JP2016181152A - Image formation device, image formation system, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow an image formation device equipped with a plurality of communication interface means given address information different from each other to inform a terminal of a communication interface capable of network communication.SOLUTION: An image formation device 10 includes: a connection request reception unit that transmits an IP address as WSD printer information to a terminal 40 in response to a connection request by NFC; and an address information transmission unit that transmits IP addresses of network interfaces 18, 19 to the terminal 40 via the respective network interfaces 18, 19 after the transmission of the WSD printer information. The terminal 40 includes: an address information reception unit that updates an IP address included in WSD printer information registered as a WSD printer by rewriting it with the IP address transmitted later by the address information transmission unit; and a data transmission unit that transmits print data destined to the IP address transmitted by the address information transmission unit to the image formation device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, and a program.

  In recent years, a function (for example, Tap to Print) has been provided in which an image can be easily printed from a terminal having a short-range wireless communication unit such as a smartphone only by a screen operation of the terminal.

  A printing apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral that supports this function is provided with WSD (Web Service for Devices) printer information as a WSD (Web Service for Devices) printer information for a terminal detected at the start of the use of the Tap to Print function compliant with NFC (Near Field Communication). The UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) and StableWSDiscoveryEndpoint (device URL for ESD search response including the IP address of the communication interface) of the printing apparatus are returned.

  The terminal requests printing by transmitting data by using the IP address of the communication interface transmitted from the printing apparatus as a transmission destination.

  By the way, in recent years, a model in which a plurality of communication interfaces are mounted on a multi-function peripheral which is a form of an image forming apparatus has appeared.

JP 2002-345027 A JP 2006-333321 A JP 2013-214808 A

  In the case of a multi-function peripheral equipped with a plurality of communication interfaces, the multi-function peripheral sends WSD printer information including the IP address of one of the communication interfaces to the terminal based on the NFC standard. It is not always possible to perform network communication with a multifunction peripheral via a communication interface. That is, it is not always possible for the terminal to make the data reach the multifunction device via the communication interface of the IP address included in the WSD printer information.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to inform a terminal of a communication interface capable of network communication in an image forming apparatus having a plurality of communication interface means and different address information assigned to each communication interface means.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention performs short-range wireless communication between a plurality of communication interface means for connecting to a plurality of networks, which are assigned different address information, and the terminal. Short-range wireless communication means for receiving the device information request transmitted from the mobile station, and when the short-range wireless communication means receives the device information request, the address information of the communication interface means is obtained via the communication interface means. Data transmitted from the terminal with the transmission means to be transmitted to the terminal and the address information of the communication interface means received by the terminal as a transmission destination is received via the communication interface means, and the data And a process execution means for executing the process.

  The near field communication unit receives a device information request conforming to NFC at the start of use of the image forming apparatus via the near field communication unit conforming to NFC (Near Field Communication). To do.

  Further, when at least one of the communication interface means is a communication interface means compliant with Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark), the transmission means has an IP address set in the communication interface means, or the communication When at least one of the fact that the interface means detects the terminal that transmitted the address information is satisfied, the address information of the communication interface means is transmitted via the communication interface means.

  An image forming system according to the present invention includes an image forming apparatus and a terminal, and the image forming apparatus is provided with different address information and has a plurality of communication interface means for connecting to a plurality of networks, respectively. Image forming apparatus side short-range wireless communication means for performing short-range wireless communication with a terminal, and an image for receiving a device information request transmitted from the terminal at the time of a connection request via the image forming apparatus-side short distance wireless communication means When the image forming apparatus side receiving means receives the apparatus information request, the image forming apparatus side receiving means transmits the address information of the communication interface means to the terminal via the communication interface means. Any of the address information of the communication interface means received by the terminal is transmitted from the terminal as a transmission destination. Receiving the received data via the communication interface means, and executing processing on the data, and the terminal is short-range on the terminal side for performing short-range communication with the image forming apparatus Communication means; connection request means for requesting device information via the terminal-side short-range communication means; and each communication interface means from the image forming apparatus in response to receiving the device information request transmitted by the connection request means. Terminal side information receiving means for receiving the address information of the communication interface means transmitted via the terminal, and transmitting the data to be processed using the address information of the communication interface means received by the terminal side information receiving means as the destination And a data transmission means.

