Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and computer program product

• US 9,230,376 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2014
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Arai, Mami, Sakurai, Minako
• Primary Examiner(s): Menberu, Beniyam
• Application Number:
  US14/504,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20150098100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/41 with means for the generation of identity documents
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/02 with bell or annunciator systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00251 with an apparatus for taking photographic images, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00334 with an apparatus processing barcodes or the like arrangements for sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: an acquisition unit that acquires visitor information regarding a visitor and notification destination information indicating a destination of notification to a visitor-receiving person who is to receive the visitor; an issuance unit that, based on the visitor information acquired by the acquisition unit, issues a permit indicating that the visitor is allowed to enter; and a notification unit that notifies the destination of notification indicated by the notification destination information acquired by the acquisition unit that the visitor has arrived.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an acquisition unit that acquires, from a mobile terminal carried by a visitor, visitor information regarding the visitor and notification destination information indicating a destination of notification to a visitor-receiving person who is to receive the visitor;

an issuance unit that, based on the visitor information acquired by the acquisition unit, issues a permit indicating that the visitor is allowed to enter; and

a notification unit that notifies the destination of notification indicated by the notification destination information acquired by the acquisition unit that the visitor has arrived, wherein

the acquisition unit acquires the visitor information and the notification destination information via an image capturing apparatus that acquires an encoded information image that contains the visitor information and the notification destination information, and

the issuance unit issues the permit by printing out an image that includes the visitor information.

2. An image forming system including an information processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a mobile terminal carried by a visitor that are communicably connected to one another via a network,

the information processing apparatus comprising:

an information image generating unit that generates an information image containing visitor information regarding a visitor and notification destination information indicating a destination of notification to a visitor-receiving person who is to receive the visitor, and

a transmission unit that transmits the information image generated by the information image generating unit to the mobile terminal,

the mobile terminal comprising;

a reception unit that receives the information image transmitted by the information processing apparatus; and

a display unit that displays the information image received by the reception unit,

the image forming apparatus comprising;

an acquisition unit that acquires the visitor information and the notification destination information contained in the information image;

an issuance unit that, based on the visitor information acquired by the acquisition unit, issues a permit having an image printed thereon that contains the visitor information and indicates that the visitor is allowed to enter; and

a notification unit that notifies the destination of notification indicated by the notification destination information acquired by the acquisition unit that the visitor has arrived.

3. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein

the information image generating unit generates an information image containing notification destination information indicating a plurality of destinations of notification, and

the notification unit notifies the plurality of destinations of notification indicated by the notification destination information that the visitor has arrived.

4. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein

the information processing apparatus further comprises a mail generating unit that generates a mail containing as an attachment the information image generated by the information image generating unit,

the transmission unit transmits the information image by transmitting the mail generated by the mail generating unit to the mobile terminal,

the reception unit receives the information image by receiving the mail transmitted by the transmission unit,

the acquisition unit acquires the visitor information and the notification destination information by acquiring the information image captured by an image capturing apparatus, and

the notification unit provides notification that the visitor has arrived by transmitting a visitor information notification mail indicating that the visitor has arrived.

5. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein

when transmitting the visitor information notification mail, the notification unit sets therein a destination address for transmission of a mail-opening confirmation mail in advance and transmits the mail, and

when the information processing apparatus has received the visitor information notification mail, the transmission unit transmits, in response to the visitor information notification mail, a mail-opening confirmation mail or a return mail to the destination address for transmission set in advance, the mail-opening confirmation mail or return mail indicating that the visitor information notification mail has been opened at a destination thereof.

6. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein

when transmitting the visitor information notification mail, the notification unit sets therein a destination address for transmission of a mail-opening confirmation mail in advance and transmits the mail, and

when a given length of time has passed with no mail-opening confirmation mail received since reception of the visitor information notification mail by the information processing apparatus, the transmission unit forwards the visitor information notification mail to a predetermined mail address.

7. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises an input device that accepts input indicating the visitor information and the notification destination information.

8. The image forming system according to claim 4, further comprising an image capturing apparatus that photographs the visitor, wherein

the issuance unit issues a permit having an image printed thereon that includes a photograph of the visitor taken by the image capturing apparatus.

9. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the issuance unit issues a permit having an image printed thereon in which an image indicating the visitor information is arranged in a predetermined layout.

10. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein

the information image generating unit generates an information image containing effective period information indicating an effective period of the permit, and

the issuance unit determines not to issue the permit when the effective period information indicates that the effective period has expired.

11. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing an information processing program, the program causing a computer to execute:

acquiring, from a mobile terminal carried by a visitor, visitor information regarding the visitor and notification destination information indicating a destination of notification to a visitor-receiving person who is to receive the visitor;

based on the acquired visitor information, issuing a permit indicating that the visitor is allowed to enter; and

notifying the destination of notification indicated by the acquired notification destination information that the visitor has arrived, wherein

the acquiring includes acquiring the visitor information and the notification destination information via an image capturing apparatus that acquires an encoded information image that contains the visitor information and the notification destination information, and

the issuing includes issuing the permit by printing out an image that includes the visitor information.