Patent Publication Number: US-11026076-B2

Title: Mobile terminal, information processing method and program

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, an information processing method, and a program for realizing the information processing method. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     In recent years, more information processing apparatuses such as a multifunction machine, a printer and the like which are equipped with wireless functions such as a wireless LAN (local area network), a Bluetooth® LE (Low Energy) and the like are increasing. 
     A user performs wireless communication with the information processing apparatus by using a mobile terminal, performs pairing between the mobile terminal and the information processing apparatus based on information included in communication information, and then performs various processes such as a login process, a printing process and the like. 
     Incidentally, since a radio wave strength in wireless communication generally has a property of attenuating in inverse proportion to the square of a distance, the distance between the mobile terminal and the information processing apparatus can be estimated from the radio wave strength received by the mobile terminal. From a viewpoint of security, there is a technique of performing proximity determination according to the radio wave strength of the information processing apparatus received by the mobile terminal, and controlling to enable to perform the process of the information processing apparatus according to a determination result that the portable terminal and the information processing apparatus are in close proximity to each other. With the technique like this, for example, a process of logging in from the mobile terminal to the information processing apparatus as a specific user, and a process of flowing or entering information from the mobile terminal into the image forming apparatus are performed after the proximity determination. 
     For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-153271 discloses, as a related background art, a technique of determining, in the mobile terminal, whether or not the distance to the information processing apparatus is in close proximity. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-153271, in order to accurately determine the proximity to the information processing apparatus capable of performing wireless communication, a threshold to be used for the proximity determination in a state of a certain distance from the information processing apparatus is generated and stored, and the proximity determination is performed by using the generated and stored threshold. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of correcting a radio wave strength of a packet received by a communication terminal, the method comprising: displaying a first screen related to the correction of the radio wave strength of the received packet; acquiring first information indicating the radio wave strength of the packet received by the communication terminal, in accordance with acceptance of a predetermined user instruction via the first screen; displaying a second screen related to the correction of the radio wave strength of the received packet, at least in accordance with completion of the acquisition; acquiring second information indicating the radio wave strength of the packet received by the communication terminal, in accordance with acceptance of a predetermined user operation via the second screen; and deciding a correction value at least based on the acquired first information and the acquired second information. 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to more accurately perform proximity determination. 
     Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram for schematically illustrating a system configuration of a communicating system. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram for illustrating an example of hardware constitutions of apparatuses/devices included in the communicating system. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are diagrams for illustrating an example of a software configuration and the like of the apparatuses/devices included in the communicating system. 
         FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D  are diagrams for illustrating examples of a screen related to a login function of a mobile terminal. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are diagrams for illustrating examples of a screen related to a sensitivity adjustment function of the mobile terminal. 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart for describing an example of an information process of performing sensitivity adjustment. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are diagrams for illustrating examples of a table. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram for describing an example of threshold calculation of TouchLike. 
         FIG. 9  is a flow chart for describing an example of an information process of performing login. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail in accordance with the accompanying drawings. In the following embodiments, there will be described a mechanism by which a correcting process for a threshold to be used in proximity determination is performed using radio wave strengths measured at a plurality of points, while taking into consideration that an attenuation rate of the radio wave strength based on a distance greatly varies depending on a measuring environment. 
     First Embodiment 
     (System Configuration) 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram for schematically illustrating a system configuration of a communicating system. In an environment according to the present embodiment, there are one or more MFPs (multifunction Peripherals) and a plurality of mobile terminals. For example, it is assumed that the communicating system of the present embodiment is implemented in an office environment such that each person possesses a single mobile terminal and regularly carries it. The MFP is installed in the office environment. Each of an MFP  101 , a mobile terminal  102  and a mobile terminal  103  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is an example of the apparatus/device constituting the communicating system. The mobile terminals  102  and  103  are owned respectively by different users. The MFP  101  is connected to a network LAN (local area network)  104 , and can mutually communicate with other terminals connected to the LAN  104 . Similarly, the mobile terminal  102  and the mobile terminal  103  can be connected to the LAN  104  via a wireless router  105 , and can mutually communicate with other terminals connected to the LAN  104 . Besides, each of the MFP  101 , the mobile terminal  102  and the mobile terminal  103  has a Bluetooth® communication function, and can mutually connect and communicate with others within a range within which a radio wave of Bluetooth® can reach. Although only one MFP is shown in an example of the communicating system of  FIG. 1 , a plurality of MFPs may be included in the communicating system. Similarly, although only two mobile terminals are shown in the example of the communicating system of  FIG. 1 , two or more mobile terminals may be included in the communicating system. The mobile terminal  102  includes, for example, a communication terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet PC (personal computer) or the like that a user can carry. The MFP is an example of an information processing apparatus. Incidentally, it should be noted that the mobile terminal and the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment are not limited to those described above. For example, the mobile terminal may be a wearable terminal which is typified by a smart watch or the like. Besides, for example, the information processing apparatus may be a device which can perform communication with the mobile terminal by wireless communication such as the Bluetooth® communication. More specifically, the information processing apparatus may be a device such as a PC, a camera, a projector, a headphone, a refrigerator, a television set, an audio assistant terminal, or the like. Also, the present embodiment can be applied to a case where proximity determination is made between the two mobile terminals. As just described, the present embodiment can be applied to the case where proximity determination between the apparatuses/devices is performed by the wireless communication such as the Bluetooth® communication or the like. 
