Information processing system, information processing apparatus, and program

Abstract

To provide an information-processing system, an terminal, and a program capable of transmitting certification information to be used by the terminal in an information-processing device by wireless communication established by using connection information acquired via wireless communication by a proximity wireless communication system.SOLUTION: An information processing system includes an information processing apparatus including a first processor that transmits, to an external device connected to the information processing apparatus via wireless communication of a first wireless communication scheme that is a close proximity wireless communication scheme, connection information for connecting the information processing apparatus to the external device via wireless communication of a second wireless communication scheme, and the external device acquires the connection information by connecting to the information processing apparatus via wireless communication of the first wireless communication scheme and connects to the information processing apparatus via wireless communication of the second wireless communication scheme by using the acquired connection information. And an terminal including a second processor that transmits certification information for the information processor to execute the certification processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing device, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a function executing device that can efficiently perform both the execution of a specific function based on an instruction from an external device via wireless communication and the execution of user authentication.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a job processing device that can eliminate the need to input authentication information when issuing a job processing instruction from a terminal device.

[0004] Patent Document 3 discloses an information processing device that can improve the convenience of equipment that can be operated using a smart device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6156024 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6366425 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-074107 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In recent years, information processing devices such as image forming devices have been transmitting connection information for connecting to a terminal device via wireless communication using a method other than the close-proximity wireless communication method, such as NFC (Near Field Communication), and using the transmitted connection information, receiving processing information for executing printing processing from the terminal device via wireless communication using a method other than the close-proximity wireless communication method, and executing processing based on this processing information.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system, a terminal device, and a program that enable a terminal device to transmit authentication information used in an information processing device via wireless communication established using connection information obtained via wireless communication using a close-proximity wireless communication method. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] An information processing system of a first aspect of the present invention includes an information processing device that, when connected to an external device via wireless communication of a first wireless communication method which is a close-proximity wireless communication method, transmits connection information to the connected device for connecting to the connected device via wireless communication of a second wireless communication method which is different from the first wireless communication method; and a second processor that connects to the information processing device via wireless communication of the first wireless communication method, acquires connection information, connects to the information processing device via wireless communication of the second wireless communication method using the acquired connection information, and transmits authentication information for the information processing device to perform authentication processing.

[0009] A second aspect of the information processing system of the present invention is the information processing system of the first aspect, wherein the second processor uses the acquired connection information to connect to the information processing device via wireless communication of the second wireless communication method, and transmits processing information for executing processing in the information processing device in addition to authentication information.

[0010] A third aspect of the information processing system of the present invention is the information processing system of the second aspect, wherein when the first processor receives authentication information and processing information from the terminal device, it performs authentication processing using the received authentication information and then performs processing using the received processing information.

[0011] An information processing system of a fourth aspect of the present invention is the information processing system of the first aspect, wherein the first processor executes a process using processing information, and then executes an authentication deactivation process for the terminal device.

[0012] An information processing system of a fifth aspect of the present invention is an information processing system of any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the first processor stores received processing information, and executes processing using the stored processing information when an operation to execute processing using the stored processing information is received at a timing different from the time the stored processing information is received.

[0013] A sixth aspect of the information processing system of the present invention is the information processing system of the fifth aspect, wherein the second processor transmits authentication information and processing information to the information processing device via wireless communication of the second wireless communication method, and then makes the information processing device ready for wireless communication of the first wireless communication method to execute processing using the stored processing information.

[0014] A seventh aspect of the information processing system of the present invention is the information processing system of the sixth aspect, wherein the second processor transmits authentication information and processing information to the information processing device via wireless communication of the second wireless communication method, and then switches the display of a screen provided on the terminal device.

[0015] An eighth aspect of the information processing system of the present invention is an information processing system of the sixth or seventh aspect, in which, when the second processor is set to execute processing using processing information stored in the information processing device, it displays a screen prompting wireless communication using the first wireless communication method.

[0016] An information processing system of a ninth aspect of the present invention is an information processing system of any one of the sixth to eighth aspects, wherein when the second processor is configured to display a confirmation screen asking whether or not to execute processing using stored processing information, the second processor displays the confirmation screen, and when an instruction to execute processing using the stored processing information is input on the displayed confirmation screen, the information processing system makes it possible to issue an instruction to execute processing using the stored processing information.

