Information processing device and information processing method

Abstract

To provide an information processing apparatus and an information processing method, etc. capable of appropriately sharing address book information stored in a terminal device.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus includes: a communicator to communicate with a terminal device; and a controller to control the communicator. The controller transmits an acquisition request for address book information to the terminal device via the communicator, and performs control to retransmit the acquisition request when the address book information cannot be obtained in response to the acquisition request and a given time period does not elapse since transmission of the acquisition request is initiated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and the like.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a method of cooperation between devices such as an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) and a mobile terminal such as a smartphone has been known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image processing apparatus that acquires destination information based on information received from a mobile terminal and transmits data of an image processing result to an address corresponding to the destination information.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In Patent Document 1, for example, an image processing apparatus and a mobile terminal are connected by a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), and transmission and reception of transmission settings including destination information are performed using the connection. Also, as one method of performing transmission and reception of information for establishing a wireless LAN connection, an example using Bluetooth (registered trademark) is described. However, Patent Document 1 does not disclose in detail the communication control for appropriately transmitting and receiving destination information.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and the like that appropriately share address book information stored in a terminal device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus including a communication unit that communicates with a terminal device and a control unit that controls the communication unit. The control unit transmits a request to acquire address book information to the terminal device via the communication unit, and when the address book information cannot be acquired in response to the acquisition request and a given time has not elapsed since the start of transmission of the acquisition request, performs control to retransmit the acquisition request.

[0007] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to an information processing method in an information processing apparatus that acquires address book information from a terminal device. The method includes transmitting a request to acquire the address book information to the terminal device, and when the address book information cannot be acquired in response to the acquisition request and a given time has not elapsed since the start of transmission of the acquisition request, retransmitting the acquisition request.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, etc. that appropriately share address book information stored in a terminal device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. For the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations are omitted. Note that the embodiment described below does not unduly limit the content described in the claims. Also, not all of the configurations described in this embodiment are essential constituent elements of the present disclosure.

[0011] 1. System Configuration FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a system to which the method of the present embodiment is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the system according to the present embodiment includes an information processing apparatus 100 and a terminal apparatus 200.

[0012] The information processing apparatus 100 is an apparatus including at least one of, for example, a printing function and a scanning function. The information processing apparatus 100 may be a printer having a printing function, a scanner having a scanning function, or a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having both of these functions. That is, the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment may be an image forming apparatus or an image processing apparatus. Further, the information processing apparatus 100 may be a device having other functions such as a facsimile function or a copying function.

[0013] The terminal apparatus 200 is, for example, a portable terminal device (mobile device) that can be carried by a user. For example, the terminal apparatus 200 may be a smartphone or a tablet terminal. Further, the terminal apparatus 200 may be a wearable device such as a wristwatch-type device or a glasses-type device. Also, the terminal apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment may be a PC (Personal Computer), and various modifications are possible for specific modes.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the information processing apparatus 100. The information processing apparatus 100 includes a control unit 110, a communication unit 120, an operation unit 130, a display unit 140, and a storage unit 150. However, the configuration of the information processing apparatus 100 is not limited to FIG. 2, and modifications such as omitting some configurations and adding other configurations are possible. Also, the point that modifications such as omitting and adding configurations are possible is the same in other figures such as FIG. 3.

[0015] The control unit 110 controls each part of the information processing apparatus 100. For example, the control unit 110 performs communication control of the communication unit 120 and display control of the display unit 140. The control unit 110 of the present embodiment is configured by the following hardware. The hardware can include at least one of a circuit that processes digital signals and a circuit that processes analog signals. For example, the hardware can be composed of one or more circuit devices mounted on a circuit board or one or more circuit elements. The one or more circuit devices are, for example, an IC (Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (field-programmable gate array), etc. The one or more circuit elements are, for example, a resistor, a capacitor, etc.

[0016] Also, the control unit 110 may be realized by the following processor. The information processing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment includes a memory that stores information and a processor that operates based on the information stored in the memory. The information is, for example, a program and various data, etc. The processor includes hardware. The processor can use various processors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), etc. The memory may be a semiconductor memory such as SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), flash memory, etc., or a register, or a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), or an optical storage device such as an optical disk device. For example, the memory stores instructions readable by a computer, and by the processor executing the instructions, the functions of the control unit 110 are realized as processing. The instructions here may be instructions in an instruction set that constitutes a program or instructions that instruct an operation to the hardware circuit of the processor.

[0017] The communication unit 120 is an interface for communicating with other devices, and includes, for example, an antenna, an RF (radio frequency) circuit, and a baseband circuit. The communication unit 120 operates according to the control by the control unit 110. The communication unit 120 may also include a processor for communication control different from the control unit 110.

[0018] The communication unit 120 may be a communication interface for performing short-range wireless communication. The short-range wireless communication here includes, for example, Bluetooth and standards developed therefrom. The communication unit 120 may execute communication according to a specific profile of Bluetooth. For example, the communication unit 120 may obtain address book information from the terminal device 200 by performing communication according to the Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP). The address book information will be described later. Note that the short-range wireless communication in the present embodiment is not limited to Bluetooth, and may be other methods such as ZigBee (registered trademark).

[0019] Also, the communication unit 120 may be capable of performing communication by other methods. For example, the communication unit 120 may be capable of performing communication by a method defined in IEEE802.11. Specifically, the communication unit 120 may perform communication by WiFi (registered trademark). For example, the communication unit 120 may obtain address book information from the terminal device 200 using Bluetooth, and perform communication combining a plurality of communication methods such as transmitting image data using WiFi for a given address included in the address book information.

[0020] The operation unit 130 is for the user to perform various operations on the information processing apparatus 100, and can be realized by various buttons, a GUI (Graphical User Interface), etc. The operation unit 130 may also be realized by a touch panel.

