Method and apparatus for communicating user information using body area network

• US 8,867,079 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2013
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Kishimoto, Kazuhisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Cammack, David S
• Application Number:
  US13/753,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20130194632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/12 Digital output to print unit , e.g. line printer, chain printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00344 with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus monitoring H04N1/00002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00496 Constructional details of the interface or console not otherwise provided for, e.g. rotating or tilting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00514 for individual users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0036 Detecting or checking connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

There is provided an information processing apparatus including: a body area network communication part that performs communication with a terminal apparatus carried by a user, using a user'"'"'s human body as a communication channel; a display and operating part having a display part that displays a screen and having, on the display part, an electrode for body area network communication, the screen receiving an operation performed by the user; and a control part that displays on the display part an operation key for allowing information stored in the terminal apparatus to be obtained by the body area network communication, when it is determined at the time of the user touching the electrode that communication between the body area network communication part and the terminal apparatus can be performed.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus having plural functions comprising:

a body area network communication part that performs communication with a terminal apparatus carried by a user, using a user'"'"'s human body as a communication channel;

a display and operating part having a display part that displays a screen and having, on said display part, an electrode for body area network communication, said screen receiving an operation performed by said user; and

a control part which controls said body area network communication part and said display and operating part, wherein

said control part makes said display part display a function selection screen for selecting any of said plural functions,

said control part determines whether communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established when any of said plural functions is selected in said function selection screen by said user, and wherein

when said control part determines that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is not established, said control part makes said display part display a first screen corresponding to the function that is selected in said function selection screen,

while when said control part determines that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established said control part makes said display part display a second screen which corresponds to said first screen, and to which is added an operation key for obtaining information, according to said selected function, by said body area network communication from information stored in said terminal apparatus.

2. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control part obtains information stored in said terminal apparatus through said body area network communication part after an input is made to said operation key displayed on said display and operating part.

3. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control part displays said operation key for a predetermined period of time after determining that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established.

4. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein in a case in which it is determined that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus cannot be established, when said operation key is being displayed, said control part deletes from the display said operation key being displayed.

5. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said function selection screen is an initially displayed screen.

6. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plural functions include a scanner function, and

wherein, when said scanner function is selected in said function selection screen and said control part determines that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established, then said control part makes said display part display the second screen which corresponds to said first screen corresponding to said scanner function to which is added as said operation key a key for obtaining destination information stored in said terminal apparatus.

7. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plural functions include a copy function, and

wherein, when said copy function is selected in said function selection screen and said control part determines that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established, then said control part makes said display part display the second screen which corresponds to said first screen corresponding to said copy function to which is added as said operation key a key for obtaining personal setting information stored in said terminal apparatus.

8. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plural functions include a user authentication function, and

wherein, when said user authentication function is selected in said function selection screen and said control part determines that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established, then said control part makes said display part display the second screen which corresponds to said first screen corresponding to said user authentication function to which is added as said operation key a key for obtaining user authentication information stored in said terminal apparatus.

9. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plural functions include a security document printing function, and

wherein, when said security document printing function is selected in said function selection screen and said control part determines that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established, then said control part makes said display part display the second screen which corresponds to said first screen corresponding to said security document printing function to which is added as said operation key a key for obtaining security document information stored in said terminal apparatus.

10. A control method for an information processing apparatus having plural functions including:

a body area network communication part that performs communication with a terminal apparatus carried by a user, using a user'"'"'s human body as a communication channel;

a display and operating part having a display part that displays a screen and having an electrode for body area network communication disposed on said display part, said screen receiving an operation performed by said user; and

a control part which controls said body area network communication part and said display and operating part, wherein

said control part makes said display part display a function selection screen for selecting any of said plural functions,

said control part determines whether communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established, when any of said plural functions is selected in said function selection screen by said user, and

when said control part determines that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is not established, said control part makes said display part display a first screen corresponding to the function that is selected in said function selection screen,

while when said control part determines that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established said control part makes said display part display a second screen which corresponds to said first screen, and to which is added an operation key for obtaining information, according to said selected function, by said body area network communication from information stored in said terminal apparatus.

11. The control method for an information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said control part obtains information stored in said terminal apparatus through said body area network communication part after said operation key is displayed followed by an input being made from said operation key displayed on said display part.

12. The control method for an information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said operation key is at least any one of a key for obtaining destination information stored in said terminal apparatus, a key for obtaining personal setting information stored in said terminal apparatus, a key for obtaining user authentication information stored in said terminal apparatus, and a key for obtaining security document information stored in said terminal apparatus.

13. The control method for an information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said control part displays said operation key for a predetermined period of time after determining that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established.

