Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and image forming method

• US 10,104,243 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2016
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Baba, Motofumi
• Primary Examiner(s): McLean, Neil R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dottin, Darryl V
• Application Number:
  US15/042,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20170048403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 358 114
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/36 Other airport installations ground installations for de-icing aircraft B64F5/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/87 Mounting of imaging devices, e.g. mounting of gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/90 Launching from or landing on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00251 with an apparatus for taking photographic images, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00559 Mounting or support of components or elements H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/006 Using near field communication, e.g. an inductive loop
• 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: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material, a landing pad unit that an unmanned flying device lands on after a flight thereof, and an information exchanging unit that exchanges information with the unmanned flying device landed on the landing pad unit.

Claims

1. A multifunction printer, comprising:

a printer configured to form an image on a recording material;

a landing pad configured for an unmanned flying device to land on after a flight of the unmanned flying device; and

a first communicator configured to exchange information with the unmanned flying device landed on the landing pad,

wherein the multifunction printer has a monitoring status in which the multifunction printer monitors an area.

2. The multifunction printer according to claim 1, wherein the first communicator is further configured to exchange information via near-field radio communication.

3. The multifunction printer according to claim 1, wherein the first communicator is further configured to acquire indoor information collected by the unmanned flying device from the unmanned flying device having landed on the landing pad.

4. The multifunction printer according to claim 2, wherein the first communicator is further configured to acquire indoor information collected by the unmanned flying device from the unmanned flying device having landed on the landing pad.

5. The multifunction printer according to claim 3, wherein the first communicator is further configured to acquire the indoor information that the unmanned flying device has collected via near-field radio communication during the flight.

6. The multifunction printer according to claim 4, wherein the first communicator is further configured to acquire the indoor information that the unmanned flying device has collected via near-field radio communication during the flight.

7. The multifunction printer according to claim 1, wherein the first communicator is further configured to acquire information related to at least one of an image, sound, odor, temperature, and humidity.

8. The multifunction printer according to claim 2, wherein the first communicator is further configured to acquire information related to at least one of an image, sound, odor, temperature, and humidity.

9. The multifunction printer according to claim 3, wherein the first communicator is further configured to acquire information related to at least one of an image, sound, odor, temperature, and humidity.

10. The multifunction printer according to claim 4, wherein the first communicator is further configured to acquire information related to at least one of an image, sound, odor, temperature, and humidity.

11. The multifunction printer according to claim 5, wherein the first communicator is further configured to acquire information related to at least one of an image, sound, odor, temperature, and humidity.

12. The multifunction printer according to claim 6, wherein the first communicator is further configured to acquire information related to at least one of an image, sound, odor, temperature, and humidity.

13. The multifunction printer according to claim 1, wherein the first communicator is further configured to acquire, from the unmanned flying device, information as to whether or not a person is present indoors.

14. The multifunction printer according to claim 2, wherein the first communicator is further configured to acquire, from the unmanned flying device, information as to whether or not a person is present indoors.

15. The multifunction printer according to claim 1, wherein the first communicator is further configured to transmit, to the unmanned flying device, configuration information that is determined in accordance with information received from the unmanned flying device.

16. The multifunction printer according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second communicator configured to perform communication via a network; and

a communication controller configured to exchange information with the unmanned flying device through the Internet via the second communicator.

17. The multifunction printer according to claim 16, wherein the second communicator is further configured to acquire image information that the printer uses to form the image.

18. The multifunction printer according to claim 1, further comprising a detector configured to detect an irregularity in a predetermined monitoring area.

21. The multifunction printer according to claim 1, wherein the multifunction printer is configured to control the unmanned flying device.

19. A multifunction printer system, comprising:

a multifunction printer; and

an unmanned flying device configured to exchange information with the multifunction printer, the unmanned flying device exchanging the information when the unmanned flying device lands on the multifunction printer,

wherein the multifunction printer includes

a printer configured to form an image on a recording material,

a landing pad configured for the unmanned flying device to land on after a flight of the unmanned flying device, and

a communicator configured to exchange information with the unmanned flying device landed on the landing pad, and

wherein the multifunction printer has a monitoring status in which the multifunction printer monitors an area.

20. A multifunction printer method, comprising:

forming an image on a recording material using a printer;

landing an unmanned flying device on a landing pad after a flight of the unmanned flying device;

exchanging information with the unmanned flying device landed on the landing pad; and

monitoring, using the multifunction printer, an area when a status of the multifunction printer is a monitoring status.