[0017] An information processing system of a tenth aspect of the present invention is an information processing system of any one of the sixth to ninth aspects, in which, when the information processing device is configured not to execute processing using processing information stored therein, it is made impossible to issue an instruction to execute processing using the stored processing information.

[0018] An information processing system of an eleventh aspect of the present invention is an information processing system of any one of the sixth to tenth aspects, wherein the second processor transmits authentication information to the information processing device via wireless communication of the second wireless communication method after wireless communication of the first wireless communication method is performed to execute processing using stored processing information, and the first processor, after acquiring the authentication information, executes processing using the stored processing information transmitted from a user identified by the acquired authentication information.

[0019] A twelfth aspect of the information processing system of the present invention is the information processing system of the eleventh aspect, wherein the first processor, after acquiring authentication information, transmits to the terminal device a list of processes using processing information sent and stored from a user identified by the acquired authentication information, and the second processor notifies the information processing device of the process specified by the user from the received list information as the process to be executed.

[0020] A thirteenth aspect of the information processing system of the present invention is the information processing system of the eleventh aspect, wherein the first processor, after acquiring authentication information, transmits to the terminal device a list of processes using processing information sent and stored from a user identified by the acquired authentication information, and the second processor notifies the information processing device of all of the processes in the received list information as processes to be executed.

[0021] A 14th aspect of the information processing system of the present invention is the information processing system of the 11th aspect, wherein after wireless communication using the first wireless communication method is performed to execute processing using the stored processing information, the second processor notifies the information processing device of processing using all of the stored processing information as processing to be executed, without obtaining list information of processing using the stored processing information from the information processing device.

[0022] An information processing system of a fifteenth aspect of the present invention is the information processing system of any one of the first to fourteenth aspects, wherein the second wireless communication method is an Internet communication method, and the connection information includes an IP address.

[0023] A terminal device of a 16th aspect of the present invention includes a processor, which connects to an external information processing device via wireless communication of a first wireless communication method which is a close-proximity wireless communication method, and acquires connection information from the information processing device for connecting to the information processing device via wireless communication of a second wireless communication method which is different from the first wireless communication method, connects to the information processing device via wireless communication of the second wireless communication method using the acquired connection information, and transmits authentication information for the information processing device to perform authentication processing.

[0024] A 17th aspect of the program of the present invention causes a computer to execute the following steps: by connecting to an external information processing device via wireless communication of a first wireless communication method, which is a close-proximity wireless communication method, acquiring connection information from the information processing device for connecting to the information processing device via wireless communication of a second wireless communication method different from the first wireless communication method; and by using the acquired connection information to connect to the information processing device via wireless communication of the second wireless communication method, and transmitting authentication information for the information processing device to perform authentication processing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0025] According to the information processing system of the first aspect of the present invention, a terminal device can transmit authentication information to be used in an information processing device via wireless communication established using connection information acquired via wireless communication using a close-proximity wireless communication method.

[0026] According to the information processing system of the second aspect of the present invention, wireless communication established using connection information acquired via wireless communication using a close-proximity wireless communication method allows a terminal device to transmit authentication information used in an information processing device and processing information.

[0027] According to the information processing system of the third aspect of the present invention, the instructed process is executed after the authentication process is executed, thereby improving security.

[0028] According to the information processing system of the fourth aspect of the present invention, after the instructed process is executed, the authentication deactivation process for the terminal device is executed, thereby improving security.

[0029] According to the information processing system of the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform so-called deferred processing, in which the execution of processing is deferred until an instruction is given by the user in the information processing device.

[0030] According to the information processing system of the sixth aspect of the present invention, the retention process can be cancelled by performing wireless communication in the first wireless communication method.

[0031] According to the information processing system of the seventh aspect of the present invention, by switching the display on the screen provided in the terminal device, it is possible to prompt the user to perform wireless communication using the first wireless communication method for releasing the placement process.

[0032] According to the information processing system of the eighth aspect of the present invention, when the terminal device is configured to execute processing using processing information stored in the information processing device, the user can be prompted to perform wireless communication using the first wireless communication method to release the retention process.

