JP6131672B2 - Communication device - Google Patents

Description

  The technology disclosed in the present specification relates to a communication device for communicating with a storage server via the Internet.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for a data transmission device to transmit data to a data reception device. The data reception device transmits a data transmission request to the data transmission device by executing direct communication according to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) system or the like. When the data transmission request is received, the data transmission device transmits data to the data reception device by executing direct communication. The data transmission device uploads data to the relay host when data cannot be transmitted to the data reception device by executing direct communication during data transmission. The data receiving device downloads data uploaded to the relay host.

JP 2003-219094 A

  In this specification, either a method in which the communication device receives data transmitted from the data transmission device to the storage server from the storage server or a method in which data is received from the data transmission device without using the storage server. A technique for acquiring data from a data transmission apparatus by using an appropriate method is provided.

  The technology disclosed in the present specification is a communication device for executing communication with a storage server via the Internet. The communication device includes a first interface, a second interface, and a control unit for executing communication with the data transmission device. The second interface is different from the first interface. The control unit includes an identification information transmission unit, a stored information transmission unit, and a data reception unit. The identification information transmission unit transmits the identification information of the communication device to the data transmission device using the first interface. The storage information transmission unit transmits the storage information for the data transmission device to store the target data in the storage server to the data transmission device using the first interface. The data receiving unit is a confirmation signal for confirming whether the data transmission device and the communication device can execute communication using the second interface, and the confirmation signal including the identification information is the second signal. When the data is received from the data transmission device using the interface, the target data is received from the data transmission device using the second interface without using the storage server. When the confirmation signal is not received from the data transmission device using the second interface, the data reception unit uses the storage information for the target data transmitted from the data transmission device to the storage server using the storage information. And received from the storage server.

  When the confirmation signal is received from the data transmission device using the second interface, the communication device receives the target data from the data transmission device without using the storage server. According to this configuration, the communication device can receive the target data at an early stage as compared with the method of receiving the target data transmitted from the data transmission device to the storage server from the storage server. On the other hand, when the confirmation signal is not received from the data transmission device using the second interface, the communication device uses the storage information to transmit the target data transmitted from the data transmission device to the storage server. Receive. According to this configuration, the communication device can acquire the target data from the storage server when communication with the data transmission device cannot be performed using the second interface. As a result, either the method of receiving the target data transmitted from the data transmission device to the storage server from the storage server or the method of receiving the target data from the data transmission device without using the storage server. By adopting an appropriate method, the target data can be acquired from the data transmission device.

  The storage information may include position information indicating the position of the storage area in the storage server where the target data is to be stored. The data reception unit may transmit a data request for acquiring the target data from the storage server to the storage server after transmitting both the identification information and the storage information to the data transmission device. According to this configuration, the communication device can transmit the target transmitted by the data transmission device to the storage server without acquiring information indicating that the data transmission device transmitted the target data to the storage server from the data transmission device. Data can be acquired.

  The control unit further includes a request transmission unit and a position information reception unit. The request transmission unit is a generation request for causing the storage server to generate position information when a reception request for the communication device to receive the target data is received from the data transmission device using the first interface. May be transmitted to the storage server. The generated position information may be received from the storage server. In this configuration, the storage server may generate position information when a generation request is received. For this reason, the storage server may secure a storage area for storing the target data in the storage server when a generation request is received. That is, the storage server does not have to reserve a storage area whose position is indicated by the position information in the storage server in advance.

  The control unit further transmits a response to the confirmation signal to the data transmission device using the second interface before the target data is received when the confirmation signal is received from the data transmission device. A response transmission unit may be provided. According to this configuration, the communication device can notify the data transmission device that communication with the data transmission device is possible.

  The communication device may be capable of executing communication using an IP address using the second interface. The control unit may further include an address transmission unit that transmits the IP address of the communication device to the data transmission device using the first interface. When the confirmation signal is received from the data transmission device, the data reception unit receives, from the data transmission device, target data to be transmitted by the data transmission device using the IP address of the communication device without using the storage server. May be. According to this configuration, the communication device can receive target data from the data transmission device without using the storage server even if the data transmission device does not know the IP address of the communication device in advance.

  The communication apparatus may further include a print execution unit that executes print processing using the target data. The control unit may further include a print control unit and a print request receiving unit. The print control unit may cause the print execution unit to execute print processing. The print request receiving unit may receive a print request for causing the communication device to execute a printing process from the data transmission device using the first interface. The print control unit may cause the print execution unit to execute print processing when a print request is received. According to this configuration, the communication device can execute a printing process using the target data stored in the data transmission device.

  Another technique disclosed by the present specification is a communication device for communicating with a storage server via the Internet. The communication device includes a first interface, a second interface, and a control unit for executing communication with the data transmission device. The second interface is different from the first interface. The control unit includes an identification information transmission unit, a stored information reception unit, and a data reception unit. The identification information transmission unit transmits the identification information of the communication device to the data transmission device using the first interface. The storage information receiving unit receives, from the data transmission device, the storage information for the data transmission device to store the target data in the storage server using the first interface. The data receiving unit is a confirmation signal for confirming whether the data transmission device and the communication device can execute communication using the second interface, and the confirmation signal including the identification information is the second signal. When the data is received from the data transmission device using the interface, the target data is received from the data transmission device using the second interface without using the storage server. When the confirmation signal is not received from the data transmission device using the second interface, the data reception unit uses the storage information for the target data transmitted from the data transmission device to the storage server using the storage information. And received from the storage server.

  Also with this configuration, the communication device receives the target data transmitted from the data transmission device to the storage server from the storage server, and the method of receiving the target data from the data transmission device without using the storage server, It is possible to acquire the target data from the data transmission device by adopting an appropriate method from either one.

