U.S. patent application number 14/533440 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-26 for image-processing system and image-processing method.
The applicant listed for this patent is Canon Europa N.V.. Invention is credited to Pierre-Jean Champault, Benjamin John Parks, Ricardo Jose Teixeira dos Santos.
Application Number | 20150055182 14/533440 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43128008 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150055182 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Parks; Benjamin John ; et
al. |
February 26, 2015 |
IMAGE-PROCESSING SYSTEM AND IMAGE-PROCESSING METHOD
Abstract
An image-processing system comprising a peripheral device 10, a
web server 12 associated with the peripheral device 10 an
application server 13 and a mobile phone 11. The web server 12 is
configured to send a registration request to register communication
parameters of the peripheral device 10 in association with a piece
of identification information at the application server 13. The
mobile device 11 is configured to determine the piece of
identification information and to send a request to the application
server 13 with the determined piece of identification information.
The application server 13 is configured to associate the registered
details of the peripheral device 10 with the request from the
mobile device 11 thereby allowing a connection to be configured
between the mobile device 11 and the peripheral device 10.
Inventors: |
Parks; Benjamin John;
(Reading, GB) ; Champault; Pierre-Jean; (London,
GB) ; Teixeira dos Santos; Ricardo Jose; (Windsor,
GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Canon Europa N.V. |
The Netherlands |
|
NL |
|
|
Family ID: |
43128008 |
Appl. No.: |
14/533440 |
Filed: |
November 5, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13238204 |
Sep 21, 2011 |
8914479 |
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14533440 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 2201/3204 20130101;
H04W 4/02 20130101; G06F 3/1268 20130101; H04N 1/32767 20130101;
H04N 1/00464 20130101; H04N 1/00307 20130101; H04N 2201/3278
20130101; H04N 1/32117 20130101; G06F 3/1226 20130101; G06F 3/1292
20130101; G06F 21/606 20130101; H04L 67/34 20130101; H04N 2201/3205
20130101; G06F 3/1236 20130101; H04N 1/00244 20130101; H04N 1/00474
20130101; G06F 3/1288 20130101; G06F 21/31 20130101; G06F 21/608
20130101; H04L 67/28 20130101; H04N 2201/3269 20130101; H04L 67/02
20130101; H04N 1/00225 20130101; H04L 67/06 20130101; G06F 21/43
20130101; H04N 2201/3273 20130101; G06F 3/1204 20130101; H04N 1/001
20130101; G06F 3/1222 20130101; H04N 1/00228 20130101; H04N 1/00424
20130101; H04N 2201/0094 20130101; G06F 3/1238 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/1.15 |
International
Class: |
H04N 1/00 20060101
H04N001/00; H04L 29/08 20060101 H04L029/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 27, 2010 |
GB |
GB1016198.2 |
Claims
1-35. (canceled)
36. A mobile device comprising an image processing function for
sending a file for printing or receiving a scanned file, the image
processing function including: a code portion to receive
information displayed on a peripheral apparatus in order to
determine a piece of identification information that has been
registered in a server in association with communication parameters
of the peripheral apparatus, the peripheral apparatus functioning
as at least one of a printer, fax machine, and a scanner; and a
code portion to send a request to the server including the
determined piece of identification information in order to register
the communication parameters of the mobile device in association
with the piece of identification information.
37. A mobile device according to claim 36, wherein the mobile
device comprises a camera and the code portion to receive
information displayed on the peripheral apparatus is adapted to
read a machine readable code displayed on the peripheral apparatus
using the camera.
38. A mobile device according to claim 37, wherein the machine
readable code is a barcode.
39. A mobile device according to claim 36, wherein the determined
piece of identification information is identification information
that identifies a peripheral apparatus.
40. A mobile device according to claim 36, wherein the piece of
identification information is a code, and the code portion to
receive information displayed on the peripheral apparatus is
adapted to receive the code by entry of the code into the mobile
device by the user.
41. A method for printing from a mobile device comprising:
receiving information displayed on a peripheral apparatus in order
to determine a piece of identification information that has been
registered in a server in association with communication parameters
of a peripheral apparatus, the peripheral apparatus functioning as
at least one of a printer, fax machine, and an scanner; and sending
a registration request to the server including the determined piece
of identification information in order to register communication
parameters of the mobile device in association with the piece of
identification information.
