Information providing apparatus, terminal device, information providing system, and computer readable medium

• US 9,699,332 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2016
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Kono, Daisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): TALUKDER, MD K
• Application Number:
  US15/142,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20160241727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 455557
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1232 Transmitting printer device capabilities, e.g. upon request or periodically
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1253 Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00424 using a list of graphical elements, e.g. icons or icon bar
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00435 arranged in a predetermined sequence, e.g. using next and previous buttons
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00464 using browsers, i.e. interfaces based on mark-up languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00503 Customising to a particular machine or model, machine function or application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00915 Assigning priority to, or interrupting, a particular operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00923 Variably assigning priority H04N1/0092 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32496 Changing the task performed, e.g. reading and transmitting, receiving and reproducing, copying facsimile mode changing H04N1/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33384 according to transient characteristics or state
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• 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
• 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: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

An information providing apparatus includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The receiving unit receives, from a terminal device connected to the information providing apparatus via a communication path, operation state information indicating an operation state of the terminal device. If it is determined, based on the operation state information, that the terminal device is in a specific operation state associated with an image processing operation, the transmitting unit transmits to the terminal device one or plural pieces of specific information associated with an image processing operation executable after the specific operation state has been completed. When transmitting the plural pieces of specific information to the terminal device, the transmitting unit transmits the plural pieces of specific information to the terminal device in accordance with priorities. The priorities are assigned to the plural pieces of specific information in accordance with the specific operation state.

Claims

1. An information providing apparatus comprising:

a first receiving unit configured to receive, from a terminal device, operation state information indicating an operation state of the terminal device, the terminal device being connected to the information providing apparatus via a communication path;

a transmitting unit configured to transmit, in response to determining, based on the operation state information, that the terminal device is in a specific operation state associated with a processing operation, one or more pieces of user interface information to the terminal device, the one or more pieces of user interface information being associated with the operation state;

a second receiving unit configured to receive control data for a processing operation to be performed by the information providing apparatus, the control data is set by the terminal device based on the one or more pieces of user interface information; and

a performing unit configured to perform processing operation based on the control data, wherein

the operation state information comprises at least one of i) information indicating a display of a type of application software operating and displayed on the terminal device and ii) information indicating a display of an operation being performed using the application software operating and displayed on the terminal device,

wherein the one or more pieces of user interface information comprise a control instruction configured to instruct the terminal device to display a second user interface corresponding to the application software and different than a display of a first user interface indicated by the operation state information.

2. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the transmitting unit is configured to transmit to the terminal device, as user interface information, address data of a user interface.

3. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the transmitting unit is configured to transmit to the terminal device, as user interface information, data of a setting user interface for setting the operating conditions of functions of the information providing apparatus.

4. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1,

the operation state is a type of application software operating on the terminal device.

5. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1,

the operation state is an operation being performed using application software operating on the terminal device.

6. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more pieces of user interface information further comprise an indication of a frequency at which a function displayed by the second user interface has been previously executed.

7. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second user interface comprises a list of functions which may be executed in correspondence with the application software, and the list is displayed on the user interface in a descending order of priority determined according to frequencies at which the functions have been previously executed.