Communication establishment assisting system and electronic apparatus

A communication establishment assisting system includes: an electronic apparatus arranged on a first network; and a server device arranged on a second network different from the first network and configured to provide a control driver to be installed in the information processing terminal. The information processing terminal includes: an input unit that communication setting information is inputted to; a transmitting unit configured to transmit the communication setting information to the server device; and a receiving unit configured to receive the control driver from the server device to control the electronic apparatus. The server device includes: a receiving unit configured to receive the communication setting information from the information processing terminal; a setting information applying unit configured to apply the communication setting information to the control driver to be transmitted to the information processing terminal; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the control driver to the information processing terminal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relates to and claims priority rights from a Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-161279, filed on Jul. 20, 2012, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a communication establishment assisting system and an electronic apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, some offices and other places use a multi function peripheral (MFP) which has a scanner function, a facsimile function, a printer function, a copier function and so forth. Most multi function peripherals are used with a connection to an information processing terminal such as a personal computer via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The multi function peripherals may act as an image forming apparatus which performs printing on a sheet on the basis of image data inputted from the information processing terminal, may act as an image scanning apparatus which obtains image data to be used in the information processing terminal, and may act as a document managing apparatus which stores document image data so as to be enabled to be retrieved.

To use such a multi function peripheral, it is required to install a control driver in an information processing terminal connected to the multi function peripheral via a network, and the control driver performs sorts of control of the multi function peripheral such as control of the image scanning apparatus and control of the image forming apparatus. Such a control driver can be installed by executing an installer program in the information processing terminal. For example, such installer programs are prepared for respective types of multi function peripheral, and require input of setting items used to establish communication connection between the multi function peripheral and the information processing terminal in its installing process. Therefore, if a user is not familiar with the network and the target multi function peripheral and the user carries out installation of the control driver, it is difficult to finish the installation completely.

To solve this problem, sorts of techniques on installation of a control driver have been proposed. For example, an installer program of a driver searches for a network peripheral which connects to an information processing terminal via a network and obtains peripheral information transmitted from the network peripheral, and searches for a local peripheral which connects to a local port of the information processing terminal and obtains peripheral information of the local peripheral. If a driver can be installed for the network peripheral and/or the local peripheral, this installer program registers the network peripheral and/or the local peripheral in a peripheral list on the basis of the obtained peripheral information and a driver file stored in a driver file storage unit of the information processing terminal. When a user selects a peripheral in the peripheral list, a driver of the selected peripheral is installed.

Another installer program searches for a printer on a network, and obtains device configuration information such a manufacturer name and a device type name from the printer. If a driver file is stored in an information processing terminal, this installer program installs a driver of the driver file, and if a driver file is not stored in an information processing terminal, this installer program downloads and installs a compatible driver.

Further, to install a driver, another installer program searches for a printing device connected to a network and a printing device connected locally, and displays the printing device for which a driver can be installed so as to enable a user to select it. When a printing device is specified to install a driver among the displayed printing device, this installer program obtains option configuration information and resource information from the printing device, writes the obtained information into the driver, and installs the driver to an information processing terminal.

Further, a printer downloads and stores the latest version of a printer driver from an external server device as a distributor of the printer driver. In this technique, an information processing terminal connected to the printer via a network can obtain and install the latest version of the printer driver from the printer.

Furthermore, an image forming apparatus generates a temporal ID and a temporal password for a guest on the basis of an instruction of an administrator and generates a 2D code which includes the ID for a guest and a path of a web page. The administrator scans the 2D code using an imaging device from the image forming apparatus, and sends the scanned information to an outsider using an email. The outsider accesses the web page displayed by the image forming apparatus on the basis of the information, downloads a driver, and installs the driver in the outsider's information processing terminal. Consequently, printing is available with the image forming apparatus in a predetermined time.

For example, in an office or the like operating a large scale network on which plural multi function peripherals are arranged, when a user wants to temporarily connect an information processing terminal to an image forming apparatus in front of the user to use the image forming apparatus, the user is required to install a control driver in the information processing terminal in order to control the image forming apparatus. Even if the control driver capable of controlling the image forming apparatus has been installed in the information processing terminal, the user must set information to control the image forming apparatus.

For example, using the aforementioned technique, if a user can connect the information processing terminal to the network (can let the information processing terminal to join the network), the user can properly install the control driver relatively easily even if the user is not familiar with the network and the target multi function peripheral.