42. A non-transitory storage medium storing a program that, when
executed by a mobile device, causes the mobile device to perform a
method for printing from the mobile device comprising: receiving
information displayed on a peripheral apparatus in order to
determine a piece of identification information that has been
registered in a server in association with communication parameters
of a peripheral apparatus, the peripheral apparatus functioning as
at least one of a printer, a fax machine, and a scanner; and
sending a registration request to a server including the determined
piece of identification information in order to register
communication parameters of the mobile device in association with
the piece of identification information.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an image-processing system
and an image-processing method. In particular, the present
invention relates to communication between peripheral devices, such
as printers, scanners, fax machines, etc., and mobile devices, such
as mobile telephones, PDAs, etc.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Mobile devices, such as mobile telephones and PDAs, are
widely used in modern society. Similarly, large MFP (Multi-function
Peripheral) devices are also widely used in office environments,
print rooms, universities, etc. However, a practical method for
printing from mobile phones to MFPs or for scanning documents to
mobile phones has been lacking.
[0005] WO 2007/026938 describes a mechanism for scanning to and
printing from mobile phones. The mobile phone communicates with an
MFP using an RFID card, which allows exchange of wireless network
configuration parameters. Based on the wireless configuration
parameters communication between the mobile phone and the MFP is
configured to allow jobs to be printed from the mobile phone or
documents to be scanned to the mobile phone.
[0006] Whilst the teaching of WO 2007/026938 goes some way towards
allowing mobile printing, it is inconvenient because it requires a
non-contact IC card unit (contactless smart card) to be built into
the mobile phone. Mobile phones and other devices with such
built-in contactless smart cards are not yet in wide-spread
use.
[0007] Modern mobile phones (so called smart phones) now include
operating systems and the ability to download and install software
applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
image-processing system and an image-processing method that allows
communication between mobile devices and peripheral devices without
the need for dedicated hardware in the mobile device.
[0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention there
is provided an image-processing system comprising: a peripheral
apparatus including a peripheral device, the peripheral apparatus
being configured to send a registration request to register
communication parameters of the peripheral device in association
with a piece of identification information;
[0010] a server configured to receive the registration request and
to register the communication parameters of the peripheral device
in association with the piece of identification information; and a
mobile device configured to determine the piece of identification
information and to send a request to the server with the determined
piece of identification information, wherein the server is
configured to associate the registered details of the peripheral
device with the request from the mobile device thereby allowing a
connection to be configured between the mobile device and the
peripheral device.
[0011] Preferably the connection between the mobile device and the
peripheral device is configured by at least one of the mobile
device and the peripheral apparatus retrieving communication
parameters stored on the server.
[0012] In some embodiments, the connection between the mobile
device and the peripheral device is a direct connection such that
the mobile device and the peripheral device can communicate
directly with each other. In other embodiments, the connection
between the mobile device and the peripheral device is an indirect
connection. The indirect connection may be a connection involving
one or more servers.
[0013] In some embodiments, the piece of identification information
is a code, the peripheral device is configured to provide the code
to a user, and the mobile device is configured to determine the
identification information by entry of the code into the mobile
device by a user. Preferably the code is displayed on a display of
the peripheral device. In some embodiments the code is a
number.
[0014] In other embodiments, the peripheral device is configured to
provide a barcode or other machine-readable code encoding the piece
of identification information; and the mobile device is configured
to determine the piece of identification information by reading and
decoding the barcode or other machine-readable code provided by the
peripheral device.
[0015] In other embodiments the piece of identification information
is derivable from a position of the peripheral device; and the
mobile device is configured to determine the piece of
identification information by detecting a position of the
peripheral device. Preferably, the position of the peripheral
device is determined using a position detection means in the mobile
device. In some embodiments the position detection means is a
global positioning sensor. Preferably the piece of identification
information is a predetermined number of digits of location
coordinates of the peripheral device.
[0016] In some embodiments, the mobile device is further configured
to determine parameters to allow communication with the server.
Preferably, the mobile device is configured to determine the
parameters to allow communication with the server by reading a
machine-readable code encoding an address of the server. In some
embodiments the machine-readable code is a barcode.
[0017] In some embodiments the mobile device is a mobile phone, a
PDA, a digital camera, a laptop computer, or other mobile device.
In some embodiments the peripheral device is an MFP, a printer, a
scanner or a fax machine.
[0018] In a further aspect of the present invention there is
provided an image-processing method for an image-processing
apparatus comprising a peripheral apparatus, a server and a mobile
device, the peripheral apparatus comprising a peripheral device,
the method comprising: the peripheral apparatus sending a
registration request to register communication parameters of the
peripheral device in association with a piece of identification
information at the server; the server receiving the registration
request and registering the communication parameters of the
peripheral device in association with the piece of identification
information; the mobile device determining the piece of
identification information and sending a request to the server with
the determined piece of identification information; and the server
associating the registered details of the peripheral device with
the request from the mobile device thereby allowing a connection to
be configured between the mobile device and the peripheral
device.