[0033] According to the information processing system of the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to have the user confirm whether or not to release the retention process.

[0034] According to the information processing system of the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the user from erroneously canceling the placement process.

[0035] According to the information processing system of the eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to release only the indwelling processing of processing information transmitted from a specific user and stored.

[0036] According to the information processing system of the twelfth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to allow the user to arbitrarily select a process that he or she wishes to execute from among processes that use stored processing information.

[0037] According to the information processing system of the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to execute processing using stored processing information without requiring the user to go through the trouble of selecting the processing they wish to execute.

[0038] According to the information processing system of the 14th aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary to obtain list information of processes using stored processing information, and it is possible to execute processes using stored processing information without requiring the user to go through the trouble of selecting the process they want to execute.

[0039] According to the information processing system of the 15th aspect of the present invention, the second wireless communication method is an Internet communication method, and the connection information includes an IP address, so that the information processing system can be easily realized by using a commonly used method.

[0040] According to the terminal device of the 16th aspect of the present invention, the terminal device can transmit authentication information to be used in the information processing device via wireless communication established using connection information obtained via wireless communication using a close-proximity wireless communication method.

[0041] According to the program of the 17th aspect of the present invention, a terminal device can transmit authentication information to be used in an information processing device via wireless communication established using connection information acquired via wireless communication using a close-proximity wireless communication method. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0042] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an authentication information management table of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a smartphone according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a smartphone according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an example of authentication information and processing information transmitted from a smartphone in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of the image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen prompting NFC displayed on a smartphone according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a presetting screen displayed on a smartphone in a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a confirmation screen displayed on a smartphone in a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart (first half) illustrating the flow of processing in an image forming system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart (second half) illustrating the flow of processing in an image forming system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] [First embodiment] Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the system configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the image forming system 1 of this embodiment includes an image forming device 10 as an information processing device and a smartphone 20 as a terminal device.

[0044] In the image forming system 1, various job operations such as printing can be performed on the image forming apparatus 10 from the operation screen of the smartphone 20. The image forming apparatus 10 is a so-called multifunction device that has multiple functions such as printing, scanning, copying, and facsimile functions.

[0045] When performing various operations on the image forming apparatus 10 from the operation screen of the smartphone 20, before transmitting processing information from the smartphone 20 to the image forming apparatus 10 to instruct the image forming apparatus 10 to execute processing, connection information is obtained from the image forming apparatus 10 using NFC (Near Field Communication), a wireless communication method using close-proximity wireless communication, between the image forming apparatus 10 and the smartphone 20.

[0046] When the image forming apparatus 10 is NFC-connected to the smartphone 20, the image forming apparatus 10 transmits connection information to the smartphone 20 for connecting to the image forming apparatus 10 via a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), which is a wireless communication method for Internet communication. Here, the connection information is an IP address of the image forming apparatus 10. Note that the connection information may be any information for wireless communication between the image forming apparatus 10 and the smartphone 20, and is not limited to an IP address.

[0047] The image forming apparatus 10 receives authentication information and processing information transmitted via wireless LAN from the NFC-connected smartphone 20. Here, the authentication information is information for the image forming apparatus 10 to execute authentication processing, such as a user ID and password.

[0048] The processing information is information for executing a job in the information processing device 10. This processing information may include an instruction to execute the job to the image forming device 10. Furthermore, for example, in a case where a job to be executed when the image forming device 10 receives the processing information is set in advance, the processing information may not include an instruction to execute the job to the image forming device 10, but may include only information necessary to execute the job.

[0049] As a specific example, when the job type is "copy" or the like and data to be executed for the job is not required, the processing information may include, for example, the job type and additional information required for the job, such as "number of copies," "color mode," and "original size." Furthermore, when the job type is "print" or the like and data to be executed for the job is required, the processing information may include, for example, the job type, the data to be printed, and additional information required for the job, such as "number of copies," "color mode," and "original size." Even when data to be executed for the job is required, if the data is stored in a location other than the smartphone 20, such as a cloud server (not shown), the processing information does not need to include the data itself to be executed for the job. It is sufficient to include information required for acquiring the data, such as information on the source of the data to be executed for the job and the file name. In other words, the processing information only needs to include the minimum information required for the job to be executed on the image forming apparatus 10.

