Patent Publication Number: US-2017374229-A1

Title: Information processing apparatus, image processing apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable medium

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-125946 filed Jun. 24, 2016. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an image processing apparatus, and a non-transitory computer readable medium. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including a registration unit and a processing unit. The registration unit registers multiple terminal devices with the information processing apparatus or a different apparatus in association with multiple operators who operate the multiple terminal devices. The processing unit executes a process by performing, in response to an instruction for the process given by a specific one of the operators, short-range communication with a specific one of the terminal devices that is registered in association with the specific one operator. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example overall configuration of an image reading system to which the exemplary embodiment is applied; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example hardware configuration of an image reading apparatus in the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example hardware configuration of a mobile terminal in the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example hardware configuration of an authentication server in the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating an example functional configuration of an information processing apparatus in the image reading apparatus in the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating an example functional configuration of an image memory device in the mobile terminal in the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating an example functional configuration of an information memory device in the authentication server in the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 8A  is a sequence diagram illustrating an example terminal registration operation performed in the image reading system to which the exemplary embodiment is applied; 
         FIG. 8B  is a sequence diagram illustrating the example terminal registration operation performed in the image reading system to which the exemplary embodiment is applied; and 
         FIG. 9  is a sequence diagram illustrating an example scanning operation performed in the image reading system to which the exemplary embodiment is applied. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. 
     Overall Configuration of Image Reading System 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example overall configuration of an image reading system to which the exemplary embodiment is applied. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the image reading system includes an image reading apparatus  10 , mobile terminals  30   a ,  30   b , and  30   c , and an authentication server  50 . Among these components, the image reading apparatus  10  is connectable to the mobile terminals  30   a  to  30   c  through short-range communication. For the short-range communication, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) low energy (hereinafter, referred to as BLE) may be used. When not being distinguished from each other, the mobile terminals  30   a  to  30   c  are referred to as mobile terminals  30 . The number of the mobile terminals  30  is not limited to three. Although the mobile terminals  30   a  to  30   c  are arranged within the short-range communication area in the exemplary embodiment, for example, another mobile terminal  30  may be present outside the short-range communication area. The image reading apparatus  10  and the authentication server  50  are connected to each other through a communication network  80 . 
     The image reading apparatus  10  reads (scans) an image from a recording medium having the image recorded thereon, such as paper. The image reading apparatus  10  is connectable to each mobile terminal  30  through short-range communication as described above and may transmit the scanned image as scan data to the mobile terminal  30 . The image reading apparatus  10  may have only a scanner function of reading (scanning) an image from a recording medium but, in the following description, also has a printer function of forming an image on a recording medium and a fax machine function of transmitting and receiving image data. 
     The mobile terminal  30  is a computer that stores therein image data transmitted by the image reading apparatus  10 . That is, as described above, the mobile terminal  30  is connectable to the image reading apparatus  10  through short-range communication and causes the image reading apparatus  10  to identify the mobile terminal  30  by using terminal identification information used for uniquely identifying the mobile terminal  30 . When, for example, BLE is used for the short-range communication, for example, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) device (BD) address may be used as the terminal identification information. For example, a smartphone may be used as the mobile terminal  30 . 
     The authentication server  50  is a server computer that authenticates a user when the user uses the image reading apparatus  10 . For example, a personal computer (PC) may be used as the authentication server  50 . 
     The communication network  80  is used for information communication between the image reading apparatus  10  and the authentication server  50  and is, for example, the Internet. Hardware Configuration of Image Reading Apparatus 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example hardware configuration of the image reading apparatus  10  in the exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the image reading apparatus  10  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  11 , a random access memory (RAM)  12 , a read only memory (ROM)  13 , a hard disk drive (HDD)  14 , an operation panel  15 , an image reading unit  16 , an image forming unit  17 , a network communication interface (hereinafter, referred to as a network communication I/F)  18 , and a short-range communication interface (hereinafter, referred to as a short-range communication I/F)  19 . 
     The CPU  11  implements various functions (described later) by loading various programs and the like stored in the ROM  13  into the RAM  12  and by running the programs. 
     The RAM  12  is used as a work memory or the like for the CPU  11 . 
     The ROM  13  stores the various programs and the like run by the CPU  11 . 
     The HDD  14  is, for example, a magnetic disk device used for storing image data read by the image reading unit  16 , image data used by the image forming unit  17  for forming an image, and other data. 
     The operation panel  15  is, for example, a touch panel that displays various pieces of information and receives an input operation performed by the user. The operation panel  15  includes a display on which the various pieces of information are displayed and a location detection sheet on which a location designated using a finger, a stylus pen, or the like is detected. Alternatively, a display and a keyboard may be used instead of the touch panel. 
