Patent Publication Number: US-9898231-B2

Title: System and method of mobile printing using near field communication

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of a prior application Ser. No. 14/265,639, filed on Apr. 30, 2014, which has issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,459,822 on Oct. 4, 2016 and claimed the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of a Korean patent application filed on Jun. 3, 2013 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office and assigned Serial number 10-2013-0063700, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     One or more exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept relate to a system and method of mobile printing using near field communication (NFC). 
     BACKGROUND 
     As mobile communication technologies are developed and mobile communication devices have become popularized, mobile devices such as smartphones, tablet personal computers (PCs), and personal digital assistances (PDAs) have begun to replace existing PCs. In the field of image forming apparatuses such as printers, scanners, faxes, copying machines, and multifunction printers (MFPs), research is currently being conducted into a technology to allow a mobile device to directly use an image forming apparatus without accessing a PC. 
     Specifically, in order to overcome interface restrictions of mobile devices and to ensure mobility, wireless communication is preferred between an image forming apparatus and a mobile device. However, a typical wireless connection process is complicated, is inconvenient, and demands users to have preliminary knowledge of a wireless network. 
     In addition, since a mobile application provided on a mobile device to use an image forming apparatus uses an environment different from an existing PC environment, a user who is not used to manipulating the mobile application may find it difficult to use the image forming apparatus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One or more exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept include a system and method of allowing a user to conveniently and easily perform mobile printing by using near field communication (NFC). 
     Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide a method of mobile printing using near field communication (NFC), the method including executing a mobile printing application installed in a mobile device, setting a wireless connection for data transmission between the mobile device and an image forming apparatus by performing NFC tagging on the image forming apparatus with the mobile device, and automatically performing a function corresponding to a status of the mobile printing application when NFC tagging is performed. 
     The mobile printing application may include a home menu to manage the image forming apparatus, and if NFC tagging is performed while the home menu is selected, the automatic performing of the function may include receiving status information from the image forming apparatus at the mobile device, and displaying the status information on a screen. 
     The mobile device may cyclically receive the status information from the image forming apparatus so as to update the status information. 
     The method may further include changing settings of the image forming apparatus by using the mobile printing application. 
     The changing of the settings of the image forming apparatus may include displaying at the mobile device a screen to manage the setting of the image forming apparatus according to a selection of a user, and transmitting from the mobile device a command corresponding to the input to the image forming apparatus via the set wireless connection, if an input to change the setting of the image forming apparatus is received from the user. 
     If the mobile printing application is executed, the home menu may be selected by default. 
     The image forming apparatus wirelessly connected via NFC tagging while the home menu is selected on the mobile printing application may be set as an apparatus to perform all mobile printing operations. 
     The setting of the wireless connection may include receiving at the mobile device information of the image forming apparatus, which is stored in the NFC tag by performing NFC tagging on the image forming apparatus, and setting a Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device and the image forming apparatus by using the received information of the image forming apparatus. 
     The information of the image forming apparatus may include a media access control (MAC) address, and the setting of the Wi-Fi Direct connection may include searching for an apparatus corresponding to the received MAC address, transmitting a request for the Wi-Fi Direct connection to the image forming apparatus if the image forming apparatus is found, and accepting the Wi-Fi Direct connection at the image forming apparatus. 
     The information of the image forming apparatus may further include a personal identification number (PIN), the transmitting of the request for the Wi-Fi Direct connection may include transmitting the received PIN, and the accepting by the image forming apparatus of the Wi-Fi Direct connection may include the image forming apparatus accepting the Wi-Fi Direct connection if it is determined that the PIN received from the mobile device is identical to the PIN set to the image forming apparatus. 
     A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium may contain computer-readable codes as a program to execute the method. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept also provide a system of mobile printing using near field communication (NFC), the system includes a mobile device in and on which a mobile printing application is installed and executed, and an image forming apparatus wirelessly connected to the mobile device via NFC tagging so as to perform mobile printing. The mobile device and the image forming apparatus perform a function corresponding to a status of the mobile printing application when NFC tagging is performed. 
     The mobile printing application may include a home menu to manage the image forming apparatus, and if NFC tagging is performed while the home menu is selected, the mobile device may request the image forming apparatus for status information and receive and display the status information on a screen. 
     The mobile device may cyclically request the image forming apparatus for the status information so as to receive and display the status information on the screen. 
     Settings of the image forming apparatus may be changeable by using the mobile printing application. 
     The mobile device may display a screen to manage the settings of the image forming apparatus according to a selection of a user and, if an input to change the settings of the image forming apparatus is received from the user, transmit a command corresponding to the input to the image forming apparatus via the set wireless connection. 
     If the mobile printing application is executed on the mobile device, the home menu may be selected by default. 
     The image forming apparatus wirelessly connected via NFC tagging while the home menu is selected on the mobile printing application may be set as an apparatus to perform all mobile printing operations. 
     The mobile device may approach an NFC tag attached to the image forming apparatus so as to receive information of the image forming apparatus, which is stored in the NFC tag, and set a Wi-Fi Direct connection to the image forming apparatus by using the received information of the image forming apparatus. 
     The information of the image forming apparatus may include a media access control (MAC) address, the mobile device may search for an apparatus corresponding to the received MAC address, and request the image forming apparatus for the Wi-Fi Direct connection if the image forming apparatus is found, and the image forming apparatus may accept the Wi-Fi Direct connection. 
     The information of the image forming apparatus may further include a personal identification number (PIN), the mobile device may transmit the received PIN while requesting the Wi-Fi direct connection, and the image forming apparatus may accept the Wi-Fi Direct connection if it is determined that the PIN received from the mobile device is identical to the PIN set to the image forming apparatus. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept also provide a method of mobile printing using near field communication (NFC), the method including displaying a first image on a screen of a mobile device, the first image corresponding to a mobile printing application installed in the mobile device and including a status of the mobile printing application, and displaying a second image on the screen when an NFC tagging is performed on the image forming apparatus by the mobile device, the second image corresponding to a function of an image forming apparatus performed automatically according to the status of the mobile printing application when the NFC tagging is performed. 
     The first image may include an area to receive a user input to set up a wireless connection between the mobile device and the image forming apparatus. Performing the function of the image forming apparatus may include establishing the wireless connection set up according to the user input on the first image. 
     The wireless connection may be established according to connection information received from the NFC tagging. 
     Performing the function of the image forming apparatus may include receiving current status information of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus after the NFC tagging is performed. The second screen may display the received current status information of the image forming apparatus. 