[0050] The image forming apparatus 10 performs authentication processing based on the authentication information, and then executes the job based on the processing information.

[0051] Next, the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 in the image forming system of this embodiment is shown in FIG.

[0052] 2, the image forming apparatus 10 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, memory 12, a storage device 13 such as a hard disk drive, a communication interface (abbreviated as IF) 14 for transmitting and receiving data to and from external devices, a user interface (abbreviated as UI) device 15 including a touch panel or liquid crystal display and a keyboard, a scanner 16, and a print engine 17. These components are connected to one another via a control bus 18.

[0053] The communication IF14 has multiple communication IFs, including a communication IF that transmits and receives data to and from external devices, etc. via NFC, and a communication IF that transmits and receives data to and from external devices, etc. via wireless LAN.

[0054] The print engine 17 prints an image on a recording medium such as printing paper through processes such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, and fixing.

[0055] The CPU 11 is a processor that executes predetermined processing based on a control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13, and controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 10. In this embodiment, the CPU 11 is described as reading and executing the control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13, but the program can also be stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) and provided to the CPU 11.

[0056] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 realized by executing the above control program.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment has a control unit 31, a display unit 32, an operation input unit 33, an NFC communication unit 34, a wireless LAN communication unit 35, an image reading unit 36, and an image output unit 37.

[0058] The display unit 32 is controlled by the control unit 31 and displays various information to the user. The operation input unit 33 inputs various operation information performed by the user. The NFC communication unit 34 transmits and receives data via NFC to and from external devices such as the smartphone 20. The wireless LAN communication unit 35 transmits and receives data via wireless LAN to and from external devices such as the smartphone 20. The image reading unit 36 ​​reads an original image from a set original based on the control of the control unit 31. The image output unit 37 outputs an image onto a recording medium such as printing paper based on the control of the control unit 31.

[0059] The control unit 31 controls the overall operation of the image forming device 10, and performs functions such as generating print data based on a print job received from the smartphone 20 via the wireless LAN communication unit 35, controlling the output of the generated print data from the image output unit 37, and controlling the reading of the document image by the image reading unit 36.

[0060] Furthermore, when control unit 31 connects to smartphone 20, which is an external device, via NFC, it transmits connection information for connecting to image forming apparatus 10, which is its own device, via wireless LAN to connected smartphone 20. Furthermore, when control unit 31 receives authentication information and processing information from smartphone 20 via wireless LAN, control unit 31 performs authentication processing using the received authentication information and then executes the job instructed by the received processing information. Furthermore, control unit 31 performs authentication deactivation processing for smartphone 20 after executing the job instructed by the processing information.

[0061] In this embodiment, the control unit 31 refers to an authentication information management table stored in the storage device 13 and executes authentication processing for the smartphone 20. In the authentication information management table shown as an example in Fig. 4, a user ID and a password are recorded in association with each other.

[0062] When the control unit 31 receives a user ID and password as authentication information from the smartphone 20, as authentication processing, it refers to the authentication information management table and determines whether the received user ID and password match the contents of the authentication information management table.

[0063] If the control unit 31 determines that the received user ID and password match the contents of the authentication information management table, it allows login from the smartphone 20, and if it determines that the received user ID and password do not match the contents of the authentication information management table, it rejects login from the smartphone 20.

[0064] Next, the hardware configuration of the smartphone 20 in the image forming system of this embodiment is shown in FIG.

[0065] 5, the smartphone 20 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a memory 22, a storage device 23 such as a flash memory, a communication interface (abbreviated as IF) 24 that transmits and receives data to and from external devices, and a user interface (abbreviated as UI) device 25 that includes a touch panel or a liquid crystal display and a keyboard. These components are connected to each other via a control bus 26.

[0066] The communication IF24 has multiple communication IFs, including a communication IF that transmits and receives data to and from external devices, etc. via NFC, and a communication IF that transmits and receives data to and from external devices, etc. via wireless LAN.

[0067] The CPU 21 is a processor that executes predetermined processing based on a control program stored in the memory 22 or the storage device 23, thereby controlling the operation of the smartphone 20. In the present embodiment, the CPU 21 is described as reading and executing the control program stored in the memory 22 or the storage device 23, but the program can also be stored in a storage medium such as an SD card and provided to the CPU 21.