  A computer program for a data transmission device for communicating with a storage server via the Internet disclosed herein is also new and useful. The data transmission device includes a first interface and a second interface for executing communication with the communication device. The second interface is different from the first interface. The computer program causes a computer mounted on the communication apparatus to execute identification information reception processing, stored information reception processing, signal transmission processing, and data transmission processing. In the identification information receiving process, the identification information of the communication device is received from the communication device using the first interface. In the storage information reception process, the data transmission device receives storage information for storing the target data in the storage server. The signal transmission process is a confirmation signal for confirming whether the data transmission device and the communication device can execute communication using the second interface, and includes a confirmation signal including identification information. 2 is used to transmit to the communication device. In the data transmission process, when a response to the confirmation signal is received from the communication device using the second interface, the target data is communicated using the second interface without using the storage server. Send to device. In the data transmission process, when a response to the confirmation signal is not received from the communication device using the second interface, the target data is transmitted to the storage server using the storage information.

  When a response to the confirmation signal is received from the communication device, the data transmission device transmits the target data to the communication device without using the storage server. According to this configuration, the data transmission device transmits the target data to the communication device at an early stage as compared with the method in which the communication device receives the target data transmitted from the data transmission device to the storage server from the storage server. be able to. On the other hand, when a response to the confirmation signal is not received from the communication device, the data transmission device transmits the target data to the storage server using the storage information. According to this configuration, when the data transmission device and the communication device cannot execute communication using the second interface, the communication device receives the target data from the storage server using the storage information. be able to. As a result, the data transmission device is either a method that uses the storage server to transmit the target data to the communication device, or a method that transmits the target data to the communication device without using the storage server. The target data can be supplied to the communication device.

  Note that a control method, a computer program, and a computer-readable recording medium storing the computer program for realizing the communication device are also novel and useful. In addition, the above-described data transmission device, a control method for realizing the data transmission device, and a computer-readable recording medium storing a computer program are also novel and useful. Furthermore, a communication system including the communication device, the data transmission device, and the storage server is also new and useful.

1 shows a configuration of a communication system. The flowchart of the data transmission process which the portable terminal of 1st Example performs is shown. 6 shows a flowchart of a data reception process executed by the MFP of the first embodiment. The sequence diagram for demonstrating the process which each apparatus of 1st Example performs is shown. The flowchart of the data transmission process which the portable terminal of 2nd Example performs is shown. 7 shows a flowchart of data reception processing executed by the MFP of the second embodiment. The sequence diagram for demonstrating the reason which each apparatus of 2nd Example performs is shown.

(First embodiment)
(Configuration of communication system)
As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 2 includes a multi-function device (hereinafter referred to as “MFP” (abbreviation of Multi-Function Peripheral)) 10, a mobile terminal 100, and an access point (hereinafter referred to as “AP”). ) 6, 8 and storage server 300.

  The MFP 10 and the AP 6 can execute wireless communication in accordance with a Wi-Fi (for example, IEEE (abbreviation of IEEE (abbreviation of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) 802.11)). The MFP 10 and the storage server 300 can communicate with each other via the AP 6 and the Internet 4. The MFP 10 and the portable terminal 100 can execute short-range wireless communication. Near field communication is wireless communication according to the NFC system. In this embodiment, wireless communication according to the NFC scheme is executed based on the international standard of ISO / IEC21481 or 18092. The mobile terminal 100 and the AP 8 can execute wireless communication according to the Wi-Fi scheme. The portable terminal 100 and the storage server 300 can communicate with each other via the AP 8 and the Internet 4. The NFC method and the Wi-Fi method are different in wireless communication method (that is, wireless communication standard). Moreover, the communication speed of Wi-Fi is faster than the communication speed of NFC. AP6 and AP8 exist in the same LAN. The AP 6 and the AP 8 can perform communication without going through the Internet 4.

(Configuration of MFP 10)
The MFP 10 includes a display unit 16, an operation unit 18, a print execution unit 20, a scan execution unit 22, a wireless LAN interface (hereinafter referred to as “I / F”) 12, an NFC I / F 14, And a control unit 30. The operation unit 18 includes a plurality of keys. The user can input various instructions to the MFP 10 by operating the operation unit 18. The display unit 16 is a display for displaying various information. The print execution unit 20 is a printing mechanism such as an inkjet method or a laser method. The print execution unit 20 executes print processing in accordance with instructions from the control unit 30. In the print process, the print execution unit 20 prints an image represented by the print process target data on a print medium set in the print execution unit 20. The scan execution unit 22 is a scan mechanism such as a CCD or CIS. The scan execution unit 22 executes scan processing according to instructions from the control unit 30. In the scan process, the scan execution unit 22 scans a document set in the scan execution unit 22 and generates scan data.

  The wireless LAN I / F 12 is an interface for the control unit 30 to perform wireless communication (hereinafter referred to as “wireless LAN communication”) according to the Wi-Fi method. The NFC I / F 14 is an interface for the control unit 30 to perform wireless communication (hereinafter referred to as “NFC communication”) according to the NFC scheme. The NFC I / F 14 is configured by a chip physically different from the W-Fi I / F 12. In other words, the wireless LAN communication performed by the control unit 30 is communication performed by the control unit 30 using the wireless LAN I / F 12, and the NFC communication performed by the control unit 30 is performed by the control unit 30 using the NFC I / F 14. It is a communication that uses and executes.

