Proximity-based user interface system and method for multifunction devices

A method for generating device location information and a user interface from a document processing device for display on a portable data device comprising:

• sensing if a mobile computing device is in proximity to a document processing device in accordance with a measured signal strength corresponding to a data communication channel established via a wireless data interface between the document processing device and the portable data device;
• and
• selectively sending device location data corresponding to and location of the document processing device and user interface data corresponding to generation of a document processing system user interface to the mobile computing device via the wireless data interface to display a location of the document processing device on the mobile computing device when the portable data device is at a relatively greater distance to the document processing device and to display a user interface for operating the document processing device on the mobile computing device when the mobile computing device is at a relatively smaller distance to the document processing device;
• wherein the user interface data is selectively sent based at least in part on the proximity of the mobile computing device to the document processing system;
• receiving a document processing instruction from the mobile computing device via the wireless data interface;
• commencing a document processing operation in accordance with a received document processing instruction;
• and
• presenting a customized user interface on the mobile computing device without affecting the user interface on a front panel display of the document processing device.

A document processing device, comprising:

• a printer configured to print documents received from a user;
• a network interface configured to transmit and receive BLUETOOTH low energy communications with a mobile computing device of the user and determine a received signal strength indication of a received BLUETOOTH low energy communication;
• a display configured to display a user interface for controlling the document processing device by the user;
• a processor configured to selectively send device location data, corresponding to generation of a location of the document processing device on a display on the mobile computing device, and user interface data, corresponding to generation of the user interface on the display on the mobile computing device, via the network interface based at least in part on the received signal strength indication such that the device location data is sent when the mobile computing device is at a relatively greater distance from the document processing device and the user interface data is sent when the mobile computing device is a relatively smaller distance from the document processing device;
• wherein the processor is configured to wirelessly receive a document processing instruction from the user computing device;
• and
• wherein the processor is configured to commence a document processing operation in accordance with a received document processing instruction.