     The second screen may be a default screen of the mobile printing application after the NFC tagging is performed. 
     The second screen may further include information of the image forming apparatus received when the NFC tagging is performed. 
     The method may further include configuring the status of the mobile printing application by changing the first image prior to the NFC tagging. 
     The method may further include displaying a third image on the screen prior to displaying the first image, the third image indicating a state of a wireless function of the mobile device. 
     The first image may further correspond to a status of a wireless connection between the mobile device and the image forming apparatus. 
     The method may further include searching for the image forming apparatus according to an input on the first image. 
     The method may further include connecting the mobile device to the image forming apparatus prior to performing the NFC tagging, checking a version of firmware of the image forming apparatus at the mobile device, and updating the firmware to support a wireless connection via automatic transmission of a Personal Identification Number (PIN). 
     Updating the firmware may include receiving an updated version of the firmware at the mobile device, and transmitting the updated version of the firmware from the mobile device to the image forming apparatus. 
     Updating the firmware may include requesting from the mobile device for a server to transmit an updated version of the firmware to the image forming apparatus. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept also provide a mobile device to perform mobile printing using near field communication (NFC), the mobile device including a screen, and a control unit to control the screen to display a first image, the first image corresponding to a mobile printing application installed in the mobile device and including a status of the mobile printing application, and to control the screen to display a second image when an NFC tagging is performed on the image forming apparatus by the mobile device, the second image corresponding to a function of an image forming apparatus performed automatically according to the status of the mobile printing application when the NFC tagging is performed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a system of mobile printing using near field communication (NFC), according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a detailed process of setting a Wi-Fi Direct connection between a mobile device and a multifunction printer (MFP) via NFC tagging, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a screen of a mobile printing application, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; 
         FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C  are diagrams illustrating screens of a mobile printing application displayed in order to connect a mobile device and an MFP, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; 
         FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, and 5E  are diagrams illustrating various screens when a home menu is selected from among main menus of a mobile printing application, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; 
         FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C  illustrate screens to describe a method of managing settings of an MFP by using a mobile printing application, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; 
         FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C  are diagrams illustrating screens when print, scan, and fax menus are selected from among main menus of a mobile printing application, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a mobile device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; 
         FIGS. 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13  are flowcharts of methods of mobile printing using NFC, according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept; 
         FIGS. 14 and 15  are diagrams illustrating processes of updating firmware of an MFP in a system of mobile printing using NFC, according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept; 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a mobile device, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and 
         FIGS. 17 and 18  are flowcharts of methods of updating firmware of an MFP in a system of mobile printing using NFC, according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept while referring to the figures. 
     Initially, a technology of mobile printing using near field communication (NFC) will be described. 
     Basically, when a mobile device  100  having an NFC module  110  approaches a multifunction printer (MFP 200 ) and performs NFC tagging for short-distance wireless communication, the mobile device  100  obtains information of the MFP 200 and sets a wireless connection for data transmission and reception to the MFP 200 by using the obtained information. In this case, the wireless connection for data transmission and reception between the mobile device and the MFP 200 may be set by using, for example, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Wi-Fi Direct. In the following description and exemplary embodiments described herein, it is assumed that Wi-Fi Direct is used. However, it will be understood that any other short-distance wireless communication may be used instead of Wi-Fi Direct without departing from the present general inventive concept. 
     If a Wi-Fi Direct connection is set between the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200, the mobile device  100  transmits to the MFP 200 via the Wi-Fi Direct connection an image data file or a command to perform an operation, and the MFP 200 performs an image forming operation according to the received command. In this case, besides the MFP 200, various image forming apparatuses such as for example a printer, a scanner, and a fax machine may also be used. However, it is assumed hereinafter that an MFP 200 is used. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a system of mobile printing using NFC, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. A mobile device  100  includes an NFC module  110 , and an MFP 200 includes an NFC tag  210 . In general, for cost reduction, the NFC tag  210  included in the MFP 200 supports passive NFC. In this case, the NFC tag  210  stores information of the MFP 200, for example, a media access control (MAC) address and a device name of the MFP 200. Since passive NFC allows only reading of information stored in the NFC tag  210 , the operation of NFC tagging involves a one-way communication, in which an NFC module reads information from an NFC tag. Accordingly, if NFC tagging is performed (operation S 101 ), the mobile device  100  receives the information of the MFP 200 (operation S 102 ), which is stored in the NFC tag  210  of the MFP 200, and sets a Wi-Fi Direct connection for data communication to the MFP 200 by using the received information of the MFP 200 (operation S 103 ). 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a detailed process of setting a Wi-Fi Direct connection between a mobile device  100  and an MFP 200 via NFC tagging, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. If the mobile device  100  performs an NFC-tagging on the MFP 200 (operation S 201 ), the mobile device  100  receives a MAC address, a device name, and a personal identification number (PIN) of the MFP 200 from an NFC tag  210  attached to the MFP 200 (operation S 202 ). The mobile device  100  searches for a device having a MAC address identical to the MAC address received from the NFC tag (operation S 203 ). If the MFP 200 to which the NFC tag  210  is attached is found, the mobile device  100  attempts to set a Wi-Fi Direct connection to the found MFP 200 (operation S 204 ). 
     In this case, according to the Wi-Fi Direct standards, the Wi-Fi Direct connection may be set if a user presses a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) button included in the MFP 200, or inputs a PIN via an input interface of the MFP 200. Alternatively, the Wi-Fi Direct connection may be automatically set even if a user neither presses a WPS button nor inputs a PIN. 
     In more detail, if a PIN required for the Wi-Fi Direct connection is previously encrypted and stored in the NFC tag  210  attached to the MFP 200, the mobile device  100  may receive the encrypted PIN from the NFC tag  210  when NFC tagging is performed, and may transmit the PIN to the MFP 200 when the Wi-Fi Direct connection is attempted to be set, thereby automatically setting the Wi-Fi Direct connection. However, since automatic transmission of a PIN does not follow the Wi-Fi Direct standards, for the above-described method, firmware of the MFP 200 may need to be updated. Methods of updating firmware of the MFP 200 will be described in detail below with reference to  FIGS. 14-18 . 
     If the Wi-Fi Direct connection is set between the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 (operation S 205 ), the mobile device  100  receives from the MFP 200 device capability information indicating available operations (operation S 206 ). 
