitting the overwrite confirmation instruction information to the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit is executed, and the overwrite confirmation instruction process is executed. The overwrite confirmation instruction information is information for instructing confirmation as to whether or not to overwrite the old authentication information with the new authentication information.
Overwrite confirmation information reception processing for receiving overwrite confirmation information indicating whether or not overwriting is permitted from the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit, and
The fourth determination process for determining whether or not the overwrite is possible, which is indicated by the overwrite confirmation information, is executed.
In response to the determination in the fourth determination process that the overwriting is permitted, the first storage instruction information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit.
In response to the determination in the fourth determination process that the overwriting has been rejected, error information indicating that the mobile device cannot store the new authentication information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit.
The device-side preparation process includes an overwrite confirmation instruction reception process and an overwrite confirmation information transmission process.
The device control unit
In the overwrite confirmation instruction reception process, the overwrite confirmation instruction information is received from the server through the first communication unit, and the overwrite confirmation instruction information is received.
In the overwrite confirmation information transmission process, the overwrite confirmation information indicating whether or not the overwrite is possible specified in the second designated operation is received in response to the acceptance of the second designated operation for specifying whether or not the overwrite is possible through the operation unit. It is transmitted to the server through the first communication unit, and is transmitted to the server.
When the number of stored devices reaches the threshold value, the portable device receives the new authentication information through the second proximity communication unit, and receives the old authentication information stored in the portable device storage unit. The communication system according to claim 4, which is overwritten with the new authentication information. The image forming apparatus includes a display unit.
The device control unit of the image forming device
A display process that includes an authentication information object corresponding to the authentication information stored in the device storage unit and causes the display unit to display an authentication information selection screen that prompts the mobile device to approach the device.
The data communication using the authentication information received in the first proximity reception process in response to the mobile device approaching the first proximity communication unit of the image forming apparatus displaying the authentication information selection screen. Processing and
In response to receiving the selection operation for selecting the authentication information object through the operation unit, the data communication process is performed using the authentication information stored in the device storage unit in association with the selected authentication information object. The communication system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein The server includes a server storage unit.
The server control unit can execute a third storage process in which the authentication information received from the service providing device is stored in the server storage unit in association with the identification information that identifies the authentication information.
The device-side preparation process includes an identification information transmission process.
In the identification information transmission process, the device control unit transmits the identification information to the server through the first communication unit in response to receiving an input operation for inputting the identification information through the operation unit.
The server control unit
Identification information reception processing for receiving the identification information from the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit, and
The fifth determination process of determining whether or not the authentication information associated with the received identification information is stored in the server storage unit is executed.
In response to the determination in the fifth determination process that the authentication information is stored in the server storage unit, the authentication information issued by the service providing device is transmitted to the image forming device through the second communication unit. The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is transmitted to. The service usage process includes a usage information transmission process and a communication instruction information reception process.
The device control unit
In the usage information transmission process, service usage information is transmitted to the server through the first communication unit, and the service usage information is information that specifies the content of data communication with the service providing device.
In the communication instruction information receiving process, communication instruction information is received from the server through the first communication unit, and the communication instruction information is information indicating a method of data communication with the service providing device.
In the data communication process, the authentication information and the communication instruction information are used to perform data communication with the service providing device through the first communication unit.
The server control unit
A usage information reception process for receiving the service usage information from the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit, and
The first acquisition process of acquiring the communication instruction information based on the service usage information, and
The communication instruction process of transmitting the communication instruction information to the image forming apparatus through the second communication unit is executed.
The device-side preparation process includes a second acquisition process.
The device control unit
In the second acquisition process, in response to the reception of the service use operation through the operation unit, the service use information corresponding to the service use operation is acquired.
In the first proximity transmission process when the service usage information is acquired in the second acquisition process, both the authentication information and the service usage information are transmitted to the mobile device through the first proximity communication unit.
