Information processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and storage medium

Abstract

To take setting information stored in an image forming apparatus into a mobile terminal without impairing operability of a user.SOLUTION: When the mobile terminal is brought close to the image forming apparatus, the setting information stored in the image forming apparatus is transmitted from the image forming apparatus to the mobile terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a data processing device that acquires setting information from an image forming device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, with the widespread use of high-performance mobile devices known as smartphones, the number of MFPs linked to these mobile devices has also increased. For example, a mobile device can issue a print instruction to an MFP via wireless communication. The mobile device accepts user operations, creates a print job based on the selected print data and various print setting information (e.g., color, paper tray, and number of copies), and sends the print job to the MFP, causing the MFP to execute the print process. In this case, wireless communication between the mobile device and the image forming device is established according to a communication protocol such as TCP / IP, NFC, or Bluetooth (registered trademark), and can be achieved using well-known technology.

[0003] In addition to the print function, MFPs also have various other functions such as scan, copy, and fax functions, and the setting information to be set when executing each function can be registered in the MFP or mobile device. A user can register frequently used setting information in the MFP or mobile device, and can call up and use the registered setting information when issuing an execution instruction to the MFP. A user may also want to use the setting information registered in the MFP on a mobile device. Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a method in which a mobile device can save and use setting information registered in an MFP. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-207875 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in order for a mobile terminal to acquire and register the setting information registered in the MFP, various operations are required on the MFP or the mobile terminal, which is cumbersome for the user. Patent Document 1 does not describe in detail a method for a mobile terminal to save the setting information registered in the MFP.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a technique for a mobile terminal to acquire setting information registered in an image forming apparatus without impairing user operability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An information processing system comprising a terminal and an image forming device capable of communicating with each other via short-range wireless communication, wherein the terminal has a receiving means for receiving job setting information from the image forming device, and the image forming device has a storage means for storing the job setting information within the image forming device, and a transmitting means for transmitting the job setting information stored in the storage means to the terminal, wherein in response to the terminal and the image forming device performing short-range wireless communication, the transmitting means transmits the job setting information stored in the storage means to the terminal, and the receiving means receives the setting information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] When the mobile terminal is brought close to the image forming apparatus, the mobile terminal can acquire the setting information registered in the image forming apparatus, thereby improving the operability for the user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of a data processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a data processing device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of a data processing device according to a first embodiment; [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a registration process of job setting information according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7-1] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a registration process of job setting information according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7-2] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a registration process of job setting information according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a job execution process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job setting information list managed by the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen related to job setting information acquisition and registration of the data processing apparatus according to the first embodiment; [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen related to job setting transmission of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment; [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen related to job setting information acquisition and registration of the data processing apparatus according to the second embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the components described in the embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0011] Example 1 1 is a configuration diagram of an information processing system according to this embodiment. The data processing system 100 includes a data processing device 101, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) terminal 102, an image forming device 104, and a cloud server 105, which are connected via a network 103.

[0012] The data processing device 101 may be a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet, and may run an operating system for small devices or a program for controlling calls and data communications. Alternatively, the data processing device 101 may be a personal computer that does not have voice control, location detection control, mobile phone data communications, etc. The data processing device 101 is connected to a network 103 via a wireless LAN terminal 102.

[0013] The wireless terminal 102 is a wireless LAN base station with a general network router function, and provides a wireless LAN within a home or office.

[0014] The image forming apparatus 104 is a digital multifunction peripheral equipped with various job execution functions such as a printer function, a copy function, a scanner function, a fax transmission function, etc. By operating the data processing device 101, a user can instruct the image forming apparatus 104 to execute a job and execute various functions of the image forming apparatus 104.

[0015] Cloud server 105 manages data used by data processing device 101 and image forming device 104, performs various function expansion processes, etc. via network 103. Note that in this embodiment, image forming device 104 and cloud server 105 are connected to network 103 by wire, but they may also be connected wirelessly using wireless LAN terminal 102, similar to data processing device 101.

[0016] Furthermore, the data processing device 101 and the image forming device 104 are capable of short-range wireless communication via wireless signals such as NFC (Near Field Communication) and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). The image forming device 104 has connection information (such as an IP address or a MAC address) for connecting to the image forming device 104 via a wireless LAN in an NFC communication unit or a BLE communication unit (described later), and the data processing device 101 acquires the connection information via short-range wireless communication. Then, based on the acquired connection information, the data processing device 101 and the image forming device 104 start wireless LAN communication. In other words, wireless LAN communication between the data processing device 101 and the image forming device 104 is established by switching (called handover) the connection information exchanged between the devices via short-range wireless communication such as NFC communication or BLE communication to wireless LAN communication such as Wi-Fi.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the data processing device 101 according to this embodiment.