However, to search for a multi function peripheral in a large scale network a long searching time is required to search a large address range, and since a lot of network devices other than the multi function peripheral are connected to the network, such a lot of network devices are detected as the searching result. Further, if plural multi function peripherals of a same type are arranged on the network, it is difficult to specify the target multi function peripheral among the plural multi function peripherals displayed as the searching result. Furthermore, since such searching is performed in the whole address range, a lot of network traffic may result in depressing a performance of the network, and such searching may be regarded as a malicious attack. Therefore, the aforementioned techniques of the installer program and the printer are not sufficient as solutions of the problems. In addition, in an office operating a large scale network, connecting a device without permission to the network is often prohibited, and therefore, techniques subject to connecting to the network can often not be applied, such as the aforementioned techniques of the installer program and the printer.

On the other hand, in the aforementioned technique of the image forming apparatus, connection to a network is established substantially after an administrator's permission, and thus, it is not the situation that it is possible to connect a device to the network without permission. However, since the administrator which issues an ID and a password is not always available, in this technique, when a user wants to temporarily use the multi function peripheral, the user may not able to immediately use it. Further, obligating the administrator to be always available results in a lot of the administrator's burden, and therefore, it is impracticable. Furthermore, in the aforementioned technique of the image forming apparatus, since the image forming apparatus must be configured to store a control driver and distribute the control driver through a web page displayed by itself, the problem arises that it is difficult to apply this to a low cost machine.

SUMMARY

A communication establishment assisting system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: an electronic apparatus and a server device. In this communication establishment assisting system, a driver to control the electronic apparatus is provided to an information processing terminal which is not connected to a network on which the electronic apparatus is arranged.

The electronic apparatus is arranged on a first network and configured to be controlled by an information processing terminal that a control driver is installed in. The server device is arranged on a second network different from the first network and configured to provide the control driver to be installed in the information processing terminal.

The information processing terminal includes: an input unit, a transmitting unit, and a receiving unit. To the input unit, communication setting information is inputted, and the communication setting information includes information to uniquely identify the electronic apparatus. The transmitting unit is configured to transmit the communication setting information to the server device. The receiving unit is configured to receive the control driver from the server device to control the electronic apparatus. Meanwhile, the server device includes a receiving unit, a setting information applying unit, and a transmitting unit. The receiving unit is configured to receive the communication setting information transmitted from the information processing terminal. The setting information applying unit is configured to apply the received communication setting information to the control driver to be transmitted to the information processing terminal. The transmitting unit is configured to transmit the control driver to which the communication setting information has been applied to the information processing terminal.

In the communication establishment assisting system, in the situation that the information processing terminal to be enabled to control the electronic apparatus is not connected to a first network on which the electronic apparatus is arranged, it is possible to acquire a control driver to which communication setting information to control the electronic apparatus has been applied via a second network from the server device. To this control driver, the communication setting information has been applied for the electronic apparatus to be controlled, and therefore, upon installing it to the information processing terminal, the information processing terminal is in a status enabled to control the electronic apparatus to be controlled. Thus, after installing the control driver, when the information processing terminal is connected to the first network using wired communication or wireless communication, the information processing terminal is enabled to control the electronic apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to easily install the driver to the information processing terminal without searching it on the network while the information processing terminal is connected to the network. The electronic apparatus is not limited to a specific type and it is capable of easily applying to a low cost machine.

An electronic apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure is an electronic apparatus is arranged on a network and controlled by an information processing terminal that a control driver is installed in. The electronic apparatus includes: a setting information generating unit and a notifying unit. The setting information generating unit is configured to generate communication setting information to be set to the control driver in order to control this electronic apparatus in the network. The notifying unit is configured to notify an information processing terminal that is not connected to the network of the communication setting information generated by the setting information generating unit.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent upon reading of the following detailed description along with the accompanied drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained with referencing drawings in detail. Hereinafter, the present disclosure is embodied as a communication establishment assisting system for a digital multi function peripheral being an electronic apparatus.

FIG. 1shows a schematic diagram which indicates a whole configuration of a multi function peripheral being an electronic apparatus in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 1, the multi function peripheral100includes a main body unit101and a platen cover102arranged on the main body unit101, and the main body unit101includes an image scanning unit120and an image forming unit140. A platen glass103is arranged on the top surface of the main body unit101, and the platen cover102is opened and closed on the platen glass103. Further the platen cover102is equipped with a document feeding device110.

