Method of processing workflow in which a function of an image forming apparatus and a function of a mobile device are combined and mobile device for performing the method

• US 10,048,915 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2015
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HP Printing Korea Co., Ltd. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: S-Printing Solution Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Cho, Tae-gyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Pachol, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US14/739,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20160179449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1222 Increasing security of the print job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1238 Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1275 Print workflow management, e.g. defining or changing a workflow, cross publishing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1856 characterized by its workflow
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00 Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00456 for layout preview, e.g. page layout
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00949 Combining applications, e.g. to create workflows allocation of computer machine resources considering the execution order of a plurality of tasks G06F9/5038
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

Provided is a method of processing a workflow that cannot be solely processed by an image forming apparatus, by using a resource of a mobile device in which a “bring your own device” (BYOD) application is installed, and a mobile device for performing the method.

Claims

1. A method of processing a workflow with a mobile device and a first image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

executing, by the mobile device, a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) application installed on the mobile device to provide a BYOD service that allows a user to control functions of the first image forming apparatus remotely from the mobile device;

discovering, via the BYOD application, at least one image forming apparatus that supports the BYOD service and displaying a list that identifies at least one image forming apparatus that supports the BYOD service, the displayed list including the first image forming apparatus;

receiving, from the first image forming apparatus during the discovering, capability information of the first image forming apparatus;

generating, via the BYOD application, a workflow in which a first function supported by the first image forming apparatus and a function of the mobile device are combined, generating the workflow further including setting options regarding the first function supported by the first image forming apparatus according to the capability information received from the first image forming apparatus;

selecting, via the BYOD application, the workflow;

connecting, via the BYOD application, the first image forming apparatus and the mobile device, which are used to process the workflow; and

executing, via the BYOD application, functions included in the workflow based on an order of processing the first function and the function of the mobile device, the order being defined in the workflow.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the executing of the functions included in the workflow comprises sequentially executing the functions based on the order.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the executing of the functions included in the workflow comprises:

receiving a result of executing the first function from the first image forming apparatus in response to a command to execute the first function; and

executing the function of the mobile device with respect to the result of executing the first function.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the receiving of the result of executing the first function comprises:

transmitting the command to execute the first function to the first image forming apparatus based on the capability information of the first image forming apparatus; and

receiving the result of executing the first function from the first image forming apparatus.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the executing of the function of the mobile device comprises executing the function of the mobile device with respect to the result of executing the first function by interlocking with an application executable in the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein, when a second function supported by a second image forming apparatus is further combined with functions included in the workflow and the connecting further comprises connecting the second image forming apparatus to the mobile device, the executing of functions included in the workflow further comprises receiving a result of executing the second function from the second image forming apparatus in response to a command to execute the second function on a result of executing the function of the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the first function is a scanning function for scanning a document, and the function of the mobile device is an editing function for editing a document, the executing of the functions included in the workflow comprises:

receiving a scanned document from the first image forming apparatus in response to a command to execute the scan function; and

executing the editing function with respect to the scanned document.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, when a document transmitting function of the mobile device is further combined with the functions included in the workflow, the executing of the functions included in the workflow further comprises executing the document transmitting function for transmitting an edited document, which is obtained by editing the scanned document by using the editing function, to an external device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein, when a sharing function of the mobile device is further combined with the functions included in the workflow, the executing of the functions included in the workflow further comprises executing the sharing function for sharing an edited document, which is obtained by editing the scanned document by using the editing function, with an external device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein, when a document transmitting function of the first image forming apparatus is further combined with the functions included in the workflow, the executing of the functions included in the workflow further comprises receiving a status of executing the document transmitting function from the first image forming apparatus in response to a command to execute the document transmitting function on an edited document obtained by editing the scanned document by using the editing function.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein, when a printing function supported by a second image forming apparatus is further combined with the functions included in the workflow and the connecting further comprises connecting the second image forming apparatus to the mobile device, the executing of the functions included in the workflow further comprises receiving a status of executing the printing function from the second image forming apparatus in response to a command to execute the printing function on an edited document obtained by editing the scanned document by using the editing function.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the BYOD application is not installed on the first image forming apparatus, receiving credential information from the first image forming apparatus used for identifying the BYOD application installed on the mobile device;

receiving information about an authority of the BYOD application which indicates a valid command for controlling the first image forming apparatus; and

performing a pairing operation with the first image forming apparatus to connect the mobile device with the first image forming apparatus.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving state information of the first image forming apparatus indicating the first image forming apparatus is performing a function for at least one other user and receiving standby information indicating the at least one other user has reserved use of the first image forming apparatus;

receiving a selection of a reserve function and transmitting a reservation request to the first image forming apparatus; and

receiving a notification indicating the first image forming apparatus is available upon completion of the function for the at least one other user.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program, which when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 1.

15. A mobile device for processing a workflow, the mobile device comprising:

an inputter to receive an input to generate and define a workflow using a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) application installed on the mobile device, in which a first function supported by a first image forming apparatus and a function of the mobile device are combined, and to receive an input to select the workflow;

a display screen to display the workflow;

communication hardware to connect the first image forming apparatus and the mobile device, which are used to process the workflow; and

a controller to;

execute the BYOD application that allows a user to control functions of the first image forming apparatus remotely from the mobile device,

control the communication hardware to perform a discovery process, via the BYOD application, of at least one image forming apparatus that supports the BYOD service,

control the display screen to display a list that identifies at least one image forming apparatus that supports the BYOD service, the displayed list including the first image forming apparatus, and

execute, via the BYOD application, functions included in the workflow based on an order of processing the first function and the function of the mobile device, the order being defined in the workflow,

wherein

the communication hardware is to receive, from the first image forming apparatus during the discovery process, capability information of the first image forming apparatus, and

the inputter is further to receive an input to set options regarding the first function supported by the first image forming apparatus according to the capability information received by the communication hardware from the first image forming apparatus, to generate and define the workflow.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the controller is further to sequentially execute the functions included in the workflow based on the order.

17. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the controller is further to receive a result of executing the first function from the first image forming apparatus in response to a command to execute the first function, and to execute the function of the mobile device with respect to the result of executing the first function.

18. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the controller is further to transmit the command to execute the first function to the first image forming apparatus based on the capability information of the first image forming apparatus, and to receive the result of executing the first function from the first image forming apparatus.

19. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the controller is further to execute the function of the mobile device with respect to the result of executing the first function by interworking with an application executable in the mobile device.

20. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein, when a second function supported by a second image forming apparatus is further combined with the functions included in the workflow and the communication hardware is further to connect the second image forming apparatus to the mobile device, and the controller is configured to receive a result of executing the second function from the second image forming apparatus in response to a command to execute the second function with respect to a result of executing the function of the mobile device.