In the first proximity transmission process when the service usage information is not acquired in the second acquisition process, only the authentication information among the authentication information and the service usage information is carried through the first proximity communication unit. Send to the device
The device control unit
In the first proximity reception process, it is possible to further receive the service usage information from the portable device through the first proximity communication unit.
In the usage information transmission processing when both the authentication information and the service usage information are received in the first proximity reception processing, the service usage information received from the mobile device is transmitted to the server through the first communication unit. And
In the usage information transmission process when only the authentication information of the authentication information and the service usage information is received in the first proximity reception process, the service use corresponding to the service use operation received through the operation unit. The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the information is transmitted to the server through the first communication unit. It is a communication system that includes an image forming device, a mobile device, a server on the Internet, and a mobile terminal, and receives services from a service providing device on the Internet.
The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image, a first communication unit that communicates with an external device via the Internet, and a first proximity communication unit that performs proximity wireless communication with an external device using a proximity wireless communication protocol. Equipped with a control unit
The portable device operates as a card conforming to the proximity wireless communication protocol, and includes a portable device storage unit and a second proximity communication unit that performs proximity radio communication with an external device using the proximity radio communication protocol. ,
The server includes a second communication unit that communicates with an external device via the Internet, and a server control unit.
The mobile terminal includes a third communication unit that communicates with an external device via the Internet, a third proximity communication unit that communicates with an external device by proximity wireless communication using a proximity wireless communication protocol, an operation unit, and a terminal control unit. Ori
The terminal control unit
In response to receiving the instruction operation through the operation unit, the terminal side preparation process including the issuance request process, the authentication information acquisition process, and the first proximity transmission process is executed, and the instruction operation causes the image forming apparatus. It is an operation for instructing the execution of the preparatory process for connecting to the service providing device.
In the issuance request processing, the issuance request information is transmitted to the server through the third communication unit, and the issuance request information requests the issuance of authentication information indicating that the user has the authority to perform data communication with the service providing device. Information to do
In the authentication information acquisition process, the authentication information is acquired by interlocking with the server.
In the first proximity transmission process, the authentication information acquired by the authentication information acquisition process is transmitted to the portable device through the third proximity communication unit in response to the mobile device approaching the third proximity communication unit. Send to
The server control unit acquires the authentication information from the mobile terminal by interlocking with the mobile terminal and the service providing device in response to receiving the issuance request information from the mobile terminal through the second communication unit. Let me
The portable device is
The authentication information is received from the mobile terminal through the second proximity communication unit, and the received authentication information is stored in the mobile device storage unit.
The authentication information is stored in the portable device storage unit, and the authentication information stored in the portable device storage unit is stored in response to the fact that the image forming device is close to the second proximity communication unit. It is transmitted to the image forming apparatus through the second proximity communication unit, and is transmitted to the image forming apparatus.
The device control unit of the image forming device
In response to the mobile device storing the authentication information approaching the first proximity communication unit, a service utilization process including a first proximity reception process and a data communication process is executed.
In the first proximity reception process, the authentication information stored in the portable device is received from the portable device through the first proximity communication unit.
A communication system that uses the authentication information in the data communication process to perform data communication with the service providing device through the first communication unit. An image forming device that can communicate with a portable device that operates as a card compliant with a proximity wireless communication protocol and a server on the Internet and receives services from a service providing device on the Internet.
The image forming part that forms the image and
The first communication unit that communicates with external devices via the Internet,
The first proximity communication unit that performs proximity radio communication with an external device using the proximity radio communication protocol,
Operation unit and
Equipped with a device control unit
The device control unit
In response to receiving the instruction operation through the operation unit, the device side preparation process including the issuance request process, the authentication information acquisition process, and the first proximity transmission process is executed, and the instruction operation causes the image forming apparatus. It is an operation for instructing the execution of the preparatory process for connecting to the service providing device.
In the issuance request processing, the issuance request information is transmitted to the server through the first communication unit, and the issuance request information requests the issuance of authentication information indicating that the user has the authority to perform data communication with the service providing device. Information to do
In the authentication information acquisition process, the authentication information is acquired by interlocking with the server.