The image scanning unit120is arranged beneath the platen glass103. The image scanning unit120optically scans an image of the document using a scanning optical system121and generates digital data (image data) of the image. The document is put on either the platen glass103or the document feeding device110. The scanning optical system121includes a first carriage122, a second carriage123, and a condensing lens124. The first carriage122is equipped with a linear light source131and a mirror132, and the second carriage123is equipped with mirrors133and134. The light source131lights up the document. The mirrors132,133, and134guide reflection light from the document to the condensing lens124, and the condensing lens124focuses the light on a light receiving surface of a line image sensor125. In this scanning optical system121, the first carriage122and the second carriage123are arranged so as to be capable of a reciprocal motion in a secondary scanning direction135. Moving the first carriage122and the second carriage123in the secondary scanning direction135enables the image sensor125to scan an image of the document put on the platen glass103. In order to scan an image of the document set on the document feeding device110, the image scanning unit120temporarily fixes the first carriage122and the second carriage123at an image scanning position, and reads an image of the document which passes through the image scanning position. The image sensor125generates image data of the document corresponding to respective colors such as R (red), G (green), and B (blue) from the incident light to the light receiving surface. On the basis of the generated image data, the image forming unit140performs printing on a paper sheet. Further, the image data may be transmitted via a network600(a first network) to another device by a network adapter161. In this embodiment, the network600is a LAN (Local Area Network) provided in an office or the like and a closed network which can not be accessed from a public network such as Internet.

The image forming unit140performs printing on a paper sheet on the basis of image data generated in the image scanning unit120or image data received by the network adapter161from another device connected to the network600. The image forming unit140includes a photo conductor drum141. The photo conductor drum141rotates at a constant speed in a constant direction. In periphery of the photo conductor drum141, a charging device142, an exposure unit143, a developing device144, and an intermediate transfer belt145are arranged along the rotation direction. The charging device142uniformly charges a surface of the photo conductor drum141. The exposure unit143forms an electrostatic latent image on the photo conductor drum141by irradiating a light based on the image data onto the uniformly charged surface of the photo conductor drum141. The developing device144forms a toner image by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image. The intermediate transfer belt145transfers the toner image on the photo conductor drum141to a paper sheet. If the image is a color image, the intermediate transfer belt145transfers the toner images of respective colors to a single paper sheet. If the image data has the RGB format, the image data is converted to image data of the CMYK format (C: Cyan, M: Magenta, Y: Yellow, K: Black), and the image data of respective colors CMYK is inputted to the exposure device143.

The image forming unit140feeds a paper sheet to a transferring position between the intermediate transfer belt145and a transferring roller146from a manual bypass tray151, paper sheet cassettes152,153, and154, and so forth. The manual bypass tray151and the paper sheet cassettes152,153, and154are capable of accepting and storing various sizes of paper sheets. The image forming unit140selects a paper sheet specified by a user or a paper sheet corresponding to a document size automatically detected, and feeds the selected paper sheet from the manual bypass tray151and the cassettes152,153, and154by a feeding roller155. The fed paper sheet is transported to the transferring position by a transportation roller156and a paper stop roller157. The paper sheet on which a toner image has been transferred is transported to a fuser148by a transportation belt147. The fuser148includes a fusing roller158including a heater, and a pressure roller159, fixes the toner image on the paper sheet by heating and pressurizing. The image forming unit140outputs the paper sheet which passed through the fuser148to an output tray149.

As mentioned below, in this embodiment, the image forming apparatus100is controlled by an information processing terminal500connected to the network600.

FIG. 2shows an example of an appearance of an operation panel which the multi function peripheral is equipped with. A user uses the operation panel200to give an instruction such as starting a copy action to the multi function peripheral100and to confirm a status or a setting of the multi function peripheral100. In the operation panel200, a display201equipped with a touch panel and an operation key203are arranged. The display201includes a displaying surface such as a crystal liquid display which displays an operation button, a message, and so forth, and a sensor which detects a pressed-down position on the displaying surface. The detecting method of the pressed-down position is not limited. The detecting method may be a resistive membrane method, a capacitive sensing method, a Surface Acoustic Wave method, an electromagnetic method, or any other method. A user can perform input using the user's finger or a touch pen202on the display201.