  Note that the communication speed of wireless LAN communication via the wireless LAN I / F 12 (for example, the maximum communication speed is 11 to 454 Mbps) is the communication speed of NFC communication via the NFC I / F 14 (for example, the maximum communication speed is 100 to 100). Faster than 424 Kbps). Furthermore, the frequency of the carrier wave (for example, 2.4 GHz band and 5.0 GHz band) in the wireless LAN communication via the wireless LAN I / F 12 is the frequency of the carrier wave (eg, 13.56 MHz band in the NFC communication via the NFC I / F 14). ) Is different. Further, when the distance between the MFP 10 and the mobile terminal 100 is approximately 10 cm or less, the control unit 30 can execute NFC communication with the mobile terminal 100 via the NFC I / F 14. On the other hand, regardless of whether the distance between the MFP 10 and the portable terminal 100 is 10 cm or less or 10 cm or more (for example, about 100 m at the maximum), the control unit 30 performs the wireless LAN via the wireless LAN I / F 20. Communication with the mobile terminal 100 is possible. That is, the maximum distance at which the MFP 10 can execute wireless LAN communication with a communication destination device (for example, the mobile terminal 100) via the wireless LAN I / F 12 is the maximum distance that the MFP 10 can communicate with via the NFC I / F 14. Longer than the maximum distance at which NFC communication can be performed.

  The control unit 30 includes a CPU 32 and a memory 34. The CPU 32 executes various processes according to the program 36 stored in the memory 34. The memory 34 includes a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, and the like. The memory 34 stores the program 36 executed by the CPU 32. Further, the memory 34 stores an IP address (for example, 192.XX.YY.ZZ) used when the MFP 10 executes wireless LAN communication. The memory 34 stores an IP address assigned from a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server (not shown).

(Configuration of mobile terminal 100)
The mobile terminal 100 is, for example, a mobile phone (for example, a smartphone), a PDA, a notebook PC, a tablet PC, or the like. The mobile terminal 100 includes a display unit 106, an operation unit 108, a wireless LAN I / F 102, an NFC I / F 104, and a control unit 120. The operation unit 108 includes a plurality of keys. The user can input various instructions to the mobile terminal 100 by operating the operation unit 108. The display unit 106 is a display for displaying various information.

  Each of the wireless LAN I / F 102 and the NFC I / F 104 has the same configuration as each of the wireless LAN I / F 12 and the NFC I / F 14. The wireless LAN I / F 102 is an interface for the control unit 120 to execute wireless LAN communication. The NFC I / F 104 is an interface for the control unit 120 to execute NFC communication. The NFC I / F 104 is configured by a chip physically different from the W-Fi I / F 102. In other words, the wireless LAN communication performed by the control unit 120 is communication performed by the control unit 120 using the wireless LAN I / F 102, and the NFC communication performed by the control unit 120 is performed by the control unit 120 using the NFC I / F 104. It is a communication that uses and executes.

  The control unit 120 includes a CPU 122 and a memory 124. The CPU 122 executes various processes according to a basic program (not shown) and an application program 126 stored in the memory 124. The memory 124 includes a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, and the like. The memory 124 stores each of the programs executed by the CPU 122. Note that the application program 126 may be installed in the mobile terminal 100 from a server provided by the vendor of the MFP 10 or may be installed in the mobile terminal 100 from a medium shipped with the MFP 10.

(Configuration of storage server 300)
The storage server 300 is a server provided by the vendor of the MFP 10. In the modified example, the storage server 300 is a known cloud such as “Evernote (registered trademark)”, “Google (registered trademark) Docs”, “PICASA (registered trademark)”, “FACEBOOK (registered trademark)”, or the like. It may be a server. The storage server 300 includes a storage device (for example, a hard disk) (not shown). The storage server 300 can store data transmitted (that is, uploaded) from various communication devices including the MFP 10 via the Internet 4 in a storage device. The storage server 300 can store one or more folders for storing data. The storage server 300 is given a unique URL (abbreviation for Uniform Resource Locator) indicating the location of the folder on the Internet 4.

(Data transmission processing executed by the mobile terminal 100: FIG. 2)
The user of the mobile terminal 100 causes the MFP 10 to execute print processing using data stored in the mobile terminal 100 (for example, data of a photograph taken by the mobile terminal 100, data downloaded via the Internet 4). In this case, first, the operation unit 108 is operated to start the application program 126. The data transmission process is started when the application program 126 is activated. The CPU 122 executes data transmission processing according to the application program 126.

  The user operates the operation unit 108 to execute selection of data to be printed (hereinafter referred to as “target data”) and setting of printing conditions (for example, the size of the printing paper and the number of copies to be printed). When the selection of the target data and the setting of the printing conditions are completed, the user executes a predetermined print execution operation (for example, an operation for selecting the “complete” button displayed on the display unit 106) on the operation unit 108. In S10, when the print execution operation is executed, the CPU 122 transmits a print request to the MFP 10 by executing NFC communication. Specifically, the user brings the mobile terminal 100 closer to the MFP 10 until the distance between the mobile terminal 100 and the MFP 10 reaches a distance (for example, 10 cm) where radio waves reach each other. The CPU 122 uses the NFC I / F 104 to monitor reception of radio waves from the MFP 10 for detecting a device capable of performing NFC communication. When the CPU 122 receives the radio wave from the MFP 10, the CPU 122 transmits a response radio wave to the MFP 10. As a result, when the MFP 10 receives a response radio wave from the mobile terminal 100, an NFC communication session is established between the mobile terminal 100 and the MFP 10. When the NFC communication session is established, the CPU 122 transmits a print request to the MFP 10 by executing NFC communication using the NFC I / F 104.

  Next, in S12, the CPU 122 executes NFC communication, and as a response to the print request, the IP address of the MFP 10, the identification information of the MFP 10, and the URL of the folder for storing the target data (hereinafter referred to as “storage URL”). The printing information including “is called” is monitored. When the CPU 122 receives the print information (YES in S12), in S14, the CPU 122 designates the IP address included in the print information as a destination IP address and transmits a confirmation signal. The confirmation signal is a signal for confirming whether the portable terminal 100 can execute wireless LAN communication using the wireless LAN I / F 102 with the MFP 10. The CPU 122 transmits a confirmation signal using the wireless LAN I / F 102. The confirmation signal includes identification information of the MFP 10 included in the print information. The confirmation signal may be, for example, a PING command.