[0021] The display unit 140 is for displaying various display screens and can be realized by various displays such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The display unit 140 displays the screens described later using, for example, FIGS. 5 - 10 etc.

[0022] The storage unit 150 is a work area of the control unit 110 and stores various information. The storage unit 150 can be realized by various memories, and the memory may be a semiconductor memory, a register, a magnetic storage device, or an optical storage device.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the terminal device 200. The terminal device 200 includes a terminal control unit 210, a terminal communication unit 220, a terminal operation unit 230, a terminal display unit 240, and a terminal storage unit 250.

[0024] The terminal control unit 210 controls each part of the terminal device 200. The terminal control unit 210 of the present embodiment includes hardware including at least one of a circuit for processing digital signals and a circuit for processing analog signals. For example, the hardware can be constituted by one or more circuit devices mounted on a circuit board or one or more circuit elements.

[0025] Also, the terminal control unit 210 can be realized by various processors such as a CPU, a GPU, a DSP, etc. The terminal device 200 includes a memory for storing information and the above - mentioned processor that operates based on the information stored in the memory. The memory stores computer - readable instructions, and by the processor executing the instructions, the functions of the terminal control unit 210 are realized as processing.

[0026] The terminal communication unit 220 is an interface for communicating with other devices and includes, for example, an antenna, an RF circuit, and a baseband circuit. The terminal communication unit 220 operates according to the control by the terminal control unit 210. Also, the terminal communication unit 220 may include a processor for communication control different from the terminal control unit 210.

[0027] The terminal communication unit 220 is a communication interface that executes communication according to Bluetooth. Also, the terminal communication unit 220 may be capable of executing communication according to other methods such as mobile communication (such as 5G and LTE), WiFi, etc.

[0028] The terminal operation unit 230 is for the user to perform various operations on the terminal device 200, and can be realized by various buttons, GUIs, etc. Also, the terminal operation unit 230 may be realized by a touch panel.

[0029] The terminal display unit 240 is for displaying various display screens, and can be realized by various displays such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The terminal display unit 240 displays the screens described later using, for example, FIGS. 12A - 12E, FIGS. 14A - 14E, etc.

[0030] The terminal storage unit 250 is a work area of the terminal control unit 210 and stores various information. The terminal storage unit 250 can be realized by various memories, and the memory may be a semiconductor memory, a register, a magnetic storage device, or an optical storage device.

[0031] For example, the terminal storage unit 250 stores address book information. Here, the address book information is information representing one or more addresses. An address is information for specifying a connection destination in communication, and is, for example, an email address. Note that the address book information may be information in which other information such as name, address, and affiliation is associated with each address. Also, the address is not limited to an email address and may be other information capable of specifying a connection destination.

[0032] Also, the terminal memory unit 250 stores an OS (Operating System). The terminal control unit 210 controls each part of the terminal device 200 by operating according to the OS, middleware operating on the OS, application software, etc. The OS here may be Android (registered trademark), iOS (registered trademark), or other OS.

[0033] 2. Flow of processing For example, consider a case where a first user who is a user of the terminal device 200 scans a manuscript with the information processing device 100 and sends the scan result to a second user. At this time, if the address of the second user is stored in the terminal device 200 of the first user, the address input effort can be reduced by sharing the address book information of the terminal device 200 with the information processing device 100. Also, it is not limited to the above example, and it is useful to share the address book information held by the terminal device 200 with the information processing device 100.

[0034] At this time, the control unit 110 of the information processing device 100 in the present embodiment transmits a request to acquire address book information to the terminal device 200 via the communication unit 120, and performs control to retransmit the acquisition request when the address book information cannot be acquired in response to the acquisition request and a given time has not elapsed since the start of transmission of the acquisition request.

[0035] For the information processing device 100 to acquire the address book information, it is necessary for the user to permit sharing of the address book information with the information processing device 100 in the terminal device 200. In the method of the present embodiment, since the acquisition request can be retransmitted until a given time elapses, it is possible to increase the probability that the user executes a permission operation in the terminal device 200.

[0036] Depending on the OS of the terminal device 200, the behavior in the transmission and reception of address book information may be different. For example, there is an OS (hereinafter referred to as the first OS) that does not proceed to the step of the information processing device 100 sending an acquisition request without the above permission, and there is also an OS (hereinafter referred to as the second OS) that can send an acquisition request without permission. The first OS is, for example, Android, and the second OS is, for example, iOS, but the specific OS is not limited to this. When the OS of the terminal device 200 is the second OS, since the information processing device 100 can send an acquisition request regardless of the presence or absence of permission, it is not easy to determine the presence or absence of the permission.

[0037] For example, when the terminal device 200 operating according to the second OS receives an acquisition request when permission has not been granted, regardless of the number of addresses actually held by the terminal device 200, it returns that the number of held addresses is 0. In this case, the information processing device 100 may not be able to distinguish between (1) there is permission but the number of addresses held by the terminal device 200 is 0, and (2) there is no permission.

[0038] In that regard, in the method of this embodiment, in order to give the user sufficient leeway to perform a permission operation, it is possible to estimate that the probability of (1) is higher than that of (2) above. That is, if the number of addresses is 0 even if the acquisition request is continuously sent for a given time, it can be estimated that the terminal device 200 does not hold one or more addresses in the first place. From a different perspective, since it is expected that a permission operation will be performed within the given time, if the terminal device 200 holds one or more addresses, the information processing device 100 can appropriately acquire the address book information representing the one or more addresses.

[0039] Hereinafter, the processing flow of the information processing device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 10. Also, with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14E, the specific processing flow according to the OS of the terminal device 200 will be described.