The display201displays an operation screen which includes a button displaying part204, a message displaying part205, and a status displaying part206. The button displaying part204includes plural tabs208, and in each of the tabs208, operation buttons corresponding to a category of the tab are arranged. “QUICK SETTING” tab includes operation buttons used for basic setting. In an example shown inFIG. 2, operation buttons used for setting of a paper size, a copy zooming magnification, a density, a printing side, a page combination, and a post processing. For example, if a user presses down “DENSITY” button207, a pop-up screen is displayed over this operation button, and the pop-up screen includes selection buttons such as “light”, “normal”, and “dark” used to select a density, and a density of the selection button selected (pressed-down) by the user is set as a setting value. In an example shown inFIG. 2, other than “QUICK SETTING” tab, “ORIGINAL/PAPER/FINISH” tab, “COLOR/IMAGE QUALITY” tab, “LAYOUT/EDIT” tab, and “APPLICATION/OTHERS” tab are arranged. A user can change the displayed tab to another tab by performing a selecting operation of the tab button208. While one of the tabs is selected and displayed, the other tabs and the other components are behind the displayed tab.

In the message displaying part205, a message to inform a setting to a user is displayed, such as whether a copy function is available or not and the number of copies. It should be noted that the multi function peripheral100of this embodiment is configured to perform a user authentication process (i.e. a login process) to confirm usage authority of a user (i.e. an operator) when the user uses this multi function peripheral100.FIG. 2shows a status before performing the user authentication process, and therefore, a message “PLEASE INPUT AUTHENTICATION INFORMATION” is displayed to request the input of authentication information. Here a user inputs the authentication information using the numeric keys210, a software keyboard displayed on the touch panel201when necessary, or the like. Otherwise, a user inputs an instruction which includes the authentication information through the network adapter161.

In the status displaying part206, device status information is displayed when necessary. The device status information is displayed on the basis of detection results of various sensors arranged in the multi function peripheral100. The device status information means a message to inform warning to a user and prompt the user to correct a malfunction even though the multi function peripheral100can continue to run. For example, the device status information may include a message that the residual amount of paper sheets is small, a message that the platen glass103is unclean, a message that a facsimile document is stored in a memory if memory receiving of facsimile has been set, and so forth. Further, the device status information may indicate paper sheet empty or a jam.

The operation keys203include a main power key209, numeric keys210, a start key211, a clear key212, a logout key213, and so forth. For example, the main power key209is used to switch on/off the power supply to the multi function peripheral100. The numeric keys210can be used for setting of the number of copies and a copy zooming magnification. When a user performs setting of them, the multi function peripheral100displays a message such as “Ready to copy (with setting)” in the message displaying part205to inform that the user performs setting. The start key211is used for an instruction to start a copy action or an image printing. The clear key212is operated by a user when the user cancels the setting inputted by the user. The aforementioned message enables a user to confirm that the setting the user inputted has been accepted, and therefore if the setting becomes unnecessary, the user can operate the clear key212. This embodiment is configured to prohibit operations using the operation panel200except for inputting information on the authentication until usage authority of the user is confirmed in the aforementioned user authentication process, but the configuration is not limited to this. The multi function peripheral100is configured to return to the status before performing the authentication process, either when the authenticated user presses down the logout key213after using the multi function peripheral or when a predetermined time elapses without any operations to the operation panel200and any actions of the image scanning unit120and the image forming unit140after the authentication. If the instruction which includes the authentication information is inputted through the network adapter161, then after the authentication, it is permitted to perform only a job of this instruction.

FIG. 3shows a diagram which indicates a hardware configuration of a control system in the multi function peripheral. In the multi function peripheral100, an internal bus306connects a CPU (Central Processing Unit)301, a RAM (Random Access Memory)302, a ROM (Read Only Memory)303, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive)304, and drivers305corresponding to respective driving units in the document feeding device110, the image scanning unit120, and the image forming unit140. Control programs have been stored in the ROM303, the HDD304, and so forth, and the CPU301controls the multi function peripheral100according to instructions in the control programs. For example, the CPU301uses the RAM302as a work area, and controls actions of the driving units with transmitting/receiving data and instruction to/from the drivers305. Further, the HDD304is used to store image data generated by the image scanning unit120and image data received through the network adapter161from another device.

The internal bus306is also connected to the operation panel200, the network adapter161, and sorts of sensors307. The operation panel200receives a user operation, and provides a signal based on the user operation to the CPU301. The display201of the operation panel200displays the aforementioned operation screen on the basis of a control signal from the CPU301. The sensors307include a sensor which detects opening/closing the platen cover102, a document detection sensor of the platen glass103, a temperature sensor of the fuser148, and a sensor which detects a paper sheet or a document on their transportation path.

The CPU301forms the following units (function blocks) by executing a program, for example stored in the ROM303, and controls actions of the units on the basis of signals from the sensors.