  Next, in S <b> 16, the CPU 122 monitors whether a response to the confirmation signal is received from the MFP 10 by wireless LAN communication. CPU 122 executes wireless LAN communication when a response to the confirmation signal is not received by wireless LAN communication even after a predetermined period (for example, 1 minute) has passed since transmission of the confirmation signal (NO in S16). Accordingly, it is determined that wireless communication with the MFP 10 cannot be performed, and the process proceeds to S18. In S18, the CPU 122 transmits (that is, uploads) the target data to the storage server 300 by executing wireless LAN communication, and ends the data transmission process. The CPU 122 designates the storage URL included in the print information as the storage location of the target data, and transmits the target data to the storage server 300.

  CPU 122 executes wireless LAN communication when a response to the confirmation signal is received by executing wireless LAN communication before a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the confirmation signal was transmitted (YES in S16). Thus, it is determined that wireless communication with the MFP 10 can be executed, and the process proceeds to S20. In S20, the CPU 122 performs wireless LAN communication, specifies the IP address of the MFP 10 included in the print information as a transmission destination, transmits the target data to the MFP 10, and ends the data transmission process.

(Data reception process executed by MFP 10: FIG. 3)
The CPU 32 monitors the reception of requests for executing various functions of the MFP 10 such as a print request and a scan request by executing NFC communication while the MFP 10 is powered on. Specifically, the CPU 32 causes the NFC I / F 14 to transmit a radio wave for detecting a device capable of performing NFC communication while the MFP 10 is powered on. The CPU 32 receives a response radio wave for the radio wave from the mobile terminal 100 and establishes an NFC communication session with the mobile terminal 100. Next, the CPU 32 receives a request from the mobile terminal 100 using the NFC I / F 14.

  In S30, when a print request is received from the portable terminal 100 (YES in S30), the CPU 32 generates a generation request for generating a folder for storing the target data and a storage URL of the folder in S32. Is transmitted to the storage server 300. The CPU 32 transmits a generation request to the storage server 300 by executing wireless LAN communication.

  In S <b> 34, the CPU 32 monitors reception of a storage URL from the storage server 300 by executing wireless LAN communication. When the CPU 32 receives the storage URL from the storage server 300 (YES in S34), in S36, the print information including the IP address of the MFP 10, the identification information of the MFP 10, and the storage URL received in S34 is transmitted through NFC communication. By executing it, it transmits to the portable terminal 100. The identification information of the MFP 10 is the same as the node name of the MFP 10. In the modified example, the identification information of the MFP 10 may be a character string randomly generated by the CPU 32.

  Next, in S38, the CPU 32 starts polling the storage server 300 by executing wireless LAN communication. In polling, the CPU 32 inquires of the storage server 300 whether or not the target data is stored at the position specified by the storage URL received in S34. The CPU 32 repeatedly executes polling for the storage server 300 while the processing of S40 to S46 described later is being executed.

  Next, in S <b> 40, the CPU 32 monitors whether a confirmation signal is received from the portable terminal 100 by executing wireless LAN communication. If the confirmation signal is not received from the portable terminal 100 during a predetermined period (for example, 1 minute) after the print information is transmitted (NO in S40), the CPU 32 receives the target data from the storage server 300 in S42. Monitor what you do. Specifically, when a response indicating that the target data is stored at the position specified by the storage URL received in S34 is received from the storage server 300 as a response to polling, the CPU 32 receives the target data The transmission request is transmitted to the storage server 300 by executing the wireless LAN communication. When the target data is received from the storage server 300 as a response to the target data transmission request, the CPU 32 determines YES in S42 and proceeds to S48. On the other hand, when the response indicating that the target data is not stored at the position specified by the storage URL received in S34 is received from the storage server 300 as a response to the polling, the CPU 32 determines NO in S42. Then, the process returns to S40.

  On the other hand, when the confirmation signal is received from the portable terminal 100 during the predetermined period after the print information is received in S40, the CPU 32 uses the identification information of the MFP 10 transmitted in S36 as the confirmation signal. It is determined whether or not is included. If the confirmation signal includes the identification information of the MFP 10 transmitted in S36, YES is determined in S40, and the process proceeds to S44. On the other hand, when the confirmation signal does not include the identification information of the MFP 10 transmitted in S36, NO is determined in S40 and the process proceeds to S42. In S <b> 44, the CPU 32 transmits a response to the confirmation signal to the mobile terminal 100 by executing wireless LAN communication. Next, in S <b> 46, the CPU 32 monitors that target data is received from the portable terminal 100 by executing wireless LAN communication. When the target data is received, the process proceeds to S48.

  In S48, the CPU 32 ends the polling started in S38. Next, in S50, the CPU 32 causes the print execution unit 20 to execute a printing process using the target data received in S42 or S46, and ends the data receiving process. According to this configuration, the MFP 10 can execute a printing process using target data stored in the mobile terminal 100.

(Effect of this embodiment)
The effect of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the sequence diagram of the present specification, NFC communication and wireless LAN communication are indicated by arrows. The arrow indicating the wireless LAN communication is written thicker than the arrow indicating the NFC communication. When the user performs selection of target data and a print execution operation by the user, the mobile terminal 100 transmits a print request to the MFP 10 by executing NFC communication (S10 in FIG. 2). Upon receiving a print request by executing NFC communication, the MFP 10 transmits a URL generation request to the storage server 300 by executing wireless LAN communication (S32 in FIG. 3).

