Image forming apparatus capable of providing location-based service and location information measuring apparatus for providing location information

An image forming apparatus capable of providing a location-based service and a location information measuring apparatus are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a memory to store location information of the image forming apparatus, the location information measuring apparatus to measure the location information of the image forming apparatus based on a distance from another apparatus outside the location information measuring apparatus, and a controller to determine whether to update the location information of the image forming apparatus based on the location information stored in the memory and the measured location information, and manage the location information of the image forming apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Accurate positioning of a device is important to provide a given service based on the location of the device. A positioning technique for measuring a position typically uses a global positioning system (GPS). However, in GPS, it may be difficult to obtain an accurate position indoors.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES

Hereinafter, various examples will be described with reference to the drawings. In this regard, the examples may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein.

When an element is referred to as being “connected” to another element, the element may not only be “directly connected thereto” but may also be “connected thereto with an intervening element therebetween”. In addition, when an element is referred to as “including” another element, unless otherwise described, the element may further include another element rather than exclude the other element. Also, when a region “includes” an element, the region may further include another element instead of excluding the other element, unless otherwise differently stated.

“An image forming job” may denote various operations related to an image (e.g. copying, printing, scanning, or faxing), such as formation of an image or generation/storage/transmission of an image file, and “a job” may denote not only an image forming job but also a series of processes required to perform an image forming job.

An “image forming apparatus” may denote any apparatus capable of performing an image forming job, such as a copier, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a multi-function printer (MFP), or a display apparatus.

A “hard copy” may denote an operation of printing an image on a print medium, such as paper, and a “soft copy” may denote an operation of printing an image on a display device, such as a television (TV) or a monitor or outputting the image to a memory.

“Content” may denote any type of data, such as a picture, an image, a document file, or the like on which an image forming job is to be performed.

“Print data” may denote data converted to a format printable by a printer.

“A scan file” may denote a file generated by scanning an image via a scanner.

“A user” may denote a person who performs an operation related to an image forming job by using an image forming apparatus or by using a device connected to an image forming apparatus in a wired or wireless fashion. “An administrator” may denote a person who has the authority to access all functions and a system of an image forming apparatus. “An administrator” and “a user” may denote the same person.

The following examples are related to an image forming apparatus capable of providing a location-based service and a location information measuring apparatus for providing location information.

FIG. 1illustrates an image forming apparatus according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 1, an image forming apparatus100may include an input/output interface110, a controller120, a communicator130, a memory140, and an image forming job unit150. Although not illustrated, the image forming apparatus100may further include a power unit for supplying power to each element.

The input/output interface110may include an input interface for receiving an input for performing an image forming job from a user and an output interface for displaying information such as a performance result of an image forming job or a state of the image forming apparatus100. For example, the input/output interface110may include an operation panel for receiving a user input and a display panel for displaying a screen.

In an example, the input interface may include, for example, an apparatus capable of receiving various user inputs, such as a keyboard, a physical button, a touchscreen, a camera, a microphone, or the like. In addition, the output interface may include, for example, a display panel, a speaker, or the like. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the input/output interface110may include an apparatus supporting various inputs and outputs.

The controller120may control operations of the image forming apparatus100and may include a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU). The controller120may control other elements included in the image forming apparatus100to perform an operation corresponding to a user input received via the input/output interface110. The controller120may include at least one specialized processor corresponding to each function or may be a single integrated processor.

For example, the controller120may execute a program stored in the memory140, may read a file stored in the memory140, or may store a new file in the memory140.

The communicator130may perform wired or wireless communication with another device or a network. To this end, the communicator130may include a communication module (e.g., a transceiver) supporting at least one of various wired and wireless communication methods. For example, the communication module may be in the form of a chipset or may be a sticker/barcode (e.g., a sticker including a near-field communication (NFC) tag) including information required for communication.

Wireless communication may include, for example, at least one of wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, ultra-wideband (UWB), NFC, or the like. The wired communication may be any one of Ethernet, home phoneline networking alliance (PNA), power line communication, IEEE 1394, or the like, and may use, for example, at least one of universal serial bus (USB), high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), or the like.

The communicator130may be connected to an external apparatus outside the image forming apparatus100and thus may transmit and receive signals or data.

FIG. 2illustrates an image forming apparatus connected to a user terminal or a server according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 2, the image forming apparatus100may be connected to a user terminal200through the communicator130. The communicator130may transmit a signal or data received from the user terminal200to the controller120or may transmit a signal or data generated in the controller120to the user terminal200. For example, when the communicator130receives a print command signal and print data from the user terminal200, the controller120may print the received print data through a printer151.

As shown inFIG. 2, the user terminal200may include an input/output interface210, a controller220, a communicator230, and a memory240. The controller220may execute a program stored in the memory240and may transmit a signal or data generated as a result to the image forming apparatus100via the communicator230, thereby controlling an image forming job. The user terminal200may include, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer (PC), a home device, a medical device, a camera, a wearable apparatus, etc.