FIG. 4shows a functional block diagram which indicates a communication establishment assisting system of this embodiment. The communication establishment assisting system10provides a control driver to control the multi function peripheral100to an information processing terminal500. This information processing terminal500is not connected to the network600on which the multi function peripheral100is arranged. In the following part, a case is explained in which the control driver is a printer driver, and the information processing terminal500is temporarily connected to the network600to cause the multi function peripheral100to perform printing. However, the condition is not limited to this. It should be noted that an owner of the information processing terminal500is a person such as a guest or a colleague on a business trip who does not have usage authority of the multi function peripheral100, and with assistance of a user who has usage authority of the multi function peripheral100, this person can temporarily use the multi function peripheral100, as explained below.

As shown inFIG. 4, the communication establish assisting system10includes the multi function peripheral100, the information processing terminal500, and a server device700. The information processing terminal500is any information processing device such as a note-type personal computer and a mobile information terminal and any terminal with which the owner wants to use the multi function peripheral100. The server device700is connected to a public network610(a second network) such as Internet, and the information processing terminal500can be connected to the server device700using a browser to communicate with the server device700. It should be noted that the server device700is arranged in a business place of a manufacturer of the printer driver (i.e. a manufacturer of the multi function peripheral100), and managed by the manufacturer of the printer driver.

The multi function peripheral100includes a setting information generating unit401and a notifying unit402. Further, in this example, the multi function peripheral100includes an instruction recognizing unit411, an authenticating unit412, and an action control unit413.

The instruction recognizing unit411recognizes a content of a user's instruction on the basis of a pressing-down operation to the operation key203or the display201in the operation panel200or an instruction inputted via the network adapter161. For example, if a sensor which detects a pressed-down position on the display201inputs coordinate values of the detected pressed-down position to the instruction recognizing unit411, the instruction recognizing unit411recognizes the content of the user operation to the display201on the basis of coordinate values of screen components such as operation buttons known by itself and the inputted coordinate values. The operation which the instruction recognizing unit411recognized is inputted to the authenticating unit412.

The authenticating unit412performs user authentication by identifying whether or not user authentication information included in either an operation to the operation panel200or an instruction inputted via the network adapter161satisfies a preset authentication condition. For example, a user inputs user authentication information using the numeric keys210or a software keyboard displayed on the touch panel201when necessary. Otherwise, a user inputs an instruction which includes the authentication information through the network adapter161. Any information capable of identifying the user is used as the user authentication information. In this embodiment, a user ID uniquely assigned to each user and a password corresponding to the user are used as the user authentication information.

In this embodiment, a permitted-user list has been registered in the authenticating unit412in advance. The permitted-user list includes a user ID of a user permitted to use the multi function peripheral100and a password corresponding to the user. If the user ID and the password inputted from the operation panel200or the network adapter161are the same as ones in the permitted-user list, the authenticating unit412identifies that the authentication condition is satisfied. The authenticating unit412permits the user to use the multi function peripheral100(generating image data with the image scanning unit120, printing on the basis of image data with the image forming unit140, and so forth) if the authentication condition is satisfied, and prohibits the user from using the multi function peripheral100if the authentication condition is not satisfied. In this embodiment, the multi function peripheral100is configured so that the action control unit413performs sorts of processes on the basis of a user instruction recognized by the instruction recognizing unit411. The sorts of processes are available after the authenticating unit412releases action restriction on the action control unit413.

The setting information generating unit401generates communication setting information which includes information uniquely identifying the multi function peripheral100. The communication setting information includes all information that the printer driver requires in order to control the multi function peripheral100, and is used by the information processing terminal500in order to obtain the printer driver from the server device700. Here the setting information generating unit401generates the communication setting information which includes fixed information and changing information, but the communication setting information is not limited to this.

The fixed information is information which is not changed after the multi function peripheral100is manufactured. For example, the type and the serial number of the multi function peripheral100are classified as the fixed information. The changing information is information which is changed after the multi function peripheral100is manufactured. For example, a network address (e.g. IP address), a machine name on the network600, and user authentication information to use the multi function peripheral100are classified as the changing information. As mentioned below, the fixed information is mainly used to identify a printer driver in the server device700, and the changing information is mainly used as information set to the printer driver. It should be noted that the user authentication information included in the communication setting information may be authentication information of a user who makes the communication setting information or guest user authentication information which is prepared by an administrator for a temporal usage. In case of the former, a user can not make communication setting information which permits to use the multi function peripheral100over the user's authority.