[0040] 2.1 Processing Flow in the Information Processing Device FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the processing in the information processing apparatus 100. First, in step S101, pairing between the information processing apparatus 100 and the terminal device 200 is performed. Note that FIG. 4 shows an example in which the information processing apparatus 100 is an MFP and the terminal device 200 is a mobile device.

[0041] FIG. 5 is an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 140 of the information processing apparatus 100 in order to execute the pairing shown in step S101. FIG. 5 is an example of a selection screen for address book information for selecting a data transmission destination address, and an object OB1 for acquiring an address from the terminal device 200 is displayed on the screen. Triggered by a user operation of selecting the object OB1, the information processing apparatus 100 starts processing for acquiring address book information from the terminal device 200.

[0042] Specifically, when a selection operation of the object OB1 is performed, the control unit 110 executes Bluetooth advertisement using the communication unit 120. At the same time, the control unit 110 displays Bluetooth pairing information on the display unit 140.

[0043] FIG. 6 is an example of a pairing standby screen displayed on the display unit 140 when a selection operation of the object OB1 is performed. As shown in FIG. 6, the pairing information displayed on the pairing standby screen includes the device name of the information processing apparatus 100. A device capable of executing Bluetooth communication existing in the vicinity of the information processing apparatus 100 can detect the presence of the information processing apparatus 100 in the vicinity by scanning the above-described advertisement. For example, when the terminal device 200 exists in the vicinity of the information processing apparatus 100 and Bluetooth is turned on, the terminal device 200 acquires information including the device name of the information processing apparatus 100 as a scan result. In the example of FIG. 6, the device name is "AAAA". In the terminal device 200, when the user performs an operation of selecting the information processing apparatus 100, pairing between the information processing apparatus 100 and the terminal device 200 is executed.

[0044] Next, in step S102, a connection request for a PBAP, which is a profile for acquiring address book information, is sent from the information processing apparatus 100 to the terminal apparatus 200. Specifically, the control unit 110 performs control to instruct the communication unit 120 to transmit a connection request to the terminal apparatus 200.

[0045] Also, in step S103, the control unit 110 performs control to display, on the display unit 140, information prompting the user to execute a permission operation on the terminal apparatus 200. The permission operation is a user operation for permitting sharing with the information processing apparatus 100 of the address book information.

[0046] FIG. 7A is an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 140 by the control in step S103. The screen prompting for permission may include text such as "Please permit sharing of the address book on the mobile device". However, the screen displayed in step S103 is not limited to FIG. 7A, and may be a screen displaying an image or icon prompting for permission, or may be a screen in other forms.

[0047] Next, in step S104, the control unit 110 determines whether the PBAP connection has succeeded or failed. As described above, the behavior in the PBAP connection varies depending on the OS of the terminal apparatus 200. For example, the terminal apparatus 200 operating according to the first OS returns a reply with or without permission to the connection request in step S102. For example, the terminal apparatus 200 operating according to the first OS gives a response permitting the PBAP connection request when permission has been given, and gives a response rejecting the PBAP connection request when permission has not been given. Also, for example, the terminal apparatus 200 operating according to the second OS gives a response permitting the PBAP connection request regardless of whether permission has been given to the connection request in step S102. In the above examples, regardless of the type of OS of the terminal apparatus 200, when the connection request for the profile is rejected, it is possible to determine that permission has not been given.

[0048] Therefore, when the connection based on the connection request fails ("failure" in step S104), in step S105, control is performed to display information indicating that sharing of address book information is not permitted on the display unit 140. Here, as shown in step S102, the connection request is a connection request for communication according to a profile (for example, PBAP) for sharing address book information, which is transmitted by the control unit 110 to the terminal device 200 via the communication unit 120.

[0049] FIG. 8 is an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 140 in step S105. The screen here may include text such as "Failed to obtain the mobile device address book". Alternatively, information clarifying that the cause of the failure, such as "Address book sharing is not permitted on the mobile device", lies in the fact that it was not permitted may be displayed. Other than that, various modifications are possible for the specific information displayed in step S105.

[0050] On the other hand, when the connection with the terminal device 200 is successful based on the connection request for communication according to the profile ("success" in step S104), in step S106, the control unit 110 performs control to transmit a request for obtaining address book information. As described above, the acquisition request in step S106 is a request transmitted according to a predetermined profile (PBAP).

[0051] Next, in step S107, the control unit 110 performs control to display on the display unit 140 information prompting the user to execute an operation for permitting sharing of address book information on the terminal device 200, in the same manner as in step S103.

[0052] However, in step S107, the control unit 110 may perform control to display information representing the relationship between the elapsed time from the start of transmission of the acquisition request and a given time. The start of transmission of the acquisition request represents, for example, the timing at which the acquisition request was first transmitted (step 106 was first performed) in one acquisition process of address book information (the process shown in FIG. 4). However, in the method of this embodiment, the successful connection of the profile serves as a trigger for transmitting the first acquisition request (steps S104 and S106 in FIG. 4), and it is assumed that the time difference from the determination of successful connection to the transmission of the first acquisition request does not become extremely large. Therefore, as the "start of transmission of the acquisition request" in this embodiment, the timing determined as "successful" in step S104 may be used. Also, the "start of transmission of the acquisition request" in this embodiment may be the timing determined as "successful" in step S104 or other timing that can be specified based on the timing when step S106 was first performed, and various modifications can be made to the specific timing.