     If the Wi-Fi Direct connection is set between the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 as described above, the mobile device  100  may transmit via the Wi-Fi Direct connection to the MFP 200 a command to perform an image forming operation such as print, scan, or fax operations, or image data to be printed, such that mobile printing may be performed. Also, the mobile device  100  may receive via the Wi-Fi Direct connection from the MFP 200 data or a command required for mobile printing. 
     A mobile printing application to control mobile printing may be installed in the mobile device  100 . Such a mobile printing application is generally developed by a manufacturer of the MFP 200 and is provided to users. A mobile printing application will now be described in detail. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a screen  301  of a mobile printing application, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. The screen  301  may be a default screen that is displayed when the Wi-Fi Direct connection is established between the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the screen  301  of the mobile printing application may include a main menu display area  310 , a sub tap area  320 , and a content display area  330 . 
     The main menu display area  310  displays a plurality of main menus, such as for example home, print, scan, and fax menus  311 ,  312 ,  313 , and  314 . Functions of the main menus will be described in detail below. The sub tap area  320  displays a device name of an MFP 200 currently connected to a mobile device  100 . If no MFP 200 is currently connected, a message such as “No Selected Printer” may be displayed. A device settings button  321  in the sub tap area  320  is a button to activate a menu to check and manage settings of the connected MFP 200. A method of managing settings of an MFP 200 by using the device settings button  321  will be described in detail below. 
     The content display area  330  displays contents corresponding to a selected main menu. In  FIG. 3 , since the home menu  311  is selected from among the main menus, the content display area  330  displays a status screen  331  of the MFP 200, an information button  332 , an input tray button  333 , and a print report button  334 . Detailed descriptions thereof will be provided below. 
     A method of utilizing a mobile printing application in a system of mobile printing using NFC will now be described in detail. 
       FIGS. 4A through 4C  are diagrams illustrating screens  400   a  through  400   c  of a mobile printing application displayed in order to connect a mobile device  100  and an MFP 200, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Elements  410 - 414 ,  420 - 421 , and  430 - 434  as illustrated in  FIGS. 4A through 4C  are the same as corresponding elements  310 - 314 ,  320 - 321 , and  330 - 334 , already described above with reference to  FIG. 3 , and so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     If a mobile printing application is executed on the mobile device  100 , the mobile device  100  determines whether a Wi-Fi function is on. If the Wi-Fi function is off, the screen  400   a  of  FIG. 4A  is displayed. Area  401  of  FIG. 4A  displays a message indicating that the Wi-Fi function should be on to use the mobile printing application, and area  402  displays a button to select an on or off state of the Wi-Fi function. Otherwise, if the Wi-Fi function of the mobile device  100  is already on, the screen  400   a  of  FIG. 4A  is not displayed and the screen  400   b  of  FIG. 4B  is displayed. 
     If a user selects “Yes” or “No” on the screen  400   a  of  FIG. 4A , the screen  400   b  of  FIG. 4B  is displayed while the Wi-Fi function is on or off. In this case, if the user selects “No” and thus the Wi-Fi function is off, the message displayed on area  401  may be displayed again later when the Wi-Fi function should be on. 
     On the screen  400   b  of  FIG. 4B , since no MFP 200 is currently connected to the mobile device  100 , a sub tap  420  displays a message such as “No Selected Printer”. Area  435  of a content display area  430  displays a message to ask whether to search for a printer (including for example an MFP 200), and area  436  displays a button to confirm to search for a printer (MFP 200). 
     On the screen  400   b  of  FIG. 4B , if a user touches the button displayed on area  432 , the mobile device  100  searches for a printer. In this case, the user may select an MFP 200 to be connected, on an MFP 200 list previously stored in the mobile device  100 , or by approaching and performing NFC tagging on the MFP 200. A process of performing NFC tagging on and setting a Wi-Fi Direct connection to an MFP 200 has already been described above in detail. 
       FIG. 4C  illustrates a display screen  400   c  of the mobile device  100  when a Wi-Fi Direct connection is set between the mobile device  100  and an MFP 200. A main menu display area  410  displays that a home menu  411  is currently selected from among main menus, and a sub tap area  420  displays a device name of a currently connected MFP 200. A content display area  430  displays contents corresponding to the selected main menu. 
     From among the main menus, the home menu  411  is a menu to allow a user to check and manage information of the MFP 200, for example, its status and settings. A mobile printing application according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept increases user convenience by including the home menu  411  as a main menu so as to allow the user to check information of an MFP 200 and to manage the MFP 200 by using the mobile printing application. From among the main menus, print, scan, and fax menus  412 ,  413 , and  414  are menus to perform print, scan, and fax operations, respectively. Screens of the mobile printing application when these menus are selected will be described below. 
     On the screen  400   c  of  FIG. 4C , since the home menu  411  is selected from among the main menus, area  431  displays a status of the connected MFP 200, area  432  displays an information button, area  433  displays an input tray button, and area  434  displays a print report button. 
     According to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, a function may be automatically performed according to NFC tagging. In other words, if a mobile device performs NFC tagging on an MFP 200, a function corresponding to a status of a mobile printing application at a point of time when NFC tagging is performed may be automatically performed. For example, a command corresponding to a menu or a file selected on the mobile printing application when NFC tagging is performed may be transmitted to the MFP 200. In other words, a command corresponding to a main menu of the mobile printing application, which is selected when NFC tagging is performed, for example, the home, print, scan, or fax menu  411 ,  412 ,  413 , or  414 , may be transmitted to the MFP 200. 
     Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIG. 4C , if NFC tagging is performed while the home menu  411  is selected from among the main menus, the mobile device  100  sets a Wi-Fi Direct connection to the MFP 200 and then automatically transmits to the MFP 200 a command requesting status information, and the MFP 200 transmits the status information to the mobile device  100  in response to the request. The mobile device  100  receives and displays the status information on a screen so as to allow a user to check the status of the MFP. In this case, as illustrated in  FIG. 4C , the displayed status information of the MFP 200 may include, for example, a graphic image of the MFP 200, a ready or error status, and a toner indicator. If the user requests other information via a button input, the other information may be displayed. Also, if the Wi-Fi Direct connection is set between the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 via NFC tagging while the home menu  411  is selected, the connected MFP 200 is set as a device to perform print, scan, and fax operations. 
     The status information of the MFP 200 displayed on the mobile device  100  may be updated cyclically or at a certain point of time. For example, while the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 maintain the Wi-Fi Direct connection, the status information may be repeatedly updated in a certain cycle and may be displayed on the mobile device  100 . Alternatively, the status information of the MFP 200 may be received and updated only when the mobile device  100  performs NFC tagging on the MFP 200. 