[0019] According to a further aspect of the present invention there
is provided a mobile device comprising a printing/scanning function
for sending a file for printing and/or for receiving a scanned
file, the printing/scanning function including: means for reading
and decoding a machine readable code in order to determine a piece
of identification information; and means for sending a request to a
server including the determined piece of identification
information.
[0020] According to yet a further aspect of the present invention
there is provided a method for printing from a mobile device
comprising: reading and decoding a machine readable code in order
to determine a piece of identification information; and sending a
request to a server including the determined piece of
identification information.
[0021] According to a yet further aspect of the present invention
there is provided a peripheral apparatus comprising: a unit
configured to provide a user with a piece of identification
information in the form of a machine-readable code.
[0022] According to a yet further aspect of the present invention
there is provided a method for a peripheral apparatus comprising:
providing a user with a piece of identification information in the
form of a machine readable code.
[0023] According to a yet further aspect of the present invention
there is provided a server comprising: a code portion to receive a
registration request from a peripheral apparatus including
communication parameters for the peripheral apparatus; a code
portion to register the peripheral apparatus in accordance with a
received request in association with a piece of identification
information; a code portion to receive a request from a mobile
device including the piece of identification information; and a
code portion to associate the registered peripheral apparatus with
the request from the mobile device using the piece of
identification information.
[0024] According to a yet further aspect of the present invention
there is provided a method for a server comprising: receiving a
registration request from a peripheral apparatus including
communication parameters for the peripheral apparatus; registering
the peripheral apparatus in association with a piece of
identification information in accordance with a received request;
receiving a request from a mobile device including the piece of
identification information; and associating the registered
peripheral apparatus with the request from the mobile device using
the piece of identification information.
[0025] According to a yet further aspect of the present invention
there is provided an image-processing system comprising: a
peripheral apparatus including a peripheral device, the peripheral
apparatus being configured to send a registration request to
register communication parameters of the peripheral device in
association with a piece of location information; a server
configured to receive the registration request and to register the
communication parameters of the peripheral device in association
with the piece of location information; and a mobile device
configured to determine its location and to send a request to the
server with the determined mobile device location information,
wherein the server is configured to identify the registered details
of the peripheral device based on the mobile device location
information in the request from the mobile device thereby allowing
a connection to be configured between the mobile device and the
peripheral device.
[0026] Preferably the server is configured to identify the
peripheral device by determining that its registered location is
within a predetermined distance of the mobile device location
included in the request from the mobile device.
[0027] In some embodiments the server is configured so that, in a
case that the server determines that a plurality of peripheral
devices are within the predetermined distance of the mobile device
location included in the request from the mobile device, the server
causes a message to be displayed on the mobile device to cause a
user to select one of the plurality of peripheral devices for
connection.
[0028] According to a further aspect of the present invention there
is provided an image-processing method for an image-processing
system comprising a peripheral apparatus, a server and a mobile
device, the peripheral apparatus including a peripheral device, the
method comprising: the peripheral apparatus sending a registration
request to the server to register communication parameters of the
peripheral device in association with a piece of location
information; the server receiving the registration request and
registering the communication parameters of the peripheral device
in association with the piece of location information; the mobile
device determining its location and sending a request to the server
with the determined mobile device location information; and the
server identifying the registered details of the peripheral device
based on the mobile device location information in the request from
the mobile device thereby allowing a connection to be configured
between the mobile device and the peripheral device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described,
by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures
in which:
[0030] FIG. 1 shows architecture of the first embodiment;
[0031] FIG. 2 shows hardware of an MFP;
[0032] FIG. 3 shows hardware of a mobile phone;
[0033] FIG. 4 shows server hardware;
[0034] FIG. 5 shows communications between a web server and the
MFP;
[0035] FIG. 6 shows steps performed at the web server;
[0036] FIG. 7 shows steps performed at an application server;
[0037] FIG. 8 shows steps performed at the mobile phone;
[0038] FIG. 9 shows steps performed at the MFP;
[0039] FIG. 10 shows a display of the MFP;
[0040] FIG. 11 shows another display of the MFP;
[0041] FIG. 12 shows a display of the mobile phone;
[0042] FIG. 13 shows another display of the mobile phone;
[0043] FIG. 14 shows another display of the MFP; and
[0044] FIG. 15 shows a configuration of the fifth embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
[0045] FIG. 1 shows architecture of an image-processing system of
the first embodiment. The image-processing system comprises an MFP
(multi-function peripheral) 10 and a mobile phone 11. The MFP 10
has an associated web server 12, as will be explained in more
detail below. The image-processing system further comprises an
application server 13 and a database 14. The application server 13
and database 14 are shown separately in FIG. 1, but in other
embodiments the database 14 may be stored on the application server
13.