[0053] FIG. 7B is an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 140 in step S107. The screen prompting for permission may include information representing the remaining time in addition to text such as "Please permit the sharing of the address book on the mobile device". The remaining time here is a value obtained by subtracting the elapsed time from the start of transmission of the acquisition request from a given time, and is, for example, numerical data expressed in units of minutes or seconds. For example, if the given time is 60 seconds and the elapsed time from the start of transmission of the acquisition request is 20 seconds, the remaining time is 40 seconds. That is, the remaining time here represents the remaining time for continuing the acquisition request for address book information, in other words, the remaining time for waiting for the user's permission operation for address book sharing. In this way, a grace period during which the permission operation can be executed is presented, enabling the user to be prompted to perform the permission operation promptly. Note that the information displayed in step S107 only needs to be information representing the relationship between the elapsed time and the given time, and is not limited to the remaining time. For example, the control unit 110 may display a screen that also shows the time when the given time has elapsed and the current time, and various modifications can be made to the specific mode.

[0054] In step S108, the control unit 110 acquires the response from the terminal device 200 to the acquisition request in step S106, and determines whether the number of addresses is 0 based on the response. If it is determined that the number of addresses is 0, the control unit 110 proceeds to step S109.

[0055] The fact that the number of addresses is 0 means that address book information sharing is permitted in the terminal device 200, but the terminal device 200 does not hold any valid addresses (for the first OS and the second OS), or address book information sharing is not permitted in the terminal device 200 (for the second OS). However, as described above, since it is not easy for the information processing apparatus 100 to distinguish between these cases, the control unit 110 executes control that can appropriately respond to any case.

[0056] Specifically, in step S109, the control unit 110 acquires the elapsed time since the start of the acquisition request for the address book information. For example, the control unit 110 may start counting up the counter at the timing when the process of step S106 is first performed, and in step S109, perform a process of acquiring the count value at that time. Note that the information processing apparatus 100 may have a counter inside, or may acquire information such as a count value from another device via the communication unit 120.

[0057] In step S110, the control unit 110 determines whether a given time has elapsed since the start of the acquisition request for the address book information. The given time here represents the maximum time for continuing the acquisition request, and a time of any length can be set.

[0058] If the elapsed time has not reached the given time, the control unit 110 returns to step S106 and continues the process. That is, the control unit 110 resends the acquisition request for the address book information, displays a screen prompting for permission corresponding to FIG. 7B, and determines the response to the resent acquisition request. At this time, since the elapsed time increases by repeating the loop process, the information (for example, the remaining time) displayed in step S107 also changes accordingly. And if the response to the resent acquisition request also indicates that the number of addresses is 0, the control unit 110 executes the processes of steps S109 - S110 again, and returns to step S106 again if the given time has not elapsed.

[0059] As shown in step S107, after starting to send the acquisition request, the control unit 110 may perform control to display, on the display unit 140, information prompting the user to execute an operation for permitting the sharing of the address book information in the terminal device 200 during the period until the given time elapses. Since the presentation of the information shown in FIG. 7B is continued, it becomes possible to appropriately prompt the user for the permission operation.

[0060] In this way, when the control unit 110 cannot obtain the address book information for the acquisition request for the address book information ( "0 pieces" in step S108) and the given time has not elapsed since the start of sending the acquisition request (No in step S110), the control unit 110 performs control to resend the acquisition request (step S106). As a result, it becomes possible to give the user a grace period of only the given time until permission for sharing is given.

[0061] As can be understood from the above description, in the present embodiment, "when the address book information cannot be obtained" may include the case where a reply indicating that the number of addresses is 0 is obtained for the acquisition request. In this way, even in the case of an OS such as the second OS that returns a reply indicating that the number of addresses is 0 when not permitted, it is possible to prompt the user for permission without immediately adopting the result of 0 pieces. In other words, it is possible to suppress confusing the case where there are really no addresses in the terminal device 200 after permission is given with the case where permission has not been given.

[0062] In the method of this embodiment, the user who operates the information processing apparatus 100 intends to acquire the address book information from the terminal device 200, and it is assumed that the terminal device 200 is a device that can be managed by the same user or a related person. If the terminal device 200 is not related to the user, it is unclear what address book information the terminal device 200 holds, and it is difficult to consider sharing the address book information of such a terminal device 200. That is, when the user operates the object OB1 on the screen shown in FIG. 5, it is considered highly probable that the user has the intention to perform a permission operation on the terminal device 200. That is, in the method of this embodiment, for example, even in a case where the connection of the profile is successful without permission like the second OS and a request for acquiring address book information is transmitted, while the loop processing of steps S106 - S110 is being performed, it is highly probable that the user will perform a permission operation.

[0063] After the permission operation is performed, regardless of whether the OS of the terminal device 200 is the first OS or the second OS, the terminal device 200 appropriately responds with the number of addresses it holds. For example, when one or more addresses are held in the terminal device 200, the control unit 110 receives a response including the number of addresses in step S108 and determines that it is "one or more".

[0064] In this case, in step S111, the control unit 110 acquires the address book information via the communication unit 120. In step S112, the control unit 110 disconnects the connection according to PBAP by the communication unit 120.

[0065] When the address book information is acquired from the terminal device 200 via the communication unit 120 in response to the request for acquiring the address book information, in step S113, the display unit 140 may display the address book information. Specifically, the control unit 110 performs control to display the acquired address book information on the display unit 140.

[0066] FIG. 9 is an example of a screen displayed in step S113. As shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 110 may list and display one or more addresses included in the acquired address book information. In the example of FIG. 9, the address book information includes information associating user names with email addresses, and the control unit 110 performs control to display a list of user names and email addresses.

[0067] In this way, it becomes possible to appropriately present the address book information acquired from the terminal device 200 to the user. For example, all of the acquired address book information may be stored in the storage unit 150 of the information processing device 100. Alternatively, on the screen of FIG. 9, when the user performs a selection operation on one or more addresses, the selected addresses may be stored in the storage unit 150.