The communicator130may be connected to a server300and thus may transmit and receive signals or data. In addition, the communicator130may be connected to the user terminal200via the server300. That is, the communicator130of the image forming apparatus100may transmit and receive signals or data to and from the communicator230of the user terminal200via the server300.

Returning toFIG. 1, various types of data such as a program such as an application and a file may be installed and stored in the memory140. The controller120may access and use data stored in the memory140or may store new data in the memory140. In addition, the controller120may execute a program installed in the memory140. Also, the controller120may install an application externally received via the communicator130in the memory140.

The image forming job unit150may perform an image forming job such as copying, printing, scanning, or faxing.

AlthoughFIG. 1illustrates the image forming job unit150including the printer151, a scanner152, and a facsimile machine153, if necessary, the image forming job unit150may include only some of the above elements or may further include an element for performing another image forming job.

The printer151may form an image on a recording medium through various printing methods such as an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, a thermal transfer method, a thermal method, or the like.

The scanner152may radiate light onto a document and may read an image recorded on the document by receiving reflected light. As an image sensor for reading an image from a document, for example, a charge-coupled device (CCD), a contact type image sensor (CIS), or the like may be used. The scanner152may have a flatbed structure in which a document is located at a fixed position and an image is read as an image sensor moves, a document feed structure in which an image sensor is located at a fixed position and a document is fed, or a combined structure thereof.

The facsimile machine153may share an element for scanning an image with the scanner152, may share an element for printing a received file with the printer151, and may transmit a scan file to a destination or may externally receive a file.

Terms of components of the above-described image forming apparatus100may vary. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus100may include at least one of the above-described components and may omit some components or further include other components.

FIG. 3illustrates an environment in which a location-based service is provided according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 3, the image forming apparatus100, capable of providing a location-based service, communicates with the user terminal200, capable of executing the location-based service, the server300outside the image forming apparatus100, or the like to create an environment in which the location-based service is provided.

The term “location-based service” refers to various types of services that provide a given service by utilizing measured location information of a device. For example, there may be a service for guiding a position of the nearest image forming apparatus100that may be used by a user, reflecting the position of the image forming apparatus100measured in real time, or a service for executing an automatic printing function in the image forming apparatus100closest to the user. Location information of the image forming apparatus100may be three-dimensional (3D) information including height information.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the image forming apparatus100measures or otherwise determines location information and transmits the location information to the user terminal200or the server300. The image forming apparatus100may include a device capable of measuring or otherwise determining location information therein.

The image forming apparatus100may measure location information of the image forming apparatus100based on a distance from another device external to the image forming apparatus100. For example, the position of the image forming apparatus100may be accurately measured by using a distance from other external apparatuses having their own location information and the location information of the other external apparatuses.

The image forming apparatus100may transmit the location information of the image forming apparatus100to the user terminal200or the server300. For example, when there is a request for the location information of the image forming apparatus100from the user terminal200, the image forming apparatus100may transmit the location information of the image forming apparatus100to the user terminal200in response to the request. The image forming apparatus100may also transmit the location information of the image forming apparatus100to the server300that manages the location information of the image forming apparatus100. The server300may compare the location information of the image forming apparatus100, received from the image forming apparatus100, with a location category classified according to a certain criterion to determine a location category to which the image forming apparatus100belongs. The server300may store the location category to which the determined image forming apparatus100belongs in the server300together with the received location information of the image forming apparatus100. As shown inFIG. 3, the server300may compare the location information (x, y, z) of the image forming apparatus100with a location category classified by layer to determine a “first layer”, which is a location category to which the location information (x, y, z) belongs, as the positional category to which the image forming apparatus100belongs.

FIG. 4illustrates an image forming apparatus capable of providing a location-based service according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 4, the image forming apparatus100capable of providing a location-based service may include the controller120, the memory140, and a location information measuring apparatus160.

The memory140may store location information of the image forming apparatus100.

The location information measuring apparatus160may measure or otherwise determine the location information of the image forming apparatus100based on a distance from another device outside the image forming apparatus100. The location information measuring apparatus160may measure the location of the image forming apparatus100when a certain event occurs or a certain condition is satisfied. For example, the location information measuring apparatus160may measure the location information when at least one of the image forming apparatus100starts, identification information of the image forming apparatus100to be received from an external apparatus and used is changed, or a location information measurement instruction is input from a user. In addition, the location information measuring apparatus160may measure the location information according to a preset period.

The location information measuring apparatus160may measure a current position of the image forming apparatus100. The location information measuring apparatus160may measure the location information of the image forming apparatus100in real time based on a distance from another device outside the image forming apparatus100. The location information measuring apparatus160may accurately measure the position of the image forming apparatus100by using a distance from other external apparatuses having their own location information and the location information of the other external apparatuses. According to this method, the location information measuring apparatus160may accurately measure the position of the image forming apparatus100.