     The image reading unit  16  is an example of an image processing unit and reads an image recorded on a recording medium. The image reading unit  16  is, for example, a scanner. A charge coupled device (CCD) scanner and a contact image sensor (CIS) sensor may be used. In the CCD scanner, a CCD receives light in such a manner that the light is radiated from a light source, reflected on a document, and reduced by a lens. In the CIS scanner, a CIS receives light in such a manner that light beams are serially radiated from a light emitting diode (LED) light source and reflected on a document. 
     The image forming unit  17  forms an image on a recording medium. The image forming unit  17  is, for example, a printer. An electrophotographic printer and an inkjet printer may be used. The electrophotographic printer forms an image in such a manner that toner caused to attach to a photoconductor is transferred onto a recording medium. The inkjet printer forms an image in such a manner that ink is discharged onto a recording medium. 
     The network communication I/F  18  transmits and receives various pieces of information to and from another apparatus, for example, the authentication server  50  through the communication network  80 . 
     The short-range communication I/F  19  transmits and receives various pieces of information to and from each mobile terminal  30  through short-range communication (for example, BLE). 
     Hardware Configuration of Mobile Terminal 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example hardware configuration of each mobile terminal  30  in the exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the mobile terminal  30  includes a CPU  31  that is a computing unit, a RAM  32  and a ROM  33  that are memories, a touch panel  34  that displays various pieces of information and receives an input operation performed by the user, an audio input mechanism  35  such as a microphone, an audio output mechanism  36  such as a speaker, and a short-range communication I/F  37  that transmits and receives various pieces of information to and from the image reading apparatus  10  through short-range communication (for example, BLE). The mobile terminal  30  also includes a radio circuit  38  and an antenna  39  that are used for performing wireless communication via a base station. The radio circuit  38  includes a baseband large scale integrated circuit (LSI) (not illustrated) that processes digital data signals transmitted and received wirelessly. 
     Hardware Configuration of Authentication Server 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example hardware configuration of the authentication server  50  in the exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the authentication server  50  includes a CPU  51  that is a computing unit, a main memory  52 , and a HDD  53 . The main memory  52  and the HDD  53  are memories. The CPU  51  runs an operating system (OS) and software such as applications and thereby implements functions (described later). The main memory  52  is a memory area where the software and data used for running the software are stored. The HDD  53  is a memory area where input data for the software, output data from the software, and other data are stored. The authentication server  50  further includes a communication I/F  54  for performing communication with an external apparatus, a display device  55  such as a display, and an input device  56  such as a keyboard and a mouse. 
     Functional Configuration of Information Processing Apparatus 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating an example functional configuration of an information processing apparatus  20  in the exemplary embodiment. The information processing apparatus  20  is regarded as an apparatus implemented in such a manner that the CPU  11  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the image reading apparatus  10  loads the programs for implementing functional units (described later) into the RAM (see  FIG. 2 ) from, for example, the ROM  13  (see  FIG. 2 ) and runs the programs. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the information processing apparatus  20  includes an operation receiving unit  21 , a display controller  22 , a network transmission unit  23 , a network reception unit  24 , a short-range transmission unit  25 , and a short-range reception unit  26 . The information processing apparatus  20  also includes a registration-verification-information generation unit  27 , a registration-verification-information comparison unit  28 , a terminal-identification-information comparison unit  29 , and an image acquisition unit  200 . 
     When the user performs an operation on the image reading apparatus  10 , the operation receiving unit  21  receives the operation and instructs the corresponding functional unit to execute a process for the operation. For example, when the user inputs authentication information, the operation receiving unit  21  instructs the network transmission unit  23  to execute a process of transmitting, to the authentication server  50 , the authentication information for requesting authentication of the user or for requesting acquisition of the terminal identification information regarding the corresponding mobile terminal  30 . Hereinafter, when being referred to, the authentication information corresponds to a user ID or a password. When the user opens a terminal registration screen or a scanning screen, the operation receiving unit  21  instructs the display controller  22  to execute a process of displaying the designated screen and instructs the short-range transmission unit  25  to execute a process of performing a short-range communication broadcast. When the user selects a terminal name of one of the mobile terminals  30  that is to be registered from a terminal name list, the operation receiving unit  21  instructs the registration-verification-information generation unit  27  to execute a process of generating the registration verification information (described later) and instructs the short-range transmission unit  25  to execute a process of transmitting a registration request notification to the mobile terminal  30  having the selected terminal name. When the user presses the start button after setting a document to be scanned, the operation receiving unit  21  instructs the image acquisition unit  200  to execute a process of acquiring scan data regarding an image read by the image reading unit  16 . 