     (Hardware Constitution) 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram for illustrating an example of hardware constitutions of apparatuses/devices included in the communicating system. 
     As the hardware constitution of the MFP  101 , a CPU (central processing unit)  201  controls entire operations of the MFP  101 . The CPU  201  reads a control program stored in a ROM (read only memory)  202 , and performs various kinds of control such as reading control, transmission control and the like. A RAM (random access memory)  203  is a volatile memory to be used as a working area or the like for the CPU  201  to execute various programs. An HDD (hard disk drive)  204  stores therein image data and various programs. An operation unit  205  includes a display which operates as a touch panel capable of being operated by a user&#39;s finger. A printer  206  prints the image data transferred via an internal bus on paper. A scanner  207  reads an image on an original document, and generates image data of the read image. An IC (integrated circuit) card reader  208  reads an IC card to be used for user authentication. A Bluetooth® I/F (interface)  209  is an interface which performs wireless communication by the Bluetooth® standard, and communicates with another device having a Bluetooth® I/F. In the present embodiment, the mobile terminal and the MFP communicate with each other by the Bluetooth® standard. A network I/F  210  is an NIC (network interface card) for connecting to a network. The hardware units  201  to  210  are connected via an internal bus, and can mutually exchange various data. On the premise that the CPU  201  performs processes based on the programs stored in the ROM  202  or the HDD  204 , software configuration of the MFP  101  in later-described  FIG. 3A  and the like are realized. 
     Subsequently, the hardware constitution of the mobile terminal  102  will be described. A CPU  211  controls entire operations of the mobile terminal. A RAM  212  is a volatile memory to be used as a working area or the like for the CPU  211  to execute various programs. A flash memory  213  is a nonvolatile memory which stores therein various programs and data. An operation unit  214  includes a display which operates as a touch panel capable of being operated by a user&#39;s finger. A Bluetooth® I/F  215  is an interface which performs communication by the Bluetooth® standard, and communicates with another device having a Bluetooth® I/F. In the present embodiment, the mobile terminal communicates with the MFP by Bluetooth® standard. A wireless network I/F  216  is a wireless-compliant NIC which can perform network communication by connecting with the wireless router  105 . A speaker  217  is a device which converts a sound electronic signal into a sound. A microphone  218  detects sound, and converts the detected sound into an electronic signal. A camera  219  captures (or photographs) a still image and a moving image, and converts them into electronic data. The GPS (global positioning system)  220  is a GPS receiver. 
     In the mobile terminal  102  of the present embodiment, on the premise that the CPU  211  processes programs stored in the flash memory  213  by using the memory (RAM  212 ), software configuration of the mobile terminal  102  in later-described  FIG. 3B  and the like are realized. Similarly, on the premise that the CPU  211  processes programs stored in the flash memory  213  by using the memory (RAM  212 ), processes of flow charts illustrated in later-described  FIGS. 6 and 9  are realized. 
     (Software Configuration) 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  are diagrams for illustrating an example of software configurations and the like of the apparatuses/devices included in the communicating system. 
       FIG. 3A  is the diagram for illustrating the example of the software configuration of the MFP  101  and a data area managed by the software. Each of a document  304 , a print job  305 , a counter  306  and a user account  313  indicates a data area of data recorded and managed by the software in the RAM  203  and the HDD  204 . An OS (operating system)  301  is an operating system serving as basic software. The OS  301  includes a group of device drivers for controlling various kinds of hardware, and provides an API (application programming interface) for using the hardware for applications operating on the OS. For example, a Bluetooth® controlling part  302  is a device driver for controlling the Bluetooth® I/F  209 . A network controlling part  303  is a device driver for controlling the network I/F  210 . In addition, although it is not illustrated in  FIG. 3A , a printer module for controlling the printer  206  and a scanner module for controlling the scanner  207  exist in the OS  301 . Besides, the OS  301  provides APIs for reading and writing data of the document  304 , the print job  305  and the counter  306  to the applications. 