[0068] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the smartphone 20 realized by executing the above control program.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 6, the smartphone 20 of this embodiment includes a control unit 41, a display unit 42, an operation input unit 43, an NFC communication unit 44, and a wireless LAN communication unit 45.

[0070] The display unit 42 is controlled by the control unit 41 and displays various information to the user. The operation input unit 43 inputs various operation information performed by the user. The display unit 42 and the operation input unit 43 may be realized by the same hardware, such as a touch panel. The NFC communication unit 44 transmits and receives data to and from external devices such as the image forming apparatus 10 via NFC. The wireless LAN communication unit 35 transmits and receives data to and from external devices such as the image forming apparatus 10 via wireless LAN. The control unit 41 controls the overall operation of the smartphone 20.

[0071] Furthermore, the control unit 41 acquires connection information by connecting to the image forming apparatus 10 via NFC. The control unit 41 then connects to the image forming apparatus 10 via wireless LAN using the acquired connection information, and transmits authentication information for the image forming apparatus 10 to execute authentication processing, and processing information for instructing the image forming apparatus 10 to execute a job. These processes are performed in the smartphone 20 using an application for controlling the image forming apparatus 10. The authentication information and processing information are also acquired in the smartphone 20 using an application.

[0072] Control unit 41 causes the user to input a user ID and a password as authentication information via an application for controlling image forming apparatus 10. Control unit 41 also causes the user to input processing information for instructing image forming apparatus 10 to execute a job via the application for controlling image forming apparatus 10.

[0073] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of authentication information and processing information. As shown in Fig. 7, a user ID and a password are acquired as authentication information. Furthermore, a job type and additional instructions set for each job type are acquired as processing information. For example, if "copy" is set as the job type, "number of copies," "color mode," "original size," etc. are set as additional instructions.

[0074] Next, the flow of processing in the image forming system 1 in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

[0075] First, in step SU001, the user starts an application for controlling the image forming apparatus 10 on the smartphone 20. In response to this, the control unit 41 of the smartphone 20 starts the application for controlling the image forming apparatus 10 in step ST001.

[0076] Next, in step SU002, the user inputs the authentication information and processing information on the application as shown in Fig. 7. In response to this, the control unit 41 of the smartphone 20 acquires the authentication information and processing information in step ST002.

[0077] Next, in step SU003, the user taps the smartphone 20 on the NFC reading unit of the image forming apparatus 10.

[0078] In response to this, the control unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 10 detects a connection via NFC in step SM001, and then transmits connection information to the smartphone 20 via NFC in step SM002.

[0079] Upon receiving the connection information, the control unit 41 of the smartphone 20 transmits the authentication information and the processing information to the image forming apparatus 10 via the wireless LAN based on the IP address of the image forming apparatus 10, which is the connection information, in step ST003.

[0080] Upon receiving the authentication information and processing information, the control unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 10 executes authentication processing based on the authentication information in step SM003.

[0081] If the authentication process is successful, the control unit 31 executes the job based on the processing information in step SM004. If the authentication process is not successful, the control unit 31 interrupts the process and sends an error notification to the smartphone 20.

[0082] After executing the job, the control unit 31 executes authentication cancellation processing in step SM005, and transmits a job completion notification in step SM006.

[0083] When the control unit 41 of the smartphone 20 receives the job completion notification, in step ST004, the control unit 41 displays the job completion on the application.

[0084] [Second embodiment] In the first embodiment, an image forming system has been described in which the user simply taps the smartphone 20 on the NFC reading unit of the image forming apparatus 10 once, and the process from authentication to job execution in the image forming apparatus 10 is carried out.

[0085] In this embodiment, a mode will be described in which job reservation processing is performed when authentication information and processing information are acquired in the image forming apparatus 10.

[0086] The hardware configurations of the image forming apparatus 10 and the smartphone 20 in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described.

[0087] In this embodiment, the control unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 10 stores the received processing information, and executes the job using the stored processing information when an operation to execute the job using the stored processing information is received at a timing different from the timing at which the stored processing information was received. Note that the processing information is stored in the storage device 13, for example.