  An image forming apparatus having a short-range wireless communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication with a plurality of communication interface units and terminals to which different address information is assigned and connected to a plurality of networks. A receiving unit that receives a device information request transmitted from the terminal when a use start request is made via the short-range wireless communication unit. When the receiving unit receives the device information request, each communication Data transmitted from the terminal using either the transmission means for transmitting the address information of the communication interface means to the terminal via the interface means or the address information of the communication interface means received by the terminal. Received via the communication interface means, and processes the data. Process executing means for, to function as a.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus equipped with a plurality of communication interface means, it is possible to notify a terminal of a communication interface capable of network communication.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, it is possible to notify the terminal of communication interface means capable of network communication in response to a request from a terminal compliant with NFC.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to cope with a case where the communication interface means mounted therein includes communication interface means compliant with Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark).

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus equipped with a plurality of communication interface means, it is possible to inform the terminal of a communication interface capable of network communication.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus equipped with a plurality of communication interface means, it is possible to inform a terminal of a communication interface capable of network communication.

1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention and an overall configuration of an embodiment of an image forming system. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus and a terminal in the present embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention and an overall configuration of an embodiment of an image forming system. The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is an apparatus with a built-in computer that is realized by a multifunction machine or the like equipped with various functions such as a print function, a copy function, a scanner function, and a facsimile communication function. In FIG. 1, the CPU 11 controls the operation of various mechanisms mounted on the apparatus such as the scanner 13 and the printer engine 15 according to a program stored in the ROM 16. The address data bus 21 is connected to various mechanisms to be controlled by the CPU 11 and performs data communication. The operation panel 12 receives instructions from the user and displays information. The scanner 13 reads a document set by a user and accumulates it in an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 14 or the like as electronic data. The HDD 14 stores an electronic document read using the scanner 13. The printer engine 15 prints an image on output paper in accordance with an instruction from a control program executed by the CPU 11. The RAM 17 is used as a work memory during program execution and a communication buffer during electronic data transmission / reception. The ROM 16 stores various programs relating to control of the apparatus, encryption of electronic data, and transmission / reception of electronic data. By executing various programs, each component described later exhibits a predetermined processing function.

  The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has at least two network interfaces (IF) 18 and 19. The network interface 18 is a communication interface means for connecting a LAN (wired) 22 as a network. An access point (AP) 23 for establishing a wireless LAN with the terminal 40 is connected to the LAN 22. The network interface 19 is a communication interface means for connecting a wireless LAN conforming to Wi-Fi Direct as a network different from the LAN 21.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the wired LAN and the wireless LAN are connected to each of the network interfaces 18 and 19 is exemplified, but both the wired LAN and the wireless LAN may be connected. In the present embodiment, the two network interfaces 18 and 19 are configured to be mounted on the image forming apparatus 10 for convenience of explanation. However, even if a larger number of network interfaces are mounted on the image forming apparatus 10. Alternatively, it may be configured by one network interface having at least two or more communication ports.

  The image forming apparatus 10 in the present embodiment further includes an NFC interface (IF) 20. The NFC interface 20 is a short-range wireless communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication with a terminal 40 that is also equipped with the NFC interface.

  In the present embodiment, a terminal device having a network function such as a smartphone is assumed as the terminal 40. The hardware configuration of the terminal 40 may be the same as before, and includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and storage. Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is assumed that wireless LAN communication and wireless LAN communication based on Wi-Fi Direct are possible as the NFC interface and the network interface.

  FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 10 and the terminal 40 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, components that are not used in the description of the present embodiment are omitted. The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a connection request receiving unit 31, an address information transmitting unit 32, a request receiving unit 33, and a process execution unit 34. The connection request receiving unit 31 receives a use start request (also referred to as a “connection request” with the network) of the image forming apparatus 10 of the terminal 40. Note that the terminal 40 may pass the address information of the terminal via the NFC interface 20 at the time of a connection request. When the connection request receiving unit 31 receives the address information of the terminal 40, the address information transmitting unit 32 transmits the address information of the network interface 18, 19 to the terminal 40 via each network interface 18, 19. The request receiving unit 33 receives a processing request from the terminal 40. After receiving the processing request, the process execution unit 34 receives data transmitted from the terminal 40 using the address information of any of the network interfaces 18 and 19 received by the terminal 40 via the network interfaces 18 and 19. When received, processing is executed based on the data.