     Each of a copy  308 , a print  309  and a send (transmit)  310  is an application running on the OS  301 , and displays a user interface for providing various functions to the operation unit  205 . For example, the copy  308  controls the scanner  207  and the printer  206  via the OS  301 , thereby performing copying. The print  309  provides a function of printing document data stored in the document  304  and print job data stored in the print job  305 . Copy and print outputting are performed via the API of the OS  301 , and the OS  301  records the number of prints in the counter  306 . The send  310  provides a function of transmitting the document data acquired from the scanner  207  to the outside. A menu  307  is a module for displaying a menu which causes to select the application (for example, copy, print or send) from the operation unit  205 . A remote UI (user interface)  311  is a module for providing a user interface written in the HTML (HyperText Markup Language) when accessed to the MFP  101  from a web browser of the mobile terminal based on the HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol). The remote UI  311  provides a user interface for managing settings of the MFP and a user interface for printing the document data stored in the document  304 . A login service  312  is a module for providing a login function when using the MFP. The user account  313  is a database for managing and storing an account ID (identification data) and a password of each user, and is recorded in the RAM  203  and/or the HDD  204 . The login service  312  provides a login service for the MFP  101  to the outside, by using the user account  313 . 
     The login service  312  determines whether or not to permit login by a user based on user information (a user ID and a password) input via the operation unit  205  of the MFP  101 . As just described, in the MFP  101 , when the login by the user is permitted, a screen by which respective functions such as a copy function, a scan function and the like provided in the MFP  101  can be used is displayed, so that each function is available via the operation unit  205 . On the other hand, when the login by the user is not permitted or when the user does not log in, the use of each function is restricted. When the user does not log in, it is assumed that the MFP  101  displays a login screen for accepting the login by the user on the operation unit  205 . The login service  312  also provides a login service for logging in to the MFP  101  from an external device. 
       FIG. 3B  is the diagram for illustrating the example of the software configuration of the mobile terminal  102  and a data area managed by the software. Besides, authentication information  319  indicates a data area of data to be recorded and managed by the software in the flash memory  213 . An OS  314  is an operating system for controlling the entire operations of the mobile terminal  102 . The OS  314  includes a group of device drivers for controlling various kinds of hardware, and provides an API for using various hardware for applications operating on the OS  314 . In the present embodiment, the group of device drivers includes a Bluetooth® controlling part  316  and a wireless network controlling part  317 . The Bluetooth® controlling part  316  is a device driver for controlling the Bluetooth® I/F  215 . The wireless network controlling part  317  is a device driver for controlling the wireless network I/F  216 . Various applications can be installed in the mobile terminal  102  and operated on the OS  314 . In the present embodiment, it is assumed that an application  318  has been installed in advance. Here, it should be noted that the application  318  has the following authentication function.
         Set in advance the user authentication information (a user name, a password) to be used in case of a login request.       

     In this function, a screen is prepared by a screen displaying part  322 , and a user inputs the user authentication information according to the relevant screen. The input user authentication information is stored in the authentication information  319  in the flash memory  213 .
         Display a screen for urging to bring the mobile terminal  102  close to the MFP  101  for login.       

     While the screen is being displayed, the Bluetooth® controlling part  316  measures a radio wave strength when receiving a Bluetooth® radio wave. A proximity determining part  323  of the application  318  determines whether or not the mobile terminal  102  is in close proximity to the MFP  101 .
         When it is determined that the mobile terminal is in close proximity to the MFP, perform the login request by communicating with the MFP  101 .       

     An authentication controlling part  321  controls transmission of the login request. The wireless network controlling part  317  transmits the login request by wirelessly communicating with the MFP  101 . For example, the login request is transmitted to the MFP  101  by a GATT (generic attribute profile) communication of the Bluetooth® LE established between the mobile terminal and the MFP  101 . The login request includes the authentication information  319  (the user name and the password) in the flash memory  213 . 
     Upon receiving the login request, the MFP  101  determines whether or not login of the user is permitted, according to the login request from the mobile terminal  102 . The login service  312  determines whether or not the authentication information of the user included in the received login request is included in the user account  313 . When the authentication information is included in the user account, the login is permitted. 
     In the case of permitting the login, the MFP  101  displays on the operation unit  205  a screen by which each function such as the copy function, the scan function or the like of the MFP  101  can be used, according to the authority of the authenticated user. Then, the MFP transits to a state in which each function can be used via the operation unit  205 . Therefore, by only bringing the mobile terminal  102  close to the MFP  101 , the user can transit the MFP to the state in which each operation of the MFP  101  can be used via the operation unit  205  of the MFP  101 . Hereinafter, to cause the user to log in to the MFP  101  and cause to transit to the state in which each function of the MFP  101  can be used via the operation unit  205  is referred to as multifunction machine panel login. 
     (Login Function Screen) 
       FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D  are diagrams for respectively illustrating examples of a screen related to the login function of the mobile terminal  102 . The application  318  installed in the mobile terminal  102  of the present embodiment displays the top menu screen  400  illustrated in  FIG. 4A  on the operation unit  214  of the mobile terminal  102  immediately after the application is activated. 
     The application  318  displays the MFP  101  selected by the application  318  in an area  401  on the top menu screen  400 . 