[0068] The address book information acquired in this embodiment may be used when determining the transmission destination address of the data to be transmitted. The data to be transmitted here may be, for example, data related to an image acquired in a scanning function or a facsimile function. For example, the information processing device 100 further includes an image reading unit that reads a document and acquires an image as the reading result. The image reading unit includes, for example, a conveyance unit that conveys the document to be read, a light source unit that irradiates light on the document on the conveyance path, and a light receiving unit that receives the light reflected by the document. The conveyance unit includes, for example, conveyance rollers. The light source unit is a light emitting element such as an LED (light emitting diode). The light receiving unit is a photoelectric conversion element such as a PD (Photodiode). Also, the image reading unit is not limited to one that conveys the document, and may include a mechanism that drives the light source unit and the light receiving unit. The image reading unit acquires an image based on the detection result in the light receiving unit.

[0069] When the control unit 110 obtains address book information including one or more addresses in response to an acquisition request for address book information, it obtains information based on the image that is the reading result of the image reading unit as transmission target data, and specifies the transmission destination address of the transmission target data based on the address book information. For example, the control unit 110 displays an address list including the addresses obtained from the terminal device 200 on the display unit 140, and transmits data representing an image with the address selected by the user from the address list as the destination. In this way, it becomes possible to easily specify the output destination of the image in the information processing apparatus 100 (image forming apparatus, image processing apparatus).

[0070] However, the data targeted for the transmission process using the address book information is not limited to the image acquired by the scan function, and can be extended to various types of information accessible by the MFP. For example, the information processing apparatus 100 includes a storage unit 150 as shown in FIG. 2. When the address book information is acquired, the control unit 110 may specify the transmission destination address of the transmission target data stored in the storage unit 150 based on the address book information. For example, the display unit 140 can display a list of data stored in the storage unit 150, etc., and the transmission target data may be the data selected by the user based on the list, etc.

[0071] Alternatively, the information processing apparatus 100 may be capable of reading data from an external storage device. The external storage device may be a flash memory, an HDD, an SSD (Solid State Drive), or other storage devices. For example, the information processing apparatus 100 includes an interface unit for connecting to the external storage device. For example, the external storage device is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, and the interface unit may be a USB port. Alternatively, the external storage device is a card-type storage device such as an SD card, and the interface unit may be an SD card slot or the like. Alternatively, the external storage device may be a storage device connected via the communication unit 120. When the address book information is acquired, the control unit 110 may specify the transmission destination address of the data to be transmitted stored in the external storage device based on the address book information.

[0072] Also, when the address book information including one or more addresses cannot be acquired even after a given time has elapsed, it is determined Yes in step 110 of FIG. 4. In this case, in step S114, the control unit 110 performs control to display, on the display unit 140, information indicating that the number of addresses acquired from the terminal device 200 is zero.

[0073] FIG. 10 is an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 140 in step S114. The information indicating that the number of addresses is zero may be text such as "No address book is registered on the mobile device", for example. Also, the specific information is not limited to this, and other text may be displayed, or an image or icon indicating that no address is registered may be displayed.

[0074] When the process of step S105 or the process of step S114 is performed, the control unit 110 determines that the address book information of the mobile device could not be acquired. In this case, for example, the control unit 110 ends the process of acquiring the address book information. Since a notification to the user is performed in step S105 or step S114, for example, the control unit 110 may perform control to return to the home screen or the like without performing any further notifications.

[0075] As described above, according to the method of this embodiment, the information processing apparatus 100 can execute appropriate operations regardless of the OS of the terminal device 200. For example, in the case of an OS that rejects the connection of the profile when sharing of address book information is not permitted, an appropriate notification to the user is possible by performing the process of step S105. Also, when the connection of the profile is successful, the loop process of steps S106 - S110 can be executed in consideration of the second OS. Therefore, if one or more addresses are acquired, they can be displayed (step S113), and if the number of addresses is zero even after a given time has elapsed, it can be determined that the probability that the number of addresses held in the terminal device 200 is zero is high (step S114).

[0076] 2.2 Specific Examples of Processing According to the OS of the Terminal Device Next, the specific operation flows for the case where the OS of the terminal device 200 is the first OS and the case where it is the second OS will be described.

[0077] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a processing sequence when the OS of the terminal device 200 is the first OS. First, in step S201, the information processing apparatus 100 transitions to a selection screen for address book information using Bluetooth and waits for pairing. Specifically, in the information processing apparatus 100, when the selection operation of the object OB1 shown in FIG. 5 is performed and Bluetooth advertisement is started, the screen transitions to the screen of FIG. 6. When the user performs a pairing operation and pairing is completed (step S101 in FIG. 4), the information processing apparatus 100 starts the process for sharing the address book information.

[0078] Figures 12A to 12E are examples of screens displayed on the terminal display unit 240 of the terminal device 200 operating according to the first OS. Figure 12A is an example of a screen for setting Bluetooth in the terminal device 200. In the column of "Paired Devices", paired devices are displayed. Also, the terminal name represents the device name of the terminal device 200 in Bluetooth connection. For example, when a user operation of selecting "Pair with a new device" is performed in Figure 12A, the terminal display unit 240 transitions to the screen of Figure 12B.

[0079] Figure 12B is a device selection screen for selecting a device to be paired. For example, the terminal control unit 210 displays the scan result by the terminal communication unit 220 as a device for connection candidate. Since advertising is being performed in step S201, the information processing apparatus 100 is included in the scan result. Here, consider an example where the device name of the information processing apparatus 100 is "AAAA". As shown in Figure 6, since the device name of the information processing apparatus 100 is displayed on the display unit 140, a user who has viewed it can appropriately select the information processing apparatus 100 from the scan result.

[0080] In step S202, the terminal device 200 receives a user operation of selecting the device name corresponding to the information processing apparatus 100 and executes pairing. First, when "AAAA" representing the information processing apparatus 100 is selected in Figure 12B, the terminal control unit 210 performs control to transition to the screen of Figure 12C.