[0088] With this configuration, the image forming apparatus 10 performs a retention process in which the received processing information is retained and execution of the processing is suspended. In this embodiment, when the retention process is performed in the image forming apparatus 10, tapping the smartphone 20 on the NFC reading unit of the image forming apparatus 10 is a trigger to release the retention process and execute a job using the stored processing information.

[0089] In this embodiment, the NFC communication function of the smartphone 20 is switched on / off by the control unit 41. After transmitting authentication information and processing information to the image forming apparatus 10 via wireless LAN, the control unit 41 sets the smartphone 20 to an NFC-enabled state for executing a job using the stored processing information. Here, "NFC-enabled state" means that the NFC communication function is on and NFC between the image forming apparatus 10 and the smartphone 20 is enabled.

[0090] Furthermore, after transmitting the authentication information and processing information to the image forming apparatus 10 via wireless LAN, the control unit 41 switches the display on the display unit 42 of the smartphone 20. Note that by switching the display on the display unit 42 in some way, the user is reminded to tap the smartphone 20 on the NFC reading unit of the image forming apparatus 10, but it is preferable to display a screen prompting the user to use NFC, as shown in Fig. 9, for example. The screen prompting the user to use NFC is a screen that clearly displays the content prompting the user to use NFC using pictures and text, as shown in Fig. 9, for example.

[0091] At this time, it is preferable that the control unit 41 displays a screen prompting NFC when a setting is made to execute a job using the processing information stored in the image forming apparatus 10. Specifically, for example, when the retention release display switch SW1 is set to ON as a setting for executing a job using the stored processing information on the setting screen shown in Fig. 10, the control unit 41 displays a screen prompting NFC as shown in Fig. 9.

[0092] In addition, when the control unit 41 is configured to display a confirmation screen for asking whether or not to execute a job using the stored processing information, the control unit 41 may display the confirmation screen, and when an instruction to execute a job using the stored processing information is entered on the displayed confirmation screen, it may make it possible to give an instruction to execute a job using the stored processing information.

[0093] Specifically, for example, when the confirmation screen display switch SW2 is set to ON on the setting screen shown in Fig. 10, a confirmation screen such as that shown in Fig. 11 is displayed. The confirmation screen displays a message such as "Do you want to execute the reserved print now?" to confirm whether or not to execute the job that is being reserved, and when "Yes" is selected on this confirmation screen, the control unit 41 displays a screen prompting NFC as shown in Fig. 9, and also makes it possible to issue a job execution instruction using the stored processing information.

[0094] Here, "a state in which it is possible to issue instructions to execute a job using stored processing information" means that at least NFC is possible, and if it is necessary to send some instructions to release the storage process, it is possible to send instructions to release the storage process at the necessary timing.

[0095] If "No" is selected on the confirmation screen, the NFC communication function may be turned off, or the NFC communication function may remain on and transmission of an instruction to cancel the placement process may be prohibited.

[0096] Furthermore, when the release display switch SW1 is set to ON and the confirmation screen display switch SW2 is set to OFF, the control unit 41 transmits the authentication information and processing information to the image forming device 10 via wireless LAN, and then displays a screen prompting NFC as shown in FIG. 9 without displaying the confirmation screen.

[0097] In addition, if the control unit 41 is set not to execute a job using the processing information stored in the image forming device 10, the control unit 41 may make it impossible to issue an instruction to execute a job using the stored processing information.

[0098] Specifically, for example, in the setting screen shown in Figure 10, when the retention release display switch SW1 is set to off as a setting for executing a job using the stored processing information, the control unit 41 makes it impossible to give an instruction to execute a job using the stored processing information.

[0099] Here, "a state in which it is not possible to issue a job execution instruction using the stored processing information" means that it is not possible to issue a job execution instruction in some way, such as by turning off the NFC communication function or by prohibiting the sending of an instruction to release the retention process while keeping the NFC communication function on.

[0100] In addition, after performing NFC to execute a job using the stored processing information, the control unit 41 of the smartphone 20 may send authentication information to the image forming device 10 via wireless LAN, and after acquiring the authentication information, the control unit 31 of the image forming device 10 may execute a job using the stored processing information sent from the user identified by the acquired authentication information.