A storage place of the fixed information and the changing information in the multi function peripheral100has been registered in the setting information generating unit401, and the setting information generating unit401refers to the registered storage place to generate the communication setting information. Further, in this embodiment, sorts of restriction can be included in the communication setting information when the communication setting information is generated. The restriction, for example, is restriction of available functions in the multi function peripheral100, restriction of the number of jobs to be transmitted to the multi function peripheral100, restriction of available date and time of the multi function peripheral100, or a combination of two or more of them.

The generation of the communication setting information in the setting information generating unit401is started by a user instruction through the operation panel200. In the multi function peripheral100, a communication setting information generating button is arranged in “APPLICATION/OTHERS” tab in the operation screen displayed on the display201, and upon pressing down the communication setting information generating button, the communication setting information is generated.

The notifying unit402notifies the user who instructed to generate the communication setting information of the communication setting information generated by the setting information generating unit401. This notification can be performed in any manner capable of letting the user know the information, such as displaying, printing matter, or email. Here the notifying unit402displays the communication setting information on the display201of the operation panel200.

The notifying unit402displays an access keyword as the communication setting information, although displaying the communication setting information is limited to this manner. The access keyword is obtained by using a compact code such as Huffman code or arithmetic code in order to shrink a string length of the communication setting information.

In the next part, the information processing terminal500and the server device700are explained.FIG. 5shows a functional block diagram which indicates the information processing terminal500and the server device700. As shown inFIG. 5, the information processing terminal500includes an input unit501, a transmitting unit502, and a receiving unit503. Further, the information processing terminal500includes a terminal information collecting unit505. It should be noted that the information processing terminal500includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and an HDD as well as the multi function peripheral100. The CPU forms the following processing units, for example, by executing a program stored in the ROM or the HDD using the RAM as a work area.

To the input unit501, communication setting information (an access keyword) generated in the multi function peripheral100is inputted. The transmitting unit502transmits information inputted to the input unit501via the network adapter504to the server device700. The receiving unit503receives either a printer driver to control the multi function peripheral100or a setting applying program mentioned below via the network adapter504from the server device700.

In this embodiment, the information processing terminal500is configured to access the server device700using a browser, and this browser acts as the input unit501, the transmitting unit502, and the receiving unit503, although the configuration is not limited to this. Therefore, if a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is inputted to the browser to access the server device700, then the browser displays an input screen as the input unit501on its display screen in order for a user to input communication setting information. This URL may be included in the communication setting information. However, in this embodiment, as mentioned, the server device700is managed by the manufacturer of the printer driver, and therefore, a user easily makes access the server device700by inputting a specified URL of a home page managed by the manufacturer.

If communication setting information (an access keyword) is inputted to the input unit501, the browser acts as the transmitting unit502and transmits the communication setting information expressed as the access keyword to the server device700. Upon receiving the communication setting information, the server device700transmits a control driver corresponding to the received communication setting information (here a printer driver) to the information processing terminal500. The browser of the information processing terminal500acts as the receiving unit503and receives it.

Further, in this embodiment, after the transmitting unit502includes information on the information processing terminal500in the communication setting information, the transmitting unit502transmits the communication setting information to the server device700. This information on the information processing terminal500includes, for example, OS information indicating an OS of the information processing terminal500, driver information indicating a driver which has been installed, information uniquely specifying the information processing terminal500, and so forth. The OS information and the driver information are used to specify a suitable printer driver; and the information uniquely specifying the information processing terminal500is used to limit a terminal permitted to use the printer driver to the information processing terminal500. For example, a name of the information processing terminal500or a product key of the OS can be used as the information uniquely specifying the information processing terminal500. It should be noted that the browser acts as the terminal information collecting unit505and obtains the information on the information processing terminal500.

On the other hand, the server device700includes a receiving unit701, a setting information applying unit702, and a transmitting unit703. The server device700also includes a determining unit705and a setting applying program generating unit706. It should be noted that the server device700includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and an HDD as well as the multi function peripheral100. The CPU forms the following processing units, for example, by executing a program stored in the ROM or the HDD using the RAM as a work area.

The receiving unit701receives the communication setting information transmitted from the information processing terminal500via the network adapter704, and inputs the communication setting information to the determining unit705. The determining unit705determines whether a required printer driver has been installed in the information processing terminal500or not on the basis of the driver information included in the communication setting information.

If the required printer driver has not been installed in the information processing terminal500, the setting information applying unit702applies information required to control the multi function peripheral100to the printer driver on the basis of the changing information included in the communication setting information received by the receiving unit701. Applying this information may not be performed directly to the printer driver itself, and but performed as providing a setting condition, which is applied to the driver by a program executed together when the driver is installed in the information processing terminal500.