The controller120may determine whether to update the location information of the image forming apparatus100based on location information stored in the memory140and the measured location information. The controller120determines a difference between the location information stored in the memory140and the location information measured by the location information measuring apparatus160and compares the determined difference with a first threshold. When the determined difference is greater than the first threshold, the controller120may update the location information of the image forming apparatus100with the measured location information. However, the location information measuring apparatus160may determine to maintain the location information stored in the memory140when the determined difference is less than the first threshold. The location information measuring apparatus160may compare the determined difference with a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold and may further determine a certain process when the determined difference is greater than the second threshold. For example, the certain process may be to change at least one of an identification address of the image forming apparatus100, which is set in the image forming apparatus100, and a processing setting value related to a function of the image forming apparatus100.

The controller120may manage the location information of the image forming apparatus100based on a result of the determining by the location information measuring apparatus160. When the image forming apparatus100is required to perform the certain process, the controller120controls components constituting the image forming apparatus100so that the certain process may be performed.

Although not shown inFIG. 4, the image forming apparatus100may further include the communicator130for performing connection with an apparatus external to the image forming apparatus100. The controller120may transmit the updated location information of the image forming apparatus100through the communicator130to the server300that manages location information of a plurality of image forming apparatuses or to the user terminal200that requests the location information of the image forming apparatus100.

FIG. 5illustrates operations of an image forming apparatus, a user terminal, and a server in an environment in which a location-based service is provided according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 5, the image forming apparatus100may measure location information of the image forming apparatus100in operation S505. To this end, the image forming apparatus100may include the location information measuring apparatus160capable of performing location measurement.

In operation S510, the image forming apparatus100may determine whether to update the location information of the image forming apparatus100based on the location information stored in the memory140and the measured location information of the image forming apparatus100.

FIG. 6illustrates operations of providing a location-based service according to a level of a location change of an image forming apparatus according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 6, the image forming apparatus100may obtain location information stored in the memory140and measured location information in operation S610.

In operation S620, the image forming apparatus100may determine a difference between the location information stored in the memory140and the measured location information.

In operation S630, the image forming apparatus100may compare the determined difference with a first threshold.

In operation S640, the image forming apparatus100may update the location information of the image forming apparatus100with the measured location information when the determined difference is greater than the first threshold and may determine to maintain the location information stored in the memory140when the determined difference is less than the first threshold.

In operation S650, the image forming apparatus100may compare the determined difference with a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold and may further determine a certain process when the determined difference is greater than the second threshold. Here, the certain process may be to change at least one of an identification address of the image forming apparatus100, which is set in the image forming apparatus100, and a processing setting value related to a function of the image forming apparatus100. The certain process is to not only update the location information of the image forming apparatus100when the location change of the image forming apparatus100is greater than the second threshold, but also to process an additional process that may increase user convenience. In an example, operation S650may be performed as an arbitrary operation in the image forming apparatus100, independent of the second threshold.

Referring again toFIG. 5, in operation S515, the image forming apparatus100may manage the location information of the image forming apparatus100based on a result of determining whether to update the location information of the image forming apparatus100. The image forming apparatus100, based on the existing location information stored in the image forming apparatus100and new location information measured by the image forming apparatus100, may update the location information of the image forming apparatus100with the newly measured location information or may maintain the existing location information stored in the image forming apparatus100.

In operation S520, the image forming apparatus100may transmit the location information of the image forming apparatus100to the server300that manages location information of a plurality of image forming apparatuses. For example, when the image forming apparatus100updates the location information of the image forming apparatus100, the image forming apparatus100may transmit the updated location information of the image forming apparatus100to the server300.

In operation S525, the server300may compare the location information of the image forming apparatus100, received from the image forming apparatus100with a location category classified according to a certain criterion to determine a location category to which the image forming apparatus100belongs. For example, the server300may check a location category to which a coordinate value indicating a location of the image forming apparatus100belongs to determine a location category to which the image forming apparatus100belongs.

In operation S530, the server300may store the location category to which the image forming apparatus100belongs and the location information of the image forming apparatus100, received from the image forming apparatus100, together in the server300and manage the same.

In operation S535, the user terminal200may request location information from the image forming apparatus100. However, operation535may be an event that may occur at an arbitrary timing and may occur in a different order as shown inFIG. 5.

In operation S540, the image forming apparatus100may transmit the location information of the image forming apparatus100to the user terminal200. The user terminal200may execute various types of location-based services based on the location information received from the image forming apparatus100.

FIG. 7illustrates an environment in which a location-based service is provided according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 7, the image forming apparatus100, capable of providing the location-based service, may communicate with the location information measuring apparatus160, the user terminal200capable of executing the location-based service, the server300outside the image forming apparatus100, or the like to create the environment in which the location-based service is provided.

