Image forming apparatus and method for controlling an image forming apparatus

• US 9,948,822 B1
• Filed: 03/01/2017
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Sadakuni, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Diaby, Moustapha
• Application Number:
  US15/447,002
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00021 Picture signal circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00037 Detecting, i.e. determining the occurrence of a predetermined state H04N1/00031 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00082 Adjusting or controlling interrupting an operation H04N1/00915; inhibiting an operation H04N1/00925
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00697 in an output tray
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32769 in response to detection of an original
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a detection section that detects a distance between the image forming apparatus and a portable terminal, and a controller. The controller determines whether the distance meets a predetermined condition, and controls operations relating to an image forming job if the detected distance meets the predetermined condition.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a detection section configured to detect a distance between the image forming apparatus and a portable terminal;

a sheet detection section configured to detect a sheet positioned at a predetermined position on the image forming apparatus;

a communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with the portable terminal; and

a controller configured to;

determine whether the detected distance is less than a predetermined distance for longer than a predetermined time starting when the portable terminal was first detected by the detection section inside a predetermined area,

if the detected distance is less than the predetermined distance for longer than the predetermined time, acquire identification information from the portable terminal,

determine, based on the identification information, whether the portable terminal is registered in connection with the image forming job,

control execution of an image forming job if the detected distance is less than the predetermined distance for longer than the predetermined time, and

after execution of the image forming job, control the communication interface to communicate, to the portable terminal, information indicating the sheet has been left at the predetermined position, if the portable terminal is registered in connection with the image forming job, and if the detected distance changes from less than the predetermined distance to more than the predetermined distance while the sheet detection section detects the sheet positioned at the predetermined position.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a storage section configured to store print data associated with the portable terminal, wherein

the controller prints the stored print data if the detected distance is less than the predetermined distance for longer than the predetermined time.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein

the controller acquires the print data from the portable terminal if the controller determines that the distance is less than the predetermined distance for longer than the predetermined time, and

the storage section stores the acquired print data.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detected distance is determined to be more than the predetermined distance

if the portable terminal cannot be detected by the detection section.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the sheet detection section is configured to detect the sheet positioned at the predetermined position by detecting a discharged sheet, detecting opening and closing of a platen cover, or detecting a document remaining on a document feeder.

6. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus, comprising:

detecting a distance between the image forming apparatus and a portable terminal;

determining whether the detected distance is less than a predetermined distance for longer than a predetermined time starting when the portable terminal was first detected by the detection section inside a predetermined area;

if the detected distance is less than the predetermined distance for longer than the predetermined time, acquiring identification information from the portable terminal;

determining, based on the identification information, whether the portable terminal is registered in connection with the image forming job;

controlling execution of an image forming job if the detected distance is less than the predetermined distance for longer than the predetermined time;

detecting whether the sheet is at a predetermined position on the image forming apparatus;

after execution of the image forming job, communicating, to the portable terminal, information indicating the sheet has been left, if the portable terminal is registered in connection with the image forming job, and if the detected distance changes from less than the predetermined distance to more than the predetermined distance while the sheet is detected at the predetermined position.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

storing print data associated with the portable terminal, and

printing the stored print data if the detected distance is less than the predetermined distance for longer than the predetermined time.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

acquiring the print data from the portable terminal if the detected distance is less than the predetermined distance for longer than the predetermined time.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein detecting whether the sheet is at a predetermined position on the image forming apparatus includes one of a discharged sheet, detecting opening and closing of a platen cover, and detecting a document remained on document feeder.