Installing this printer driver to the information processing terminal500enables the information processing terminal500to control the multi function peripheral100(here for printing) when the information processing terminal500is connected to the network600on which the multi function peripheral100is arranged. It should be noted that in the server device700, sorts of drivers are stored in a driver storage unit711, and the setting information applying unit702is configured to extract a corresponding driver on the basis of the fixed information included in the inputted communication setting information.

If the required printer driver has been installed in the information processing terminal500, the setting applying program generating unit706generates a setting applying program on the basis of the communication setting information. The setting applying program is to apply the communication setting information to the printer driver which has already been installed in the information processing terminal500.

The transmitting unit703transmits either the printer driver to which the setting information applying unit702has applied the communication setting information or the setting applying program generated by the setting applying program generating unit706via the network adapter704to the information processing terminal500.

FIG. 6shows a flowchart which indicates an example of communication establishment assisting procedures performed by the communication establishment assisting system10. Each of the aforementioned processes is performed in turn in the multi function peripheral100, the information processing terminal500, or the server device700, and the flowchart expresses a series of the processes.

In these procedures, in the aforementioned manner, the multi function peripheral100generates communication setting information (Step S601). As mentioned, the generated communication setting information (the access keyword) is displayed on the display201of the multi function peripheral100. A user who instructed to generate the communication setting information records (e.g. writes down) the access keyword.

The user uses the browser of the information processing terminal500that the user wants to enable to use the multi function peripheral100, and accesses the server device700using the browser, and inputs the access keyword into the displayed input screen (Step S602).

The access keyword is a meaningless string with a shrunk string length, and therefore no security problems arise even though the owner of the information processing terminal500inputs the access keyword. Further, it is possible to input the access keyword without a manual operation. For example, it may be configured to display a 2D code such as QR code (trademark) as the access keyword with information indicating an address of the server device700on the display201, and to input the access keyword by taking an image of the 2D code using the information processing terminal500. For example, if the access keyword is “x87zn32m”, then the displayed 2D code indicates “http://www.abcd.com&sid=x87zn32m”. If the information processing terminal500has no imaging function, for example, it may be configured to take an image of the 2D code using a mobile communication terminal, and transmit the image or its content, i.e. the access keyword to the information processing terminal500using Bluetooth (trademark), infrared communication or the like. Otherwise, the access keyword may be directly transmitted from the multi function peripheral100to the information processing terminal500using Bluetooth (trademark), infrared communication or the like.

Upon receiving the input of the access keyword, the information processing terminal500transmits the communication setting information to the server device700, as mentioned (Step S603). In the server device700which received the communication setting information, the determining unit705determines whether a required driver has been installed in the information processing terminal500or not on the basis of the information on the information processing terminal500included in the communication setting information (Step S604).

If the required driver has not been installed in the information processing terminal500, the determining unit705inputs the communication setting information to the setting information applying unit702(No at Step S604). Subsequently, the setting information applying unit702applies the inputted communication setting information to a required printer driver to be transmitted to the information processing terminal500. In this manner, information required to control the multi function peripheral100is set in the printer driver. The setting information applying unit702inputs the printer driver to which the communication setting information has been applied to the transmitting unit703, and causes to transmit it to the information processing terminal500.

Upon receiving the printer driver to which the communication setting information has been applied, the information processing terminal500installs this driver to itself and consequently forms an action control unit511which controls the multi function peripheral100; and the information processing terminal500is enabled to use the multi function peripheral100for printing when the information processing terminal500is connected to the network600on which the multi function peripheral100is arranged (Steps S605, S606, S607, and S608).

Otherwise, if the required driver has been installed in the information processing terminal500, the determining unit705inputs the communication setting information to the setting applying program generating unit706(Yes at Step S604). Subsequently, the setting applying program generating unit706generates a setting applying program based on the inputted communication setting information. The setting applying program is to apply the inputted communication setting information to the printer driver which has been installed in the information processing terminal500. The setting applying program generating unit706inputs the generated setting applying program to the transmitting unit703, and causes the transmitting unit703to transmit it to the information processing terminal500.

Upon receiving the setting applying program, the information processing terminal500executes this program and consequently is enabled to use the multi function peripheral100for printing when the information processing terminal500is connected to the network600on which the multi function peripheral100is arranged (Steps S605, S606, S607, and S608).