[0081] Figure 12C is a connection in progress screen indicating that the connection is in progress. While displaying the screen shown in Figure 12C, in step S203, the terminal device 200 transmits a Bluetooth pairing connection request to the information processing apparatus 100. In step S204, the information processing apparatus 100 transmits a pairing completion notification to the terminal device 200. Thereby, the pairing between the information processing apparatus 100 and the terminal device 200 is completed.

[0082] Next, in step S205, the information processing apparatus 100 transmits a profile connection request (PBAP connection request) to the terminal device 200. Also, as shown in step S103 of FIG. 4, the information processing apparatus 100 may display a permission waiting screen shown in FIG. 7A.

[0083] When the terminal device 200 operating according to the first OS receives a profile connection request, it may display a permission dialog regarding whether to permit sharing of address book information.

[0084] FIG. 12D is an example of a screen on which a permission dialog is displayed. For example, the permission dialog includes text asking whether to permit access to the address book information for the device corresponding to the device name "AAAA", and text for user selection of "Yes" and "No". "Yes" and "No" are objects from which either one can be selected. In step S206, the terminal device 200 receives user input. In FIG. 11, consider an example where the user selects "Yes" and permits access to the address book information from the information processing apparatus 100.

[0085] In step S207, the terminal device 200 transmits a profile connection completion notification together with permission for access to the information processing apparatus 100. As a result, the connection of the profile is completed, and thus the terminal display unit 240 displays the screen shown in FIG. 12E. As shown in FIG. 12E, the device name "AAAA" representing the information processing apparatus 100 is displayed in the column of "Paired Devices". Also, since sharing of the address book information is permitted in the permission dialog, the information processing apparatus 100 is in a state where it can acquire the address book information.

[0086] Here, since the connection of the profile has been successfully made with permission, the information processing apparatus 100 executes the processes after step S106 in FIG. 4. Specifically, in step S208, the information processing apparatus 100 transmits a request for acquiring address book information to the terminal device 200. In the first OS, when the connection of the profile is successful, sharing of the address book information is permitted. Therefore, in step S209, the terminal device 200 transmits the addresses it holds to the information processing apparatus 100. If the terminal device 200 holds one or more addresses, valid address book information is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 100.

[0087] In step S210, the information processing apparatus 100 performs a process of displaying the acquired address book information as described above with reference to FIG. 9. In step S211, the information processing apparatus 100 disconnects the connection of the profile.

[0088] Note that when "No" is selected in the permission dialog in FIG. 12D, the connection of the profile fails, so it is determined as "failed" in step 104 in FIG. 4, and the process of step S105 is executed. That is, it is possible to appropriately notify the user that permission has not been given on the terminal device 200 side. In this case, since the user is performing an operation without explicitly giving permission, it is considered that there is little need to prompt the permission operation by repeating the acquisition request.

[0089] Also, when there is not a single address held in the terminal device 200, since the elapsed time exceeds a given time due to the determination of "0 items" being repeated in step S108, the process of step S114 is executed. That is, it is possible to appropriately notify the user that the number of addresses held in the terminal device 200 is 0.

[0090] As described above, when the first OS is used, multiple (e.g., four) states can be considered according to conditions such as whether permission is given and whether the number of addresses stored in the terminal device 200 is zero or one or more. According to the method of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 11-12E, the information processing apparatus 100 can execute appropriate control in any of the multiple states.

[0091] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a processing sequence when the OS of the terminal device 200 is the second OS. First, in step S301, the information processing apparatus 100 transitions to a selection screen for address book information via Bluetooth and waits for pairing.

[0092] FIGS. 14A-14E are examples of screens displayed on the terminal display unit 240 of the terminal device 200 operating according to the second OS. FIG. 14A is an example of a screen for setting Bluetooth in the terminal device 200. In FIG. 14A, devices with a pairing history are listed in the "My Devices" column.

[0093] Also, when there is no pairing and there is a device that is advertising in the vicinity, the terminal device 200 displays information about the device in the "Other Devices" column as shown in FIG. 14B.

[0094] FIG. 14B is a device selection screen for selecting a device to be paired. For example, the terminal control unit 210 displays the scan result by the terminal communication unit 220 in the "Other Devices" column as a device to be connected. Since advertising is being performed in step S301, the scan result includes the information processing apparatus 100. Here, consider an example where the device name of the information processing apparatus 100 is "AAAA". As shown in FIG. 6, since the device name of the information processing apparatus 100 is displayed on the display unit 140, the user can appropriately select the information processing apparatus 100 from the scan result.

[0095] When the information processing device 100 is selected in FIG. 14B (step S302), in step S303, the terminal device 200 transmits a pairing connection request to the information processing device 100. In step S304, the information processing device 100 transmits a pairing completion notification to the terminal device 200. After the pairing is completed, in step S305, the information processing device 100 transmits a profile connection request to the terminal device 200. In step S306, the terminal device 200 transmits a profile connection completion notification to the information processing device 100.

[0096] FIG. 14C is a screen displayed on the terminal display unit 240 after a user operation of selecting the information processing device 100 is performed in step S302. The device name "AAAA" representing the information processing device 100 has moved to the "My Device" column, indicating that it is paired. Also, if the process up to step S306 is completed, not only the pairing but also the profile connection is in a completed state.

[0097] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14A - 14C, in the second OS, the user does not input permission / non - permission, and a profile connection completion notification is sent. In other words, the profile connection completion notification is not accompanied by information regarding the permission of address book information, and the profile connection is successful regardless of whether permission is given or not.