In the example ofFIG. 7, the image forming apparatus100obtains location information from the external location information measuring apparatus160and transmits the location information of the image forming apparatus100to the user terminal200or the server300. The position of the image forming apparatus100may be estimated by assuming that the location information received from the external location information measuring apparatus160is the same as the location information of the image forming apparatus100or by considering a certain relationship between the position of the image forming apparatus100and the position of the location information measuring apparatus160.

The location information measuring apparatus160may measure the location information of the location information measuring apparatus160based on a distance from another device outside the location information measuring apparatus160. For example, the position of the location information measuring apparatus160may be accurately measured by using a distance from other external apparatuses having their own location information and the location information of the other external apparatuses. The location information measuring apparatus160, when location measurement is performed, may transmit location information to the image forming apparatus100or, when location information is updated after performing location measurement, may transmit updated location information to the image forming apparatus100.

The image forming apparatus100may transmit the location information of the image forming apparatus100to the user terminal200or the server300. For example, the image forming apparatus100may transmit the location information of the image forming apparatus100to the user terminal200in response to a request from the user terminal200. The image forming apparatus100may also transmit the location information of the image forming apparatus100to the server300that manages the location information of the image forming apparatus100. The server300may compare the location information of the image forming apparatus100, received from the image forming apparatus100with a location category classified according to a certain criterion to determine a location category to which the image forming apparatus100belongs, and may store the location category to which the determined image forming apparatus100belongs in the server300together with the received location information of the image forming apparatus100.

FIG. 8illustrates a location information measuring apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of providing a location-based service according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 8, the location information measuring apparatus160may include a location information measurer161, a controller163, a memory165, a communicator167, and the like.

The location information measurer161may measure location information of the location information measuring apparatus160based on a distance from another device outside the location information measuring apparatus160. The location information measurer161may accurately measure the position of the image forming apparatus100by using a distance from other external apparatuses having their own location information and the location information of the other external apparatuses. The location information measuring apparatus160may measure the location information according to a preset period or, when there is a location information request or a request to determine whether to update the location information from the image forming apparatus100, may measure the location information through the location information measurer161.

The controller163may determine whether to update the location information of the image forming apparatus100based on the location information of the image forming apparatus100, stored in the memory165, and the location information measured by the location information measuring apparatus160. The controller163may determine a difference between the location information of the image forming apparatus100, stored in the memory165, and the location information measured by the location information measuring apparatus160, may compare the determined difference with a first threshold, and may determine to update the location information of the location information measuring apparatus160with the measured location information when the determined difference is greater than the first threshold. However, the controller163may determine to maintain the location information stored in the memory165when the determined difference is less than the first threshold. The controller163may determine a difference between the location information of the image forming apparatus100, stored in the memory165, and the location information measured by the location information measuring apparatus160, and compare the determined difference with a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold. When the determined difference is greater than the second threshold, the controller163may perform an initial setup of the image forming apparatus100. The initial setup refers to an operation of determining setting values for various setting information for functions or operations performed in the image forming apparatus100. The setup information of the initial setup may include a user name, a password, an internet protocol (IP) address, an IP password, whether to allow a guest, whether a secure network is connected, and the like. For example, when the image forming apparatus100is moved to greatly change the position of the image forming apparatus100, various setting information used for performing functions or operations of the image forming apparatus100at the changed position also needs to be changed. The location information measuring apparatus160may request the initial setup of the image forming apparatus100or transmit various setting information necessary for the initial setup to the image forming apparatus100such that the initial setup of the image forming apparatus100is performed.

The memory165may store the location information of the location information measuring apparatus160or the location information of the image forming apparatus100, received from the image forming apparatus100. For example, when the location information measuring apparatus160is located within a range in which the location information measuring apparatus160may communicate with the image forming apparatus100, the memory165may store the location information of the image forming apparatus100, received from the image forming apparatus100. Furthermore, when the location information measuring apparatus160is located within a range in which the location information measuring apparatus160may communicate with the image forming apparatus100, the memory165may further store basic information for determining the initial setup received from the image forming apparatus100.

The communicator167may transmit the location information measured by the location information measuring apparatus160to the image forming apparatus100according to a result of determining whether to update the location information. When the communicator167updates the location information stored in the location information measuring apparatus160with the measured location information, the communicator167may transmit the updated location information to the image forming apparatus100. In addition, the communicator167may transmit at least one setting value for the initial setup to the image forming apparatus100, according to a result of the initial setup determination. To this end, the communicator167may request connection to the image forming apparatus100and may transmit the location information of the location information measuring apparatus160when the image forming apparatus100approves the request. The communicator167may request the image forming apparatus100to release the connection when the location information transmission is completed.

The image forming apparatus100may include the controller120, the communicator130, the memory140, and the like.

The memory140may store the location information of the image forming apparatus100.

