Image forming apparatus and method of recovering error thereof

1. A method of recovering errors of an image forming apparatus connectable to a server for supporting a service for error recovery of the image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

connecting, when connection between the image forming apparatus and the server through a first network is restricted, to a mobile apparatus through a second network different from the first network;

transmitting state information required for error recovery of the image forming apparatus to the connected mobile apparatus through the second network;

receiving a control command required for error recovery of the image forming apparatus from the mobile apparatus through the second network, in response to the transmitted state information;

recovering errors of the image forming apparatus according to the received control command; and

at least one of blocking a specific network port or deactivating a specific function in order to prevent a material stored in the image forming apparatus from being externally exposed,

wherein the control command is received from the server through a third network, in response to state information transmitted to the server by the mobile apparatus through the third network different from the second network.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein, when the image forming apparatus comprises a universal serial bus (USB) driver to communicate with the mobile apparatus, the connecting to the mobile apparatus through the second network comprises connecting the mobile apparatus according to a USB communication method supported by the USB driver.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connecting to the mobile apparatus through the second network comprises connecting the mobile apparatus according to a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Direct communication method, a Wi-Fi communication method, or a Bluetooth (BT) communication method.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connecting to the mobile apparatus through the second network comprises connecting to the mobile apparatus through a router.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a file required for the error recovery from the mobile apparatus through the second network.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connecting to the mobile apparatus through the second network by the image forming apparatus comprises:

providing a user interface for accepting or rejecting connection between the image forming apparatus and the mobile apparatus; and

connecting, in response to connection between the image forming apparatus and the mobile apparatus being accepted through the user interface, the image forming apparatus to the mobile apparatus through the second network.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the state information required for the error recovery comprises at least one of firmware version information, an error occurrence code, consumables usage information, a graphics user interface (GUI) image, a remote user interface (RUI) image or link state, log information, system setting information, paper cassette setting information, printer setting information, copy setting information, facsimile setting information, scan setting information, network setting information, or security setting information of the image forming apparatus.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control command required for the error recovery comprises at least one of a command for upgrading firmware of the image forming apparatus to a recent version, a command for displaying a graphics user interface (GUI) image or a remote user interface (RUI) image for remote access, a command for changing setting information, or a command for powering on/off or rebooting software.

9. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the image forming apparatus is connected to the mobile apparatus through the second network according to a local distance communication method, and

wherein the mobile apparatus is connected to the server through the third network according to a remote distance communication method.

10. An image forming apparatus connectable to a server for supporting a service for error recovery of the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising:

a network interface to:

connect to the server through a first network, and

connect to a mobile apparatus through a second network different from the first network;

a work performer comprising at least one of a scanner, a facsimile device, a copy device, or a printer; and

a processor to:

control the network interface to transmit state information required for error recovery of the image forming apparatus to the mobile apparatus through the second network when connection between the image forming apparatus and the server through the first network is restricted,

receive a control command required for the error recovery of the image forming apparatus from the mobile apparatus through the second network, in response to the transmitted state information,

recover an error of the image forming apparatus according to the received control command, and

at least one of block a specific network port or deactivate a specific function in order to prevent a material stored in the image forming apparatus from being externally exposed,

wherein the control command is received from the server through a third network, in response to state information transmitted to the server by the mobile apparatus through the third network different from the second network.

11. The image forming apparatus of claim 10 ,

wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a universal serial bus (USB) driver to communicate with the mobile apparatus, and

wherein, when the network interface is connected to the mobile apparatus through the second network, the network interface is connected to the mobile apparatus according to a USB communication method supported by the USB driver.

12. The image forming apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor controls the network interface to receive a file required for the error recovery from the mobile apparatus through the second network.

13. The image forming apparatus of claim 10 ,

wherein the processor provides a user interface to accept or reject connection between the image forming apparatus and the mobile apparatus, and

wherein the processor controls the network interface to connect the image forming apparatus to the mobile apparatus through the second network when connection between the image forming apparatus and the mobile apparatus is accepted through the user interface.

14. The image forming apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the state information required for the error recovery comprises at least one of firmware version information, an error occurrence code, consumables usage information, a graphics user interface (GUI) image, a remote user interface (RUI) image or link state, log information, system setting information, paper cassette setting information, printer setting information, copy setting information, facsimile setting information, scan setting information, network setting information, or security setting information of the image forming apparatus.

15. The image forming apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the control command required for the error recovery comprises at least one of a command for upgrading firmware of the image forming apparatus to a recent version, a command for displaying a graphics user interface (GUI) image or a remote user interface (RUI) image for remote access, a command for changing setting information, or a command for powering on/off or rebooting software.

16. The image forming apparatus of claim 10 ,

wherein the image forming apparatus is connected to a mobile apparatus through the second network according to a local distance communication method, and

wherein the mobile apparatus is connected to the server through the third network according to a remote distance communication method.