     The display controller  22  controls displaying of various pieces of information on the operation panel  15  (see  FIG. 2 ). The various pieces of information include information regarding the terminal registration screen used for registering a mobile terminal  30  with the authentication server  50 , the terminal name list that lists the mobile terminals  30  that have replied to the short-range communication broadcast, registration verification information (described later) generated by the registration-verification-information generation unit  27 , information indicating completion of registration of a mobile terminal  30  with the authentication server  50 , information regarding the scanning screen used for scanning, a destination terminal name that is the name of a mobile terminal  30  to which scan data is to be transmitted, and other pieces of information. 
     The network transmission unit  23  transmits various pieces of information to the authentication server  50 . The various pieces of information include user authentication information for requesting authentication of the user or for requesting acquisition of the terminal identification information regarding the corresponding mobile terminal  30 , a terminal registration request for requesting registration of the mobile terminal  30  with the authentication server  50 , and other pieces of information. In the exemplary embodiment, the network transmission unit  23  is provided as an example of a registration unit that registers a terminal device. 
     The network reception unit  24  receives various pieces of information from the authentication server  50 . The various pieces of information include information indicating an authentication success transmitted after user authentication is requested, information indicating registration completion after a terminal registration request is transmitted, information indicating an authentication success and the terminal identification information that are transmitted after acquisition of the terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30  is requested, and other pieces of information. 
     The short-range transmission unit  25  transmits various pieces of information to the mobile terminal  30 . The various pieces of information include a broadcast signal in the short-range communication, a registration request notification notifying that registration of a mobile terminal  30  is requested, scan data acquired by the image acquisition unit  200 , and other pieces of information. In the exemplary embodiment, scan data is used as an example of image data acquired in image processing. Transmission of the scan data to the mobile terminal  30  is an example of a process executed by performing short-range communication with a terminal device or a transmission process executed to transmit image data to the terminal device in the short-range communication. The short-range transmission unit  25  is provided as an example of a processing unit that executes a process. The short-range communication broadcast is used as an example of a request transmitted in the short-range communication. 
     The short-range reception unit  26  receives various pieces of information from each mobile terminal  30 . The various pieces of information include the terminal name of and terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30 , the registration verification information (described later) input from the mobile terminal  30 , and other pieces of information. 
     The registration-verification-information generation unit  27  generates registration verification information used for prompting the user to verify whether a mobile terminal  30  regarded as a registration target by the image reading apparatus  10  is a mobile terminal  30  intended by the user to be registered. Conceivable examples of the registration verification information include a personal identification number (PIN) code that is a character string to be input using a software keyboard displayed on the touch panel  34  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the mobile terminal  30  and a gesture pattern defining the order of sliding a finger on sections on the touch panel  34  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the mobile terminal  30 . In the exemplary embodiment, the registration verification information is used as an example of designated information. 
     The registration-verification-information comparison unit  28  compares the registration verification information generated by the registration-verification-information generation unit  27  with the registration verification information received by the short-range reception unit  26 . If these pieces of registration verification information match, the registration-verification-information comparison unit  28  instructs the network transmission unit  23  to transmit a terminal registration request to the authentication server  50 . The terminal registration request is transmitted to request registration of the mobile terminal  30 . The registration is performed in such a manner that the authentication information received by the operation receiving unit  21  is associated with the terminal identification information received by the short-range reception unit  26 . 
     The terminal-identification-information comparison unit  29  compares the terminal identification information received by the network reception unit  24  with the terminal identification information received by the short-range reception unit  26 . If these pieces of terminal identification information match, the terminal-identification-information comparison unit  29  instructs the display controller  22  to display the terminal name received by the short-range reception unit  26  on the operation panel  15  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     The image acquisition unit  200  acquires scan data of the image read by the image reading unit  16  (see  FIG. 2 ) and instructs the short-range transmission unit  25  to transmit the scan data to the corresponding mobile terminal  30 . 
     Functional Configuration of Image Memory Device 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating an example functional configuration of an image memory apparatus  40  in the exemplary embodiment. The image memory apparatus  40  is regarded as an apparatus implemented in such a manner that the CPU  31  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the mobile terminal  30  loads programs for implementing functional units (described later) into the RAM  32  (see  FIG. 3 ) from, for example, the ROM  33  (see  FIG. 3 ) and runs the programs. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the image memory apparatus  40  includes an operation receiving unit  41 , a display controller  42 , a short-range transmission unit  45 , and a short-range reception unit  46 . The image memory apparatus  40  also includes a terminal-name memory  47 , a terminal-name acquisition unit  48 , and an image memory  49 . 