[0098] Since the profile connection is successful, the information processing device 100 executes the processes after step S106 in FIG. 4. Specifically, in step S307, the information processing device 100 transmits an address book information acquisition request to the terminal device 200. In step S308, the terminal device 200 transmits information regarding the address to the information processing device 100. However, at the stage corresponding to FIGS. 14A - 14C, permission has not been given, and the information processing device 100 cannot access the address book information of the terminal device 200. As a result, in step S308, the terminal device 200 notifies that the number of addresses is zero. Therefore, as described above with reference to FIG. 4, the processes of step S307 and step S308 are repeated until a given time elapses.

[0099] Meanwhile, the display unit 140 of the information processing apparatus 100 displays, for example, a permission waiting screen shown in FIG. 7B. A user who views the permission waiting screen can recognize that it is necessary to perform a permission operation on the terminal device 200. Therefore, in step S309, the terminal device 200 accepts a permission operation by the user.

[0100] Specifically, on the screen of FIG. 14C, the user performs an operation of selecting an object OB2 for performing detailed settings of the device. The object OB2 is displayed in association with, for example, the device name "AAAA" representing the information processing apparatus 100. When the selection operation of the object OB2 is performed, the terminal display unit 240 displays the screen of FIG. 14D.

[0101] FIG. 14D is a screen for performing detailed settings of a given device. Since PBAP is selected as the profile here, as shown in FIG. 14D, the screen for performing detailed settings is a screen on which it is possible to select whether to permit access to the address book information. In the example of FIG. 14D, by turning on the item "Synchronize contacts", access to the address book information is permitted. For example, the user can select permission / non - permission for sharing the address book information by performing a selection or a slide operation on the object OB3 included in FIG. 14D.

[0102] FIG. 14E is an example of a screen displayed on the terminal display unit 240 when sharing of the address book information is permitted. In FIG. 14E, specific categories of the information to be shared may be displayed. In a state where the screen of FIG. 14E is displayed, the information processing apparatus 100 is in a state where it can acquire the address book information.

[0103] Accordingly, in step S310, the terminal device 200 transmits valid address book information to the information processing device 100 in response to the acquisition request for the address book information. In step S311, the information processing device 100 performs the process of displaying the acquired address book information as described above with reference to FIG. 9. In step S312, the information processing device 100 disconnects the connection of the profile.

[0104] In addition, if the user does not give permission even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the acquisition request for the address book information, the process of step S114 in FIG. 4 is executed. However, as described above, in this embodiment, since the user actively performs the sharing operation of the address book information (FIG. 5), there is a high probability that the user has the intention to give permission. That is, by giving a grace period for a given time and further displaying the permission waiting screen shown in FIG. 7B, it is presumed that the user performs the permission operation as shown in FIGS. 14C - 14E before the given time elapses. That is, in this embodiment, it is possible to suppress the case where the user does not give permission while the process for sharing the address book information is started.

[0105] Also, even when the sharing of the address book information is permitted, if there is no address stored in the terminal device 200, the determination of "0 items" is repeated in step S108, so that the elapsed time exceeds the given time, and thus the process of step S114 is executed. That is, it is possible to appropriately notify the user that the number of addresses stored in the terminal device 200 is 0.

[0106] As described above, even when the second OS is used, a plurality of states can be considered according to conditions such as whether permission is given or not, and whether the number of addresses stored in the terminal device 200 is 0 or 1 or more. According to the method of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 13 - 14E, the information processing device 100 can execute appropriate control in any of the plurality of states.

[0107] That is, by making it possible to resend a request for acquiring address book information based on the elapsed time and a given time, appropriate communication control regarding the transmission and reception of address book information can be realized regardless of the OS of the terminal device 200, the presence or absence of permission by the user, the number of addresses stored in the terminal device 200, and the like. More specifically, even in the case of targeting an OS that does not respond to the presence or absence of permission regarding the sharing of address book information, it is possible to appropriately prompt for permission, so that the addresses stored in the terminal device 200 can be appropriately shared with the information processing device 100.

[0108] 3. Modification Example In the above, as exemplified by the object OB1 in FIG. 5, an example has been described in which a user operation to refer to the mobile address book in the information processing device 100 triggers the process of sharing address book information.

[0109] However, the method of this embodiment is not limited to this, and an operation that triggers processing may be executed on the terminal device 200 side. For example, the information processing device 100 and the terminal device 200 are connected using a communication method such as WiFi. For example, the information processing device 100 and the terminal device 200 may each be connected to the same wireless LAN access point, or either the information processing device 100 or the terminal device 200 may function as an access point and the other may be connected to the access point.

[0110] In this case, the terminal device 200 receives a user operation for sharing the address book information in the terminal device 200 with other devices and transmits information indicating that to the information processing device 100. The information processing device 100 that has acquired the information starts Bluetooth advertising. In this way, even when the user operation in the terminal device 200 is used as a trigger, the address book information can be shared by the same flow as the above-described processing.

[0111] For example, the terminal storage unit 250 of the terminal device 200 may store dedicated application software for using the information processing device 100. The terminal control unit 210 may execute reception of a user operation for sharing address book information and transmission of information to that effect by operating according to the dedicated application software. Alternatively, the information processing device 100 may be operable as a web application server, and the terminal device 200 may communicate with the information processing device 100 using a web browser or the like. That is, in the present embodiment, it is not essential for the terminal device 200 to use dedicated application software, and various modifications can be made to the method of receiving a user operation serving as a trigger and transmitting information about the trigger to the information processing device 100.

[0112] Also, the trigger for the process of sharing address book information is not limited to a user operation. For example, based on the process in at least one of the information processing device 100 and the terminal device 200, the process of automatically sharing address book information may be started. Also in this case, since a permission operation by the user is required for sharing the address book information, it is possible to suppress the address book information from being shared without the user's intention.