  The components 31 to 34 in the image forming apparatus 10 are realized by a cooperative operation of a computer built in the image forming apparatus 10 and a program that operates on the CPU 11 mounted on the computer.

  The terminal 40 in the present embodiment includes a connection request transmission unit 41, an address information reception unit 42, a processing request unit 43, and a data transmission unit 44. The connection request transmission unit 41 requests connection by transmitting the IP address of the terminal 40 to the image forming apparatus 10 when the terminal 40 is brought close to the NFC interface 20 (Tap or touched). The address information receiving unit 42 receives the IP address of its own terminal transmitted from the connection request transmitting unit 41, and receives the network interfaces 18 and 19 transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 via the network interfaces 18 and 19, respectively. IP address is received. The process request unit 43 transmits a request for executing a desired process to the image forming apparatus 10. The data transmission unit 44 transmits data necessary for execution of the requested processing using the IP address of the network interface 18 or the network interface 19 received by the address information reception unit 42 as a transmission destination.

  Each component 41 to 44 in the terminal 40 is realized by a cooperative operation of a computer built in the terminal 40 and a program operating on a CPU mounted on the computer.

  Further, the program used in this embodiment can be provided not only by communication means but also by storing it in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or USB memory. The program provided from the communication means or the recording medium is installed in the computer, and various processes are realized by the CPU 11 of the computer sequentially executing the program.

  Next, processing performed when the NFC uses the Tap to Print function between the image forming apparatus 10 and the terminal 40 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When a user carrying the terminal 40 prints an image stored in the terminal 40, when the user approaches the NFC interface 20 disposed at a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus 10, the exchange between the NFC interfaces is performed. Thus, a line is established between the image forming apparatus 10 and the terminal 40 without any operation by the user. The connection request transmission unit 41 transmits a connection request with a network connected to the image forming apparatus 10 via the NFC interface in order to request the start of use of the image forming apparatus 10. The request information transmitted at the time of the connection request includes the IP address of the terminal 40 as identification information and the fact that it is a connection request.

  When the connection request reception unit 31 in the image forming apparatus 10 receives the connection request information transmitted from the terminal 40 via the NFC interface 20 (step 101), the connection request reception unit 31 acquires a UUID preset as identification information of the own apparatus. Further, the IP address of the network interface set in advance as the default interface is acquired. Since the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes two network interfaces 18 and 19, one of the IP addresses is set as a default interface. As will be apparent from the following description, in this embodiment, basically, an IP address set as a default interface is not used, so an arbitrary IP address may be set as a default value. However, if there is a network that the user mainly wants to use, the IP address of the network interface to which the network is connected may be set.

  When the UUID and the default IP address are acquired, the connection request receiving unit 31 transmits the UUID and the stable WS Discovery Endpoint (device URL for an ESD search response including the IP address of the communication interface) to the terminal 40 via the NFC interface 20 as WSD printer information. (Step 102). The WSD printer information conforms to the NDEF (NFC Data Exchange Format) message format.

  When receiving the WSD printer information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10, the terminal 40 registers the image forming apparatus 10 as a WSD printer by associating and storing the UUID and the IP address. As a result, the terminal 40 is set to transmit data to the image forming apparatus 10 identified by the UUID via a network connected to the network interface identified by the IP address.

  The above processing is processing compliant with the NFC standard. In the present embodiment, the UUID is used as information for uniquely identifying the own apparatus based on the NFC standard. However, depending on other standards, other identification information such as a MAC address may be used.

  When the WSD printer information is transmitted by the connection request receiving unit 31, the address information transmitting unit 32 confirms whether IP addresses are set for all the network interfaces 18 and 19. This is because the IP address may not be set depending on the Wi-Fi Direct specification, and this is to be confirmed in advance. If an IP address is also set for the network interface 19 (Y in Step 103), then the address information transmission unit 32 confirms whether the terminal 40 is detected by Wi-Fi Direct. When the terminal 40 is detected (Y in Step 104), the address information transmission unit 32 generates address information including the UUID of the own device and the IP addresses of the network interfaces 18 and 19, respectively. The address information transmitting unit 32 transmits each address information to the terminal 40 as a WSDiscovery Hello Message via the network interfaces 18 and 19 corresponding to the IP address (step 105). The address information is transmitted by multicast (or broadcast). However, when the address information of the terminal that is the notification destination is acquired, the address information may be transmitted only to the notification destination terminal.