[0018] The data processing device 101 has a controller unit 201. The controller unit 201 controls various communication units such as an NFC communication unit 210, a BLE communication unit 211, and a wireless LAN communication unit 212, as well as various UI units such as a microphone / speaker 213, a display 214, and a touch panel 215.

[0019] The controller unit 201 is composed of a CPU 202 , a ROM 203 , a RAM 204 , a network I / F 205 , an audio control unit 206 , a display control unit 207 , an input control unit 208 and a storage device 209 , which are connected by a system bus 216 .

[0020] The CPU 202 controls the entire system of the data processing device 101. The ROM 203 stores the operating system of the data processing device 101 and applications that control calls and data communications, and the CPU 202 executes various programs. The RAM 204 is a memory for the CPU 202 to execute various programs and is a work memory area in which the applications execute programs.

[0021] The storage device 209 is a non-volatile storage device that records various operation mode settings and operation logs that need to be retained even after restarting the data processing device 101. In particular, in this embodiment, the storage device 209 stores setting information used when issuing execution instructions to the image forming device 104, setting information acquired from the image forming device 104, and the like.

[0022] The network I / F 205 is connected to an NFC communication unit 210 , a BLE communication unit 211 , and a wireless LAN communication unit 212 , and controls various wireless communications with the image forming apparatus 104 and the cloud server 105 .

[0023] An audio control unit 206 controls the input and output of audio data via a microphone / speaker 213. A display control unit 207 controls the output of image data to be displayed on a display 214. An input control unit 208 controls the input of information designated by a user via a button or touch panel 215. Using the audio control unit 206, display control unit 207, and input control unit 208, various applications executed by the data processing device 101 are provided to the user.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 104 according to this embodiment.

[0025] The image forming apparatus 104 has a controller unit 301, which controls various communication units, such as an NFC communication unit 310, a BLE communication unit 311, and a wireless LAN communication unit 312, as well as an operation unit 307, a scanner 313, and a printer 314. When a user uses the copy function, the controller unit 301 controls the scanner 313 to acquire image data of an original document and controls the printer 314 to print and output the image on paper. When a user uses the scan function, the controller unit 301 controls the scanner 313 to acquire image data of an original document, converts it into code data, and transmits it to the data processing device 101, the cloud server 105, or the like via the network 103. When a user uses the print function, the controller unit 301 receives image data (code data) from the data processing device 101, the cloud server 105, or the like via the network 103. The controller unit 301 then converts the received print data into image data and transmits it to the printer 314. The printer 314 prints and outputs the image on paper based on the received image data. The image forming device 104 also has a fax receiving function that receives data from ISDN etc. and prints it, and a fax sending function that sends scanned data to ISDN etc. The work to execute each of these functions is called a job, and the image forming device 104 executes predetermined processing according to the job corresponding to each function.

[0026] The controller unit 310 is composed of a CPU 302 , a RAM 303 , a ROM 304 , a HDD 305 , an operation unit I / F 306 , a network I / F 308 , and a device I / F 309 , which are connected by a system bus 312 .

[0027] The CPU 302 controls the entire system of the image forming apparatus 104. The RAM 303 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 302, and is also an image memory for temporarily storing image data and setting data. The RAM 303 also stores programs and data such as the operating system, system software, and application software. It also stores scanned image data read by the scanner 312 and print image data received from the data processing apparatus 101 via the network 103. The ROM 304 stores the system boot program and the like. The hard disk drive (HDD) 305 stores the operating system, system software, application software, image data, setting data, and the like.

[0028] An operation unit I / F 306 is an interface unit with an operation unit 307, and outputs information to be displayed on the operation unit 307 to the operation unit 307. In addition, the operation unit I / F 306 receives information input from the operation unit 307 by the user.

[0029] The network I / F 308 is connected to an NFC communication unit 310, a BLE communication unit 311, and a wireless LAN communication unit 312, and controls various wireless communications with the data processing device 101 and the cloud server 105. The wireless LAN communication unit 312 forms a wireless LAN with the data processing device 101 via the network 103. The NFC communication unit and the BLE communication unit 311 perform short-range wireless communications with the data processing device 101 via wireless signals. The image forming apparatus 104 transmits and receives job setting information and image data to and from the data processing device 101 via the network I / F 308, and executes jobs received from the data processing device 101. Hereinafter, setting information assigned to a job will be referred to as job setting information. For example, in the case of a print job, setting information assigned to the print job, such as number of copies: 1, color setting: monochrome, and size: A4, will be referred to as job setting information.

[0030] A device I / F 309 connects the controller unit 301 to a scanner 313 and a printer 314 that read and print image data, and inputs and outputs image data.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the data processing device 101 according to this embodiment.