The communicator130may receive the updated location information from the location information measuring apparatus160that updates the location information stored in the location information measuring apparatus160with the measured location information. In addition, the communicator130may receive at least one setting value for the initial setup from the location information measuring apparatus160. To this end, the communicator130may receive a request for connection to the image forming apparatus100from the location information measuring apparatus160and may receive updated location information or at least one setting value for the initial setup from the location information measuring apparatus160. The communicator130may receive a request for connection release from the image forming apparatus100from the location information measuring apparatus160. When the communicator130receives a request for connection to the image forming apparatus100from the location information measuring apparatus160, the controller120may perform user authentication for the location information measuring apparatus160and register unique information of the user authenticated location information measuring apparatus160in a unique information list in the memory140. When the communicator130receives the request for connection release from the image forming apparatus100from the location information measuring apparatus160, the controller120may delete the unique information of the location information measuring apparatus160from the unique information list in the memory140.

The controller120may manage the location information of the image forming apparatus100based on the location information of the image forming apparatus100, stored in the memory140, and the location information received from the location information measuring apparatus160. When the communicator130receives updated location information from the location information measuring apparatus160, in a case that the unique information of the location information measuring apparatus160is in the unique information list in the memory140, the controller120may manage the location information of the image forming apparatus100based on the location information of the image forming apparatus100, stored in the memory140, and the location information received from the location information measuring apparatus160.

FIG. 9illustrates operations of a location information measuring apparatus and an image forming apparatus in an environment in which a location-based service is provided according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 9, a communication channel between the location information measuring apparatus160and the image forming apparatus100may be established in operation S905.

In operation S910, the location information measuring apparatus160may receive the location information of the image forming apparatus100from the image forming apparatus100. The communication channel established between the location information measuring apparatus160and the image forming apparatus100in operation905may be maintained until either one of the location information measuring apparatus160or the image forming apparatus100requests a disconnection of the communication channel according to a preset setting, or may be automatically disconnected after a certain information transmission/reception.

In operation S915, the location information measuring apparatus160may measure the location information of the location information measuring apparatus160.

In operation S920, the location information measuring apparatus160may determine whether to update the location information of the location information measuring apparatus160based on the location information stored in the location information measuring apparatus160and the location information measured by the location information measuring apparatus160. When the location information measuring apparatus160determines to update the location information of the location information measuring apparatus160, the location information measuring apparatus160may store the location information measured by the location information measuring apparatus160in the location information measuring apparatus160.

In operation S925, when the location information measuring apparatus160determines to update the location information of the location information measuring apparatus160, the location information measuring apparatus160may determine whether to perform an initial setup. For example, the location information measuring apparatus160may use a second threshold different from a first threshold used to determine whether to update the location information to further determine the initial setup when a difference between the location information measured by the location information measuring apparatus160and the location information of the image forming apparatus100is greater than the second threshold.

In operation S930, the location information measuring apparatus160may request connection to the image forming apparatus100.

In operation S935, when the communicator130receives the request for connection to the image forming apparatus100from the location information measuring apparatus160, the image forming apparatus100may perform user authentication for the location information measuring apparatus160and register unique information of the user authenticated location information measuring apparatus160in a unique information list.

In operation S940, the location information measuring apparatus160may transmit the location information updated in the location information measuring apparatus160or at least one setting value for the initial setup to the image forming apparatus100. Upon updating the location information stored in the location information measuring apparatus160with the measured location information, the location information measuring apparatus160may transmit the updated location information. The location information measuring apparatus160determines whether to update the location information and transmits the updated location information to the image forming apparatus100only when the location information is updated so that unnecessary communication may be reduced. In addition, the location information measuring apparatus160may transmit at least one setting value for the initial setup to the image forming apparatus100when there is a change in the location information to the extent that the initial setup is required.

In operation S945, the image forming apparatus100may manage the location information or various setting values of the image forming apparatus100based on the location information received from the location information measuring apparatus160or at least one setting value for the initial setting. When the image forming apparatus100receives the updated location information from the location information measuring apparatus160, in a case that the unique information of the location information measuring apparatus160is in the unique information list, the image forming apparatus100may manage the location information of the image forming apparatus100based on the location information received from the location information measuring apparatus160. Information received from the location information measuring apparatus160in which the unique information is registered in the unique information list is reliable because the information is received from the location information measuring apparatus160in which user authentication has already been performed.

In operation S950, the location information measuring apparatus160may request the image forming apparatus100to release the connection.

In operation S955, upon receiving the request for connection release from the image forming apparatus100from the location information measuring apparatus160, the image forming apparatus100may release the connection and delete the unique information of the location information measuring apparatus160from the unique information list.

FIG. 10illustrates performance of location information update or an initial setup as an administrator carries a location information measuring apparatus and moves around image forming apparatuses according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 10, when an administrator carries the location information measuring apparatus160and moves along a line of flow, the location information measuring apparatus160may update location information or perform an initial setup with each of image forming apparatuses100-1,100-2, and100-3within a range of communication with each other along with the movement of the administrator, according to the method described above with reference toFIG. 9.