  In the case of the present embodiment, since two network interfaces 18 and 19 are provided, the address information in which the IP address of the network interface 18 is set is transmitted to the terminal 40 via the network interface 18. On the other hand, the address information in which the IP address of the network interface 19 is set is transmitted to the terminal 40 via the network interface 19.

  When the terminal 40 receives the address information from the image forming apparatus 10 via the network, the terminal 40 associates the UUID and the IP address with each other and stores them in the inside. In this example, since the UUID included in the received address information is the same as the UUID included in the WSD printer information transmitted via NFC in step 102, the terminal 40 has already received and held via NFC. The overwritten IP address is overwritten with the IP address included in the received address information.

  Here, the terminal 40 normally receives both the address information transmitted via the network interface 18 and the address information transmitted via the network interface 19. If the address information transmitted via the network interface 18 is received first, the IP address received via NFC is overwritten and updated with the IP address included in the address information. The valid IP address is immediately overwritten and updated with the IP address included in the address information via the network interface 19 received later. However, the fact that both of the address information can be normally received by the terminal 40 means that both can perform network communication. Therefore, no problem occurs regardless of which address information is received later and the IP address is overwritten and updated.

  When the terminal 40 wants to print an image stored inside from the image forming apparatus 10 by using the Tap to Print function, the terminal 40 may perform the operation in the same manner as before to instruct printing. When the processing request unit 43 in the terminal 40 requests processing (print processing using the Tap to Print function here) via the NFC interface as before, the request receiving unit 33 in the image forming apparatus 10 is the same as before. So that the processing request is received. Then, the data transmission unit 44 in the terminal 40 transmits the image data to be printed using the IP address held therein as the transmission destination. The process execution unit 34 in the image forming apparatus 10 receives data from the terminal 40 via the network interface 18 or the network interface 19 corresponding to the IP address held in the terminal 40, and executes a predetermined print process.

  As is clear from the above processing, the IP address acquired via NFC is overwritten and updated by the setting contents of the address information. Therefore, as described above, the default IP address may be any set value. However, in order to reliably overwrite and update the IP address acquired via NFC, the address information transmission unit 32, after transmission of the WSD printer information by the connection request reception unit 31, passes a certain amount of time. Transmission control may be performed so that the print information is transmitted after a certain time.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the IP addresses of the network interfaces 18 and 19 are transmitted to the terminal 40 separately from the NFC standard, and the IP addresses are used to transmit the IP addresses via the network interfaces 18 and 19. Enabled to perform network communication.

  Steps 103 and 104 are processes that take Wi-Fi Direct into consideration. If this condition is not met (N in Step 103 or Step 104), that is, if the terminal 40 cannot be connected via Wi-Fi Direct, the address information in Step 105 is not transmitted in this embodiment. . Note that the address information may not be transmitted only when any one of the conditions is satisfied. In step 102, NFC explained that an arbitrary IP address may be transmitted, but considering this case, the IP address of the network interface 19 on the wired side that is not Wi-Fi Direct may be set as a default value. May be convenient. Alternatively, if the conditions in Steps 103 and 104 are not met (N in Step 103 or Step 104), address information is not transmitted from the network interface (Wi-Fi Direct) 19 and the processing in Step 105 is performed. May be.

  In step 104, the existence of the terminal 40 is confirmed without being limited to the terminal 40 that has requested connection. However, whether or not the terminal 40 that has requested connection has been detected can be determined by the process determination condition in step 104. It is good.

  In the present embodiment, the description has been given by taking Tap to Print as an example. Therefore, the processing execution unit 34 executes a printing process of outputting the image data itself transmitted from the terminal 40 based on this function. In the case of another processing request by function, the process execution unit 34 may process according to the contents (instructions) described in the transmitted data (for example, postscript).

