Information processing apparatus, recording medium, and information exchange method

Abstract

According to an embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a non-contact communication device and a processor. The non-contact communication device performs non-contact communication in a reader mode or an inter-device communication mode. The processor switches the non-contact communication device to the inter-device communication mode when transmission request information for requesting transfer of specific information is set in an electronic message received by the non-contact communication device in the reader mode from a second non-contact communication device, and cause the non-contact communication device that is switched to the inter-device communication mode to transmit the electronic message including the information requested in the transmission request information to the second non-contact communication device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An information processing apparatus, comprising:
 a non-contact communication device that performs non-contact communication in a reader mode or an inter-device communication mode;   a communication device that performs communication via a network; and   a processor that
 switches the non-contact communication device from the reader mode to the inter-device communication mode when the non-contact communication device that performs the non-contact communication in the reader mode receives the first electronic message transmitted from a terminal device that performs the non-contact communication in a card mode and transmits connection information for communicatively connecting via the network to the terminal device that is a transmission source of the received first electronic message, 
 transmits the second electronic message including the connection information for the terminal device to the non-contact communication device switched in the inter-device communication mode, and 
 communicatively connects the terminal device with the communication device via the network based on the connection information transmitted to the terminal device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the processor switches the non-contact communication device from the inter-device communication mode to the reader mode after transmitting the second electronic message including the connection information in the inter-device communication mode.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the processor switches the reader mode to the inter-device communication mode or the inter-device communication mode to the reader mode by reactivating the non-contact communication device.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the processor reactivates the non-contact communication device when transmitting the second electronic message including the connection information.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the processor further reactivates the non-contact communication device after transmitting the second electronic message including the connection information.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a printer,   wherein the communication device receives a print request from the terminal device via the network, and   the processor causes the printer to print based on the print request.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the communication device receives a request for status information from the terminal device via the network, and   the processor causes the communication device to transmit the requested state information to the terminal device via the network.   
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory recording medium storing a program that causes a processor to:
 switch a non-contact communication device from a reader mode to an inter-device communication mode when the non-contact communication device that performs non-contact communication in the reader mode receives the first electronic message transmitted from a terminal device that performs the non-contact communication in a card mode and transmits connection information for communicatively connecting via a network by a communication device to the terminal device that is a transmission source of the received first electronic message;   transmit the second electronic message including the connection information for the terminal device to the non-contact communication device switched in the inter-device communication mode; and   communicatively connect the terminal device with the communication device via the network based on the connection information transmitted to the terminal device.   
     
     
         9 . The medium according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the program causes the processor to switch the non-contact communication device from the inter-device communication mode to the reader mode after transmitting the second electronic message including the connection information in the inter-device communication mode.   
     
     
         10 . The medium according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the program causes the processor to switch the reader mode to the inter-device communication mode or the inter-device communication mode to the reader mode by reactivating the non-contact communication device.   
     
     
         11 . The medium according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the program causes the processor to reactivate the non-contact communication device when transmitting the second electronic message including the connection information.   
     
     
         12 . The medium according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the program further causes the processor to further reactivate the non-contact communication device after transmitting the second electronic message including the connection information.   
     
     
         13 . The medium according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the program further causes the processor to print with a printer, based on a print request received by the communication device from the terminal device via the network.   
     
     
         14 . The medium according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the program further causes the processor to transmit requested state information to the terminal device via the network, based on the request for status information received by the communication device from the terminal device via the network.   
     
     
         15 . An information exchange method, comprising:
 switching a non-contact communication device from a reader mode to an inter-device communication mode when the non-contact communication device that performs the non-contact communication in the reader mode receives the first electronic message transmitted from a terminal device that performs non-contact communication in a card mode and transmits connection information for communicatively connecting via a network by a communication device to the terminal device that is a transmission source of the received first electronic message;   transmitting the second electronic message including the connection information for the terminal device to the non-contact communication device switched in the inter-device communication mode; and   communicatively connecting the terminal device with the communication device via the network based on the connection information transmitted to the terminal device the terminal device.