     Cases when the other menus are selected will now be described. If NFC tagging is performed while the print menu  412  is selected on the mobile printing application, the mobile device  100  sets a Wi-Fi Direct connection to the MFP 200 and sets the connected MFP 200 as an MFP for a print operation. Alternatively, if NFC tagging is performed while the print menu  412  is selected on the mobile printing application and a certain image is displayed on a screen of the mobile device  100 , the mobile device  100  may automatically transmit to the MFP 200 a data file of the image displayed on the screen and a command requesting to print the image, such that a print operation may be automatically performed. 
     Likewise, if NFC tagging is performed while the scan menu  413  or the fax menu  414  is selected from among the main menus of the mobile printing application, a preset function may be automatically performed. 
     The mobile device  100  may be set in such a way that the home menu  411  is selected by default when the mobile printing application is executed. Alternatively, if the mobile device  100  performs NFC tagging on the MFP 200 while the mobile printing application is not executed, the mobile printing application may be automatically executed. In this case, the mobile device  100  may be set in such a way that the home menu  411  is selected from among main menus and thus the status information of the MFP 200 is displayed. In other words, a user may execute the mobile printing application and may check the status information of the MFP 200 by merely allowing the mobile device  100  to perform NFC tagging on an NFC tag  210  of the MFP 200. 
     An operation when a home menu is selected from among main menus of a mobile printing application in a system of mobile printing using NFC, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, will now be described in detail.  FIG. 5A through 5E  are diagrams illustrating various screens  500   a  through  500   e  when a home menu is selected from among main menus of a mobile printing application, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Elements  510 - 514 ,  520 - 521 , and  530 - 534  as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A through 5E  are the same as corresponding elements  310 - 314 ,  320 - 321 , and  330 - 334 , already described above with reference to  FIG. 3 , and so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates a screen  500   a  when a home menu  511  is selected from among main menus of a mobile printing application, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. The screen  500   a  illustrated in  FIG. 5A  may be a default screen when the home menu  511  is selected. As described above in relation to  FIG. 4C , a content display area  530  displays a status of a connected MFP 200. Specifically, in this case, area  535  displays a current status of the MFP 200 as a ready status or an error status. If the MFP 200 is in a ready status and thus is enabled to perform an operation such as a print operation, “Ready” is displayed as illustrated in  FIG. 5A . If the MFP 200 has an error and thus is unable to perform an operation, “Error” is displayed as illustrated in screen  500   b , illustrated in  FIG. 5B . 
     A user may obtain information about supplies. If the user touches a supplies information button  536  of  FIG. 5A , a mobile device  100  may display a screen  500   c  of  FIG. 5C , and area  531  may display model names of toners installed in the MFP 200, and contact information of a place where the toners may be purchased. 
     If the user touches an information button  532  in  FIG. 5A , as illustrated in screen  500   d , illustrated in  FIG. 5D , information of the MFP 200, for example, an IP address, a location, and a MAC address of the MFP 200, is displayed in area  537  of the content display area  530 . Also, if the user touches an input tray button  533  in  FIG. 5A , as illustrated in screen  500   e , illustrated in  FIG. 5E , information about each tray is displayed in area  537 . Furthermore, if the user touches a print report button  534  in  FIG. 5A , a sub menu (not illustrated) to print a system report of the MFP 200 is displayed. 
     By using a mobile printing application according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, a user may check status information of an MFP 200 and may manage various settings of the MFP 200. A method of managing settings of an MFP 200 by using a mobile printing application, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, will now be described in detail. 
       FIGS. 6A through 6C  illustrate screens  600   a  through  600   c  to describe a method of managing settings of an MFP 200 by using a mobile printing application, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. In order to manage settings of an MFP 200 on a screen  600   a  corresponding to a home menu  611  of  FIG. 6A , a user may activate a device settings menu by touching a device settings button  621  included in sub tap area  620 . The screen  600   a  illustrated in  FIG. 6A  may be a default screen when the home menu  611  is selected. Elements  610 - 614 ,  620 - 621 , and  630 - 634  as illustrated in  FIG. 6A  are the same as corresponding elements  310 - 314 ,  320 - 321 , and  330 - 334 , already described above with reference to  FIG. 3 . Similarly, element  635  as illustrated in  FIG. 6A  is the same as the corresponding element  535 , already described above with reference to  FIG. 5A , and so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
       FIG. 6B  illustrates a screen  600   b  of a mobile device  100  when the device settings menu is activated. An area  641  displays a message indicating that the device settings menu is currently activated. The mobile device  100  may be set in such a way that, if a user touches the area  641 , the screen  600   b  returns to the previous screen  600   a  of  FIG. 6A . The user may check and change various settings of an MFP 200 by touching areas  642  through  649  of  FIG. 6B . For example, device information of the MFP 200 may be checked by touching the area  642 , or paper information may be checked by touching the area  643 . Also, general settings of the MFP 200, e.g., power save, default paper size, and eco default mode settings, may be checked and changed by touching the area  644 . Supplies of the MFP 200 may be managed by touching the area  645 , and an address book stored in the MFP 200 may be edited by touching the area  646 . Fax-related settings may be checked and changed by touching the area  647 , and network-related settings may be made by touching the area  648 . Furthermore, a print report operation to print a system report of the MFP 200 may be performed by touching the area  649 . 
       FIG. 6C  illustrates a screen  600   c  in an example when a sub menu to manage an address book of an MFP 200 is activated by touching the area  646 . Referring to  FIG. 6C , if a user touches the area  646 , a sub menu to edit the address book by individuals, e.g., “Individual”  646   a , and a sub menu to edit the address book by groups, e.g., “Group”  646   b , are displayed between the areas  646  and  647 . The user may select one of the sub menus to activate a menu to edit the address book by individuals or groups. 
       FIGS. 7A through 7C  are diagrams illustrating screens  700   a  through  700   c  when print, scan, and fax menus  712 ,  713 , and  714  are selected from among main menus of a mobile printing application, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Elements  710 - 714 ,  720 - 721 , and  730  as illustrated in  FIGS. 7A through 7C  are the same as corresponding elements  310 - 314 ,  320 - 321 , and  330 , already described above with reference to  FIG. 3 , and so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     Referring to screen  700   a  illustrated in  FIG. 7A , if the print menu  712  is selected in a main menu area  710 , a content display area  730  displays menus to select an image or a document to be printed. These menus include “Gallery” to print a photo stored in a mobile device  100 , “Camera” to directly print a photo taken by the mobile device  100 , “Google Docs” to print a document or an image stored in Google Docs, “Gmail” to print a document or an image received via Gmail, “Web” to print a document or the like retrieved from the Internet, “Facebook” to print a photo or the like stored in Facebook, “Document” to print a document stored in the mobile device  100 , and “Twitter” to output a photo or the like stored in Twitter. 
