Service providing system and detecting service that includes service providing device and service providing device that provides services via wireless network

• US 7,543,071 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Kiyose, Katsumi, Hibino, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Haresh N
• Application Number:
  US11/544,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20070033287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 709/229, 709217-228, 455460-466, 4554561-4565, 342450-458
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2115 Third party
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration

Abstract

A service providing system including an administrator terminal device, a user terminal device, and a service providing device. The service providing device authorizes a process to register a user terminal device after determining that the service providing device is connectable to both the user terminal device and the administrator terminal device via a wireless network. When the service providing device is under the care and supervision of the administrator, the service providing device is entrusted to register the user terminal device, thereby providing services to the user terminal device without burdening the administrator. The system further includes an image outputting device as one of service providing devices. The system adjusts a timing of producing an image, depending on who stays in a communication range.

Claims

1. A service providing system comprising:

a first device that wirelessly transmits first identification data for identifying the first device and a command to request a service;

a first receiving unit that wirelessly receives the first identification data when the first device is positioned within a communication range;

a first determining unit that determines whether the first device is positioned within the communication range based on whether the first receiving unit receives the first identification data;

a service providing device that provides the service;

a controlling unit that controls the service providing device based on a determination by the first determining unit of whether the first device is positioned within the communication range;

a second device that wirelessly transmits second identification data for identifying the second device;

a second receiving unit that wirelessly receives the second identification data when the second device is positioned within the communication range;

a second determining unit that determines at least one of whether the second device is positioned within the communication range based on whether the second receiving unit receives the second identification data, and whether the second device is nearing the service providing device;

a restriction controlling unit that applies a restriction on the provision of the service from the service providing device based on one of a first determination by the second determining unit of that the second device is positioned within the communication range, and a second determination by the second determining unit of that the second device is nearing the service providing device; and

a third determining unit that determines whether the second device is moving away from the service providing device, wherein the restriction placed on the provision of the service is removed based on a determination by the third determining unit that the second device is moving away from the service providing device.

2. The service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the restriction placed on the provision of the service can be removed based on a third determination by the second determining unit that the second device is no longer within the communication range.

3. The service providing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication range varying unit that varies the communication range; and

a confirming unit that confirms the range of possible communication with the second device by varying the communication range by means of the communication range varying unit and determining whether communication with the second device is possible in the varied communication range, wherein by repeatedly confirming the communication range with the confirming unit, the direction where the second device is moving relative to the service providing device is determined.

4. The service providing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third determining unit that determines whether the second device satisfies predetermined conditions based on the second identification data, wherein the restriction controlling unit applies restrictions when the third determining unit determines that the second device satisfies the predetermined conditions.

5. The service providing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a notifying unit that wirelessly transmits notification data regarding the restriction to the first device; and

a reporting unit provided in the first device that executes a report regarding the restriction.

6. The service providing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a restriction removing unit that transmits a command to remove a restriction, wherein the restriction controlling unit removes the restriction based on the command received from the restriction removing unit.

7. The service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the standard for communicating the first and second identification data is a wireless LAN standard.

8. The service providing system according to claim 7, wherein the wireless LAN standard is the Bluetooth (trademark) standard.

9. The service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the service produces an image.

10. A service providing system comprising:

a first device that wirelessly transmits first identification data for identifying the first device and a command to request a service;

a second device that wirelessly transmits second identification data for identifying the second device;

a first receiving unit that wirelessly receives the first identification data when the first device is positioned within a communication range;

a second receiving unit that wirelessly receives the second identification data when the second device is positioned within the communication range;

a third receiving unit that receives service information associated with the first and second identification data;

a first determining unit that determines whether the first device is positioned within the communication range based on whether the first receiving unit receives the first identification data;

a second determining unit that determines whether the second device is positioned within the communication range based on whether the second receiving unit receives the second identification data;

a service providing device that provides a service based on the command;

a first controlling unit that controls the service providing device, based on the service information associated with the first identification data, and based on a determination by the first determining unit of whether the first device is positioned within the communication range;

a restriction controlling unit that applies a restriction on the provision of the service from the service providing device based on the service information received by the third receiving unit; and

a third determining unit that determines whether the second device satisfies predetermined conditions based on the second identification data, wherein the restriction controlling unit applies restrictions when the third determining unit determines that the second device satisfies the predetermined conditions.

11. The service providing system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a notifying unit that wirelessly transmits notification data regarding the restriction to the first device; and

a reporting unit provided in the first device that executes a report regarding the restriction.