[0032] The application 401 is software executed by the CPU 202 of the data processing device 101, and is stored in the RAM 203, the storage device 209, or the like.

[0033] A user interface (UI) control unit 402 accepts settings (job setting information) input by the user via the touch panel 215, and transmits the settings to a job setting management unit 406 via an input control unit 208. The UI control unit 402 also receives responses from the job setting management unit 406 and the job control unit 407, and outputs the information to the display 214 via a display control unit 207. The UI control unit 402 also accepts authentication information input by the user via the touch panel 215, and transmits the accepted authentication information to an authentication setting management unit 403 via an input control unit 208.

[0034] The authentication setting management unit 403 transmits authentication information such as user information received from the UI control unit 402 to the network control unit 405. The authentication information is used in authentication processing in the image processing device 104, which will be described later, via the network 103. The authentication information such as user information may also be stored in the authentication setting management unit 403.

[0035] The device connection unit 404 establishes short-range wireless communication between the data processing device 101 and the image forming device 104 using NFC or BLE, or wireless LAN communication via the network 103. For example, in the case of NFC, the user brings the NFC communication unit 210 of the data processing device 101 and the NFC communication unit 310 of the image forming device 104 close to each other to initiate short-range wireless communication. In the case of BLE, the user brings the BLE communication unit 211 of the data processing device 101 and the BLE communication unit 311 of the image forming device 104 close to each other. When the radio wave intensity of the BLE beacon received from the image forming device 104 reaches a certain value or greater, the device connection unit 404 initiates bidirectional short-range wireless communication. In this way, when the user performs an operation (called a touch operation) of bringing the NFC or BLE communication units of the data processing device 101 and the image forming device 104 close to each other, the device connection unit 404 acquires connection information (such as an IP address) required for wireless LAN communication from the image forming device 104. The data processing device 101 then initiates a wireless LAN connection with the image forming device 104 using the acquired connection information. In addition, the image forming device 104 and the data processing device 101 may establish wireless LAN communication by having the data processing device 101 read a QR code (registered trademark) indicating connection information displayed on the image forming device 104 without performing short-range wireless communication.

[0036] The network control unit 405 transmits jobs (including job setting information, execution instruction commands, image data, etc.), user authentication information, etc. to the image forming apparatus 104 via the network 103. Furthermore, the network control unit 405 receives job setting information stored in the image forming apparatus 104 via the network 103.

[0037] The job setting management unit 406 stores job setting information input by the user via the UI control unit 402 and job setting information received from the image forming apparatus 104 or the cloud server 105 via the network control unit 405 in the RAM 204 or the storage device 209. At this time, the job setting management unit 406 manages this job setting information as "favorites," which are settings that the user frequently uses. The job setting management unit 406 also manages job setting information that was previously stored in the RAM 204 or the storage device 209 when the application 401 was installed as "presets."

[0038] The job control unit 407 generates information for instructing job execution from job setting information such as "favorites" and "presets" registered in the job setting management unit 406, and transmits the job execution instruction to the image forming apparatus 104 via the network 103. The job control unit 407 also acquires the job execution status and the operating status of the devices such as the scanner 313 and printer 314 from the image forming apparatus 104 via the network 103, and transmits the information to the UI control unit 402.

[0039] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the image forming apparatus 104 according to this embodiment.

[0040] The application 501 is software executed by the CPU 302 of the image forming apparatus 104, and is stored in the RAM 303, the HDD 305, or the like.

[0041] A user interface (UI) control unit 502 accepts job setting information and the like input by the user via the operation unit 307 and transmits it to a job setting management unit 506. The UI control unit 502 also receives responses from the job setting management unit 506 and job control unit 507 and outputs information to the operation unit 307.

[0042] The authentication unit 503 performs user identification and user authentication processing based on the authentication information received from the data processing device 101, and returns the results.

[0043] The device connection unit 504 performs short-distance wireless communication between the data processing device 101 and the image forming device 104 and establishes wireless LAN communication via the network 103 .

[0044] The network control unit 505 receives jobs (job setting information, job execution instruction command, image data), user authentication information, and the like from the data processing device 101 via the network 103. Furthermore, the network control unit 505 transmits job setting information stored in the image forming device 104 to the data processing device 101 via the network 104.

[0045] The job setting management unit 506 stores job setting information input by the user via the UI control unit 502 and job setting information received from the data processing device 101 or the cloud server 105 via the network control unit 505 in the RAM 303 or the HDD 305. At this time, the job setting management unit 506 manages this job setting information as "favorites," which are settings that the user frequently uses. The job setting management unit 406 also manages job setting information that was stored in the RAM 303 or the HDD 305 when the application 501 was installed as "presets." The job setting management unit 406 also manages job setting information included in jobs executed by the image processing device 104 as "history."