FIG. 11illustrates a location information measuring apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of providing a location-based service according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 11, the location information measuring apparatus160may include the location information measurer161, the memory165, the communicator167, and the like.

The location information measurer161may measure the location information of the location information measuring apparatus160based on a distance from another device outside the location information measuring apparatus160. The location information measurer161may accurately measure the position of the image forming apparatus100by using a distance from other external apparatuses having their own location information and the location information of the other external apparatuses. The location information measuring apparatus160may measure the location information according to a preset period or, when there is a location information request from the image forming apparatus100, may measure the location information through the location information measurer161.

The memory165may store the location information of the location information measuring apparatus160.

The communicator167may transmit the location information of the location information measuring apparatus160to the image forming apparatus100. To this end, the communicator167may request a connection with the image forming apparatus100and may transmit the location information of the location information measuring apparatus160when the image forming apparatus100approves the request. The communicator167may request the image forming apparatus100to release the connection when the location information transmission is completed.

The image forming apparatus100may include the controller120, the communicator130, the memory140, and the like.

The memory140may store the location information of the image forming apparatus100.

The communicator130may receive the measured location information from the location information measuring apparatus160. To this end, the communicator130may receive a request for connection to the image forming apparatus100from the location information measuring apparatus160and may receive the measured location information from the location information measuring apparatus160. The communicator130may receive a request for connection release from the image forming apparatus100from the location information measuring apparatus160. When the communicator130receives a request for connection to the image forming apparatus100from the location information measuring apparatus160, the controller120may perform user authentication for the location information measuring apparatus160and register unique information of the user authenticated location information measuring apparatus160in a unique information list in the memory140. When the communicator130receives the request for connection release from the image forming apparatus100from the location information measuring apparatus160, the controller120may release the connection and delete the unique information of the location information measuring apparatus160from the unique information list in the memory140.

The controller120may determine whether to update the location information of the image forming apparatus100based on the location information of the image forming apparatus100, stored in the memory140, and the location information received from the location information measuring apparatus160. When the communicator130receives the measured location information from the location information measuring apparatus160, in a case that the unique information of the location information measuring apparatus160is in the unique information list in the memory140, the controller120may determine whether to update the location information of the image forming apparatus100based on the location information of the image forming apparatus100, stored in the memory140, and the location information received from the location information measuring apparatus160.

The controller120determines a difference between the location information stored in the memory140and the location information received from the location information measuring apparatus160and compares the determined difference with a first threshold. When the determined difference is greater than the first threshold, the controller120may update the location information of the image forming apparatus100with the received location information. However, the controller120may determine to maintain the location information stored in the memory140when the determined difference is less than the first threshold. The controller120may compare the determined difference with a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold and may further determine a certain process when the determined difference is greater than the second threshold.

The controller120may manage the location information of the image forming apparatus100based on a result of determining whether to update the location information. When the communicator130receives the measured location information from the location information measuring apparatus160, in a case that the unique information of the location information measuring apparatus160is in the unique information list in the memory140, the controller120may manage the location information of the image forming apparatus100according to a determination result based on the location information of the image forming apparatus100, stored in the memory140, and the location information received from the location information measuring apparatus160.

FIG. 12illustrates operations of a location information measuring apparatus and an image forming apparatus in an environment in which a location-based service is provided according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 12, the location information measuring apparatus160may measure the location information of the location information measuring apparatus160in operation S1205.

In operation S1210, the location information measuring apparatus160may request connection to the image forming apparatus100.

In operation S1215, when the communicator130receives the request for connection to the image forming apparatus100from the location information measuring apparatus160, the image forming apparatus100may perform user authentication for the location information measuring apparatus160and register unique information of the user authenticated location information measuring apparatus160in a unique information list.

In operation S1220, the location information measuring apparatus160may transmit the location information of the location information measuring apparatus160. The location information measuring apparatus160may transmit the measured location information to the image forming apparatus100when the location information is measured.

In operation S1225, the image forming apparatus100may determine whether to update the location information of the image forming apparatus100based on the location information of the image forming apparatus100and the location information received from the location information measuring apparatus160. When the image forming apparatus100receives the measured location information from the location information measuring apparatus160, in a case that the unique information of the location information measuring apparatus160is in the unique information list, the image forming apparatus100may determine whether to update the location information of the image forming apparatus100based on the location information of the image forming apparatus100and the location information received from the location information measuring apparatus160.

In operation S1230, the image forming apparatus100may manage the location information of the image forming apparatus100based on a result of determining whether to update the location information of the image forming apparatus100.

In operation S1235, the location information measuring apparatus160may request the image forming apparatus100to release the connection.

In operation S1240, upon receiving the request for connection release from the image forming apparatus100from the location information measuring apparatus160, the image forming apparatus100may delete the unique information of the location information measuring apparatus160from the unique information list.

FIG. 13illustrates an environment for executing a location-based service according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 13, the user terminal200, capable of executing a location-based service, communicates with the image forming apparatus100(e.g., image forming apparatus100-1,100-2, or100-3), capable of providing the location-based service, the external server300, or the like to create the environment in which the location-based service is provided.

