Communication system for performing wireless near field communication with respect to identification information that is used to receive service from service providing apparatus

A communication system comprising a portable terminal, an image processing apparatus, and a server,

• wherein the image processing apparatus comprises:
• an image processor configured to form an image;
• a first communication interface configured to perform:
• indirect communication with the server via an intermediate communication equipment;
• and wireless direct communication with the portable terminal via no intermediate communication equipment;
• and
• a first controller configured to:
• transmit service request information to the server via the first communication interface through the indirect communication, the service request information including request for a service provided by a service providing apparatus;
• receive acquisition instruction information from the server via the first communication interface through the indirect communication, the acquisition instruction information including an instruction to acquire identification information via the first communication interface through the wireless direct communication, the identification information being used to receive the service;
• receive the identification information from the portable terminal via the first communication interface via the wireless direct communication;
• and
• transmit the identification information to the server via the first communication interface through the indirect communication in response to reception of the identification information from the portable terminal via the first communication interface through the wireless direct communication,
• wherein the portable terminal comprises:
• a terminal memory;
• a second communication interface configured to perform wireless direct communication with the first communication interface via no intermediate communication equipment;
• and
• a second controller configured to transmit the identification information stored in the terminal memory to the image processing apparatus via the second near field communication interface through the wireless direct communication,
• wherein the server comprises:
• a third communication interface configured to communicate with the image processing apparatus via the intermediate communication equipment;
• and
• a third controller configured to:
• receive the service request information from the image processing apparatus via the third communication interface;
• and
• transmit the acquisition instruction information to the image processing apparatus via the third communication interface in response to reception of the service request information from the image processing apparatus.

A communication system comprising a portable terminal, an image processing apparatus, and a server,

• wherein the image processing apparatus comprises:
• an image processor configured to form an image;
• a first communication interface configured to perform:
• indirect communication with the server via an intermediate communication equipment;
• and wireless direct communication with the portable terminal via no intermediate communication equipment;
• and
• a first controller configured to:
• transmit service request information to the server via the first communication interface through the indirect communication, the service request information including request for a service provided by a service providing apparatus;
• receive acquisition instruction information from the server via the first communication interface through the indirect communication, the acquisition instruction information including an instruction to acquire identification information via the first communication interface through the wireless direct communication, the identification information being used to receive the service;
• receive the identification information from the portable terminal via the first communication interface through the wireless direct communication;
• determine whether the identification information is received from the portable terminal via the first communication interface through the wireless direct communication in response to reception of the acquisition instruction information from the server;
• and
• transmit the identification information to the server via the first communication interface through the indirect communication in response to reception of the identification information from the portable terminal via the first communication interface through the wireless direct communication,
• wherein the portable terminal comprises:
• a terminal memory;
• a second communication interface configured to perform wireless direct communication with the first communication interface via no intermediate communication equipment;
• and
• a second controller configured to transmit the identification information stored in the terminal memory to the image processing apparatus via the second communication interface through the wireless direct communication,
• wherein the server comprises:
• a third communication interface configured to communicate with the first communication interface via the intermediate communication equipment;
• and
• a third controller configured to:
• receive the service request information from the image processing apparatus via the third communication interface;
• and
• transmit the acquisition instruction information to the image processing apparatus via the third communication interface in response to reception of the service request information from the image processing apparatus.

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• an image processor configured to form an image;
• a communication interface configured to communicate with a server via the Internet;
• a near field communication interface configured to perform wireless near field communication with a portable terminal according to a prescribed protocol;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• transmit service request information to the server via the communication interface, the service request information including request for a service provided by a service providing apparatus;
• receive acquisition instruction information from the server via the communication interface, the acquisition instruction information including an instruction to acquire identification information via wireless near field communication, the identification information being used to receive the service;
• and
• receive the identification information from the portable terminal via the near field communication unit;
• and
• transmit the identification information to the server via the communication interface in response to reception of the identification information from the portable terminal via the near field communication interface.

A server comprising:

• a communication interface configured to communicate with an image processing apparatus via the Internet;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• receive service request information from the image processing apparatus via the communication interface, the service request information including request for a service provided by a service providing apparatus;
• and
• transmit acquisition instruction information to the image processing apparatus via the communication interface in response to reception of the service request information from the image processing apparatus, the acquisition instruction information including an instruction to instruct the image processing apparatus to acquire identification information via wireless near field communication, the identification information being used to receive the service provided by the service providing apparatus.