[0046] The job control unit 507 controls each processing unit, such as the scan processing unit 511, copy processing unit 512, print processing unit 513, and fax processing unit 514, in response to the received job, and executes various jobs. At this time, the job control unit 507 executes the job based on job setting information set by the user via the operation unit 307 and job setting information such as "favorites" and "presets" registered in the job setting management unit 506. Furthermore, the job control unit 507 receives a job execution request from the data processing device 101 via the network 103, and executes various jobs in accordance with the job setting information of the received job, etc. The job control unit 507 also transmits the job execution status and the operating status of the devices, such as the scanner 313 and printer 314, to the data processing device 101 via the network 103.

[0047] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a job setting registration process in the data processing apparatus 101 and the image forming apparatus 104 according to this embodiment.

[0048] Steps S601 to S607 in FIG. 6 are a flow executed by the CPU 202 in accordance with the application 401 stored in the RAM 203, storage device 209, etc., of the data processing device 101.

[0049] In step S601, the device connection unit 404 detects whether the data processing device 101 has touched the image forming device 104. If a touch is detected, the process proceeds to S602, and if a touch is not detected, S601 is repeated. The detection here is determined based on whether short-range wireless communication by, for example, NFC or Bluetooth has been established.

[0050] In step S602, the device connection unit 404 establishes a communication connection via wireless LAN with the image forming apparatus 104. If the communication connection is successful, the data processing apparatus 101 may transmit a request to obtain job setting information to the image forming apparatus 104. Then, the process proceeds to step S603.

[0051] In step S603, the authentication setting management unit 403 transmits the user's authentication information to the image forming apparatus 104 and instructs the image forming apparatus 104 to execute authentication processing. Then, the process proceeds to S604. The configuration of authentication processing is not essential.

[0052] In step S604, the job setting management unit 406 determines whether job setting information has been sent from the image forming apparatus 104. If job setting information has been sent (Yes in step S604), the process proceeds to step S605. If not (No in step S604), the flow ends.

[0053] In step S605, the job setting management unit 406 receives the job setting information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 104. Then, the process proceeds to S606.

[0054] In step S606, the job setting management unit 406 instructs the UI control unit 402 to perform a display based on the received job setting information. As a result, the job setting information acquired from the image forming apparatus 104 is displayed on the display 214 of the data processing apparatus 101. Then, the process proceeds to step S607.

[0055] In step S607, the job setting management unit 407 saves and registers the job setting information received in S605 in accordance with the user selection received by the UI control unit 402.

[0056] Steps S608 to S612 in FIG. 6 are a flow executed by the CPU 302 in accordance with the application 501 stored in the RAM 303 and HDD 305 of the image forming apparatus 104.

[0057] In step S608, the device connection unit 504 determines whether or not the data processing device 101 has been touched. If it has been touched, the process proceeds to S609; if not, the process repeats S608.

[0058] In step S609, the device connection unit 504 establishes a communication connection by wireless LAN with the data processing device 101. This process corresponds to step S602.

[0059] In step S610, the authentication unit 503 executes authentication processing based on the user information received from the data processing device 101. The authentication unit 503 also transmits an authentication processing completion notification to the data processing device 101.

[0060] In step S611, the job setting management unit 506 acquires job setting information stored and managed by the image forming apparatus 104 and determines whether to transmit it to the data processing apparatus 101. If the job setting management unit 506 determines to transmit the job setting information (Yes in step S6011), the process proceeds to step S612. On the other hand, if the job setting management unit 506 does not transmit the job setting information (No in step S604), the flow ends. For example, if there is job setting information registered in the image forming apparatus 104, the process determines to transmit the job setting information, and if there is no registered job setting information, the process determines not to transmit the job setting information. Alternatively, if a request to acquire job setting information has been received from the data processing apparatus 101, the process determines to transmit the job setting information, and if not, the process determines not to transmit. Here, information indicating that transmission will not be performed may be transmitted to the data processing apparatus 101.

[0061] In step S612, the job setting management unit 506 transmits the job setting information stored and managed by the image forming apparatus 104 to the data processing apparatus 101.

[0062] When the user touches the data processing device 101 to the image forming device 104, the processes from S601 to S606 and the processes from S608 to S612 in this flowchart automatically proceed. This allows the user to import setting information registered in the image forming device 104 into the data processing device 101 simply by touching the device.

[0063] 7A and 7B are flowcharts showing the processing of the data processing device 101 and the image forming device 104 according to this embodiment.

[0064] FIG. 7-1(a) is a flowchart of a communication connection process in the data processing device 101 and the image forming device 104 according to this embodiment.