  Upon receiving the generation request, the storage server 300 generates a folder for storing the target data and a folder ID of the folder in the storage device of the storage server 300. Further, the storage server 300 generates a storage URL indicating the location of the folder. Specifically, the storage server 300 combines a storage URL (for example, http://abcd.com) indicating the location of the storage server 300 on the Internet 4 with a folder ID (for example, folder1) of the generated folder, A storage URL (for example, http://abcd.com/folder1) is generated. The storage server 300 transmits the generated storage URL to the MFP 10 by executing wireless LAN communication. In this configuration, the storage server 300 may generate a folder and a storage URL when a URL generation request is received. That is, the storage server 300 may generate a folder for storing the target data in the storage server 300 when a URL generation request is received. According to this configuration, the storage server 300 does not have to reserve a folder whose location is indicated by the storage URL in the storage server 300 in advance.

  Upon receiving the stored URL (S34 in FIG. 3), the MFP 10 transmits the stored URL, the IP address of the MFP 10, and the identification information of the MFP 10 to the portable terminal 100 by executing NFC communication (in FIG. 3). S36). According to this configuration, the mobile terminal 100 can acquire a storage URL indicating the location of a folder in which target data is to be stored. Subsequently, the MFP 10 starts polling for obtaining the target data from the storage server 300 (that is, an inquiry about the presence or absence of the target data) by executing the wireless LAN communication (S38 in FIG. 3). When the storage server 300 receives the inquiry from the MFP 10, the storage server 300 determines whether the target data is stored in the folder at the position indicated by the storage URL included in the polling. If the storage server 300 determines that the target data is not stored, the storage server 300 transmits information indicating that there is no data to the MFP 10.

  When the portable terminal 100 obtains the IP address of the MFP 10 (YES in S12 in FIG. 2), the portable terminal 100 designates the IP address of the MFP 10 as a destination by executing wireless LAN communication, and confirms including the identification information of the MFP 10 A signal is transmitted (S14 in FIG. 2). Here, it is assumed that the mobile terminal 100 cannot execute wireless LAN communication with the MFP 10. For example, there is a case where devices that can execute wireless LAN communication with the MFP 10 are restricted by the setting of the AP 6. In this case, even if the portable terminal 100 designates the IP address of the MFP 10 as a transmission destination and transmits a confirmation signal, the MFP 10 cannot receive the confirmation signal. Further, for example, there is a case where devices that can perform wireless LAN communication with the MFP 10 are restricted by the setting of the MFP 10. In this case, even if the portable terminal 100 specifies the IP address of the MFP 10 as a transmission destination and transmits a confirmation signal, the MFP 10 does not transmit a response to the confirmation signal.

(Situation where MFP 10 and portable terminal 100 cannot execute wireless LAN communication)
In a situation where the portable terminal 100 cannot execute wireless LAN communication with the MFP 10, the portable terminal 100 does not receive a response to the confirmation signal from the MFP 10 (NO in S16 of FIG. 2). In this case, the mobile terminal 100 designates the storage URL received from the MFP 10 as the storage location of the target data, and transmits the target data to the storage server 300 (S18 in FIG. 2).

  When the storage server 300 receives the target data from the portable terminal 100, the storage server 300 stores the target data in the folder specified by the storage URL. The MFP 10 repeatedly executes polling. When the storage server 300 receives an inquiry transmitted by polling of the MFP 10 after storing the target data, the storage server 300 transmits a response indicating that the target data is stored to the MFP 10. The MFP 10 transmits a target data transmission request to the storage server 300. When the storage server 300 receives the transmission request, the storage server 300 transmits the target data to the MFP 10. According to this configuration, the MFP 10 stores the target data in the storage server 300 without acquiring from the mobile terminal 100 information indicating that the mobile terminal 100 has transmitted the target data to the storage server 300. The mobile terminal 100 can acquire the target data transmitted to the storage server 300 from the storage server 300.

  Upon receiving the target data from the storage server 300 (YES in 42 of FIG. 3), the MFP 10 ends the polling (S48 of FIG. 3). Next, the MFP 10 executes a printing process (S50 in FIG. 3). According to this configuration, the MFP 10 can acquire the target data from the storage server 300 when the wireless LAN I / F 12 cannot be used to execute wireless LAN communication with the mobile terminal 100.

(Situation in which MFP 10 and portable terminal 100 can execute wireless LAN communication)
On the other hand, in a situation where the mobile terminal 100 can execute wireless LAN communication with the MFP 10, the MFP 10 receives the confirmation signal transmitted from the mobile terminal 100 by executing the wireless LAN communication (FIG. 3). YES in S40). The MFP 10 transmits a response to the confirmation signal to the portable terminal 100 by executing the wireless LAN communication (S42 in FIG. 3). According to this configuration, the MFP 10 can notify the mobile terminal 100 that wireless LAN communication can be executed. That is, the MFP 10 can notify the mobile terminal 100 that the target data can be received without using the storage server 300.

  When the portable terminal 100 receives a response to the confirmation signal from the MFP 10 (YES in S16 in FIG. 2), the portable terminal 100 transmits the target data to the MFP 10 by executing wireless LAN communication (S20 in FIG. 2). The MFP 10 receives target data from the portable terminal 100 without using the storage server 300. According to this configuration, the portable terminal 100 can transmit target data to the MFP 10 using the IP address received from the MFP 10 without knowing the IP address of the MFP 10 in advance. When the MFP 10 receives the target data from the portable terminal 100 (YES in 44 of FIG. 3), the MFP 10 ends the polling (S48 of FIG. 3). Next, the MFP 10 executes a printing process (S50 in FIG. 3). According to this configuration, the MFP 10 can receive the target data earlier than the method of receiving the target data transmitted from the portable terminal 100 to the storage server 300 from the storage server 300. In addition, the processing load on the storage server 300 can be reduced.