12. The service providing system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a restriction removing unit that transmits a command to remove a restriction, wherein the restriction controlling unit removes the restriction based on the command received from the restriction removing unit.

13. The service providing system according to claim 10, wherein the standard for communicating the identification data is a wireless LAN standard.

14. The service providing system according to claim 13, wherein the wireless LAN standard is the Bluetooth (trademark) standard.

15. The service providing system according to claim 10, wherein the service produces an image.

16. A service providing device comprising:

a first receiving unit that wirelessly receives first identification data transmitted from a first device positioned within a communication range, the first device being capable of wirelessly transmitting the first identification data identifying itself and a command to request a service;

a first determining unit that determines whether the first device is positioned within the communication range based on whether the first receiving unit receives the first identification data;

a service providing unit that provides a service based on the command;

a controlling unit that controls the service providing unit based on a determination by the first determining unit of that the first device is positioned within the communication range;

a second receiving unit that wirelessly receives second identification data transmitted from a second device positioned within the communication range, the second device being capable of wirelessly transmitting the second identification data identifying itself;

a second determining unit that determines at least one of whether the second device is positioned within the communication range based on whether the second receiving unit receives the second identification data, and whether the second device is nearing the service providing unit;

a restriction controlling unit that applies a restriction on the provision of the service from the service providing unit based on one of a first determination by the second determining unit of that the second device is positioned within the communication range, and a second determination by the second determining unit of that the second device is nearing the service providing unit; and

a third determining unit that determines whether the second device is moving away from the service providing device, wherein the restriction placed on the provision of the service is removed based on a determination by the third determining unit that the second device is moving away from the service providing device.

17. A service providing device comprising:

a receiving unit that wirelessly receives identification data transmitted from a first device positioned within a communication range, the first device being capable of wirelessly transmitting the identification data identifying itself;

a service providing unit that provides a service based on a command transmitted from a second device;

a first determining unit that determines at least one of whether the first device is positioned within the communication range based on whether the second receiving unit receives the identification data, and whether the first device is nearing the service providing unit;

a restriction controlling unit for applying a restriction on the provision of the service from the service providing unit when the first determining unit performs one of two determinations of that the first device is positioned within the communication range, and that the first device is nearing the service providing device; and

a third determining unit that determines whether the second device is moving away from the service providing device, wherein the restriction placed on the provision of the service is removed based on a determination by the third determining unit that the second device is moving away from the service providing device.

18. A service providing device comprising:

a first receiving unit that wirelessly receives first identification data transmitted from a first device positioned within a communication range, the first device being capable of wirelessly transmitting the first identification data identifying itself and a command to request a service;

a second receiving unit that wirelessly receives second identification data transmitted from a second device positioned within the communication range, the second device being capable of wirelessly transmitting the second identification data identifying itself;

a third receiving unit that receives services information associated with the first and second identification data;

a first determining unit that determines whether the first device is positioned within the communication range based on whether the first receiving unit receives the first identification data;

a second determining unit that determines whether the second device is positioned within the communication range based on whether the second receiving unit receives the second identification data;

a service providing unit that provides the service;

a first controlling unit that controls the service providing device, based on the service information received by the third receiving unit and a determination by the first determining unit of whether the first device is positioned within the communication range;

a restriction controlling unit that applies a restriction on the provision of the service from the service providing unit based on the service information received by the third receiving unit; and

a third determining unit that determines whether the second device is moving away from the service providing device, wherein the restriction placed on the provision of the service is removed based on a determination by the third determining unit that the second device is moving away from the service providing device.

19. A detecting device comprising:

a first receiving unit that wirelessly receives first identification data transmitted from a first device positioned within a communication range, the first device being capable of wirelessly transmitting the first identification data identifying itself and a command to request a service from a service providing device;

a first determining unit that determines whether the first device is positioned within a communication range based on whether the first receiving unit receives the first identification data;

a first controlling unit that controls a service providing device, based on a determination by the first determining unit of whether the first device is positioned within the communication range;

a second receiving unit that wirelessly receives second identification data transmitted from a second device positioned within a communication range, the second device being capable of wirelessly transmitting the second identification data identifying itself;

a second determining unit that determines at least one of whether the second device is positioned within the communication range based on whether the second receiving unit receives the second identification data, and whether the second device is nearing the service providing device;

a first restriction controlling unit that applies a restriction on the provision of the service from the service providing device based on one of a first determination by the second determining unit of that the second device is positioned within the communication range, and a second determination by the second determining unit of that the second device is nearing the service providing device; and

a third determining unit that determines whether the second device is moving away from the service providing device, wherein the restriction placed on the provision of the service is removed based on a determination by the third determining unit that the second device is moving away from the service providing device.