  As described above, in this embodiment, the IP address held in the terminal 40 is updated with the IP address transmitted via the network interfaces 18 and 19, but other methods are adopted. May be.

  For example, a different UUID is assigned to each of the network interfaces 18 and 19, and the terminal 40 is made to register the image forming apparatus 10 so that there are two printers. In this case, the user of the terminal 40 may select and use a desired printer from the two printers displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the terminal 40.

  Alternatively, in response to a connection request, which IP address of the network interfaces 18 and 19 is to be transmitted may be displayed on the operation panel 12 and selected by the user.

  Alternatively, unlike in the past, WSD printer information is not returned in response to a connection request, and an IP address is transmitted from each network interface 18 and 19 during subsequent operations, so that the terminal 40 can detect the WSD printer. Good.

  In the present embodiment, the description has been made assuming a multifunction peripheral as one form of the image forming apparatus. However, the technology described in the present embodiment may be applied to an apparatus equipped with a plurality of communication interface units. Is possible.

10 image forming apparatus, 11 CPU, 12 operation panel, 13 scanner, 14 hard disk drive (HDD), 15 printer engine, 16 ROM, 17 RAM, 18, 19 network interface (IF), 20 NFC interface (IF), 21 address Data bus, 22 LAN, 23 access point (AP), 31 connection request receiver, 32 address information transmitter, 33 request receiver, 34 process execution unit, 40 terminal, 41 connection request transmitter, 42 address information receiver, 43 Processing request part, 44 Data transmission part.

Claims (5)

A plurality of communication interface means for giving different address information and connecting to a plurality of networks respectively;
Short-range wireless communication means for performing short-range wireless communication with a terminal, and receiving a device information request transmitted from the terminal at the time of use start request;
When the short-range wireless communication unit receives a device information request, a transmission unit that transmits the address information of the communication interface unit to the terminal via each communication interface unit;
Processing execution means for receiving, via the communication interface means, data transmitted from the terminal with any one of the address information of the communication interface means received by the terminal as a transmission destination; ,
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The near field communication unit receives an apparatus information request conforming to NFC at the start of use of the image forming apparatus via the near field communication unit conforming to NFC (Near Field Communication). Item 2. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1.   In the case where at least one of the communication interface means is a communication interface means compliant with Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark), the transmission means has an IP address set in the communication interface means, or the communication interface means 2. The address information of the communication interface means is transmitted via the communication interface means when at least one of the terminals detecting the address information transmitted from the communication interface means is satisfied. Image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus;
A terminal,
Have
The image forming apparatus includes:
A plurality of communication interface means for giving different address information and connecting to a plurality of networks respectively;
Image forming apparatus side near field communication means for performing near field communication with the terminal;
An image forming apparatus side receiving means for receiving an apparatus information request transmitted from the terminal at the time of a connection request via the image forming apparatus side short-range wireless communication means;
When the image forming apparatus side receiving means receives an apparatus information request, the image forming apparatus side transmitting means transmits address information of the communication interface means to the terminal via each communication interface means;
Processing execution means for receiving, via the communication interface means, data transmitted from the terminal with any one of the address information of the communication interface means received by the terminal as a transmission destination; ,
Have
The terminal
Terminal-side near field communication means for performing near field communication with the image forming apparatus;
Connection request means for requesting device information via the terminal-side short-range communication means;
A terminal-side information receiving means for receiving address information of the communication interface means transmitted from the image forming apparatus via the communication interface means in response to receiving the device information request sent by the connection request means; ,
Data transmission means for transmitting data to be processed with the address information of the communication interface means received by the terminal side information reception means as a transmission destination;
An image forming system comprising: Different address information is assigned and mounted on an image forming apparatus having a plurality of communication interface means for connecting to a plurality of networks and an image forming apparatus side short-range wireless communication means for performing short-range wireless communication with a terminal. Computer
Receiving means for receiving a device information request transmitted from the terminal at the time of use start request via the short-range wireless communication means;
When the receiving means receives a device information request, a transmitting means for sending address information of the communication interface means to the terminal via the communication interface means,
Processing execution means for receiving data transmitted from the terminal with any one of the address information of the communication interface means received by the terminal as a transmission destination, and executing processing on the data;
Program to function as.

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