  According to the MFP 10, the MFP 10 receives the target data transmitted from the mobile terminal 100 to the storage server 300 from the storage server 300, and the method of receiving the target data from the mobile terminal 100 without using the storage server 300. Either of the methods can be adopted to acquire the target data from the mobile terminal 100. Similarly, according to the portable terminal 100, the portable terminal 100 transmits the target data to the MFP 10 using the storage server 300, and the method of transmitting the target data to the MFP 10 without using the storage server 300. Either of the above methods can be employed to transmit the target data to the MFP 10.

  Further, according to the MFP 10 and the mobile terminal 100, the MFP 10 can receive target data having a relatively large data size from the mobile terminal 100 by executing wireless LAN communication. According to this structure, compared with the structure which transmits object data by performing NFC communication, communication of object data can be performed rapidly.

(Correspondence)
The MFP 10 is an example of a “communication device”, and the mobile terminal 100 is an example of a “data transmission device”. The wireless LAN I / F 12 is an example of a “first interface” of a “communication device”, and the NFC I / F 14 is an example of a “second interface” of a “communication device”. The wireless LAN I / F 102 is an example of a “first interface” of a “data transmission apparatus”, and the NFC I / F 104 is an example of a “second interface” of a “data transmission apparatus”. The storage URL is an example of “storage information” and “position information”. The print request is an example of a “reception request”.

  The process of S36 in FIG. 3 is an example of “identification information transmission unit”, “stored information transmission unit”, and “address transmission unit”. In the case of YES in the process of S42 of FIG. 3 and YES in the process of S46 Are examples of a “data receiving unit”. The process of S32 in FIG. 3 is an example of “request transmission unit”, and the case of YES in the process of S34 of FIG. 3 is an example of “position information reception unit”, and the process of S44 of FIG. 3 ”is an example of“ print control unit ”, and the case of YES in S30 of FIG. 3 is an example of“ print request receiving unit ”.

(Second embodiment)
Differences from the first embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the contents of the data transmission process executed by the portable terminal 100 and the data reception process executed by the MFP 10 are different from those in the first embodiment.

(Data transmission processing executed by the portable terminal 100: FIG. 5)
As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the CPU 122 executes the processes of S110 to S116 instead of the processes of S10 to S12 of FIG. Note that the processing of S118 to S124 is the same as the processing of S14 to S18 of FIG.

  In S110, as in S32 of FIG. 3, the CPU 122 transmits a URL generation request for generating a folder for storing the target data and a storage URL of the folder to the storage server 300. The CPU 122 transmits a generation request to the storage server 300 by executing wireless LAN communication. Next, in S112, as in S34 in FIG. 3, the CPU 122 monitors the reception of the storage URL from the storage server 300 by executing wireless LAN communication. When the CPU 122 receives the storage URL from the storage server 300 (YES in S112), the CPU 122 transmits the same print request and storage URL as in S10 to the MFP 10 by executing NFC communication in S114. Next, the CPU 122 monitors reception of the IP address and identification information of the MFP 10 by the same method as in S12 of FIG. In S116, when the CPU 122 receives the IP address of the MFP 10 and the identification information of the MFP 10 by executing NFC communication, the process proceeds to S118.

(Data reception process executed by MFP 10: FIG. 6)
As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the CPU 32 executes the processes of S130 to S132 in place of the processes of S30 to S36 of FIG. Note that the processing of S134 to S146 is the same as the processing of S38 to S50 in FIG.

  In S130, the CPU 32 monitors the reception of the print request and the storage URL from the portable terminal 100 by executing NFC communication in the same manner as in S30 of FIG. When the CPU 32 receives the print request and the storage URL (YES in S130), in S132, NFC communication is performed between the IP address of the MFP 10 and the identification information of the MFP 10 by the same method as in S36 of FIG. Is transmitted to the portable terminal 100, and the process proceeds to S134.

(Effect of this embodiment)
The effect of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When the user selects target data, the portable terminal 100 transmits a URL generation request to the storage server 300 by executing wireless LAN communication (S110 in FIG. 5). Upon receipt of the generation request, the storage server 300 generates a folder for storing data in the storage device of the storage server 300 as in the case of FIG. 4 of the first embodiment, and further stores the folder ID and storage. URL is generated.

  When receiving the stored URL (YES in S112 of FIG. 5), the portable terminal 100 transmits the print request and the stored URL to the MFP 10 by executing NFC communication (S114 of FIG. 5). Upon receiving the print request (YES in S130 of FIG. 6), the MFP 10 transmits the IP address of the MFP 10 and the identification information of the MFP 10 to the portable terminal 100 by executing NFC communication (S132 of FIG. 6). The MFP 10 starts polling for acquiring data from the storage server 300 (S134 in FIG. 6). The subsequent processing is the same as that in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment.

  According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the MFP 10 and the portable terminal 100 can achieve the same effects as in the first embodiment.

  Specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above. The modifications of the above embodiment are listed below.

(Modification)
(1) The “communication device” is not limited to a multi-function device, and may be another device (for example, a printer, a FAX device, a copier, a scanner, or the like) having a first interface and a second interface. . The “data transmission device” is not limited to a portable terminal, and may be another device (for example, a PC or the like) including a first interface and a second interface.

(2) The combination of “first interface” and “second interface” is not limited to the combination of NFC I / F and wireless LAN I / F. For example, when the wireless LAN I / F is adopted as the “second interface”, the “first interface” may be an interface for executing infrared communication or execute Bluetooth (registered trademark). May be an interface for executing Transfer Jet, or an interface for executing Transfer Jet. When NFC I / F is adopted as the “first interface”, the “second interface” may be an interface for executing wired communication or execute Bluetooth (registered trademark). It may be an interface for. Generally speaking, the communication speed of communication via the second interface may be faster than the communication speed of communication via the first interface.