[0046] FIG. 2 shows the hardware configuration of the MFP 10. The
MFP comprises a CPU 20, a ROM 21, a hard disk drive 22, and a RAM
23. These components are standard hardware components for computers
and other devices and perform their usual functions. The MFP 10
further comprises a display unit 24, an operation unit 25, a
communication control unit 26, an image reader 27, a recording unit
28, an image memory 29, an image processing unit 210, an
authentication unit 211, a card reader 212, and an I/O control unit
213. The display unit 24 is a touch-screen LCD display provided on
the MFP 10 to allow a user to make selections and view information
on the MFP 10. The operation unit 25 is a keypad and other buttons
to allow a user to enter settings and other information to the MFP
10. The communication control unit 26 is provided to allow the MFP
10 to communicate over a LAN with the web server 12. The image
reader 27 is a scanner that allows scanning of documents. The
recording unit 28, shown in FIG. 2, represents parts of the MFP 10
dedicated to printing. The recording unit 28 functions to print
image data onto a recording medium and output the recording medium
for collection by a user. The image memory 29 is a memory provided
for storage of image data during scanning by the image reader 27 or
printing by the recording unit 28. The image-processing unit 210
represents various application specific integrated circuits (ASIC)
provided in the MFP 10 in order to increase the speed of certain
image processing operations, such as conversion of scanned R,G,B
data into C,M,Y,K data during a copying operation. The
authentication processing unit 211 is provided in order to
authenticate user details received from the card reader 212. Data
from the card reader 212 is received at the authentication unit 211
via an I/O control unit 213. The authentication unit may be
implemented by software run using the CPU 20 and RAM 23 rather than
as a separate hardware component. The components described above
are interconnected via a system bus 214.
[0047] The MFP 10 runs an operating system. In this particular
embodiment the operating systems is the MEAP operating system
provided on MFP devices sold by Canon.RTM.. The operating system
allows the running of JAVA applications and also includes a web
interface as will be explained later.
[0048] FIG. 3 shows the hardware configuration of the mobile phone
11. The mobile phone 11 comprises a control unit 30 connected to a
digital signal processing unit 31. The control unit 30 controls
operation of a display unit 32, an operation unit 33, a camera unit
34, an external I/F 35, a wireless communication unit 36, and a
power supply unit 37. The display unit comprises an LCD display for
displaying information to a user of the phone 11. The operation
unit 33 comprises a keypad and other operation buttons to allow a
user to make inputs into the mobile phone 11. The camera unit 34 is
a camera that is integrated into the phone 11 to allow a user to
take pictures and to collect visual information. The external I/F
is a port provided in the mobile phone 11 to allow the mobile phone
11 to communicate with other devices. In particular the external
I/F allows the mobile phone 11 to be connected to a computer for
the purposes of synchronizing data (contact details, calendar
entries etc.) stored on the mobile phone 11 with data stored on the
computer. The wireless communication unit 36 provides support for
various wireless services. In particular the wireless communication
unit 36 provides support for Wi-Fi communication. The wireless
communication unit 36 is connected to an antenna 38. The power
supply unit 37 includes a battery and a mechanism for charging the
battery from an external power supply.
[0049] The digital signal processing unit 31 is connected to an
audio input unit 39, an audio output unit 40, and an RF
input/output unit 41. The audio input unit 39 is an analogue to
digital processor for receiving and converting audio signals from a
microphone 42. The audio output unit 40 is a digital to analogue
processor for receiving and converting digital signals into an
analogue output to be output by a speaker 43. The RF input/output
unit 41 is connected to an antenna 44 and is used to allow the
mobile phone 11 to communicate with a local mobile phone station.
The audio input unit 39, audio output unit 40, digital signal
processing unit 31 and RF input/output unit 41 allow the mobile
phone 11 to operate as a portable telephone.
[0050] The mobile phone 11 is a so called `smart phone` and runs
Google.RTM. Android.RTM. operating system. In other embodiments
other types of phone can be used, including those running different
mobile phone operating systems.
[0051] The web server 12 and application server 13 comprise typical
server hardware exemplified by FIG. 4. The server hardware includes
a CPU 40, RAM 41, a hard disk drive 42 and a network I/O 43. The
network I/O 43 allows the web server 12 and application server 13
to communicate over a LAN.
[0052] Additional details of the image processing system will be
described below. The configuration of the first embodiment is
suitable for use for the purposes of demonstration of printing from
and scanning to mobile phones in an exhibition or show room
environment. A commercial implementation of the present invention
will be described in the fourth embodiment.
[0053] Referring again to FIG. 1, the MFP 10, web server 12,
application server 13, and mobile phone 11 are able to communicate
with each other over a single Wi-Fi network.