14. The control method for an information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein in a case in which it is determined that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus cannot be established, when said operation key is being displayed, said control part deletes said operation key being displayed.

15. The control method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said function selection screen is an initially displayed screen.

16. The control method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said plural functions include a scanner function, and

wherein, when said scanner function is selected in said function selection screen and said control part determines that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established, then said control part makes said display part display the second screen which corresponds to said first screen corresponding to said scanner function to which is added as said operation key a key for obtaining destination information stored in said terminal apparatus.

17. The control method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said plural functions include a copy function, and

wherein, when said copy function is selected in said function selection screen and said control part determines that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established, then said control part makes said display part display the second screen which corresponds to said first screen corresponding to said copy function to which is added as said operation key a key for obtaining personal setting information stored in said terminal apparatus.

18. The control method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said plural functions include a user authentication function, and

wherein, when said user authentication function is selected in said function selection screen and said control part determines that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established, then said control part makes said display part display the second screen which corresponds to said first screen corresponding to said user authentication function to which is added as said operation key a key for obtaining user authentication information stored in said terminal apparatus.

19. The control method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said plural functions include a security document printing function, and

wherein, when said security document printing function is selected in said function selection screen and said control part determines that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established, then said control part makes said display part display the second screen which corresponds to said first screen corresponding to said security document printing function to which is added as said operation key a key for obtaining security document information stored in said terminal apparatus.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium stored with a program to cause a computer to control an information processing apparatus which comprises a body area network communication part that performs communication with a terminal apparatus carried by a user, using a user'"'"'s human body as a communication channel;

and a display and operating part having a display part that displays a screen and having an electrode for body area network communication disposed on said display part, said screen receiving an operation performed by said user; and

a control part which controls said body area network communication part and said display and operating part, said program causing the computer to execute a process comprising;

a step (a) of determining at a time of said user touching said electrode whether communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus can be established; and

a step (b) of displaying on said display part an operation key for obtaining information stored in said terminal apparatus by using said body area network communication, when it is determined at said step (a) that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus can be established; and

said control part makes said display part display a function selection screen for selecting any of said plural functions,

said control part determines whether communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established in response to selection by said user in said function selection screen of any of said plural functions, and

when said control part determines that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is not established, said control part makes said display part display a first screen corresponding to the function that is selected in said function selection screen,

while when said control part determines that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established said control part makes said display part display a second screen which corresponds to said first screen, and to which is added an operation key for obtaining information, according to said selected function, by said body area network communication from information stored in said terminal apparatus.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium claimed in claim 20, said program further causing the computer to execute:

a step (c) of obtaining information stored in said terminal apparatus through said body area network communication part in response to said step (b) being performed followed by an input being made from said operation key displayed on said display part.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 20, wherein said operation key is at least any one of a key for obtaining destination information stored in said terminal apparatus, a key for obtaining personal setting information stored in said terminal apparatus, a key for obtaining user authentication information stored in said terminal apparatus, and a key for obtaining security document information stored in said terminal apparatus.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 20, wherein said operation key displayed in said step (b) is displayed for a predetermined period of time after determining in said step (a) that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus can be established.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium claimed in claim 20, said program further causes the computer to execute:

a step (d) of deleting, when said operation key is being displayed, said operation key being displayed in a case in which it is determined in said step (a) that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus cannot be established.

25. The information processing apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said function selection screen is an initially displayed screen.

26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 20, wherein said plural functions include a scanner function, and

wherein, when said scanner function is selected in said function selection screen and said control part determines that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established, then said control part makes said display part display the second screen which corresponds to said first screen corresponding to said scanner function to which is added as said operation key a key for obtaining destination information stored in said terminal apparatus.

27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 20, wherein said plural functions include a copy function, and

wherein, when said copy function is selected in said function selection screen and said control part determines that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established, then said control part makes said display part display the second screen which corresponds to said first screen corresponding to said copy function to which is added as said operation key a key for obtaining personal setting information stored in said terminal apparatus is added as said operation key.

28. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 20, wherein said plural functions include a user authentication function, and

wherein, when said user authentication function is selected in said function selection screen and said control part determines that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established, then said control part makes said display part display the second screen which corresponds to said first screen corresponding to said user authentication function to which is added as said operation key a key for obtaining user authentication information stored in said terminal apparatus is added as said operation key.

29. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 20, wherein said plural functions include a security document printing function, and

wherein, when said security document printing function is selected in said function selection screen and said control part determines that communication between said body area network communication part and said terminal apparatus is established, then said control part makes said display part display the second screen which corresponds to said first screen corresponding to said security document printing function to which is added as said operation key a key for obtaining security document information stored in said terminal apparatus is added as said operation key.