[0113] Furthermore, above, an example in which the information processing device 100 performs Bluetooth advertising and the terminal device 200 performs scanning has been described. However, the terminal device 200 is not prevented from performing advertising. For example, when a user operation serving as a trigger for processing is performed in the terminal device 200 as described above, pairing may be realized by the terminal device 200 performing advertising and the information processing device 100 performing scanning.

[0114] Also, the method of this embodiment can be applied to a communication system including the information processing apparatus 100 and the terminal apparatus 200 described above. The information processing apparatus 100 transmits a request to acquire address book information to the terminal apparatus 200, and performs control to retransmit the acquisition request when the address book information cannot be acquired in response to the acquisition request and a given time has not elapsed since the start of transmission of the acquisition request. The terminal apparatus 200 is a device that operates according to any one of a plurality of operating systems (OSs) including a first OS and a second OS. The terminal apparatus 200 operating according to the second OS can establish a connection for receiving the acquisition request even when sharing of the address book information is not permitted. In this case, when the terminal apparatus 200 operating according to the second OS is in a case where sharing is permitted and holds a valid address, it returns the address book information in response to the acquisition request, and does not return the address book information when it does not hold a valid address. Also, the terminal apparatus 200 operating according to the second OS does not return the address book information in response to the acquisition request when sharing is not permitted.

[0115] According to the method of this embodiment, even when the behavior in sharing the address book information differs depending on the OS of the terminal apparatus 100, a communication system capable of appropriately sharing the address book information can be realized.

[0116] Also, the method of this embodiment can be applied to an information processing method in the information processing apparatus 100 that acquires address book information from the terminal apparatus 200. The information processing method transmits a request to acquire address book information to the terminal apparatus 200, and retransmits the acquisition request when the address book information cannot be acquired in response to the acquisition request and a given time has not elapsed since the start of transmission of the acquisition request.

[0117] In addition, part or all of the processing performed by the information processing apparatus 100 (narrowly, the control unit 110) and the terminal device 200 (narrowly, the terminal control unit 210) in the present embodiment may be realized by a program. The program according to the present embodiment can be stored in a non-transitory information storage device (information storage medium), which is a computer-readable medium, for example. The information storage device can be realized by, for example, an optical disk, a memory card, an HDD, or a semiconductor memory. The semiconductor memory is, for example, a ROM. At least one of the control unit 110 and the terminal control unit 210 performs various processes of the present embodiment based on the program stored in the information storage device. That is, the information storage device stores a program for causing a computer to function as each part of the control unit 110 and the terminal control unit 210. A computer is a device including an input device, a processing unit, a storage unit, and an output unit. Specifically, the program according to the present embodiment is a program for causing a computer to execute each step described above with reference to FIGS. 4, 11, 13, etc.

[0118] Although the present embodiment has been described in detail as above, those skilled in the art will easily understand that many modifications are possible without substantially departing from the novel matters and effects of the present embodiment. Therefore, all such modified examples are intended to be included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in the specification or the drawings, a term described at least once together with a different term that is broader or synonymous can be replaced with the different term at any place in the specification or the drawings. Also, all combinations of the present embodiment and the modified examples are included in the scope of the present disclosure. Further, the configurations and operations of the information processing apparatus and the terminal device are not limited to those described in the present embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0119] 100... Information processing apparatus, 110... Control unit, 120... Communication unit, 130... Operation unit, 140... Display unit, 150... Storage unit, 200... Terminal device, 210... Terminal control unit, 220... Terminal communication unit, 230... Terminal operation unit, 240... Terminal display unit, 250... Terminal storage unit, OB1, OB2, OB3... Object

Claims

1. A communication unit that communicates with a terminal device, A control unit that controls the communication unit, comprising: The control unit, transmits a request to obtain address book information to the terminal device via the communication unit, An information processing apparatus that performs control to retransmit the acquisition request when the address book information cannot be acquired in response to the acquisition request and a given time has not elapsed since the start of transmission of the acquisition request.

2. In claim 1, The case where the address book information cannot be acquired includes the case where a reply indicating that the number of addresses is zero is obtained in response to the acquisition request. An information processing apparatus.

3. In claim 1 or 2, An information processing apparatus further comprising a display unit that displays the address book information when the address book information is acquired in response to the acquisition request.

4. In claim 3, The control unit, An information processing apparatus that performs control to display, on the display unit, information prompting the user to execute an operation for permitting sharing of the address book information on the terminal device during a period from the start of transmission of the acquisition request until the given time elapses.

5. In claim 4, The control unit, An information processing apparatus that performs control to display, on the display unit, information indicating the relationship between the elapsed time from the start of transmission of the acquisition request and the given time.

6. In any one of claims 3 to 5, The control unit, transmits a connection request for communication according to a profile for sharing the address book information to the terminal device via the communication unit, When the connection with the terminal device is successful based on the connection request, performs control to transmit the acquisition request for the address book information, An information processing apparatus that performs control to display, on the display unit, information indicating that sharing of the address book information is not permitted in the terminal device when the connection based on the connection request fails.

7. In any one of claims 3 to 6, The control unit, An information processing apparatus that performs control to display, on the display unit, information indicating that the number of addresses acquired from the terminal device is zero when the address book information including one or more addresses cannot be acquired even after the given time has elapsed.

8. In any one of claims 1 to 7, The control unit, An image reading unit that reads a manuscript and acquires an image as a reading result, a storage unit included in the information processing apparatus, and at least one of an external storage device can acquire transmission target data, and An information processing apparatus that, when the address book information is acquired in response to the acquisition request, specifies a transmission destination address of the transmission target data based on the address book information.

9. An information processing method in an information processing apparatus that acquires address book information from a terminal device, comprising: Sending a request to acquire the address book information to the terminal device; When the address book information cannot be acquired in response to the acquisition request and a given time has not elapsed since the start of transmission of the acquisition request, resending the acquisition request. An information processing method.

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