[0054] As mentioned above, the MFP 10 and the web server 12 are
associated with each other. In particular, a web application 50 is
run on the web server 12 in order to control operations on the MFP
10. FIG. 5 shows the web application 50, which includes
presentation logic 501 and business logic 502. Installed on the MFP
10 is a web browser 503 which receives HTML web pages to be
displayed to a user from the presentation logic 501. Also installed
on the MFP 10 is a service interface 504 to allow the business
logic 502 of the web application 50 to access various services of
the MFP 10. For example, the business logic 502 may send commands
to the service interface 504 (SOAP interface) to cause the scanner
to perform a scanning operation.
[0055] A RESTful (Representational State Transfer) interface is
provided between the web server 12, application server 13 and
mobile phone 11. It is recalled that all three devices (web server
13, application server 14, and mobile phone 11) can communicate
with each other via Wi-Fi over a single network. The REST interface
is defined as follows. In the following description the resource is
given, then a description of the resource, followed by the HTTP
request method and a description of the request method: [0056]
/sessionusers/{identification information}/session [0057] A session
object for given identification information. From the session a
list of transfers can be obtained. [0058] GET: gets the session
[0059] /session/{sessionid} [0060] A session object containing a
collection of transfers registered for a given session. [0061] GET:
gets the session [0062] PUT: updates the session [0063] /transfers/
[0064] A collection of all transfers [0065] POST: Registers a new
transfer [0066] /transfers/{transferid} [0067] A transfer contains
a device and destination object. [0068] GET: gets the transfer
[0069] PUT: updates the transfer [0070] /destinations/ [0071] A
collection of FTP destinations [0072] POST: registers a new
destination [0073] /destinations/{destinationid} [0074] A
destination with the specified ID. The destination contains
information about the FTP to which the scanned document will be
sent. [0075] GET: gets a destination [0076] PUT: updates a
destination [0077] /devices/{deviceid} [0078] A device. The device
contains information about a SOAP service endpoint which is used
for scanning a document. [0079] It also includes the address for
printing. [0080] GET: gets the device.
[0081] Payloads of transactions conducted via the REST interface
are formatted in XML or JSON.
[0082] The application server can also communicate with the MFP 10
via a SOAP/HTTP interface (services 504), allowing the application
server to access services, such as printing, faxing, or scanning,
on the MFP 10.
[0083] Operation of the image-processing system will now be
described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9. FIG. 6 is a flowchart
showing steps performed by the web server 12, FIG. 7 is a flowchart
showing steps performed by application server 13, FIG. 8 is a
flowchart showing steps performed by the mobile phone 11, and FIG.
9 is a flowchart showing steps performed by the MFP 10. In each
case, the steps are performed by an appropriately configured
program or software running on the respective device on the
hardware described earlier.
[0084] For purposes of illustration imagine a scenario in which a
user holding the mobile phone 11 walks up to the MFP 10 and wishes
to either scan to the mobile phone 11 or print from the mobile
phone 11. When the user looks at the display unit 24 of the MFP 10,
he or she sees a display corresponding to FIG. 10. The user uses
the touch screen of the display unit 24 in order to select the
`scandroid` icon. Touching the icon on the touch screen launches
the web browser 503 on the MFP 10. The web browser 503 requests a
first page of the scandroid application from the web server 12
causing the scandroid application to be launched on the web server
12. The first page of the scandroid application is a web page shown
in FIG. 11. Whilst generating the web page shown in FIG. 11, the
web application 50 on the web server 12 generates a random number,
S70. The generated number 110 is embedded in the web page by the
presentation logic 501 and is displayed to the user in the web
browser 503. At this time the application 50 also sends, S71, a
message to the application server in order to generate a session.
Upon receipt of this request, the application server 14 generates,
S80, a session in the database 14. The generated session is
identified by a sessionid, which is native to the database, and
stores the random number as identification information in the
session. The application server 13 also registers the MFP 10 as the
source for transfers associated with the sessionid.
[0085] The user holding the mobile phone 11 next launches a
scandroid application on the mobile phone 11 and is presented with
the screen display shown in FIG. 12 on the display unit 32 of the
mobile phone 11. At this time the scandroid application on the
mobile phone 11 starts an FTP server on the mobile phone 11. The
user uses the operation unit 33 of the mobile phone 11 to enter,
S90, the generated identification number displayed on the display
unit 24 of the MFP 10 into the mobile phone 11. The user then
selects the start button 130 shown in FIG. 12.
[0086] The scandroid application on the mobile phone 11 is
pre-configured with an IP address of the application server 13
allowing the mobile phone to communicate with the application
server 14. After the user has selected the start button 130, the
scandroid application on the mobile phone 11 causes the mobile
phone 11 to send a request to register, S91, the mobile phone 11 as
the destination for the session with an identification number
corresponding to the entered number. This request includes details
of the address of the FTP server running on the mobile phone 11.