     A multifunction machine panel login button  402  on the top menu screen  400  is a button for providing a function of logging in to the MFP  101 . When the multifunction machine panel login button  402  is selected, the application  318  displays a multifunction machine panel login screen (a login screen  410 ) illustrated in  FIG. 4B  on the operation unit  214 . 
     A printer registration function button  403  on the top menu screen is a button for providing a function of newly registering a printer. When the printer registration function button  403  is selected, the application  318  displays a printer selection screen  420  illustrated in  FIG. 4C  on the operation unit  214 . 
       FIG. 4B  is the diagram for illustrating the login screen  410  which displays a multifunction machine login function. Upon transition to the login screen, the application  318  acquires, from the Bluetooth® controlling part  316 , a Bluetooth® radio wave strength and advertising packet information received from the MFP  101  by the Bluetooth® communication. The received Bluetooth® radio wave strength is expressed by an RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication), and the unit thereof is dbm (decibel-milliwatts). 
     An advertising packet includes such data as follows. 
     RSSI Value 
     This value indicates the radio wave strength of the received Bluetooth® radio wave, and the unit thereof is dbm, for example, −40 dbm. 
     Local Name 
     This name indicates a device name or the like, for example, MFP CXXX. 
     Manufacturer Specific Data 
     As this data, a company identifier and arbitrary data are stored. 
     Service UUIDs (Universally Unique Identifiers) 
     The UUID indicates a function of a device. 
     The application  318  determines whether or not the application  318  is the MFP supporting communication control, based on the device name and the company identifier included in the advertising packet information of the received Bluetooth® radio wave. 
     When the application is the MFP supporting the communication control, the application  318  displays an indicator indicating the radio wave strength and information  411  as the printer information based on the advertising packet information included in the received Bluetooth® radio wave. 
     In accordance with the instruction on the screen of  FIG. 4B , the user brings the mobile terminal  102  close to the printer (for example, the MFP  101 ) that the user wishes to log in. 
     While the screen illustrated in  FIG. 4B  is being displayed, the application  318  acquires the Bluetooth® radio wave strengths received from the Bluetooth® controlling part  316  at a regular interval, and determines whether or not a proximity condition is satisfied. When the proximity condition is satisfied, the application  318  establishes the Bluetooth® LE communication with the MFP which satisfies the proximity condition, and transmits the login request. On the other hand, when the proximity condition is not satisfied for a certain period of time or more, the application  318  transitions the screen of the operation unit  214  to the screen illustrated in  FIG. 4D . 
     Further, when a sensitivity adjustment button  412  is selected by the user, the application  318  transitions the screen of the operation unit  214  to a proximity sensitivity adjustment screen  500  illustrated in later-described  FIG. 5A . 
       FIG. 4C  is the diagram for illustrating the printer selection screen  420  on which the currently selected MFP  101  and the already registered LBP  123  are displayed. When performing the document print function and the scan function illustrated in  FIG. 4A  via the selection screen, the user can select the MFP being a cooperative destination (or an alliance partner). The MFP selected as the cooperative destination is displayed in the area  401  of  FIG. 4A . Besides, the user can search for a printer to be newly registered as a cooperative destination via the printer selection screen  420 . In the printer selection screen  420 , four methods are exemplified as printer search functions. 
     The first is automatic search (Wi-Fi®). Upon selection of an automatic search (Wi-Fi®) button  421 , the application  318  requests the wireless network controlling part  317  to perform broadcasting, and displays the detected printer on the operation unit  214 . The second is manual search (Wi-Fi®). Upon selection of a manual search (Wi-Fi®) button  422 , the application  318  detects whether or not a printer having an IP (Internet Protocol) address input by the user exists in the wireless network controlling part  317 . The application  318  displays the detected printer on the operation unit  214 . 
     The third is QR (Quick Response) Code®. Upon selection of a QR Code® button  423 , the application  318  detects whether or not a printer having an IP address input by the QR Code® in the wireless network controlling part  317 . The application  318  displays the detected printer on the operation unit  214 . 
     The fourth is a nearby printer. Upon selection of a nearby printer button  424 , the application  318  detects whether or not a printer exists around the MFP  101  by proximity wireless communication such as the Bluetooth® communication or the like. When the nearby printer button is selected, the application  318  receives a Bluetooth® communication radio wave for the Bluetooth® controlling part  316 . 
       FIG. 4D  the diagram for illustrating the screen for searching for the nearby printer by the Bluetooth® communication. The application  318  displays a search result screen  430  while waiting for the radio wave reception from the Bluetooth® controlling part  316 . The user can newly register the MFP at the cooperative destination by selecting information indicating the MFP (for example, the MFP  101 , an MFP DEF) displayed in  FIG. 4D . Besides, when the user selects a sensitivity adjustment button  431 , the application  318  transitions the screen of the operation unit  214  to the proximity sensitivity adjustment screen  500 . The application  318  acquires, by a sensitivity adjustment function, a measured value to be used for deriving a threshold for the proximity determination, and adjusts the threshold for the proximity determination based on the acquired measured value. 