In the first proximity transmission process, the authentication information acquired by the authentication information acquisition process is transmitted to the portable device through the first proximity communication unit in response to the mobile device approaching the first proximity communication unit. Send to
The device control unit of the image forming device
In response to the mobile device storing the authentication information approaching the first proximity communication unit, a service utilization process including a first proximity reception process and a data communication process is executed.
In the first proximity reception process, the authentication information stored in the portable device is received from the portable device through the first proximity communication unit.
An image forming device that performs data communication with the service providing device through the first communication unit using the authentication information in the data communication process. A server that executes preparatory processing for the image forming apparatus to receive the services provided by the service providing apparatus on the Internet.
A communication unit that communicates with external devices via the Internet,
Equipped with a server control unit
The server control unit
In response to receiving the issuance request information from the external device through the communication unit, the preparatory process including the first determination process is executed, and the issuance request information has the authority to perform data communication with the service providing device. Information that requests the issuance of authentication information indicating that it is possessed.
The authentication information issued by the service providing device is received from the service providing device through the communication unit, and the service providing device receives the authentication information.
In the first determination process, it is determined whether or not the external device can execute proximity wireless communication conforming to the proximity wireless communication protocol.
In response to the determination in the first determination process that the proximity wireless communication can be executed, the first storage instruction information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus through the communication unit, and the first storage instruction information is used to provide the service. A server that includes the authentication information issued by the device and is information that instructs the mobile device to transmit the authentication information by the proximity wireless communication in order to store the authentication information in the mobile device. The preparatory process includes a second determination process.
The server control unit
In the second determination process, it is determined whether or not the external device is the image forming device in response to the determination in the first determination process that the proximity wireless communication cannot be executed.
In response to the determination in the second determination process that the image forming apparatus is used, the second storage instruction information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus through the communication unit, and the second storage instruction information is the authentication information. The server according to claim 11, which is information including and instructing the image forming apparatus to store the authentication information. The server includes a server storage unit.
The preparatory process includes a generation process, a storage process, and an identification information transmission process.
The server control unit
In the generation process, identification information for identifying the authentication information received from the service providing device is generated in response to the determination in the second determination process that the device is not the image forming device.
In the storage process, the authentication information and the identification information are associated and stored in the server storage unit.
The server according to claim 12, wherein in the identification information transmission process, the identification information is transmitted to the external device through the communication unit. A program that can communicate with a mobile device that operates as a card that conforms to the proximity wireless communication protocol and a server on the Internet , and that can be read by a mobile terminal that allows the image forming device to receive services provided by the service providing device on the Internet. There,
The mobile terminal
A communication unit that communicates with external devices via the Internet,
A proximity communication unit that performs proximity wireless communication with an external device using a proximity wireless communication protocol,
Equipped with an operation unit
The program
In response to receiving the instruction operation through the operation unit, the mobile terminal is made to execute the device-side preparation process including the issuance request process, the authentication information acquisition process, and the first proximity transmission process, and the instruction operation is performed. It is an operation of instructing the execution of the preparatory process for connecting the image forming apparatus to the service providing apparatus.
In the issuance request processing, the issuance request information is transmitted to the server through the communication unit, and the issuance request information is information requesting the issuance of authentication information indicating that the user has the authority to perform data communication with the service providing device. And
In the authentication information acquisition process, the authentication information is acquired by interlocking with the server.
In the first proximity transmission process, the authentication information acquired by the authentication information acquisition process is transmitted to the portable device through the proximity communication unit in response to the proximity of the mobile device to the proximity communication unit.
In response to the mobile device storing the authentication information approaching the proximity communication unit, the mobile terminal is made to execute a service utilization process including a first proximity reception process and a data communication process.
In the first proximity reception process, the authentication information stored in the portable device is received from the portable device through the proximity communication unit.
A program that performs data communication with the service providing device through the communication unit using the authentication information in the data communication process.

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