Upon receipt of this request, the application server registers,
S81, the mobile phone 11 as the destination in connection with the
session along with the FTP server details. In this way, the session
including the generated identification number on the application
server 13 includes information relating to both the MFP 10 as
source device and the mobile phone 11 as destination device.
[0087] Next the mobile phone displays on display unit 32 a list of
files stored on the mobile phone. This display is shown in FIG.
13.
[0088] Once the user has entered the identification number into the
mobile phone 11, the user selects `next` on the display of the MFP
10 shown in FIG. 12. The MFP 10 then displays a screen shown in
FIG. 14 to allow the user to enter scan setting for use in the
scanning operation, 5100. The user may enter settings to specify
color or mono scanning, a scanning resolution, a file format for
the scanned document and a scanned document file name. The user
then selects the start scan button 150.
[0089] In response to selection of the start scan button 150, the
MFP notifies the web server 12 that the scan button 150 has been
selected. The web server 12 receives the scan settings in step S72.
The web server 12 sends a request for a scan job including the scan
settings to the application server 13 in step S73. In response to
receipt of the request for a scan job, S82, the application server
adds the FTP server details of the mobile phone 11 stored in the
session to the scan settings and sends a scan job to the SOAP
interface 504 of the MFP 10, S83. Upon receipt of the scan job,
S101, including scan settings and destination details, the MFP 10
performs the requested scan and sends, S102, the scanned document
data to the FTP server on the mobile phone 11 over the Wi-Fi
network.
[0090] The mobile phone 11 receives the scanned file, S92, and
stores it in a memory on the mobile phone 11, thus completing the
scanning operation.
[0091] If the user wishes to print from the mobile phone 11 to the
printer 10, the user uses the scandroid application on the mobile
phone 11 to select a file from a list of files stored on the mobile
phone 11 and then selects a print command. The mobile phone 11
requests source device information from the application server 13,
and then sends the selected file to LPR port 9100 of the MFP 10.
The document to be printed must be stored or converted in the
mobile phone 11 to a format that can be natively interpreted by the
MFP 10, in this embodiment the file is sent in pdf format. In
response to receiving the document, the MFP 10 prints the file.
Second Embodiment
[0092] In the first embodiment an association is set up between the
MFP 10 and the mobile phone 11 based on the identification
information, which is a random number generated by the web server
13. The web server 13 generates a web page in which the generated
number is embedded so that the user can read the number when the
web page is displayed in the web browser 503 of the MFP 10 In the
second embodiment, step S90 is performed using barcodes. The web
server generates a web page (see FIG. 11) in which a barcode 121 is
embedded, the barcode 121 encoding the generated number.
[0093] In the second embodiment, when the user launches the
scandroid application on the mobile phone 11, the camera unit 34 is
activated and the images collected by the camera unit 34 are
displayed in a window on the display unit 32. The user directs the
camera unit 34 towards the display unit 24 of the MFP 10, which is
displaying the web page with the embedded barcode 121. When the
barcode 121 is in view of the camera, the mobile phone 11
automatically performs barcode recognition in order to extract the
number from the barcode 121 displayed on the display unit 24 of the
MFP 13.
[0094] The number extracted from the barcode is used by the mobile
phone as the identification information in the same manner as
described in the first embodiment. Accordingly, the description of
the other operations of the image-processing system of the first
embodiment will not be repeated.
[0095] The second embodiment is advantageous in the identification
information can be obtained by `scanning` the display unit 34 of
the MFP 10 with the mobile phone 11. In embodiments where the
generated number itself is not displayed, it is more difficult, in
a case that there is a queue of users waiting to use the MFP 10,
for another user to make use of the identification information if
they are not directly in front of the MFP 10. The second embodiment
also has the advantage that it requires fewer button presses for a
user and in that it speeds up the overall scanning method.
Third Embodiment
[0096] In a third embodiment of the invention, the identification
information is generated based on GPS co-ordinates of the MFP 10.
The MFP 10 generates a session at the application server 13 and
stores in the session a first predetermined number of the GPS
co-ordinates identifying the location of the MFP 10.
[0097] In a case that a user wishes to scan from the MFP 10, the
user places the mobile phone 11 on the MFP 10 and opens the
scandroid application on the mobile phone. The scandroid
application accesses a GPS unit on the mobile phone 11 and
identifies GPS coordinates identifying the mobile phone's position.
The scandroid application on the mobile phone 11 selects the first
predetermined number of GPS coordinates and uses these coordinates
as identification information to identify the session for
registering as the destination device. As the mobile phone 11 and
the MFP 10 are in the same location (the mobile phone 11 is resting
on the MFP 10) the identification information registered for the
MFP 10 matches the identification information generated by the
mobile phone 11 allowing the mobile phone 11 and MFP 10 to use the
same session.