[0065] 7-1(a) is a flow executed by the CPU 202 in accordance with the application 401 stored in the data processing device 101. This corresponds to the processing of S602 in FIG.

[0066] In step S701, the device connection unit 404 determines whether or not the communication connection with the image forming apparatus 104 has been completed. If the connection with the image forming apparatus 104 has been completed (Yes in step S701), the flow ends. On the other hand, if the device connection with the image forming apparatus 104 has not been completed (No in step S701), the flow proceeds to step S702.

[0067] In step S702, the device connection unit 404 receives connection information such as an IP address transmitted using BLE or NFC from the image forming apparatus 104. Then, the process proceeds to step S703.

[0068] In step S703, the device connection unit 404 establishes wireless LAN communication with the image forming apparatus 104 based on the received connection information.

[0069] 7-1(a) is a flow executed by the CPU 302 in accordance with the application 501 stored in the image forming apparatus 104. This corresponds to the processing of S609 in FIG.

[0070] In step S704, the device connection unit 504 determines whether or not the communication connection with the data processing device 101 has been completed. If the connection with the data processing device 101 has been completed (Yes in step S704), the flow ends. On the other hand, if the device connection with the data processing device 101 has not been completed (No in step S704), the flow proceeds to step S705.

[0071] In step S705, the device connection unit 504 transmits connection information to the data processing device 101 using short-range wireless communication via the NFC communication unit 310 or the BLE communication unit 311 of the image forming apparatus 104. Then, the process proceeds to S706.

[0072] In step S706, the connection unit 504 establishes wireless LAN communication with the data processing device 101.

[0073] FIG. 7-1(b) is a flowchart of the user authentication process in the data processing device 101 and the image forming device 104 according to this embodiment.

[0074] 7-1(b) is a flow executed by the CPU 202 in accordance with the application 401 stored in the data processing device 101. This corresponds to the processing of S603 in FIG.

[0075] In step S707, the authentication setting management unit 403 determines whether user authentication has been completed in the image forming apparatus 104. If user authentication has been completed in the image forming apparatus 104 (Yes in step S707), the flow ends. On the other hand, if user authentication has not been completed in the image forming apparatus 104 (No in step S707), the flow proceeds to step S708.

[0076] In step S708, the authentication setting management unit 403 transmits the user's authentication information to the image forming apparatus 104. Then, the process proceeds to step S709.

[0077] In step S709, the authentication setting management unit 403 receives a flag indicating that user authentication has been completed from the image forming apparatus 104, and determines that authentication has been completed, and ends the process.

[0078] 7-1(b) is a flow executed by the CPU 302 in accordance with the application 501 stored in the image forming apparatus 104. This corresponds to the processing of S610 in FIG.

[0079] In step S710, the authentication unit 503 determines whether user authentication has been completed in the image forming apparatus 104. If user authentication has been completed in the image forming apparatus 104 (Yes in step S710), the flow ends. On the other hand, if user authentication has not been completed in the image forming apparatus 104 (No in step S710), the flow proceeds to step S711.

[0080] In step S711, the authentication unit 503 performs user authentication based on the user authentication information received from the data processing device 101. If the authentication is successful, the process proceeds to S712.

[0081] In step S712, the authentication unit 503 notifies the data processing device 101 of the completion of authentication by sending a flag indicating that user authentication has been completed.

[0082] 7-2(c) is a flowchart of the job setting information transmission process in the image forming apparatus 104 according to this embodiment, which corresponds to the process of S612 in FIG.

[0083] In step S713, the job setting management unit 506 determines whether a network connection between the image forming apparatus 104 and the cloud server 105 has been established via the network control unit 505. Furthermore, if the image forming apparatus 104 is connected to the cloud, the job setting management unit 506 determines whether job setting information is stored on the cloud. If the image forming apparatus 104 is connected to the cloud and job setting information is stored on the cloud (Yes in step S713), the process proceeds to step S714. If not (No in step S713), the process proceeds to step S715.

[0084] In step S714, the job setting management unit 506 instructs the network control unit 505 to acquire a job setting information list stored in the cloud server 105. The job setting information list will be described later with reference to FIG. 9. The job setting information list is then acquired by the network control unit 505 from the cloud server 105. The process then proceeds to S716. The job setting information list is a list including one or more pieces of job setting information registered on the image forming apparatus 104.

[0085] In step S715, the job setting management unit 506 acquires the job setting information list stored in the RAM 303 or HDD 305 of the image forming apparatus 104. Then, the process proceeds to S716.

[0086] In step S716, the job setting management unit 506 transmits the job setting information list acquired in steps S714 and S715 to the data processing apparatus 101.

[0087] 7-2(d) is a flowchart of the display process of job setting information in the data processing apparatus 101 according to this embodiment, which corresponds to the process of S606 in FIG.

