Image forming apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021234973-A1
Application number	US-201916530382-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 2, 2019
Priority date	Aug 8, 2018
Publication date	Jul 29, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a CPU, and when a user selects to set (activate) an optional function, the image forming apparatus determines whether a connection to a network is possible. If the connection to the network is impossible, information (data for output) for acquiring a license key for activating the optional function from a management server is output by any method of QR code, NFC or displaying URL. The user uses a user terminal to connect to the management server on the basis of the data for output, and acquires license key data from the management server. When the user enters the license key, an optional function selected by the user is activated accordingly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
a setting means that sets an optional function; a determination means that determines whether the image forming apparatus can be connected to an external network when the optional function is set by the setting means; an output means that outputs acquisition information for acquiring activation information for activating the optional function from a server when it is determined by the determination means that a connection is not possible; an input means that inputs the activation information; and an activation means that activates the optional function in response to an input of the activation information by the input means.

2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a selection means that selects a method for outputting the acquisition information,
wherein the output means outputs the acquisition information by a method selected by the selection means.

3 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the input means inputs the activation information by a same method as the method selected by the selection means.

4 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the output means outputs encoded information obtained by encoding the acquisition information.

5 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the output means outputs encoded information obtained by encoding the acquisition information.

6 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the output means outputs the acquisition information by near field communication.

7 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the output means outputs the acquisition information by near field communication.

8 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the output means outputs data of a URL corresponding to the acquisition information to a displayer.

9 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the output means outputs data of a URL corresponding to the acquisition information to a displayer.

10 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the output means outputs the acquisition information to a user terminal provided being connectable to the server via the network, and wherein the input means inputs the activation information from the user terminal.

11 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the output means outputs the acquisition information to a user terminal provided being connectable to the server via the network, and wherein the input means inputs the activation information from the user terminal.

12 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the acquisition information includes information indicating a connection destination of the server, information for identifying the optional function, and information for specifying the image forming apparatus.

13 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the acquisition information includes information indicating a connection destination of the server, information for identifying the optional function, and information for specifying the image forming apparatus.

14 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the activation information is information to activate the optional function only in the image forming apparatus that has output the acquisition information.

15 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the activation information is information to activate the optional function only in the image forming apparatus that has output the acquisition information.

16 . An information processing system comprising an image forming apparatus and a user terminal provided being connectable to a server via a network, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a setting means that sets an optional function; a determination means that determines whether the image forming apparatus can be connected to the network when the optional function is set by the setting means; an output means that outputs acquisition information for acquiring activation information for activating the optional function from the server when it is determined by the determination means that a connection is not possible; an input means that inputs the activation information; and an activation means that activates the optional function in response to an input of the activation information by the input means, and the user terminal comprising a receiving means that receives the activation information transmitted from the server in accordance with the acquisition information.

17 . An information processing method of an information processing system comprising an image forming apparatus and a user terminal provided being connectable to a server via a network, the information processing method comprising:
(a) setting an optional function of the image forming apparatus; (b) determining whether the image forming apparatus can be connected to the network when setting the optional function in the (a); (c) outputting, from the image forming apparatus, acquisition information for acquiring activation information for activating the optional function from the server when it is determined in the (b) that a connection is not possible; (d) receiving, in the user terminal, the activation information transmitted from the server in accordance with the acquisition information; (e) inputting the activation information to the image forming apparatus; and (f) activating the optional function in response to an input of the activation information in the (e).

Assignees

• Sharp Kk

Inventors

• Hou Jiyuan

Classifications

• H04N1/00244 Primary

  with a server, e.g. an internet server (fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324) · CPC title

• H04N1/00209

  Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax · CPC title

• H04N1/00411

  the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen · CPC title

• H04N1/00962

  Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software (program loading in general G06F9/445; network-specific protocols involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34) · CPC title

• G06K17/0022

  arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device ("transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L) · CPC title