     When the user performs an operation on his/her mobile terminal  30 , the operation receiving unit  41  receives the operation and instructs the corresponding functional unit to execute a process for the operation. For example, when the user taps a registration request notification displayed on the touch panel  34  (see  FIG. 3 ), the operation receiving unit  41  instructs the display controller  42  to execute a process of displaying a registration-verification-information input screen for inputting registration verification information (screen for inputting, for example, a PIN code or sliding a finger in accordance with a gesture pattern). When the user inputs registration verification information from the registration-verification-information input screen, the operation receiving unit  41  instructs the short-range transmission unit  45  to execute a process of transmitting the registration verification information to the image reading apparatus  10 . 
     The display controller  42  controls displaying of various pieces of information on the touch panel  34  (see  FIG. 3 ). The various pieces of information include the registration request notification indicating that registration of a mobile terminal  30  is requested, the registration-verification-information input screen for inputting the registration verification information, and other pieces of information. 
     The short-range transmission unit  45  transmits various pieces of information to the image reading apparatus  10 . The various pieces of information include the terminal name of and terminal identification information regarding a mobile terminal  30 , registration verification information input from the registration-verification-information input screen, and other pieces of information. 
     The short-range reception unit  46  receives various pieces of information from the image reading apparatus  10 . The various pieces of information include a broadcast signal in the short-range communication, the registration request notification indicating that registration of a mobile terminal  30  is requested, scan data acquired in such a manner that the image reading apparatus  10  scans a document, and other pieces of information. 
     The terminal-name memory  47  stores the terminal name of each mobile terminal  30 . 
     When the short-range reception unit  46  receives a broadcast signal in the short-range communication from the image reading apparatus  10 , the terminal-name acquisition unit  48  acquires the terminal name of the mobile terminal  30  from the terminal-name memory  47  and delivers the terminal name to the short-range transmission unit  45 . 
     Functional Configuration of Information Memory Device 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating an example functional configuration of an information memory apparatus  60  in the exemplary embodiment. The information memory apparatus  60  is regarded as an apparatus implemented in such a manner that the CPU  51  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the authentication server  50  loads programs for implementing functional units (described later) into the main memory  52  (see  FIG. 4 ) from, for example, the HDD  53  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the information memory apparatus  60  includes a network transmission unit  63 , a network reception unit  64 , an association information memory  67 , and an association information management unit  68 . 
     The network transmission unit  63  transmits various pieces of information to the image reading apparatus  10 . The various pieces of information include the information indicating an authentication success transmitted after user authentication is requested, the information indicating registration completion after a terminal registration request is received, the information indicating an authentication success and the terminal identification information that are transmitted after transmission of the terminal identification information regarding the corresponding mobile terminal  30  is requested, and other pieces of information. 
     The network reception unit  64  receives various pieces of information from the image reading apparatus  10 . The various pieces of information include the user authentication information for requesting authentication of the user or for requesting acquisition of the terminal identification information regarding the corresponding mobile terminal  30 , the terminal registration request for requesting registration of the mobile terminal  30  with the authentication server  50 , and other pieces of information. 
     The association information memory  67  stores therein information (hereinafter, referred to as association information) in which authentication information regarding the user is associated with the terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30  that is used by the user to store scan data. Even if the association between the terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30  and the authentication information regarding the user is not performed in the association information, the association information is used to authenticate the user because the association information includes the authentication information regarding the user. 
     When the network reception unit  64  receives the authentication information regarding the user after the authentication information is transmitted to request authentication of the user, the association information management unit  68  judges whether the authentication information has been stored in the association information memory  67 . If the authentication information has been stored, the association information management unit  68  notifies the network transmission unit  63  of an authentication success. When the network reception unit  64  receives the authentication information regarding the user and the terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30  that are transmitted in the terminal registration request by which registration of the mobile terminal  30  is requested, the association information management unit  68  stores, in the association information memory  67 , the association information in which the authentication information is associated with the terminal identification information. Further, when the network reception unit  64  receives the authentication information regarding the user after the authentication information is transmitted to request acquisition of the terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30 , the association information management unit  68  acquires the terminal identification information associated with the authentication information in the association information stored in the association information memory  67  and notifies the network transmission unit  63  of the terminal identification information. In the exemplary embodiment, the authentication information regarding the user is used as an example of operator identification information that identifies an operator, and the terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30  is used as an example of device identification information that identifies a terminal device. 