[0098] The identification information can be selected to be the
first predetermined number of digits of the GPS position in any
coordinate format. The predetermined number of coordinates should
preferably be selected so that the location of the MFP 10 is
identified to within a reasonable degree of accuracy. If too many
coordinates are selected and the degree of accuracy is too high,
the mobile phone 11 and MFP may not agree on their locations and
they will not generate the same identification information. This
will cause the image-processing system to fail. On the other hand,
if too few digits of the GPS location are used, there may be a
problem that two or more MFPs try to use the same identification
information. This problem can be overcome by displaying a list of
MFPs 10 registered in the session on the display unit 32 of the
mobile phone 11 and allowing the user to select the appropriate MFP
10. In many cases, the predetermined number of coordinates should
specify accuracy to within a few meters.
Fourth Embodiment
[0099] In order to overcome the problems identified above in the
third embodiment, the fourth embodiment makes use of proximity in
order to allow the mobile phone 11 to access the same session as
the MFP 10.
[0100] In the fourth embodiment, the web server 12 sends a request
to generate a session at the application server 13 and registers
the MFP 10 as a source device in the generated session. The request
from the web server 12 includes coordinates identifying the
location of the MFP 10, which are stored in the generated session
by the application server 13.
[0101] When he or she wants to scan, the user brings the mobile
phone 11 close to the MFP 10 and starts the scandroid application
on the mobile phone 11. The scandroid application on the mobile
phone 11 sends a request to register the mobile phone 11 as the
destination device to the application server 13, including
coordinates of its location identified from the built in GPS
unit.
[0102] When the application server 13 receives the registration
request from the mobile phone 11, it searches the sessions in the
database in order to identify sessions with registered source
devices that are located within a predetermined range of the mobile
phone. The predetermined range may be, say, 5 meters.
[0103] If the application server finds no sessions with source
devices within the predetermined range of the mobile phone 11, the
application sends the mobile phone 11 an error message and the
connection process fails.
[0104] If the application server 13 finds a single session with a
source device within the predetermined range of the mobile phone
11, the application server 13 identifies the session in which the
source device is registered as the appropriate session and
registers the mobile phone 11 as the destination device for that
session.
[0105] If the application server 13 finds more than one session
including a source device located within the predetermined range of
the mobile phone 11, the application server 13 returns information
indicating the identity of the sessions and corresponding source
devices within range of the mobile phone 11. Upon receipt of this
information the mobile phone 11 displays a list of the sessions and
corresponding source devices on the mobile phone 11 in order to
allow a user to select the appropriate source device from which he
or she wishes to use to scan. Once the user has selected the
appropriate session and source device, the selection is sent from
the mobile phone 11 to the application server 13 and the
application server registers the mobile phone 11 as the destination
device in the appropriate session.
[0106] After the mobile phone 11 is registered as destination
device in the appropriate session, the method proceeds as
previously described in connection with the first embodiment. The
image-processing apparatus of the fourth embodiment allows easier
operation in a case where there are multiple MFPs in a small area
and allows the user to select the appropriate MFP 10 to scan
from.
Fifth Embodiment
[0107] FIG. 14 shows a more commercial embodiment of the invention.
The MFP 10 and web server 13 are set up in a coffee shop. A user
carrying the mobile phone enters the coffee shop and wishes to
print to the MFP 10. The application server 13 is located outside
of the coffee shop premises and may be a shared resource with other
coffee shops (for example if the coffee shop is part of a
chain).
[0108] Similar to the first and second embodiments, the web server
12 sends a request to register the MFP 10 at the application server
13 using a generated random number. The application server 13
receives this request and generates a session with identification
information corresponding to the generated number. This process is
automatically performed on a daily basis, with a new session with
different identification information being generated overnight when
the coffee shop is closed. As with the second embodiment, the
identification information is encoded in a barcode. However, in the
fourth embodiment, the barcode is generated at the application
server 13 and is sent to a till 150 in the coffee shop.
[0109] In a case that a user wishes to print to and/or scan from
the MFP 10, the user needs to make a purchase at the till 150. The
ability to use the coffee shop's MFP 10 may be subject a separate
charge or provided as a complimentary service to the coffee shop's
customers. When the user has made an appropriate purchase, the user
is given a receipt with the barcode printed on it.