The user terminal200, capable of executing the location-based service, may obtain actual distance information with the neighboring image forming apparatuses100-1,100-2, and100-3in a moving state to execute the location-based service, so that the user terminal200may provide the actual distance information to a user or use the actual distance information when executing the location-based service. The user terminal200may obtain location information of the image forming apparatuses100-1,100-2, and100-3and the location information of the user terminal200in order to obtain the actual distance information with the neighboring image forming apparatuses100-1,100-2, and100-3.

As illustrated inFIG. 13, the user terminal200capable of executing the location-based service may obtain location information from each of the image forming apparatuses100-1and100-2, or receive an image forming apparatus list including the location information of the image forming apparatus from the server300that manages the location information of the image forming apparatus.

The user terminal200, capable of executing the location-based service, may measure the location information of the user terminal200based on a distance from another device outside the user terminal200. For example, the position of the user terminal200may be accurately measured by using a distance from other external apparatuses having their own location information and the location information of the other external apparatuses.

The user terminal200, capable of executing the location-based service, may obtain actual distance information with the neighboring image forming apparatuses100-1,100-2, and100-3based on the position of the user terminal200and the location information of the neighboring image forming apparatuses100-1,100-2, and100-3, so that the user terminal200may provide the actual distance information to a user or use the actual distance information when executing the location-based service.

FIG. 14illustrates a user terminal for executing a location-based service according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 14, the user terminal200may include the input/output interface210, the controller220, the communicator230, and a location information measuring apparatus250.

When a location-based service execution command is input to the user terminal200, the user terminal200may operate as follows.

The communicator230may receive location information of at least one image forming apparatus from the at least one image forming apparatus. The communicator230may receive an image forming apparatus list including the location information of the at least one image forming apparatus from the server300that manages the location information of the image forming apparatus.

The location information measuring apparatus250may measure the location information of the user terminal200based on the distance from another apparatus outside the user terminal200.

The controller220may obtain distance information between the user terminal200and the image forming apparatus based on the location information of the image forming apparatus received through the communicator230, and the location information of the user terminal200measured by the location information measuring apparatus250. The controller220may preferentially apply the location information of the image forming apparatus received from at least one of image forming apparatuses to the location information included in the image forming apparatus list received from the server300to obtain the distance information. The controller220may obtain the distance information based on the location information included in the image forming apparatus list received from the server300for an image forming apparatus that cannot receive location information.

The input/output interface210may output distance information between the user terminal200and the at least one image forming apparatus based on the obtained distance information.

FIG. 15illustrates a server in an environment for executing a location-based service according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 15, the server300may include a communicator310, a controller320, and a storage330. The server300may operate as a web server using the communicator310and the controller320.

The communicator310may perform communication with the image forming apparatus100capable of providing the location-based service or the user terminal200capable of executing the location-based service.

The controller320may control the server300and may provide information stored in the server300or store information transmitted to the server300in response to a request from a device outside the server300. For example, the server300may provide the user terminal200with an image forming apparatus list including location information of the image forming apparatus in response to a request from the user terminal200. For example, the server300may compare the location information of the image forming apparatus100, received from the image forming apparatus100, with a location category classified according to a certain criterion to determine a location category to which the image forming apparatus100belongs. The server300may store the location category to which the determined image forming apparatus100belongs together with the received location information of the image forming apparatus100.

The storage330may store data necessary for the operation of the server300or may store information received from the device outside the server300.

FIG. 16illustrates operations of an image forming apparatus, a user terminal, and a server in an environment for executing a location-based service according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 16, the image forming apparatus100may measure location information of the image forming apparatus100in operation S1605. The image forming apparatus100may measure location information of the image forming apparatus100based on a distance from another device outside the image forming apparatus100.

In operation S1610, the user terminal200may request the image forming apparatus100for the location information of the image forming apparatus100.

In operation S1615, the image forming apparatus100may transmit the location information of the image forming apparatus100to the user terminal200.

In operation S1620, the user terminal200may measure the location information of the user terminal200. The user terminal200may measure the location information of the user terminal200based on a distance from another device outside the user terminal200.

In operation S1625, the user terminal200may obtain distance information between the user terminal200and the image forming apparatus100. The user terminal200may obtain the distance information between the user terminal200and the image forming apparatus100based on the location information of the image forming apparatus100received from each of neighboring image forming apparatuses and the location information of the user terminal200measured by the user terminal200.

In operation S1630, the user terminal200may request the server300for the location information of the image forming apparatus100.

In operation S1635, the server300may transmit the location information of the image forming apparatus100to the user terminal200. In an example, the server300may transmit an image forming apparatus list including location information of at least one image forming apparatus to the user terminal200.

In an example, operations S1630and S1635may be performed before operation1610in which the user terminal200requests location information from the image forming apparatus100or may be performed after operation S1625when there is an image forming apparatus in which the user terminal200has failed to obtain the distance information.