     (Sensitivity Adjustment Screen) 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  are diagrams for illustrating examples of the screen related to the sensitivity adjustment function of the mobile terminal  102 . The application  318  installed in the mobile terminal  102  of the present embodiment has the sensitivity adjustment function. When the sensitivity adjustment button  412  or  431  is selected, the application  318  displays the proximity sensitivity adjustment screen  500  illustrated in  FIG. 5A  on the operation unit  214  of the mobile terminal  102 . 
     The proximity sensitivity adjustment screen  500  includes information indicating the MFP  101  which is the currently selected printer, and information for urging the user to select (or tap) a next button  502  in a state that the mobile terminal is separated from the MFP  101  by approximately 30 cm/12 in. At the timing when the user selects the next button  502 , the application  318  performs the following process. That is, the application  318  acquires the Bluetooth® radio wave strength received from the Bluetooth® controlling part  316 , and stores the value of the acquired radio wave strength in the flash memory  213  as the measured value of the radio wave strength at the distance of about 30 cm from the MFP  101 . Incidentally, the measured value here may be used as a threshold to be used for the proximity determination at the distance of about 30 cm from the MFP  101 . The distance of about 30 cm from the MFP  101  is hereinafter referred to as IMMIDIATE. When the next button  502  is selected, the application  318  transitions the screen of the operation unit  214  to a touch sensitivity adjustment screen  510 . 
     The touch sensitivity adjustment screen  510  includes the information indicating the MFP  101  which is the currently selected printer, and information for urging the user to select (or tap) an OK button  512  in a state that the mobile terminal is in contact with the MFP  101 . At the timing when the user selects the OK button  512 , the application  318  performs the following process. That is, the application  318  acquires the Bluetooth® radio wave strength received from the Bluetooth® controlling part  316 , and stores the value of the acquired radio wave strength in the flash memory  213  as the measured value of the radio wave strength at a distance of 0 cm from the MFP  101 . The distance of 0 cm from the MFP  101  is hereinafter referred to as TouchLike. 
     (Mobile Terminal: Flow Chart for Describing Information Process of Performing Sensitivity Adjustment from Sensitivity Adjustment Screen) 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart for describing an example of an information process of receiving the Bluetooth® radio wave transmitted from the MFP  101  and performing sensitivity adjustment in the mobile terminal  102 . When the sensitivity adjustment button  412  or  431  is selected from the mobile terminal  102  by the user, the application  318  starts the process of the relevant flow chart. Here, the sensitivity adjustment button  412  can be selected from the login screen  410  of the multifunction peripheral panel login, and the sensitivity adjustment button  431  can be selected from the search result screen  430  for the nearby printer search function. 
     In S 800 , the application  318  displays the proximity sensitivity adjustment screen  500  on the operation unit  214 . The process of S 800  is an example of a first displaying process of causing the operation unit to display a first screen for acquiring the radio wave strength related to the wireless communication at a first distance from the MFP. 
     In S 801 , the application  318  displays a message  501  for urging the user to select the next button  502  in the state that the mobile terminal  102  and the MFP (for example, the MFP  101 ) which is the target of the sensitivity adjustment are separated from each other by about 30 cm. Hereinafter, for the sake of explanation, a case where the MFP being the target of the sensitivity adjustment is the MFP  101  will be described as an example. 
     In S 802 , the application  318  determines whether or not the next button  502  is selected by the user. When the application  318  determines that the next button  502  is selected (YES in S 802 ), the process proceeds to S 803 . On the other hand, when determining that the next button  502  is not selected (NO in S 802 ), the process returns to S 801 . 
     In S 803 , the application  318  cooperates with the Bluetooth® controlling part  302  to acquire the radio wave strength of the Bluetooth® advertising packet transmitted from the MFP  101  which is the cooperative destination. Incidentally, it is also possible here to acquire the radio wave strengths of a plurality of advertising packets (for example, 30 times) received after the selection of the next button  502  and derive the radio wave strength from the median value or the average value thereof. For example, the CPU  211  sorts the array in which the received radio wave strengths of the plurality of advertising packets are stored, and extracts the central portion (for example, the portion excluding the lower 10% and the upper 10%) of the array as samples. By using the average value of the extracted samples as a threshold, the CPU  211  can avoid an influence of disturbance caused by a surrounding wireless environment and the like. 
     In S 804 , the application  318  stores, in the nonvolatile flash memory  213 , the acquired radio wave strength as the measured value of the radio wave strength in the IMMIDIATE corresponding to the distance of 30 cm. 