20. A detecting device comprising:

a receiving unit that wirelessly receives identification data transmitted from a first device positioned within a communication range, the first device being capable of wirelessly transmitting the identification data identifying itself;

a service providing device that provides a service based on a command transmitted from a second device;

a determining unit that determines at least one of whether the first device is positioned within the communication range based on whether the receiving unit receives the identification, and whether the first device is nearing the service providing device;

a restriction controlling unit that applies a restriction on the provision of the service from the service providing device when the determining unit performs one of a first determination of that the first device is positioned within the communication range, and a second determination of that the first device is nearing the service providing device; and

a third determining unit that determines whether the second device is moving away from the service providing device, wherein the restriction placed on the provision of the service is removed based on a determination by the third determining unit that the second device is moving away from the service providing device.

21. A detecting device comprising:

a first receiving unit that wirelessly receives first identification data transmitted from a first device positioned within a communication range, the first device being capable of wirelessly transmitting the first identification data identifying itself and a command to request a service;

a second receiving unit that wirelessly receives second identification data transmitted from a second device positioned within a communication range, the second device being capable of wirelessly transmitting the second identification data identifying itself;

a third receiving unit that receives service information associated with the first and second identification data;

a first determining unit that determines whether the first device is positioned within the communication range based on whether the first receiving unit receives the first identification data;

a second determining unit that determines whether the second device is positioned within the communication range based on whether the second receiving unit receives the second identification;

a controlling unit that controls the service providing device based on the service information received by the third receiving unit and associated with the second identification data and based on a determination by the second determining unit of whether the second device is positioned within the communication range;

a restriction controlling unit that applies a restriction on the provision of the service from the service providing device based on the service information received by the third receiving unit and when the second device is positioned within the communication range; and

a third determining unit that determines whether the second device is moving away from the service providing device, wherein the restriction placed on the provision of the service is removed based on a determination by the third determining unit that the second device is moving away from the service providing device.

22. A computer-readable recording storage medium that stores a computer program, the computer program comprising:

a first receiving process for wirelessly receiving first identification data transmitted from a first device positioned within a communication range, the first device being capable of wirelessly transmitting the first identification data identifying itself and a command to request a service;

a first determining process for determining whether the first device is positioned within the communication range based on whether the first identification data is received;

a first controlling process for controlling a service providing device based on the determination in the first determining process of whether the first device is positioned within the communication range;

a second receiving process for wirelessly receiving second identification data transmitted from a second device positioned within a communication range, the second device being capable of wirelessly transmitting the second identification data identifying itself;

a second determining process for determining at least one of whether the second device is positioned within the communication range based on whether the second identification data is received and determining whether the second device is nearing the service providing device;

a restriction controlling process for applying a restriction on the provision of the service from the service providing device based on one of a first determination in the second determining process of that the second device is positioned within the communication range, and a second determination in the second determining process of that the second device is nearing the service providing device; and

a third determining process that determines whether the second device is moving away from the service providing device, wherein the restriction placed on the provision of the service is removed based on a determination by the third determining process that the second device is moving away from the service providing device.

23. A computer-readable recording storage medium that stores a computer program, the computer program comprising:

a first receiving process for wirelessly receiving first identification data transmitted from a first device positioned within a communication range, the first device being capable of wirelessly transmitting the first identification data identifying itself and a command to request a service;

a second receiving process for wirelessly receiving second identification data transmitted from a second device positioned within a communication range, the second device being capable of wirelessly transmitting the second identification data identifying itself;

a third receiving process for receiving service information associated with the first and second identification data;

a first determining process for determining whether the first device is positioned within the communication range based on whether the first identification data is received;

a second determining process for determining whether the second device is positioned within the communication range based on whether the second identification data is received;

a controlling process for controlling the service providing device based on the service information received in the third receiving process and associated with the first identification data and based on the determination in the first determining process of whether the first device is positioned within the communication range;

a restriction controlling process for applying a restriction on the provision of the service from the service providing device and the service information received in the third receiving process; and

a third determining process that determines whether the second device is moving away from the service providing device, wherein the restriction placed on the provision of the service is removed based on a determination by the third determining process that the second device is moving away from the service providing device.