[0088] In step S717, the job setting management unit 406 acquires the job setting information list received from the image forming apparatus 104 via the network control unit 405.

[0089] In step S718, the job setting management unit 406 reads out each piece of job setting information from one or more pieces of job setting information included in the received job setting information list, and determines whether the same settings have already been saved in the data processing device 101. If the job setting information in the received job setting information list has already been saved (Yes in step S718), the process proceeds to step S720. On the other hand, if the job setting information in the received job setting information list has not already been saved (No in step S718), the process proceeds to step S719.

[0090] In step S719, the job setting management unit 406 adds the job setting information that has not been saved to the display list.

[0091] In step S720, the job setting management unit 406 determines whether there is any job setting information that has not been read from the job setting information list received from the image forming apparatus 104. If there is any job setting information that has not been read (Yes in step S720), the process proceeds to step S718, and the same flow is repeated for the job setting information that has not been read. If there is no job setting information that has not been read (No in step S720), the process proceeds to step S721.

[0092] In step S721, the job setting management unit 406 instructs the UI control unit 402 to display job setting information based on the display list created in S719. That is, here, job setting information included in the job setting information list received from the image forming apparatus 104 but not registered in the data processing apparatus 101 is displayed on the data processing apparatus 101. The flow of FIG. 7-2(d) makes it possible to display a list of information registered in the image forming apparatus 104 that has been acquired by the data processing apparatus 101 but that has not been registered in the data processing apparatus 101. Here, information that is not registered in the data processing apparatus 101 is displayed as a list, but it is also possible to display all information acquired from the image forming apparatus 104.

[0093] 7-2(e) is a flowchart of the job setting information registration process in the data processing apparatus 101 according to this embodiment, which corresponds to the process of S607 in FIG.

[0094] In step S722, the job setting management unit 406 accepts a selection operation by the user on the list screen of job setting information displayed in step S721, and then the process proceeds to step S723.

[0095] In step S723, the job setting management unit 406 adds the job setting information selected by the user to the registration list. Note that by accepting a user operation in S722, the selected job setting information is registered in the data processing device 101. However, this is not limiting, and all job setting information displayed on the data processing device 101 may be automatically registered in the data processing device 101 without a user operation. In this way, the user can automatically register the setting information registered in the image forming device 104 in the data processing device 101 simply by touching the data processing device 101 to the image forming device 104.

[0096] In step S725, the job setting management unit 406 saves the registration list created in step S723 in the RAM 303 or HDD 305, and instructs the UI control unit 402 to display the saved job setting information on the display 214 of the data processing apparatus 101.

[0097] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a job execution process in the data processing apparatus 101 and the image forming apparatus 104 according to this embodiment.

[0098] 8 is a flow executed by the CPU 202 in accordance with the application 401 stored in the RAM 203 and storage device 209 of the data processing device 101. Note that steps S802 to S804 are similar to steps S601 to S603 in FIG. 6, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0099] In step S801, the job setting management unit 406 acquires job setting information selected by the user from the UI control unit 402. Here, the job setting information selected by the user is the setting information registered in FIG. 7-2(e), setting information such as "preset" or "favorite" that has been registered in advance in the data processing device 101, or the like.

[0100] In step S805, the job control unit 407 transmits a job based on the job setting information selected in step S801 to the image forming apparatus 104 via the network control unit 405.

[0101] 8 is a flow executed by the CPU 302 in accordance with the application 501 stored in the RAM 303 and HDD 305 of the image forming apparatus 104. Note that steps S806 to S808 are similar to steps S608 to S610 in FIG. 6, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0102] In step S809, the job control unit 507 receives the job from the data processing apparatus 101 via the network control unit 505. Then, the process proceeds to S810.

[0103] In step S810, the job control unit 507 operates one of the function processing units, the scan processing unit 511, the copy processing unit 512, the print processing unit 513, and the fax processing unit 514, based on the job setting information of the received job, and executes the processing.

[0104] According to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, the user can select desired settings on the data processing device 101 and cause the image forming device 104 to execute processing with the desired settings simply by touching the image forming device 104.

[0105] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of setting information managed by the image forming apparatus 104 according to this embodiment.

[0106] 9(a) shows a job setting information list related to "favorites" and "presets" registered and managed by the image forming apparatus 104. Also, FIG. 9(b) shows a job history information list related to "history" registered and managed by the image forming apparatus 104.

[0107] The job setting information list 901 related to "favorites" and "presets" is composed of a job ID 902 column, a type 903 column, a user 904 column, a job type 905 column, and a parameter list 906 column. The parameter list 906 includes setting contents such as the number of copies and size. This corresponds to the setting information of "presets" that have been registered in advance in the image forming device 104, and the setting information of "favorites" that the user has registered on the image forming device 104.