(3) The “first interface” and the “second interface” may be physically two interfaces (that is, two separate IC chips) as in the above embodiment. However, it may be physically one interface (that is, two types of communication are realized by one IC chip).

(4) In addition to the I / Fs 12 and 14, the MFP 10 may include an interface for executing communication with an external device. For example, the MFP 10 may include a wired LAN I / F for the CPU 32 to execute communication via the wired LAN. The MFP 10 may execute communication (for example, S32 and 34 in FIG. 3) between the storage server 300 and the mobile terminal 100 using the wired LAN I / F. In a modification in which the MFP 10 executes communication with the mobile terminal 100 using the wired LAN I / F, the wired LAN I / F is an example of a “second interface”.

(5) In addition to the I / Fs 102 and 104, the mobile terminal 100 may include an interface for executing communication with an external device. For example, the mobile terminal 100 may include a specific I / F for the CPU 122 to execute communication via a mobile phone network. The portable terminal 100 may execute communication with the storage server 300 (for example, S110 and 112 in FIG. 5) using the specific I / F. In the modified example in which the mobile terminal 100 communicates with the MFP 10 using a specific I / F, the specific I / F is an example of a “second interface”.

(6) In the above embodiment, the MFP 10 transmits the IP address of the MFP 10 to the portable terminal 100 (S36 in FIG. 3 and S132 in FIG. 6). However, the MFP 10 may not transmit the IP address of the MFP 10 to the mobile terminal 100. In this case, the MFP 10 may transmit the node name of the MFP 10 to the mobile terminal 100. The portable terminal 100 may acquire the IP address of the MFP 10 from a DNS (abbreviation of Domain Name System) server by executing name resolution using the received node name of the MFP 10. In this modification, the node name of the mobile terminal 100 is “identification information” of “data receiving device”.

(7) The MFP 10 of the first embodiment and the portable terminal 100 of the second embodiment receive the storage URL from the storage server 300 (YES in S34 of FIG. 3, YES in S112 of FIG. 5). However, the MFP 10 according to the first embodiment and the portable terminal 100 according to the second embodiment receive information other than the URL of the storage server 300 such as the mail address of the storage server 300 and the IP address of the storage server 300 from the storage server 300. May be. In this modification, each of the mail address of the storage server 300 and the IP address of the storage server 300 is an example of “storage information”.

(8) The MFP 10 may individually transmit the IP address of the MFP 10, the identification information of the MFP 10, and the storage URL to the mobile terminal 100. For example, the MFP 10 may first transmit the IP address of the MFP 10 to the mobile terminal 100. Next, when the MFP 10 receives a signal indicating that the IP address of the MFP 10 has been received from the portable terminal 100, the MFP 10 may transmit identification information of the MFP 10. Furthermore, when a signal indicating that the identification information of the MFP 10 has been received is received from the mobile terminal 100, the stored URL received in S34 may be transmitted to the mobile terminal 100. In this modification, the process of transmitting the storage URL received in S34 to the portable terminal 100 is an example of a “stored information transmitting unit”, and the process of transmitting the identification information of the MFP 10 is an example of an “identification information transmitting unit”. The process of transmitting the IP address of the MFP 10 to the portable terminal 100 is an example of the “address transmission unit”.

(9) In each of the embodiments described above, when receiving the URL generation request, the storage server 300 generates a folder for storing the target data and the URL of the folder. However, the storage server 300 may include a folder for storing target data and a URL of the folder in advance. In this case, the MFP 10 and the mobile terminal 100 may transmit a URL transmission request to the storage server 300 instead of the URL generation request.

(10) In each of the above embodiments, the MFP 10 transmits the IP address of the MFP 10 and identification information (for example, a node name) to the portable terminal 100. However, the MFP 10 may not transmit the identification information of the MFP 10 to the portable terminal 100. In the present modification, the IP address of the MFP 10 is an example of “communication device identification information”.

(11) In the first embodiment, the MFP 10 transmits the storage URL received from the storage server 300 to the mobile terminal 100. However, the MFP 10 may store the storage URL in advance. The MFP 10 may transmit a stored URL stored in advance to the mobile terminal 100. Similarly in the second embodiment, the mobile terminal 100 may store a stored URL in advance in the mobile terminal 100 (for example, in the application program 126), and may transmit the stored URL to the MFP 10.

(12) In each embodiment described above, each unit of the MFP 10 and the portable terminal 100 is realized by software. However, at least one of the units of the MFP 10 and the portable terminal 100 may be realized by hardware such as a logic circuit. .

  The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology illustrated in the present specification or the drawings achieves a plurality of objects at the same time, and has technical utility by achieving one of the objects.

2: communication system, 4: internet, 10: MFP, 20: print execution unit, 30: control unit, 32: CPU, 34: memory, 100: portable terminal, 120: control unit, CPU: 122, 124: memory, 126: Application program, 300: Storage server

Claims (10)

