Communication system, information processing system, image forming apparatus and portable information terminal device

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a first wireless communication unit that receives data from a mobile phone, and a reader-writer that transmits an address of the first wireless communication unit to the mobile phone. The mobile phone includes a contact/non-contact IC card that receives the address, and a second wireless communication unit that transmits image data to the first wireless communication unit utilizing the address. When communication is made between the mobile phone and the image forming apparatus, the address of the first wireless communication unit is transmitted to the contact/non-contact IC card through the reader-writer, and the second wireless communication unit transmits data to the first wireless communication unit utilizing the address.

1 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 a receiver that receives image data from an external device;   an image forming unit that forms an image based on the received image data; and   a first transmitter that transmits an address of the receiver to the external device;   wherein the receiver receives image data transmitted by the external device utilizing the address,   wherein a communication to the external device is performed by wireless communication, and   wherein when image data selected from a plurality of thumbnails displayed on the external device is transmitted from the external device utilizing the address, the receiver receives the selected image data.   
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a second transmitter that transmits data to the effect of notifying an image formation result to the external device.   
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the communication to the external device is a wireless communication based on IEEE802.11.   
     
     
         4 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the external device is a device selected from a group consisting of a mobile phone, a digital camera, a mobile computer and a PDA.   
     
     
         5 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the image forming apparatus is a digital multifunction machine.   
     
     
         6 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a third transmitter that transmits image data read out by a scanner to the external device.   
     
     
         7 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a display unit that displays a list of files based on the received image data; and   a selection accepter that accepts a selection of one of the files from the list;   wherein the image forming unit forms an image based on the file in accordance with the selection accepted by the selection acceptor.   
     
     
         8 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising
 a setting accepter that accepts a setting of image formation instruction with respect to the file in accordance with the selection accepted by the selection acceptor,   wherein the image forming unit forms an image based on the set image formation instruction.   
     
     
         9 . A communication system, comprising:
 an external device; and   an image forming apparatus which has a receiver that receives image data from the external device and forms an image based on the received image data;   wherein the image forming apparatus includes:   address transmitter that transmits an address of the receiver to the external device;   wherein the receiver receives image data transmitted by the external device utilizing the address,   wherein a communication between the external device and the image forming apparatus is performed by wireless communication,   wherein the external device includes:   accepter that accepts a selection of image data from a plurality of thumbnails displayed on a display unit; and   image data transmitter that transmits the selected image data to the image forming apparatus utilizing the address;   wherein when the selected image data is transmitted from the external device utilizing the address, the image forming apparatus receives the selected image data by the receiver.   
     
     
         10 . The communication system according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the communication between the external device and the image forming apparatus is a wireless communication based on IEEE802.11.   
     
     
         11 . The communication system according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the external device is a device selected from a group consisting of a mobile phone, a digital camera, a mobile computer and a PDA.   
     
     
         12 . The communication system according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the image forming apparatus is a digital multifunction machine.   
     
     
         13 . The communication system according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the image forming apparatus further includes:   a display unit that displays a list of files based on the received image data; and   a selection accepter that accepts a selection of one of the files from the list;   wherein the image forming unit forms an image based on the file in accordance with the selection accepted by the selection acceptor.   
     
     
         14 . The communication system according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the image forming apparatus further includes:   a setting accepter that accepts a setting of image formation instruction with respect to the file in accordance with the selection accepted by the selection acceptor,   wherein the image forming unit forms an image based on the set image formation instruction.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory recording medium in which a program is recorded for processing an external device that communicates with an image forming apparatus by wireless which has a receiver that receives image data from the external device and a transmitter that transmits an address of the receiver to the external device and which receives by the receiver image data transmitted by the external device utilizing the address and forms an image based on the received image data,
 the program causing the external device to execute:   displaying a plurality of thumbnails of image data stored in a storage unit; and   transmitting the image data selected from the displayed thumbnails to the image forming apparatus utilizing the address transmitted from the transmitter of the image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         16 . The recording medium according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the program further causes the external device to execute:   receiving an image formation result transmitted from the image forming apparatus; and   displaying the received image formation result on a display unit.   
     
     
         17 . The recording medium according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the program further causes the external device to execute:   displaying the image data in accordance with the selected thumbnail larger than the thumbnail.   
     
     
         18 . The recording medium according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the program further causes the external device to execute:   displaying the image data in accordance with the plurality of thumbnails and the image data in accordance with the selected thumbnail.   
     
     
         19 . The recording medium according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the program further causes the external device to execute:   receiving image data read out by a scanner from the image forming apparatus.