[0108] The job history list 907 is composed of a time 908 column, a type 909 column, a user 910 column, a job type 911 column, and a parameter list 912 column. The list shows the history of processes executed by the image forming apparatus 104 and the setting information corresponding to the processes.

[0109] In the job setting information list of FIG. 9, if the job type is "favorite" or "preset", an ID is assigned to each job setting information, and if the job type is "history", the time information when the job was executed is assigned. The user 904 column displays the user name that registers and manages the job setting information. User name information corresponding to the authentication information sent from the data processing device 101 is returned to the data processing device 101. The job type 905 column displays job type information such as scan, print, copy, fax, etc. Furthermore, the parameter list 906 column stores the setting contents for each job setting information.

[0110] The data processing device 101 acquires the job setting information list generated and managed by the image forming device 104 and registers it within the data processing device 101, thereby enabling settings such as "favorites" and "presets" registered in the image forming device 104 to be used on the data processing device 101.

[0111] 10 is a screen flow diagram relating to the acquisition and registration of job setting information of the data processing device 101 according to this embodiment. A series of user operations of the data processing device 101 relating to the acquisition and registration of job setting information will be described with reference to FIG.

[0112] Fig. 10(a) is the main menu screen of the application 401. On the main menu screen 1001, buttons 1001a to 1001d corresponding to pre-registered job setting information and a setting registration button 1001e are displayed. When the user presses the setting registration button 1001e, the screen transitions to the screen shown in Fig. 10(b). Buttons 1001a to 1001d correspond to pre-registered preset buttons.

[0113] 10(b) is a job setting information acquisition instruction screen. The job setting information acquisition instruction screen 1002 instructs the user to touch the data processing device 101 to the image forming device 104. When the user touches the data processing device 101 to the image forming device 104 on this screen, steps S601-S605 of the flowchart in FIG. 6 are executed, and the screen transitions to the screen in FIG. 10(c). When the user presses the cancel button 1002a, the screen returns to the main menu screen 1001.

[0114] FIG. 10(c) is a job setting information list display screen, which is a screen displayed in step S606 of the flowchart in FIG. 6. A list of settings based on the job setting information list acquired from the image forming apparatus 104 by a touch operation is displayed on the job setting information list display screen 1003. FIG. 10(c) displays job setting information 1003a to 1003e acquired from the job setting information list 901 as shown in FIG. 9. The user can select job setting information to be registered in the data processing apparatus 101 on the list display screen 1003. For example, if the user selects setting information 1003a and 1003c (step S722 in FIG. 7-2(e)) and then presses an OK button 1003g, the screen transitions to the screen in FIG. 10(d).

[0115] At this time, the list display screen 1003 may display all job setting information acquired from the image forming apparatus 104, or may display only information that has been used frequently in the past.

[0116] Fig. 10(d) is a job setting information registration screen. Registration screen 1004 displays 1003a and 1003c selected by the user on job setting list display screen 1003. When the user presses OK button 1004c, the screen transitions to the screen shown in Fig. 10(e). When the user presses cancel button 1004d, the screen returns to job setting list display screen 1003.

[0117] 10(e) shows a main menu screen in which job setting information has been registered. In a main menu screen 1001, newly registered job setting buttons 1005a to 1005b are displayed in addition to various pre-registered job setting buttons 1001a to 1001d.

[0118] Here, an example has been shown in which the data processing apparatus 101 acquires information from the job setting information list 901 of the image forming apparatus 104. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the data processing apparatus 101 may acquire history information from the job history list 907 from the image forming apparatus 104 and display it as a list.

[0119] Furthermore, the data processing device 101 may acquire information corresponding to the screen displayed on the data processing device 101 at the time of touch from the image forming device 104. At this time, the data processing device 101 transmits to the image forming device 104 the information on the screen displayed at the time of touch or an acquisition request for information corresponding to the screen. Then, in S611 and S612 of FIG. 6, the image forming device 104 changes the screen information transmitted from the data processing device 101 or the setting information transmitted to the data processing device 101 in response to the acquisition request.

[0120] For example, if the touch is made when the data processing device 101 is displaying a screen 1002 instructing the acquisition of job setting information, the job setting information corresponding to the "preset" and "favorite" registered in the image forming device 104 is acquired from the image forming device 104. If the touch is made when the data processing device 101 is displaying a screen (not shown) instructing the acquisition of history information, the history information registered in the image forming device 104 is acquired from the image forming device 104.