A communication device for communicating with a storage server via the Internet,
A first interface for performing communication with the data transmission device;
A second interface for executing communication with the data transmission device, wherein at least one of a communication standard, a communication speed, a carrier frequency, and a maximum communicable distance is the first interface. The second interface different from the interface;
A control unit,
The controller is
An identification information transmitting unit that transmits the identification information of the communication device to the data transmitting device using the first interface;
A storage information transmitting unit for transmitting the storage information for storing the target data in the storage server to the data transmitting device using the first interface;
A confirmation signal for confirming whether the data transmission device and the communication device can execute communication using the second interface, wherein the confirmation signal including the identification information is the first signal. When the target data is received from the data transmitting device using the second interface, the target data is received from the data transmitting device using the second interface, without using the storage server. When the confirmation signal is not received from the data transmission device using the second interface, the target data transmitted from the data transmission device to the storage server using the storage information is stored. A data receiving unit that receives information from the storage server using the second interface using information. The storage information includes position information indicating a position of a storage area in the storage server in which the target data is to be stored,
The data receiving unit transmits both the identification information and the storage information to the data transmission device, and then transmits a data request for acquiring the target data from the storage server to the storage server. The communication apparatus according to claim 1. The control unit further includes:
Generation for causing the storage server to generate the location information when a reception request for the communication device to receive the target data is received from the data transmission device using the first interface. A request transmitter for transmitting a request to the storage server;
The communication apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a position information receiving unit that receives the generated position information from the storage server. The control unit further includes:
When the confirmation signal is received from the data transmission device, a response to the confirmation signal is transmitted to the data transmission device using the second interface before the target data is received. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a response transmission unit. The communication device can execute communication using an IP address using the second interface,
The control unit further includes:
An address transmission unit configured to transmit the IP address of the communication device to the data transmission device using the first interface;
When the confirmation signal is received from the data transmitting device, the data receiving unit does not use the storage server for the target data that the data transmitting device transmits using the IP address of the communication device. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the communication device receives the data from the data transmission device. The communication device further includes a print execution unit that executes print processing using the target data,
The control unit further includes:
A print control unit that causes the print execution unit to execute the print process;
A print request receiving unit configured to receive a print request for causing the communication device to execute the print processing from the data transmission device using the first interface;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control unit causes the print execution unit to execute the print processing when the print request is received. A communication device for communicating with a storage server via the Internet,
A first interface for performing communication with the data transmission device;
A second interface for executing communication with the data transmission device, wherein at least one of a communication standard, a communication speed, a carrier frequency, and a maximum communicable distance is the first interface. The second interface different from the interface;
A control unit,
The controller is
An identification information transmitting unit that transmits the identification information of the communication device to the data transmitting device using the first interface;
A storage information receiving unit for receiving, from the data transmission device, storage information for the data transmission device to store target data in the storage server, using the first interface;
A confirmation signal for confirming whether the data transmission device and the communication device can execute communication using the second interface, wherein the confirmation signal including the identification information is the first signal. When the target data is received from the data transmitting device using the second interface, the target data is received from the data transmitting device using the second interface, without using the storage server. When the confirmation signal is not received from the data transmission device using the second interface, the target data transmitted from the data transmission device to the storage server using the storage information is stored. A data receiving unit that receives information from the storage server using the second interface using information. A computer program for a communication device for communicating with a storage server via the Internet,
The communication device
A first interface for performing communication with the data transmission device;
A second interface for executing communication with the data transmitting device, wherein at least one of a communication standard, a communication speed, a carrier frequency, and a maximum distance that can be communicated is the first interface. The second interface different from the interface of
The computer program executes the following processing on a computer mounted on the communication device, that is,
Identification information transmission processing for transmitting the identification information of the communication device to the data transmission device using the first interface;
A storage information transmission process in which the data transmission device transmits storage information for storing the target data in the storage server to the data transmission device using the first interface;
A confirmation signal for confirming whether the data transmission device and the communication device can execute communication using the second interface, wherein the confirmation signal including the identification information is the first signal. When the target data is received from the data transmitting device using the second interface, the target data is received from the data transmitting device using the second interface, without using the storage server. the confirmation signal, using the second interface, if not received from the data transmitting device, the target data by the data transmission device transmits to the storage server by using the stored information, the storage using the information, the computer to execute a data receiving process of receiving by using the second interface from the storage server Program. A computer program for a communication device for communicating with a storage server via the Internet,
A first interface for performing communication with the data transmission device;
A second interface for performing communication with the data transmission device, wherein at least one of a communication standard, a communication speed, a carrier frequency, and a maximum distance that can be communicated is the first interface. The second interface different from the interface of
The computer program executes the following processing on a computer mounted on the communication device, that is,
Identification information transmission processing for transmitting the identification information of the communication device to the data transmission device using the first interface;
A storage information reception process in which the data transmission device receives storage information for storing target data in the storage server from the data transmission device using the first interface;
A confirmation signal for confirming whether the data transmission device and the communication device can execute communication using the second interface, wherein the confirmation signal including the identification information is the first signal. When the target data is received from the data transmitting device using the second interface, the target data is received from the data transmitting device using the second interface, without using the storage server. When the confirmation signal is not received from the data transmission device using the second interface, the target data transmitted from the data transmission device to the storage server using the storage information is stored. using the information, the computer to execute a data receiving process of receiving by using the second interface from the storage server Program. A computer program for a data transmission device for communicating with a storage server via the Internet,
The data transmission device includes:
A first interface for communicating with the communication device;
A second interface for performing communication with the communication device, wherein at least one of a communication standard, a communication speed, a carrier frequency, and a maximum communicable distance is the first interface. And the second interface different from
The computer program executes the following processing on a computer mounted on the data transmission device, that is,
Identification information reception processing for receiving the identification information of the communication device from the communication device using the first interface;
A storage information reception process in which the data transmission device receives storage information for storing target data in the storage server;
The data transmission device and the communication device are confirmation signals for confirming whether or not communication using the second interface is executable, and the confirmation signal including the identification information is A signal transmission process for transmitting to the communication device using a second interface;
When a response to the confirmation signal is received from the communication device using the second interface, the target data is received using the second interface without using the storage server. When the response to the confirmation signal transmitted to the communication device is not received from the communication device using the second interface, the target data is sent to the storage server using the storage information. A computer program for executing a data transmission process for transmitting using the second interface .

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