[0101] There is a possibility that multiple users may access the image forming device 10, and there is also a possibility that multiple pieces of processing information may be sent from the same user before the retention process is released. Therefore, in the image forming device 10, authentication information is acquired when the retention process is released, and by executing only jobs that use processing information that has been sent and stored from the user identified by the acquired authentication information, it is possible to prevent jobs of other users from being executed.

[0102] In this case, after acquiring the authentication information, the control unit 31 of the image forming device 10 may send to the smartphone 20 a list of jobs using the processing information sent and stored from the user identified by the acquired authentication information, and the control unit 41 of the smartphone 20 may notify the image forming device 10 of the processing specified by the user from the received list information as the processing to be executed.

[0103] Next, the flow of processing in the image forming system of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

[0104] First, in step SU101, the user starts an application for controlling the image forming apparatus 10 on the smartphone 20. In response to this, the control unit 41 of the smartphone 20 starts an application for controlling the image forming apparatus 10 in step ST101.

[0105] Next, in step SU102, the user inputs authentication information and processing information on the application. In response to this, the control unit 41 of the smartphone 20 acquires the authentication information and processing information in step ST102.

[0106] Next, in step SU103, the user taps the smartphone 20 on the NFC reading unit of the image forming apparatus 10.

[0107] In response to this, the control unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 10 detects a connection via NFC in step SM101, and then transmits connection information to the smartphone 20 via NFC in step SM102.

[0108] Upon receiving the connection information, the control unit 41 of the smartphone 20 transmits the authentication information and the processing information to the image forming apparatus 10 via the wireless LAN based on the IP address of the image forming apparatus 10, which is the connection information, in step ST103.

[0109] Upon receiving the authentication information and processing information, the control unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 10 executes authentication processing based on the authentication information in step SM103.

[0110] If the authentication process is successful, the control unit 31 executes a job reservation process in step SM104. If the authentication process is not successful, the control unit 31 interrupts the process and sends an error notification to the smartphone 20.

[0111] In a state where the job reservation process is being executed, in step SU104, the user taps the smartphone 20 on the NFC reading unit of the image forming apparatus 10 to release the job reservation process.

[0112] In response to this, the control unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 10 detects a connection via NFC in step SM105, and then transmits connection information to the smartphone 20 via NFC in step SM106.

[0113] Upon receiving the connection information, the control unit 41 of the smartphone 20 transmits authentication information to the image forming apparatus 10 via wireless LAN based on the IP address of the image forming apparatus 10, which is the connection information, in step ST104.

[0114] When the control unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 10 receives the authentication information, in step SM107, it sends to the smartphone 20 a list of jobs using the processing information sent and stored from the user identified by the received authentication information.

[0115] When the control unit 41 of the smartphone 20 receives the list information, in step ST105, the control unit 41 displays the list information on the application.

[0116] In step SU105, the user specifies a job to be executed from the list information on the application and inputs it. In response to this, in step ST106, the control unit 41 of the smartphone 20 notifies the image forming apparatus 10 of the job specified by the user.

[0117] In step SM108, the control unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 10 executes the reservation release process for the job specified by the user, and in step SM109, executes the job specified by the user based on the processing information.

[0118] After executing the job, the control unit 31 executes authentication cancellation processing in step SM110, and transmits a job completion notification in step SM111.

[0119] When the control unit 41 of the smartphone 20 receives the job completion notification, in step ST107, the control unit 41 displays the job completion on the application.

[0120] In this embodiment, after acquiring the authentication information, the control unit 31 of the image forming apparatus 10 may transmit to the smartphone 20 a list of jobs using processing information transmitted and stored from the user identified by the acquired authentication information, and the control unit 41 of the smartphone 20 may notify the image forming apparatus 10 of all processes in the received list as processes to be executed. At this time, the control unit 41 may or may not notify the user of the list of jobs.

[0121] In addition, after NFC is performed to execute a job using the stored processing information, the control unit 41 may notify the image forming device 10 of the jobs using all of the stored processing information as processes to be executed, without obtaining a list of jobs using the stored processing information from the image forming device 10.