[0121] As described above, a user can establish a communication connection, perform authentication, and obtain setting information registered in the image forming device simply by touching a mobile device to the image forming device. This allows the user to import setting information registered on the image forming device into the mobile device without performing any complicated operations. The imported setting information can then be stored on the mobile device and accessed at any time. Furthermore, during touch operations, the user can change the setting information acquired from the image forming device, such as "favorites" or "history," depending on the screen displayed on the mobile device. This allows the user to intuitively obtain desired setting information from the image forming device. While this embodiment illustrates an example in which "favorite" settings and history information registered on the image forming device are imported into the mobile device, the information to be imported is not limited to these. For example, setting information frequently executed on the image forming device or information on the most recent processing performed by the image forming device may also be used.

[0122] Example 2 In the first embodiment, an example was shown in which the data processing device 101 acquires and registers job setting information from the image forming device 104 in response to a touch operation by the user. In the second embodiment, a method will be described in which the data processing device 101 acquires information corresponding to the screen displayed by the image forming device 104 when the data processing device 101 is touched. Since the basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, only the differences will be described.

[0123] FIG. 11 is an example of a screen displayed on the image forming apparatus 104 according to this embodiment.

[0124] 11(a) shows a main menu screen 1101. In FIG. 11(a), the main menu screen 1101 displays job setting buttons 1102 to 1106, which are placed by default, and a list of job history information 1107a to 1107e based on the job history list 907 in FIG. 9. On the other hand, in FIG. 11(b), a main menu screen 1108 displays frequently used setting buttons 1111 to 1113, such as "Favorites" and "Presets." In this way, the user can check job history information and frequently used job setting information from the main menu of the image forming apparatus 104.

[0125] Furthermore, a guidance display 1109 is displayed on the main menu screens 1101 and 1110, instructing the user to touch the data processing device 101 to the image forming device 104. When the user receives the guidance display 1109 displayed on the main menu screen and touches the data processing device 101 to the image forming device 104, the data processing device 101 can acquire history information when the main menu screen 1101 is displayed, and can acquire frequently used setting information when the main menu screen 1100 is displayed.

[0126] 12 is a screen flow diagram relating to information acquisition and registration of the data processing device 101 according to this embodiment. The screen flow diagram of this embodiment is the same as the screen flow diagram of FIG. 10 of the first embodiment except for the main menu screen, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0127] FIG. 12(a) shows the main menu screen before information registration. The main menu screen 1201 does not display the setting registration button 1001e shown in FIG. 10(a). This is because the image forming apparatus 104 displays a touch operation instruction for acquiring information, as shown in FIG. 11. When the user performs a touch operation while the main menu screen 1201 is displayed, a list display screen of acquired information is displayed, as shown in FIG. 10(c). When the image forming apparatus 104 displays the screen shown in FIG. 11(a), if a touch operation is performed on the data processing apparatus 101, the image forming apparatus 104 transmits history information to the data processing apparatus 101. When the user selects a history to register in the data processing apparatus 101 from the transmitted history information, the data processing apparatus 101 displays a screen on which the history information is registered, as shown in FIG. 12(b). Similarly, when the image forming apparatus 104 displays the screen shown in FIG. 11(b), if a touch operation is performed on the data processing apparatus 101, the data processing apparatus 101 displays a screen on which "frequently used settings" are registered, as shown in FIG. 12(c).

[0128] As described above, in this embodiment, the data processing device 101 can change the information to be acquired depending on the screen displayed by the image forming device 104.

[0129] (Other Examples) In the first and second embodiments, the information acquired by the data processing device 101 is changed depending on the screen displayed on the data processing device 101 or the image forming device 104 at the time of the touch operation. However, the data processing device 101 may acquire setting information from the image forming device 104 at the timing of the touch operation (step S802 in FIG. 8 of the first embodiment) to instruct job execution.

[0130] The present invention can also be realized by executing the following process: That is, software (programs) that realize the functions of the above-described embodiments are supplied to a system or device via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or device reads and executes the program code; or, Alternatively, hardware (ASIC or FPGA) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is installed in the device and executed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0131] 101 Data processing device 104 Image forming device 103 Network 402, 502 UI control section 404, 504 device connection 405, 505 Network control section 406, 506 Job setting management section 407, 507 Job control section

Claims

[Claim 1] An information processing device, a first display means for displaying a first screen which is a screen for selecting a function to be used and which includes a first key; a second display means for displaying a predetermined screen that prompts the user to bring the information processing device closer to the image processing device based on the selection of the first key, the predetermined screen being a screen including an image showing the image processing device and an image showing the information processing device; a receiving means for receiving predetermined information including connection information of the image processing device from the image processing device when the image processing device and the information processing device approach each other while the predetermined screen is being displayed; and a third display means for displaying a second screen including at least one of the predetermined information received by the receiving means, a second key for causing the image processing device to execute a print function, and a third key for causing the image processing device to execute a scan function.

Images