       FIG. 7A  is a diagram for illustrating the measured values and the estimated values of the radio wave strengths at the respective distances. The threshold stored in S 804  is the measured value corresponding to the distance of 30 cm, and is the values of an RSSI measured value  601  and an RSSI threshold  611 . For example, the application  318  stores −24 dbm as the value of the MFP  101  and −51 dbm as the value of an MFP  110 , in the RSSI measured value  601  and the RSSI threshold  611 . 
     In S 805 , the application  318  determines whether or not the MFP  101  being the target of the sensitivity adjustment has a cooperative function (provision function) of performing the determination of the TouchLike as a trigger. The function which is provided by the cooperation of the MFP and the mobile terminal in the TouchLike determination includes, for example, the previously described panel login function. Further, the above function includes a touch print function of causing to perform printing by using, as a trigger, a fact that the MFP and the mobile terminal come to be in close proximity. Furthermore, the above function includes a touch scan function of reading an original document and then transmitting the read original document to the outside or the mobile terminal, by using, as a trigger, a fact that the MFP and the mobile terminal come to be in close proximity. It is assumed that the capability possessed by the MFP  101  has been acquired by the previously performed process of registering the MFP of the cooperative destination. 
     When the application  318  determines that the MFP  101  being the target of the sensitivity adjustment has the provision function by the TouchLike determination (YES in S 805 ), the process proceeds to S 806 . On the other hand, when the application  318  determines that the MFP being the target of the sensitivity adjustment does not have the provision function by the TouchLike determination (NO in S 805 ), the process of the flow chart illustrated in  FIG. 6  ends. By the process of S 805 , in the case of performing the sensitivity adjustment for the apparatus which does not have the function using the TouchLike determination as the trigger, it is possible to end the sensitivity adjustment without causing the user to perform the operation associated with the processes of S 806  and the subsequent steps. 
     In S 806 , the application  318  transitions the screen of the operation unit  214  to the touch sensitivity adjustment screen  510 . Then, the application  318  displays, on the touch sensitivity adjustment screen  510 , a message  511  for urging the user to select the OK button  512  in a state that the mobile terminal  102  and the MFP  101  are in contact with each other (about 0 cm apart). The process of S 806  is an example of the first displaying process of causing the operation unit to display a second screen for acquiring the radio wave strength related to the wireless communication at a second distance from the MFP. 
     In S 807 , the application  318  determines whether or not the OK button  512  is selected by the user. When the application  318  determines that the OK button  512  is selected (YES in S 807 ), the process proceeds to S 808 . On the other hand, when determining that the OK button  512  is not selected (NO in S 807 ), the process returns to S 806 . 
     In S 808 , the application  318  acquires the radio wave strength of the Bluetooth® radio wave from the Bluetooth® controlling part  302  by the Bluetooth® I/F. 
     In S 809 , the application  318  stores the acquired radio wave strength in the nonvolatile flash memory  213  as the measured value corresponding to the distance of 0 cm. 
     The measured value stored in S 809  is the measured value corresponding to the distance of 0 cm, and this value is the value of an RSSI measured value  602  of  FIG. 7A . Incidentally, as well as the process of S 804 , it may be possible to extract samples from a plurality of advertising packets and store an average value of the extracted samples. For example, the application  318  stores −18 dbm as the value of the MFP  101  and −12 dbm as the value of the MFP  110 . 
     In S 810 , the application  318  connects the two points of the radio wave strength at the distance of 0 cm and the radio wave strength at the distance of 30 cm to acquire a straight line, and then calculates a gradient (or an inclination) and an intercept of the straight line. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram for describing an example of threshold calculation of the TouchLike by the measurements of 0 cm and 30 cm. Since a radio wave strength in wireless communication generally has a property of attenuating in inverse proportion to the square of a distance, the horizontal axis is plotted with the square of the distance (unit is m) and the vertical axis is set as the radio wave strength (unit is dbm). By connecting the square mark as the measurement result of 0 cm and a circle as the measurement result of 30 cm with each other, it is possible for the application  318  to calculate the gradient and the intercept for each MFP like a straight line  701  and a straight line  702 . 
     In S 811 , the application  318  determines whether or not the calculated gradient of the straight line is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold. When the application  318  determines that the calculated gradient of the straight line is equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold (YES in S 811 ), the process proceeds to S 812 . On the other hand, when determining that the calculated gradient of the straight line is smaller than the predetermined threshold (NO in S 811 ), the process proceeds to S 813 . The predetermined threshold is held as a fixed value inside the application  318 , and, for example, the gradient of the predetermined threshold is 1. For example, in the example of  FIG. 8 , the application  318  determines that the gradient of the straight line  701  of the MFP  101  is smaller than the predetermined threshold, and determines that the gradient of the straight line  702  of the MFP  110  is equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold. 