     Operation of Image Reading System 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  are sequence diagrams illustrating example operations performed when the image reading apparatus  10  registers one of the mobile terminals  30  with the authentication server  50 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8A , the user first switches on his/her mobile terminal  30 , and an application for the image memory apparatus  40  stands by (S 701 ). Specifically, when the user starts the application, the mobile terminal  30  causes the terminal-name acquisition unit  48 , the image memory  49 , and other units to enter a ready mode. 
     The user inputs authentication information in the image reading apparatus  10  (S 702 ). Specifically, when the user inputs the authentication information by performing a manual operation on the operation panel  15  of the image reading apparatus  10  or by bringing an authentication integrated circuit (IC) card close to a card reader of the image reading apparatus  10 , the operation receiving unit  21  of the image reading apparatus  10  receives the input of the authentication information. 
     The image reading apparatus  10  thus transmits the authentication information to the authentication server  50  to request user authentication (S 703 ). Specifically, when the network transmission unit  23  of the image reading apparatus  10  transmits the authentication information to the authentication server  50 , the network reception unit  64  performs the user authentication in such a manner that the authentication server  50  receives the authentication information from the image reading apparatus  10  and that the association information management unit  68  refers to association information stored in the association information memory  67 . If the user authentication fails, the process returns to step S 702 . If the user authentication succeeds, the authentication server  50  notifies the image reading apparatus  10  of the authentication success (S 704 ). Specifically, the association information management unit  68  notifies the network transmission unit  63  of the authentication success, and the network transmission unit  63  notifies the image reading apparatus  10  of the authentication success. 
     The user selects the “mobile terminal registration” icon from the menu displayed on the operation panel  15  of the image reading apparatus  10  to open the terminal registration screen (S 705 ). Specifically, when the user presses the “mobile terminal registration” icon, the operation receiving unit  21  of the image reading apparatus  10  receives the pressing of the “mobile terminal registration” icon, and the display controller  22  performs control to display the terminal registration screen on the operation panel  15 . 
     The image reading apparatus  10  thus starts a short-range communication broadcast (for example, a BLE broadcast) (S 706 ). Specifically, the short-range transmission unit  25  transmits a broadcast signal in the short-range communication. 
     Thereafter, each of the mobile terminals  30  having received the broadcast from the image reading apparatus  10  establishes one-to-one communication with the image reading apparatus  10  (for example, BLE connection communication) and transmits its own terminal name (S 707 ). Specifically, the terminal-name acquisition unit  48  of the mobile terminal  30  acquires the terminal name stored in the terminal-name memory  47 , and the short-range transmission unit  45  transmits the terminal name to the image reading apparatus  10 . The image reading apparatus  10  acquires the terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30  (for example, a BD address) by establishing the one-to-one communication. 
     The image reading apparatus  10  thus displays a terminal name list on the operation panel  15  after an elapse of a predetermined period of time (S 708 ). Specifically, the short-range reception unit  26  receives terminal names from the mobile terminals  30 , and the display controller  22  performs control to display the terminal name list including the received terminal names on the operation panel  15 . 
     Each mobile terminal  30  may transmit only a reply signal in step S 707  without transmitting the terminal name. In this case, in step S 708 , the image reading apparatus  10  may display a list of pieces of terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminals  30  (for example, the BD addresses) acquired in step S 707  on the operation panel  15 . However, in the following description, the mobile terminals  30  transmit the terminal names in step S 707 , and the image reading apparatus  10  displays the terminal name list in step S 708 . 
     The user then selects the terminal name of the mobile terminal  30  to be registered from the terminal name list (S 709 ). Specifically, when the user selects the terminal name, the operation receiving unit  21  of the image reading apparatus  10  receives the selection of the terminal name. 
     If only one mobile terminal  30  has replied in step S 707 , the image reading apparatus  10  does not have to perform steps S 708  and S 709 . 
     The image reading apparatus  10  thus generates registration verification information and displays the registration verification information on the operation panel  15  (S 710 ). Specifically, the registration-verification-information generation unit  27  generates the registration verification information, and the display controller  22  performs control to display the registration verification information on the operation panel  15 . 
     The image reading apparatus  10  also transmits, in the short-range connection communication (for example, BLE connection communication), a registration request notification to the mobile terminal  30  selected in step S 709  (S 711 ). Specifically, the short-range transmission unit  25  transmits the registration request notification to the mobile terminal  30  having the terminal name received by the operation receiving unit  21 . 