In operation S1640, the user terminal200may output distance information between the user terminal200and at least one image forming apparatus. The user terminal200may preferentially apply the location information of the image forming apparatus received from the at least one of the image forming apparatuses to the location information included in the image forming apparatus list received from the server300. However, for an image forming apparatus that cannot receive the location information, the user terminal200may obtain the distance information based on the location information included in the image forming apparatus list received from the server300. The user terminal200may repeatedly re-measure and re-output the distance information between the user terminal200and the at least one image forming apparatus.

FIG. 17A,FIG. 17B, andFIG. 17Cillustrate screens respectively displaying distance information between image forming apparatuses and a user terminal for executing a location-based service according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 17A, a screen may respectively display distance information between the image forming apparatuses100-1,100-2, and100-3and the user terminal200when the distance information is obtained according to the location information of the image forming apparatuses100-1,100-2, and100-3included in an image forming apparatus list received from the server300.

Referring toFIG. 17B, a screen may respectively display distance information between the user terminal200and the image forming apparatuses100-1,100-2, and100-3when the user terminal200and the image forming apparatuses100-1,100-2, and100-3communicate with each other and each of the image forming apparatuses transmits the location information thereof to the user terminal200. In a case of the third image forming apparatus100-3, communication with the user terminal200may not be possible or the location information may be unknown. In that case, the user terminal200may output only the information about distances between the user terminal200and each of the first image forming apparatus100-1and the second image forming apparatus100-2.

Referring toFIG. 17C, the user terminal200may preferentially apply the location information of the image forming apparatus received from the at least one of the image forming apparatuses to the location information included in the image forming apparatus list received from the server300. And, for an image forming apparatus that cannot receive the location information, the user terminal200may display information about distances between the user terminal200and each of the image forming apparatuses100-1,100-2, and100-3on a screen based on the location information included in the image forming apparatus list received from the server300. As illustrated inFIG. 17C, in the case of the first image forming apparatus100-1and the second image forming apparatus100-2, the distance information shown inFIG. 17Bis displayed, and in the case of the third image forming apparatus100-3, the distance information to the user terminal200is unknown as shown inFIG. 17B, and thus, it can be seen that the distance information shown inFIG. 17Ais displayed.

FIG. 18is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an image forming apparatus capable of providing a location-based service according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 18, the image forming apparatus100may measure location information of the image forming apparatus100in operation S1810. The image forming apparatus100may measure the location information of the image forming apparatus100by using the location information measuring apparatus160inside or outside the image forming apparatus100. When the location information measuring apparatus160is inside the image forming apparatus100, the location information measured by the location information measuring apparatus160may be the location information of the image forming apparatus100. When the location information measuring apparatus160is outside the image forming apparatus100, the location information of the image forming apparatus100may be measured by assuming that the location information received from the external location information measuring apparatus160is the same as the location information of the image forming apparatus100or by considering a certain relationship between the position of the image forming apparatus100and the position of the location information measuring apparatus160and estimating the position of the actual image forming apparatus100.

In operation S1820, the image forming apparatus100may determine the location information of the image forming apparatus100. The image forming apparatus100may determine whether to update the location information of the image forming apparatus100considering a level of position change between existing location information and newly measured location information. The image forming apparatus100may compare the level of position change with a certain threshold to determine whether to update the location information of the image forming apparatus100.

In operation S1830, the image forming apparatus100may manage the location information of the image forming apparatus100based on a result of determining whether to update the location information of the image forming apparatus100. When the level of position change is greater than the certain threshold, the image forming apparatus100may update the location information of the image forming apparatus100with the newly measured location information. When the level of position change is less than the certain threshold, the image forming apparatus100may maintain the location information of the image forming apparatus100as the existing location information.

In operation S1840, the image forming apparatus100may transmit the location information of the image forming apparatus100to an external apparatus outside the image forming apparatus100. The image forming apparatus100may transmit the location information of the image forming apparatus100to the server300that manages the location information of the image forming apparatus100or the user terminal200that can execute the location-based service.

A method of controlling an image forming apparatus capable of providing the above-described location-based service can be written as computer programs and can be implemented in general-use digital computers that execute the programs using a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium may include read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD+Rs, CD-DVD-Rs, DVD-Rs, DVD-RWs, DVD+RWs, DVD-RAMs, BD-ROMs, BD-Rs, BD-R LTHs, BD-REs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, magneto-optical data storage devices, optical data storage devices, hard disks, or solid-state disks (SSD), and may be any device capable of storing instructions or software, associated data, data files, and data structures, and providing the instructions or software, associated data, data files, and data structures to a processor or a computer such that the processor or computer may execute the instructions.

Examples have been described above. Descriptions of features or aspects within each example should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other examples. It should be understood that examples described herein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. While one or more examples have been described with reference to the figures, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by the following claims.