As mentioned, in the communication establishment assisting system10, in the situation that the information processing terminal500is not connected to the network600on which the multi function peripheral100is arranged, it is possible to obtain the printer driver to which the communication setting information required to control the multi function peripheral100has been applied from the server device700via the network610to which the information processing terminal500can connect. After the driver is installed in the information processing terminal500, the information processing terminal500is enabled to control the multi function peripheral100when the information processing terminal500is connected using wired communication or wireless communication to the network600on which the multi function peripheral100is arranged. Therefore, it is possible to easily install the driver to the information processing terminal500without searching it on the network while the information processing terminal500is connected to the network600.

Further, in the communication establishment assisting system10, the information uniquely identifying the multi function peripheral100on the network600is included in the communication setting information, and therefore, even if plural multi function peripherals of a same type are arranged on the network600, it is possible to properly control a desired multi function peripheral.

Further, in the communication establishment assisting system10, the communication setting information includes the fixed information which is not changed after manufacture. Therefore, if a serial number or the like is used as the fixed information, information on a configuration (e.g. including a finisher or not or including a sorter or not) of the multi function peripheral can be included in the communication setting information. Therefore, it is possible to obtain drivers as a driver package corresponding to the configuration of the multi function peripheral from the server device700.

Furthermore, in the communication establishment assisting system10, the communication setting information includes the information on the information processing terminal500, and therefore, if necessary, it is possible to provide a driver which is available only in the information processing terminal500. Therefore, it is possible to prohibit undesired information processing terminals from using the multi function peripheral100.

In addition, in the communication establishment assisting system10, if a required driver has been installed in the information processing terminal500, a setting applying program is generated and transmitted instead of the driver. In the information processing terminal500, when the setting applying program is executed, the communication setting information transmitted from the information processing terminal500is applied to the control driver which has been installed. Therefore, it is possible to easily perform setting so as to be enabled to control the multi function peripheral100using the existent control driver.

Further, in the communication establishment assisting system10, it is possible to obtain the driver and permit temporal usage without an administrator of the multi function peripheral and lowering its security level.

It should be noted that an embodiment which includes the determining unit705and the setting applying program generating unit706is mentioned above, but these components are not necessary components in the present disclosure. For example, even if the system is configured without these components, the driver is obtained from the server device700every time, and in this case, it still has the advantage that the information processing terminal500not connected to the network600on which the multi function peripheral100is arranged is easily set to a status enabled to use the multi function peripheral100.

Further, the aforementioned embodiment is configured so that the information processing terminal500transmits the communication setting information included information on itself. However, if information on the information processing terminal500is not necessary for setting items of the driver, it is not required to include the information on the information processing terminal500into the communication setting information.

Further, an embodiment in which the multi function peripheral100includes the setting information generating unit401is mentioned above, but the multi function peripheral100may not include the setting information generating unit401. For example, an administrator shows the communication setting information of this multi function peripheral on a body or the like of this multi function peripheral, such as information in which an IP address set to the multi function peripheral is attached to a serial number of the multi function peripheral, and consequently it is possible to use this communication setting information to obtain a driver corresponding to this multi function peripheral from the server device. This configuration can be easily applied to a low cost machine.

Further, in the aforementioned embodiment, explained is a combination of a multi function peripheral and an information processing terminal located in an office or the like. In addition, it can apply to a combination of a multi function peripheral located in a convenience store and a mobile information terminal such as a smart phone. In this case, for example, when a photograph stored in the mobile information terminal is printed, high speed printing via a network is available.

Further, in the aforementioned embodiment, the multi function peripheral is indicated as an example of the electronic apparatus, and the printer driver is indicated as an example of the control driver. Alternatively, the electronic apparatus may be any electronic apparatus connected to a network, and the control driver may be a control driver to control such an electronic apparatus. Further, in the aforementioned embodiment, explained is the case focusing on obtaining the driver for temporal usage. Of course, it can apply to obtaining the driver for ordinary usage.

As mentioned, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to easily install a driver in a terminal to control an electronic apparatus arranged on a network even if the terminal is not connected to the network. Therefore, it is possible to set the information processing terminal to a status enabled to use the electronic apparatus, without searching on a network while the information processing terminal is connected to the network. The electronic apparatus is not limited to a specific type and it is capable of easily applying to a low cost machine.

The description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the present disclosure.

For example, in the aforementioned embodiment, obtaining only the control driver is described, and in addition, if a management software has been launched, the server device may be configured to identify the software on the basis of the fixed information included in the communication setting information, and display information on the software together or a link to a web page which displays the information.

Further, it is possible to properly change the order of the procedures in the flowchart shown inFIG. 6if the changed order results in the equivalent effect.