     Upon receiving the registration request notification, the mobile terminal  30  selected in step S 709  displays the registration request notification on the screen of the mobile terminal  30  (S 712 ). Specifically, the short-range reception unit  46  receives the registration request notification, and the display controller  42  performs control to display the registration request notification on the touch panel  34 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8B , the user taps the registration request notification displayed on the mobile terminal  30  (S 713 ). The mobile terminal  30  thus displays the registration-verification-information input screen on the touch panel  34  (S 714 ). Specifically, if the user taps the registration request notification, the operation receiving unit  41  of the mobile terminal  30  receives the tapping, and the display controller  42  performs control to display the registration-verification-information input screen on the touch panel  34 . 
     The user inputs the registration verification information into the mobile terminal  30  (S 715 ). Specifically, when the user inputs the registration verification information by pressing the keys corresponding to the PIN code on the registration-verification-information input screen displayed on the touch panel  34  of the mobile terminal  30  or by sliding a finger in accordance with the gesture pattern on the registration-verification-information input screen, the operation receiving unit  41  of the mobile terminal  30  receives the input of the registration verification information. The mobile terminal  30  thus transmits the registration verification information to the image reading apparatus  10  in the short-range connection communication (for example, the BLE connection communication) (S 716 ). Specifically, the short-range transmission unit  45  transmits the registration verification information received by the operation receiving unit  41  to the image reading apparatus  10 . 
     Upon receiving the registration verification information, the image reading apparatus  10  compares the received registration verification information with the registration verification information generated in step S 710  (S 717 ). Specifically, the short-range reception unit  26  receives the registration verification information, and the registration-verification-information comparison unit  28  compares the registration verification information received by the short-range reception unit  26  with the registration verification information generated by the registration-verification-information generation unit  27 . 
     If these pieces of registration verification information match, the image reading apparatus  10  identifies the mobile terminal  30  as a mobile terminal  30  to be registered. The image reading apparatus  10  transmits, to the authentication server  50 , a terminal registration request for requesting the registration of the mobile terminal  30  (S 718 ). The terminal registration request includes the authentication information received in step S 702  and the terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30  acquired when the short-range connection communication is established in step S 707 . Specifically, if the registration-verification-information comparison unit  28  judges that the registration verification information received by the short-range reception unit  26  and the registration verification information generated by the registration-verification-information generation unit  27  match, the network transmission unit  23  transmits, to the authentication server  50 , the authentication information input of which is received by the operation receiving unit  21  and the terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30  received by the short-range reception unit  26 . If the registration-verification-information comparison unit  28  judges that the registration verification information received by the short-range reception unit  26  and the registration verification information generated by the registration-verification-information generation unit  27  do not match, the display controller  22  performs control to display an error message on the operation panel  15 . 
     Thereafter, the authentication server  50  receives the authentication information and the terminal identification information, registers these pieces of information in association with each other, and notifies the image reading apparatus  10  of the completion of the registration (S 719 ). Specifically, the network reception unit  64  receives the authentication information and the terminal identification information, the association information management unit  68  stores, in the association information memory  67 , the association information in which the authentication information is associated with the terminal identification information, and the network transmission unit  63  notifies the image reading apparatus  10  of the completion of the registration of the mobile terminal  30 . 
     The image reading apparatus  10  thus displays the completion of the registration on the operation panel  15  (S 720 ). Specifically, the network reception unit  24  receives the completion of the registration of the mobile terminal  30  from the authentication server  50 , and the display controller  22  performs control to display the completion of the registration of the mobile terminal  30  on the operation panel  15 . 
     Note that in the example operations, the image reading apparatus  10  transmits only the registration request notification to the mobile terminal  30  in step S 711 , but transmitted information is not limited thereto. The image reading apparatus  10  may transmit, to the mobile terminal  30 , the registration verification information generated in step S 710  together with the registration request notification. In this case, the image reading apparatus  10  does not compare the pieces of registration verification information. Instead, the mobile terminal  30  compares the registration verification information transmitted from the image reading apparatus  10  with the registration verification information input by the user in step S 715 . If these pieces of information match, the mobile terminal  30  may transmit, to the image reading apparatus  10 , a notification indicating registration permission. 
       FIG. 9  is a sequence diagram illustrating example operations performed when an image scanned by the image reading apparatus  10  is stored in the mobile terminal  30 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the user first switches on his/her mobile terminal  30 , and the application for the image memory apparatus  40  stands by (S 751 ). Specifically, when the user starts the application, the mobile terminal  30  causes the terminal-name acquisition unit  48 , the image memory  49 , and other units to enter the ready mode. 