     When NFC tagging is performed, a print operation may be automatically performed. For example, the mobile device  100  may be set in such a way that, if the mobile device  100  is performs NFC tagging on an NFC tag  210  attached to an MFP 200 while the print menu  712  is selected from among the main menus and a user selects “Gallery” and then selects one of photos stored in “Gallery”, the mobile device  100  automatically transmits to the MFP 200 image data of the selected photo and a command to perform a print operation. 
     When the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 are not connected before NFC tagging is performed, if NFC tagging is performed, a Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 as well as the transmission of the image data and the command may be automatically performed. Otherwise, when the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 are already connected before NFC tagging is performed, if NFC tagging is performed, the transmission of the image data and the command may be automatically performed. 
     Referring to screen  700   b , illustrated in  FIG. 7B , if the scan menu  713  is selected in the main menu area  710 , the content display area  730  displays scan-related contents. An area  731  of content display area  730  displays a list of scanned images stored in the mobile device  100 , and buttons  732  and  733  to perform preview and scan operations are displayed on the content display area  730  under the area  731 . A user may perform a scan operation by putting on the MFP 200 a document to be scanned and touching the “Scan” button  733 . After the scan operation is completed, a preview operation of a scanned image may be requested by touching the “Preview” button  732 . 
     When NFC tagging is performed, a scan operation may be automatically performed. For example, the mobile device  100  may be set in such a way that if the mobile device  100  is performs NFC tagging on the NFC tag  210  attached to the MFP 200 while the scan menu  713  is selected from among the main menus, the mobile device  100  automatically transmits to the MFP 200 a command to perform a scan operation. 
     When the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 are not connected before NFC tagging is performed, if NFC tagging is performed, a Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 as well as the transmission of the command may be automatically performed. Otherwise, when the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 are already connected before NFC tagging is performed, if NFC tagging is performed, the transmission of the command may be automatically performed. 
     Referring to screen  700   c , illustrated in  FIG. 7C , if the fax button  714  is selected in the main menu area  710 , the content display area  730  displays menus to select an image or a document to be faxed. These menus are the same as the menus to select an image or a document to be printed, which are described above in relation to  FIG. 7A . 
     When NFC tagging is performed, a fax operation may be automatically performed. For example, the mobile device  100  may be set in such a way that, when the fax button  714  is selected from among the main menus and a user selects “Document” and then selects one of documents stored in “Document”, if the mobile device  100  performs NFC tagging on the NFC tag  210  attached to the MFP 200, the mobile device  100  automatically transmits to the MFP 200 the selected document and a command to perform a fax operation. 
     When the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 are not connected before NFC tagging is performed, if NFC tagging is performed, a Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 as well as the transmission of the document and the command may be automatically performed. Otherwise, when the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 are already connected before NFC tagging is performed, if NFC tagging is performed, the transmission of the document and the command may be automatically performed. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a mobile device  100 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring to  FIG. 8 , the mobile device  100  may include an NFC module  110 , a Wi-Fi Direct interface unit  120 , a user interface unit  130 , a control unit  140 , an application execution unit  150 , and a storage unit  160 . The control unit  140  may include an application status checking unit  141 , a command generation unit  142 , and a command transmission unit  143 . 
     The NFC module  110  is an element for short-distance wireless communication and may include an antenna and an NFC chipset (not illustrated). If the mobile device  100  approaches an NFC tag  210  attached to an MFP 200, the NFC module  110  receives information of the MFP 200, which is stored in the NFC tag  210 . In this case, the received information of the MFP 200 may include, for example, a MAC address, a device name, an application identifier, and an encrypted PIN of the MFP 200. 
     The Wi-Fi Direct interface unit  120  is an element to set a Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device  100  and another device that supports Wi-Fi Direct. In an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, the mobile device  100  sets a Wi-Fi Direct connection to the MFP 200 via the Wi-Fi Direct interface unit  120  and transmits and receives data and a command for mobile printing. 
     The user interface unit  130  displays a screen to a user and receives various inputs from the user. For example, the user interface unit  130  may be formed as a touch screen and, if a mobile printing application is executed, may display an execution screen on the touch screen and may receive a touch input from the user. 
     The control unit  140  sets a Wi-Fi Direct connection to the MFP 200, executes the mobile printing application, and generates and transforms a command for mobile printing. The control unit  140  may allow a Wi-Fi Direct connection to be set between the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 by using the information of the MFP 200, which is received by the NFC module  110 , and may allow the mobile printing application to be executed by controlling the application execution unit  150 . 
     The control unit  140  may control a function to be automatically performed according to a status of the mobile printing application at a point of time when the mobile device  100  performs NFC tagging on the MFP 200. In more detail, when the application execution unit  150  executes the mobile printing application, if the NFC module  110  of the mobile device  100  approaches the NFC tag  210  attached to the MFP 200 and thus NFC tagging is performed, the application status checking unit  141  of the control unit  140  checks the status of the mobile printing application. In this case, the status of the mobile printing application denotes, for example, a menu or a file currently selected on the mobile printing application, or a currently displayed execution screen of the mobile printing application. 
     If the application status checking unit  141  checks the status of the mobile printing application when NFC tagging is performed, the command generation unit  142  generates a command corresponding to the checked status, and the command transmission unit  143  transmits the generated command via the Wi-Fi Direct interface unit  120  to the MFP 200. For example, if the status of the mobile printing application when NFC tagging is performed, which is checked by the application status checking unit  141 , denotes that a home menu is selected from among main menus, the command generation unit  142  generates a command requesting various types of status information of the MFP 200, and the command transmission unit  143  transmits the generated command via the Wi-Fi Direct interface unit  120  to the MFP 200. If the MFP 200 transmits the status information of the MFP 200 in response to the command, the mobile device  100  receives the status information of the MFP 200 via the Wi-Fi Direct interface unit  120 , and the control unit  140  displays the status information on the user interface unit  130 . 
     The storage unit  160  may store image data such as photos, as well as documents. The mobile device  100  may transmit to the MFP 200 image data or a document stored in the storage unit  160 , so as to request a print or fax operation, or may receive from the MFP 200 image data or a document obtained by performing a scan operation, so as to store the received image data or the document in the storage unit  160 . 
