Beacon utilization system, method, beacon utilization method

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, a beacon utilization system comprises an image forming apparatus, a server and a mobile terminal. The image forming apparatus wirelessly transmits a beacon including identification information, and sends a status to the server. The server receives the identification information from the mobile terminal, and sends map information for displaying the image forming apparatus specified by the identification information to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal receives the beacon, sends the identification information to the server, receives the map information from the server, and displays a map screen for displaying the status of the image forming apparatus indicating a position of the image forming apparatus on the basis of the map information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method by a server, comprising:
 storing map information including positions of a plurality of image forming apparatuses;   receiving identification information that specifies each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses and a status sent by each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;   storing the status in association with the identification information;   receiving the identification information identifying an image forming apparatus of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, from a mobile terminal; and   in response to receipt of the identification information from the mobile terminal, sending map information for displaying the image forming apparatus and the status specified by the identification information to the mobile terminal.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 regularly receiving the identification information, a status of a job, a status of electric power, presence/absence of an error status, a residual quantity of toner, and a residual quantity of papers from the image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending the status of the image forming apparatus to the mobile terminal, wherein the status is at least one of a status of a job, a status of electric power, presence/absence of an error status, a residual quality of toner, and a residual quantity of papers.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the identification information comprises a media access address.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending the map information including the image forming apparatus specified by the identification information and image forming apparatuses around the specified image forming apparatus to the mobile terminal.   
     
     
         6 . A method by a server, comprising:
 storing job information specifying a job associated with a user;   receiving first identification information that specifies each of a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a status sent by each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;   storing the status in association with the first identification information;   receiving the first identification information identifying an image forming apparatus among the plurality of image forming apparatuses and the second identification information identifying a user from a mobile terminal;   in response to receiving the first identification information and the second identification information from the mobile terminal, sending the job information associated with the user specified by the second identification information to the image forming apparatus specified by the first identification information.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the first identification information comprises a media access address.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the second identification information comprises a password and login name.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 receiving a print job from the mobile terminal.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 sending the status of the image forming apparatus to the mobile terminal, wherein the status is at least one of a status of a job, a status of electric power, presence/absence of an error status, a residual quality of toner, and a residual quantity of papers.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 regularly receiving the identification information, a status of a job, a status of electric power, presence/absence of an error status, a residual quantity of toner, and a residual quantity of papers from the image forming apparatus.