Communication apparatus, communication method, communication program, server apparatus, information updating method for server apparatus, and communication system

A communication method for communicating with an external apparatus using near field wireless communication, the external apparatus having a target mark formed on a surface of the external apparatus and indicating a position where an antenna is embedded in the external apparatus, said communication method comprising:

• a reference image acquisition step of obtaining a reference image for guiding a communication apparatus to a position in which the near field wireless communication with the external apparatus is possible on the basis of communication apparatus identification information for identifying a type of the communication apparatus;
• a reference image display control step of displaying the reference image obtained in the reference image acquisition step on a display unit provided on a front surface of the communication apparatus, which is opposite to a back surface of the communication apparatus which is to be brought close to the external apparatus;
• a communication establishment step of establishing the near field wireless communication between the communication apparatus and the external apparatus when the communication apparatus is moved to a position such that the reference image displayed on the display unit is close in position to the target mark formed on the external apparatus;
• an operation accepting step of accepting an image moving operation by a user for moving the reference image on the display unit so as to align the reference image with the target mark in a case that the reference image is not aligned with the target mark when the near field wireless communication is established between the communication apparatus and the external apparatus by the communication establishment step;
• and
• a reference image correction step of moving a display position of the reference image in response to the image moving operation accepted in the operation accepting step.

A server apparatus that transmits a program via a network to a communication apparatus that communicates with an external apparatus using near field wireless communication, the external apparatus having a target mark formed on a surface of the external apparatus and indicating a position where an antenna is embedded in the external apparatus, wherein the program causes the communication apparatus to function as a communication apparatus which:

• obtains image information including a reference image for guiding the communication apparatus to a position in which the near field wireless communication with the external apparatus is possible on the basis of communication apparatus identification information for identifying a type of the communication apparatus;
• displays the reference image on a display unit of the communication apparatus;
• establishes the near field wireless communication between the communication apparatus and the external apparatus when the communication apparatus is moved to a position such that the reference image displayed on the display unit is close in position to the target mark formed the external apparatus;
• accepts an image moving operation by a user for moving the reference image on the display unit so as to align the reference image with the target mark in a case that the reference image is not aligned with the target mark when the near field wireless communication is established between the communication apparatus and the external apparatus;
• and
• moves a display position of the reference image in response to the image moving operation.

A server apparatus connected via a network to a communication apparatus that communicates with an external apparatus using near field wireless communication, the external apparatus having a target mark formed on a surface of the external apparatus and indicating a position where an antenna is embedded in the external apparatus, said server apparatus comprising:

• a reference image storage unit that stores, in association, communication apparatus identification information for identifying a type of the communication apparatus, a reference image for guiding the communication apparatus to a display position in which the near field wireless communication with the external apparatus is possible, and position correction information indicating a moved position of the reference image;
• a communication apparatus identification information reception unit that receives the communication apparatus identification information from the communication apparatus;
• a reference image transmission unit that selects the reference image from the reference image storage unit based on the communication apparatus identification information received by the communication apparatus identification information reception unit, and transmits the selected reference image to the communication apparatus;
• a position correction information receiving unit that receives the position correction information from the communication apparatus, the position correction information indicating a display position of the reference image moved in response to an image moving operation accepted by a user for moving the reference image on a display screen so as to align the reference image with the target mark formed on the external apparatus, in a case that the reference image is not aligned with the target mark when the near field wireless communication is established between the communication apparatus and the external apparatus;
• and
• an update unit that updates the position correction information stored in the reference image storage unit to the received position correction information.

A communication method executed by a server apparatus that is connected via a network to a communication apparatus that communicates with an external apparatus using near field wireless communication, the external apparatus having a target mark formed on a surface of the external apparatus and indicating a position where an antenna is embedded in the external apparatus, the communication method comprising the steps of:

• receiving communication apparatus identification information for identifying a type of the communication apparatus from the communication apparatus;
• transmitting a reference image for guiding the communication apparatus to a position in which the near field wireless communication with the external apparatus is possible, the reference image being stored in a storage unit in association with the received communication apparatus identification information, to the communication apparatus;
• receiving first correction information from the communication apparatus, the first correction information indicating a display position of the reference image moved in response to an image moving operation accepted by a user for moving the reference image on a display screen so as to align the reference image with the target mark formed on the external apparatus, in a case that the reference image is not aligned with the target mark when the near field wireless communication is established between the communication apparatus and the external apparatus;
• and
• updating, on the basis of the received first correction information, second correction information that indicates the moved position of the reference image and is stored in the storage unit in association with the received communication apparatus identification information.

A communication system comprising a communication apparatus that communicates with an external apparatus using near field wireless communication, and a server apparatus connected to the communication apparatus via a network, the external apparatus having a target mark formed on a surface of the external apparatus and indicating a position where an antenna is embedded in the external apparatus,

• wherein the communication apparatus comprises:
• an antenna unit that transmits and receives radio waves, required for the near field wireless communication, through a back surface of the communication apparatus, which is to be brought close to the external apparatus;
• a display unit provided on a front surface of the communication apparatus, opposite the back surface;
• a reference image acquisition unit that obtains a reference image for guiding the communication apparatus to a position in which the near field wireless communication with the external apparatus is possible on the basis of communication apparatus identification information for identifying a type of the communication apparatus;
• a reference image display control unit that displays the reference image obtained by the reference image acquisition unit on the display unit;
• a communication establishment unit that establishes the near field wireless communication between the communication apparatus and the external apparatus when the communication apparatus is moved to a position such that the reference image displayed on the display unit is close in position to the target mark formed on the external apparatus;
• an operation accepting unit that accepts an image moving operation by a user for moving the reference image on the display unit so as to align the reference image with the target mark in a case that the reference image is not aligned with the target mark when the near field wireless communication is established between the communication apparatus and the external apparatus by the communication establishment unit;
• and
• a reference image correction unit that moves a display position of the reference image in response to the image moving operation accepted by the operation accepting unit, and
• the server apparatus comprises:
• a reference image storage unit that stores, in association, the communication apparatus identification information for identifying the type of the communication apparatus, the reference image for guiding the communication apparatus to the display position in which the near field wireless communication with the external apparatus is possible, and position correction information indicating the moved position of the reference image;
• a communication apparatus identification information reception unit that receives the communication apparatus identification information from the communication apparatus;
• a reference image transmission unit that selects the reference image from the reference image storage unit on the basis of the communication apparatus identification information received by the communication apparatus identification information reception unit, and transmits the selected reference image to the communication apparatus;
• and
• a position correction information reception unit that receives the position correction information from the communication apparatus, and updates the position correction information stored in the reference image storage unit to the received position correction information.