     A method of mobile printing using NFC, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, will now be described in detail. 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart of a method of mobile printing using NFC, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring to  FIG. 9 , a mobile printing application is executed on a mobile device  100  in operation  901 . In this case, the mobile printing application may be executed if a user touches an icon of the mobile printing application, which may be displayed on a touch screen of the mobile device  100 . 
     If the mobile printing application is executed and the mobile device  100  approaches an MFP 200, the mobile device  100  performs NFC tagging and receives information of the MFP 200 in operation  902 . If the mobile device  100  approaches an NFC tag  210  attached to the MFP 200, an NFC module  110  of the mobile device  100  receives the information of the MFP 200, which is stored in the NFC tag  210 . In this case, the received information may include, for example, a MAC address, a device name, and an encrypted PIN of the MFP 200. 
     The mobile device  100  attempts to set a Wi-Fi Direct connection to the MFP 200 by using the received information of the MFP 200 in operation  903 . The mobile device searches  100  for a device having the received MAC address and, if the MFP 200 is found, requests the found MFP 200 for the Wi-Fi Direct connection. In this case, the Wi-Fi Direct connection may be set if the user presses a WPS button included in the MFP 200, or inputs a PIN via a user interface of the MFP 200. Alternatively, the Wi-Fi Direct connection may be automatically set without a user input if the mobile device  100  transmits to the MFP 200 the encrypted PIN included in the information of the MFP 200, which is received in operation  902 . In order to set the Wi-Fi Direct connection by transmitting the encrypted PIN, firmware of the MFP 200 should support the above connection method. If it doesn&#39;t, the firmware of the MFP 200 may be updated to a version that supports the above connection method. Methods of updating firmware will be described in detail below with reference to  FIGS. 14-18 . 
     If the Wi-Fi Direct connection is set between the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200, the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 automatically perform a function corresponding to a status of the mobile printing application when NFC tagging is performed, in operation  904 . In other words, a function corresponding to a menu or a file currently selected on the mobile printing application when NFC tagging is performed is performed. For example, if NFC tagging is performed while a home menu is selected from among main menus of the mobile printing application, the mobile device  100  requests the MFP 200 for status information of the MFP 200, and receives and displays the status information on a screen. Alternatively, if NFC tagging is performed while a print menu is selected from among main menus of the mobile printing application, the mobile device  100  requests the MFP 200 to perform a print operation and the MFP 200 performs the print operation. 
     As such, by checking a status of a mobile printing application when NFC tagging is performed and automatically performing a function corresponding to the status, a desired operation may be easily performed by merely performing NFC tagging without a separate user input. 
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart of a method of mobile printing using NFC, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , a mobile printing application is executed on a mobile device  100 , in operation  1001 . In this case, the mobile printing application may be executed if a user touches an icon of the mobile printing application, which is displayed on a touch screen of the mobile device  100 . 
     If the mobile printing application is executed, it is determined whether a Wi-Fi Direct function of the mobile device  100  is on, in operation  1002 . If it is determined that the Wi-Fi Direct function is on (operation  1002 -Y), the method proceeds to operation  1003  and the mobile device  100  performs NFC tagging on an MFP 200 and receives information of the MFP 200, for example, a MAC address, a device name, and a PIN of the MFP 200. If it is determined that the Wi-Fi Direct function is off (operation  1002 -N), the method proceeds to operation  1008  and the Wi-Fi Direct function of the mobile device  100  is changed to an on state, and then the method proceeds to operation  1003 . In this case, operation  1008  may be performed by displaying on a screen of the mobile device  100  a message illustrated for example in  FIG. 4A , indicating that the Wi-Fi Direct function should be on to use the mobile printing application, and receiving from the user an input to change the Wi-Fi Direct function to an on state. 
     A Wi-Fi Direct connection is set to the MFP 200 by using the received information of the MFP 200 in operation  1004 . If the Wi-Fi Direct connection is completely set, a status of the mobile printing application is checked in operation  1005 . In more detail, the status of the mobile printing application at a point of time when NFC tagging is performed in operation  1003  is checked. In this case, the status of the mobile printing application denotes, for example, a menu or a file currently selected on the mobile printing application, or a currently displayed application screen of the mobile device  100 . 
     A command corresponding to the status of the mobile printing application, which is checked in operation  1005 , is generated in operation  1006 , and the generated command is transmitted to the MFP 200 in operation  1007 . 
     As such, by checking a status of a mobile printing application when NFC tagging is performed and automatically performing a function corresponding to the status, a desired operation may be easily performed by merely performing NFC tagging without a separate user input. 
       FIG. 11  is a flowchart of a method of mobile printing using NFC, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Specifically,  FIG. 11  illustrates a case when NFC tagging is performed while a home menu of a mobile printing application is selected. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , the mobile printing application is executed in operation  1101 . It is determined whether a Wi-Fi Direct function is on, in operation  1102 . If the Wi-Fi Direct function is not on (operation  1102 -N), the method proceeds to operation  1108  and the Wi-Fi Direct function is changed to an on state. If the Wi-Fi Direct function is on (operation  1102 -Y), the method proceeds to operation  1103 . 
     A home menu is selected from among main menus of the mobile printing application in operation  1103 . In this case, the home menu may be manually selected by a user, or may be set as a default menu and thus may be selected by default when the mobile printing application is executed. In the latter case, operation  1103  may be omitted. 
     A mobile device  100  performs NFC tagging on an MFP 200 and sets a Wi-Fi Direct connection to the MFP 200 in operation  1104 . A process of performing NFC tagging and setting a Wi-Fi Direct connection has already been described above in detail, and so will not be repeated here. If the Wi-Fi Direct connection is set, the mobile device  100  transmits to the MFP 200 a command to request status information, in operation  1105 . Since the home menu is selected on the mobile printing application when NFC tagging is performed in operation  1104 , a command requesting the status information of the MFP 200 and corresponding to the home menu is transmitted. If a print, scan, or fax menu, instead of the home menu, is selected on the mobile printing application when NFC tagging is performed, a command corresponding to the selected menu is transmitted. 
     If the MFP 200 transmits the status information in response to the command requesting the status information, the mobile device  100  receives the status information in operation  1106 , and displays the status information on a screen to allow the user to check it in operation  1107 . 
     As such, by including a home menu to manage information and settings of an MFP 200 in a mobile printing application and automatically receiving and displaying status information of the MFP 200 when NFC tagging is performed while the home menu is selected, the information and settings of the MFP 200 may be easily managed. 