[0110] At this stage, as the user has walked in from the street,
the mobile phone does not know the address of the application
server that it should contact with a request. The address
information may be configured on the user's phone in one of several
different ways. Firstly, the application-server address information
may be displayed in the coffee shop and the user may enter this
information into a scandroid application on the mobile phone 11
manually. Alternatively, different versions of the scandroid
application may be available for download to the user's mobile
phone with the application server details already pre-configured
within it. For example, the user may download a scandroid
application that allows printing and/or scanning within a
particular chain of coffee shops, the downloaded scandroid
application having the details of the application server 13 for
that serves the MFPs 10 of that chain of coffee shops
pre-configured. A third way of configuring the address of the
application server 13 is to provide the address of the application
server 13 in a barcode on the till receipt. In such embodiments,
the till receipt includes two barcodes, a first barcode that
encodes information about the address of the application server and
a second barcode that encodes identification information of the
session for accessing MFP 10.
[0111] In order to print or scan, the user opens the appropriate
scandroid application on the mobile phone 11 and scans the barcode
on the till receipt in the manner described in connection with the
second embodiment. If the address of the server is to be obtained
by scanning a separate barcode on the till receipt, the scanning
process involves two scanning steps, a first in which the barcode
encoding the address of the application server 13 is read and
decoded by the mobile phone 11 and a second in which the barcode
encoding the identification information is read and decoded by the
mobile phone 11.
[0112] The embodiment then proceeds as described previously to
allow the user to print to and/or scan from the MFP 10. As noted
above, the identification information is automatically changed on a
daily basis, so that a user may use the barcode on his or her
receipt to print and/or scan on the day of purchase, but will not
be able to print or scan on another day because the identification
information encoded in the barcode will have changed and the mobile
phone 11 will fail to find the session of the MFP 10 on the
application server 13.
[0113] In contrast to the first embodiment, the fourth embodiment
involves communication across multiple networks. The MFP 10 and web
server 12 communicate with each other via a LAN internal to the
coffee shop. The application server 13 is connected to the internet
and is accessible by the web server 13 and the mobile phone 11 via
a web interface.
Other Embodiments
[0114] Embodiments of the present invention have been described
above in which data is transferred between the MFP 10 and the
mobile phone 11 over a Wi-Fi network. However, this is not
necessarily the case and many other types of connection could be
used. In some other embodiments the data is uploaded and/or
downloaded between the mobile phone 11 and the MFP 10 via the web
server 12. The mobile phone sends and receives data from the web
server 12 using FTP over a 3G connection on the mobile phone 11. In
such embodiments the data is transferred to or from the MFP 10 by
the web server 13 via a LAN using FTP or HTTP.
[0115] The embodiments above have described scanning documents
placed on the image reader 27 of the MFP 10 and sending the scanned
document to the mobile phone 11. However, in another embodiment the
user may scatter a collection of business cards on the image reader
27 of the MFP 10. In this embodiment, as before, the MFP 10
performs a scanning operation in response to a user's command
entered on the MFP's user interface and invoked via the MFP's
SOAP/HTTP interface. However, instead of immediately sending the
scanned image data to the mobile phone 11 via FTP, the scanned data
is first sent to the web server 13. The web server receives the
scanned data and makes use of OCR and form recognition software
installed on the web server 13. The form recognition software
recognizes that the received scanned image corresponds to a
collection of business cards and the OCR software identifies
details on the business cards such as name, telephone number,
address, etc. The web server 13 then converts the extracted data
into a business card format, such as vcard. The extracted vcard
details are then embedded in a web page and the sent to the MFP 10
for display. The user then looks at the displayed web page on the
display unit 24 to confirm the accuracy of the extracted vcard
details before selecting a send option in the displayed web page.
Selection of the send option by the user causes FTP transfer of the
business cards in the vcard format to the mobile phone 11 using the
FTP transfer method previously described in connection with the
transfer of scanned image data. An advantage of this embodiment is
that the vcard details (in XML format) are more useful and
significantly smaller in size that the original document scanned by
the MFP 10.
[0116] The first to fourth embodiments of the present invention
include a separate MFP, web server, application server, and
database. However, in other embodiments of the invention the
function of the web server may be included in the MFP.
[0117] In yet further embodiments the function of the application
server may be included in the MFP. In such embodiments, the image
processing system may include a plurality of MFPs and one of the
MFPs may be configured to act as the application server, performing
the function of the application server described above in the
embodiments. Such a `lead` MFP manages requests from the other MFPs
and the mobile phone.
[0118] The functions of the web server and/or application server,
when they are included in the MFP, may be provided by software
and/or hardware in the MFP housing or be provided by connection of
appropriate additional devices to the MFP.
[0119] Embodiments of the present invention have been described
above. Further embodiments of the present invention can also be
realized by systems that read out and execute programs recorded on
a memory device to perform the functions of the above-described
embodiment(s), and by a method, the steps of which are performed
by, for example, reading out and executing a program recorded on a
memory device to perform the functions of the above-described
embodiment(s). For this purpose, the program may be provided to the
image-processing system, for example via a network or from a
recording medium of various types serving as the memory device
(e.g., computer-readable medium).
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