[0122] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the NFC communication function of the smartphone 20 is switched on / off by the control unit 41, but the NFC communication function of the smartphone 20 may be always on.

[0123] [Variations] Although the image forming system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be modified as appropriate.

[0124] For example, in the above embodiment, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0125] Furthermore, the operations of the processor in each of the above embodiments may be performed not only by a single processor but also by multiple processors located at physically separate locations working together. Furthermore, the order of the operations of the processor is not limited to the order described in each of the above embodiments and may be changed as appropriate.

[0126] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the information processing device is an image forming device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be other devices such as a personal computer or a mobile terminal device.

[0127] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the terminal device is described as a smartphone, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other devices such as a personal computer or a mobile terminal device may also be used.

[0128] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the wireless communication of the second wireless communication method is described as a wireless LAN, but the present invention is not limited to this, and wireless communication of other wireless communication methods may also be used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0129] 1. Image forming system 10 Image forming device 11 CPU 12 Memory 13 Storage device 14 Communication Interface 15 User Interface Device 16 Scanner 17 Print Engine 18 Control Bus 20. Smartphone 21 CPU 22 Memory 23 Storage device 24 Communication Interface 25 User Interface Device 26 Control Bus 31 Control Unit 32 Display section 33 Operation input section 34 NFC communication unit 35 Wireless LAN communication section 36 Image reading unit 37 Image output unit 41 Control Unit 42 Display section 43 Operation input section 44 NFC communication unit 45 Wireless LAN communication section

Claims

1. Equipped with a first processor, The first processor is, When connecting to an external device via a first wireless communication method, which is a proximity wireless communication method, the device transmits connection information to the connected device for connecting to itself via a second wireless communication method, which is different from the first wireless communication method. Information processing device and Equipped with a second processor, The second processor is, By connecting to the information processing device via the wireless communication of the first wireless communication method described above, connection information is obtained. Using the acquired connection information, connect to the information processing device via wireless communication using the second wireless communication method, and transmit authentication information for performing user authentication in the information processing device and processing information for performing printing in the information processing device. A terminal device is provided, The first processor is, The terminal device receives the authentication information and the processing information, The system determines whether the authentication information for logging into the device, which is pre-stored for each user, matches the authentication information received from the terminal device. If a match is determined, the system executes printing using the processing information without accepting any further operations. Information processing system.

2. Equipped with a processor, The aforementioned processor, When a device is connected to a terminal device via a first wireless communication method, which is a proximity wireless communication method, the device transmits connection information to the connected terminal device for connecting to itself via a second wireless communication method, which is different from the first wireless communication method. Using the connection information, the system receives authentication information for performing authentication processing and processing information for performing printing transmitted from the terminal device via wireless communication of the second wireless communication method. The terminal device receives the authentication information and the processing information, The system determines whether the authentication information for logging into the device, which is pre-stored for each user, matches the authentication information received from the terminal device. If a match is determined, the system executes printing using the processing information without accepting any further operations. Information processing device.

3. The process involves connecting to an information processing device via a first wireless communication method, which is a proximity wireless communication method, and obtaining connection information from the information processing device for connecting to the device via a second wireless communication method, which is different from the first wireless communication method. The steps include: connecting to the information processing device via wireless communication of the second wireless communication method using the acquired connection information, transmitting authentication information for performing user authentication in the information processing device and processing information for performing printing in the information processing device, thereby causing the information processing device to receive the authentication information and processing information and determine whether the received authentication information matches the authentication information for logging into the device that is stored in advance for each user, and if it determines that they match, performing printing using the processing information without accepting any additional operations; A program that causes a computer to execute something.

4. When a device is connected to a terminal device via a first wireless communication method, which is a proximity wireless communication method, the device transmits connection information to the connected terminal device for connecting to itself via a second wireless communication method, which is different from the first wireless communication method. The steps include receiving authentication information for performing authentication processing and processing information for performing printing from the terminal device transmitted via wireless communication of the second wireless communication method using the connection information, The steps include receiving the authentication information and the processing information from the terminal device, The process involves determining whether the authentication information for logging into the device, which is pre-stored for each user, matches the authentication information received from the terminal device, and if a match is determined, executing printing using the processing information without accepting any further operations. A program that causes a computer to execute something.

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