     When a Wi-Fi Direct connection is set between a mobile device  100  and an MFP 200, status information of the MFP 200 may be cyclically updated. A method thereof is illustrated in  FIG. 12 . Operations  1201  through  1208  of  FIG. 12  are respectively the same as operations  1101  through  1108  of  FIG. 11 , and thus detailed descriptions thereof are not provided here. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , after status information of an MFP 200 is displayed on a screen of a mobile device  100  in operation  1207 , it is determined whether a certain period of time has passed in operation  1209 . If the certain period of time has not passed (operation  1209 -N), no particular operation is performed. If the certain period of time has passed (operation  1209 -Y), the method returns to operation  1205  and the mobile device  100  transmits to the MFP 200 a command requesting the status information. 
     As such, by cyclically updating status information of an MFP 200 and displaying the status information on a mobile device  100  while the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 are wirelessly connected, a user may easily check the latest information of the MFP 200. 
     If a Wi-Fi Direct connection is set between a mobile device  100  and an MFP 200 while a home menu is selected on the mobile printing application, a user may not only check status information of the MFP 200 but also manage various settings of the MFP 200 by using a mobile printing application. A detailed description thereof will now be provided with reference to  FIG. 13 . 
       FIG. 13  is a flowchart of a method of mobile printing using NFC, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Operations  1301  through  1304 , and  1308  of  FIG. 13  are respectively the same as operations  1101  through  1104 , and  1108  of  FIG. 11 , and thus detailed descriptions thereof are not provided here. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , an input to change settings of an MFP 200 is received from a user in operation  1305 . The user may activate a screen to manage the settings of the MFP 200, by touching a device settings button while a home menu is selected on a mobile printing application, may select an item of which settings are to be changed, and then may input a desired setup value. 
     If the input to change the settings of the MFP 200 is received from the user, a command to change the settings may be generated according to the received input in operation  1306 , and the generated command may be transmitted to the MFP 200 in operation  1307 . 
     As such, since a user may manage various settings of an MFP 200 by using a mobile printing application installed in a mobile device  100 , user convenience may be improved. 
     As described above, in some cases, firmware of the MFP 200 needs to be updated to set a Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 via NFC tagging. For example, since a method in which an encrypted PIN is stored in an NFC tag  210  attached to an MFP 200 and a mobile device  100  receives the PIN stored in the NFC tag  210  when NFC tagging is performed and automatically transmits the PIN to the MFP 200 so as to request a Wi-Fi Direct connection does not follow the Wi-Fi Direct standards, for the above-described method, firmware of the MFP 200 should be updated. A method of updating firmware will now be described in detail. 
       FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating a process of updating firmware of an MFP 200 in a system of mobile printing using NFC, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the system according to the current exemplary embodiment may further include a server  300  to update the firmware of the MFP 200. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , a mobile device  100  checks a version of the firmware of the MFP 200 (operation S 1401 ). In this case, in order to allow the mobile device  100  to check the version of the firmware of the MFP 200, the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 may be connected by a cable via universal serial bus (USB) ports, or may be connected via Wi-Fi Direct according to an existing method in which a user manually inputs a PIN to the MFP 200. As part of checking the version of the firmware of the MFP 200, the mobile device  100  checks whether the version of the firmware of the MFP 200 supports Wi-Fi Direct connection via automatic transmission of a PIN. 
     If the version of the firmware of the MFP 200 supports Wi-Fi Direct connection via automatic transmission of a PIN, the firmware does not need to be updated, and the method ends. However, if the version of the firmware of the MFP 200 does not support Wi-Fi Direct connection via automatic transmission of a PIN, the firmware should be updated and thus the mobile device  100  requests the server  300  for a firmware update file (operation S 1402 ). The server  300  receives the request and transmits the firmware update file to the mobile device  100  (operation S 1403 ), and the mobile device  100  transmits the received firmware update file to the MFP 200 (operation S 1404 ). 
     The MFP 200 receives the firmware update file and updates the firmware, and a PIN is encrypted and stored in an NFC tag  210  attached to the MFP 200 (operation S 1405 ). In this case, the PIN may be stored in the NFC tag  210  in various ways. For example, the user may check the PIN set to the MFP 200 by using a “Print Report” function of the MFP 200, and may store the checked PIN value in the NFC tag  210 . Alternatively, the user may store a desired PIN value in the NFC tag  210  and the PIN value of the MFP 200 may be changed to correspond to the stored PIN value. In this case, for security&#39;s sake, the PIN is encrypted before being stored in the NFC tag  210 . 
     If the mobile device  100  NFC-tags the MFP 200 after the firmware is updated and the PIN is stored in the NFC tag  210  (operation S 1406 ), an NFC module  110  of the mobile device  100  receives information of the MFP 200, for example, a MAC address, a device name, and a PIN of the MFP 200, from the NFC tag  210  attached to the MFP 200 (operation S 1407 ). Then, the mobile device  100  transmits to the MFP 200 the PIN and a request for a Wi-Fi Direct connection by using the received information of the MFP 200 (operation S 1408 ). Since the updated firmware of the MFP 200 supports Wi-Fi Direct connection via automatic transmission of a PIN, the PIN received from the mobile device  100  is compared to the PIN set to the MFP 200 in operation S 1409  and, if the PINs are identical, the Wi-Fi Direct connection is accepted in operation S 1410 . 
     Although the mobile device  100  receives the firmware update file from the server  300  and then transmits the firmware update file to the MFP 200 in the firmware update method of  FIG. 14 , as illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the mobile device  100  may not receive the firmware update file but may request the server  300  to transmit the firmware update file directly to the MFP 200. Referring to  FIG. 15 , if the mobile device  100  requests the server  300  to update the firmware (operation S 1502 ), the server  300  transmits a firmware update file directly to the MFP 200 instead of the mobile device  100  (operation S 1503 ). The other operations of  FIG. 15 , i.e., operations S 1501  and S 1504  through S 1509  are the same as the corresponding operations S 1401  and S 1405  through S 1410  of  FIG. 14 , and thus detailed descriptions thereof are not provided here. 
     Unlike the above exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 14 and 15 , a mobile device  100  may not be involved and an MFP 200 itself may compare a version of installed firmware to the latest version of firmware stored in a server  300  and, if the versions are not identical, may request the server  300  for a firmware update file so as to update the firmware. 