     The user inputs the authentication information in the image reading apparatus  10  (S 752 ). Specifically, when the user inputs the authentication information by performing a manual operation on the operation panel  15  of the image reading apparatus  10  or by bringing the authentication IC card close to the card reader of the image reading apparatus  10 , the operation receiving unit  21  of the image reading apparatus  10  receives the input of the authentication information. 
     The image reading apparatus  10  thus transmits the authentication information to the authentication server  50  to request acquisition of the terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30  (for example, a BD address) (S 753 ). Specifically, when the network transmission unit  23  of the image reading apparatus  10  transmits the authentication information to the authentication server  50 , the network reception unit  64  of the authentication server  50  receives the authentication information from the image reading apparatus  10 , and the association information management unit  68  performs the user authentication by referring to association information stored in the association information memory  67 . If the user authentication fails, the process returns to step S 752 . 
     In contrast, if the user authentication succeeds, the authentication server  50  notifies the image reading apparatus  10  of the authentication success and the terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30  (for example, the BD address) registered in association with the authentication information (S 754 ). Specifically, the association information management unit  68  acquires the terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30  associated with the authentication information in the association information stored in the association information memory  67 . The association information management unit  68  notifies the network transmission unit  63  of the authentication success and the terminal identification information. The network transmission unit  63  notifies the image reading apparatus  10  of the authentication success and the terminal identification information. 
     The user selects the “scan” icon on the operation panel  15  of the image reading apparatus  10  to open the scanning screen (S 755 ). Specifically, when the user presses the “scan” icon, the operation receiving unit  21  of the image reading apparatus  10  receives the pressing of the “scan” icon, and the display controller  22  performs control to display the scanning screen on the operation panel  15 . 
     The image reading apparatus  10  thus starts a short-range communication broadcast (for example, a BLE broadcast) (S 756 ). Specifically, the short-range transmission unit  25  transmits a broadcast signal in the short-range communication. 
     Thereafter, each of the mobile terminals  30  having received the broadcast from the image reading apparatus  10  establishes one-to-one communication with the image reading apparatus  10  (for example, BLE connection communication) and transmits its own terminal name (S 757 ). Specifically, the terminal-name acquisition unit  48  acquires the terminal name stored in the terminal-name memory  47 , and the short-range transmission unit  45  transmits the terminal name to the image reading apparatus  10 . The image reading apparatus  10  acquires the terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30  (for example, a BD address) by establishing the one-to-one communication. 
     After an elapse of a predetermined period of time, the image reading apparatus  10  thus compares the terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30  (for example, the BD address) notified in step S 754  with the terminal identification information regarding each of the mobile terminals  30  (for example, the BD address) that has replied in step S 757  (S 758 ). Specifically, the terminal-identification-information comparison unit  29  compares the terminal identification information received by the network reception unit  24  with the terminal identification information received by the short-range reception unit  26 . 
     If the terminal identification information received by the network reception unit  24  and one of the pieces of terminal identification information received by the short-range reception unit  26  (for example, the BD address) match, the image reading apparatus  10  identifies the mobile terminal  30  indicated by the terminal identification information as a transmission destination mobile terminal  30  and displays, on the operation panel  15 , a destination terminal name that is the name of the mobile terminal  30  (S 759 ). Specifically, if the terminal-identification-information comparison unit  29  judges that the terminal identification information received by the network reception unit  24  and one of the pieces of terminal identification information received by the short-range reception unit  26  match, the display controller  22  performs control to display the terminal name received by the short-range reception unit  26  on the operation panel  15 . If the terminal-identification-information comparison unit  29  judges that the terminal identification information received by the network reception unit  24  and any one of the pieces of terminal identification information received by the short-range reception unit  26  do not match, the display controller  22  performs control to display an error message on the operation panel  15 . 
     Each mobile terminal  30  may transmit only a reply signal in step S 757  without transmitting the terminal name. In this case, if the terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30  (for example, the BD address) notified in step S 754  and one of the pieces of terminal identification information regarding the respective mobile terminals  30  (for example, the BD addresses) acquired in step S 757  match, the image reading apparatus  10  may display the terminal identification information (for example, the BD address) on the operation panel  15  in step S 759 . 
     The user checks the displayed terminal name, sets a document on the image reading apparatus  10 , sets parameters, and presses the start button (S 760 ). Specifically, when the user presses the start button, the operation receiving unit  21  of the image reading apparatus  10  receives the pressing of the start button. 