     In S 812 , the application  318  calculates the radio wave strength at the distance of 10 cm from the calculated gradient of the straight line. For example, since the straight line  702  of the MFP  110  has the gradient equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold, the application  318  calculates, as an allowable value of the TouchLike, −35 dbm corresponding to the value of the triangle mark as the radio wave strength at 10 cm so as to regard as the TouchLike determination up to the distance of about 10 cm. This is because since dispersion of the radio wave strengths depending on the distances is large when the gradient is larger than the predetermined threshold, it is difficult to perform accurate proximity determination unless an allowable range is made larger to a certain extent. Thus, when the user brings the mobile terminal  102  close to the MFP  110 , even if radio wave strength reception disperses to some extent, the accuracy of the TouchLike determination improves so that it is possible to reduce a case where the user cannot log in. For example, the application  318  stores the calculated −35 dbm in an RSSI estimated value  604  of the MFP  110  of  FIG. 7A  stored in the nonvolatile flash memory  213 . 
     In S 813 , the application  318  calculates the radio wave strength at the distance of 5 cm from the calculated straight line. For example, since the straight line  701  of the MFP  101  has the gradient smaller than the predetermined threshold, the application  318  calculates, as the allowable value of the TouchLike, −21 dbm corresponding to the value of the triangle mark as the radio wave strength at 5 cm so as to regard as the TouchLike determination up to the distance to about 5 cm. When the gradient is smaller than the predetermined threshold, the dispersion of the radio wave strengths depending on the distances is small. Therefore, if 10 cm is set as the allowable range, a possibility of login even at a distance exceeding the allowable range is higher than when the gradient is high. Since login in a state being away has a security risk, the distance to be the allowable value is made small in order to suppress the relevant security risk. For example, the application  318  stores the calculated −21 dbm in an RSSI estimated value  603  of the MFP  101  of  FIG. 7A  stored in the nonvolatile flash memory  213 . 
     In S 814 , the application  318  stores the calculated radio wave strength in the nonvolatile flash memory  213  as the threshold to be used for the TouchLike determination. Accordingly, in the case of the MFP  101  of which the gradient is smaller than the predetermined threshold, the application  318  stores the calculated value (for example, −21 dbm) calculated under the condition equivalent to the distance of 5 cm, as the threshold for the TouchLike determination. On the other hand, in the case of the MFP  110  of which the gradient is larger than the predetermined threshold, the application  318  stores the calculated value (for example, −35 dbm) calculated under the condition equivalent to the distance of 10 cm, as the threshold for the TouchLike determination. Here, the processes of S 812 , S 813  and S 814  are examples of a process of determining the thresholds of proximity determination based on the radio wave strengths concerning the wireless communication acquired at the positions different in distance from the MFP. 
     Incidentally, in the processes of S 811  to S 813 , the case where the threshold for the TouchLike determination is made different by making the condition (parameter) for calculating the threshold for the TouchLike determination different has been exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, without depending on the gradient, it may be possible to calculate a range of the radio wave strength regarded as the TouchLike determination, on the basis of a condition of 5±Δx [cm] (for example, Δx is 2 cm) and a calculated linear expression. 
     (Mobile Terminal: Flow Chart for Describing an Information Process of Performing Login to MFP from Login Screen) 
       FIG. 9  is a flow chart for describing an example of an information process in which the mobile terminal  102  comes to be in close proximity to the MFP  101  and login is performed. 
     In S 900 , the application  318  displays the login screen  410  on the operation unit  214 . 
     In S 901 , the application  318  acquires the Bluetooth® radio wave strength from the Bluetooth® controlling part  302 . While the login screen  410  is being displayed on the operation unit  214 , the application  318  periodically acquires the Bluetooth® radio wave strengths received from the Bluetooth® controlling part  316  at a regular interval. Then, the application  318  derives the average value of the radio wave strengths acquired a plurality of times, and sets the derived average value as the received Bluetooth® radio wave strength. The process of S 901  is an example of a process of acquiring the radio wave strength related to the wireless communication with the MFP. 
     In S 902 , the application  318  reads a TouchLike threshold to be used for the login determination function from a threshold table  610  in the flash memory  213 , and sets the read threshold as a threshold of determination. Here, it is assumed that the application  318  holds a table as illustrated in  FIG. 7B  for each function to be provided, and holds a threshold in the table. That is, for each function to be provided, the application  318  determines and holds the threshold of the proximity determination based on the radio wave strength acquired at a different distance. Since there are the different distances of determination such as the TouchLike, the IMMIDIATE and a NEAR depending on the functions to be provided, the application  318  can select the threshold according to the function from the table in the flash memory  213 . In other words, the application  318  acquires the held threshold according to the function to be provided, and sets the acquired threshold as the threshold of determination. 
     In S 903 , the application  318  compares the read threshold of determination with the acquired radio wave strength. 
     In S 904 , as a result of the comparison between the threshold of determination and the received radio wave strength, the application  318  determines whether or not the radio wave strength is larger than the threshold of determination. When the application  318  determines that the radio wave strength is larger than the threshold of determination (YES in S 904 ), the process proceeds to S 906 . On the other hand, when determining that the radio wave strength is equal to or smaller than the threshold of determination (NO in S 904 ), the process proceeds to S 905 . The process of S 904  is an example of a process of determining whether or not the mobile terminal and the MFP are in close proximity by using the threshold of proximity determination. 