       FIG. 16  is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a mobile device  100 , according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. The mobile device  100  of  FIG. 16  may include an NFC module  110 , a Wi-Fi Direct interface unit  120 , a user interface unit  130 , a control unit  140 , an application execution unit  150 , and a storage unit  160 . From among them, the control unit  140  may include a firmware checking unit  144  and a firmware update management unit  145 . 
     The elements other than the firmware checking unit  144  and the firmware update management unit  145  are the same as those illustrated in  FIG. 8 , and so only the firmware checking unit  144  and the firmware update management unit  145  will be described in detail here. 
     The firmware checking unit  144  checks whether a version of firmware of an MFP 200 supports Wi-Fi Direct connection via automatic transmission of a PIN. In this case, in order to allow the firmware checking unit  144  included in the mobile device  100  to check the version of the firmware of the MFP 200, a connection for data transmission and reception should be set between the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200. Accordingly, while USB ports of the mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 may be connected by a cable, the firmware checking unit  144  may check the version of the firmware of the MFP 200. Here, other wire or wireless connection methods aside from USB ports may also be used. The firmware checking unit  144  transmits a checking result to the firmware update management unit  145 . 
     If the checked version of the firmware of the MFP 200 supports Wi-Fi Direct connection via automatic transmission of a PIN, the firmware does not need to be updated and thus the firmware update management unit  145  does not perform any operation. However, if the checked version of the firmware of the MFP 200 does not support Wi-Fi Direct connection via automatic transmission of a PIN, the firmware of the MFP 200 is updated. In other words, the firmware update management unit  145  requests a server  300  for a firmware update file, receives the firmware update file, and transmits the received firmware update file to the MFP 200. Alternatively, the firmware update management unit  145  may not receive the firmware update file from the server  300  but may request the server  300  to transmit the firmware update file directly to the MFP 200. 
       FIGS. 17 and 18  are flowcharts of methods of updating firmware of an MFP 200 in a system of mobile printing using NFC, according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept. 
     Referring to  FIG. 17 , a version of firmware installed in an MFP 200 is checked in operation  1701 , and it is determined whether the version of the firmware supports Wi-Fi Direct connection via automatic transmission of a PIN, in operation  1702 . If the version supports Wi-Fi Direct connection via automatic transmission of a PIN (operation  1702 -Y), the method proceeds to operation  1707 . Otherwise (operation  1702 -N), the method proceeds to operation  1703 . A mobile device  100  requests a server  300  for a firmware update file in operation  1703 , and receives the firmware update file from the server  300  in operation  1704 . The mobile device  100  transmits the received firmware update file to the MFP 200 in operation  1705 . The MFP 200 updates the firmware by using the firmware update file received from the mobile device  100 , in operation  1706 . In this case, when the firmware is updated, a PIN is encrypted and stored in an NFC tag  210  attached to the MFP 200. 
     If the firmware of the MFP 200 is completely updated to a version that supports Wi-Fi Direct connection via automatic transmission of a PIN, then in operation  1707  when the mobile device  100  performs NFC tagging on the MFP 200, the mobile device  100  receives from the NFC tag  210  the PIN together with information of the MFP 200, for example, a MAC address and a device name of the MFP 200. The mobile device  100  requests the MFP 200 to connect via Wi-Fi Direct by using the received information of the MFP 200, and transmits the received PIN to the MFP 200, in operation  1708 . If the Wi-Fi Direct connection is requested in operation  1708 , then in operation  1709  the MFP 200 determines whether the PIN transmitted from the mobile device  100  is identical to the PIN set to the MFP 200 and, if the PINs are identical (operation  1709 -Y), accepts the Wi-Fi Direct connection in operation  1710 . 
     Although the mobile device  100  receives the firmware update file from the server  300  and then transmits the firmware update file to the MFP 200 in the firmware update method of  FIG. 17 , as illustrated in  FIG. 18 , the mobile device  100  may merely request the server  300  to transmit the firmware update file directly to the MFP 200. 
     Referring to  FIG. 18 , a version of firmware installed in an MFP 200 is checked in operation  1801 , and it is determined whether the version of the firmware supports Wi-Fi Direct connection via automatic transmission of a PIN, in operation  1802 . If the version supports Wi-Fi Direct connection via automatic transmission of a PIN, the method proceeds to operation  1806 . Otherwise, the method proceeds to operation  1803 . If a mobile device  100  requests a server  300  to update the firmware in operation  1803 , the server  300  transmits a firmware update file directly to the MFP 200 in operation  1804 . The MFP 200 updates the firmware by using the firmware update file received from the server  300 , in operation  1805 . In this case, when the firmware is updated, a PIN is encrypted and stored in an NFC tag  210  attached to the MFP 200. 
     If the firmware of the MFP 200 is completely updated to a version that supports Wi-Fi Direct connection via automatic transmission of a PIN, when the mobile device  100  NFC-tags the MFP 200, the mobile device  100  receives from the NFC tag  210  the PIN together with information of the MFP 200, for example, a MAC address and a device name of the MFP 200, in operation  1806 . The mobile device  100  requests the MFP 200 for a Wi-Fi Direct connection by using the received information of the MFP 200, and transmits the received PIN to the MFP 200, in operation  1807 . If the Wi-Fi Direct connection is requested in operation  1807 , then in operation  1808  the MFP 200 determines whether the PIN transmitted from the mobile device  100  is identical to the PIN set to the MFP 200 and, if the PINs are identical, accepts the Wi-Fi Direct connection in operation  1809 . 
     As such, by updating firmware of an MFP 200, a Wi-Fi Direct connection may be automatically set between a mobile device  100  and the MFP 200 without requiring a user to manually input a PIN. 
     As described above, according to the one or more of the above exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, a user may easily perform mobile printing by merely performing NFC tagging. Also, information of an MFP 200 may be checked and various settings of the MFP 200 may be managed by using a mobile printing application executed on a mobile device  100 . 
     The present general inventive concept can also be embodied as computer-readable codes on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium can include a computer-readable recording medium and a computer-readable transmission medium. The computer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data as a program which can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a semiconductor memory, a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a USB memory, a memory card, a Blu-Ray disc, CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical data storage devices. The computer-readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. The computer-readable transmission medium can transmit carrier waves or signals (e.g., wired or wireless data transmission through the Internet). Also, functional programs, codes, and code segments to accomplish the present general inventive concept can be easily construed by programmers skilled in the art to which the present general inventive concept pertains. 
     It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described herein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each exemplary embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other exemplary embodiments. 
     Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.