     The image reading apparatus  10  thus scans the document (S 761 ). Specifically, the image reading unit  16  reads an image from the document. The image reading apparatus  10  transmits scan data to the destination mobile terminal  30  (S 762 ). Specifically, the image acquisition unit  200  acquires the image read by the image reading unit  16  as the scan data, and the short-range transmission unit  25  transmits the scan data to the destination mobile terminal  30  by using the terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30  having the terminal name displayed on the operation panel  15 . 
     The mobile terminal  30  receives the scan data from the image reading apparatus  10  and stores the scan data. After storing the scan data, the mobile terminal  30  notifies the user of the completion of storing the scan data (S 763 ). Specifically, the short-range reception unit  46  receives the scan data from the image reading apparatus  10 , and the image memory  49  stores the scan data. The mobile terminal  30  notifies the user of the completion of storing of the scan data, for example, in such a manner the audio output mechanism  36  outputs sound from the speaker or that a vibration function (not illustrated) vibrates the mobile terminal  30 . Alternatively, the completion may be notified by using a screen of a wearable terminal operating in conjunction with the mobile terminal  30 . 
     Note that in the example operations, the mobile terminal  30  transmits only the terminal name to the image reading apparatus  10  in step S 757 , but transmitted information is not limited thereto. In a system where multiple pieces of terminal identification information regarding the respective mobile terminals  30  are registered in association with a piece of authentication information regarding a user, each mobile terminal  30  may transmit, to the image reading apparatus  10 , a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the BLE broadcast received in step S 756  together with the terminal name. In this case, if the image reading apparatus  10  fails to identify the mobile terminal  30  in step S 758 , the image reading apparatus  10  may identify one of the mobile terminals  30  that has the highest RSSI as the destination mobile terminal  30 . 
     In addition, in the example operations, the mobile terminal  30  displays only one destination terminal name on the operation panel  15  in step S 759 , but displayed information is not limited thereto. In the system where multiple pieces of terminal identification information regarding the respective mobile terminals  30  are registered in association with a piece of authentication information regarding a user, the mobile terminal  30  may display, on the operation panel  15 , a list of terminal names of the mobile terminals  30  that have replied within a predetermined period of time and may thus prompt the user to select a destination terminal name. 
     The highest RSSI or the user&#39;s selection is herein the condition for identifying a mobile terminal  30  in the case where the multiple pieces of terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminals  30  are registered in association with one piece of authentication information regarding a user, but another condition may be used. That is, the highest SSI and the user&#39;s selection are examples of a condition for identifying a terminal device as being closest to the information processing apparatus. 
     Note that although the exemplary embodiment applied to the example where the image reading apparatus  10  transmits the scan data regarding the image read by the image reading unit  16  to the mobile terminal  30  in the short-range communication has been described, an applied case is not limited thereto. For example, the exemplary embodiment may be applied to a case where the image reading apparatus  10  transmits image data stored in advance in the HDD  14  to the mobile terminal  30  in the short-range communication. Alternatively, the exemplary embodiment may be applied to a case where the image reading apparatus  10  receives print data stored in advance by the mobile terminal  30 . In this case, the print data is an example of image data used in image processing, and the image forming unit  17  (see  FIG. 2 ) is an example of the image processing unit. 
     To transmit such image data, Classic Bluetooth (registered trademark) and Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark) that exhibit a higher speed than BLE may be used instead of BLE. However, an address for establishing the connection may be transmitted in BLE connection communication. 
     Further, in the exemplary embodiment, the user authentication is performed using the authentication server  50 , and the terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30  is registered with the authentication server  50  in association with the authentication information regarding the user. However, a configuration without using the authentication server  50  is also conceivable. That is, the image reading apparatus  10  may hold a user ID and a password, perform the user authentication by itself, and register the terminal identification information regarding the mobile terminal  30  with the image reading apparatus  10  in association with the authentication information regarding the user. 
     Still further, in the exemplary embodiment, one authentication server  50  is provided for one image reading apparatus  10 , but one authentication server  50  may be shared by multiple image reading apparatuses  10 . The image reading apparatus  10  in the exemplary embodiment may also be an information processing apparatus such as a PC. 
     Program 
     The process executed by the information processing apparatus  20  in the exemplary embodiment is provided as a program such as application software. 
     In other words, the program implementing the exemplary embodiment is regarded as a program for causing a computer to implement a function of registering terminal devices with the computer or a different device in association with operators who operate the terminal devices and to implement a function of executing a process by performing, in response to an instruction for the process given by one of the operators, short-range communication with one of the terminal devices that is registered in association with the operator. 
     The program implementing the exemplary embodiment may be provided using not only a communication unit but also in such a manner as to be stored in a recording medium such as a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.