Image forming apparatus and data communication method of image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a short-range wireless communication device configured to communicate with a contactless card or a portable terminal via short-range wireless communication;
• a first wireless communication device configured to communicate with the portable terminal via a direct wireless connection to the portable terminal;
• a second wireless communication device configured to communicate with the portable terminal via a secured network connection;
• and
• a control device configured to:
• determine whether a device within range of the short-range wireless communication device is a contactless card or a portable terminal according to model information provided via short-range wireless communication from the device within range of the short-range wireless communication device,
• perform an authentication according to authentication information provided via short-range wireless communication when the device is determined to be a contactless card according to the model information, and establish communication between the portable terminal and the second wireless communication device via the secured network connection if the authentication is successful, and
• perform an authentication according to authentication information provided via short-range wireless communication when the device is determined to be a portable terminal according to the model information, establish communication between the portable terminal and the second wireless communication device via the secured network connection if the authentication is successful, and establish communication between the portable terminal and the first wireless communication device via the direct wireless connection if the authentication is unsuccessful.

A image forming apparatus communication method, comprising:

• performing an authentication process for authenticating a portable terminal within range of a short-range wireless communication device of the image forming apparatus according to information provided via short-range wireless communication from the portable terminal;
• setting up a connection for data communication between the image forming apparatus and the portable terminal via a secured network only if the portable terminal has been successfully authenticated by the authentication process;
• and
• if the portable terminal is not successfully authenticated by the authentication process, automatically setting up a connection for data communication between image forming apparatus and the portable terminal via a direct wireless connection.