     In S 905 , the application  318  determines whether or not a state that the proximity determination condition is not satisfied continues for a certain period of time. Here, it is assumed that the value of the certain period of time is held in the flash memory  213 . When the application  318  determines that the state that the proximity determination condition is not satisfied continues for the certain period of time (YES in S 905 ), the process proceeds to S 907 . On the other hand, when the application  318  determines that the state that the proximity determination condition is not satisfied does not continue for the certain period of time (NO in S 905 ), the process returns to S 901  to receive the radio wave again. 
     In S 906 , since the proximity determination condition is satisfied, the application  318  transmits login information from the authentication information  319  to the MFP  101  via the wireless network controlling part  317 . 
     In S 908 , the application  318  receives, from the MFP  101 , information indicating whether or not the authentication is successful, as a result of the transmission of the login information. Based on the information received from the MFP  101 , the application  318  determines whether or not the authentication is successful. When the application  318  determines that the authentication is successful (YES in S 908 ), the process proceeds to S 909 . On the other hand, when determining that the authentication fails (NO in S 908 ), the process proceeds to S 910 . 
     In S 909 , upon the successful login to the MFP  101 , the application  318  displays a login success screen on the screen displaying part. 
     In S 910 , upon the failure of login to the MFP  101 , the application  318  displays a login failure screen on the operation unit  214 . 
     In S 907 , the application  318  displays a proximity error screen on the operation unit  214 . 
     In S 911 , the application  318  displays the sensitivity adjustment button  412  enabling to transition to a screen on which sensitivity adjustment can be performed, on the proximity error screen or the like of the operation unit  214 . When the sensitivity adjustment button  412  is selected by the user, the application  318  moves the process to that of the flow chart illustrated in  FIG. 6 , and ends the process of the flow chart illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
     As just described, according to the present embodiment, by performing the sensitivity adjustment at the two distances, it is possible to improve the proximity determination accuracy also with respect to the proximity determination for an unadjusted distance. 
     Besides, by switching the allowable distance error depending on whether or not the gradient is equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold, it is possible to provide the login function with higher distance accuracy for the user. 
     When the gradient is large, that is, when the attenuation rate due to the distance of the radio wave strength is high, it is possible, by setting the distance error allowed in the proximity determination to be larger than the case where the gradient is small, to reduce the cases where the login cannot be performed due to the dispersion of the radio wave strengths. 
     On the other hand, when the gradient is small, that is, when the attenuation rate due to the distance of the radio wave strength is low, it is possible, by setting the distance error allowed in the proximity determination to be smaller than the case where the gradient is large, to realize a touch-like operational feeling with security risk suppressed. 
     &lt;Modification&gt; 
     In the present embodiment, the case of performing the calculation based on the linear expression in order to calculate the threshold at the unmeasured distance is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the application  318  can perform Nth-order polynomial approximation based on the measurement result, thereby calculating a threshold at an unmeasured distance. Besides, it may be possible to perform the proximity determination between devices based on an estimated distance. For example, it may be possible to estimate the distance between the devices from a ratio of a transmission signal strength (Tx) included in the advertising packet and a reception signal strength, and determine a degree of proximity based on the estimated distance. In this case, as the threshold of the proximity determination, it is assumed that the distance is stored instead of the signal strength explained in  FIG. 7B . Also, it may be possible to determine a degree of proximity of a communication terminal and an external device being the login target by another method such as, for example, Wi-Fi Aware® or the like. In this case, a threshold based on RTT (Round Trip Time) of wireless communication between devices or the like is stored as the threshold of the proximity determination. 
     Besides, in the present embodiment, as illustrated by  610  of  FIG. 7B , the case where the reception signal strength is stored as the threshold of the determination is exemplified ( 611 ,  612 ). However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, for example, it is possible to store a threshold in the form of a difference value (offset) for a reference radio wave strength. 
     Other Embodiments 
     The present invention can be realized on the premise that a program for realizing one or more functions of the above embodiment is supplied to a system or an apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or the apparatus reads and executes the program. Besides, the present invention can be realized also by a circuit (for example, ASIC (application specific integrated circuit)) which realizes one or more functions. 
     As just described, although the example of the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to the suchlike specific embodiment. 
     For example, the hardware constitution of the mobile terminal  102  is an example, so that a GPU (graphics processing unit) may be used instead of the CPU. Further, the hardware constitution of the mobile terminal  102  is not limited to one CPU, one RAM, one flash memory and the like. Namely, a plurality of CPUs may execute the program while using a plurality of RAMs, a plurality of flash memories, and the like, thereby realizing the processes in the above-described flow charts. 
     Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-099016, filed May 18, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.